Archive By Section - Local Columns
Candini was part of the Jackie Robinson story
It was the summer of 1951. Sugar Ray Robinson was the middleweight champion of the world, Ben Hogan was victorious at the Masters and the U.S. Open, and Mickey Mantle made his debut in centerfield for the New York Yankees. And in Brooklyn, a journeyman pitcher from a small town in Northern California that nobody from Flatbush – or his teammates from "The City of Brotherly Love" for that matter – had ever heard of ...
The inexcusable gestation period for a crosswalk project in Manteca
How long does it take for the City of Manteca to put in a crosswalk? The answer to that question might come this Tuesday, but don't count on it. It's been 25 months since Manteca's elected leaders approved placing a crosswalk across the wide speedway known as Woodward Avenue. It was a decision the council in April of 2011 said they made so kids would have a greater margin of safety going to and from ...
KICKING FOR A CURE
Justin Coenenberg knew only what he had gathered second-hand – that Riley Simmons was a first-rate 9-year-old.
Manteca safety: Here’s 5,000 or so pennies a year for your thoughts
Pennies are rather worthless things when they standalone. They collect like dust bunnies in cars, desks, and jars. Many times we don't even take pennies when getting change for a purchase. Instead we nonchalantly toss them into a container on the counter for someone else to use to complete a transaction. Many of us don't believe it is worth the bother to wrap them in 50 cent rolls and take them to the bank. So ...
Teens show how indomitable spirit conquers all
Siblings Weley and Wendy Lin did not speak a word of English when they started school in first grade. Mandarin was the only language they knew. Their parents did not understand English either, so the young girls didn't have the luxury of receiving any help at home with their homework.
Call it the ‘close- a-school-&-make- Ripon-Unified- even-better’ plan
It's not every day parents – even if they are educators – suggest to a school board they should close a school especially when all are performing more than decently on state test scores.
Now if only my IQ could match the phone I use
My IQ just dropped. It's the risk you take when buying a phone that's smarter than you – a lot smarter. I've been using a flip phone for the last six years. To those under 25, it was as if I were lugging around one of the old wall crank phones. You know the technology you have is about three centuries old when those just barely out of puberty refer to it politely as "old ...
Healthcare cost battle: Switching sticks for carrots
Get ready for the real healthcare crisis. A growing number of firms are being nailed with rising health insurance expenses. The consulting firm of Towers Watson projects corporate spending on health care will average $12,136 per employee this year. Firms that for years have tried soft sell approaches to get their workers to take personal responsibility for their health through offers of reduced gym memberships and such are now getting employees' attention with money. They ...
Sheriffs vowing to ignore the law is a scary trend
The next time someone takes an oath of office they might want to read the first 15 words in the constitution they're swearing to uphold.
Mom never tried to cash in her chips for anything
"Dancing With the Stars" has lost one its biggest fans. Late last month at the age of 96 my mother passed away.
High speed rail folks sue me & you & a dog named Boo
The $68 billion train wreck in the making – California High Speed Rail – continues rumbling down the tracks with all of the subtlety of General Sherman's march to the sea.
So what is it? Jobs, jobs, jobs or houses, houses, houses?
There's an election for mayor coming up in less than two years. Given that Manteca has a 12.8 percent unemployment rate - that's higher than Lathrop's by the way - one of the central issues should be jobs. Or to quote former Mayor Carlon Perry as Manteca was struggling to come out of the previous recession in the early 1990s, the issue is "jobs, jobs, jobs." "Jobs, jobs, jobs" wasn't on the mind of the ...
Stockton attains real world All America City status
Stockton is a two-time All America City recipient. Just three years after its last All America City honor, Stockton led the nation in foreclosures. Smirk all you want. While the awards are often full of more fluff than substance, Stockton today would qualify as a real All America City as opposed to the glamour contest version offered by the National Civic League. Unlike the version you preen for and send in an application with check ...
Brother, can you spare a dollar store?
There was a time when there was a gas station on every corner. Then it seemed like banks were multiplying faster than rabbits. And now the trend is the so-called dollar stores. Manteca's fifth dollar store - and second Dollar General - is getting ready to open at Powers and Yosemite avenues. They seem to be popping up in Manteca with the same intensity as pizza parlors, nail salons, and check cashing places. It reflects ...
Getting ready for egg-citing time today
Miniature chocolates mixed with taffy collect in piles on table tops, waiting to be stuffed into eggs.
Articles by Section - Local Columns
Ammo sales & ‘The Obama Effect’
Almost four years ago, I wrote a column entitled "The Obama Effect" in which I described how fear and distrust of our then newly elected President created panic among our citizenry and that there were massive shortages of almost every kind of ammunition imaginable.
Safeguards against PG&E style file browsing at Manteca City Hall
Is the plan PG&E proof?
Tax Internet sales until virtual cops can protect us
The Internet.
Summer heat and keeping dogs safe
DEAR DIDI: It hasn't been all that hot yet but I noticed when I was walking my English Bulldog the other day he refused to stay on the sidewalk. Can you tell me about temperatures for walks and what I should watch for when I take her in the car? -Worried Mommy in Manteca
Taxes you pay go to PG&E & not Headstart
Pundits - and editorial cartoonists - are having a field day over Congress' decision to restore funding for air traffic controllers while letting programs such as Headstart for low-income kids and Meals on Wheels for shut-in senior citizens take federal budget hits.
The Pope and Godless capitalism
"This is called slave labor," said Pope Francis.
Cinco de Mayo is as American as you can get
People need to stop having heart palpations over Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Meeting your Ripon neighbors at jury duty, plus an unexpected pleasure over lunch
Meeting a couple of Ripon folks, and one from Linden and another from Tracy was an unexpected pleasure in my brief two days of jury duty this week – especially when four of us just happened to go out to lunch together on Thursday.
Kentucky Derby’s horse tie to French Camp
FRENCH CAMP – It's a funny thing, this horse racing business.
Guns: Being judged by 12 instead of being carried by 6
She's a single mom in her early 30s. She lives in an old farmhouse in an almond orchard five miles east of Manteca. The closest neighbor is a quarter mile of a way but the trees make it impossible to see their home.
Want a safe environment for vacation? Then stay out of Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is not Disneyland.
Perhaps Manteca should work with Wal-Mart to create a homeless park
The aging RV was parked under a stately tree providing relief from the 90-degree midday heat.
Count your blessings that disco didn’t survive the ‘70s
Bell bottom pants. Flare-leg pants. Men's rayon tie scarves. Polyester suits.
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