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Pleasanton puts housing squeeze on workers
Pleasanton is a shining city in the Tri-Valley. Its general fund revenues are over twice that of Manteca’s while they have just 900 more residents. The average household income is also significantly higher in Pleasanton. Pleasanton accomplishes the financial feat that allows it to escape the current economic meltdown relatively unscathed by intentionally thumbing its nose at state mandates to provide affordable housing for all income levels as well as strive for housing-to-jobs balance. The ...




Church can’t slither out of child abuse mess
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, We read in the Bulletin on March 15 the apologia of Father Dean McFalls, a Vice President in Catholicism Inc. (Limited Liability Corporation.)  He follows the directions of Ivy Lee, the inventor of Public Relations, aka professional lying, to the letter: “When you can no longer keep something secret, go into the open and thereby control the issue by defining it and taking the initiative away from your detractors, placing the best ...




‘I’d rather be tried by 12 than carried by six.’
Robert Ortiz is a reasonable man. He simply wants his family - and others on his street - to feel safe in their homes and in their neighborhood. That simply isn’t the case.  His problem one day may very well be your problem. It’s a case of clashing colors. More aptly it involves the colors red and blue which definitely do not mix. His street has become ground zero in a turf war even though ...




American vision, conservative style
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, The Republican Party has had some great conservative leaders who have formed history in America.  From President Abraham Lincoln to Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. to President Ronald Reagan, each believed the conservative principle of individual freedom and individual responsibility. America is the greatest country in the world. While Republicans and Democrats battle their political platforms of Conservatism and Liberalism for the future direction of America, I have written my ...




The myopic view of aging
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, A 92-year-old woman recently moved into our local retirement home. She sat alone in the dining room. I moved to her table with my dessert and introduced myself. Her husband died after 67 years of marriage. I offered words of comfort overwhelmed by the thought of her loss. I asked what has it been like after so many years together. I was bewildered by the reply, “delightful, blissful.” In my misguided sympathy, ...




Gourmet Sampler a huge success
Editor, Manteca Bulletin; Once again the Manteca Historical Society must thank you for the great publicity you gave to our 18th Annual Gourmet Sampler. The success of our event depends greatly on publicity, and the support from our local paper is always outstanding. Your staff is a pleasure to work with - always helpful and patient with everyone involved. The many photos that appeared after the event were also appreciated. As usual, the Manteca Bulletin ...




Congress’ business savvy reflected in Postal Service’s financial quagmire
Not too many moons ago – before the Internet spawned spam to give junk mail a good name – Congress set up the Postal Service as a separate entity.




PG&E using eminent domain to compete against private firms
Eminent domain, we are told by PG&E, is an evil thing but only if it is used against them.




The return of the grow & kill season
The rains are less frequent. The mercury is inching up toward 70 degrees. And the gopher mounds are popping up more often than Meg Whitman for governor TV commercials.




Bringing back Tidewater passenger rail service
There was a time when 24 passenger trains passed through Manteca daily to take you to Stockton or Modesto.




Sadness turns to tears of joy
Tears, smiles and hugs were the order of the day in Ripon Saturday as some 200 girls from all over the region picked out prom dresses for their special graduation occasions – without paying a dime for the gowns.




Invest 44 cents to help keep California safe
Want to help make California streets a bit safer for your family and neighbors? Then spend 44 cents for a stamp and take a few minutes to type out a letter asking the parole board to keep William Walter Nichols behind bars. You probably do not know who Nichols is but there is a chance you knew Michael McDonald - or another victim like him - who could have been your son, your former classmate, ...




No separation between church and state in the actual pledge
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.




How about those ‘One-Eyed Jack’ Republicans?
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, Remember the movie “One Eyed Jacks” with Marlon Brando? The title alluded to people who showed one side of themselves when they actually had another side. I was reminded of that movie when I started seeing some leading Republicans saying things now that seemed to contradict earlier statements or actions or just outright lie about facts. Now these Republicans aren’t the new guys on the block, these are guys that have been ...




Why was it so easy for a pot clinic to open?
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, Why was it so easy for a “pot house” to open in Manteca? The city council last year refused to consider adopting an ordinance making it legal to set up a medical dispensary in Manteca. The city attorney says “we’re seeking to abate it as a nuisance and to dispense a controlled substance is a violation of federal law.” The owner of the dispensary claims it is a pharmacy. He did not ...




Delta Bank thanks Sierra High for drive
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, Delta Blood Bank would like to thank Sierra High School for hosting a blood drive on Friday, March 5. Altogether we collected 70 units; 28 were from first-time donors. All registered donors received a free T-shirt, courtesy Delta Blood Bank. Thank you for giving the gift of life. Delta Blood Bank Manteca March 9, 2010




Stealing is stealing no matter how you rationalize it
We were bicycling down River Road a few years ago when the lady I was with – a deputy with the Dade County Sheriff’s Department in Florida – said she wanted to stop for a second.




PG&E plays by different rules than you & I
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, Reading the newspaper, watching the news on TV and just plain trying to absorb it all is giving me a headache. I have not started to drink – yet. My fear is I might be getting close. For years I hear PG&E telling us how to save money on our bill, and then they turn around and raise our rates because they are not making enough money. So, lately I made my ...




Impressed with Sierra High choir concert program
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, I just got home (Monday) from attending the Sierra High School concert combined with the Nile Garden, Brock Elliott, Stella Brockman choirs.   What a great choice of music and voices. Well put together and what a surprise when the Sierra High choir sang a song about God.  We’ve said it once and will say it again. Put God back into schools and watch these kids bloom. Their voices were angelic. I ...




Appreciates help with Brockman reading efforts
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, To all that helped in making Read Across America and Family Literacy Night/Book Exchange a huge success! You are an awesome team.  I have received an enormous amount of positive feedback from staff, community, and students.   Thank you for continuing to make Stella Shine. A huge thank you to Barbara LeGrange (retired teacher and much appreciated supporter), Debbie Vanni, and Janice Santos that chaired our committees and coordinated all events and to ...




PG&E’s $9.8M care package for CEO Darbee
The young man knocking on my door wanted to know if I knew about the PG&E CARE program and if I wanted to apply.




Bring back WPA & CCC to create jobs
Editor, Manteca Bulletin, The President keeps talking about jobs, jobs, jobs and then we don’t hear anymore. What is wrong with bringing back the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps for young and older men to do the work that needs doing at a fair price?  The CCC camps took young men up to the forests to work and make and straighten up whatever needed doing; clearing the ground of debris, ...




Manteca making LMD takeover work effectively
Snall weeds - fueled by rain and a rise in temperatures - started popping up in the concrete portion of the Wellington Avenue bike path about 10 days ago.




Grown adults shopping wearing PJs
When’s it OK to wear pajamas out in public? My guess is never. Across the pond, the United Kingdom adopted a dress code, banning folks from wearing their jammies to the grocery store and other public places. Of course, this goes beyond the “no shirt, no shoes, no service” policy we’re used to seeing around here. In Shanghai, it’s discouraged for people there to lounge around in public wearing PJs. Around here, I know Monday ...







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