The Manteca Police are a big part of this weekend’s downtown Sunrise Kiwanis Manteca Pumpkin Fair.

The Manteca Police Skills Competition — motor officers testing their agility on their bikes — takes place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 100 block of North Main Street. On Sunday, the space is being taken over for the Pumpkin Fair Car Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well.

The popular K9 demo is Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the Community Stage in Library Park.

Manteca Police will also be out and about on horses as part of the mounted patrol.

The four-man gang unit will be walking about as well. It’s not that police are expecting any trouble. Police Chief Nick Obligacion said it is to encourage people to ask gang unit officers questions.

That is in addition to a number of off-duty officers who are volunteers with various non-profits such as the Sunrise Kiwanis that will be manning various booths.



Sign says: Keep

off the grass

One homeowner on North Powers Avenue has a sign on the edge of their front porch reading, “Keep off the grass.”

Their grass, however, is dry and is in hues of yellow and brown and not green. A number of residents have opted to let their lawns go after the Manteca City Council temporarily suspended the municipal requirement that lawns be kept green for the duration of the drought. It is an effective way to save water.

More than a few folks, though, are wondering what the city’s plan is once the water situation improves. Will there be a concerted effort to bring lawns back or get people to replace them with less water consuming landscaping or will the city allow yellow and brown to dominate some neighborhoods?

It would be nice to know the city’s strategy before yellow and brown lawns become permanent.