The hottest item for sale at the Rite-Aid store on West Yosemite Avenue in Manteca: Try Sierra High hoodies and T-shirts proclaiming the Timberwolves as state high school football champions.
The blue and silver items hit the shelves a couple of weeks after Sierra defeated the Chowchilla Redskins for the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state title.
Nothing says ‘welcome
to Manteca like weeds
& homeless
encampments
Al Tonn is the latest reader to drop off a line by snail mail or email wondering whether Manteca is ever going to do anything about making a good first impression.
They’re referencing the new Lathrop Road interchange at Highway 99.
“There are many weeds and trash along the side of the road,” Tonn writes. “When Caltrans built the Lathrop overpass, it was unfortunate that a more attractive entrance or sign wasn’t included in the plan, similar to Ripon or Modesto.”
Actually Caltrans did include a very impressive landscaping design but the City Council nixed it due to concerns about ongoing costs. An alternative plan was suggested that would cost a quarter to upkeep — $15,000 annually — but nothing has happened.
One would think this would be an ideal location for a stunning feature of drought resistant and low-maintenance landscaping complete with native California grasses that — at most — need to be cut once or twice a year and watered perhaps once a week during the heat.
The city could even approach the Manteca Unified school farm to consider undertaking a student run project complete with design, planting, and maintenance funding with an annual contract. Perhaps the be.tech industrial arts program could be enlisted to devise a classy looking welcome to Manteca sign.
Or the interchange could go the way of Highway 99’s interchange at the 120 Bypass and where Cottage Avenue crossing the freeway where homeless encampments have popped up during the past week. Perhaps that is the first impression of Manteca that city leaders prefer.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email deywtat@mantecabulletin.com
