A new Comcast return/exchange center is being established in Manteca.

Frank’s Antennas, 406 N. Main St., already sells Comcast service and takes payments. In January they will add return/exchange services at their location under a contract worked out with the cable firm.

The firm is no stranger to Comcast. They are a large seller of Comcast services as well as DirecTV in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. The firm was selected to help replace the shuttered Grant Street Comcast office due to the volume of business they have with the cable company.

The Manteca City Council last week raised concerns about customer access to a Comcast exchange/return center after the firm closed their Manteca office.

Phil Waterford

helping Santa

Santa Phil and his army of elves are staging the fifth annual Christmas Eve Breakfast and Toy Giveaway.

The free event takes place at Phil Waterford’s Manteca Ford showroom at 555 North Main Street in Manteca. It takes place from 8 to 11 a.m.
The first 500 children, 12 and under will receive an unwrapped toy and a chance to meet Santa. The Manteca Walgreens will be on site offering the gift of health with free flu shots from 8 to 11 a.m. as well. Nearly 800 meals were served last year,

For more information call 239-3561.

Scott Smith

joins AP staff

Scott Smith is joining the Associated Press as the news service’s Fresno correspondent.

Smith was raised in Manteca and graduated from East Union High. He’s worked the past 10 years at The Record of Stockton.

AP West Editor Traci Carl noted Smith’s reporting in 2012 on the so-called “Speed Freak” serial killings led authorities to unearth five victims, including the remains of three women found in an abandoned well outside Linden. The search came after Smith began corresponding with one of the convicted killers, Wesley Shermantine, who provided information on where to look.

Smith also worked for the Turlock Journal. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Uzbekistan.

He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Chico.

Holiday garbage

collection changes

There are changes in the  City of Manteca’s garbage collection for the next two weeks.

The reminder comes from Manteca’s recycling guru, Rexie LeStrange, who also oversees the refuse collection operations.

There is no service on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. So that means for the next two weeks those who have their garbage collected normally on Wednesday will have it picked up on Thursday, those used to a Thursday collection will have it picked up on Friday, and Friday collection will take place on Saturday.  Monday and Tuesday service aren’t impacted.

Everything returns to normal the week of Jan. 6.