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Giving Tree returns to Precision Automotive
‘TIS THE SEASON
giviing tree
Raj Lal and his staff from Precision Automotive of Manteca display the Giving Tree benefitting residents of the Manteca Care & Rehabilitation Center come Christmas Eve.

The Giving Tree is back at Precision Automotive.

This is the decorated Christmas tree located in the lobby of the Manteca business at 475 Moffat Blvd.

Raj Lal, owner of the 5-Star shop for the past six years, has maintained the tradition of Precision partnering with the Manteca Care & Rehabilitation Center for the past 16 years and counting.

The Giving Tree arrived not too long agon with 80 “bulbs,” with each representing at least three wish-list items for residents of the local care and rehab center.

Those stopping by Precision Automotive can play Secret Santa within the next two weeks can purchase the gift items on the Giving Tree “bulb” – they can also pick up more gifts outside of the list.

The Giving Tree gifts will be distributed at the Dec. 24 Manteca Care & Rehabilitation Center Christmas celebration.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the party will not be open to the public.

Precision Automotive is proud to be part of this holiday tradition, posting, “Thank you on behalf of the Lal family and residents of the care facility.”

For more information on the Giving Tree, call Precision Automotive at 209.239.8266.

Christmas parades

Three parades are taking place this week as Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop celebrate the Christmas season.

*The Ripon Christmas Light Parade is set for tonight beginning at 6 p.m.

 *The Lathrop Christmas parade is Saturday, Dec. 10, starting at 11 a.m.

*The Manteca Christmas Twilight Parade is Saturday, Dec. 10, starting at 5 p.m.

The Ripon parade theme is “Jingle Bell Rock.”

The parade begins at the staging area at Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church, 333 S. Wilma Ave., and travels north to West Main Street.

From Main Street, the Christmas Light Parade will go to historic downtown, to Industrial Drive and terminate at the Recycling Center.

The Christmas Light Parade is sponsored by the Ripon Consolidated Fire District, Ripon Police Department, and the Ripon Chamber of Commerce.

The Lathrop parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Fifth and J Streets before heading south and turning west on the Thomsen Road. The route will eventually head north on Cambridge Drive before turning east on J Street and heading back to the parade start at the intersection of Fifth and J Streets.

The City of Lathrop is sponsoring the parade.

 The 50th annual downtown Manteca Twilight Holiday Parade’s theme is Winter Wonderland.

Kitty Walker of the Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars will serve as the grand marshal.

The parade route is down Yosemite Avenue from Library Park to Garfield Avenue at Manteca High.

The parade being staged by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.

Downtown Santa Hut

Santa Claus is returning to downtown Manteca.

He’ll be at the Santa Hut at the corner of Yosemite Avenue and Main Street on eight days over the next two weeks courtesy of the Manteca Rotary.

Santa will be there Thursday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 11, and Thursday, Dec. 15, through Sunday, Dec. 18. The times on Thursdays and Fridays are from 3 to 7 p.m. while Saturdays and Sundays are 1 to 6 p.m.