The ties between Ripon and Manteca are growing stronger thanks to the Family City’s No. 1 crop — housing.

Manteca Council Member Regina Lackey made that point Tuesday when she reminded residents to attend the 63rd Ripon Almond Blossom Festival this weekend if they get the chance.

Lackey was more than just being a good neighbor.

Her daughter Samantha Lackey is one of the 10 contestants vying for crown of Miss Almond Blossom/Miss Ripon 2025 on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the side small room at the Ripon Community Center.

The competition is open to all Ripon high school juniors who live in Ripon or attend a Ripon school.

The Lackeys live in the City of Manteca near Woodward Park where a significant number of homes are within the Ripon Unified School District boundaries.

The Ripon High junior is active in track, soccer, and flag football as we’ll as Girls League and Yearbook.

She also has earned the Eagle Scout award. The 

The actual festival with dozens of vendors is this Friday (2 to 8 p.m.), Saturday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.), and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival at Mistlin Sports Park on River Road off of Jack Tone Road also includes a carnival.

The parade is Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Ripon Unified boundaries come within several blocks of the Woodward School campus of the Manteca Unified School District.

In the coming years, students from the 718-home Hat Ranch moving closer to actual construction will be attending Ripon Unified schools as well. The project between Pillsbury Road and the future extension of Atherton Drivbe south will border the future Raymus parkway in the south.

The Hat Ranch is named for 1972 Ripon High graduate and grape broker Mike Hat who built the 30,000-square-foot mansion that once stood on the property but has since been demolished.

A site has been set aside in the Hat Ranch project that is expected to be the first Ripon Unified school campus within the City of Manteca.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com