It was a congenial mix of 220 plus Mantecans attending the Manteca Historical Society and Museum Sunday afternoon during the organization’s annual barbecue and ice cream social conducted at the Manteca Transit Center.
Society president Tommi Benavidez welcomed the guests at the front door. Dave Winegarden stepped up to assist her in coordinating the event.  Caterer Joe Waltman provided a buffet for the barbecue that featured sliced beef, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy along with a garden salad.
Among the attendees was the family of Ken Hafer who had organized the first Historical Society barbecue and ice cream social some 25 years ago with a number of them being held at the home of former San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Mick Founts.  Alice Hafer — Ken’s wife — was surrounded by her children as she enjoyed the event her husband started so long ago along with the museum.
Manteca Chamber of Commerce CEO Joann Beattie was thrilled with her purchase of one of many historic 5X5 tiles that bore the image of Spreckels Sugar with the date of its opening and its closure with the implosion of the sugar silos.  The other tiles sported images of a series of historic memories.
Beattie was seated next to Manteca Mayor Steve De Brum and his wife Veronica who she chatted with throughout the event saying they were both looking for ideas to better serve the community.  As for the dinner, she said she most enjoyed the taste of the watermelon.  Sitting around the table were Carol Bradley, Councilman Mike Morowitz with his wife Georgiana along with Shawn and Rachael Nussbaumer.
The security at the event carried umbrellas and walked the ladies to their cars keeping the hot sun off of them as they made their way out of the Transit Center and into the parking lot. 
The crowd enjoyed the soft strains provided by the Richard Benavides and Friends band.

St. Patrick’s Family Festival
taking place on Sunday, Oct. 1
An international theme will set the tone of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Ripon’s Annual Family Festival set for Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1.
Roberto Martinez is serving as chairman hopes.
The 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. event is to feature international foods from Italian/Swiss to Portuguese, Mexican, Filipino, American with an International Desert Booth. A beer garden will feature international beers along with wines and cheeses to choose from throughout the afternoon. 
Live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will include an Elvis impersonator, a Salena impersonator, Aztec dancers, Price is Right, dunking booth, face painting volleyball as well as a raffle and drawing.
Volunteers are needed for the dunking booth with Pastor Fr. Jeff Wilson being the only one who has stepped up for the event to date.  The church is located on Highway 120 at Carrolton Avenue in rural Ripon.

Three South County students
on Simpson University Dean’s List
Three South County residents earned a spot on the Redding-based Simpson University Dean’s List for the spring 2017 semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must have a semester grade-point average of 3.50 or higher.
The students were Rachel Crew of Ripon (Crew’s major is English for Teachers), Laura Scholten of Ripon (Scholten’s major is Liberal Studies), and Alexondra Gomez of Lathrop )Gomez’s major is Political Science).