Some plants are literally freezing to death

There's one important reason the oleander was the plant of choice for the median strip of Highway 99.

30th annual Holiday Affair Dec. 16

The biggest holiday party in Manteca is being planned by Manteca Soroptimists for their upcoming 30th Annual Holiday Affair.

MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE

Manteca Historical Society and Museum will be hosting its annual Holiday Open House from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10 at the museum, 600 W. Yosemite Ave. On display will be 17 Christmas trees, some trimmed with vintage ornaments. Animated figures, some life-size, adorn the Memorial Building front window. Traditional Christmas carols will be sung and holiday background music will be provided by Keri Stewart. A drawing will be held offering a gift basket and items from the gift shop. A wide array of refreshments will be served and admission is free.

Almond Blossom dinner on Jan. 14

RIPON - The Ripon Chamber of Commerce is holding their 48th Annual Almond Blossom Kick Off and Tribute Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Ripon Community Center, 334 Fourth Street at 6 p.m.

ODDS & ENDS

Manteca regional attractions

Every wonder what attracts people to visit Manteca?

1969: City Council raises garbage collection rates to $2.25 per month

CORRECTION

The Manteca Unified Student Trust, or MUST, will be conducting its team basketball clinic this Saturday at Manteca High's Winter Gymnasium.

McKinley Ave: Where will it go?

McKinley Avenue could one day define the outer reaches of southwest Manteca and how that part of the community develops.

Let it snow, let it snow in Manteca!

Valley commuters on their way to work in the Bay Area early Monday morning were treated to a rare visual treat in the Altamont: white chocolate hills that turned the normally brown and green vista into a winter wonderland magic.

Fire district flap flares up over half hour of OT pay

LATHROP – It may not turn out to be as expensive and as laboriously long as the City of Lathrop's Matt Browne case, but a personnel issue involving the demotion of a 15-year fire captain with the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District is also being reviewed by an administrative law judge.

Turning blight into senior housing

Six months ago, the only shelter that the 1.4-acre parcel wedged between Grant Avenue and the back of Dribbles' Car Wash and Burger King provided was for a homeless encampment amid rubbish and weeds.

1,060 families may go without Christmas meal

Sue Teunissen at this point wouldn't mind at all if the community was able to come forward with just enough money to put hams on the tables of struggling families in Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon this Christmas.

Delicato Vineyards fine art show entries open on Dec. 26

Delicato Vineyards is holding its 22nd annual Fine Art Show from Saturday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. All art in this show will be available for sale.

Violent sex offender is registered in SJ County

The Megan's Law Website lists recently released sexual predator Dewayne Michael Smith as a resident of San Joaquin County – not San Francisco, where he was said to be working after a short stop at his parent's mobile home address in Manteca.

Manteca veterans get a home

The envisioned Moffat Boulevard Community Hall - the future home of Manteca's Veterans of Foreign Wars post - is a testimonial to perseverance, ingenuity, and municipal staff's can-do attitude.

BERRY SUCCESSFUL

Early morning before the sun peeks over the rim of the eastern horizon finds husband and wife Sai Saelee and Fahm Saechao at their small farm plot on West Yosemite Avenue.

Lathrop just says no to medical pot dispensaries

LATHROP – Barber poles let people know where they can get a trim.

Dinner helps family of victims in deadly fire

The Portuguese Fraternal Society of America, in cooperation with Fagundes Meats & Catering in Manteca, is coming to the aid of a family in need.

So Manteca never forgets

Manteca's next neighborhood park is honoring fallen Marine Corporal Charles O. Palmer II.

JUVENAL LECHUGA

Six years ago Juvenal Lechuga was a Nile Garden School eighth grader struggling to overcome bone cancer.

Help make their wishes come true

A month ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation brought Riley Simmons' wildest dreams to life, surprising the 11-year-old cancer survivor with a Hawaiian vacation.

Lathrop aims to control skate boarders

LATHROP – Once it's open it will be one of the best public skate parks in Northern California.

Ripon city, fire drop fees from each other

When it comes to policy, the City of Ripon and the Ripon Consolidated Fire District may soon have one in place that mirrors itself.

Open forum featuring superintendent hopefuls

An opportunity to quiz the three candidates vying for the position of San Joaquin County Office of Education superintendent will take place on Thursday, April 24.

Goal: Save water, cut costs

It's a major undertaking: Make Manteca's official color green.

Is Lathrop going for Vegas glitz?

It was supposed to carry Manteca into the advertising future.

Realtors present 7 $500 scholarships

It was a shocker Tuesday morning for seven graduating high school seniors who were giving speeches in what they thought was the final competition for the Central Valley of Association's one and only college scholarship award.

1934: City doubles water allowed for homes for $1.50

100 years ago

Water play victim of drought

First the good news: The water play feature at Library Park will be turned on in time for the 18th annual downtown Manteca Crossroads Street Faire.