Boys & Girls throwing barn party April 18

An old-fashioned barn party – complete with dinner, dancing to a live band and lively conversation – is taking place in the Fonseca barn.

Ripon expanding rec programs at Mistlin Park

RIPON – The longer days and the warming weather means that it's time to get outside and have some fun.

Youth benefitting from tutoring raise money for GECAC

Three kids from the Give Every Child a Chance tutoring program went the extra mile for the recent bowlathon fund raiser bringing in $2,351 between them.

Cultural class more than just about food, and folk dancing

"If you remember me, you know that I live in San Ramon and each Wednesday, I would drive the opposite direction to pick up my mother's first cousin in the Hayward Hills to come along with me to your class in Manteca. Not one of us regretted the time it took just to get there. Rather, we thank you and, I for one, will remember you for many, many years and the excitement you gave to me about the Portuguese way. Obrigada, Mary."

Despite foreclosures Manteca grew by 1,375 people in 2008

Manteca has spent the last 10 years gaining a bigger chunk of San Joaquin County's overall population despite being the city with the oldest growth cap policy in place in the entire region.

Book shares how Mantecan coped with challenges

It would have been all too easy for Kathy Aartman-Weed to give up. After growing up in a home that was plagued with problems that stemmed from the premature loss of two of her sisters, Aartman-Weed faced another tremendous life hurdle when her own daughter passed away after battling health problems for the majority of her life. As if that weren't enough, a fire in her home would eventually claim almost everything that she owned ...

Lathrop church opening next to police station

LATHROP – By late spring or early summer, the Lathrop Police Services will be acquiring a new neighbor right next door on Seventh Street.

Manteca Youth Focus lists All-Star captains

It was another spectacular weekend of youth recognition as Manteca Youth Focus conducted its 14th annual scholarship competitions. A celebration of leadership, volunteer service and talent – MYF was successful in its campaign to award educational scholarships to deserving young men and women of achievement.

Manteca student accepted into People to People

Gail Brooks, a student in Manteca, will join a select group of students representing their schools, communities, and country as People to People student leaders. Brooks has been accepted into the People to People Leadership Summit in Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland, June 7 - 16. All students accepted into a People to People program must meet rigorous academic and leadership requirements. Brooks was nominated and accepted for the honor based on outstanding scholastic ...

State finalist youth pageant

Vanessa Marie Rangel, 12, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss California Pageant to be held July 30 - August 1, at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara.

Four Ripon students among All State Honor Orchestra

Bryson Cwik, Jessica Jones, Hali Pekron and Veronica Rogers, high school members of the Modesto Junior College Community Orchestra, were recently accepted into the California All State Honor Orchestra. These four students were selected out of several hundred high school applicants from around the state who auditioned by submitting a CD recording. They rehearsed and performed with the All State Honor Orchestra March 12-15 at the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Conference in Ontario. Cwik, ...

Effort to increase Lathrop Senior Center attendance

LATHROP – Marlene Taylor was hard to ignore with her a la Christina Aguillera green wig and matching triple-tiered faux emerald necklaces standing out against her white peasant blouse.

Spring starts with baseball food & fun

Get ready for the boys - and girls - of spring. Two Little league opening ceremonies mark a full day of events in Manteca on Saturday that ranges from breakfast and a crab dinner to a talent show. Manteca Little League starts its season with ceremonies at 9 a.m. at Lincoln Park on Powers Avenue across from the fire station. Then at 10 a.m. the opening day starts for Northgate Little League at Northgate Park. ...

Drought means 80% cut in water deliveries

First, the bad news when it comes to the drought. The two days of rain – and possible snow in the Sierra – hoped for this weekend may fizzle out to just light showers on Saturday night. The semi-good news is the earlier Sierra snowfall this month has allowed the State Water Project on Wednesday to announce it will deliver 20 percent of the water they'd normally send to cities and agricultural users up and ...

Manteca canine killed on duty is being honored

A Manteca Police dog that died in the line of duty some 35 years ago is going to be remembered Tuesday, March 31, along with 10 other canines who gave their all in protecting their communities.

1,619 more Manteca homes?

Get ready for a new McMansion Era in Manteca.

UNITY CAN BE FUN

Youngsters of the Friday Unity Night in the Neighborhood were still getting used to their new digs following the ribbon-cutting event.

Diocese mulls bankruptcy after sexual abuse settlements

By ROSE ALBANO RISSO

Non-profit benefactors of PG&E embrace rate hike

STOCKTON – Non-profits in and around San Joaquin County are appreciative of the money that San Francisco-based PG&E has given out to them over the years.

SJ County Fair opens 5-day run Wednesday

STOCKTON – The San Joaquin County Fair is back after a brief run this past fall.

Manteca murder mystery

It was a long unsolved missing person's murder "cold case" that covered more than two decades until police were tipped off last month that skeletal evidence was buried in or around Manteca. The grave of a missing Stockton woman is yielding clues to a murder mystery that began with the disappearance of Karen Michelle Sterzl, 36, in December of 1990, from a houseboat on the Tuleburg Levee that she shared in Stockton with Manteca upholstery ...

Twin tunnels: Death knell for Delta farming?

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could become saltier if the state builds the two massive diversion tunnels Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed to supply water to the Central Valley and Southern California. And if that occurs, it could lay waste to $560 million of San Joaquin County's annual farm production of $2.2 billion. Water with high salt content ultimately renders soil toxic to Delta farm crops. Once fertile soil laden with salts - either intentionally or ...

Lathrop may go solar to counter PG&E costs

LATHROP - Could hedging power costs end up saving taxpayers a bundle? It all depends upon where electricity costs do over the course of the next three decades. Last week the Lathrop City Council heard a proposal by a solar energy firm that could eventually lead to an overhaul of the way that the municipality pays for its electricity. They would shun the standard PG&E model and go instead with an extensive solar power system ...

MUSD provides free meals to 2,000 plus kids

Zimmerman’s attorney walks tight line in defense in shooting of teen

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - George Zimmerman's lead attorney will be walking a fine line as he tries to convince jurors that his client didn't murder Trayvon Martin: He needs to show why Zimmerman felt threatened by the African-American teenager while avoiding the appearance that either he or his client is racist.

Comcast buffs up guides for Internet age

WASHINGTON (AP) - After years of making money providing Internet service, cable TV companies are now tapping the power of the Internet to improve clunky program guides that are a relic of the 1990s.

Digital music service expected from Apple

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Apple is expected to reveal a digital radio service and changes to the software behind iPhones and iPads today as the company opens its annual conference for software developers.

Heat at graduation sends five to hospital

LOOMIS (AP) - At least 15 people suffered heat exhaustion and heat stroke at an outdoor graduation ceremony in Placer County, which saw record-breaking temperatures and conditions that posed extreme fire danger on Saturday, authorities said.

BART official paid $330K for not working

OAKLAND (AP) - A top official for the agency that manages the San Francisco Bay Area's BART system earned more than $330,000 last year - even though she didn't work a single day for the public transit agency, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Japanese troops train on Calif. beach

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Japanese troops will converge on California's southern coast in the next two weeks as part of a military exercise with U.S. troops aimed at improving that country's amphibious attack abilities.