The sounds of a New Year in Manteca on Wednesday sounded an awful like the Fourth of July.
And it was more than just the illegal fireworks being launched.
The sounds of ice cream trucks with their somewhat loud and carnival-style music playing to lure customers outdoors were heard in more than a few neighborhoods.
An overcast day that barely peaked out at 60 degrees just days after the start of winter may not seem worth the effort to burn $3.50 a gallon gasoline.
A vendor working the Powers Tract neighborhood sandwiched between Spreckels Park and Manteca High disagreed.
He noted between it being a low-key holiday and school being out, typically New Year’s is a decent day to hit the streets to hawk ice cream with such timeless musical hits such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Pop Goes the Weasel”.
And given the prices — don’t expect to spend less than $2 if trucks continue to interrupt the usual winter hiatus with inclement weather returning during the next few days of the school break — they are definitely a sign of the times.
Menorah Lighting
today at City Hall
A Menorah Lighting is being staged today, Jan. 2, at 5 p.m., at the City Council chambers, 1001 W. Center St., to mark Hanukkah.
Hanukkah was officially recognized for the first time ever at a Manteca City Council meeting in 2022 with the lighting of the menorah.
Councilman Mike Morowit and City Attorney Dave Nefouse provided the invocation back then.
They then were joined by former City Councilman Richard Silverman and Planning Commission Judy Blumhorst for a short ceremony for the traditional lighting of the menorah at the start of the meeting.
Rabbis in the past have offered invocations at the start of council meetings.
The lighting was requested by current City Manager Toni Lundgren who was the interim city manager in 2022 in an effort to expand the city’s celebration of diversity in the Manteca community.
That diversity has been shown repeatedly in the more than 600 times in the past 33 years Manteca City Council meetings have opened with a prayer.
The jury is still out whether ministers or other practitioners of various faiths who prayed for divine wisdom for those about to engage in civic discourse had any positive effect.
One thing is for certain: What followed the prayer was neither a revival meeting nor a worship service.
As such, the city has followed the litmus test established by court rulings not to impose or favor a religion.
The Manteca City Council had its first Hindu invocation at their July 17, 2012 meeting containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.
There even was one meeting where a practicing wiccan reading teachings from their religion.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
