It looks like the long-awaited Lakehouse Resort project may finally be ready to move from paper to pavement. Architect John Vierra says the project should break ground this fall once the city issues a building permit. “We’re very close,” he says. The resort is planned for the corner of Turner and Lower Sacramento roads, across from the former General Mills plant. Construction is expected to begin with the apartments first, followed by the hotel. When it’s finished, the project is slated to include 150 apartments, a 92-room hotel, a 70-seat restaurant, a 240-seat banquet room, a spa, 18,500 square feet of ground-level retail and plenty of on-site parking. Getting to this point has taken y-e-a-r-s, and more than a few people wondered whether it would ever happen. Vierra says the development will also add new public pedestrian walkways, landscaped areas and plenty of shade trees throughout the site. San Joaquin County property records show Celia Hung bought the corner property from RRM Enterprises/Bond Manufacturing for $2.85 million in November 2017. The planning commission reviewed the project’s environmental impact report in 2019.

LOCAL BOY DOES GOOD: Lodi native Mark Sieglock has a new title to add to his résumé. He was recently named chief product officer at Bay Area technology company Apollo AI. The company points to his time at Eero, where he helped guide the company from before it had a product, through the launch of its first one in 2016, then its sale to Amazon in 2019 and, eventually, into tens of millions of homes around the world. Apollo CEO Matt Curl had high praise for him, calling Mark “one of the most talented product leaders I’ve encountered.” Around here, Mark is also known as the son of Jack and Brenda Sieglock. Jack, of course, is the former Lodi mayor and San Joaquin County supervisor. Mark’s brother Chris is a prominent Southern California attorney who represents wildfire victims. Needless to say, he’s had plenty to keep him busy lately.

HEAD COUNT: Here’s an interesting one: A recent San Francisco Chronicle analysis of California cities found that Lodi has the largest Pakistani population share in the state. The paper looked at U.S. Census data to see which cities had the biggest concentrations of different ethnic groups. According to the Chronicle, 4.9% of Lodi’s population is Pakistani — the highest share anywhere in California.

FALL CLASSIC: Affordability is on just about everyone’s mind these days, and Mark Armstrong at the Lodi Grape Festival says the fair is trying to make things a little easier on families. For starters, everyone who comes through the gate can pick up a discount card good for more than $20 in savings at participating concession stands. Families can also bring their own food into the festival, although coolers are not allowed. Sealed water bottles are OK, too, and bottle-filling stations will be available once you’re inside. Taking the train to town? Show your Amtrak ticket and admission is free. “If you take advantage of promotions and buying discount tickets and ride wristbands you can save up to 40%. Plus, all entertainment is free,” Armstrong says.

END OF WATCH: When the emergency homeless shelter was opened on Sacramento Street several years ago there was an outcry of concern from neighbors and downtown businesses who feared the homeless population would be drawn to their doorsteps. As a result, the Lodi Safety Ambassador program was born. The city contracted with a private security firm to provide 24/7 roving patrols, safety escorts, and resource connection to support local neighborhoods, businesses, and the Lodi Access Center. The walking and mobile patrols were arguably effective in deterring loitering as they provided assistance to the unsheltered. They also acted as first responders to complaints about homeless persons. Apparently the program has run its course and is being defunded. The money is being reallocated to the police department so they can hire a second community liaison officer. The CLO is a sworn officer who interacts with the city’s homeless and seeks to assist them in getting off the streets. They also effect campsite cleanups and arrange for towing of RVs and vehicles that are in violation of state or local laws.

MEET AND GREET: Lodi City Council District 1 candidate Dawson Hayre is teaming up this weekend with Sacramento Councilwoman Mai Vang, who is challenging Rep. Doris Matsui for California’s 7th Congressional District seat. Vang drew attention earlier this year after she turned her back on the American flag and declined to recite the Pledge of Allegiance during council meetings. “As much as I love this country, I use that moment to ground myself, to center our communities and remind myself of the injustices and harm that continue to affect so many, both locally and across the globe, under this nation’s influence,” Vang wrote in a 2025 Facebook post. The public is invited to meet Vang and Hayre at House of Coffees this Saturday, Sept. 5, at 9 a.m. Hayre is running against Mike Carouba and Brandon Sywassink for the seat being vacated by longtime Councilman Alan Nakanishi.

RECYCLING FEAR: There’s growing unease over the used-tire recycling operation now running out of the former General Mills facility on Turner Road. One recent social media post put the worry pretty bluntly: “There is a serious public concern regarding the General Mills plant property, which appears to have been turned into a tire recycling operation. Far too many houses and lives in danger to have a tire recycling center near this area if a fire was to breakout.” Kexport Tire says it is Lodi’s largest “end of life” tire collection and disposal service. The company sorts and grades used tires, then ships them off to a recycling facility. Still, the sight of all those old tires has neighbors worried that one fire could do a lot of damage — both to the neighborhood and to the air. City officials, however, say the company is operating legally.

LAST LAUGH: Someone posted, “What’s blue and smells like red paint? Blue paint.”

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Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays and Saturdays in the News-Sentinel and at stevemann.substack.com. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.

Lodi’s Annette Murdaca took her grandchildren into the McDonald’s on Lodi Avenue for lunch one day, expecting nothing more than an ordinary meal. While they waited for their order, a young woman walked up to Annette and thanked her for saving her life. Annette was stunned. “What? What do you mean I saved your life?” she asked. The woman, who was the restaurant manager, explained that Annette had started Lodi House, and that Lodi House had taken her in when she needed help most. “Lodi House saved my life,” she told her. Wow. It was the kind of moment that reminds you how far one act of kindness can travel. So when Annette later heard that the McDonald’s manager had been shot, her heart sank. It gave her a stomach ache, she said. Some details about Monday’s incident in Lodi have been released by Lodi Police, but many have not, including the manager’s name, so we won’t disclose it here, either. Annette and her husband Jim together with friend Nancy Watts were instrumental in establishing Lodi House, which opened in 2000 as a refuge for homeless women and children. Since then, Lodi House has helped more than 1,000 women and children when they needed it most. “You never know how you’ll change a person’s life,” says Annette.

MONEY MATTERS: The latest city budget paints a pretty grim picture for Lodi’s general fund. Starting in 2027, officials expect the city to run a deficit of more than $4 million a year unless something changes. That’s a big turnaround for a city that, not long ago, was seeing revenues and reserves climb. As of June 30, 2025, the general fund balance was $52 million, according to the latest certified audit. Of that, $29.2 million was unrestricted, which means the city council could spend it where it saw fit. So what happened? A few things. Employee raises added costs, the city lost its annual business license tax after discovering voters hadn’t approved the fee, tax revenues are coming in lower than expected and inflation is still pushing expenses higher. Add it all up and you’ve got a financial squeeze that could drain the city’s reserves over the next several years. The sucking sound you hear is the city’s cash pile being depleted. The city’s five-year forecast shows Lodi balancing the budget mostly by spending down those reserves. If nothing changes, the general fund could be underwater by $1.5 million by 2032. So, what now?

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Stop the presses and hold the phone! Looks like swimming in San Francisco Bay is more popular than we knew. Rick Wright tells this column that his nephew Eric Wright recently swam out near the Golden Gate Bridge in an organized race, finishing 8^th out of 147 participants, but coming in first in his age group. “He was inspired to make this swim by his grandfather, my dad, Wilbur Orville ‘Bill’ Wright and dad’s brother Ralph Wright,” says Rick, adding, “They were among the 14 swimmers for the Golden Gate inaugural swim on May 27, 1937.” Rick says his dad placed 4^th and his dad’s younger brother placed 12^th. Both were in High School and were competing against college athletes.

GOING IN: There’s a new subdivision going in at the western edge Woodbridge along Woodbridge Road. It’s named Redeeming Way Subdivision and is being developed by Lodians Jim and Jan Ehlers and partners Dan and Judy Lewis. A tentative map filed with the county shows 26 residential lots ranging in size from 17,000 to 34,400 square feet. Ehlers says the lots should be available for purchase in the spring of 2027. They will sell for about $30 - $35 per square foot. There is a long list of interested parties, he says, so the lots probably won’t last long. Jim says the development is one that he always wanted to do with his dad Lee, who died in a car crash in 1979. So for Jim this is a dream come true. The development is offset from Woodbridge Road and will include a bridge over the WID canal that borders it. The property fronting the roadway will also be developed sometime in the future, says Ehlers.

WELCOME ABOARD: Gianna Ripa is the new manager of the Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation, taking the place of the late Wayne Craig, who died in 2024 of cancer. She has a MA degree in educational leadership from Notre Dame and a BA in international political economy from the University of Puget Sound. She was advancement officer for the Stockton Symphony and director of alumni relations and advancement for St. Mary’s High School, in addition to being the dean of students there. She is also a licensed yoga teacher and yoga therapist. The foundation board took over a year to fill the spot left by Wayne.

FOOD FAST: It’s not free, but it’s close. The Village Coffee Shop on Lodi Avenue now offers meal delivery anywhere in Lodi for three bucks. Anyone who’s ordered food using an online delivery service such as Door Dash knows it’s not a cheap service. Village owner Juli Jette says there’s a big demand for food delivery these days and many people use Door Dash, but the Village is the only local restaurant offering the service in-house. Right now it’s available only for her Wednesday night dinners, but she says she plans to expand it to all day service soon.

GET GROWING: Lodi’s Jeff McLain has been growing giant pumpkins for years. He entered a 1,500-pound behemoth in the Elk Grove pumpkin contest last year, but his didn’t win. A 2,147-pound giant gourd took home the $7,000 prize in ‘25. Turns out Jeff’s pumpkin was a lightweight, not even finishing in the top six. But, no worries, he’s growing two more giant pumpkins this year, he says with confidence, hoping at least one will tip the scales in his favor. He plants the seeds in April and says giant pumpkins start out growing slowly, then suddenly a growth spurt happens. Then they just sit there. Jeff says pumpkins don’t grow the same as other vegetables because they peak and if cracks form they could invite mold or mildew. If that happens it could end up rotting. He remembers one of his pumpkins growing 50 pounds in one day. If one of this year’s pumpkins is worthy, he’ll hoist it on a truck using a forklift and haul it to Elk Grove.

HIGH HONOR: Former Lodian Gerald Yamada recently received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette — one of the highest honors given by the Emperor of Japan. The award was presented June 24, 2026, at the Japanese ambassador’s residence by Ambassador Shigeo Yamada. He was recognized for his many years of work with Japanese American organizations. Around Lodi, some folks may also remember his father, Ted Yamada, who was a longtime partner in Sell-Rite Market.

LAST LAUGH: Someone posted, “My grandpa always said when one door closes, another one opens. Smart man but a horrible cabinet maker.”

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Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays and Saturdays in the News-Sentinel and at stevemann.substack.com. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.

THE LATEST: Another dead deer has been found in the Nature Area of Lodi Lake. City officials say the cause of death hasn’t been determined, but at least one Lodi resident says it was because of a dog attack. If true, that would seem to underscore the reason dogs aren’t allowed inside the park. Multiple deer have been found deceased at the lake in the past several months. Investigations have linked the deaths to natural causes including Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease, a species-specific virus that does not affect humans, pets, or other wildlife.

ART SHOW: Adopt-A-Child held an art workshop last month, and now the students’ work is ready for the spotlight. The organization is hosting a free art show this Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its offices at 100 E. Pine Street. Rick Freedman, president of Adopt-A-Child, says the group has received 20 submissions so far from Lodi students in grades 3 through 12, all inspired by the theme, “Imagine if you had a superpower.” Winners will be announced Saturday, and thanks to a donation from F&M Bank, the winning pieces will be digitally reproduced and printed on the windows of the building, says Freedman.

CLEANUP UPDATE: The situation with aging recreational vehicles parked for long stretches along city streets in the industrial area east of Highway 99 has been pretty bad. But it’s getting better. Since we wrote about the problem a few weeks ago, the police department has started towing vehicles with expired registration and other code violations. Some owners, seeing that happen, apparently decided it was time to get outta Dodge. People have told this column that the biggest issue is the trash and garbage left around the RVs — in some cases, even containers of human waste. Others have raised concerns with the city about safety and security, especially for nearby office workers who go out for walks during lunch breaks. The city hasn’t moved faster mainly because towing, storing and eventually disposing of these vehicles is expensive. It costs roughly $1,700 per vehicle to tow, store and dismantle them — and in the end, the city, meaning you, picks up the bill.

WATER WORKS: A new 64-acre recharge basin is going to be built in the Victor area, according to North San Joaquin Water Conservation District Manager Steve Schwabauer. He says the water project is a partnership between his district and San Joaquin County to help resupply the water table by filling the basin with storm water, which will percolate down over time. While the project is outside the city, it benefits Lodi’s water table, which is over-drafted. The city used to pump all of its water from the underground aquifer, but nowadays it draws close to half of its water from the Mokelumne River, which is purified at the surface water treatment plant on Turner Road, next to Lodi Lake. The city intends to increase its surface water usage by embarking on a $25 million expansion of the treatment facilities on Turner, plus build a new one-million-gallon water storage tank on Highway 12 at Westgate Drive on five acres the city owns behind Walmart. The state has gotten tough on water usage, mandating that cities and counties adopt and implement an approved groundwater sustainability plan. Failure to meet conservation goals will result in the state taking over management of the plan. You don’t want that.

LAST LAUGH: Someone posted another “dad” joke: “What do you call a belt made of watches? A waist of time.” Cue the laugh track.

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Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays and Saturdays in the News-Sentinel and at stevemann.substack.com. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.

Remember last year, when Lodi was being considered for a full Blue Zones project designation? The county and city teamed up to bring in the Blue Zones Ignite program — basically a first-look assessment of local health habits and how ready the community might be for a bigger project. So-called blue zones are where people seem to live longer and healthier. In March 2025, analysts came through town and visited nearly 60 places, including parks, schools, healthcare centers and downtown spots, to get a feel for Lodi’s strengths and challenges. But after all that, Lodi didn’t make the cut for the full rollout. So what happened? “Lodi was not selected for a full-scale Blue Zones project because, after the preliminary assessment, there was no identified city sponsorship or local funding commitment to support it, and unlike in other counties where Blue Zones initiatives are sustained by foundations, nonprofits, or managed care plans, no local entity was ready to take on that role,” explains county spokesperson Katie Piper.

FUTURE IS NOW: The WOW Museum is holding its “WOW into the Future” fundraiser tonight at the “WOW Plaza.” Sacramento Street between Pine and Elm will be closed for the event. It’s a “Back to the Future” theme and there will be an 80’s DeLorean on hand for photo ops. There will also be a family-style Farm to Feast dinner provided by Morada Eats/Moveable Feast. There will be a live band, Agents of Rock, playing ‘80s tunes and prizes for the best 80’s outfit. Proceeds from the event will go towards building a multi-million-dollar expansion that will include a hotel\museum. The project has been in the discussion phase for 10 years, according to board member Mamie Starr. But now that WOW has hired a contractor, things should start to move towards completion. Mamie says no tickets will be sold at the door, so if you don’t have yours yet, well, it’s back to the future.

FREE CONCERT: If you like chamber music, check out the free concert tomorrow afternoon at First Baptist Church in Lodi. Hot August Brass featuring three-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Mike Rocha will be on stage starting at 4 p.m., according to band member Dane Burg. Rocha has played alongside such talents as Christina Aguilera, Bob Dylan, Phat Band, where he still holds the jazz soloist seat, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Nai Palm, Jeff Bernat, Postmodern Jukebox, the John Daversa Big Band, the Alan Chan Big Band, and the Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble.

SHARKFEST: Lodi’s Nolan Butler competed at the 33rd annual Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim earlier this month, coming in 16th out of 461 swimmers of all ages, according to the Lodi Swim Club. “The swim emulates the daring prison break made by the Anglin brothers and Frank Lee Morris in 1962, and runs 1.5 miles in the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay,” the club says. Two years ago the Lodi High junior came in third in the Alcatraz Swim With the Centurions. Last year Butler finished in fourth place overall among 206 entrants, taking the top spot in the male 15-17 division with a time of 27 minutes, 20.5 seconds, according to a News-Sentinel report.

MORE RECORDS: Another batch of documents from the city landed at the News-Sentinel. They are in response to a public records request made over a year ago. The documents detail some of the impermissible credit card charges made by some city employees. All seem to be mistakes that were promptly repaid to the city. One such charge was for Uber Eats for $59.38. The employee’s name was redacted but the explanation was that their Cal Card was inadvertently tied to the food delivery service app. Another errant charge was made to Uber Eats by former librarian Akiliah Manuel in 2023 for $70.73. She explained, “I attended a library conference in June and forgot to remove the payment method from the Uber Eats app.” Another unnamed employee charged $172.95 at the Kate Spade outlet. Their explanation, “I used Amazon checkout to make a purchase outside of Amazon and inadvertently chose my Cal Card as payment instead of my personal card. As soon as I was made aware of the error, I made sure to delete my Cal Card from my account so it will not accidently be charged again.” Audits were done and no fraud or attempted fraud was found. The mistakes were corrected and the city has reportedly changed its practices.

GOOD EATS: When’s the last time you went to Strings Italian Café in the Sunwest Shopping Center, near where Wal-Mart used to be? If it’s been a while, you might want to give it another look. The food is good, and the prices are almost a bargain compared with places serving similar dishes. Their all-you-can-eat lunch combo — salad, Minestrone soup and bread — runs about $14. The build-your-own pasta dish is just $15. At dinner, the shrimp scampi, made with garlic butter, lemon juice and white wine, is a nice choice. The menu also has plenty of old favorites, including beef tortellini in a creamy marsala sauce with mushrooms and smoked ham. The Carbonara sounds pretty tempting, too: spaghetti tossed in a lemon cream sauce with bacon, chicken and peas, then topped with Parmesan cheese. And the salmon Pescatore looks like another winner, with a seasoned salmon filet covered in a creamy sauce and served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Other standbys include chicken parmesan, chicken Florentine, chicken picatta, pizzas and calzones. … Tony’s Pizzeria is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Earlier this month, they offered 50-cent pizza by the slice and 50-cent pints of Miller High Life beer — but only for one day, sorry. Tony’s is tucked away in the space down the sidewalk from Avenue Grill on Lodi Avenue.

LAST LAUGH: Someone posted, “The next time you’re feeling like a moron, just remember the time Kim Kardashian played poker with mirrored glasses.”

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Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays and Saturdays in the News-Sentinel and at stevemann.substack.com. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.

The city’s general fund is in a tough spot. According to the latest financial forecast, it’s looking at a structural deficit of more than $4 million a year. For now, the plan is to cover the gap by dipping into reserves. Starting next fiscal year, that would mean pulling about $4.5 million to $5 million from reserves annuall…

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When Beverly Stroh moved into her family’s home on Crescent Avenue in 1935, who could have guessed she’d still be living there 91 years later? Born in 1932, the retired schoolteacher moved with her family into the newly built house in the 200 block of South Crescent and, except for a short time away at college, has lived th…

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The regular filing period has ended for prospective city council candidates. However, Councilman for District 1 Alan Nakanishi followed through on his pledge to not seek re-election, which extends the filing period by five days for his district only. The extended deadline is now Wednesday, Aug. 12. Nakanishi will conclude a …

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Heritage Oak Winery is closing down, according to owner and winemaker Tom Hoffman. In a recent email sent to customers Tom announced the painful decision, saying he and wife Carmela have sold their remaining 10 acres of land in the Victor area and on Dec. 15 it will revert to being a private residence. “We have arrived at a …

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There’s even more pain at the purse. In case you missed it, the city will soon (Oct. 1) start charging utility customers a 3.5% convenience fee if they pay their bills with plastic. The city has historically eaten the bank fees that come with processing credit card transactions, a cost that totals over $1 million annually. B…

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For most people, their wedding day is a mountaintop experience. For newlyweds Andrew and Sophie Fonda-Stroh, that was not just a figure of speech. They got hitched last Saturday atop Bear Mountain, about 8,800 feet up, which is one way to make sure nobody complains about the view. The bride’s father — Lodi Unified board mem…

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If you drive around parts of Lodi’s industrial area east of Highway 99, especially Thurman Road, you’ll find stretches of roadway lined with ramshackle RVs and pickup trucks. The occupants aren’t on vacation. They live there. The vehicles look to be on their last legs, each oozing someone’s worldly belongings out the doors a…

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Oy. The city is being sued by its former city manager, who was canned by the city council last fall, after being placed on paid admin leave for six months. The city attorney and city clerk have also departed or will soon do so. There’s also rumors of a new lawsuit being filed having to do with this debacle. The city has a n…

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It was a big day at Lodi Airport, out near Highway 99 and Jahant Road, on July 1. A 57-year-old Radial Starduster Too biplane finally got off the ground again — its first flight after a four-and-a-half-year rebuild by local pilots Dennis Holbrook, Matt Little, and Stan Helmle. The plane has quite a history. The late Paul May…

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It sounded like a war zone. Last Saturday’s city-sponsored fireworks show was loud and glitzy in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. It ended around 9:45 p.m. What you heard after that was a mix of legal and illegal fireworks. The police department responded to 77 calls regarding possibly illegal pyrotechnics, accordin…

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Jimmy’s Supper Club opens to the public on Thursday, July 9 at 317 E. Kettleman Lane where the Murdaca culinary dynasty all began in 1985—46 years ago. The restaurant was opened as Pietro’s by Jim Murdaca, whose son Pete bought the business several years ago. The flagship trattoria is now located at 282 Rocky Lane across from…

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Things are moving along at Lodi Middle School on Ham Lane and Vine Street, where a big modernization project is underway. The plan includes three brand-new buildings, a new science yard, a band room, and a multipurpose room. Once those permanent classrooms are up, the school can finally retire its portable buildings — some of …

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There might as well be a turnstile on the second floor of City Hall. Executive staff have been coming and going at an historic rate. Some by choice, others not. City Attorney Katie Lucchesi left in early April to take the same position in Turlock. City Manager Scott Carney was put on paid administrative leave last April and …

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The revolving door at City Hall keeps spinning. City Clerk Olivia Nashed announced her resignation earlier this week. Her last day with the city will be July 31. She said she is leaving to explore other opportunities. “My time with the City has been truly meaningful. I’m incredibly grateful for the collaboration, support and …

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