At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024.
We have a slightly humorous tradition in our family: At the beginning of every season, one of us will say something like, “Winter in California is amazing, and I’m going to miss going up to the snow—but spring really is the best season.” Or "yeah sure summer is fun with the swimming and all, but ahhh the colors of fall—obviolusly the best season."
I realize this is not all that funny, but what makes it a little bit funny (to us) is that we say it at the beginning of every single season, and have been doing so for many years. And we kind of mean it every single time. Because every new season holds the promise that it'll be better than the last.
This winter, as you know, was cold and wet. I am a nature-worshiping Californian who’s been living through a deadly drought, so I stopped complaining about the rain more than a decade ago … until this year. Last week’s warm sun and long evenings made me feel better than I have felt in months.
So: In this week’s edition of The Newsletter, four things, all related to the very best season: Spring!
Product Launch from Hilltromper: BloomTracker
As you may have noticed, we do not tire of singing the praises of California, and Hilltromper (which is kind of CALocal's sister-site) focuses on our state's awesome natural beauty. For our final piece of appreciation today we present the coolest wildflower-finding tool you've ever seen, which was launched last week by our friend Mike Kahn.
BloomTracker: Wildflower Finder & Protector from Hilltromper
Over at Hilltromper, “The Nature-worshiping, Fun-Loving Adventure Guide” that serves the South Bay Area, Santa Cruz County, and anyone who visits these beautiful places, our friend Mike Kahn has just launched a new product he named BloomTracker—“an online resource that helps you find the best places to see wildflowers, in real time, and helps reduce impacts on parks and other open spaces.”
• Manteca Traffic Improvements Planned
Planning is underway to address congestion at South Main between the 120 Bypass and Woodward Avenue with additional lanes and traffic signals.
(03/25/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Lodi Residents Advocate for Traffic Safety
Citing recent traffic deaths, residents ask for traffic safety measure including more stop signs at intersections.
(03/23/2024) → LodiNews
• Grant Funds Secured for 2nd Phase of 99/120 Upgrade
Congressman Josh Harder (D-Tracy) secured a $500K federal grant towards expansion of the Highway 99/120 Bypass interchange connector project.
(03/22/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Bypass Traffic Spurs Discussion About Traffic Signal
The Ripon City Council heard about a propoaed traffic signal to mitigate congestion and delays caused by commuters bypassing highway traffic at the Highway 99 on and off ramps at East Main Street.
(03/22/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Valley Water Allotment Increased
Following strong February rains, the Bureau of Reclamation announced increases in Central Valley Project water allotments.
(03/22/2024) → San Joaquin Valley Sun
• Local Election Results Shaping Up
The latest San Joaquin County election results for Fifth District Supervisor and other races including Mountain House incorporation.
(03/22/2024) → Tracy Press
• New Suit Filed in Aquatics Center Project
A project to build an aquatics center on 16 acres at Summit Drive and Corral Hollow Road in South Tracy has been further mired in litigation as a new suit is filed.
(03/22/2024) → Tracy Press
• Toy Community Center to Open Soon
Located at Yosemite and Fremont Avenues in Manteca, the two-story 8,000 square foot building is being renovated to as a meeting and connection space for local teens and is expected to open with limited services summer of 2024.
(03/20/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Robert Rickman, Sonny Dhaliwal Elected to San Joaquin County BOS
Incumbent Robert Rickman will continue to represent District 5 and Sonny Dhaliwal has been elected to represent District 3.
(03/19/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• CalTrans to Clean Up Homeless Encampment
CalTrans has reached out to inhabitants of the homeless encampments on the Main Street and 120 Bypass interchange and has begun work to clean up the area and secure it from future camping.
(03/19/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Explaining the $15 Million Homeless Grant
An explanation about how the $15 million in state funds will be utilized to address homelessness in Manteca.
(03/18/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Manteca Wastewater Treatment Costs to Rise
The City of Manteca is preparing for alternative means of disposing of biomass solids resulting from the treatment of city wastewater to comply with a state mandate.
(03/18/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Ripon Considering Reactivating Old Water Well
The City of Ripon is evaluating the condition of a currently unused water well originally commissioned in 1991 to determine feasibility and cost of bringing it back into service.
(03/18/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024.
