A&W doesn't measure up for root beer tasting panel

A&W GETS NO LOVE: The New York Times recently published the results from a panel tasting of root beers in its June 25 edition. Noted Times wine writer Eric Asimov reports that while he never writes about sodas and almost never drinks them, he does love root beer.

"I have nostalgic memories of root beer floats (what other genre of soda lends its name to an ice cream drink?) and of road-trip pit stops at A&W root beer stands."

Lodi residents have their fair share of affection for A&W, too, as our city is its birthplace. Just recently, Lodi dignitaries and TV personality Huell Howser dedicated a plaque commemorating the origin of the root beer.

Unfortunately, despite Asimov's fond memories of pit stops at A&W, the root beer didn't capture his interest, or the interest of the rest of the Times' tasting panel that surveyed 25 root beers.

The No. 1 root beer was Sprecher from Wisconsin and No. 2 was the "restrained and flavorful IBC."

Eight other root beers received rankings of two-and-a-half stars and two stars.

The local product, sadly, received no stars.

"Dad's and A&W, two fine old root beer names, didn't measure up," Asimov writes.

Oh, well — Huell likes it.

WINE RADIO: Dino Mencarini from Abundance Vineyards and the Stokes Family from Benson Ferry Vineyards recently appeared on a Minnesota radio station. Check out the segment at http://cities97.com/main.html.

I SEE YOU: Apparently the city of Lodi's Downtown webcam has become the most popular Web site at www.lodi.gov.

"The volume of viewers — more than 350 in the morning after the News-Sentinel reported the camera's existence — slowed the system down," according to a report by City Manager Blair King, who is watching you through a city video camera, right now, as you read this … just kidding!

WORST DAD: Former Lodi Priest Oliver O'Grady has been named as one of the 10 worst dads by Maxim.com.

Father O'Grady, who was at St. Anne's Catholic Church in the 1970s and spent jail time in Ione after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two children in Calaveras County, was listed as No. 7 on the worst dad list.

Singer Michael Jackson was listed as No. 1 for dangling his child out a hotel room balcony. No. 2 is Scott Peterson, who needs no explanation, and No. 3 is Marvin Gaye Sr., who shot to death his son, Motown singing legend Marvin Gaye Jr.

The remaining seven "worst dads," in order, are Joe Simpson, Kurt Cobain, Michael Lohan, O'Grady, Ozzy Osbourne, Rick Hilton and David Hasselhoff.

DOUBLING UP: Jackie Heinrich, esteemed Lodi High School social science teacher and the school's 2007 teacher of the year, managed to take jabs at both the Class of 2008 and Principal Bill Atterberry at Lodi High's graduation late last month.

Heinrich's speech preceded her announcement of the school's 2008 teacher of the year.

Her first good-natured burn went to the Class of 2008.

"The past four years you have been a spunky group," she remarked, adding that the class had given the grown-ups "more gray hairs than we would have liked."

Then, Heinrich landed her second punch.

Before looking over her shoulder at Atterberry, who has a healthy head of gray hair, she said into the mic, "Isn't that right, Bill?"

How's that for a one-two?

Items in Grapevine, which runs every other week on Mondays, are written by various reporters on the staff. If you have an item to contribute, e-mail Newsroom Assistant Machelle Homer at machelleh@lodinews.com or call her at 369-7035.