Things we need in Lodi, from a new breakfast spot to an extra post office

This year, as in many earlier ones, we were quiet at home on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

We looked at all the "That's Entertainment" programs on Channel 6 that night and enjoyed that golden oldie, "It Happened One Night," the next day. The weather helped make one want to stay in!

I couldn't help but remember some earlier New Year's Eves during the '60s. Our whole family went across the street to the Beckmans' (Fink and Emily and their boys), and the adults played tile rummy until time to watch Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians playing for the dancing in the Hotel Astor Roof Garden. We used to criticize the formal dresses of some of the ladies — and everything was formal on that occasion. Who can forget Guy's brother, Carmen, singing, "Boo hoo, you've got me crying for you," a perennial. Then we would switch to Times Square and all the hoorah when the ball fell.

Those were good times. Now Fink and Emily are gone and their boys are all out of town but one.

Thinking back to Christmas reminds me of our first few years in Lodi, when Art Hellberg's furniture store was where Daniger's is now and Art was president of the Chamber of Commerce. There was a big old redwood tree on Lodi Avenue near the store and Art used to have lights out on it every year. It was cut down years ago. There is a big old stump near the Cartridge World store that I think might have been that tree.

I've lost another old tree friend. Our neighbor's big old deodar cedar that stood alongside our driveway for the 50-plus years I have lived here has become a danger, and it is being cut down even as I write. I will miss it dreadfully. I have had to cut down a few of my own trees, and that was painful, too.

The sun is out today and birds are flying about, and the two squirrels who live in the oak tree are eating peanuts out of their feeder at a great rate. They have learned to lean out over the side and drop all the empty shells over the side! Messy, but worth it. They're fussy critters — won't eat corn or pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, only peanuts.

My former squirrel friend, Yipsel, would eat everything but corn.

I am delighted to read that Nicole Warren is planning to put on some local productions in Hutchins Street Square. Lodi is sadly lacking in the thespian arts, other that the great things local schools do. Those who remember the Tokay Players and their excellent productions in Pine Alley Theatre and the lobby of the Hotel Lodi can look forward to a new and talented theatre group. And who can forget the other excellent local group, Mike Kiley's Dinner Theatre on Hutchins Street? Stockton Civic Theatre, which is top notch, puts on excellent productions, but they're not Our Own, even though some players from Lodi are included.

I know this is a new year and the practice is to look forward to new and wonderful things, but I can't move on without saying goodbye to some old friends: Rollin' in Dough restaurant, like none other; Lakewood Drug Store, and the post office there, which met so many needs; Ace Hardware, with its friendly and helpful staff; Mervyn's, great for good buys.

New things I'd like to see: a breakfast restaurant (like the old Waffle Shop) in the Lakewood area, one that would include crepes; a post office back in that area, and maybe a hardware store and a quality store for women's clothing, akin to Randall's. Doesn't hurt to dream in Technicolor.

And a fervent request to the new Delta College board: build an elevator in Atherton Auditorium! A symphony survey asking about a Sunday afternoon concert instead of the Thursday night one shows that there is awareness of the aging of the audience; we old ones don't much like going to things that start at 8 p.m., particularly when drivers licenses seem to disappear! And seniors like the balcony because they can better afford it, even though struggling up all those stairs is hard. As Kipling used to say in "The Jungle Book," "Give ear!"

Gwin Paden has had a finger or two in many community groups and activities in the last 50 years or so, and has had careers in the WAC, news reporting, advertising, radio and teaching English at Lodi High and Delta College.

Reader Feedback

Lodian wrote on Jan 11, 2009 1:19 AM:

" I guess I'm fortunate as our mail gets here by 11am. Also, are you all aware of the post office location in the Larsen's Hallmark store? "

Report Abuse

Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jan 10, 2009 12:08 PM:

" Once again Safeway you missed the point. Gwen wants a postal facility in the Lakewood Mall area, like the one the Drug store had. And I agree with her. I refuse to go to our Post Office downtown as it is sooooo sloooowww. Lakewood Drugs was my post office.

7pm... oh, too bad you lil cry baby. My house is at the end of my carriers long route which includes many businesses. Depending upon the day my mail does not come until 4-5:30pm every single day. "

Report Abuse

lodisafeway wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:20 AM:

" With all due respect to Ms. Paden, the idea of an extra post office seems superfluous. What is really needed is actual "service" from the only official Post Office we have in Lodi. In an age of electronic mail and nearly instant communication to virtually everyone anywhere, the employees down on School street appear to be running in slow-motion most of the time.

With numerous postal businesses throughout Lodi I really don't see the "need" for a new official post office anywhere. Stamps can be bought at almost every grocery and department store in the city (with zero markup on the cost), although the use of certified and registered mail services still needs to be completed at the main office.

Since we're on the subject of service, the other day (well after the holiday "rush"), my mail wasn't delivered until after 7:00 p.m. There was no rain, hail or sleet to have caused such a delay in delivery, which has become increasingly worse over time (with the receipt of others' mail and continued delay of my own).

No, an "extra" Post Office isn't needed in Lodi; one less ought to do the trick. "

Report Abuse

WCPatty wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:51 AM:

" I miss going out for nice breakfast or brunch once in a while. The town I live in only has a few doughnut shops and only one truck-stop restaurant that serves breakfast. (I doubt they've even heard of crepes!) "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes

Things we need in Lodi, from a new breakfast spot to an extra post office

Reader Feedback

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads

Weather

Services

Contact Us

Office

Newsroom

Subscriptions

Advertising

Classifieds