Danny Smith

A memorial service for Danny Aikens Smith, 78, who died April 13, will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Galt Cemetery. A potluck gathering will immediately follow at the Valley Oaks Grange Hall, 347 5th St., Galt. A Batman celebration of his life, with potluck and pig roast, will be held May 26 at the American Legion Hall at Eagles Lake.

Marshall Johnson

A chapel service for Marshal Smith Johnson, 98, of Lodi, who died May 3, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S. Fairmont Ave., Lodi. Committal will be private.

Carolyn Wilson

A memorial service for Carolyn Carson Wilson, 86, of Lodi, who died May 2, will be held at 2 p.m. today at The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, 1055 St. S. Lower Sacramento Road, Lodi. Committal will be private and there will be no visitation.

Ryan Lauchland

A celebration of the life of Ryan Matthew Lauchland, 23, of Lodi, who died April 25, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Moose Lodge, 3824 E. Woodbridge Road, Acampo.

Thelma Russell

A graveside service for Thelma Russell, 83, of Galt, who died April 30, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 at East Harney Lane, Lodi.

Calvin 'Cal' Kusler

A memorial service for Calvin "Cal" Fredrick Kusler, 83, of Lodi, who died April 24, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Temple Baptist Church, 801 Lower Sacramento Road, Lodi. Committal will be private.

John Doucette

A Mass for John Joseph Doucette, 59, of Lodi, who died April 24, will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Joachim Catholic Church, 13392 E. Lockeford Ranch Road, Lockeford.

Ethel Greene

Committal for Ethel Maxine Greene, 78, of Lodi, who died April 27, will be held at 9:30 a.m. today at Lodi Memorial Cemetery.

Robert Bolanos

A funeral for Robert Gilbert Bolanos, 52, of Lodi, who died April 25, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S. Fairmont Ave., Lodi.

Eleanore Martinez

A celebration of the life of Eleanore Catherine Martinez, 79, of Lodi and formerly of Manteca, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Chez Shari's at the Manteca Golf Course.

Ella Stebner

A celebration of the life of Ella Stebner, 92, of Lodi, who died March 14, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 1540 W. Lodi Ave., Lodi. Lunch will follow.

Frank Draeger

A memorial service for Frank Draeger, 91, of Haines, Alaska and formerly of Lodi, who died April 15, will be held at 1 p.m. today in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 at East Harney Lane, Lodi.

Frank Draeger

A memorial service for Frank Draeger, 91, of Haines, Alaska and formerly of Lodi, who died April 15, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, Highway 99 at East Harney Lane, Lodi.

He idolizes Kevin Durant on television and fields occasional comparisons to the Thunder star from teammates: The wiry frame. Those long arms that his coach still wants to measure. That silky-smooth jump shot that's nearly impossible to block. The sky-high potential.

2012 has been widely hailed as an exceptional year for film, but I’m at a loss as to where all these great films are supposed to be. (But then, if we’ve lowered our standards of “greatness” to the point that something like “Silver Linings Playbook” is being proclaimed as a masterwork ... .)

The Thompson Chevrolet Holiday Classic was supposed to be Patterson's to win. But the Liberty Ranch Hawks varsity boys basketball team had other ideas last Friday.

Dear Santa,

(NAPSI)Parents eager to introduce their children to the epic The Lord of the Rings lore may get some help from the recently released LEGO The Lord of the Rings videogame, which showcases the saga in a lighthearted, fun and humorous way.

We were in the weeds for most of the summer, and browsing the wide release schedule for the next couple months makes it clear that things are only going to get worse before they get any better. But this too shall pass, and before we know it we’ll all be basking in the sweet, comforting glow of the fall movie season, in the company of Steven Spielberg, P.T. Anderson, Ang Lee and James Bond. But rewards must be earned, and for the time being we’ve just gotta grind it out.

I’m not even sure what to say at this point, besides thank God summer’s over. It has been quite an ordeal, and I suppose it’s only fitting that that the season goes out on a grossly disappointing note involving a sub-par sequel. Now we’ve just got to contend with that uneasy transitional period between the summer and fall movie seasons, and we may actually have some good movies to talk about. I’m waiting with breath that is bated.

As “The Expendables 2” rolls into theaters across the globe (look for the review next week), the 2012 summer movie comes to a close — and I honestly can’t remember ever being more depressed as a moviegoer.

Last week I offered a few brief thoughts on some cultural issues surrounding the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colo., and events that have taken place since then suggest that I failed to address one of the key questions surrounding this tragedy: Is it safe to go to the movies anymore?

You may have noted that last week’s review of “The Dark Knight Rises” lacked any mention of the tragedy in Aurora, Colo. This was not meant as a show of disrespect to the victims, but as recognition that regardless of its now-infamous status, Christopher Nolan’s concluding Batman film deserved to be discussed on its own merits, as a movie — not as the alleged trigger that set off a madman’s rampage.

This week’s review of “The Dark Knight Rises” comes a little later than I had initially hoped, but oh well — it’s never too late to spread good news. And I advise you to enjoy the good times while they last, because the rest of the summer looks pretty dicey.