Micke Grove

Lockeford Springs

Micke Grove

Dry Creek

(NAPSI)Many families this holiday season will stay home to avoid the stress by shopping online and have time left over to relax at home with their favorite TV shows and movies. In fact, eMarketer says online spending this holiday season will account for 24 percent of all U.S. retail spending during the period.

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.

Here is the list of Tokay High School graduates for 2012:

Here is the list of Lodi High School graduates for 2012:

Following is the full obituary as furnished by the Bulkin family.

Here is the list of Lodi High School graduates for 2011:

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, raised about $1 million more than Republican challenger David Harmer in the 11th Congressional District race that McNerney won in November.

Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills, who recently was re-elected to California’s 10th Assembly District, raised $1,296,575 during the campaign filing period that ended Oct. 27. Huber’s totals overshadowed her opponent, former Lodi mayor Jack Sieglock, who raised $130,675 during the same period.

Since Aug. 2, Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills) has dwarfed her opponent, Jack Sieglock, in fundraising totals in the campaign for the 10th District Assembly seat.

Tell someone you're into comic books when you're 12 and they'll smile, thinking it's nice for young ’uns to have a hobby. Tell them the same thing at 40 and they look at you like you're a social disease. 

More than 60 years ago, the Grape Bowl was the site of perhaps the biggest football game ever to be played in Lodi.

Here is a list of Lodi High School graduates for 2010:

Some 77 members of American Legion Lodi Post 22 were acknowledged for their years with the Post at the Legion's recent annual membership dinner.

Chris Townsend has been named the new pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lodi. He gave his first Lodi sermon last Sunday.

Everyone knew "The Dark Knight" would be a major success. Between the brilliant marketing, glowing reviews and incredible hype surrounding the late Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, there was no way this wouldn't be one of the biggest hits of the summer movie season.

By now you are probably so sick of these songs that you've sworn to punch in your car stereo the next time you hear one on the radio.