Woodbridge Golf & Country Club

On Dec. 13, 2012, Lloyd Roper, Master of Lodi Masonic Lodge No. 256 F.&A.M., presented the 2012 Henry and Karen Hansen Memorial Fund Civic Youth Group Award check in the sum of $1,000 to Jerry Glenn, president of the Lodi Adopt-A-Child organization.

Lodi, you did it again. With your help and generosity, more than 1,100 underprivileged kids were given new clothing and toys. More than 150 bicycles were put under the tree, along with remote control cars, new shoes, shirts, pants and warm jackets.

I got our usual holiday season call from Lodi Adopt-A-Child manager Jerry Glenn on Wednesday.

The Grinch wants to destroy Christmas again this year. Year after year, Santa has beaten him. We cannot let the Grinch ever win.

I am sure you have seen the distortions and mistruths Ricky Gill's opponent Jerry McNerney has circulated.

The bad news is that Lodi Adopt-A-Child had to cancel its annual golf tournament due to lack of participation. The good news is that a number of businesses contributed to be hole sponsors and allowed us to keep the money.

What began as a dream of former Lodi Police Officer Dennis Lewis to help children one Christmas became a reality when Lodi Adopt-A-Child was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1989. The organization provides gifts to children each Christmas as well as year-round aid to Lodi's less-fortunate children.

Last October, Lodi Adopt-A-Child provided back-to-school clothing to more than 330 underprivileged children. The children were selected by their school teachers as being in need. Each child was provided three pair of pants, three polo shirts, a sweatshirt, socks, underwear and new shoes.

The Grinch was knocked for a loop again. On Saturday, Lodi Adopt-A-Child held a massive Christmas party from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Gifts were there for almost 1,100 children. On Sunday, deliveries were scheduled for more than 125 new bicycles for Christmas. The only way Santa won the yearly battle was through the generosity and giving of the people of Lodi.

Lodi Adopt-a-Child is once again in need of your help for our 21st annual Christmas Wish program. Last year, the community's generous donations helped us give a bit of Christmas to nearly 1,200 children.

Lodi-Tokay Rotary is seeking Santa.

Last year, local and state politicians — including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — signed proclamations for the Sacramento Freethought Committee.

But this year, Gov. Jerry Brown’s office sent an email informing the group he would not issue a message for them.

So at their annual celebration at McGeorge School of Law this Sunday, nonbelievers will display the proclamations that were signed. Next to them will be an empty frame, symbolizing the one they did not receive from Brown.

When Tom Peterson first began his career as a city hall reporter in San Diego, he decided he liked what the people in city government were doing. After working in city government for two years in San Diego, Peterson relocated to Lodi, where he served two stints with the city of Lodi. He believes in helping people make things happen.

Last Saturday, Aug. 20, Lodi Adopt-A-Child provided back-to-school clothing to more than 330 underprivileged children. The children were selected by their school teachers as being in need. Each child was provided three pair of pants, three polo shirts, a sweatshirt, socks, underwear and new shoes.

Lodi Adopt-A-Child began in 1989 to fill an obvious need in the Lodi community. While he was charter president of the Lodi Police Officers’ Association, Dennis Lewis formed a small committee to give Christmas to 30 children whom he and other officers found in need of a little help that year.

I am well over 70 years old and thought I had seen it all. Miracles? I believe in miracles again.

Lodi Adopt-A-Child needs help. We have 1,102 children on our Christmas list and as of Sunday morning 620 of these children have been “adopted.” We still have almost 500 who have not been adopted. We have some funds to purchase gifts, but not for 500 kids.

Bob Johnson was unanimously elected mayor by his Lodi City Council colleagues before a packed house at Carnegie Forum on Wednesday night. Johnson, a councilman since 2004 who also served for 10 months in 1998 to fill a council vacancy, assumed the role of mayor for the second time. He previously held the top position in 2007 and was a real estate appraiser in Lodi for 18 years.

Since December of last year, the Grinch has been making plans to steal Christmas this year. He tried the same thing last year, and the citizens of Lodi said, "no Way!" The result: Lodi Adopt a Child was able to provide Christmas gifts to 1,184 underprivileged children in Lodi. We have almost 1,200 kids enrolled in our Christmas Wish program this year.