When you were in kindergarten, could you ask and answer questions about a reading selection? Could you identify characters, the story’s setting and the main events? Could you retell the story in detail?

(StatePoint) For families, summertime is all about active fun -- from vacations to ballgames, and fireworks to poolside picnics. But being on-the-go can mean lots of downtime in transit and waiting for activities to start.

Julia Child was known for saving a cooking disaster by sprinkling some powdered sugar on it, sticking it under the broiler for a few minutes and then calling it a masterpiece. Even after her death, Child’s spirit is making things better; this time, her name is helping to save Galt’s school libraries.

Dear Straight Talk: I’m ashamed to say I was like “No Slut’s” sister in last week’s column. In addition to having a terrible reputation, which gave my younger sister one, too, I did everything to make her life miserable. The few friends she did make, I drove away. I laughed at her when she was naked, calling her body “gross,” and found it funny when she cried. I’m mature now and have changed. I feel terrible and wish like anything to beg for forgiveness and make it up to her. But I don’t know how to approach her or if the damage can be undone. — S.T.

I am writing this letter in regards to the Roget Park ceremonies on April 6. I attended the event to help celebrate a new and beautiful park in our community. The opening ceremonies and presentation were very nice and well done.

She just couldn't leave well enough alone! Jane Fonda was, and is, a traitor to this country and the young men who served her and are serving her.

Drive a-round Lodi, and you can't help but notice the number of Christian churches. There are at least 60. Some have begun within the last several years. I happen to pastor one that is nearing its 100th anniversary. While they are different, every one of them is rooted in the same story revealed in the Bible — the story of God's mission of love to redeem and restore a lost and broken world.

Dear Pharmacist: I live in chronic pain. No one is sure why. I take hydrocodone and ibuprofen daily but I’m still in pain. Can you recommend any vitamins to help me? — M.C., Dallas

A Stanislaus County pro-life organization wants to invite students in the Lodi Unified School District to enter a speech contest, but district officials denied the group's request to distribute fliers promoting the contest on high school campuses.

Sadie Boss Jauch moved to Lodi in 1919, the same year that A&W Root Beer was founded here. She's been a customer at Farmers & Merchants Bank for more than 80 years. She and her late husband Ernie were charter members of English Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The sequester is now upon us and the sky hasn't fallen yet, as Mr. Obama has been preaching all over the U.S. This was his idea, although he has tried to blame everyone else. The White House now admits this, and he still demands more spending and taxation.

I'm a past Lodian. I moved here to Elgin, Ill., to be with my daughter Carole and her children.

Gayle Romasanta slides a knife into a white, plump loaf of fresh-baked bread. The first piece falls against the cutting board, revealing a spiraling ribbon of cinnamon and sugar. She sits, barefoot, at her dining   room table and sips from a mug of French-pressed coffee. Her 2-year-old son, Jude, crawls in and out of her lap. And Lukas, her German shepherd, wanders over for an occasional nuzzle.

We're recruiting for a reporter position, so I have been sifting through resumes and cover letters.

When Mikala Bussey, 18, saw a headline about Bear Creek High School on the Yahoo.com homepage, she knew the story had gone viral.

Dear Straight Talk: My stepfather has a son a year older than me who didn’t live with us because my stepdad didn’t have custody. Since we weren’t blood related, I had a crush on “Unknown.” I didn’t hear much about him for a few years, then sophomore year, “Unknown” was getting out of a troubled-teen boot camp and none of his family wanted him. My mom and stepdad took him in.

State Sen. Cathleen Galgiani says that convicted murderer Wesley Shermantine Jr. writes to her a couple of times a week to tell her where remains of murder victims are located.

You haven't heard from me in a while. I apologize. No, I didn't get canned; no, I didn't quit the column; and no, I didn't move to Canada right after the presidential election, but thank you for your email concern.

Winter Checklist:

File your free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. You can complete it online at fafsa.ed.gov or fill out a printed form and mail it. In some cases, you can apply directly through your school. You'll need information from your parents' tax return to complete the application, so ask them to file early.

If someone I knew, or someone in my family, was a victim of a hate crime, I would, like, die. I detest hate crimes because I think it is stupid for people to do mean things just because someone has different colored skin or doesn’t go to the same church.

According to a Metrolist MLS property search there are only 59 homes on the market in Lodi, With such low inventory it’s no surprise that San Joaquin County experienced a 16 percent increase in average sales price for 2012. The average sales price for 2011 was $176,000 and rose to $205,000 in 2012.

After reading the articles and a few scant postings, I've decided to add my own.

There are a few things we wish Old St. Nick would bring Livable, Lovable Lodi — we even have a wish that would make Galt living more gracious. We hope the Jolly Old Elf won't mind if we interrupt his 11-month vacation with our 2013 flights of fancy.

I am sending out a huge "thank you" to everyone who has helped myself and my wife Debbie through such a difficult time. Until Aug. 3, I was working 12-hour days running my business, and as far as I knew was in perfect health. After having off and on bad headaches for two weeks, I was diagnosed with stage 4 brain and lung cancer with anywhere from one to three years to live — if surgery and treatment went well.

This is a letter to Santa. I know you are a very busy man this year, and when you come to visit we know you need to get right back to the North Pole.