The Lodi Community Band participated in the sixth annual Golden Gate Park Band Festival on June 9 in San Francisco. The band, one of 11 to perform in the two-day festival, presented a 50-minute concert of marches and music from the big band era.

Of the popular musical styles of the 1940s, few were as celebrated as big band. The large groups, each at the command of a director, played some of the era’s most popular music.

Filling three board of directors vacancies, the Lodi Community Band members have elected Barbara Portal to a second three-year term. She will also continue as board president. Carol Marvel was also re-elected and will serve as board secretary. Fred Mckendry was newly elected to fill the third vacancy and is band room manager. Other current board members include Sue Meyer, vice president, and Duane Purdy, treasurer.

The Lodi Community Band's annual Christmas Concert was a wonderful lesson in musical styles. They played jazz, orchestral, pop and traditional hymns, just to name a few.

This is in response to the letter signed by Carolyn Hadden, of Galt, posing the question, “Is Obama really a Christian?” on July 19.

The Lodi Community Band Board of Directors announced a new slate of officers for 2011. They are: Barbara Portal, president; Sue Meyer, vice-president; Carol Marvel, secretary; and Duane Purdey, treasurer. Members at large are: Ron Rader, advertising and publicity; Bobby Miner, band room manager; and Ray Lippert, general assistance.

Barbara Portal, president of the board for the Lodi Community Band, announced the awarding of  music camp scholarships to two local music students, Robert Miner and Nicole Rosales. The camps are held at University of Pacific.

The Lodi Public Library Foundation hosted its 10th annual fundraising dinner, “An Evening at the Library,” on Sept. 25.

The Lodi Community Band recently elected the following officers for the 2010-11 year. They are Jerry Lewis, president; Barbara Portal, vice president; Carol Marvel, secretary; Jeff Henderson, treasurer. The Members at large are Don Guptil, Ron Rader and David Contreras. Ex-officio members are Bob Clemons, music librarian; and Bob Gross, band director.

Lodi is about to receive a truly historic honor when the Herald Trumpets of the United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own," from Washington, D.C., will come here in a rare West Coast appearance to join the Lodi Community Band as guest performers in two special concerts on May 3 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Hutchins Street Square.

Community members are invited to a public forum Thursday at Lockeford Elementary School to hear about the possible closure of Clements Elementary next school year.

In the December meeting of the Lodi City Council, outgoing Mayor JoAnne Mounce presented the 2008 Mayor's Community Service Award to the Lodi Community Band. The award was given in recognition of the band's ongoing contribution of free concerts featuring a variety of musical selections throughout the year in the Lodi area.

The Lodi Community Band elected four of its members to new terms on its governing board at a recent board meeting. Elected to three year terms to serve from January 2009 to December 2011 are Bob Clemons, Carol Marvel, Jeff Henderson and Jerry Lewis. All are long-serving band members.

The Lodi Community Band, under the direction of Robert Gross, presented a variety of patriotic musical offerings as part of the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Woodbridge Masonic Cemetery on May 26. The annual ceremony was sponsored by the Lodi Elks Lodge and Lodi Emblem Club in cooperation with the Woodbridge Masonic Lodge. As a special feature, band announcer Ron Rader recited country singer Johnny Cash's poem, "The Ragged Old Flag" as the band played "Shenandoah."

Tuesday

Today

The issues were many, but money seemed to be the major stumbling block to solving concerns expressed by the Woodbridge Municipal Advisory Council.

Today

No injuries, minor damage in chimney fire

Councilman Beckman accepts job in Lathrop

Ronald (Ron) and Carolyn Rader, of Woodbridge, celebrated their 50th anniversary on Sept. 3.

Woodbridge residents are getting fed up over speeding traffic on residential streets and the lack of law enforcement to bring it to a halt.

The entrance to the Woodbridge Wilderness Area will soon have several features added to discourage unsavory activity in the wooded area near the Mokelumne River.

Big leadership changes are in store for the Woodbridge Municipal Council as it gets ready tonight for its first regular meeting since the November election.

Though many seats in local school, fire and utility districts are being run for by opposing candidates, a handful of seats are uncontested, and some remain vacant. Among them are the following: