After Dennis Yamamoto retired, he picked up a ukulele he had gotten in Hawaii, plays a few chords and then was hooked on it. Because the closest ukulele club was in Roseville, he began his own for the Central Valley called the Ukulele Strummers.

The Ukelele Strummers of the Square held a free performance Wednesday. Instructor Dennis Yamamoto led the group. Dennis teaches classes Tuesday evenings and Wednesdays. Here's the first song from their show Wednesday:

Health education classes

Lodi Health is offering the following classes:

• A breastfeeding class will be held on Feb. 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The free, one-session class covers the advantages of breastfeeding, basic anatomy, the breastfeeding process and common problems and solutions.
• A free childbirth preparation class will be held on Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We asked Lodi’s City Council members, foodies and fun-seekers to share their big — and cozy — plans for ringing in the New Year.

Dennis Yamamoto’s shoulders bob up and down with each strum of his ukulele. There is a big grin on his face as he sings the words to “Tiny Bubbles.” His motions are paced and smooth, and now, playing those chords is an effortless, relaxing practice.

As a News-Sentinel reporter and photographer entered James and Margaret DeBoard's home last week for an interview, James asked in rapid-fire fashion, "How is your father-in-law's wife's daughter's husband?"

Sing carols with locals in Victorian Nevada City

We recently took a trip to Oahu. It was after our son's wedding and we figured if they could go on a honeymoon, so could we. Our 29th honeymoon to be exact. (I'll add a note here about those who think Oahu is all flash and traffic and tourists and LA-like development. Well it is in some places but there are other parts of the island that are just magical and I'm glad we chose to go back)

Is your child struggling in school? Does your child need a self-esteem boost? If your answer is yes to one or both questions, you may want to think about music lessons, according to Lodi area music teachers.

With a russet Kamaka ukulele tucked away in a box with Little Orphan Annie decoder rings, Lodian Ruby Hennenberg patiently waited her turn to be given a price for the goods by workers of Treasure Hunters Roadshow on Tuesday morning.

If you like music that swings, attend the Casey MacGill's Blue 4 Trio concert on March 22 at utchins Street Square.

A little post-Halloween fable: Once upon a time there was a rowdy boy who indulged in sundry acts of mayhem in his little town in Squarehead County, USA.

Excitement and anticipation was always in the air during early Lodi's celebrations of Independence Day.

Music is a family business for Jerry Lewis. He remembers his grandfather playing music to entertain those in the town where he grew up in Missouri. His parents play the fiddle and guitar. He himself plays 12 instruments, and can't remember a time when he didn't play.

Janet Ila Fessier, 90, of Lodi and formerly of Stockton, died Aug. 1. She was born Janet Ila Pollum in Stockton.

Back in high school, there were cliques, and they could be (and often were) insufferable. The one I belonged to did a lot of entertaining since we were the people who ran for offices, put on the plays, the pep rallies and a lot of other useless stuff.

Pua (Pualani) and Lopaka Batista, native Hawaiians who live in Acampo, are using their Polynesian talents in a way they never expected.

Come Sunday, Jerry Lewis will perform with the Lodi Community Band at Hutchins Street Square.