Is cannabis in Lodi’s future? In an article that ran in Saturday’s News-Sentinel, Councilman Mikey Hothi hints that the city is missing out by not allowing cannabis retailing in Lodi. On the one hand, he may be right. Officials have estimated marijuana sales in Lodi would generate as much as $1 million a year in additional sales tax. However, others have argued that more crime would accompany marijuana dispensaries and additional police costs would outweigh the financial benefits. The same argument was made when a new card room and casino was approved for South Cherokee Lane, but the predictions have not materialized. The discussion has been prompted by a decrease in expected Measure L sales tax revenue, which is the first time the special tax has come in under expectations since it was implemented in 2019.

GRAPE BOWL RENO: A new committee has been established by Mayor Cameron Bregman to work on renovating the Lodi Grape Bowl. Members include Bob Colorassi, Timothy Stewert, Daniel Meza, Kini Sanborn, Valerie Pennino, Ryan Haggerty, Matt Rempfer, and JP Doucette. Bregman will serve as an ex-officio member. The squad will work with Lodi Unified and the city to explore ideas and develop a vision for the historic facility. “The Grape Bowl touts a rich history and, in truth, I believe this will be the last attempt at restoring the facility,” says Mayor Bregman. The Bowl has undergone significant renovations in recent years. In 2013 the city completed a $1.7 million repair job that included moving the stadium entrance from the corner of Stockton and Lawrence to Stockton Street directly across from the Lodi Softball Complex. A new ticket booth was put in the new entry-level plaza out front of the main gates. Many ADA improvements were also made. Money for the improvements came from a $1 million gift from Waste Management (in exchange for a seven-year contract extension), the Save the Grape Bowl campaign raised $178,000 for the project, the parks department capital fund contributed $14,316, and the city council used $472,684 of federal Community Development Block Grant funds to complete the repairs.

TOP OF THE NEWS: It’s not something you see every day, especially in your local newspaper. At the top of Page One in the latest edition of the Galt Herald you’ll find the statement, “There Is Only One King, Jesus Christ,” accompanied by a rendering of Christ. We reached out to the newspaper’s publisher, Paul Scholl, to find out about the extraordinary news item, but no response yet. The Galt paper was purchased by Messenger Publishing Group in 2021. The Jesus “teaser” didn’t just appear on the front page of the Galt paper; it appeared atop nearly all of Messenger Publishing’s 30 newspapers. Scholl acquired the Galt Herald from Valley Oak Press, which had bought it from Herburger Publications a few years earlier. 

TIMBER!: City will be yanking out 32 redwood and cedar trees from American Legion Park on the corner of Hutchins and Vine. Reasons for the removal are that some of the trees are unstable, according to the city, and others are in close proximity to electric lines. The Tree Lodi organization concurs with the plan, saying the trees are too large to be planted under high voltage lines. Once the trees are gone Tree Lodi will work with the parks department on a tree replacement plan. The new trees will be ones “better suited” to be planted under high voltage lines, according to city officials. You’ll remember what happened to much of Legion Park during the January 2023 storms that ripped through town. Several large trees toppled in the high winds, some crashing down onto the tennis courts, smashing fences and everything else in the way.

TONIGHT: The new Historical Guild 209 group is hosting a History Symposium Series with their next event happening tonight at 6 p.m. at 1420 W. Kettleman Lane, Suite C. Tonight’s program will be about the supposed alien abduction attempt in Lodi in 1896. Just in time for Halloween. The new history preservation group was started a few months ago by Ralph A. Clark, who’s also the author of a bestselling Lodi history book. Admission is free.

MAJOR MEMORIES: As you know, the Toronto Blue Jays are in the World Series this year. That brings back memories for Monet Carosella, who remembers Lodian Rick Morgan when he was a pitcher for the Blue Jays. “He was my son’s pitching coach. I bet he’s quite pleased that his team is going to the World Series,” says Monet. Morgan runs RAM Pro Pitching Instruction in Lodi. But Carosella isn’t Morgan’s only fan. Julie C. says, “Rick is an effective pitching instructor. My son has learned a great deal about mechanics and strategy. He is a patient and thoughtful mentor. We highly recommend.” Win or lose, the Blue Jays’ trip to the World Series this year has stirred memories.

FLASHBACK: When you think back about all the fine Lodi restaurants that have come and gone over the years, longtime Lodians can’t help but remember the Cosmo. In April 1980 an open letter advertisement addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Cosmopolitan Customer” ran in the News-Sentinel. The letter was signed by Dick DeGrande, who closed the storied Lodi institution on March 23, 1980, across town from where it started almost 70 years earlier. The letter thanked customers of the Cosmo restaurant for their patronage over the years. It also thanked the restaurant’s founders, Mr. and Mrs. DeMartini and Mr. and Mrs. Antognoli, who started the popular restaurant inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the corner of Oak and Main. In 1971 Degrande moved the Cosmo from the Main and Oak location to the Tokay Bowl Tiki Room on Cherokee Lane. In 1980 DeGrande was opening a new restaurant in Stockton, but he wrote, “I have always felt since 1967 the Cosmo was part of Lodi and that if ever I would open a restaurant elsewhere, the name would never move on; it would end an era.” True to his word, the name Cosmo died when he closed his restaurant for the last time 45 years ago.

LAST LAUGH: Someone posted, “Back in my day we didn’t have Google Maps. We had mom sitting in the front passenger seat yelling at dad.”

Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays and Fridays in the News-Sentinel and at stevemann.substack.com. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.