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The opening scene of most plays begins quietly enough so as not to raise eyebrows–or suspicions–too early in the game. Given its one-act brevity and
Love is in the air. You can sense it. You can feel it. You can smell the roses and savor the chocolates. Never mind that
Whether you realize it or not, art is woven into the thread of every life. From the moment we see…hear…are aware, we sense art. It
Horrendous fires in Los Angeles, bone-chilling cold across the nation, an economy in disarray, and the inauguration of a felony-convicted president who vows to restore
The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over the harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. –Carl Sandburg After
Popularity has its price. Especially at Christmastime. And especially if you have a reputation for hospitality, home cooking by several generations of homemakers, and a
California has hundreds of state parks ranging from Big Basin Redwoods State Park (est. 1902) to the newest park, Dos Rios State Park, still under
Editor’s Note – At last, a compilation of Adam Gottstein’s insightful and personal short stories in print form. Several of these have been previously published here
Opera is oft times viewed as high-brow, not for the masses (spoiler alert: not really true). Whereas musicals seem to have more popular appeal. A
If you need a prescription to improve your holiday spirits, put you in a merry mood, chase away seasonal blues or entertain children or grandchildren
Light overcomes darkness. But without darkness, the true nature of light cannot be appreciated. Join us for this Lodi tradition – the Parade of Lights.
One of the Lucky Ones Or so they saidwhen I returned to their praisesand thanks for my service, gratified their prayers
by Howard Lachtman There were some tales Holtz liked to tell, especially if they earned a smile or provoked a laugh from his listener. Such
You Can Now Check Out More Than Books Libraries are many things, but most importantly they are a community resource. A place to gather and
Halloween is a day that can play tricks. Not just the kind committed by costumed small fry ringing your doorbell after sundown and demanding treats,
Golden State Road Trips California is brimming with places to go and things to do. In this series, Golden State Road Trips, we’ll look at
A Centenarian Looks Back During WWII I was stationed in England at Shrivenham Manor House, and, since it was close to Cheltenham, one day I
Mix a worried magazine editor, a writer who thinks he can tell a story any way he pleases, and an eager-beaver fact-checker fresh out
Malakoff State Park First in a Series – California, also known as the Golden State, is brimming with places to go and things to do.
If for some mysterious reason (perhaps you were lost in space or confined in a monastery?) you have never heard of Carole King or heard
Stockton Marine Corps Club (CA) members, escorted Original Marine Raider, Cpl Frank S. Wright, 99, to U.S. Territory of Guam to celebrate the WWII 80th
“Come on, kid, we’re going!” I said, sweeping the legs of the rookie cop off the top of the desk where he was reposing with
It was Antonio’s idea. He was confident his version of a 2000-year-old recipe could arouse the curiosity and entice the taste buds of his customers,
For many of us, memories are linked to places and experience. In my case it is Yosemite. Both a place and something experienced. Nature. Beauty.
Forgotten lines, missed cues, slips and misses, bumbles and stumbles. Everything necessary to make a play go off the rails is on exhibit in “The Play
The curtain came down. The house lights came up. The ushers entered the theater to tidy up spilled popcorn, candy wrappers and other movie mementoes.
“Wow, how long did you have to wait to get that shot?” This is a common reaction to a striking wildlife picture. The answer is
June 2024 Every year the San Joaquin County agricultural community gathers to support young people raising livestock in FFA, 4H, and Grange. This year,one of
Heart Journeys and the Joys of Exercise A month shy of his 65th birthday, my dad underwent four-way artery bypass surgery. He had been experiencing
2024 is the 80th anniversary of the large effort by allied countries to end the many battle theaters of WWII, especially Europe and the Pacific.
Stockton’s Pixie Woods is three and a half acres of memories and memories in the making. Memories that pre-date Disneyland. A magical playland that has
A Movie Memoir 1. The Hand is Quicker than the Eye Growing up in the 1940s had distinct advantages for a child whose curiosity
Honoring the Men and Women Who Died While Serving in the U.S. Military Veterans, families and volunteers gathered in Lodi’s Cherokee Memorial Park to place
Shows the Different Faces of Comedy If you’re in the mood to explore the many faces of theatrical comedy, your curiosity will be well served
At Stockton’s Ronald E. McNair High School The Olympics, an international competition of a wide range of sports, began in Greece more than 2200 years
We adopted this Border Collie four months ago. She’s reportedly six years old. She’s mellow, people-centric, couldn’t care less about other dogs. I’ve heard her
Named for Medal of Honor recipient Richard A. Pittman, the new regional VA medical clinic in French Camp opened with a ribbon cutting and over
The sun is setting on the civilized order of Europe, but the lights are still bright (for the time being) at Berlin’s Kit Kat Club,
Have you ever considered shooting aerial photos of San Francisco and its environs? You can do it from commercial airplanes. Here’s what it takes. First,
Spring training was almost doneand spring itself not yet sprungwhen we departed Scottsdalefor the short ride to Phoenix,pausing to board a Boston ladydabbing tears
The Wence Family Loves Food – and Creating New Restaurants When Jaime and Esther Wence decided to open a new restaurant in Isleton, they had
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so the timing is perfect for you to abandon television’s politicians, crime reports and endless wars to go
Some cynics can’t wait for the Christmas season to end, the songs to cease and the lights to go out. Having seen the darkest side
Ospreys My first encounter with an osprey was as intimate as it was mysterious. It happened in 2020 at a San Diego waterside where I
When a serendipitous mix of Marines, over-excited school kids, and both Santa Claus AND the Grinch gather for a rally, the result is unbridled joy.
Waterfront Ceremony The crowds were smaller but the ceremony was just as emotional. Every year in downtown Stockton, as well is in countless other communities,
The city of Lodi, CA, held their annual Christmas Parade of Lights on Thursday, 30-Nov-2023. Lodi resident, 98-year-old WWII veteran, U.S. Marine Cpl. Frank S.
San Joaquin County Historical Museum’s Annual Celebration It’s an annual celebration of light during the darkest time of the year – the San Joaquin County
“Is it true? I can’t believe it.” The Eagles – 1974 Nearly a quarter-century ago, at The Record, on Wednesday mornings, retired Retail Advertising Manager
A Holiday Treat for Kids of All Ages “Beauty and the Beast” is a classic French fairy tale that never grows old, especially when it
During my overseas military service in WWII, my Uncle Al and I visited several times in England where we had many adventures. The scariest of
Part II: Hawks Of the various raptors in our area, hawks are by far the most common. They can be easily spotted atop roadside poles
5 Years Already! Since we launched Soundings Journal back in November of 2018 we’ve published 280 stories, photo essays, videos, fiction and public service messages
Inside the high-tech, high-tension jungleof the corporation where I used to work,I helped worried clients look pastfinancial crises, pitiless wars,incessant
Day of the Dead Dia De Los Muertos -Day of the Dead – is a joyous celebration of life that brings ancestors (the dead) back
I can tell by the expression on your face that you have certain misgivings about attending a play that sounds more like a medical disaster
Trash is something you see every day – on the roadsides and around town. Rio Vista Litter Pickers has worked out a partnership between the
1923-2023 I had the pleasure of knowing Paul Fairbrook for many, many years and would like to make known some of his many accomplishments that
Sponsored Content The San Joaquin Valley of California is one of the top fertile regions in the world that settles above a large groundwater aquifer
A Grunt in Vietnam Native American, Joseph Maes, is also a Stockton native. His earliest memories are of family and community. Now he looks back
The current Stockton Civic Theatre production of “9 to 5: The Musical” got off to an impressive start at the very end of August and
Part 1: Waterfowl and Wading Birds “You probably have more wildlife where you live than we have here in Alaska,” said our Alaskan guide, a
What happens when a group of motorcyclists enters a quiet suburban neighborhood? Good things. Especially when they are there in support of an eight-year-old entrepreneur
Then and Now When I was single digits (seven, eight, nine…) my mom would take me out of school on a Friday in San Francisco
The Benefits of Water-Saving Sod in California’s Delta Sponsored Content When you think about sustainable landscaping in California, the choice of grass or turf can
Love and loss, laughter and disaster, music and murder. They’re all on the menu for the upcoming season of the Stockton Civic Theatre. The season kicks
Short Fiction 1. To those who didn’t know them well, or well enough, the Marstons seemed an ideal couple, an enviable couple who had it
Sponsored Content All facets of the California agricultural industry have been affected by the extreme weather. No one predicted these extreme events that garnered national
A century seems like forever in human years, but more and more people are reaching this milestone. Meet Paul Fairbrook and Mel Corren, who will
Crime took a holiday that sultry summer day, leaving our FPE (front page editor) irritated and exasperated because his idea of worthwhile breaking newshad nothing to do with
Essay and photographs © Connie Cassinetto I hear them before I see them. It’s the sound of their wings, not the chirps or songs that
See Footnote 1 A sudden gust of gravity. That’s what one of my favorite children’s entertainers – a juggler – would satirically let slip during
Returning Student Earns Stanislaus State Degree Despite Challenges and Losing Father, Best Friend When she was laid off after spending 14 years writing for the
Thinking back to the AIDS-plagued days of the 1980s, New York musician and budding playwright Jonathan Larson conceived the idea for a stage work the
The newsroom of the Stockton Record was always humming in the seventies before computers and sound-dampening cubicles quieted the scene. The hum came from the
Eight little words my mom always said to us three kids every night as she tucked us into bed. Words I figure I’ll never hear
Breaking Down Stereotypes It started in the fifth grade when I was first introduced to a word that was somewhat difficult to spell, but more
Pilot Program to Provide Books in English and Spanish Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library got a huge boost last week when First Partner Jennifer Newsom announced
Book Excerpt Editor’s Note – Eric Best and I were colleagues at the Stockton (CA) Record newspaper from the mid seventies through the early eighties,
It is said that the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day they buy it and the day they sell it.
It seems to be the most patriotic. The most red, white and blue holiday of all. Memorial Day. Rooted in our country’s worst nightmare, the Civil War,
I am on a mission to convince you that the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a cultural treasure. Many have argued for its significance as
Stockton Civic Theater Play Review Some readers prefer the brevity and clarity of short stories to novels. The same is true of theatergoers with an
Yosemite National Park attracts millions of visitors annually, from near and far. Park closures can upset both spur-of-the-moment and long-planned vacations. The park closes annually
If you are a fan of madcap comedy and slapstick shenanigans, Stockton Civic Theatre has just the play for you. Its current production of “The
One of the Lucky Ones Or so they saidwhen I returned to their praisesand thanks for my service, gratified their prayers
50th Anniversary Edition Book excerpt – Introduction The morning was silent; even the roosters had not sounded their wake-up call in the early morning hours
Emerging from darkness into the light of personal narratives, the women come and go, talking of many things—past and present, dresses and purses, relationships and
At one point, the real war nearly caught up with me. It was during the Battle of the Bulge which began on December 17, 1944,
Julian Ritter was a great artist who only cared to paint and didn’t want to be bothered by marketing. He was in his 80’s when
An American Story BOOK PREVIEW Chapter One: Homecoming THE TRAIN LURCHED to a halt. The side door on the boxcar slid open, slowly, quietly, at
It began with feverish whisperingsI could not help overhearingfrom the stylishly fashionableand seemingly civilized couple at the next table, reminding one another more and more aggressivelywhere
Partnering with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Imagine a program that fosters a love of reading and where every child receives free books every month
Excerpt from a Memoir in Progress — “Don’t mind if I do,” I muttered in my best W.C. Fields’ voice, as I poured a very
Book to be Released January 30 Book preview – Yep, my buddy Stewart and I made a book. We worked for five years on this
From the Files of the Delta Detective Agency Fiction by Howard Lachtman For my armchair detectives Tiffany and Brandon. 1. Business Not As Usual One of
California’s coast and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta communities experience tides: two high tides and two low tides daily. These tides can be higher when water
Editor’s note — In the interest of full disclosure, the author of this piece, Joanna Jeronimo, is my wife. She is an artist, her work
In the hands of a master photographer, the eye of the camera can reveal more than you might expect to see. Such is the case
Don’t Get Scammed The current storm systems are wreaking havoc around the state, causing damage to both the infrastructure and personal property alike. What can
Our Last Road Trip by Adam Gottstein They made it abundantly clear: “Make sure the funeral home does not embalm her.” Right. I’ll remember that.
Stockton Civic Theatre Puts a New Twist on a Dickens Christmas Oliver! Stockton Civic Theatre Puts a New Twist on a Dickens Christmas by Howard
The Hidden Gem of the Delta BIG BREAK PARK ‘The hidden gem of the Delta’ Story and photographs by Rich Hanner Below Mount Diablo on
Local Legend, Local Treasure A city is more than buildings, roads, businesses and organizations. It is the people. Newcomers as well as those who -it
An Anthology of Voices Across Centuries — book review by David Stuart Imagining the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: An Anthology of Voices Across Centuries by
Editor’s note – Since I came to Stockton in the mid-seventies, and subsequently discovered the Haggin Museum, I’ve regarded it as one of the shiniest
“After 80 Years I’m Finally At Home!” — Frank Wright The heroes of yesterday are mostly gone. Those men and women who answered the call
Stockton Civic Theatre Review by Howard Lachtman Stockton Civic Theatre’s “The Little Dog Laughed” scores a controversial comedy hit Diane has a problem. It’s called
Iridescent Beauty With a Sordid Past Chinese craftsmen are renowned for their intricate work in jade, ivory, and wood, with examples of their art dating
Game Four, Tenth Inning, World Series, October 8, 1939 Editor’s note – After chasing fly balls across the windblown outfields of San Francisco in his
Delta Indigenous Nations Helped Shape California Colonial History The Indigenous nations of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region significantly affected European and American colonial history in
Stockton Civic Theatre Offers Engaging Version of Classic Comedy Editor’s thanks to George Hong for supplying his photos that bring the play alive. Don’t let
Way too often the San Joaquin Valley is referred to as a desert. Culturally, economically – even educationally and for health care. The all too
Ninth in the Series As I’ve previously mentioned, none of the GIs who visited me while I was a GI in the Paris Headquarters believed
This story made its way to us in as serendipitous a way as that of the journey of the traveling house. Jim Hyde, who is
Humble Yogi and Joltin’ Joe were baseball’s odd couple, a study in contrastsof talent and temperamentand legacies beyond the game. To his fans, The Yankee Clipperwas a man
Stockton Civic Theater Play Review There are stage mothers and then there is Mama Rose. Mama is the heroine (if you can call her that;
Backing suddenly out of the boxand calling time belatedlyto rattle the brash rookiewho thinks his fast ballis equal to the occasion,the Babe takes a holiday,knocking
The dark silhouette of a long canoe gliding effortlessly across the shimmering gold sea stops me from entering the water, struck by its artful trick
From the Confidential Files of the Delta Detective Agency “Thanks for waiting for me,” Tatiana said,greeting me with a playful pirouette at the Willie Mays
An In-Depth Report Editor’s note – This story was originally published in September, 2021. Since the drought situation has not eased up, and there are
From the Files of the Delta Detective Agency Fiction — I’d heard the phrase “A crime against nature” more than once in a courtroom of
Stockton Civic Theatre Review by Howard Lachtman And you think you have problems? Wait until you see the problems arriving at the door of the
He really loved that woman. She held a fascination for him like standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. She was deep. Wild and
There is something primeval about that which we cannot control. The wide mood swings of weather are a prime example. Wind can be exhilarating. Sunshine,
Bring Back the Troughs! Book excerpt – Wade wondered who it was that Josh Jackson needed to visit in Stockton but didn’t press for details
8th in the Series I first met Bob Rieders in Valognes, Normandy where we both joined the cadre (a new unit which is just being
As Spring arrives we begin reaching for those garments that have been gathering closet dust all winter. At least a few among us rejoice at
Memories of a Nostalgic Fan Inning One: The Proper Way To Catch a Fly In 1958, the New York Giants came west to adopt a
Acronym for Future Success Science.Technology.Engineering.Art.Math.An acronym for future success. An elementary and high school academic and career path that leads to well-paying careers. STEAM careers
Asparagus, that Is When I was young and about to begin my life’s journey with the love of my life, he introduced me to his
The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Editor’s note – Delta historian, Carol A. Jensen, reviewed a Zoom lecture by Alan Leventhal, Professor Emeritus, College of Social Sciences
Editor’s note – March 26 is the final performance so reserve your seats now. Information provided below. Saint Patrick’s Day has come and gone, but
Reader advisory: This story discusses a film plot without a plot spoiler. Here at the Delta Detective Agency we have an abundance of mysteries on
Where am I? Lost again. What is this? Who am I? Random acts of art posted to the Delta News Facebook page. Sketches and occasional paintings
Fear. Alarming the senses, quickening our heart rate, sending every cell into high alert, always on the lookout for the stealthy unknown hurt to strike.
Editor’s note: Here, in poetic form, is the author’s advice to Valentine’s Day celebrants wondering how best to observe the holiday. All you need do
Fiction For Rich Turner, master photographer and intrepid explorer of the Delta. From the Files of the Delta Detective Agency There was something odd about
Words are both fun and funny. We often use the term “king” to describe something big. Huge. Larger than life. And that’s what a King
From the Files of the Delta Detective Agency For Cyndy Green, a miniature mystery to add to your mammoth collection. If I was a
In Historic Locke Occasionally time freezes while the world moves on. What was the past begrudgingly ages into the present while always retaining its deep
7th in the Series Having been one of the soldiers who had left the officer and truck on that first day, I was worried about
Every ten years, the US Census Bureau conducts a head count of how many people live in each state. The National Audubon Society does the
This 1,549 feet tall structure drastically improved the reception of the three major television stations in the Sacramento market in 1962. With newer and higher towers
For Tiffany and Brandon, my kind of mystery fans. Having solved the mystery of the venomous India snake lurking in the family Christmas tree
Theatre Review With its appealing charm and nostalgic humor, a live orchestra in the pit, an onstage narrator who walks you through the plot with
My holiday-themed, bird-chirping doorbell,rung repeatedly by mischief-minded childrenwho run away before I can scold them,heralded an unexpected caller: wannabe poet Wanda and the story of one
The delights of living in the Delta are sometimes weighed down by services taken for granted elsewhere. Outsider traffic, non-working ferries, power outages. And abysmally
I can’t imagine poetry in this vast, flat land, this bowl-shaped valley whose rivers are harnessed to feed
Sixth in a Series On Entering Paris 25/8/1944 We waited, impatiently, until August 25th, 1944, when General de Gaulle and his army marched down the
Stockton Civic Theatre Brings Bard Back to Life in Fun-Filled Season Opener Performing Arts Review – Once upon a time in England, I went looking
A State of Mind Do you remember that scene in the 1964 James Bond movie “Goldfinger” when Oddjob ices that dude in the back seat
Editor’s note – This delightful, as well as insightful, children’s book recently landed on my desk and I asked the publisher to tell us about
Caldor Fire Livestock and Pet Rescue In times of need, communities across the state come together to help each other, as is the case with
Heavenly Shrimp Miso Soup Recipe with Backstory He could fish a mud puddle and come home with dinner. A quiet country boy, he came from
Housing for Homeless Veterans Becoming a Reality With more than a half million people homeless in the United States and a scarcity of affordable housing,
From the Files of the Delta Detective Agency Fiction- I It all began with a tropical island beachfront and a charming woman making a travel
A Rite of Passage For anyone who has ever fished, there was a first time, right? Someone with more experience (if they were enlisted to
The Civil Air Patrol’s mission is to assist with emergency response as well as developing young peoples’ interest in aviation and promoting air, space &
As Fossils Are Revealed in the Foothills, So Are the Mysteries Second of Two Parts – Part One in Case You Missed It Russell Shapiro,
How a Sharp-eyed Ranger Found a Wondrous Prehistoric Trove in the Foothills East of Lodi Part One The heat was building in the foothills east
Testing Readiness for Emergencies On June 26-27, amateur or “ham” radio operators gathered around North America as well as in the East Bay-Delta areas to
Fifth in a Series The next week, after returning from Tidworth, where Sgt. Griffen and I had closed out Ordinance Depot, O641, we received orders
An Indigenous History Timeline for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta For thousands of years, Indigenous people lived in the heartland of California, where the Sacramento Valley
Dai Loy Gambling Hall in Locke Catered to Men Who Helped Build the Delta Step into the Dai Loy Museum in Locke, and you find
The Buzzing. The Bite. The Itch. How to Minimize Risk Delta residents well know how pesky mosquitos can be. The buzzing. The bite. The itch. Subliminally
A Yank in England – 4th in a Series I suppose it’s OK to tell you, right off, that in the fall of 1943 we
Despite History of Oppression, Indian Basketry Endures It is a wintry morning at the Delta’s edge, and a man wearing a blue baseball cap is
Knightsen, East Contra Costa County By Doreen Pierce Forlow and Carol A. Jensen Knightsen township is located in unincorporated east Contra Costa County along the
Tonight’s Destination – Sonja’s Tavern –Fiction– She walks the farm roads and roadsides around Knightsen on land named after the pioneer family, Veale. As is
Editor’s Note – This video was produced by Michael Cockrell for the San Joaquin County Mosquito Vector Control District and published by SoundingsMag with permission.
Another in a series honoring Spring, and with it, the opening of baseball season. This is a work of fiction by Howard Lachtman.
One in a series honoring Spring, and with it, the opening of baseball season. What did Yogi Berra say was the secret of baseball? Who
Flag Folding Ceremony Local veterans have observed this day for many years. But this year was special. This year volunteers gathered to rehearse and then
Novel Excerpt, Chapter 20 Editor’s note – In celebration of the arrival of Spring and baseball, local author, Phil Hutcheon, has graciously allowed SoundingsMag permission
One in a series honoring Spring, and with it, the opening of baseball season. The most meaningful impact that baseball has had in my life
What Baseball Means to Me One in a series honoring Spring, and with it, the opening of baseball season. “To me, baseball has always been
Planning for Safe and Fun Season of Baseball One in a series honoring Spring and the opening of baseball season. Cyndy Green’s conversation with Pat
Excerpt From a Collection of Short Stories Editor’s Note – Written by local author, Manuel Camacho, this collection of short stories gives us an intimate
A New Collection of Short Stories by Manuel Comacho, Reviewed by Phil Hutcheon My colleague Manuel Camacho is a Professor of Spanish at San Joaquin
Editor’s Note – Originally published in the Delta Protections Commission’s DELTA VOICE, Winter 2021 newsletter. Edited for Soundings Magazine and used with permission. As we
A New Novel by Phil Hutcheon, Reviewed by Howard Lachtman Stockton author and teacher Phil Hutcheon moves into new fictional territory in “A Child Left
Excerpt From a New Novel Editor’s Note – Recently a new novel, set in Stockton, CA and written by a local author, landed on my
It was during World War II, on September 18th, 1943, that I boarded the troopship, Argentina, in New York Harbor. The scuttlebutt was that we
Part Three of Three In case you missed them, check out Part One and Part Two before you proceed. Having survived a dangerous chase after
This is the time of year we think of donating money or supplies to organizations and agencies with a donation method. Consider these animal rescue
Cucunuchi (Estanislao) and the Native Freedom Fighters The California heartland produced one of the continent’s greatest Native American leaders, prominent among the multitudes who fought
The Man in the Recliner #5 Can you find peace and contentment within the limitations of a quarantine? That’s a key issue for many in
On the Miracle Mile When neighbors come together, community happens. Such is the case with Stockton’s Miracle Mile where decades of weather have worn down
Clarksburg is a picturesque Delta village on the Sacramento River, about 15 miles downriver (south) from the Sacramento waterfront. It nestles on the west (Yolo
Neighbors helping neighbors in times of disaster. That’s how many of the grass-roots animal rescue organization originated. They’re generally comprised of volunteers and during a
There are many national, state, local and volunteer organizations that work together to rescue and shelter pets and livestock during disasters. Learn about those who
As he had anticipated, a week at his mother’s home in San Francisco was almost more than he could take. She had fussed over him
During Disasters 2020 has been a chaotic year with wildfires burning out of control across the state, leaving the valley blanketed in smoke for weeks.
Green Slime – Cyanobacteria – in Local Waterways It’s one of the signs of summer in downtown Stockton, as well as elsewhere on the Delta.
Celebrating 100th Birthday of Dick Stephens Stephens Brothers Boats is an iconic name in classic wooden boats. On the weekend of September 12th, what is
Stimulate a Culture of Towns The gold fever, which motivated travel to Sacramento and Stockton after 1849, began to wane by 1860 as placer mining
How has life on the Delta changed in times of COVID-19? The five counties encompassing the Delta have health officer orders that are all different.
The Artist, Bernard Zakheim Speculates From Beyond the Grave He randomly broke out into a half Yiddish, half incoherent song of indeterminate origin, my grandfather
Although one of Stockton’s most intriguing court cases took place 114 years ago, it had all the elements that make today’s cable news networks salivate:
Part Two A gentleman from San Francisco in search of a mystery woman who may or may not exist. A few words of wisdom from
Basic Training – Part II of Ongoing Series My fondest recollections of Basic Training were chow, calisthenics, drills, and parades. However, I excelled only in
Part III: A Crystallization of Community Commitment This is the third and final article in a series chronicling the events, individuals and organizations that contributed
The Man in the Recliner series #4 Maybe it was the heat of a Fourth of July garden party or the hard lemonade. But it
The five Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta counties enter mosquito season when mosquitos begin to appear in numbers during the early spring months. The season continues on
Summer Fire Risk in Cities by the Bay “God gave Noah the rainbow sign No more
School Boy It was the Spring of 1942, and the world was full of uncertainty. War was raging in Britain and the fields of Europe,
United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County Back in March we thought summer would come with freedom, releasing us back into the familiar world. But
STAY AT HOME orders came on March 19, 2020. In spite of that, on Ryer Island near Walnut Grove, CA, life didn’t change much. Primarily
Part II: Families, Fortunes and Philanthropy This is the second of three articles that chronicle the events, individuals and organizations that contributed to the opening
Man in Recliner #3 “…on my homage list were Stocktonians Al and Mel Corren. Uncle and nephew, the two Correns found one another in wartime
Come to the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta 1830-1860 Traveling the Delta rivers did, of course, have their dangers. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), writing for the
Part One Avoid gatherings. Isolate but keep connected. Quarantine to save lives including your own. Times are tough, but you’re tougher. Take care of your
Part I: From Wishful Thinking to Community Action THE DOORS OF THE NEW BRICK BUILDING in Stockton’s Victory Park opened at 2:00 PM on June
GEORGE SHIMA, THE JAPANESE IMMIGRANT who became known as the “Potato King” of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta was profiled in a prior Soundings Magazine article
Though the nation is facing a disastrous COVID-19 pandemic, other viruses continue to threaten Californians. April 19-25 is California Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week,
When life hands you a puzzle, it tests your ability to be a player. The 2020 pandemic is what one might call the ultimate puzzle.
Editor’s Note – This is the first in a series of SAN JOAQUIN STORIES produced by the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum Many
As the sun set on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, a light shot out into the dusk from atop Mt. Diablo. A beacon which is
When I first heard that an epidemic had grown into a pandemic and might be heading our way, I reasoned that the calculation could prove
The Weather Always Changes I learned some valuable sailing lessons on the Delta in the late ‘70s, just as I had as a boy in
Tips for Alleviating Cabin Fever The days are beginning to drag on in this grand social distancing /stay at home experiment (or Physical Distancing as
Time to Wonder – What If? Sometimes waiting for a good thing can allow a person time to think. To savor life’s under-appreciated magnificence. Reflect
Shopping has become a battleground…sometimes civil and at times confrontational. Thankfully I have not encountered the latter in my town. But what I have seen
First in his clan to come to college, First, in fact, to finish grade ten, At age twelve, Daniel followed his father one day Into fields
Ahhhhh…you’ve just shut the front door, stored away the bounty of your latest shopping trip. You have everything you need for an extended staycation, thanks
Keeping Active in Times of Social Distancing The world is shutting down and many of us are living tiny in our homes with a prospect
Part Three If you missed Part One Or Part Two When his office staff sent the Delta Detective off on a holiday cruise, they had
The Meat That Survived a Flood Never. Take. Life. Too. Seriously. Ever. Attracting locals and out-of-towners alike, the Isleton Spam Festival is a quintessential Delta
Part Two If you missed Part One A nice, quiet Delta vacation with his friends, his boat and his fish. That’s all the Delta Detective
The Well-known “Potato King” and Japanese Leader In the 1920s, Shima had to dismantle his farming empire due to the Alien Land Laws. He then
Ocean-going ships smack in the middle of prime agricultural land? No ocean in sight? With 234 ships calling on the Port of Stockton in 2019,
Mountains of Trash Near Isleton “I do this one-woman and low key. I’m hoping to get a few more people involved, you know, get the
Pigeons – Dirty Birds or Wartime Heroes? There is a special bond between people and their pets, which we ofttimes think of as dogs, cats,
Sun and moon align creating King Tides (perigean spring tides) It is that time of year when the sun and moon align creating King Tides
Part One Ho, ho, ho! Can the Delta Detective enjoy his Christmas holiday without a crime caper? One would expect the DD to utilize the
Combat Veterans Battling Homelessness More than $4,000 was raised by the Lynn Hahn Lighted Boat Parade this year, with the funds going to the Combat
This is a tale that is more than the restoration of a 1928 beacon, shut down on December 7, 1941 for fear it would allow
The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over the harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. –Carl Sandburg It’s
The Lynn Hahn Lighted Boat Parade begins at Windmill Cove at 5pm and at about 6pm will be entering the Stockton Downtown Marina and Weber
Part Three You can take the Delta Detective to lunch, but can you expect an interview in return? You can invite the Delta Detective to
Part Two In Part One, we introduced Japanese immigrant Kango Mitori and followed his family through their establishment in 1931 of a small “truck patch”
Bob’s Bait Shop, Isleton, CA, 1979 Remember the days before digital imaging took over? Don’t get me wrong, I love digital now because of the
Part One In 1990, the San Joaquin County Historical Society printed a booklet, written by Chiyo Mitori Shimamoto, called To the Land of Bright Promise:
Black-necked Stilt, Shin Kee Tract In 2009 I had never heard of Shin Kee Tract on the eastern edge of the Delta and west of
It’s an inconvenience…you have to go out and reset the clock. So every time you know…you have to reset everything. It’s a pain to wait
Part 2 A riverside dinner party celebrating the end of a Delta summer has paired the Delta Detective with an intelligent and inquisitive woman whose
Pipe Rats Back in the mid-1990’s I was privileged to document the seismic retrofitting of the East Bay Municipal Utility Districts aqueducts that bring water
Flooding can come at any time of year. Be prepared. Know the flood risks in your area. Have an emergency evacuation kit ready and be
Stocktonian Was the Greatest Inventor of Earthmoving Equipment Abraham Grunauer’s Whitehall Ranch near Tracy hired Robert G. LeTourneau (1888-1969) in 1919 to repair its old
Negotiating Memory and Access at the Antioch Dunes and Waterfront Part 1 introduces the current state of the Antioch Dunes Wildlife Refuge and covers the
Part One The sun is setting on the Delta summer. Time once again for the Delta Detective to attend his favorite harvestfest party. But with
“Some just don’t like change and these people didn’t want change.” — Shirley Paolini If you are anywhere near Rio Vista or the Diablo Range
Negotiating Memory and Access at the Antioch Dunes and Waterfront Part 2 (if you missed Part 1) Life Between Fences: Survival and Access at the
Negotiating Memory and Access at the Antioch Dunes and Waterfront Part I A Time Before Fences: Memories of Childhood at the Antioch Waterfront This is
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 11, 12 & 13, 2019 a team of runners will embark on a 150 mile run through California. One of the biggest
Understanding Emergency Evacuations In depth look at how emergency evacuations are proclaimed and carried out with focus on terminology and how different counties handle emergencies.
Introduction Helen Kenyon’s disappearance is the talk of the Delta. No wonder all the women in the Delta Detective’s life can’t help bringing the subject
The year was 1902 in Stockton, California. While trains carried people and goods from San Francisco Bay to Delta communities, boats were a primary means
The Cargill Salt Ponds are located in San Francisco Bay in the cities of Newark, Redwood City and Napa. The Napa and Redwood City operations
Revolution in the Tomato Industry Part one provided an overview of the canning tomato industry in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region. Here, in part two,
Part 1 of 2 Introduction In the summertime, as the classic Gershwin song assures us, “the livin’ is easy.” Unless you happen to be a
Major Crop Expanded with Mechanical Harvesting Tomatoes have been grown in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region since the Gold Rush and the region continues to
This year PG&E got approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to put into effect its Public Safety Power Shutdown Program. Part One is an overview of
When Getting Lost is Highly Recommended It’s fun to turn off the better traveled roads and onto those of questionable quality going who-knows-where. Not
New on Old and West goes East There is something about mixing—fresh and salt, old and new, east and west—that keeps our souls keen. I
Supporting a New Mormon Zion New Hope was a farming colony established in 1846 on the lower Stanislaus River to support the anticipated new western
This year PG&E got approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to put into effect its Public Safety Power Shutdown Program. Part One is an
Editor’s note about Soundings Magazine 8 1/2 months. Already? ! The title of this post refers to how long we’ve been publishing SoundingsMag. You might
Tinsley Island Every so often I like to take low and slow flights over the Delta just to see what I can see. In all
Editor’s note: We apologize for the error in Deputy Director Shellie Lima’s title in an earlier version of this video. It has now been corrected.
What started out as a short drive to the river for an after dinner Delta walk became something else altogether. As it happens, everything work
June 20 – 24, 2019, Stockton, California The Vietnam Moving Wall was in Stockton last month. I spent four days working a night shift patrolling
The Delta historically has been an agricultural paradise. But sometimes there is a disconnect between the agricultural community and the urban culture. A fourth generation
The settlement and development of Oakley is the experience of every pioneer California town. Originally a Native American paradise, this Delta settlement quickly becomes San
The gasoline-powered Holt 75 Caterpillar was the best-selling of the Holt tractors from 1914 to 1924. It established a reputation as a quality farming tractor
(From the files of the Delta Detective Agency) Having successfully traced “Little Red” Ryder-Hood to her cleverly concealed lair in the woods and allowed Iris
The Filbert Steps Revisited If you’ve climbed the world-famous Filbert Steps on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, you may have seen the plaque crediting Grace
“One oil well would eliminate all those wind mills and you could make it look like a tree.” After enjoying the quietude, beauty, and splendor
California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or to see, but believe it or not, you won’t find it so hot if you ain’t got
Since the appearance of Peregrines at PG&E we have found nests on the Bay Bridge, on a boat moored near San Francisco Giants Oracle ballpark,
By Wednesday, “hump day’ to some, as the glorious weekend looms on the nearing horizon, most of us start thinking about what to do with
(From the files of the Delta Detective Agency) After solving the perplexing mystery of a missing San Francisco financier, resolving the problem of an unsuspected
THE HEALING POWER OF PLANTS OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR We think we know them. We’ve seen them in the woods, in gardens and along city
No, truck farmers didn’t grow trucks…rather, truck farmers were small-acreage family farmers who grew a variety of vegetables and fruits that were delivered by small
THE BEST CAMERA? People often ask me about equipment, favorite lenses, and accessories, but I tend to not focus so much on the hardware as
Editor’s Note: The Locke Foundation presents photography by James D. Motlow from his book, “Bitter Melon”. The exhibition runs now through September 30th at the
Yellow Iris, Levee Road Yellow Iris are an invasive species, but they fly their spring flags so brightly they are a delight to see every
When it comes to birds and the enjoyment of observing them, which is called birding these days, it’s the proverbial “location, location, location”. For many
Part 4, Planning for the Future and Learning from the Past For ease of navigation, here are the links to all 4 parts of the
Because it’s there. –George Mallory In the 1920’s, when George Mallory was touring to gain support for one of his expeditions, “Because it’s there”, was
Part 3, The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a Unique Place This timely four-part video series is intended to educate the communities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Editor’s note – The following is a chapter from “Hot Rods and Custom Cars of the Sacramento Delta,” first published February, 2019 by History Press,
“You can’t go back home to your family, back home to your childhood… back home to a young man’s dreams of glory and of fame…
Changing Demographics: Shifts to Filipino and Mexican Labor Amidst this labor climate, the Federal Government passed the National Origins Act of 1924, severely curtailing Asian
Historic Breaks, Floods and What Caused Them This timely four-part video series is intended to educate the communities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by examining
This cabin dates to 1911, and was part of the reconstruction effort after the catastrophic flood of 1903. Oral histories and old farm maps indicate
Moon Glow, Staten Island A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. — Maya Angelou Like a
Having lost his bid to adopt a stately office motto for the firm of Delta Detections and lacking time for the getaway of his dreams
Water Sources and How They Affect the Delta This timely four-part video series is intended to educate the communities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California as a Delta Neighbor Gas well flare test, Bouldin Island What does it mean for our community when large
Collecting stories of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Because in the end literature helps to build that sense of place that the Delta seems to lack.
“To all of us kids, this 1992 picture of Mom and Dad represents their success in life.” -Gilberto, Jr. (photo courtesy the Lopez family) Perseverance,
Pampas Grass, Andrus Island, Circa 1985 Digging deep in the archives I ran across this Kodachrome slide from about 1985. I say, ‘about’, because the
1978, Roberts Island, California Delta – As day breaks after an overnight rain, asparagus harvest continues despite difficult conditions of sticky peat soil and rough
What’s your first experience with asparagus? Here’s mine: Disenchantingly gray-green, lifelessly limp and nothing like its picture on the can’s label. As a child I
As we join him for part three of our continuing serial, the senior investigator for Delta Detections is still hoping to get away from the
My friend Cenon, With a smile on his face, Empties the trash from my basket, Asks me how I’m doing, chides me if I’m working
Twitchell Island Poplars, 1981 That special place you go for the renewal you feel — that special place you have come to count on to
The Native American and Spanish Views It has been estimated that the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta region has been continuously inhabited between 10,000 to 13,000
Black arrows of winter come in pairs, building a sooty patch in the turning basin. I anchor out on the Delta, the sky the color
Sky Light, circa 1976 Some things are just worth being late for. I was working for the Record newspaper in Stockton in the winter of
What do an ancient Roman philosopher, a brash and flamboyant singing cowboy and a San Francisco financial hustler have in common? Nothing. Unless they happen
I’m not just sharing something I really love, but also bringing people closer to nature in a way that makes them look at what’s going
Turning Basin, Port of Stockton Imagine you are 23 years old and you want to travel Europe for a while just to see what you
SOMETIMES WE JUST DON’T When it comes to wildlife photography, there is a lot of sitting and waiting. One afternoon, I sat in a patch
What do an ancient Roman philosopher, a brash and flamboyant singing cowboy and a San Francisco financial hustler have in common? Nothing. Unless they happen
Videographer and storyteller, Cyndy Green, gives us a glimpse of the event that has become a Delta tradition. The 39th annual “Frozen Bun Run” was
On Serendipity Yellow-eyed Cat, February 1986 This is a case of following one of my self-imposed rules. A rule that has been so good for
Hog Slough The California Delta is the largest estuary on the Pacific coast of this hemisphere and the source of freshwater for over 23 million
It’s probably impossible to identify the craziest thing ever done on the Delta, but “Ni” Orsi, Jr. has a contender: his father water skied behind
Night Flight, Hog Slough – photograph by Rich Turner What we encountered was not a material world but a natural world that, from my thinking,
Fruit of the vine. Yum. I’m guilty of not really paying attention to what it takes to get a bottle of wine to my table. So I asked a prominent California Delta wine grape grower and vintner if I could tag along while they labored to bring in their crush-ready crop of pinot noir grapes. For several fall harvest seasons I’ve been wanting to chase the odd looking machines that trundle up and down rows of wine grapes in the California Delta starting in early evening. The Clarksburg area, just south of Sacramento, has a state-wide reputation, and beyond, for the quality and variety of grapes and wines produced there. It’s a part of the Delta that I wander from time to time and when I see these unusual machines on rolling stilts at dusk, headlights blazing, I’ve made mental notes to ask permission to ride along. Unfortunately mental notes aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. But this season I say to myself, if not now when?
San Francisco’s morning fog is lifting as the Delta Dragons do warm-up exercises prior to running 300 meter sprint practices on Lake Merced. Whether they
“Failure to protect the Delta will result in the loss of historic communities and will stifle local and regional economic growth and sustainability.” There you
“If you don’t mind me asking, what’s a guy like you doing in a town like this?” my client asked. “Oh, just lucky, I guess.
Autumn Migration is for the Birds Sunup Lift Off, Sandhill Cranes, Staten Island – photo by Rich Turner If you consider the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
Story and photographs by Eric Best It has been said by someone wise that you never step in the same river twice. Whatever you touch
Tugboat Engineer with an Artist’s Eye Zacate It might be mid-morning, when the sun finally breaks through the diffused glow of the San Francisco Bay
1862 Sacramento Flood Most of the first American settlers of the Delta came to California to quickly acquire a pile of gold. Few succeeded in the