Steve Mann

Lodi can add another name to its millionaire club: Ricky Aguiar, a 2004 Lodi High grad who's spent the last several years working for Elon Musk's SpaceX. Last Friday, Aguiar and thousands of other SpaceX employees got the chance to cash out company shares — and for the 40-year-old, the payout was “life-changing.” He's optimistic about the future. “It is just the beginning for anyone holding SpaceX stocks,” Aguiar said. “We all believe these stocks have high potential to really grow, which for anyone in our position is life-changing. I'm seeing many of my colleagues taking early retirements in their early 40s.”

Marie Young and her son Aiden were having a casual afternoon in their garage when their 6-year-old Indian ringneck parrot, Bleu, decided to join them. It was out of character

Anyone who has attended the annual Kiwanis Fourth of July pancake breakfast at Lodi Lake knows how popular it is. Each year, hundreds of hungry residents wait — sometimes in

The revolving door at City Hall keeps spinning. City Clerk Olivia Nashed announced her resignation earlier this week. Her last day with the city will be July 31. She said she is leaving to explore other opportunities. “My time with the City has been truly meaningful. I'm incredibly grateful for the collaboration, support and the opportunity to work alongside such talented and dedicated public servants,” she said in a prepared statement. Her departure means all three city council appointees have left or been fired within the past 10 months. The city council appointed Olivia to the position in April 2022. She worked at the cities of Tracy, Manteca, Dublin in various capacities before coming to Lodi. “Losing Olivia is a significant loss for the city of Lodi. Over the past four years, she has been an exceptional city clerk who has served our residents, staff, and elected officials with professionalism, integrity, and grace,” Councilman Mikey Hothi said. She leaves at a particularly sensitive time for the city with election season starting in July. “She's committed to assisting with the candidate filings and specifically chose not to leave until that process was begun and she's met with all the candidates,” says Councilwoman Lisa Craig-Hensley. When asked if losing so many people at the top is alarming, Craig-Hensley said, “Turnover of directors and other personnel, along with council members, happens in communities that choose change by way of the ballot box.” Mayor Ramon Yepez said of the recent departures, “Transitions are a normal part of organizational growth, and in many ways this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape a city government that reflects where we want to go as a community.”

There might as well be a turnstile on the second floor of City Hall. Executive staff have been coming and going at an historic rate. Some by choice, others not. City Attorney Katie Lucchesi left in early April to take the same position in Turlock. City Manager Scott Carney was put on paid administrative leave last April and was fired last November. He's now suing the city for wrongful termination. Now City Clerk Olivia Nashed says she is leaving at the end of July. The meltdown of top city officials began with the resignation of City Attorney Janice Magdich, who resigned in June 2023 to take a job at the San Joaquin County Region Rail Commission. She was replaced by Lucchesi. City Manager Steve Schwabauer soon followed, leaving in October 2023. He was replaced with Carney, who was suspended about eight months later. Nashed is leaving at a particularly inconvenient time as election season begins in mid-July, although she intends to stay through the end of July to get things started. The city is still trying to hire a new public works and community development directors after both incumbents retired. Lodi's new permanent city manager, Kara Reddig, started on Monday and will have her hands full as she works to fill key positions as well as a $4.3 million structural budget deficit.

Things are moving along at Lodi Middle School on Ham Lane and Vine Street, where a big modernization project is underway. The plan includes three brand-new buildings, a new science

America turned 250 today, and Lodi showed up ready to celebrate. They walked, they drove, they rolled up on bikes, many of them wearing flag shirts and other Americana.

It sounded like a war zone. Last Saturday’s city-sponsored fireworks show was loud and glitzy in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. It ended around 9:45 p.m. What you heard after

Oy. The city is being sued by its former city manager, who was canned by the city council last fall, after being placed on paid admin leave for six months.

If you drive around parts of Lodi’s industrial area east of Highway 99, especially Thurman Road, you’ll find stretches of roadway lined with ramshackle RVs and pickup trucks. The occupants