Latest news with #LodiBlooms
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Several Lodi-area Memorial Day events to honor fallen soldiers
May 13—The end of May is just around the corner, and a handful of organizations and businesses will be hosting events to honor the nation's fallen soldiers of Memorial Day. The largest event scheduled is the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Cherokee Memorial Park & Funeral Home, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. on May 26 at 14165 Beckman Road. The service is free and open to the public, and will feature Dr. Charles R. Roots as guest speaker once again. A captain with the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, and a retired pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Ripon, Roots began his military career as a U.S. Marine in 1969. He served nine years, and was commissioned as a Navy chaplain in 1983, then returned to active duty in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His last duty assignment was the Wing Chaplain for the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in New Orleans. Roots retired in September of 2008 after 34 years of service. The event will also feature several flag tributes, including the 68th Annual Avenue of Flags, where some 1,044 large veteran flags will be flown over the park. More than 8,439 small American flags will also mark burial sites. In addition, Killed in Action flags will mark 40 burial sites and the Field of Flags will honor 7,057 combat veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Walk of Valor Flag Tribute will honor 43 local combat veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan as well. For more information, visit Lodi Blooms, 11560 N. Lower Sacramento Road, will hos its Memorial Day 5K: A Run Through the Rows at 6 a.m. on Memorial Day. Set against the backdrop of peak cherry season, this unique farm run invites runners to lace up their shoes and dash through the orchard rows consisting of about five loops. Registration is $35 and limited to 200 participants. There will be post-race refreshments and cherry treats, as well as complementary Lodi Blooms cherry tasting and u-pick access. Race check-in begins at 5:30 a.m. and the race starts at 6 a.m. The cherry orchard will be open to pickers at 7 a.m. Proceeds will support the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau and its local youth and ag education programs. For more information, visit Lodi's American Legion Post 22 will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Lodi Memorial Cemetery on East Pine Street at 9 a.m. The event will feature the Legion's Color Guard, a bagpipe medley, the laying of wreaths, live music performed by the Lodi Community Band, an Honor Guard gun salute, a release of doves, and the Missing Man "fly by." Refreshments will be provided following the service. The entire community is invited and welcome to attend. The Elk Grove Cemetery District and Cosumnes CSD will host the Memorial Day Ceremony & Walk for Veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elk Grove Historic Cemetery, 8540 Elk Grove Blvd. Attendees will walk to the Elk Grove Historical Society parking lot for a community barbecue. Shuttle service will be provided by Cosumnes CSD. The event is free and open to the public.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
San Joaquin County issues disaster declaration for cherries
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY — Cherries are a favorite summer fruit. This year, however, the staple may be hard to come by. "Right now, the cherry season is looking like we're definitely having a light crop overall," San Joaquin County Farm Bureau Federation Vice President and Lodi Blooms Owner James Chinchiolo said. "Some of the estimates are showing that perhaps half of what the industry is capable of producing." Out of the 19,000 acres of cherry crops across San Joaquin County, it's estimated that 43% of crops have been damaged. For a county that produces nearly 80% of all cherries in the state of California, it's hitting the entire cherry community hard. "Us as farmers, we depend on pickers," Chinchiolo said. "We depend on people hauling the fruit. We depend on electricians. We depend on so many people that help support us in the mission of getting these cherries from the trees to market — and certainly there's a huge trickle down effect here in San Joaquin County." It was all caused by the rain in March and April that affected pollination. After coming off an abnormally warm summer last year, it created the perfect storm for growers. Since cherries are a very sensitive fruit, with the risk of rupturing if water stays on the fruit for too long, it's pushing the San Joaquin County Agriculture Commissioner to declare a disaster. "Whenever the disaster is declared by the Secretary of USDA, the assistance can come in the form of grants to the growers, or most likely in this case, it's going to be low interest loans that are opened up for our grower community," San Joaquin County Agriculture Commissioner Kamal Bagri said. Now that the declaration is submitted, the California Office of Emergency Services will look at the commissioner's data and analyze if the county saw abnormal conditions this season. With the hopes this declaration is accepted, it will bring much needed support to growers across the county. "We're open to accepting support," Chinchiolo said. "That'll help us maintain a healthy operation, keep the folks that work for us employed, and make sure that we can continue to take care of these trees to to produce again for another year." The county estimates a financial loss of nearly $98 million. Still, there are ways to support local. The Cherry Festival in Linden is happening this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also this weekend, Lodi Blooms will be starting their "Cherry U-Pick" event.
