Historic Lodi building in need of community support
Editor: On the corner of Lockeford and Washington streets stands a tall, majestic building, the American Legion, Post 22 Memorial building. Many Lodi residents probably remember going to some sort of event there: high school dances, fundraising dinners, weddings, wedding receptions.
This is an iconic, historical building, built in 1952 by members of Post 22. Older generations can remember the first crab feeds there where the line to purchase tickets went from the door, down Washington and around the corner onto Lockeford Street.
As one can imagine, a building of that age requires a lot of attention. The membership has done a great job raising money to update the main floor of the building. The office was remodeled to be more functional. A very generous benefactor has donated funds that allowed the Post to update the bathrooms. The Post and the Auxiliary are holding a rummage sale on April 1 and they are selling tables for vendors to share their items for $25 per table. All proceeds will go to a new floor in the lobby area.
Still, there is much more that needs to be done. As of today the roof is leaking in a number of places. Patch material has been put on the roof for the last three years but the time is nearing that the roof will need to be replaced. The front doors are the original doors and the glass lets the heat and the cold in. The doors also need to be more compatible for people who have disabilities. All of this takes money.
So, the reason for this letter is to make people aware of their situation and ask for help. It doesn’t have to be monetary, although that goes a long way. If you have materials or skills that you would like to donate, these as well would be greatly appreciated. This building may belong to Post 22 but it also belongs to the citizens of this town because it stands and is available to anyone who would like to use it. If you can help please contact the office by phone at 209-368-1420 or email, lodipost22@att.net. ORLENE DENTONE Lodi
Healthcare options are available
Editor: America’s health care system is one of the finest in the world. Much of the reason for its success lies in the extension of medical services to people who otherwise could not afford health insurance, under a federal program commonly named “Obamacare.”
While not perfect, the program has provided access to medical, dental, and vision treatment to millions of people. As a result, medical research has been accelerated, staffing at hospitals, clinics and single-practitioner facilities has grown, and the nation’s lower-income segment enjoys better overall health than in the past.
However, critics of Medicare, Medicaid, and various other elements of Obamacare unsettle the president. According to a Jan. 6 article by Thompsen-Reuters correspondent Roberta Rampton, Mr. Obama stated his own party’s leaders encouraged attacks on the program:
“President Barack Obama said on Friday that criticism from the left wing of his own Democratic Party helped feed into the unpopularity of Obamacare, his signature healthcare reform law.
“But Obama also said Liberals like ... Senator Bernie Sanders had contributed to the program's unpopularity. “During Sanders' campaign for the presidential nomination, he proposed replacing Obamacare with a government-run single-payer health insurance system .... ”
Republicans debating the future of national health insurance should listen to Senator Sanders. A universal, single-payer system works well in Germany. It uses private insurers to supply the coverage, at a modest profit. And the program is very successful. Americans must not be forced to go uninsured.
Options are available ... if the GOP can stop squabbling over Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees long enough to attend to the country’s business. LANGE WINCKLER Lodi