Happy Day, Lodi!

Monday in the middle of June, and the week ahead has more going on than the weekend behind it. Quick bit of Lodi history while the coffee kicks in: Joseph Spenker, the man whose land became Jessie's Grove, rolled into Stockton in 1868 with 27 cents to his name, met Anna Schlieman at a wedding two years later, and married her the next day. A century and a half on, that same property is hosting a country headliner this Thursday.

Here is what is in this edition.

Let's get into it.

— Kylie & Hunter Talamantez

Got an event you think the community should know about? We're now accepting submissions from our readers, so if you're hosting something public in Lodi or know about an event that deserves a spotlight, send it our way. We're excited to start featuring your events alongside everything else happening around town.

Puppet Art Theatre Co. at the Library | Monday, June 22 | 2 pm

If you have younger kids who need somewhere to be on a Monday afternoon, the Lodi Public Library has you covered. Puppet Art Theatre Co. performs live at the library on June 22 at 2 pm as part of the library's summer programming lineup. It's free, it's inside, and it gives the kids something to talk about on the drive home.

The Summer Reading Program is running all summer long too, so if you haven't signed the kids up yet, this is a good excuse to stop in. Kids earn prizes for every hour they read and can also complete activities from a summer activity passport that gets stamped at library events.

📍 Lodi Public Library: 201 W Locust St, Lodi, CA 95240

Zoo Summer Camp at Micke Grove Zoo | Ongoing through July 24

If you have a kid ages 7 to 11 who has been staring at the ceiling all summer, Zoo Summer Camp at Micke Grove Zoo runs through July 24. Week-long sessions go Monday through Friday, cost $100 per child (plus $90 for each sibling), and cover hands-on activities that mix education, creativity, and outdoor exploration. Call (209) 953-8800 to check availability.

Even if camp is full, the zoo itself is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4:30 pm, and a regular visit with lemurs, a snow leopard, and the Tropical Forest Canopy is a solid afternoon in its own right.

📍 Micke Grove Zoo: 11793 N Micke Grove Rd, Lodi, CA 95240

Roya Main and the House of Courage: How One Lodi Leader Walks with Women Back to Stability

On South Washington Street, there is a modest home that has quietly become one of Lodi's most powerful sources of second chances. Inside Lodi House at 801 S. Washington St., women and children who have known homelessness, fear, and instability are rebuilding their lives one day at a time.

At the center of that work is Roya Main, the Executive Director of Lodi House and a dedicated advocate for women and children in crisis. Roya's title may be formal, but her day-to-day reality looks more like a mix of counselor, fundraiser, problem-solver, and community connector.

Lodi House was established in 1999 with the goal of creating a safe, structured environment for homeless women and children. The shelter officially opened its doors on September 11, 2000, when the first woman moved in with her two children. Since then, the nonprofit has provided housing, counseling, and support to help women move from survival mode to independent living. That means everything from parenting guidance and budgeting help to mental health support and job readiness.

The impact isn't abstract. On the Lodi House website, you can find testimonials from women who turned to Lodi House when life had fallen apart and found the structure, accountability, and encouragement they needed to stabilize. These stories are a reminder that Lodi House is less about beds and more about long-term transformation.

In her first year leading Lodi House, Roya Main has not been easing into the role. In 2026, Assemblymember Heath Flora selected Lodi House as the District 9 California Nonprofit of the Year, one of the most visible recognitions a local nonprofit can receive from the state legislature. Roya and Board Chair Joey Ferrari traveled to Sacramento to accept the honor at the California Nonprofits Day Luncheon at the State Capitol. It was the kind of moment that reflects not just what Lodi House does, but how it has continued to grow its presence and credibility in the community.

That recognition did not come from a standing start. When the previous Executive Director stepped down in late 2024, Roya stepped in as interim and ultimately took the role permanently with unanimous board approval in early 2025. She brought with her a master's degree in health care administration and years of hands-on involvement at both the shelter on Washington Street and the Thrift Boutique at 221 W. Lodi Ave., which has been generating revenue and job-training opportunities for women in the program since 2010. The boutique is not just a resale shop; it is where women in the program gain real retail work experience as part of their path toward independence.

The organization she now leads has been quietly expanding its footprint for years. Lodi House currently operates multiple transitional housing properties across Lodi, including a four-unit building on Hilborn Street purchased in 2021 and a three-apartment property on South Washington Street added in 2023. According to City of Lodi homelessness initiative records, the organization serves approximately 15 families per year with a 60% success rate. For a shelter that runs on community support and operates as a small, home-like environment by design, that number represents real lives redirected.Success here isn't measured in annual reports alone. It is measured in the moment a former resident comes back with keys to her own apartment, or a child who once clung to their mother is running down the hallway laughing. That is what community investment in Lodi House actually looks like.

As Lodi continues to wrestle with housing costs, economic uncertainty, and rising need, Lodi House remains one of the clearest examples of what it looks like when a community refuses to look away.

If you would like to learn more, visit lodihouse.org, where you can find information on donating, volunteering, and in-kind needs like household supplies, clothing, and professional services.

— JUNE 2026 —

Fri - Jun 12

Sat - Jun 13

Sat - Jun 20

Sun - Jun 21

Wed - Jun 24 

— JULY 2026 —

Sat - Jul 11

Sat - Jul 18

Wed - Jul 22

Sat - Jul 25

— AUGUST 2026 —

Sat - Aug 8

Wed - Aug 26 Agents of Rock – Music in the Park | ~7:00 PM 

Sun - Aug 23

Thanks for reading! It means more than you know that you take a few minutes out of your day to stay connected with our little corner of the world. See you around Lodi! 🍇