Saturday, Mar. 01, 2008

News & Notes

Out & About

Three things to do this weekend, plus Free Fun:

1 Follow the yellow brick road to American Family Theater's touring stage production of "The Wizard of Oz." Today, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. State Theatre, 1307 J St., Modesto. $15 adults, $10 children. 527-4697.

2 Feel the passion in Tennessee Williams' classic 1947 drama "A Streetcar Named Desire." Today, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m. Playhouse Merced, 452 W. Main St., Merced. $12 to $18. 725-8587.

3 Cut through the mist and get to the fun at the annual Tule Fog Fete with live music, nature hikes, animal display, children's activities and more. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Caswell Memorial State Park, Ripon. $5 to $15. 575-6196.

FREE FUN: Celebrate Women's History Month with the First Sundays program for children ages 5 to 12 by making arts and crafts, learning about famous women in history and enjoying tea time with Mrs. McHenry at the Mansion. Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m. McHenry Museum, 1402 I St., Modesto. Free. 491-4317.

-- Marijke Rowland

Former mayor loses lawsuit against city

Former Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino lost a lawsuit he filed against the city that alleged city officials sought to sway votes on a district elections measure with a publicly funded campaign. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge David Vander Wall dismissed the case Friday and ruled the city can recover some of its attorney's fees from Sabatino. Sabatino challenged the city's decision to spend about $48,000 on a consultant and an education campaign about district elections that included a mailer. He charged that the campaign was meant to confuse voters ahead of a November advisory vote on two district election formats. Voters favored a system that splits the city into six council districts; they affirmed that vote with a binding measure last month. The city rebutted Sabatino's arguments in court by saying the education campaign was purely informational.

Auto theft suspects

Ten people were arrested on suspicion of auto theft in Stanislaus County from Feb. 21 to Wednesday. Information on the suspects, plus their photos, can be found at www.modbee.com/local/ autothefts.

Yesteryears

25 YEARS AGO: Nearly 500 students brought Walter M. Brown School to life during the opening day at the $2.6 million elementary campus serving northwest Turlock.

-- Karen Aiello