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• McCain in Stockton

• Behind the scenes at Stockton McCain rally

• Fierce winds in Lodi knock down trees, knock out power

• Wind gets growers' attention

• Tips for dealing with wind damage

• Sutter Gould may anchor site of 30-acre complex

• Events slated to honor veterans on Memorial Day

• Lodi schools show improvement but still below average

November 2nd, 2009

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

November 7th, 2009

• Lodi High graduate was at Fort Hood

• Lining up for flu shots in Lodi

• Tour packs buses as birdwatchers admire Sandhill cranes

• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks

• Daytime thieves targeting Lodi homes

• Lodi High School rally featured on 'Good Day Sacramento'

• Out of control

• Homicide suspect Anthony Hubbard arraigned

• Regional Roundup

• New Lodi Memorial rule to combat spread of H1N1: Visitors must be older than 16

November 6th, 2009

• Short sales make up nearly half of Lodi market

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi man accused of smuggling drugs, weapons for inmates at state prison

• 'I-5 Strangler' sentenced to 6 terms of life

• Jury convicts Acampo man of torture, assault of his girlfriend

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

• Speakers address Lodi Unified School District budget shortfalls, plea to keep programs

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

• Regional Roundup

• California voters have final say over $11 billion water bond

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• Man wanted in Acampo homicide gives up to San Joaquin County Sheriff's detectives

November 4th, 2009

• Candle fire

• Rep. Jerry McNerney sets telephone town hall for Thursday

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council argues over ordinance hiring residents

• San Joaquin County sues state over prison hospital planned for Stockton

• Big win for Allen Baroni in reclamation election

• California sends Democratic loyalist John Garamendi to Congress

• Bicycling father raising awareness of teen suicide

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

November 3rd, 2009

• 500 attend service for Kyle Coumas

• Correction

• Galt considers ordinance that would require city contractors to hire locally

• Regional Roundup

• Have you seen a missing guide dog puppy in Lodi?

• Galt man dies after weekend Highway 12 crash

• Jason Behrmann is top candidate for Galt city manager

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

• Clarification

November 2nd, 2009

• Downtown Lodi trick or treat

• Public Meetings

• Correction

• Kyle Coumas funeral today

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Regional Roundup

• Group investigates reports of haunting

• Sandhill Cranes Festival comes to Lodi next weekend

• Lamborghini lovers gather for show, fine wine, luncheon in Woodbridge

• Lodi's 'Biggest Loser' Christy Richesin runs 5K Halloween race

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (74)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (70)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (60)
• Universal health care solves big problems (54)
• Stuck in neutral? Hardly! (36)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (35)
• Words from our forefathers (27)
• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks (24)
• Majority cannot deprive the minority (24)

ADVERTISEMENT

Disappointed in Strawberry Festival

My name is Reuven E. Epstein, and I have lived in Galt for more than 30 years. After last weekend's Strawberry Festival I am ashamed to admit to living here.

I spent six hours on Saturday sitting in front of the library at a eye van offering free visual exams. A number of people driving by stopped and asked us where the Strawberry Festival was. It was actually in the soccer field just behind us, but nobody from the festival (13th annual) thought to put up a sign telling anyone that. There were no signs around Galt saying where it was, only signs saying that it was taking place.

I also spoke to a number of people who were leaving the festival. Almost all of them said that food with a strawberry theme was hard to find.

This has been a problem almost every year. I even tried to give the festival sponsors suggestions about this last year. Apparently, I was not listened to.

After we were done with the eye exams, around 3 p.m., I tried to take a look at the festival. I couldn't find the entrance. The gate at the soccer field was only for display cars and motorcycles. No one there was taking any money to enter. I finally drove to the flea market parking lot. There was a gate there, but again, no sign saying anything about a festival entrance.

The parking lot was almost empty. I know it was hot on Saturday, but I was still surprised to find an empty lot.

Inside I found few exhibits. No crafts. A fair amount of food booths, but not much with strawberries. I find it hard to believe that this is the best Galt can do to put on a public face. The Chamber of Commerce, the main sponsor, clearly needs help. I hope they listen when it is offered.

This festival has been much better in the past, so I don't know what happened, or didn't happen, this year.

Reuven Epstein
Galt