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• A triple-digit week

• It was hot enough in Lodi to fry an egg — on the hood of my jeep

• Sales tax may rise half-cent

• One Lodi Police officer gets promoted as another joins the department

• Regional Roundup

February 9th, 2010

• Middle College High School rated one of the best — and a bargain, to boot

• Lodi decathlon boasts top team in county

• Man who sparked counterfeit case pleads guilty

• Local businessman will visit Haiti to look for family

• Man who claimed to be Yosemite Sam pleads guilty to meth charge

• David Harmer seeks Republican congressional nod

• Lack of evidence in case against suspect in 'drug deal' stabbing

• Regional Roundup

February 8th, 2010

• Public Meetings

• Locals pick best, most memorable Super Bowl commercials

• Regional Roundup

February 6th, 2010

• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch

• Meet Larry, Curly and Moe

• Baboon business

• Regional Roundup

• Several Lodi venues let you watch the Super Bowl in style

• Lodi Library celebrates 100 years of serving the community

• Culinary craft

February 5th, 2010

• Kids, teachers help Haiti by collecting pennies for Learning Link

• Lodi, Galt students reach out to help Haiti earthquake survivors

• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam

• Hours of sweat and work go into putting on crab feeds

• Things looking up for state's real estate

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Stray bullet strikes Lodi home; police suspect gang activity may be factor

February 4th, 2010

• Managers at Geweke Toyota answer questions about recall

• Lodi City Council votes to replace play structure at Century Park

• Lodi extends ban on pot shops for another year

• Mokelumne River triathlon set for June

• Family, friends to run half-marathon in memory of Galt family

February 3rd, 2010

• Correction

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

• Lodi-area senators Dave Cox, Lois Wolk admit to gifts; Tom Berryhill case pending

• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts

• Galt City Council avoids budget cuts — for now

• New Lodi Memorial Hospital emergency room opens to the public without a hitch

• Regional Roundup

February 2nd, 2010

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Correction

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Jumpers across California

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

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• President Obama's first year (45)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (44)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (34)
• We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)
• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam (25)

ADVERTISEMENT

It's festival time throughout the year

Lodi and the region are home to great festivals, which celebrate a wide range of the area's agriculture, wine, crafts and culture.

The most popular festival in Lodi is the Lodi Grape Festival that will run Sept. 11-14. Singers and performers come from all over the country to perform on the festival's stages. The children love the rides — everything from the Zipper to soaring swings.

If you're new to the area, visiting festivals is a great way to see some great small towns. For example, in the small Sonoma County town of Sebastapol, you can watch the parade at the Apple Blossom Festival. If chocolate is your weakness, let yourself be tempted at the Oakdale Chocolate Festival. And if you crave ripe strawberries you can sink your teeth into, visit Galt in May for the annual Strawberry Festival.

It doesn't matter where you visit, you'll almost always find a festival.

Spring

Stockton Asparagus Festival

April 27-29 in Stockton. All things asparagus at this annual event, plus music, crafts, contests and entertainment. (209) 644-3755.

Apple Blossom Festival

April 26-27 in Sebastopol. Parade on Saturday, music on various stages, craft booths, food booths, including children's area, wine and food tastings and more. (707) 823-3032.

Zinfest

May 16-18 at Lodi Lake. Cooking demos, live entertainment, wine seminars, wine games and more. (209) 367-4727.

Cherry Festival

May 17 at Linden Elementary School Campus. Food, live entertainment and more. (209) 547-3046.

Chocolate Festival

May 17-18 in Oakdale. Chocolate tasting, arts and crafts booths, food, entertainment and children's activities. (209) 847-2244.

Strawberry Festival

May 16-18 in Galt. Arts and crafts, strawberry products, fun run and live entertainment. (209) 745-2529.

Sacramento Jazz Jubilee

May 23-26 at various Sacramento locations. Regional and national jazz musicians convene at this annual event. Food vendors abound. Lodging available. (916) 372-5277.

Summer

Art and Wine Festival

June 3-4 in downtown Walnut Creek. Music, children's area and craft vendors. (925) 934-2007.

Wine and Sausage Festival

June 11 in Downtown Lodi. Live entertainment, wine tasting, arts and crafts and lots of sausage. (209) 369-8052.

Crawdad Festival

June 13-15 in Isleton. All things cajun at this crustacean event including live music, entertainment and a ton of crawdads. Food vendors, crafts, art and games. (916) 777-5880.

Obon Festival

June 28-29 at the Buddhist Church of Lodi. Japanese food, music, Taiko drums, bazaar and more. (209) 368-5589.

Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival

July 19-Aug. 9 at various Lake Tahoe venues. (530) 583-3101; http://www.tahoemusic.org.

Garlic Festival

July 25-27 in Gilroy. Garlic, food and family fun at this annual event. (408) 842-1625.

Bear Valley Music Festival

July 26-Aug. 10 in Bear Valley. Featuring bluegrass, jazz, opera, orchestral, Broadway and pop. Wine and food available. (800) 458-1618; http://www.bearvalleymusic.org.

Fall

Oktoberfest in Galt

Date and location to be announced. Traditional German dancers, German beer, bratwurst, food and craft booths.

Our Lady of Fatima Celebration

Third weekend in October at 26500 N. Sacramento Blvd., Thornton. Parades, dancing, Catholic Masses, food and bullfighting. (209) 794-2661.

California Dry Bean Festival

Sept. 6-7 in Tracy. Two-day event with emphasis on beans. Kids' area, arts and crafts, food, plus the bean tasting pavilion and chili cook-off. 835-2131.

Lodi Grape Festival

Sept. 11-14. Food, rides, entertainment. http://www.grapefestival.com.

Eggplant Festival

Oct. 4 in Main Street, Loomis. Food, arts, crafts, entertainment, cooking contest, outdoor activities and classic car show. (916) 652-7252.

Candy Festival

Oct. 11 in downtown Fairfield. Candy samples, candy vendors, magic shows, face painting, crafts and music. (707) 422-0103.