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• Kohl's coming to Lodi

• Area shoppers, business owners welcome Kohl's

• Program aims to fill foreclosed homes

• Bikers to host fund-raiser to support Lodi House

• Three firefighters join Lodi department

• Regional Roundup

• Million-dollar home to be raffled off for $150, math answer

• Correction

November 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

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

• The country's mess is our fault (170)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
• Public health care is a Christian option (66)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (25)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (18)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

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Bikers to host fund-raiser to support Lodi House

A local group will collect gifts for those in need this Christmas, but they'll be using Harley Davidson motorcycles powered by V-Twin engines instead of reindeer like Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen.

These jolly elves look nothing like Santa's merry men toiling in a workshop. Most are tattooed, sport facial hair, and wear jeans and a black leather motorcycle vest with their trademark club patch emblazoned on the back. While they may not look the role, they still have toys for those in need.

On Dec. 20, the Celtic Society Club's 30 members will be teaming up with O'Riley's Pub to hold a benefit toy and clothing fund-raiser for the current residents of Lodi House, as well as families that have graduated from the house.

O'Riley's Pub owner Dennis Parrish and his staff will be donating the use of his pub and the adjacent parking lot for the event, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at 211 Cherokee Lane, just off Lodi Avenue.

"It is a wonderful way to give back to the community by a very respected motorcycle club like the Celtic Society," Parrish said.

There will be food, vendor booths and music by former Eddie Money band member Bob Kinney, who will perform with his band, The Living Daylights. The public is invited and encouraged to bring one unwrapped toy and one article of clothing, any size for women, and also for children age 3 to adult, for admission to the event. According to Celtics Society Club President John Van Hoose, the bikers' mission is to collect as much clothing, toys and money as possible for Lodi House, and to dispel negative biker stereotypes. Van Hoose said that most of the club members are tax-paying citizens who hold steady jobs, own businesses and often band together to help those less fortunate.

"When you turn on the television and see cable shows such as 'Sons of Anarchy,' it really perpetuates the myth that bikers are the degenerates of our community," Van Hoose said. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

Two days after the fund-raiser, Celtic Society Club members will hop on their customized Harleys and ride over to Lodi House at 801 S. Washington St. to present the current five families in residence, along with families who have graduated from the program, with the gifts.

Lodi House Executive Director Suzanne Mangum said the Celtic Society donations could not have come at a better time, especially since the economy is now in a recession.

"When the Celtic Motorcycle Club told us about their idea of collecting clothes and toys for Lodi House, we were overwhelmed by their generosity." Mangum said. "With times being so difficult, we wondered how we could help all our other graduate families with Christmas. The Celtic Club had just the answer for us."

In 2007, with a total income of $341,719, Lodi House, a nonprofit organization for homeless women and children, provided shelter to 30 families and services to 46 graduate families. In addition to shelter, Lodi House provides food, advocacy, counseling and workshops.

Lodi resident Sterling Gaydon, who is the road captain for the Celtic Society, said it is important for his motorcycle club to help those less fortunate than others.

"We are not outlaws, and we are not about drugs and alcohol," Gaydon said. "We truly enjoy giving back to the kids and making a difference in the community in which we live."

So far in 2008, the Celtic Society Club bikers have participated in 10 benefit events ranging from various toy runs for children put on by other local motorcycle clubs, to fund-raisers to pay medical bills of those without health insurance involved in accidents or diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.