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• Will the view kill property values?

• City of Lodi considering furloughs and trying to avoid layoffs

• Wine and Chocolate Weekend in Lodi filled with food, fun and a golden ticket

• Counties suing state to keep money-spigot flowing

• Thieves forgo fuel, attempt to fill up on cash during gas station robberies

• Regional Roundup

• Boy suffers injuries when struck by car on his way to school

• Correction

November 19th, 2009

• Logbook

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

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

• Operation: Christmas

• Corrections

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

• Chase ends in crash

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

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

November 18th, 2009

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

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

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

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

November 17th, 2009

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

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Regional Roundup

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Clarification

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

November 16th, 2009

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

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

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

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

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

• Public Meetings

November 14th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• 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

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

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

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

November 12th, 2009

• Logbook

• Correction

• Robotics team at Jim Elliot invited to compete in Israel

• City of Lodi begins annual leaf removal program Monday

• Liberty Ranch construction at standstill as state pulls funds

• Will Lodi adopt a program that will allow volunteers to work at parks?

• With song and speech, veterans are recognized in Lodi

• 20 years later, Acampo man remembers the fall of the Berlin Wall

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

• The country's mess is our fault (130)
• Obama is not a moderate (129)
• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved (94)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (60)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (49)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (44)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• The haves should help the have-nots (25)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Crazy for chocolate

How to give this rich, creamy treat on Valentine's Day

The appearance is dark and smooth. The smell beckons to all who open the box. The taste is creamy, rich and luxurious as it melts in the mouth.

This food that stimulates all the senses — chocolate — has always been a popular gift for Valentine's Day. How many different ways can you say 'I love you' with chocolate? Local chocolate retailers have shared what they have available for the big day.

Assorted chocolates

For those interested in the simple chocolate taste, A Taste of Heaven offers chocolate truffles, chocolate caramels or chocolate malt balls. If a more complex chocolate taste is desired, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers specialized chocolates such as avalanche bark, which is peanuts mixed with white ribbon chocolate, Rice Krispies, marshmallows and chocolate chips.

"We make everything in our store," said employee Alex Licata. "Ninety-five percent of what we sell, we make."

The store also offers peanut butter cups made in heart shapes and Rocky Mountain nuggets. There are different types of chocolate bark such as Tiger Butter, which is peanut butter with white ribbon chocolate.

Food dipped in chocolate

A variety of foods can be dipped in chocolate and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers chocolatedipped strawberries and pretzels dipped in white chocolate and decorated with Valentine colors.

A Taste of Heaven has a variety of nut products made by The Lodi Nut Factory, including chocolate-covered almonds in heart-shaped containers. They also offer fruit covered in chocolate.

Fudge

Looking for fudge? Try going gourmet with Merrilyn's Gourmet Wine Fudge. Merrilyn Wilmoth uses her own recipe, which she prepares in her kitchen.

"Everyone always says they have never heard of it before," she said.

Wilmoth's fudge comes packaged in a four pack, each wrapped like Tootsie Rolls. She also has fudge-filled hearts, berry fudge and Chardonnay fudge.

"The beauty of fudge is that you can eat it just like fudge or you can melt it and dip strawberries in it, melt over popcorn or melt it in your coffee," she said. "It's a lot more than just the fudge."

Wilmouth also makes tipsy turtles, which is wine fudge mixed with caramel, pecans and wine fudge drizzled on top.

"It's to make you tipsy," she added.

Cookies

Chocolate biscotti and chocolate-covered cookies in decorative boxes are available at A Taste of Heaven. If you're searching for something a little more unique, they also have chocolate fortune cookies.

"Those are really fun around Valentine's Day," said owner Jackie Powell.

Chocolate drinks

For those who prefer chocolate in liquid form, Mon Pettit Chic has hand-painted chocolate martini glasses and coffee mugs. Recipes for chocolate martinis and chocolate coffee are on the bottom of each. Owner Christi Morris said it is more like chocolate with no calories.

She also sells Mexican and American varieties of Moonstruck hot chocolate mix.

Contact Features Editor Pam Bauserman at pamelab@lodinews.com.