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• National groups prepared to head to court on council's prayer policy

• A reminder: Fireworks illegal in Lodi, San Joaquin County

• Biggest Loser: Lodi

• Changing Faces: Chatting with the Cheshire Cat

• Officials: Number of county inmates with H1N1 virus now at 20

• Regional Roundup

• Forecast: Recession should 'bottom out' this year

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

• Regional Roundup

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• 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

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

February 2nd, 2010

• Big rig plows 7 cars

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

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

• Jumpers across California

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

February 1st, 2010

• Find cuddly alpacas not too far from Lodi

• Public Meetings

• Patients can expect faster, better service when Lodi Memorial Hospital's new emergency room opens

• Man killed by Amtrak train in Lodi

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

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
• President Obama's first year (67)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future (60)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (49)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (31)

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Changing Faces: Chatting with the Cheshire Cat

Celena Tasabia, 19, is the person underneath the thick hair of "Alice and Wonderland's" zany character, the Cheshire Cat.

In the Lodi performance by Changing Places Theater company, the local college student helps guide Alice through the crazy journey that has become a classic tale. The play is co-directed by Mike Bartram and Sabrina Willis.

Tasabia recently talked with News-Sentinel Lodi Living Editor Lauren Nelson about the play, her role and where she hopes to go on her own life journey.

Q: Describe your role, the Cheshire Cat.

A: It's way different than the Disney version. This version is much more tailored to children's theater. It's more of a friend and mentor to Alice.

Q: What kind of quirks does the Cheshire Cat have?

A: A lot of physical stuff and strange body movements.

Q: What kind of training did you have to undergo to perform the Cheshire Cat?

A: I've never had any dance or (voice) training. I can move my feet to music, and I just sort of use that. It's not intense ballet, but a lot of moving around and jumping and hopping.

Q: In 10 years, when you're done with school, where do you see yourself?

A: I'm thinking about joining the Peace Corps. I'm really interested in travel and culture. I hope to somehow wrap theater into travel and culture.

Q: Describe yourself in three words.

A: Odd, zany, superfluous.

Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A: Sometimes I get way too serious. I get so overwhelmed by all my obligations and duties that I forget to have fun. It's not that I don't have any fun, but I take all the things I have to do very seriously.

Q: If you won the lottery today, describe your life six months from now?

A: I would have all my tuition paid for, I'd probably donate to Changing Faces, my church, non-profit organizations, organizations that aid third-world countries. I'd probably save a little bit to pay off my parents' mortgage and probably buy a house in some foreign country.

Q: Some people have bumper stickers on their car that reads, "I'd Rather Be Sailing." What would your bumper sticker read? "I'd Rather Be ... "?

A: For the moment, I'd rather be sleeping. Working with Changing Faces, I've been putting so many hours into it and it gets tiring. Things are coming together now, and we're going to open on the 8th, so the stress levels are decreasing.

Q: Is this your stage debut?

A: No, I've done other (productions) for Delta. I did "Treasure Island," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "Talk Radio."

Q: What's something you're looking forward to this August, after "Alice in Wonderland" closes and before school starts?

A: I really want to have the time to laze around, watch movies, go to the beach and forget what time it is.

Q: Who should see "Alice in Wonderland"?

A: Everyone, from the tiniest little kids who are enchanted by the imaginative wonders of Wonderland to the older (crowd) who like to see their grandkids (play).

Q: What else do you want people to know?

A: Be sure to bring a picnic blanket, bug spray, sunblock (if you're here early) and be ready for a lot of fun.

Contact Lauren Nelson at laurenn@lodinews.com.