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

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

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

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

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

• Regional Roundup

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

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

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

November 20th, 2009

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

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

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Regional Roundup

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• Acampo woman killed

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

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

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?

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)
• 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 (45)
• 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)
• Nightmares about America's future (21)

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Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

The Sandhill Crane Festival is an annual event that brings together people in the community who appreciate and are fascinated by these creatures.

The festival is a three-day event that brings together biologists, photographers, artists and regular folks who appreciate these birds' habits and personalities.

For the artists and art-lovers

A variety of free activities are available at the festival. Friday evening, there will be an art show and reception, with wine from Woodbridge Uncorked and food from the Ryde Hotel. The Campbell Creek Gang will be performing for musical entertainment.

The art show will feature various naturerelated pieces, including oils, watercolors, etchings, photographs and ceramics from local artists.

René C. Reyes is this year's featured festival artist, and he will be selling his work as well.

Art can be viewed at the opening reception on Friday evening, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, it will be available for viewing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The art show will be in the Cottage-Pisano rooms at Hutchins Street Square and is free. The Art Show judging will be people's choice this year, so come vote for your favorite festival art and photographs. Events scheduled for the weekend include programs such as Wild Things, which will be showing live animals. There will also be story time for younger children. An owl pellet exploration workshop is also being offered during the weekend. It will enable participants to sift through owl pellets and see what the animal snacked on.

For those looking to explore their artistic side, there will be a decoy carving seminar for beginners, and native flute lessons and origami lessons as well.

The origami activity takes place in the Cottage-Pisano foyer. It is organized by members of the August Peace Event in Sacramento to commemorate the victims of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Cranes folded at the festival will be sent to the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima.

The Exhibit Hall will feature a food court and 30 vendors selling everything from art work to books, T-shirts and jewelry.

For those who want to learn

The Crane-ium, a hands-on event for kids, is also free. Lodi Unified School District scientist curriculum specialist Jay Bell will be hosting the workshop.

"Every year it's a little bit different," said Kathy Grant, spokeswoman for the festival. "He has ways to draw the skeptic into learning more about cranes. He does it in very clever way."

Grant described Bell as a teacher's teacher. She said he is hands-on and the event is like an exploratoriam. She said he will bring over parts of the collection from the Discovery Center at Lodi Lake, which he designed.

Featured speakers

Saturday, Paul Bannick will present "The Owl and The Woodpecker: Encounters with North America's Most Iconic Birds," from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.

It focuses on the ways woodpeckers and owls exist in their habitats, and how their lives can intertwine. His award-winning photographs, including many from his 2008 book that has the same title as his speech, can be seen at www.paulbannick.com.

On Sunday, Bannick will be hosting a workshop designed to improve bird photography skills. The event is limited to 15 people, and organizers are urging people to register in advance to ensure a space. It will be held from 7:15 to 10:30 a.m., and participants must be registered in tour number 33 in order to participate.

Sunday, Paul Tebbel will be the featured speaker. He has studied cranes since 1976. He will host a video presentation titled "Sandhill Crane Behavior" that will focus on understanding crane vocalizations, body language and other behaviors.

Tebbel's presentation will take place from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.

For the explorers

Tours will be conducted rain or shine. No cancellations are allowed after Oct. 26. Cancellations before Oct. 26 will be charged a $10.

The most popular tour is the Crane Fly-In. Three tours are held on both Friday and Saturday, and two are held on Sunday as well. The earliest begin at 3:00 p.m. and all take three hours. Participants travel by bus to the location and watch to cranes swoop in as the sun sets.

There are also tours for kayaking on the Mokelumne River, Bald Eagle watching and a picnic by the river.

Contact reporter Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com.