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• $220 million expansion done

• Lodian Delores Silva honored at George Washington — the school she named 50 years ago

• Two more Lodi gas stations robbed at gunpoint Sunday

• Wal-Mart still eyeing large stores in Galt and Lodi

• Public invited to fundraiser for 1-year-old heart transplant patient

• Regional Roundup

• Assemblywoman Alyson Huber hand-delivers 2,000 postcards opposing peripheral canal

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)

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$220 million expansion done

No grand celebration for new Lodi Memorial Hospital wing due to H1N1

Lodi Memorial Hospital's new $220 million wing is completed and should be open to patients next month.

Contractors on Monday handed over the building's key to hospital officials in a brief ceremony. State regulators gave permission to begin moving furniture in, and the wing is on track to open Dec. 21.

But Monday's key ceremony is the only fuss that will be made about the new wing, despite the fact that community members helped raise funds for it. Next month's opening won't be marked by a ribbon-cutting with the mayor and countless other Lodi leaders.

Why no public celebration? The answer is the same as the reason Lodi Memorial on Monday began turning away all visitors age 16 and under — fears of H1N1.

"It's just too risky with H1N1, and we definitely need to practice what we preach," hospital spokeswoman Carol Farron said. "To invite anyone here from the outside would just be too much."

The hospital instead held a small ceremony Monday to mark the end of construction on the wing that adds 90 beds to the hospital's current total of 180 beds.

"We could have used those beds Jan. 1 of this year, so our priority is to get patients in those beds," Farron said.

The hospital wing was paid for through a bond, with additional fundraising in the community.

On Monday, Lodi Memorial and four other San Joaquin County hospitals began enacting tougher patient visiting policies. No children under the age of 16 are allowed to visit, and patients may only have two visitors at a time. Exceptions will made on a case-by-case basis for patients in life-threatening situations.

Lodi Memorial Hospital's new $220 million wing is completed and should be open to patients next month. The hospital includes a healing garden that's located in the center. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

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That decision was made in an attempt to keep patients and visitors alike from spreading H1N1.

Additionally, the hospital canceled some maternity services because pregnant women are at higher risk if exposed to the virus. The Big Brother/Big Sister classes were canceled, as were hospital tours traditionally given to expecting parents.

However, childbirth and breastfeeding classes will continue, Farron said, so that pregnant women will be prepared for both responsibilities.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.