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

One of Delores Silva's five sons was caught off guard driving to work at General Mills on Monday morning when he saw his mother's name on the marquee at a local school.

The Lodi woman was selected to serve as George Washington Elementary's "Principal for a Day." She chose the school's name after winning a newspaper contest in the 1950s.

Silva, who was born and raised in the Lodi area, remembers being home from school with the mumps when she decided to respond to the calling with 50 words or less as to why the new school should be named "George Washington Elementary." For her winning entry, she received a $25 bond she ended up using to buy a new dress.

"I was so proud," said Silva, who remarked more than once what good condition the school is in.

"Anytime anyone says something about Washington School, I tell them I named it."

Denman found out about Silva's connection to the school from third-grade teacher Jamie Moso, whose mother-in-law, Mary, is Silva's best friend.

In the first hour of her interim job Monday, Silva had already received a commemorative plaque, been greeted by several third-grade classrooms of students, visited the severely handicapped wing to learn about a new program, and read to kindergartners finishing up lunch in the cafeteria — something Washington Principal Linda Denman tries to do everyday.

She felt this was the best way to honor Silva, who apparently wasn't invited to the school's dedication.

Why did Silva choose the first president as the new school's namesake?

Linda Denman, left, principal of George Washington Elementary School, introduces Dolores Silva, who gave the school its name in the 1950s. Silva was selected as the school's Principal for a Day. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

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Simply because she felt a school needed to be named for him, Silva told students in a mini-assembly while flanked by a large portrait of Washington.

One student wanted to know if she still liked the name. She said she did; she also likes the school.

When the day was over, Silva's favorite part was the reading to the students during lunchtime and seeing the fifthand sixth-graders work with the teacher doing math on a large interactive classroom screen.

"I got to see all the kids and give them prizes," she said of a regular contest that rewards all students every Monday. "I also got to monitor them in the halls after lunch.

"It was fun. I volunteer all over, but I've never volunteered at a school so it was neat."

Denman said she was looking for a good candidate for Principal for a Day, ideally someone who dedicates his or her free time to helping others.

Silva, who retired 12 years ago after a 25-year career at General Mills, took up volunteering shortly thereafter. With her children grown and out of the house, she knew she couldn't spend much time at home, she said in a 2006 News-Sentinel interview.

That year, she was bestowed the Vanguard Award, given to General Mills employees and retirees who are committed to public service, generate noticeable effects and inspire others to act.

Today, Silva still volunteers at the Lodi Community Center. She has also helped at the LOEL Center, Portuguese clubs in Lodi, Thornton and Rio Vista, the San Joaquin County Human Services Agency and St. Anne's Catholic Church.

After being born at home in Tower Park, she attended Terminous School off Highway 12 and later Turner Elementary School. Today she still lives in Lodi, where she raised her five sons as a single mother. She has nine grandchildren.

"They're all excited about this," Silva said, adding that she didn't tell anyone about the honor and instead got phone call after phone call Monday morning when one of her sons saw the marquee and called fellow family members.

Lodi Unified School District site principals were responsible for seeking community leaders to take the helms of their schools for the day. To highlight the week's activities, the Board of Education and Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer will host a reception to honor the guest principals on Friday.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.