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• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

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' (43)
• 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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Five ways to get out of Lodi for an alternative Thanksgiving

Whether you're tired of slaving over the stove or you want to take advantage of a long vacation, here are alternative ways to spend Thanksgiving

Every year, there's always the turkey and gravy, the pumpkin pies and cranberry sauce — and the food choma and thrashed kitchen.

If you're tired of slaving for days over a holiday meal that is devoured in minutes or you just want to get out of town during your mini vacation, there are places you can retreat to, where you can get a homecooked meal without the fuss (and a warm bed without the racket of house guests taking over your home).

Whether you go all out and fly to Las Vegas for a few nights of hardcore buffet and slot machine action, or if you sneak away to the mountains to sleep in a caboose motel, you can go off the beaten path and start a new Thanksgiving tradition — with or without the family.

In Vegas, Thanksgiving is celebrated with pumpkin burgers

Destination: Las Vegas strip

Distance from Lodi: About an hour-and-a-half flight.

(Courtesy photo)

Where to dine on Thanksgiving: Burger Joint at the Flamingo Hotel or Alize at The Palms.

If you really want to get out of town this Thanksgiving, a trip to Las Vegas might be the perfect prescription. Although, it may be a splurge as Southwest flights — usually about $40 one way from Sacramento — are now starting around $150 for the long weekend. However, the specialty Thanksgiving burgers from the Flamingo's new restaurant, Burger Joint, may be worth the trip. In addition to its regular menu of diner faves, Burger Joint is featuring a turkey-day burger that consists of turkey breast on a pumpkin burger bun with turkey gravy and sweet potato fries. It's available from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will cost $14.

But chances are, you may be in the mood for something a little nicer. In that case, think about dining at Alize at The Palms. They are going out in Thanksgiving spirit and offering a full menu with toasted hazelnut panna cotta with candied quince, free-range turkey with herb nut and dried fruit stuffing, truffled potato mousseline, California sea bass with Cannellini beach ragout and more. For dessert, you'll get your choice of pecan pie with run raisin ice cream or warm cherry and chocolate cobbler with brown sugar ice cream or apple tarte tartin with creme anglaise and Calvados ice cream. This special menu is served from 4 to 9 p.m. and costs $85.

More about the Burger Joint: www.flamingolasvegas.com.

Hit the slopes and luxury resort

Destination: Reno and Tahoe

Distance from Lodi: Two-and-a-half hours driving.

(Courtesy photo)

Where to rest your head/ Dine on Thanksgiving: Peppermill Resort Casino.

If you want to sneak in some ski and snowboard time over your holiday weekend, think about heading to Peppermill Reno, a resort, spa and casino that will have 10 restaurants serving traditional turkey dinners on Thanksgiving, in addition to their regular fare. The most popular Thanksgiving restaurant is expected to be the Island buffet, which will offer chilled gold shrimp, crab, oysters in a half shell and Pacific salmon with their turkey and stuffing. The buffets are $24.99 for adults.

You can also stay at the Peppermill the entire weekend and never get bored. In addition to a casino, there is a spa and plenty of nightlife and entertainment.

More about Peppermill Resort Casino: www.peppermillreno.com.

Discover a dream world on the coast

Destination: San Luis Obispo

Distance from Lodi: Just over four hours driving.

(Courtesy photo)

Where to rest your head/dine on Thanksgiving: The Madonna Inn.

If you want a little Victorian variety on Thanksgiving, the colorful and eclectic Madonna Inn on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo offers 110 rooms that each have their own special theme, from English elegance to cowboy country.

While the inn is entertaining in itself, you'll also be a short drive from downtown San Luis Obispo (or SLO, as the locals call it), and the small, coastal town of Pismo Beach. In San Luis Obispo, you have your choice of charming vintage shops, beach-themed art galleries and eateries that are both family friendly and popular for students attending the centrally-located California State University, San Luis Obispo.

Drive about seven miles south on Highway 101 and find yourself in downtown Pismo Beach. On the days before or after Thanksgiving, enjoy clam chowder in a bread bowl from one of the many eateries. Walk along the beach, the pier or stay along the mini main street and shop at the downtown specialty stores.

If you want Thanksgiving dinner even away from home, the Madonna Inn will be serving a complete turkey dinner with all the favorite sides. Dinner will be offered from noon to 8 p.m. and costs $33.95. For those who want something a little different, the chef is also cooking up duckling or ham. And, items from a limited steakhouse menu will also be available.

More about The Madonna Inn: www.madonnainn.com.

Sleep on a train near Shasta

Destination: Dunsmuir

Distance from Lodi: Almost 4 hours driving.

(Courtesy photo)

Where to rest your head: Caboose Motel at the Railroad Park.

Where to eat dine on Thanksgiving: Treehouse Restaurant in Shasta.

For a quiet Thanksgiving, surround yourself with a little history and a lot of nature at the Caboose Motel at Railroad Park in Dunsmuir. Since 1968, guests have been sneaking away to this little-known treasure, where you sleep in restored antique railroad cars with a mountain creek running nearby and tall pines just outside the window. Now circled around a swimming pool, deck and spa, the cabooses were once coupled behind freight trains owned by Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and Great Northern Companies.

Each caboose is completely refurbished and filled with new chairs and tables, cable TV, a phone, mini refrigerator, bathroom with a tub and shower. Some cabins have creek-side tables for picnicking. Dogs are also welcome for an additional deposit.

Though the restaurant is closed for the winter (as well as the RV and camping area of Railroad Park), Lynn Ballard, who works at the park, says many visitors enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at the Best Western Tree House Restaurant in Shasta, about 10 miles up the road. The restaurant will offer a special Thanksgiving dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. that includes all of the traditional fixings. They will also offer dinner from their popular menu, including prime rib, steaks, seafood and pasta.

More about the Caboose Motel at Railroad Park: (530) 235-4440, www.rrpark.com.

More about Treehouse Restaurant: (530) 926-3101.

Barbecue your own oysters on unbeaten path

Destination: Tomales Bay

Distance from Lodi: Three hours driving.

Where to rest your head: Beach cabins.

(Courtesy photo)

Where to dine on Thanksgiving: Tomales Bay Oyster Company.

While it's not the typical tradition, perfectly-prepared oysters are much tastier than a dried-out turkey — even if you won't admit it. Just a couple hours drive from Lodi is the Bodega Bay area, where you can find the perfect oysters and chowder at restaurants and oyster farms along the coast.

While you can find an oyster farm if you drive along the bay, one of the most popular oyster farms is the Tomales Bay Oyster Company. It is California's oldest continuously-run shellfish farm on Highway One in Marshall. They sell oysters, clams and mussels.

While they don't have a restaurant or cook the oysters for you, there is a shorline picnic area, where you can enjoy raw oysters or barbecue them yourself. Oysters vary in price, depending on the size. For small oysters, it is $10 for a dozen. Thanksgiving hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you want to head to the North Bay and still enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, the elegant Bluewater Bistro at Bodega Harbor is serving harvest stew, roast turkey, grilled salmon and ravioli from 1 to 5 p.m.

When treating yourself to a stay along Tomales Bay, it's all about personal preference. Explore Continental Hotel (continentalinn.com) in Downtown Tomales, Nick's Cove & Cottages (www.nickscove.com) in Marshall or rent a cabin at Dillon Beach Resort (www.dillonbeachresort.com).

More about Bluewater Bistro at Bodega Harbor: (707) 875-3513.

More about the Tomales Bay Oyster Company: www.tomalesbayoysters.com.