Fundraisers

Stop the killing save Darfur

2009-11-10T04:57:42Z

A diverse group of people came together Sunday to generate awareness about genocides occurring around the world.

The Sacramento Committee on Conscience held a showing of "The Devil Came on Horseback," a documentary on the genocide being committed by the Janjeweed in Darfur, and "Screamers," a documentary capturing the struggles dating back to the Armenian genocide and going all the way up until the present Darfur genocide.

After the film, the committee held a panel to discuss the issues of hate in Sacramento and how people can help to stop the trends.

"It starts with bullies in school and then people with that mentality end up running a government," said Vice Mayor Lauren Hammond.

Hillary Hodge, representative of Equality Action Now, explained events of violence and hate that have directly affected the gay community.

"The heinous act against Matthew Shepard about a decade ago really hit home, when they[Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson] tied him to a fence and beat him until his life left his body," Hodge said.

Richard Kazanjian, representative for the Sacramento Chapter of the Armenian National Committee fought back tears as he explained the effects of the Armenian genocide.

"The Armenian genocide is the stain on our culture. My family was directly impacted. This event has changed every Armenian's life," Kazanjian said.

Efren Gutierrez, representative of Chicano Consortium Sacramento explained his experiences with hate as a person of mixed race.

"I am Mestizo, half native[Mexican] and half European. The greatest tragedy is not being considered by your own people," Gutierrez said.

Barry Broad, representative of the Jewish Community Relations Council brought to light the mistakes that everyone has made with unintentional discrimination.

"The worst words you can hear is 'you people' and then you know something bad is going to happen," Broad said.

NAACP member James Sweeney, offered his solutions to the hate problems around the world.

"We need to manifest the direct antithesis of hate, which is love, but I think people are more afraid of love than hate," Sweeney said.

So far the US government has passed 17 bills regarding Darfur, but without implementing them the situation will not change. The bills have been passed to show that America does recognize what is happening in Darfur and to let the world know that the actions have been formally classified as genocide under its legal definition of: intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group by killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group, but no forceful action hs been taken against the Janjeweed. . Almost half a million people have been killed and 2.5 million have been displaced because of this genocide.

For more information on the genocide in Darfur and ways to help, visit the Sacramento Committee on Conscience website.

Best of Sacramento Celebrate

2009-11-21T03:47:11Z

"Oh god, this is gonna be a long night," said radio personality Jack Armstrong as he and Joe Getty kicked off the 11th annual Best of Sacramento party on Thursday.

The party, a benefit for the March of Dimes, was full of Sacramento Magazine's notion of the best of what Sacramento has to offer, everything from food and drinks to local media and entertainment.

"It's really a huge honor, it's a reflection of the station I work for," said 'Best TV Reporter Team' winner Edie Lambert. "It's a big compliment to quality journalism."

Booths filled the Convention Center, and lines wrapped around the exhibit hall as attendees took full advantage of the free food, services and other goodies.

Express Event Imaging and Sacramento News & Review offered free photographs gracing the covers of Sacramento Magazine and SN&R, Hoshall's Salon and Spa's fashion show featured dramatic hair, makeup and clothes, and KCRA 3's news team --Walt Gray, Mark Finan, Mike TeSelle, Kelly Brothers, Del Rodgers, Eileen Javora and Adrienne Bankert -- posed for pictures with attendees. The team also swept the media category.

"I heard this was the place to be," said first-time attendee Scott Wood. "I could joke and say there should be more free booze, but I think there's plenty."

Booths hawked products and services while providing freebies that ranged from body waxing to information from the zoo on the difference between apes and monkeys.

"We're glad to be here to let people know that the zoo isn't just for kids, even though we were voted 'best place to take the kids'," said Sacramento Zoo employee Lara Kirkendall.

The event raises money for the March of Dimes, devoted to the safety and care of infants.

"We raised $400,000 for March of Dimes, we had more sponsors than ever before. We are now up to $3.4 million for the charity," said Joe Chiodo, publisher of Sacramento Magazine. "This is our best year yet."

Dozens of attendees bid on silent auction items, the main source of donations.

"We came to support the March of Dimes, we're making our way to the auction tables," said Stephanie Thompson, attending for the first time. "They also have excellent sushi from Sapporo Grill and the atmosphere is great."

For more information, and to see all of the 'Best of' winners, visit the Sacramento Magazine website. For more information on the March of Dimes or to make a donation, visit the March of Dimes website.

Organic Capital Sustainability Celebration

2009-12-09T03:40:43Z

"Water, water everywhere" will be the theme for the fourth annual Organic Capital Sustainability Celebration Dec. 10.

Organic Sacramento will be hosting the awareness event that highlights Northern California water issues.

"Each year different local issues are addressed and the individuals and groups that have worked with these issues are acknowledged and honored," said William Brooks, Central Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council

The event will include food, live music and a silent auction as well as guest speakers.

"I'm looking forward to hearing more from the individuals that are personally involved with the issues, and those that have solutions to our current problems," Brooks said. "Twenty percent of California's energy is currently used in water pumping and treatment. The ramifications of this in times of high cost, non-sustainable energy sources is also of concern to me."

The funds raised will go to "Restore the Delta" to support education about upcoming water challenges, Delta farmers and agriculture and furthering other food and water causes, according to Brooks.

Restore the Delta is a grassroots campaign committed to making the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta fishable, swimmable, drinkable and farmable to benefit all, Brooks said.

The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Beatnik Studios, 2421 17th St. Admission is free but donations of $10 to $25 or more is suggested. For more information, visit the Sacramento for Democracy website.

The best will come together

2009-11-18T04:49:03Z

The spotlight is on Sacramento at the 'Best of' party hosted by Sacramento Magazine, Thursday at the Convention Center.

The winners from the "best of" categories will show what they've got while attendees can try out the best products, services, and entertainment that Sacramento has to offer. The winner for best candy store, Sees Candy and the winner for best regional winery Bogel Vineyards will be a couple of the participating vendors at the party.

The winners from the eight categories will be showing attendees what they've got, allowing them to sample products, services and entertainment - the best Sacramento has to offer.

Some of this year's winners include , Best New Fun Spot, MIX Downtown, Best Place To Get a Tattoo, Wild Bill's Tattoo and Best Kings Player, Kevin Martin.

"We're excited for the entertainment," Megan Chiechi, marketing director for Sacramento Magazine said. "We have Ryan Hernandez (local acoustic alternative artist) performing, 60 wineries, 70 restaurants, a grand display of a fire engine that people can take pictures with, free massages, Western Feed is making free dog tags, and there will be party bags."

The party will benefit the March of Dimes, the leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby heath. Last year's event raised $400,000 for the charity, and they hope to match that this year, according to Chiechi.

"Other chapters of the March of Dimes (around the country) had been doing these 'Best of' parties with city regional magazines in other cities," Chiechi said. "Our local chapter of the March of Dimes originally approached us to start our own 'Best of' party in Sacramento. Thus, the Best of Sacramento Party began."

Sacramento Magazine has been hosting the 'Best of Sacramento' party for the past 10 years.

The silent auction offering goods and services from some of Sacramento's best will begin at 4:30 p.m., doors will open at 5:30, and tickets are $75 in advance and $95 on the day of the party. To purchase tickets to the event, visit the Sacramento Magazine website. To learn more about the March of Dimes or to make a donation visit the March of Dimes website.

Amy Goodman in Sacramento

2009-11-23T03:56:11Z

Journalist Amy Goodman spoke about health care and her new book, "Breaking the Sound Barrier," Saturday at the Coloma Community Center auditorium to an audience of about 100.

Goodman's speech about the health-care system in the United States turned personal. It was dedicated to her mother, who died in October of cancer.

"I felt like we were leaving signs saying 'Do not harm, do not amputate this, do not mutilate'," said Goodman. "The health-care system is sick."

Goodman said her mother, Dorrie Goodman, asked this while being treated in the hospital: "The Chinese learned pain management 3,000 years ago. Why haven't you figured it out?"

According to Goodman, the media doesn't cover anything but the status quo on issues such as health care because it can be summed up and understood in an eight-second sound bite.

"Let's lower the age of eligibility (of health care) to when you're born," said Goodman. "See? I can sum it up in four seconds."

"I got to give this book to my mother before she died and turned it to the dedication page, which reads "Dedicated to my mother, Dorris Goodman, the most remarkable woman I have ever known," said Goodman.

She read a column from the book called "Keifer Sutherland's Grandfather Tommy Douglass: Health Care Reform Needs an Action Hero." She said that "to investigate, President Barack Obama might be tempted to call on Jack Bauer, the fictional rogue intelligence agent from the hit TV series "24."

"Maybe Jack Bauer can save the day," said Goodman. "I think America can do better than this."

Goodman then commented on Obama and the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen.

"Goodman wound down her talk with a wry comment on Obama and the upcoming climate changer conference in Copenhagen

"He hasn't confirmed that he's going," she said. "I know he knows where it is because he was just there pushing for the Olympics in Chicago. I think this is a bit more important."