Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "afghanistan"

Mayor Johnson announces care package for troops in Afghanistan at weekly press conference

2011-03-15T20:17:53Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson announced a care package will be sent to American troops stationed in Afghanistan Tuesday at his press conference. The care package was put together by the mayor’s office, public safety organizations and the community.

The contents include American flags, letters from Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Gov. Jerry Brown, and various snacks, candy, and sporting equipment. U.S. Marine Sgt. Anthony Silva, currently deployed in Afghanistan, sent Johnson an e-mail requesting a care package.

“(Silva) said, ‘We are out here fighting for our country, and if the mayor’s office could help facilitate a few things for us troops out here, it would be very meaningful,” Johnson said.

The troops’ No. 1 request was an American flag. In response, the mayor’s office will be sending two - one from the office of Matsui, and another from the office of Sen. Barbara Boxer. The flag from Boxer’s office once flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the American flags, the care package includes the California and Sacramento flags, a Sacramento city-limit sign, and sporting equipment and snacks donated by the Sacramento Police Department, Fire Department, other local agencies and private citizens.

“You will not imagine how many people wanted to send things and share,” Johnson said.

The serviceman, from Oakdale ~~a Sacramento area native~~ , told Johnson he and his fellow troops wanted to name their operating base “Patrol Base Sacramento” in honor of his hometown.

The care package will be leaving from Travis Air Force Base later today and should arrive in Afghanistan sometime Wednesday.

At the conference, Johnson also discussed the city’s ongoing efforts to dissuade the Kings from moving to Anaheim. Johnson reiterated that the franchise “has one foot out the door, and three or four toes also out the door.

“It’s more likely that they will leave than stay,” Johnson said. “While there’s still time on the clock, we need to treat them as our team, we need to go out and support them as often as we can … but I think the reality is one that’s going to be very challenging to keep them here.”

Johnson added that he plans to speak ~~recently spoke~~ with the former mayor of Charlotte, N.C., about his city’s successful efforts to attract a new NBA franchise following the departure of the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans in 2002.

“They lose their team, and then in 2003, a year later, they break ground on a new arena. In 2004, they get the Bobcats, and in 2005 they have a ribbon-cutting in a new arena,” Johnson said. “So that could potentially be a very similar, telling city for us to study when it comes to our potential predicament in Sacramento.”

Building a new sports complex, like Charlotte, would be essential for attracting a new NBA franchise to Sacramento, Johnson said.

Editorial Note: Corrections have been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added.

Local effort to support the troops

2010-02-16T21:31:06Z

Under a slew of military flags, banners and pictures of troops, volunteers at Cal Expo collected care package donations Friday. They were members of the Defenders of Freedom a local nonprofit organization that assists servicemembers and their families.

Toiletries, games and DVD's were among the most requested items by troops serving around the country and overseas. The items were being assembled into care packages for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Both my sons serve in the Army," said Maria Elena Szlachciuk, founder of Defenders of Freedom. "These items, combined with letters and cards, can lift a soldier's morale."

The California chapter was founded in 2007 after a similar chapter started in Dallas in 2004. Szlachiuk runs the foundation with the help of her family and other volunteers.

Carol Bostick's son is a sergeant in the Marine Corps. She has seen him off twice, as he boarded a plane bound for Iraq.

"What we do here makes an impact," said Bostick. "Letters and care packages are a huge encouragement for the troops."

The foundation's nonpolitical tasks don't stop at care packages. Szlachciuk and her group welcome returning troops at Sacramento International Airport, spend time with wounded soldiers and educate the public on about the military.

"The American people need to be reminded that troops are still overseas," she said.

After watching an early morning newscast on about the Defenders of Freedom, Mike Petrillo loaded 150 T-shirts from a car show into his truck and drove from Vacaville.

"It turned out to be a nice day for the drive and the shirts can go to soldiers overseas. Perfect day," he said.

The Defenders of Freedom accept cash and donations. For information and to learn about requests from troops, visit their website.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers play Marilyn's on K Sunday

2009-11-07T06:57:56Z

Stephen Kellogg is not the type to brag about sharing the stage with Melissa Etheridge and hanging out with Carly Simon, James Taylor and Jimmy Buffett. In fact, the musician never mentioned it in his interview with The Sacramento Press.

Kellogg's favorite moment in his 15-year musical career wasn't even playing music. It was a humbling moment watching the drummer in his band help a soldier in the Middle East.

"In Kuwait this past spring, we met this Army Ranger shipping out that night for Afghanistan," Kellogg said. "He was hanging out, listening to us play, and it came up that he played banjo. Boots, the drummer from our band, who also plays banjo, gave his banjo to the Army Ranger. It felt like all the other things we'd done up to that point were leading up to this single definitive moment (where) the person whose life you're touching will never forget."

Fifteen years after his first demo recording, Kellogg will come to Sacramento with his band, The Sixers, on Sunday. They will perform at Borders Books in Roseville and Marilyn's on K, 908 K St.

Kellogg said he grew up in a household full of music by the Grateful Dead, Jackson Brown and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. But it wasn't until attending a Whitesnake concert in the 80s that the idea of music as a job became feasible.

He said it was "fate" that brought him to choose it as a career, and that once he realized you could make a living from it, he never looked back. Kellogg has since released five albums as the Sixers, also known as Sk6ers, pronounced Skick-sirs; three solo albums; one with The Stephen Kellogg band; and one with the Root Cellar Band.

Last year, the Sk6ers were favorably reviewed by NPR: "Their homegrown sound mirrors the folk-rock style of The Band, presented with great humility by a lead man with a Springsteen-sized personality."

Last month, the Sk6ers' new album, The Bear, debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's New Artist Charts.

Kellogg explained the band's readiness to play shows for social causes, for instance, last month's show for St. Louis Children's Hospital. "If we had made it, in terms of becoming a household name early on, I'm not sure our music would have gotten where it's supposed to go.

"You have to do other things that aren't trying to move your career forward," Kellogg said. "If we're going to do this for the long haul and be proud of what we've accomplished, we need to take music and make it different in ways that aren't so ego driven."

Having played about 1,000 shows with the Sk6ers, his life is a "dream life" he said, adding that he feels an obligation to give back.

Though the Sk6ers never have been to Sacramento, they say they're excited to visit the city. Kellogg has a friend from Sacramento who will take the band on a tour of the city, he said.

The musicians will play a free acoustic set Sunday at 1 p.m. at Borders Books in Roseville, because Borders stocks the Sk6ers' albums. "It's a good idea to get the back of those who get your back," Kellogg said.

Sunday's show at Marilyn's on K will begin at 7 p.m. with acoustic rock openers Tyrone Wells and Matt Hires. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased here.

Photographs credit Welk Music Group Publicity / Vanguard Records