Bob Tanaka has a long personal history with the Boy Scouts. Now the father of a 13-year-old, Tanaka serves as a scoutmaster for his son’s troop in Sacramento. But Tanaka, 47, brings plenty of experience to his scoutmaster duties: He earned the prestigious title of Eagle Scout during his own days with the Boy Scouts. “Scouting meant a lot to me as a youth,” Tanaka said, “and I appreciate the opportunity to serve again as an adult.” Tanaka said he volunteers around 30 hours per week with Troop 50, which meets at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento at Riverside Boulevard and Broadway. “I grew up in this program in the late ’70s and early ’80s,” Tanaka said, adding that scouting is a “lifeti

Outdoors enthusiasts rejoice: The 23rd Annual International Sportsmen's Expo is happening at Cal Expo this weekend. A highlight of the Expo, is the Adventure Base 100, a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of Scouting. The base spans 9,000 square feet and contains a 360-degree movie dome, rope course, interactive museum and a store for everything Scout related. Local Scouts and adult leaders are there, ready to answer questions. This is the only Northern California stop for the Adventure Base. Friday night, the base was bustling with people watching the charity Pinewood Derby. Assemblymen Roger Niello and Ted Gaines joined "The Capitol Hour" host Eric Hogue and local Boy Scout leader

Saturday, Oct. 24 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Boy Scouts of America will hold the California Capitol March to help celebrate 100 years of scouting. The walk will begin at the west steps of the Capitol and end at Raley Field, where there will be midway games, a BMX and skateboard show, pinewood derby races and other entertainment. The event costs $20. About 10,000 people are expected. Sunday, Oct. 25 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. UC Davis Children's Hospital will be holding a free Halloween-themed Capitol Family Fun Day on the west steps of the Capitol. Preschool through preteen children are encouraged to wear costumes while learning about health, fitness and safety. Free pumpkins and pumpkin carving kits will

Every year after Christmas until the first of the year arrives, neighbors all over town take their Christmas trees down and put them out on their front curbs. Yesterday I saw many lonely trees that were no longer useful. What should happen to these trees that we spend years growing, just to be chopped down, put in a warm home for less than a month, and finally, kicked to the curb. Apparently, when put out on your curb, these trees are added to the landfills like any other trash. I have been researching and have discovered some solutions on how to put these trees to good use yet again. According to the county of Sacramento, Waste Management and Recycling, on December 27 and January 3 onl