The short, brisk days and the warm, fall colors in the trees remind us that the holidays are fast approaching. With Thanksgiving upon us, The Sacramento Press went to the streets to ask, “What should Sacramento be thankful for?” “All of the trees,” said Debbie Isley, 59, a retired real estate agent from Placerville. “And the water.” Isley, originally from Southern California, said she appreciates how green the area is, especially after living in the desert for many years. For those native to the area, the answers change a bit. Carolyn Gamble, a retired state employee from Carmichael, has lived in the Sacramento area her entire life. “Sacramento supports everything here,” said Gamble, 6

Sacramento Cal Expo Sacramento Independence Day Celebration Monday – Gates open at 6 p.m. and fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m. 1600 Exposition Blvd. – Fireworks in the Miller Lite Grandstand Price: Free Parking: $10 in the Cal Expo parking lot Age: All ages Cal Expo will present its famed fireworks display for guests. Guests can enjoy preshow music provided by 107.9 The End and the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West. Raley Field Independence Day Weekend Celebration Saturday and Sunday. Games start at 7:05 p.m. Sat and 6:35 p.m. Sun Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive Price: $7-$42 Age: All ages Family and friends can enjoy Raley Field’s annual Fourth of July celebration with t

Sitting on the edge of wonder, it is time to build the sukkah and dine under the stars with the region's young Jewish professionals, leaders, community, family, and friends. It’s harvest time. In Sacramento, perhaps more than many cities or regions around the world, we can very much identify with the spirit of Sukkot. Tomorrow evening, Friday, Sept. 24, join NextDor and PJ Library in Sacramento for a Shabbat Sukkot dinner together! We'll dine outside in the sukkah, learn about Sukkot traditions, shake a few lulavs, and read stories. PJ Library is even providing the food! This event is the evening before NextDor's own big Sukkot dinner, so take advantage of both chances to make friends and

Many residents were displaced from their homes after a four-alarm fire heavily damaged 12 units in a 36-unit Carmichael complex and left everyone without power Wednesday night. The Twin Gardens complex is located near the intersection of Fair Oaks Blvd and El Camino Avenue. The fire started around 6:30pm Wednesday evening along Fair Oaks Blvd and El Camino Avenue. Some residents reported hearing a "pop pop pop" sound and discovered the fire blazing at one end of the complex, catching trees on fire. The electrical box was on that end. Wind fueled the fire and it spread quickly through a common attic above the upper units. Apartments on the first floor below the heavily damaged top flo

Rashad Baadqir was at George Sim Community Center Thursday evening to learn how Mayor Kevin Johnson uses community input. He was one of many citizens who waited patiently to meet with Johnson during the mayor’s “office hours” monthly event. Short meetings were packed into the three-hour event. By roughly 5 p.m., 56 meetings between the mayor and residents had been scheduled. Baadqir, a resident in the Pocket neighborhood, said he attended the event to ask Johnson how he uses the input he receives from the public and if community concerns are being addressed. He said he wanted to learn about the process for handling citizens’ concerns so he “can be more engaged on some of the things that

 Dominic Cooke was a normal college student athlete until a car crash his senior year paralyzed him. It doesn’t stop him however, from hand cycling in a triathlon. Cooke, 30, was injured when he was 22 years old. His athletic ability and passion for helping other hurt athletes is what made him start “Team TFO” this year for the 37th annual Eppie’s Great Race. TFO — which stands for Try for Others — is a nonprofit organization Cooke created in 2005 to aid injured athletes. “I played rugby before here in Sacramento at Jesuit High School and then at UC Berkeley,” Cooke said. “I was getting a lot of phone calls from injured rugby players. We help them with their immediate medical needs.”

SACRAMENTO – More than 10,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their friends will descend on parks throughout the Sacramento region Saturday, May 8, to perform necessary work from clean-up and general maintenance to painting, planting trees and even construction jobs. Under the banner of Mormon Helping Hands, an international program of the Church that has provided manpower in distressed communities and organized relief efforts after natural disasters, the volunteers have chosen parks in their own communities to perform work in state, regional and city parks that have been hit hard by the recent downturn in the economy. The Sacramento effort is part of a stat

Peace. Love. Swap. is a one of a kind independent coalition that organizes ongoing kid's swaps. The swaps are for local eco-minded parents to get together and recycle (exchange) their kid’s stuff (ages 0-14 and maternity). After the swaps, I donate the leftovers to local charities and needy families. How it works: You bring items to swap (clothing, toys, sports equipment, etc.) plus $5 per family. While the volunteers set up, the kids can play in our family friendly venues and parents can look around at our vendor tables. Once set up is complete, families can come in and take as much or as little as they need.   I'd like to invite you to view more information, read our mission statement,

Pit bulls go on the attack terrorizing a Carmichael community in the area of Libby Court. Several neighbors bitten. Whitney Elementry School locked down. Dogs so aggressive the order is given "take the shot if you get it" to on scene officers. Carmichael, Sacamento, CA Ed Fogle, MaverickPhotography.us SacMav Rapid Media November 9, 2009   Friday, November 6, 2009, multiple agencies were dispatched to a neighborhood in Carmichael. At least two pit bulls were on the loose attacking people. More and more reports poured into 9-1-1 as Police, Sheriff, CHP, Fire and Animal Control all converged on the area. As victims were located and treated by EMS, law enforcement with shotguns in hand and

"Unfortunately, I'm the idiot [who] came up with the world's worst f***ing band name," said Kai Kln drummer Neil Franklin. "It comes back to haunt me when I have to explain this name and try to pronounce it." Kai Kln (pronounced "kai" as in "kaiser" and "klin, but ignore the vowel," Franklin said) formed in Carmichael and played its first gig in August 1989 at Southside Park. When the four-piece headlines the inaugural End of Summer Fest concert in Cesar Chavez Plaza, it will be the 20-year anniversary of the band's first performance. Friday's concert, which is a continuation of Concerts in the Park, will also feature opening band Prieta, a 2009 Sammie award winner for best rock band. Pr

 For his friends he was a tenacious fighter known for his fairness, and remembered for his love of the games. Former A-1 Comics Store Manager, Joe Guardalibene passed away but his strong example of the importance of knowing right from wrong lives on. Many of the kids who played in his game tournaments, including the popular Magic games, discovered a role model who inspired them beyond the game board. Joe was an important part of the Sacramento gaming community for over 8 years. He made many friends managing a local comic book and gaming store where he took great pride in keeping up to date on the latest popular games, comics, anime and was an expert on the market for older comic collectib

(Cross posted at the Bramble)