Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "children"

How Registered Sex Offenders can Challenge “Jessica’s Law” Residency Restrictions

2011-12-22T17:30:03Z

Q. My brother is going to get out of jail soon, and we were planning on him moving in with me, but his parole officer told him he couldn’t because he has to register as a sex offender and I live too close to an elementary school, which is against “Megan’s Law” or “Jessica’s Law” or something like that. Isn’t there anything we can do? I’m afraid if he doesn’t live with me he will be homeless.

Jerri

A. California’s Megan’s Law requires anyone convicted of a wide range of crimes, including forcible sex crimes involving non-consenting adults and most sex crimes involving children, prostitution, and child pornography, to register as a sex offender upon release on parole or probation or discharge from custody. California Penal Code § 290. Proposition 83, the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act, or “Jessica’s Law,” which amended Megan’s Law on November 8, 2006, forbids any registered sex offender from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park where children regularly gather. California Penal Code § 3003.5(b).

Your brother is not alone in facing a very bleak prospect. According to the Prison Law Office, a nonprofit public interest law firm which engages in class action and other impact litigation on behalf of prisoners, these residency restrictions have forced many parolees to become homeless because they are unable to find affordable, compliant housing.

Jessica's law has been challenged in courts as being too restrictive. Your brother may wish to ask a court to review his case. The Prison Law Office, which has been involved in many of these challenges, has produced a packet of forms and instructions that parolees can use to ask for an immediate stay of the restrictions while their individual cases are being heard by the courts. The packet is available for free on the web at http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/ModelHabeasFull,Dec10.pdf. An additional fill-in-the-blank form, required by all California state courts in this type of case, can be downloaded from the California Courts’ website at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/mc275.pdf.

You should be aware that local cities, towns and counties are permitted to adopt ordinances which impose further restrictions on where you can live. If you are not in Sacramento and are unsure whether your residence is in compliance with local law, check with someone who is familiar with your community’s laws.

Good luck!

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Local families need food and toys for children

2011-12-19T20:16:25Z

For families barely making ends meet, holidays are a difficult time. Many parents at Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing communities are having a hard time providing gifts for their children this year.

“This time of year can be especially trying for parents in our communities,” said Rachel Iskow, Executive Director of Mutual Housing. "In fact, half of Mutual Housing's 2600 residents are children."

People can help by dropping off non-perishable food and new, unwrapped children’s gifts at the Mutual Housing office, 8001 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento 95820 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Thursday, December 22nd.

“We will make sure your donation gets to a family right away,” said Iskow.

For after-hours or alternative drop-off locations, call Trish Nguyen, Mutual Housing community organizer, at 916-595-9431.

Founded in 1988, Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association develops and operates well-designed rental housing for the diversity of the region’s households.

Through Mutual Housing’s focus on leadership, the nonprofit also provides training and mentoring as well as educational programs, community-building activities and services for residents and neighbors. For more information, visit http://www.mutualhousing.com.

Disclosure: A former journalist, Dell Richards is the principal of Dell Richards Publicity. Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association is a client of the Sacramento public relations firm.

Pets invited to Santa’s Workshop in Midtown!

2011-12-16T20:24:29Z

Skip the crowded malls this Saturday and bring your wish lists and your camera down to the MARRS Building to visit Santa’s Workshop! Santa and his elves have opened up their workshop for the past two Saturdays and this Saturday they are inviting the whole family, even the pets!

Residents and visitors are invited to visit Santa’s Workshop at the MARRS Building from 11am-4pm. Pets are welcome to come down from 2pm-4pm. Grateful Dog Daycare will even be on hand to give the photogenic pooches a special treat.

The MARRS Building is located in the heart of Midtown at 20th & J Streets. MARRS retailers invite all, big and small, to join them at this festive event. Retailers at MARRS include Pete’s Coffee, Mr. Pickles, Sacramento Comedy Spot, Azul, Luigi’s Slice, Denim Spot, LoungeON20 and Asha Yoga.

“We are excited to offer Midtown families and visitors the opportunity to meet Santa here at the MARRS Building as part of their Holiday festivities,” said MARRS developer Michael Heller.

Families and their pets will have the opportunity to take their own photos or they can purchase an instant photo for $5 from the on-site photographer. Children are also encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and place them in Santa’s Mailbox for express journey to the North Pole.

Parking will also be FREE during all hours of Santa’s Workshop thanks to the City of Sacramento, who is providing Midtown with FREE Street metered parking all day on weekends and after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays through December 25th.

Please check out marrs-sactown.com for more information specific to each event.

Disclosure: Heather Philpott is the Communication Coordinator at the Midtown Business Association and is a producer of the annual Halloween festivities.

Baking with heart, one cookie at a time

2011-12-12T05:34:07Z

For the holidays, Plates Cafe and Catering is serving Christmas cookies, baked and prepared by the women in St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children.

St. John's provides shelter, education and childcare to homeless women with children.
As part of the shelter's six- to 12-month training program, Plates Cafe and Catering, located at 14 Business Parkway, serves as an on-the-job training site for the shelter, where the women perform restaurant positions such as cooks, waitresses and hostesses, Stuart Edgcombe, 46, Chef at Plates Cafe and Catering, said.

"It's more than just cooking," Edgcombe said. "It's teaching them life lessons."

Teresa Kamekona, 39, said her experience at Plates Cafe and Catering taught her to be accountable, manage her time better and work with other people again, but most of all regain her self-esteem.

"It felt good to be needed," Kamekona, a recent graduate of the training program, said. She said, people depended on her, which pushed her to do her best.

"You can see the joy in the women's eyes as they learn cooking skills from Chef Stu," Pasta Queen owner Susan Korec, 52, said. While renting space for her pasta business at Plates, she has seen how the women work on various kitchen tasks, Korec said.

Pasta Queen's products are also sold at the store, with parts of the proceeds going back to the training program.

Edgcombe said he and trainee Monica Ward, 37, came out with a list of different cookies that remind them of their childhood Christmas memories.

"It's a great experience for the girls to make all these different cookies," Edgcombe said. "It's another activity they can be exposed to, be responsible for and be a part of."

The Christmas cookies featured are Mexican wedding, ginger snap, chewy sugar, thumb print and chocolate chip. He said their chocolate cookie is available year-round, and is one the bestselling items in the store.

"It's the All-American cookie," Edgcombe said. "It does not matter if it is Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving."

He said they included the ginger snap cookie because, like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, it is associated with and the holidays.

"The bite of molasses and ginger says Christmas to me," Edgcombe said. He said that these cookies, because of their “snap” or crisp, are best paired with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Out of the five Christmas cookies, the chewy sugar cookie, he said, is the most Christmas-styled with its red, green and white sugar sprinkles.

"What makes our cookies special goes beyond the dough, sugar, chocolate chips, ginger or any of the other ingredients," Edgcombe said. "It represents memories of Christmas past."

All of the proceeds from the Christmas cookie sale, like their other products at Plates Cafe and Catering, go toward the St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children.

The Christmas cookies, can be ordered through their website, and will be available for pickup starting Dec. 19.

Prices for the cookies are still to be determined and will be posted on their site.

Plates Cafe and Catering, which opened June last year, also serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Huggies Donates 100,000 Diapers to Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center

2011-12-02T23:24:53Z

Huggies delivered 100,000 diapers to the Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center today as part of Huggies Every Little Bottom campaign to help families in need.

One-in-three American families struggle with the ability to provide their children with an essential need – clean, dry diapers. To help address this issue, Huggies brand announced the launch of The National Diaper Bank Network.

As the Founding Sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network, Huggies Every Little Bottom is organizing “12 Days of Thanks,” a cross country tour where the brand will donate 12 million diapers in 12 cities over a 12-day period – including Sacramento.

Angela Ponivas, Executive Director of Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center, a non-profit organization that provides Placer County with counseling, education and easy access to community based resources, said this donation is a miracle for Lighthouse’s most financially vulnerable families.

“We are thrilled to have been selected for this donation,” Ponivas said. “We will start by distributing diapers to Lighthouse clients and then move on to other non-profits throughout Placer County. While so many struggle to provide their children with diapers, it is important that those most in need have access to this very generous donation.”

In Sacramento, Huggies will also be donating diapers to Sacramento Emergency Foodlink and the Sacramento Food Bank.
The “12 Days of Thanks” campaign plans to make stops in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Detroit and Columbus.

Since 2010, Huggies has donated 22.5 million diapers per year through the Every Little Bottom program to families in need in North America.

For more information on The National Diaper Bank Network, visit www.diaperbanknetwork.org. For more information on Huggies Every Little Bottom, visit www.everylittlebottom.com.

Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center’s mission is to strengthen families and improve the physical and emotional well-being of residents of Placer County by providing counseling, educational classes and easy access to community based resources. Lighthouse serves approximately 3,000 people each year. All services provided are free to the community.

Your Favorite Neighborhood just got Merrier!

2011-11-29T02:09:55Z

2nd Annual 12 Days of Midtown

Midtown Sacramento is all dressed up for the holiday season with events and specials that are sure to fill visitors and residents with holiday cheer. Festivities will occur December 1st - December 12th with a variety of activities for all ages. The 2nd Annual event will feature various local businesses throughout the Midtown district.

The 12 Days of Midtown kicks off with the Winter Wine & Jazz Mixer featuring the Sacramento Philharmonic on Thursday, December 1st. The full calendar of merry activities includes a Hot Toddy contests at Santa’s Tavern (The Golden Bear), a gingerbread cookie workshop at artBEAST, Santa’s Workshop at the MARRS Building, multiple holiday showcases by the region’s best performing arts organizations, and of course unique shopping opportunities and holiday sales.

Also back for its 2nd year is the Light Up Midtown contests. MBA has challenged 100’s of businesses to transform their store-fronts into the most impressive winter wonderland that their elves can engineer. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 businesses, with the top Midtown business receiving a $1,000 advertising grant. Resident and visitors are encouraged to vote. One lucky voter will win a $100 Gift Card to a Midtown business of their choice.

Plus for the 15th year in a row the City of Sacramento is providing Midtown with FREE Street metered parking all day on weekends and after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays through December 25th. So grab your loved ones and a pair of mittens, and check our events listing below for all your Midtown holiday happenings!

12 Days of Midtown events include:
• “Winter Wine & Jazz Mixer featuring the Philharmonic” Kennedy Gallery & Headhunters | Dec 1
• “SGMC Holiday Concert” First United Methodist Church | Dec 2
• “Santa’s Workshop” MARRS Building | Dec 3
• “Midtown Monthly’s Holiday FUNRaiser” Luigi’s Fungarden | Dec 3
• “Free Holiday Gift Wrapping” French Cuff Consignment | Dec 4
• “Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Party” ArtBeast Studio | Dec 5
• “Santa's Tavern & Hot Toddy Competition” Golden Bear | Dec 6
• “Every Christmas Story Ever Told” Capital Stage | Dec 7
• “Holiday Shopping Kick-Off Party” MAIYA Gallery | Dec 8
• “The Nutcraker, Opening Night” Community Center Theater | Dec 9
• “Emigrant Christmas” Sutter’s Fort | Dec 10
• “The Snow Queen” B Street Theatre | Dec 11
• “Season of Giving Blood Drive” BloodSource | Dec 12

Please check out exploremidtown.org for more information specific to each event.

Disclosure: Heather Philpott is the Communication & Events Manager at the Midtown Business Association and is a producer of the 12 Days of Midtown.

Real Relationships: Mother-in-law vs Daycare

2011-11-21T20:09:00Z

Q: My husband and I recently had a baby (five months ago), and now I am looking to go back to work full time. I have looked in to the cost of care for our son, but the prices are outrageous. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law has offered to care for our son every day that I am working. While this seems like a perfect and inexpensive solution, I am not wild about how my mother-in-law handles my son.

My husband and I have a very particular way we handle our son, and my mother-in-law doesn't always follow our directions when she watches him. I am afraid that without consistency he will be confused as he grows older about what is and is not right, what he can get away with, and he will waiver from the eating/sleeping schedule he has become accustom to.

It would be nice to save the money by having her watch him, but in the long run I don't even know if it is worth it! My husband is on my side, but at the same time we can't stomach spending so much money when we have an alternative. I am torn.

A: I think you already know this, but your son comes first. If you truly are not comfortable with your mother-in-law watching him, then you need to find an alternative. However, it appears that your concerns are a little less severe, and they are more a difference of opinion on how to raise your son. While it is important to stay consistent while raising children, remember that she is a grandma now, and grandparents are meant to spoil children rotten.

That said, you need to be very clear about your expectations and ground rules to your mother-in-law if she truly wants to watch him every day. Make a list of your daily routine that she can follow. If you have any specific requests about his feeding, diaper changing and entertainment, be very clear about them.

It is OK for you to be picky about the upbringing of your child. Hopefully your mother-in-law has his best interest at heart and loves him and will respect your wishes once laid out clearly.

Meanwhile, enjoy going back to work!

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in "Real Relationships".

Sacramento Family Keeps Daughter's Memory Alive through Toy Drive

2011-11-18T18:20:35Z

When Rosie Carollo was hospitalized at the Sutter Children’s Center, Sacramento due to a rare form of childhood epilepsy at just 6 months old, she took great delight in the toys, movies and activities in the hospital’s Child Life Program.

After Rosie’s passing in 2004, just shy of her second birthday, her parents, Nicole and George Carollo, were determined to keep her memory alive by giving back to the Sutter Children’s Center – a children’s hospital located inside Sutter Memorial Hospital in East Sacramento – after they provided such great care for their young daughter.

“Rosie was our first child and the light of our lives,” said Nicole Carollo. “When she passed I was almost desperate to find a way to help other children like her. I cannot take care of my baby anymore, but I can help others. We chose Sutter because of the wonderful experience we had with the Child Life Team and we want to give back to them and help brighten up the lives of other babies and children there.”

While strolling through their neighborhood admiring holiday decorations and looking to get a few ideas for their own house, the Carollos noticed barrels in front of homes for people to donate food as they, too, strolled down the street appreciating the decorations. It was at this moment that the Carollos had the idea to host a toy drive in Rosie’s honor.

After observing how much joy that toys brought Rosie while she was in the hospital, the family decided the best way to honor Rosie and give back to the hospital was by donating toys to the Sutter Children’s Center in hopes of creating joy for other kids during their time in the program.

The Carollos began their charitable toy drive in 2007. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Rosie Carollo Christmas Lights Toy Drive, which will be held from 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, and is part of the Carollos’ intricate Christmas display at their home at 3961 Fair Oaks Blvd. in the Arden-Arcade area of Sacramento. New, unwrapped toy donations, as well as any cash or check donations, will be collected to give to the brave children at the Sutter Children’s Center.

In the four previous years, this event has made quite a splash in donations. During the inaugural event in 2007, the Carollos collected 741 items and $236 in cash. Last year, this special event collected more than 1,600 items, up 50 percent from the previous year, and had more than 400 people in attendance the night of the toy drive.

This year, the Carollos and the Child Life Program are requesting Pillow Pets, crib-side soothers, toy doctor kits, infant rattles and toys, Lego sets, teen crafts and DVDs for children and teens. Monetary donations are accepted the night of the toy drive as well as gift cards to stores such as Target, Toys “R” Us and Walmart.

“The first year we did it, we had no idea it would become this big,” said Nicole. “We just thought it would be a little toy drive.”

Four years later, the Carollos look forward to the company of hundreds of Sacramento residents who gather in celebration of little Rosie’s life and the life of every child cared for at the Sutter Children’s Center. The family strives to create awareness about infantile spasms which Rosie endured.

“This is easily the happiest night of the year for me,” said Nicole.

Guests and their families enjoy the elaborate display of 15,000 Christmas lights, a gingerbread village, flying reindeer and a life-size nativity scene along with cookies, hot chocolate and even a special visit from Santa Claus. The Carollo family has made it their lifelong goal to spread little Rosie’s story and increase the awareness of infantile spasms. In the future, they hope to set up a foundation in Rosie’s name to raise funds for infantile spasm research.

If you would like to be a part of this event but cannot make it out on Dec. 11, the family is gladly accepting donations through the entire month of December at their driveway drop box located at 3961 Fair Oaks Blvd., at the corner of San Ramon Way and Fair Oaks Boulevard. For further information on how you can help, e-mail Nicole Carollo at N_Carollo@yahoo.com, or visit the “Rosie Carollo 5th Annual Christmas Lights Toy Drive” page at www.facebook.com.

The Child Life Program is an important part of each child's hospital experience at the Sutter Children’s Center. Child Life specialists work with the child, parents and hospital staff to make life as normal as possible and to minimize the emotional trauma to the infant, child or adolescent and his or her family. As a member of the health care team in both outpatient and inpatient settings, Child Life specialists provide essential life experiences for gaining a sense of mastery, for play, for learning, for self-expression, for family involvement and for peer interaction. The program also “employs” three full-time canine therapists as part of its Pet Therapy Program. The Sutter Children’s Center is a comprehensive “children’s hospital within a hospital” that offers on-site 24-hour pediatric and neonatal care physicians. It provides a patient- and family-oriented approach of more than 50 board-certified subspecialists and a full medical transport team. The Sutter Children’s Center is nationally recognized as a center for excellence by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions for its outstanding care for children. Additionally, the Sutter Children’s Center is approved by California Children’s Services and is the only non-university facility in Northern California granted associate membership with the California Children's Hospital Association. For more information, visit http://checksutterfirst.org/children/.

Disclosure: Help the Carollo family by giving back this Holiday Season and gain awareness about the danger of childhood epilepsy and infantile spasms.

3,400 local children and youth are growing up in foster care. Over 1,000 need a permanent home today.

2011-11-01T22:00:14Z

November is National Adoption Month. As the nation recognizes this important social issue, counties and communities across California will promote adoption and permanency awareness through activities and events that bring attention to the needs of the over 25,000 children and youth living in foster care throughout the state waiting for families to love and adopt them.

November 3, 2011 is National Adoption Awareness Day. On November 3, 2011, the month-long effort will kick off, raising awareness about the thousands of children in California waiting for families, celebrating those special people who have provided a loving home to children in foster care, and inspiring others to come forward and be a forever family to children and youth.

Special Event
National Adoption Awareness Day - California State Capitol - “Calling Out of Names” - 11 am to 6 pm
On the North steps of the California State Capitol, state and community leaders, adoptive parents, former foster children and child advocates will “call out” the names of children and youth who continue to wait for family love and belonging. This meaningful event will recognize the thousands of children in California waiting for forever families as well as those who have come forward to provide permanency to children through adoption. Three local families will be recognized with 2011 Adoptive Family of the Year awards.

Adoption Orientation inside the State Capitol: 4:45pm – 5:45pm:
A unique and intimate orientation will be co-hosted by three local agencies specializing in finding permanent families for children and youth living in foster care. The orientation will be held inside the State Capitol in room 113 . This orientation is open to the general public.

A candlelight vigil concludes the event at 6pm.

Get Involved. Become A Parent.
To learn more about how you can help strengthen our community by becoming a permanent family to a child or children in foster care in the greater Sacramento area.
Please visit the websites of one of these sponsoring agencies:
          EMQ FamiliesFirst: www.emqff.org
          Lilliput Children's Services: www.lilliput.org
          Sierra Forever Families: www.sierraff.org

November 1-14:
The Capitol Heart Gallery – a display of beautifully taken photographs of children and youth living in foster care in California and continue to wait for a family – is featured at the State Capitol.

Disclosure: Written by: Sara Hanson, Public Relations Specialist, Sierra Forever Families and the National Adoption Month Coalition

Real Relationships: Preggo and not ready

2011-10-31T15:36:01Z

Q: I just found out I am pregnant. I told my boyfriend and we both agreed that we are not ready to be parents, but there is no way I would consider getting an abortion.

I know that I could put the child up for adoption, but I feel like that is going to be really hard after carrying to term. However, I know I am not ready to be a mother, and I don't want to lose my boyfriend over this. I don't really know what to do.

A: Wow. You have many hard decisions and a long road ahead of you.

First of all, I applaud your stand on keeping the baby to term even though you are not sure about what will happen after that.

Secondly, I would suggest that you do not make a rash and uneducated decision about raising this child or putting it up for adoption. Either decision will have a lifelong impact on you, and you need to be sure that you are making the right decision.

Raising a child is not a joke or a game or something you can play at. It is a incredibly hard and time-consuming responsibility that you either commit to wholeheartedly or life will be miserable for both you and your child.

Adoption is also a very difficult choice. You are about to spend nine months with this child, and, by the time it is born, you will likely be very attached. However, keeping the child may not be the right decision for you. There are many adoption agencies in the Sacramento area that would be happy to work with you through your pregnancy, find you the right family to adopt your baby and answer any difficult questions you might have.

Providing a childless, loving home with the gift of a baby is a terrific thing. Knowing that your baby will be loved, provided for and raised by people who have been looking to pour their love and resourses into a child is comforting.

You need to explore your options, talk it over with your boyfriend and other trusted loved ones in your life and determine what the right option for you and your baby is.

Here are a few local resources you can use to educate yourself. It wouldn't hurt to set up a meeting with an adoption agency to learn about the process. They will not try to cajole or force you into a decision, so don't worry about that. Good luck. I hope you come to a decision you have peace with.

Sacramento Adoption Center

Sierra Forever Families

Family Connections Christian Adoptions

Lilliput Children's Services

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in "Real Relationships."

This Weekend! Midtown Trick-Or-Treat & Pooch Parade

2011-10-25T18:37:26Z

Midtown Merchants are brewing up a bewitching good time for kiddos and pooches of all ages and sizes. Midtown's Annual Halloween celebration is just a few days away. Join us for the Midtown Trick-or-Treat and Pooch Parade this Saturday, October 29th from 11a.m.- 3p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of Trick or Treats from over 70 participating Midtown businesses, as well as a parade of dressed up pooches strutting their stuff throughout the district.

In addition to satisfying your kids sweet tooth, bring the whole family down to Mixed Bag (24th & K) and Relles Florist (24th & J) for a variety of FREE family friendly activities. Catch the hourly magic show, pumpkin decorating, face painting, balloon twisting, the fall arts corner, and a tons of goolish treats including apple cider, cotton candy and popcorn.

Families seeking a spooktacular experience are encouraged to stop by the Haunted Fort at Sutter's Fort or Casa de Espanol's haunted house on J Street.

For the four legged lovers, make sure to catch the 2nd Annua l Pooch Parade and “Yappy Hour”. Pooches of all shapes and sizes are invited to come out in their Halloween best, to try to capture one of the 8 coveted Pooch Parade Awards. Awards included: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Overall, Midtown Spirit , Cutest Costume, Spookiest Costume, Best Duo and Funniest Costume Award

Pooches will parade around Midtown and then return to the 24th & K location for “Yappy Hour” and Judging. While your precious pets are chomping on treats you can check out the vendor booths, all dedicated to promoting a happy and healthy life for your pet. MBA asks that each participant donate $10 (or whatever you can afford) as a registration fee. 100% of the donations collected will go to the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter to support the incredible work they do to help animals in need.

A complete map of Midtown Trick-or-Treat locations and the Pooch Parade route are available to download here, as well as on-site during the event. For more information visit ExploreMidtown.org or contact Heather Philpott at heather@mbasac.com.

See you Saturday for a ghoulishly good time!

Disclosure: Heather Philpott is the Communication Coordinator at the Midtown Business Association and is a producer of the annual Halloween festivities.

Fairytale town meets Harry Potter

2011-10-24T03:13:30Z

Photo essay by Dan Ward

It’s that time of the year when the candy comes out, people become scarier and Fairytale town puts on a show. This year in Fairytale Town the magical wonders of Harry Potter arrive to showcase its magical spells and large amounts of candy for the children.
The Harry Potter theme will be taking place for a total of four days. The days are October 21st, 22nd, 28th and 29th. The park event will be 5pm till 9pm on all four days. Tickets are for sale at www.fairytaletown.org.

Children can enjoy various attractions and displays at this year’s event. Even the adults can come and have a good time seeing all the magicians of Harry Potter world perform their spells.

Fairytale Town is putting on a great potions spell class for the children to try out. Just like in the book series and the movies where Harry and friends had to take potion classes. The children are able to have a dab at trying to make their own potions with different ingredients. They even get to use small cauldron bowls to stir in.

Among all the activities the beverage line was the longest. In store for adults and children were two classical drinks from the world of Harry Potter. First was the marvelous sweet not alcoholic butter beer. As many might know the butter beer is a popular beverage in the town of hogsmeade. It's a sweet treat for people of all ages.

The other was a day in and day out drink in the wizard world. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the classic pumpkin juice which is also a non-alcoholic drink.

As you go through the park there are 17 candy locations for children to stop by and say trick or treat. Each of the stations is run by a few local high school student volunteerers. Dennis, a high school volunteer stated the event as “enjoyable to watch for children and even us high school students, I’m having fun”. Fellow high school volunteer Samantha said “I love the Harry Potter theme for the children”.

Also available with an additional admission ticket is the Harry Potter game show that starts at 6, 7 an 8pm all four nights. The children are able to go in and answer questions about the magical land of wizards, witches, wands and creatures.

If all that excitement is not enough for you then King Arthur's castle will be your urge to go. With the inside set up to be a Harry Potter creation station. The children are able to grab some candy. Sit in Dumbledor's chair and draw characters from the wizarding world.

While exploring the the town don't forget to have your photo taken at the Gringotts bank display. Families are able to hop on tracks and have their photo taken free of charge. Don't let the trolls or dragon scary you. Their all friendly creatures at fairytale town.

This event will be one the children will not want to miss.

Handbag auction assisting Salvation Army programs

2011-10-20T00:43:14Z

More than 200 handbags were up for grabs during the October 15 Helping Handbags luncheon and auction.

Hosted by The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, a volunteer group made of local business women and retirees, the event had nearly 500 attendees pack the Radisson Hotel grand ballroom to check out the seventh annual live and silent auctions.

“It exceeded my dreams,” said Laurel Speier, Helping Handbags event chairperson. “You could see the ladies here in attendance had a lot of fun.”

More than $75,000 was raised. All of the proceeds will go to Salvation Army’s programs for women and children in the Sacramento area.

“Many of us here are blessed to have (comfortable) lives,” Speier said, “To not give back would be a travesty. “

Some notable items were auctioned off included: Valentino, Coach, and Michael Kors. A handbag donated by singer Linda Ronstandt was also included in the auction.

Disclosure: Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army of Sacramento County. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org or join the facebook page www.facebook.com/salvationarmysacramento

Real Relationships: Broken by a Bully

2011-10-17T15:59:10Z

Q: My 7-year-old daughter is dealing with a bully at school. She comes home almost daily and relates stories about how another girl in her class makes fun of her. Apparently she is making fun of her clothes, the words she uses, her school work... anything she can think of.

I have always thought my little girl was pretty outgoing and strong, but lately she seems to be breaking under the weight of the bullying. I have given her all the pep talks I can think of (kill her with kindness, avoid her at all costs, and compliment her when she bullies you). Nothing has changed and I feel like I need to step in on a more parental level, but I don't know where to start.

A: I am sorry for the troubles your daughter is facing at school each day. I don't know why it happens, but it breaks my heart, and it seems to happen at every grade level. That said, I feel there are a few steps you can take without being too aggressive or invasive.

I would suggest you set up a meeting with your daughter's teacher. Find out what she knows about the classroom dynamics and if he/she is aware what is happening between your daughter and her bully. Find out if other children are being treated the same way. The purpose of this is not to validate your daughter’s claims as much as to determine what your next move is.
When you meet with the other parent/parents, make sure you do not attack their little girl with accusations and insults. Simply lay out what appears to be going on, ask the teacher to provide input on what she has observed and ask what you, as parents, can do to correct this situation.

It is possible that they will be hostile regardless of how you approach the situation, but committing to resolve it together instead of taking a "what are you going to do about your problem child?" stance may keep the situation peaceful.

If you find the other parents to be agreeable with your plan, then meet with the other parents, their little girl, your daughter and their teacher.
Reinforce that insults and bullying is not acceptable, that the teacher will not allow it and that both sets of parents are now aware of the situation and will be keeping a close eye on it.

If the other parents are not agreeable with the situation and refuse to participate in the resolution, then you and the teacher can work together to try to control the situation. If the teacher is aware of the issue, he/she should intervene when possible.

Worst case scenario is that you may need to request your daughter to be placed in another classroom away from this girl. It isn't ideal or the best resolution, but it may become necessary to protect your daughter.

Good luck, I hope you find an agreeable set of parents on the other side.

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in "Real Relationships."

Free event this weekend in Midtown- Midtown Modern Arts Festival

2011-10-13T20:08:37Z

The Capital Cities Artober celebration is in full effect and Midtown is excited to give the Sacramento region another opportunity to explore and commemorate the arts in a big way. This Saturday, October 15th, the Midtown Modern Arts Festival (MMAF) will take place on 20th Street between J & K. The FREE family-friendly street-fair will occur from Noon – 6:00pm and is guaranteed to offer attendees a broad spectrum of creativity including Music, Dance, Comedy, the Visual Arts and every medium in-between.

The festival will feature a performance program on two separate stages: the KlickNation Stage and the MARRS Building Stage. Performing artists include the Sacramento Ballet, The Sacramento Philharmonic, Capital Stage Company, The Sacramento Comedy Spot, Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet, the Harley White Jr. Orchestra, the Element Brass Band and many more.

"The Midtown Modern Arts Festival presented itself as a great opportunity for the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra to reach out to our community in a fun and unique way. Sacramento's arts are so diverse and we are fortunate to have an event like this that showcases the different art forms” stated Greg Wellman of the Sacramento Philharmonic.

In addition to the live performances there will be a variety of interactive art activities and live artistic demonstrations. Some activities to look forward to are: Sugar skull decorating led by the La Raza Galería Posada, the musical instrument petting zoo, and the children's craft corner. Attendees of all ages will also have the opportunity to explore a variety of innovative art process that will be demonstrated during the festival, such as sculpting and portrait drawings.

"The Midtown Business Association is happy to be able support and promote the performing arts groups and galleries that represent Midtown and the greater Sacramento area. This event showcases the great talent and creativity our community provides and we are thrilled to be a part of this premier event." Amber Schmaeling, Program Director.

Don't miss out on all the excitement and entertainment this Saturday, October 15th from Noon-6:00pm at the Midtown Modern Arts Festival!

Disclosure: Heather Philpott is the producer of the Midtown Modern Arts Festival. She currently works for two of the sponsoring organizations, the Midtown Business Association and the Heller Pacific Company.

Washington Park vandal targets children

2011-10-07T05:19:11Z

A Sacramento vandal has targeted children in a recent string of Washington Park vandalism that involves cut swings and a sawed tetherball pole. The perpetrator is currently unknown.

During the weekend of Sept. 24, someone sawed through one of the parks’ tetherball poles just enough to cause the pole to stand straight until it was used, falling down and nearly landing on a Washington Elementary School student. According to Washington Elementary School Principal Marilyn Collins the student was unharmed.

Martha Damjanovic, a local resident of the area and owner of three buildings in blocks that surround the park, was surprised that she hadn’t noticed the sawing.

“When 14-year-olds jump over the fence in the night to play basketball, we notice them. That sort of thing is common. This isn’t the work of kids. Someone came in and cut through the metal by hand. We would’ve heard power tools,” she said.

Before the cutting of the tetherball pole, school authorities noticed vandalized swings that were cut so that students slipped through the seat when they sat on them.

“We don’t know if they were necessarily targeting students, but definitely children,” Collins said Wednesday.

Damjanovic explained the logistics of the vandalism.

“During school hours, it is locked down for the elementary school children to use,” she said. “After school hours, (the park) is open to the public. Somebody had to have come in and cut through the pole just enough so that when children played it would fall over,” she said.

According to Damjanovic, vandalism is not common in the area.

Collins, on the other hand, seemed less surprised.

“We are in an area that has the potential for something like this to happen,” she said. “There is a rehab center close by, there is transiency, so anything is possible.”

Collins said that the school is combating future vandalism by installing surveillance cameras, and promoting communication between the school and the community.

Damjanovic mentioned a rumor of the school closing the park during non-school hours, but Collins dispelled this.

“We want to maintain the community relationship, but we also want to ensure safety during the school day,” Collins said.

If you have any information regarding the vandal, email Marilyn Collins and contact the police.

Urban youth lounge Vibe opens Oct. 8

2011-10-06T06:57:13Z

After several years of planning, Vibe, the new urban youth lounge, will host a party at 5 p.m. on Saturday to celebrate its grand opening. Located at 1725 K St., the center will provide a place for teens to do their homework, socialize and be safe, said Catherine Pentoney, spokeswoman and former chair of Vibe’s Board of Directors.

Since 2007, the Vibe Foundation has been raising money to open its youth lounge. The nonprofit organization was founded by Julian Nagler and David Schenirer.

“Vibe was a concept that came out of a need in Sacramento for the youth to have productive things to do,” said Nagler, one of Vibe’s co-founders.

Nagler said he believes places like the Boys and Girls Club of America didn’t have the ability to attract modern teenagers.

“There needed to be something else in Sacramento that had a more inviting social atmosphere,” he said.

Nagler said that he and Schenirer came up with the idea for Vibe after the Sacramento Youth Commission identified “a significant lack of safe and relevant places for Sacramento teens to socialize, connect to community resources and seek … employment.” They then surveyed teenagers across the city, asking them what they would like to see an after-school hangout look like. Before long, the idea of Vibe began to solidify.

One of the main ideas behind the center is that teenagers should play an active role in administrative decisions. Two boards, a youth board and an adult board, are in charge, but the youth board has the final say on most matters.

Many prominent people are on the board, such as City Councilmembers Angelique Ashby and Steve Cohn, Steve Briggs, the marketing manager at The Sacramento Bee, and several students from local high schools.

The party on opening night will feature performances by a wide variety of local teen musicians. Pentoney says that many genres, from hip-hop to indie acoustic, will be represented. Some of the acts include the 2011 Jammies 3rd place winner Parie Wood and the spoken-word group Sacramento Area Youth Speaks.

During some of the musical sets, performance art will take place as well. Pentoney said that Matt Bird, a local visual artist, will be doing an art piece on a blank wall while the musicians play.

The party is free and open to the public. Food will be sold, including coffee donated by Starbucks and baked goods made by Vibe’s teenage volunteers. Pentoney said that the money raised will go to help fund the lounge and its activities.

“We want people to come out and participate,” she added.

At the party, teenagers will be able to sign up for a Vibe membership, which Pentoney said will be structured similarly to a gym. Any student enrolled in high school is eligible for a membership.

The cost of a membership has not yet been set, but Pentoney said that it will be around $10 per month. Members will be allowed one guest to encourage more people to sign up. She added that scholarships will be available to low-income teenagers who are willing to work on site at Vibe.

Membership will allow teens to come after school and take advantage of the center’s amenities, such as laptops and tables, to do homework and hang out with friends, said Pentoney. They will also host regular events.

“(There will be) everything from rap battles to video game contests to poetry readings,” she added.

She said that to decide what events will be held at Vibe, surveys will be done routinely at local high schools to get a feel for what would be popular.

“We try to make all of our events reflective of what the youth in Sacramento want,” Pentony said.

Pentoney said that she believes Vibe will have a positive impact on high schoolers growing up in Sacramento. “The way I look at (Vibe) is that it’s a place for people to teach and inspire each other and to do things that they otherwise couldn’t,” she said.

Waste Connections, Inc. supports charitable golf tournament with proceeds to help children in foster care.

2011-10-04T22:10:36Z

Waste Connections, Inc. sponsored and helped fundraise $145,000 during Sierra Forever Families’ seventh annual Golf Classic for Kids tournament at Serrano Country Club on Sept. 12.

The funds raised during this year’s tournament will help more than 20 children living in foster care find permanent placements with loving families. This tremendous success of the 2011 tournament would not be as significant without the gracious support of Ron Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Jerri Hunt, Vice President of Employee Relations, of Waste Connection, Inc.

Hunt, who retired from the Board of Directors of Sierra Forever Families in July, served as the four-time Chair of the Golf Classic Committee. Hunt’s passion for the cause and her enthusiastic leadership of the committee proved to be an integral part to the success and continuation of the tournament. For the past four years, Mittelstaedt and Hunt have donated their time and have worked with national vendors and global business associates to help prepare and sponsor the agency’s signature fundraising event. Some of these sponsors include but are not limited to the following: Evergreen Flexible Bonding Solution, Littler Mendelson, Blue Shield of California, Pacific Coast Companies, Inc., RecycleBank, the SureWest Foundation, and Vision Service Plan.

During their four-year involvement with the tournament and enduring support of the agency’s mission, Waste Connections, Inc. helped Sierra Forever Families raise more than $550,000, transforming the lives of more than 110 children living in local foster care.

At this year’s tournament closing ceremony, hosted by local personality Kelly Brothers, Hunt was recognized for her leadership with an excellence in service award and stated in her acceptance speech that helping children through this tournament has been, “the most important project of my life.”

One of the most touching recognition pieces Hunt received during the closing ceremonies were two homemade thank you cards from two sisters who directly benefitted from the efforts and commitment of Waste Connections, Inc.

Bob Herne, Executive Director of Sierra Forever Families, acknowledges Waste Connections, Inc. for their four-year commitment. In four years, Hunt, with the support her company and affiliates, has transformed a tournament that was heavily impacted by an ailing economy. “Her tireless efforts and passion to help children find the loving homes they deserve has successfully positioned Sierra’s Golf Classic as a tournament that is now regionally-known as one of Sacramento’s best,” said Herne.

Bob Herne continues, “Waste Connections, Inc. has generously benefitted local Sacramento charities for many years. With the support from Waste Connections, Inc., Sierra Forever Families has been able to transform the lives of hundreds of children living in foster care, which has not only impacted their lives, but the lives of their forever families, leading to increased opportunities of hope and positive outcomes for our children.”

Sierra Forever Families is committed to hosting the eighth annual Golf Classic for Kids tournament tentatively set for September 2012. For more information, or if you would like to be a sponsor for the tournament, contact Bobby Cobbs, Development and Public Relations Officer at 916.368.5114.

About Waste Connections, Inc.:
Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets.The Company serves more than two million residential, commercial and industrial customers from a network of operations in 31 states. The Company also provides intermodal services for the movement of containers in the Pacific Northwest. Waste Connections, Inc. was founded in September 1997 and is headquartered in Folsom, California.

About Sierra Forever Families:
Founded in 1983, Sierra Forever Families mission is to transform the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families. Traditionally focused on finding families for harder-to-place children living in foster care, Sierra has successfully placed more than 2,700 children with permanent, loving families in their 28 years of service. Since 2009, Sierra has also provided positive mentors to children who currently in foster care.

Disclosure: Written by: Sara Hanson, Public Relations Specialist, Sierra Forever Families

Lions and Witches and Wardrobes (Oh My!)

2011-10-04T21:20:22Z

In a change of direction for the holiday season, the community theater company, Bob and Ro Productions is working on a production of the much loved classic work, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.

This will be the largest cast and the biggest production ever for the studio theater which 'Fox and Goose' regulars will surely have noticed a little further along R Street.

The auditions for the casting are over and a strong cast has been assembled with a mix of adult and children actors, drawn from all over the Sacramento region. Rehearsals start in late October and there will be twelve performances over the first three weekends of December. It promises to be an exciting production that kids and adults alike will love.

The story, familiar to many from book and movie theater, is the first book in the 'Chronicles of Narnia' series, written between 1949 and 1954. The main characters are four English schoolchildren who have been 'evacuated' from London to avoid the bombing raids. The story begins with a mysterious magical land (Narnia) discoverd at the back of an old wardrobe in the house they are billetted in. Once inside Narnia they meet many talking creatures and an evil witch. They also find a magical talking lion, Aslan and battle commences between the witches wickedness and the good woodland creatures.

Suitable for every age, this is a play that will make a great Holiday season treat for the whole family!

As this is a larger-than-normal production and involves many costume and scenery challenges, Bob and Ro Productions are trying to raise additional revenue to help cover the substantial expenses. Any angels out there who want to help this production succeed can pledge a contribution to their Kickstarter Project Page

Disclosure: I will be playing the part of 'Aslan' in the production.

Annual Heart Gallery Adoption Gala

2011-09-30T15:27:06Z

The Heart Gallery of Sacramento, a partnership of photographers, artists, businesses and volunteers from private and public organizations, is holding their annual event to increase awareness about children living in foster care that are looking for permanent, loving families.

The event features stunning photographs of children that show their spirit and unique personalities.
The free family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, November 5 from 5-8 p.m., in Curtis Hall at Sierra 2 Center for the Arts. The address is 2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

The Heart Gallery was founded in 2001 in New Mexico, by an adoption recruiter, who had the idea of linking art and adoption. By collaborating with professional photographers to take photographs of children awaiting adoption, the first Heart Gallery exhibit resulted in the placement of eight children. Today, Heart Galleries have opened in more than 80 communities and have become a popular local event.

For more information, visit www.sacheartgallery.org or call 916-217-1552.

Disclosure: Communicatin and Media Officer with Sacramento County

Figure skating fairytales at Fairytale Town

2011-09-26T07:25:03Z

This weekend, Fairytale Town was transformed into a menagerie of creative writing and reading. Fairytale Town hosted the 11th Annual ScholarShare Children's Book Festival this past Saturday and Sunday. Arts and literacy organizations were on hand, most of them providing information to parents and interesting literacy activities for children.

Mother Goose Stage was the centerpiece of the day. Authors and presenters sat in a giant and rather royal-looking throne at the center of the stage and the children crowded around. The weekend’s events included readings by eleven different authors including Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

Trevor Wyatt was the MC and resident magician for the day. Wyatt entertained children and family members throughout the day and between author presentations. In previous years, the ScholarShare Book Festival hosted up to 13,000 visitors. This year they were expecting around 15,000.

Children and families moved around the park throughout the day, listening to authors or stopping by for a magic trick or two, and then heading off to various areas of the park. Children ran from the slide in Farmer Brown’s hayloft to visit the Three Billy Goats Gruff and then moved on to water the flowers in Mr. McGregor’s garden.

There was an abundance of hands on activities for children in the park, starting with MatrixArts. The MatrixArts booth helped kids create their own books using a plethora of arts and crafts materials.

Sacramento Parent distributed this month’s issue and two additional resources, their annual Sourcebook of parent and family resources and Dandelion, a publication specifically for the parents of children with special needs.

The Sacramento Public Library played many roles during the weekend. Their bookmobile sat outside the gate and its staff provided information on new materials and features. Some highlights included new apps for mobile devices and information on downloading eBooks, audiobooks and Freegal music. There were also $1 books for sale just outside the park.

“When can you get this many books for $15!?” One happy parent exclaimed.

The Sacramento Zoo brought a booth over from across the street, Sacramento Braille Transcribers made bookmarks for passersby, Red Rover handed out information on keeping pets safe and children had their faces painted by a kind woman I could only assume was a Fairy Godmother.

Bethanie Murguia, otherwise known as the bug book lady, had great rapport with the kids in just minutes. During her segment, she read her new book, “Buglette the Messy Sleeper,” taught a bug dance and even handed out antennae to some helpful, young volunteers.

916 ink is an organization dedicated to young writers in Sacramento. The program currently works with four area high schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District. Students from Health Professionals High School were onsite to help explain just what 916 ink does. Saturday afternoon a young poet and a young crime fiction writer were available for questions. Executive director Katie McCleary likened the program to 826 Valencia, a bay area organization for young writers. They plan to publish several anthologies of student writing in June of 2012.

Jeff Savage presented twice on Saturday alone, telling kids all about his experiences being a sportswriter and sports author and how they can become writers as well.

There are just two secrets, he said. After much buildup, he revealed the first.

“Pay close attention to your teacher!”

The second secret, he explained, was to write with confidence. Savage also explained how his first book was a short book on Jim Abbott. He explained to the kids how Abbott, born with just one hand, managed to play baseball and become a pitcher.

His presentation was engaging and active and his booming voice seemed to only enhance the performance. As Savage left the stage, he mentioned that Yamaguchi would be up next.

“I met Kristi Yamaguchi back in 1992…” he said.

Before the reading, I got to spend a few minutes with Yamaguchi. Since the birth of her children, she has taken the Always Dream Foundation in a special direction, working in support of early childhood literacy. Her best advice for parents, she said, was to start reading early.

Even at a young age, she explained, saying that she was regularly reading to her girls already at three months, “They listen to your voice, get used to seeing a book and touching the book…”

Her family still reads together; Keara, who will be turning eight next week, now reads to her younger sister Emma as well.

I asked her how often she skates, and to my surprise, she answered, “I don’t.”

“We went for fun last week,” she said. She does try to get out once a week, though she admitted she doesn’t do any tricks.

Yamaguchi was relaxed and natural throughout the day. It was easy to see that her attention has shifted.

When asked why she decided to try writing, she said that she had always wanted to give it a try. She had a good idea of what she wanted to write about, though her two daughters played a huge role.

She wrote the book for them and children like them, a sentiment that she repeated for spectators at Fairytale Town who came to see her appearance.

“All these faces,” she told the audience, are why she wrote “Dream Big, Little Pig!”

“The children inspired me.”

Her youngest daughter Emma plays a special role in the book. Poppy the pig’s best friend’s name is Emma.

Keara named Poppy herself, said Yamaguchi.

Yamaguchi soon stepped onto Mother Goose stage to sit down on the author’s throne. Many children were already surrounding the chair, most holding their own copy of “Dream Big, Little Pig!” The parents surrounding the stage might have been even more excited than the kids.

Yamaguchi interacted well with the kids, who quickly took a liking to Poppy.

“…but they did not know Poppy,” she finished. “She was a pig who dreamed big.”

Following the reading, Yamaguchi took questions from her young fans.

“What if I can’t read a book?” asked one child.

Yamaguchi explained that you should bring a book and ask your mother or father or an adult, “Can you tell me a story?”

At the end of the book, Poppy the pig finds that she is a good figure skater, despite the fact that she is a pig.

“Do you skate?” asked one young reader as the adults in the audience chuckled.

“Yes, I did, before you were born,” said Yamaguchi, “at the Olympics,” she smiled.

“Is Poppy seven?” asked another child.

Clearly, Poppy was the real star of the show, and that, figure skating fans, may just be the real moral of the story.

Yamaguchi set out to write a book to promote early childhood literacy, and she succeeded. Children all around were interested in the activities that Poppy tried, and just why she decided to try again when she failed. They were interested to know why it was good to “Dream Big.”

The ScholarShare Book Festival did the same. Throughout the park, children and young adults were reading, writing, drawing and even chasing excitedly after Clifford the Big Red Dog.

The key to early childhood literacy is connecting with children. You can only wonder if there were two tables - one for Yamaguchi and one for Poppy - which would have the bigger line.

This event is a must for families with children of all ages. For more information on the next ScholarShare Book Festival and future literacy events and programming, contact Fairytale Town, Sacramento Public Libraries or one of the many arts and literacy organizations that are working so hard to get your kids addicted to reading.

The next special event at Fairytale Town will be a special Harry Potter event. This year is the 25th anniversary of the Safe & Super Halloween event. This year, Fairytale Town will celebrate - for the last time - the magical world of Harry Potter.

The event was organized following the outcry when the previous Harry Potter events were discontinued. This final event will celebrate the world of Harry Potter at a four day event at Fairytale Town October 21, 22, 28 and 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Fairytale Town hosts Kristi Yamaguchi at ScholarShare book festival

2011-09-23T03:02:33Z

This weekend, Fairytale Town will host the 11th Annual ScholarShare Children's Book Festival. The festival will include hands-on literacy activities for children, dramatic performances and readings and presentations by numerous authors and illustrators. The event will feature a special appearance by Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

Yamaguchi will read her first book, "Dream Big, Little Pig!" on Saturday on the Mother Goose Stage at 3:00 p.m. The 2011 release by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List. "Dream Big, Little Pig!" was illustrated by Tim Bowers.

Fairytale Town will host the book festival this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 and 25. Opening hours are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Thanks to the generosity of the ScholarShare College Savings Plan, guests are offered free admission throughout the weekend.

Author and illustrator presentations will be taking place on Mother Goose Stage on both Saturday and Sunday. Local authors featured at the event include Sacramento local, Tricia Brown, and Davis elementary school teacher, Nikki Smith.

Other notable children’s book authors and illustrators include Gianna Marino, Gretchen Maurer, Bethanie Murguia, Jeff Savage, Dashka Slater, Mira Reisberg, Jorge Argueta, Francisco Alarcon, Sue Fliess, Dianne Danzig, Ann Bowler and Janie Havemeyer.

Hands-on activities will be available throughout the weekend in addition to literacy activities and information and presentations sponsored by local arts organizations.

This weekend’s ScholarShare book festival will also be broadcast on Access Sacramento cable channel 17.

Sponsors for this year’s ScholarShare Children's Book Festival include ScholarShare College Savings Plan, KVIE, MIX 96, The Sacramento Bee, The Rivercats Foundation, Shirley Plant, Wells Fargo, IKEA and Sierra Health Foundation.

Real Relationships: Special needs child

2011-09-12T15:26:55Z

Q: My son is 7 years old and currently attending a public school in the first grade. It has been obvious to my husband and I for some time that he has some kind of learning disability and some behavioral issues, but he has never been diagnosed with anything, and we aren't really sure what to do.

His teacher tells us that he isn't reading at a first -grade level and that his actions in class not only prevent him for learning but disrupt the entire classroom environment. We don't really know what to do or where to begin.

I haven't received any support from the school in this situation, so right now I am just frustrated. I don't want my son to fall behind, but I think he needs help. His disruptive behavior spills over from school into our home, and my husband and I are frustrated and scared. What do I do?

A: There are many children who do not learn at the same pace or in the same manner as their peers. There is no shame in that, but there is shame in the fact that your son's teacher and school has not offered you any resources or options for your son. As a learning institution and the primary source of your son's education, they should be working with you in this process, not against you.

There are many schools, doctors and programs that you can take advantage of in the Sacramento area to give you a better understanding of what you may be dealing with and facing in years to come.

You are not alone in this. There are hundreds of other parents who have children struggling to learn just like your son. I encourage you to connect with other parents while you seek out help. Hearing from parents who have walked the road that you are about to travel will be invaluable for you.

Here are some resources in the Sacramento area that you can take advantage of:

California Association of Private Special Education Schools (CAPSES) : CAPSES is a statewide professional association of nonpublic schools, agencies, organizations and individuals who specialize in the delivery of quality special education programs to students with special education needs.

Applied Behavior Consultants: Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. (ABC) is a human services agency that is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and learning disorders.

Support group for parents of children with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): This group is to support parents of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children--to provide emotional support, dispel the myths, answer questions and provide information on local resources.

California Department of Education Special Needs: Information and resources to serve the unique needs of persons with disabilities so that each person will meet or exceed high standards of achievement in academic and nonacademic skills.

Warmline Family Rescource Center: A resource and support service for families of infants and young children with special needs including a phone number staffed with trained parents of other special needs children ready to answer your questions.

Do you have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be answered every Monday in Real Relationships.

A Community Celebration of Art: CurtisFest, Tomorrow, Sept. 10, 2011 at William Curtis Park!

2011-09-09T21:45:53Z

Join us for a day of art, music, and fun for the whole family, Saturday, September 10, 2011!

Creations in all art forms, domestic and exotic animals who allow you to pet them, a fairy who paints a glittering swan on your face, and musicians whose songs are brand new each time they perform. These are only some of the imaginative artists and activities that await kids and adults at the 5th Annual CurtisFest on Saturday, September 10th. Presented by the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA), Curtis Fest will be held from 10am until 4pm in William Curtis Park, an eighteen-acre parcel of ground surrounded by quaint bungalows and shaded by renown heritage trees.

CurtisFest was established in 2007 to give local artists a venue at which to exhibit and sell their work. This free fall event will feature almost sixty artists and artisans who will present samples of their creations, great food from local vendors, and live music. Ceramicists, watercolorists, jewelry artists, photographers, potters, portraitists, fabric and giclee artists, and many more will be on hand to provide a fall feast of visual delight.

There will be lots more for attendees to do as they delight in the work of the visual artists. Offering their musical take on the richly creative atmosphereof CurtisFest will be the improvisational project band Instagon. Begun in 1993 as a musical experiment in the unexpectedly compelling sounds that can be created from everyday objects and situations, Instagon formed when a number of local musicians began incorporating this “noise” into a fusion of progressive rock, jazz, and drunge punk. Different musicians join Instagon for each performance, keeping the vibe crisp, intoxicating, and very much alive.

In 2007 a trio of musicians from Instagon developed the idea of creating a band with a solid lineup of jazz cover-versions of popular songs and riffs. The idea caught on with fans, and Garage Jazz Architects was born. Now on indie label TIF Recordings, Garage Jazz Architects will bring their spontaneous garage-jazz covers to CurtisFest to share with all.

The third musical group on board for CurtisFest is The Mike Justis Band. After performing together throughout northern California for twenty-five years with the popular band, Poetic Justis, Steve Mc Iane, Kathy Barwick and Mike Justis formed a trio to bring their mix of country rock and blues to venues in and around Sacramento.

Children are perhaps the most special part of CurtisFest, and this year’s festival offers two events that have proven to captivate children of all ages. Voted 2010 Family Favorite by the Bay Area Parent magazine, Happily Ever Laughter is an ensemble of specially-trained performers who’ve created a cast of singular characters to entertain at all sorts of children’s events. These professional “faeries” are known to enthrall children with not only their extraordinary face-painting, singing, magic, and balloon art, but also their genuine connection to the children with whom they “play.”

After conversing with the fairy from Happily Ever Laughter, kids can wind their way over to visit the animals of Pony Ranch Parties. The law firm of Soluri Meserve is sponsoring the return of the CurtisFest petting zoo. Expert at providing a safe and fun experience for both children and animals, Pony Ranch Parties introduces children to a variety of domestic and exotic animals. The adult staff members of Pony Ranch Parties go the extra mile to share and teach in this memorable interactive experience.

For more information on the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Associations 5th Annual CurtisFest, call (916) 452-3005 or email faith@sierra2.org.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) formed in the 1970’s to rescue the old Sierra School from demolition. Since then, SCNA has brought neighbors together for a diverse slate of year-round events, and has offered a cohesive voice for community concerns. The restored Sierra 2 Center serves as a focal point for artists, teachers, students, parents, children, and seniors, who rely upon its dance studios, gardens, performance spaces, meeting halls and class rooms to provide a secure, charming home. Curtis Park is a neighborhood of approximately 2500 homes, a patchwork of diverse architectural styles situated around a quaint park.

Youngsters help to clean up Salvation Army playground

2011-08-30T23:59:35Z

“There was a lot of weed growing. It was really dirty.”

That is the way 16-year-old Brianna described the playground area at The Salvation Army Oak Park campus.

“Just didn’t look good,” she said.

But that changed on Saturday when Brianna and nearly 20 other youngsters from The Salvation Army youth, church and education programs volunteered to help spruce things up.

In a community event called “Together We Grow”, the kids, along with Salvation Army staff and other volunteers, worked collectively to take out the weeds, plant vegetable seeds and clean up all of the playground area.

“We’re giving young people a good example of working together,” Luisa Lose, Salvation Army community center coordinator. “It’s also great that they’re learning about growing plants in the garden and healthy eating, as well.”

In all, the project took more than three hours to finish, with the youth doing the lion’s share of the work.

“These kids were amazingly focused,” said Rosella Shapiro, master gardener from the Sacramento County UC Cooperative Extension Service. “I was stunned at how interested they were in pulling up weeds and (discovering) the bugs that came from the ground.”

For Brianna, however, this day was much more than just a volunteer project.

“This brought people together and kept them out of trouble. It was also very spiritual because it really brought us closer to God.”

Real Relationships: Baby Fever

2011-08-29T16:10:29Z

Q: My husband and I have been married for a little over two years. I have really enjoyed the time together, but now I am ready to have a baby. I have always wanted to be a mother and can't wait to hold my own little one in my arms. All of my friends are either pregnant or just had a baby.

My husband isn't on the same page as me. He isn't ready and thinks we should still wait another year or two. How can I bring him around to my way of thinking?

A: Having a baby is not the kind of decision you want to make alone. You and your husband need to be in 100 percent agreement before you even start trying to have a baby. There are a hundred things to consider, not the least of which are your jobs, your financial security and the maturity of your marriage.

I know you want to hop of the same baby train your friends are riding, but don't rush ahead of life and make a rash decision to the detriment of your marriage and your child's future. Think through all the angles and determine if you truly are prepared to bring a child into the world and give it all the love, care and attention it needs and deserves.

Once you and your husband are in agreement about moving forward with your family plans, that will be the right time to start.

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in Real Relationships.

Music in the Park this Sunday, Aug. 28, in Curtis Park

2011-08-26T18:47:06Z

The final Music in the Park concert event of the summer in Curtis Park!

Bring a picnic basket, a blanket, and friends and family this Sunday as we bring the Music in the Park concert series to a close for the summer. This event is FREE and open to the public, brought to you by Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association and sponsors Cook Realty, Surewest, and with support from City Councilman Jay Schenirer.

With an exciting stage show featuring top-drawer choreography, tight vocal harmony, and fantastic screaming horns, the ever popular band, On Air, will be an appropriate grand finale for the concert series. At the children's stage, GWhiz, returns to present his clever line-up of songs and games for children.

In addition to the music and the outdoor setting that inspires a 'kick back and relax' mindset, sponsor Cook Realty will be dishing out ice cream bon bons from Gunther's Ice Cream. Supporting sponsors Surewest and Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op will also be on hand to engage attendees with their goodies.

*Per City ordinance, alcohol is not permitted in the park. However, by special permit, beer and wine will be available for purchase during the event. Sodas and water will also be available.

Come on over to Curtis Park and bring summer to a close with great music, bon bons, and a picnic under the canopy of the historical Curtis Park trees!

Event Info
William Curtis Park
Sacramento, California 95818
Sunday, Aug. 28
6:30PM-8:30PM

Disclosure: Written by SCNA's Executive Director

Sacramento Children's Museum opens its doors Thursday for children under 8 to explore

2011-08-26T04:32:34Z

After seven years of planning and development, the Sacramento Children’s Museum opened its doors Thursday morning after 24 little hands, holding red scissors, cut the green ribbon in front of more than 300 people waiting to explore the new museum.

The Sacramento Children’s Museum is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2004, that focuses the interactive exhibits on math, science, art and social learning skills for children ages 8 and under.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2701 Prospect Park in Rancho Cordova, children could get their faces painted with bright swirls of pinks, blues and greens, or watch a colorful balloon be shaped into a sword or a giraffe while they waited for the ribbon-cutting. Some wore red firefighter hats they received from one of the four firefighters present from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

A lime-green and red balloon arc enhanced the entrance to the museum, which was quickly filled with energetic children exploring the six interactive exhibits.

“We needed something that gave parents a safe environment for them to bring their young children and allow them to play and to learn,” said Alan Godlove, president of the Sacramento Children’s Museum.

The Sacramento Children’s Museum has six exhibits with a seventh, Solar Car Racers, sponsored by SMUD, to come in September.

They include Waterways, Airways and Raceways, World Market, My Neighborhood, Baby Bloomers and Studio of the Arts.

“Children are encouraged to go and play with everything in the museum,” Director of Operations Sarah Coffman said.

“We have experience specialists, who guarantee that the experience of our visitors is amazing, and children are encouraged to try things multiple times, so they can try it a different way and learn, really, by doing,” Coffman said.

Children can use one, two or 15 golf balls on the multiple ramps in the Raceways exhibit to test and observe objects in motion through physics principles such as velocity, speed and friction.

Airways was a popular exhibit with a line of children waiting to stuff their colorful yarn balls into the suctioned clear maze of tubes.

Claire Poch, 10, said she liked the museum because it helps children learn new things.

“Well there is a really cool thing (Airways exhibit) where you put (yarn balls) in it and it goes around with the air (through clear tubes), and it’s really cool watching it, and it shoots out (from the tube),” Claire said.

Two-year-old Benito Dimas visited the museum with his dad.

“I played golf!” he yelled about rolling golf balls down the ramps in the Raceways exhibit, and he said he liked playing with the water in the Waterways exhibit.

Timothy Sanders, 5, said he enjoyed playing with glow sticks and watching them light up, and he hopes to visit the museum again.

The My Neighborhood exhibit features a farmer’s market with lifelike fruit in baskets that teach children about healthy eating, and a sensory activity including spices in different jars that children can smell.

A glass wall, dividing the Studio of the Arts craft section from the rest of the exhibits, is used for painting and drawing on the glass. The area behind it has multiple tables and chairs with colorful drawers under a large tinted window that house supplies for arts and crafts.

Baby Bloomers is like a large play pen for babies and toddlers filled with different toys specifically made for development stages of children 3 and under, Coffman said.

The idea for the museum grew from a local mom of two, Kathleen Palley, founder of the Sacramento Children’s Museum, whose first experience in a children’s museum was in Denver seven years ago on a family trip.

“I just knew it was something that I wanted to be able to bring my children to again. Sacramento didn’t have anything at all like a children’s museum, so I figured if we didn’t have one, then I would develop one,” Palley said.

As a former elementary school teacher for seven years, Palley said she observed in the classroom that children have different learning styles. She said she helped incorporate that into the children’s museum exhibits, allowing them to explore using the auditory, visual and kinetic learning styles.

“The idea of the freedom to explore and touch everything,” Palley said, was what interested her the most about a children’s museum.

Coffman, who said she has experience from working at the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose, said that teachers are encouraged to arrange field trips to the museum, and said that she expects mornings to be filed with different field trips.

“The Children’s Museum exhibits are in line with the state standards,” Palley said about the educational benefits and the opportunities for teachers.

The front desk offers additional learning materials that parents or instructors can use before and after their visit.

Palley explained that there is a focus nationwide on the importance of early childhood development, but said that, “as a community we don’t provide as many resources as we could for these little kids.”

Godlove said that the Sacramento Children’s Museum is accepting donations.

“We are still accepting donations and would love to fill out our final 500 founding families. We have about 400, so there is still 100 slots,” Godlove said.

The first 500 individuals or families to donate will be recognized with their names permanently placed in the Sacramento Children’s Museum, according to the website for the museum.

“The mission of the Children’s Museum is to spark a passion for lifelong learning,” Palley said. “So we are hoping by providing these opportunities to these young children, that it will show them that learning can be fun, and as they grow and continue to go through school, that they will hopefully find something they are passionate about.”

For more information, donation opportunities, operation hours and admission prices, click here.

Jewish Food Faire to Celebrate Culture's Rich Traditions

2011-08-25T14:48:37Z

Foodies and those who just love good food in a festive atmosphere will gather at Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, for the 35th Annual Jewish Food Faire, featuring iconic Jewish deli items such as authentic corned beef on rye, bagels and lox and noodle kugel, plus a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods.

The Faire, located at 4746 El Camino Avenue (Mission), will be held from 9 am to 3 pm, but come early because the food does tend to go fast.

This year's Food Faire theme is "Generation to Generation," recognizing the rich tradition practiced by many cultures in the Sacramento area of passing down family recipes from one generation to the next.

Join us for wonderful food that cannot be found anywhere else in the area, local arts and crafts and music. For more information, contact www.cbshalom.org.

Disclosure: I am a unabashed foodie and a member of Congregation Beth Shalom.

Cover the Kids funding reductions trickled down from the state level

2011-08-18T04:09:48Z

A healthy kids initiative had its funding cut Tuesday when the City Council voted to decrease grant funding by 60 percent, a move officials say stems from the state budget difficulties.

The Sacramento First 5 Commission funds 60 percent of Cover the Kids (CTK), a program launched in 1998 with the funds from a tobacco tax that engages in family outreach to enroll children into health care programs by helping and educating families on the importance of preventative care and how to navigate the health care system in five counties: Colusa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yuba.

CTK assisted to enroll approximately 3,500 children in this past fiscal year into health coverage programs, Joil Xiong, interim director for Cover the Kids, wrote in an email, and has aided 37,000 children up to age 18 since it began in 1998, according to a Department of Parks and Recreation staff report.

The reduction in funding has affected CTK by reductions in staff and services, Xiong said.

Five employees were laid off July 1, and Healthy Kids, a product of CTK launched in 2006 that provides health insurance to children not eligible for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families, will be eliminated Dec. 31, 2011, Xiong said.

The termination of Healthy Kids will only affect the families’ monthly premium for insurance coverage, Xiong said. There are currently 100 children in the Healthy Kids program who are going to be relocated into other insurance providers such as Kaiser Permanente Child Health Plan, Medi-Cal or Healthy Families.

"Funding reduction is a part of the challenges faced by many organizations. Cover the Kids strives to adapt to the environment we work in and make sure our organization grows with the changes in order to continue to serve our community,” Xiong said.

“For example, where we are heading as a state and as a nation in terms of health care reform, we must be able to align ourselves with the changes, so while it becomes a challenge it is an exciting challenge,” Xiong said.

Toni Moore, executive director for First 5 Sacramento Commission, said the fund reductions come from the state level.

“The state budget that was passed by the Legislature and governor,” Moore said. “AB 99, is sweeping $1 billion from First 5 reserves on a statewide basis.”

After the amount was divided between the 58 First 5 commissions statewide, “the amount that they are going to take from First 5 Sacramento reserves is $48.5 million,” said Erin Blount, spokeswoman for First 5 Sacramento.

First 5 Sacramento received $15.1 million from the tobacco tax for fiscal year 2009-10 according to a First 5 fact sheet.

Due to the decreased funding, seven people who worked for First 5 lost their jobs, with three more pending by July 1, 2013. An overall decrease in staff from 21 to 11, Moore said.

“So with the passage of that bill, that prompted our commission to have to evaluate all of our programs and make necessary budget reductions, which was extremely difficult because all of these programs are serving children,” Blount said.

Debra Payne, program planner for health and dental with First 5 Sacramento, explained that based on the safety net of services, the programs funded by First 5 Sacramento were ranked high, medium or low priority through a series of public meetings and discussions.

The priority level of the program determines the amount reduced, said Moore. High-priority programs reductions were limited to 25 percent, medium-priority would be reduced by 50 percent and most of the low-priority programs were eliminated.

CTK was ranked medium-priority. What was proposed was to reduce 50 percent of funding for the fiscal cycles including July 2010 through June 2015, Blount said.

“It makes it even more difficult when it is our most vulnerable population (being affected), children under the age of 5,” Blount said.

A number of First 5 Commissions filed a lawsuit against bill AB 99. The litigation will begin Aug. 30, in Fresno County Superior Court.

“A mandate in the Children Families Commission Act says (that) when you take money from First 5, it has to go before the voters, and AB 99 did not go before the voters, it was just passed by the governor, and therefore that is why there is a lawsuit,” Blount said.

Free Ice Cream August 16 at 4th Annual South Area Neighborhood Ice Cream Social

2011-08-13T00:31:27Z

The 4th Annual South Area Neighborhood Ice Cream Social is set for Tuesday, August 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at 5625-24th Street in Sacramento (the corner lawn of 24th Street and Fruitridge Road, midway between I-5 and Hwy. 99). Bethany Presbyterian Church is again serving as the host location for this event, which last year attracted more than 100 members of the community.

The event will feature old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream makers, unlimited ice cream and toppings, cookies and goodies, live banjo band music and children’s activities. There is no cost to attend.

Information and useful resources to help families make the back-to-school transition for their students will also be available.

The all-you-can-eat event is free of charge to all. The Neighborhood Ice Cream Social is presented by community volunteers.

Directions and a downloadable flyer are available. Interested persons may also contact the church office by phoning (916) 428-5281 or e-mailing.

Bethany Presbyterian Church will observe its 100th anniversary in 2014. Originally established in the Oak Park neighborhood, the church has been a fixture in the South Sacramento community since its move to 24th Street in the mid-'50s. The multi-generational, ethnically diverse congregation has a membership of more than 100 and holds Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Lorie Sprinkle serves as pastor. Bethany is the oldest Presbyterian church south of downtown Sacramento.

Free summer meals for kids in low-income communities

2011-08-06T06:11:55Z

During the summer months when subsidized school lunches and exercise opportunities are less accessible to kids in low-income neighborhoods, the federal government – through the U.S. Department of Agriculture – provides free healthy lunches, snacks and activities at various locations throughout Sacramento County.

The program is open to all children 18 and under. No paperwork or enrollment is required, and no income qualification must be met. Any child can simply come to one of the designated sites during food service times to get a free lunch or snack.

In the last two years, however, more than 80 percent (2 million) of California students who ate subsidized (free or reduced-cost) lunches during the school year were not eating those meals in the summer, City Councilman Jay Schenirer said.

Schenirer said he was contacted in April by Kate Karpilow – executive director for the California Center for Research on Women and Familes, who currently runs the California Summer Meal Program Coalition – to discuss the need to increase food program sites and sponsors throughout Sacramento neighborhoods.

“The challenge this year was there was not enough sites to deliver the food for kids,” Schenirer said. “Summer school money for school districts has been cut drastically. There are fewer summer school sites and fewer sites that were doing summer food programs.”

The Summer Meal Program Coalition, Karpilow said, is a statewide effort to work with with local community leaders to see what can be done to increase the number of sponsors and sites that provide subsidized summer meals to children in low-income neighborhoods.

Schenirer and the CSMPC selected the Oak Park neighborhood as their starting point in the effort. In this neighborhood, Schenirer said, a lot of people qualify for the program.

“I certainly understand the need,” he said. “It’s kind of a crime when there is food available for the young people who need it and we didn’t have the outlets to make sure they have access.”

Despite budget cuts right and left, Karpilow said, they pulled together and got word out to the residents of Oak Park about the services available as far as summer food programs in a way that hasn’t been done before.

Brochures and fliers were created that listed information about the summer food program, site locations, food service dates and times and ways to get involved.

While it was just a simple piece of paper, she said, they were sent out to organizations and people throughout the Oak Park community – including churches, libraries and even to Starbucks. She said that in the past, the outreach component of the program had fallen short.

Through their efforts they were able to get a couple additional outlets, including three churches in Oak Park, for this summer, Schenirer said.

“What we are on the road to do,” Karpilow said, “is raise awareness and follow up to ensure kids in the community have nutrition and activities so they can keep busy during the long summer months.”

The Shiloh Arms Apartment Complex and the Oak Park Community Center are two current summer food program sites in the Oak Park area.

The Shiloh Arms Apartment Complex summer food program is lead by Resident Service Coordinator James Alston from Elk Grove, who the children refer to simply as “Mr. James.”

Alston said he has been working at the site for the last 14 years and has been serving food there for the last eight.

“There was a need,” Alston said. “In the summer time in this community, if kids are hungry, then they can have lunch. The kids get the opportunity to know that at certain times they can get food and some nutrients. A lot of times parents are working or busy – people have different times when they can feed the kids.”

To begin serving food, Alston had to go to training to learn the rules and regulations for the program. This went over the requirements for putting up the food program banners and posters and learning the schedule and rules regarding who they can serve.

One requirement for summer food program sites is to put up a big banner outside that is visible to the public so kids in the neighborhood know food is available, Alston explained.

The number of kids who visit the food program site, Alston said, varies anywhere from 16 to 25. That number has gone down from last year’s average of 25 to 30 kids, which Alston attributed to them going to summer schools.

The kids typically range in ages between 6 and 13, though he serves anyone between the ages of 5 and 18. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.

Many of the children that he serves live in the Shiloh Arms apartment complex and walk over on their own to get their lunches or snacks. About 80 percent of the children, he said, are regulars whom he sees often. The rest are kids from around the community.

Just about a mile and a half away from the Shiloh Arms Apartment Complex, the Oak Park Community Center also serves as a free summer food program site in addition to providing recreational activities for $10 per week.

DeDee Mullins-Cornelius, program supervisor at the community center since 1993, said the program has been going on since before she was there.

Known as “Kids Kamp,” the community center provides activities such as billiards, arts and crafts, movies, computers and various field trips.

As a free summer food site, the 60 to 70 registered children, as well as neighborhood kids and teens, are able to get their free lunch and snack during the designated serving times, noon to 1 p.m. for lunch and 3 - 3:30 p.m. for snacks.

The Kids Kamp and food program is led by four trained recreational aides and anywhere from one to five volunteers from around the neighborhood.

Shamea Robinson, 24, has been a recreational aide for two years and has received training to operate the food program site.

All the foods, Robinson said, are packaged foods with a shelf life. Cheese, cookies, apple sauce, peanut butter and jelly, beef jerky, tuna, juice and milk are some of the various items provided in the meals. The meals are USDA federally funded and are shipped every one or two weeks, Mullins-Cornelius said.

After the food is passed out, the kids eat together out on the grass. As part of the regulations, Robinson said, no one is allowed to take the food to eat elsewhere.

The local project within Sacramento communities is funded by a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Account Clerk Candace Sinetos supervises and coordinates the program for the city. Anybody who wants to have the program at their location must apply with the city of Sacramento, she said.

To be approved, Sinetos said, the location’s neighborhood elementary school must have 50 percent or more low-income students.

Sites provide their own volunteers and staff, and upon the approval of the application, they each need to complete training on the rules and regulations of the program before food can be delivered to the site.

Most program sites are located at churches and apartment complexes as well as various community centers.

Sinetos said that there are currently about 30 sites participating in the summer food program. However, during July, there were 63 sites all over Sacramento County spanning as far as West Sacramento, Rancho Cordova and Antelope.

Sinetos estimated approximately 3,000 kids visit food program sites each day. Each site around the city of Sacramento sees anywhere from five to 150 kids depending on the site’s location and how big the need is in that neighborhood.

Some neighborhoods have greater need than others, Sinetos said. Particulary the Arden, South Sacramento and Elk Grove areas where there are not as many food program sites available. The greatest need, she said, is in the north Sacramento and Del Paso area – where most sites are currently located.

“It brings food to a lot of kids not in school,” Sinetos said. “And (the sites) put on recreation activities and give them something to do so they’re not home alone or don’t have anywhere to go.”

Children from the Oak Park Community Center shared their thoughts on the program:

Princeton Bush, 9, has been going to the Oak Park Community Center for two years. His favorite snacks there are cheese, crackers and tuna. He said he likes to play games like pool, go on the computer or go to the gym and play basketball.

Larry Junior Devont, 7, said he has been going to the camp all summer.

“(I’ve gone here) maybe 20 times,” Larry said. “We play at the park and in the game room. My grandma drops me off and I go play. We eat some juice, cookies and milk.” Larry’s favorites foods, he said, are vegetables like carrots and cucumbers, chicken, rice, strawberries and candy.

Aaliyah Brown, 11, has been going to the Oak Park Community Center for two weeks, and Carisa, 10, has gone to the camp for a year.

“I come here every day” Aaliyah said. “I like it a lot. I play with all my friends. We play sports like flag football. They feed us lunch and then a snack. The lunch is more of a meal – you get a whole lunch bag of food.”

“I like this place,” Carisa said. “I like it like my old school. The first time I went here I was shy, but I made a lot of friends.” Carisa said her favorite foods from the summer meal program are sunflower seeds and fruit such as peaches and pineapples.

Denise Harton Brazier, 10, has been going to the Oak Park Community Center program for three or four years.

“This camp is the best,” she said. “It’s the best camp I’ve ever been to. It’s a lot of fun. Lunch is really healthy – you usually get a cheese stick, four crackers, beef jerky, and some peanut butter and jelly on bread, and you always get small juices.”

The Summer Food program started June 20 and runs through Aug. 19. Participating sites may open for all three months or may choose to run for any span of time within the time frame depending on the site’s availability and the neighborhood’s needs.

For a list of 2011 Summer Meal Sites in Sacramento County click here
For more information about summer food programs click here

Junior Giants Back in Season

2011-07-11T22:38:34Z

Riding high on a World Series Championship spirit, the Southeast Sacramento Junior Giants launched their annual summer youth baseball program on July 9th with 225 smiling faces. The Junior Giants, the flagship program of the Giants Community Fund, is a free, non-competitive and innovative baseball program for boys and girls ages 5-18 years old. Councilmember Kevin McCarty and the City of Sacramento founded a local chapter of the program in 2005 in the Avondale/Glen Elder neighborhood. It has now served over 1,000 boys and girls over the past seven years at George Sim Park.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this season and the continued success of our Jr. Giants league”. Councilmember McCarty stated, “Especially when City/School sports programs are being cut and families are struggling with sports registration fees -- this free program serves a vital need in an undeserved neighborhood”.

Neighborhood president and League Commissioner Jermain Gill also brimmed with pride over the programs’ past seven successful years. “Last year, with the help of the SF Giants Community Fund, we christened a brand new field -- Matt Cain Field -- and added a Tee Ball field to help accommodate our strong community demand. This year’s 225 kids is a record for us. We are thrilled”, stated Gill. (To see the new Matt Cain field go to: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100615&content_id=11222000&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf)

In 1994, the SF Giants Community Fund founded a program that would give at-risk kids a meaningful partnership with community-based organizations and provide an alternative to drugs, gangs and crime. The Junior Giants Program was therefore established and now serves 17,000 children in 85 leagues across California and into Nevada and Oregon. The Community Fund provides all of the uniforms, equipment, and training necessary to run a league as well as tickets to select Giants games so the youth can experience a Major League Baseball game. But more important than the fundamentals of baseball, the Junior Giants Program focuses on the four bases of character development - Confidence, Integrity, Leadership and Teamwork - and offers programs in Education, Health and Violence Prevention
To learn more about the program, find local Jr. Giants leagues or to learn how to support the program, go to: http://mlb.mlb.com/sf/community/gcf/juniorgiants.jsp

Disclosure: Juanita Martinez is the Southeast Sacramento Junior Giants Coach Coordinator

53rd Annual Fourth of July Parade in Carmichael

2011-07-05T19:56:57Z

On July 4th, citizens braved the hot weather to attend the Carmichael Elks’ 53rd annual parade along Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael. People of all ages lined the streets, and most wore the traditional red, white, and blue and waved American flags.

The parade was led by two California Highway Patrol cruisers followed by two Sacramento Fire Department vehicles, all with lights, sirens and American flags. Several queens and princesses of various municipalities rode in vintage cars. San Juan Unified School District sponsored two school busses, and P.O.W./M.I.A. and The Daughters of the American Revolution ~~Daughters of the Revolution~~ (dressed in vintage dresses), were also parade participants. The Parks and Recreation District pick-up was followed by several skateboarders.

Eleven-month-old Ryder Patterson attended the event with his parents. His father Shane stated that the matching shirt that said “Mommy’s Little Firecracker” could not be found, so he was dressed in a white shirt and red shorts and white stars.

Bottled water and candy were passed out by parade participants to children along the route. Belly dancers in vivid costumes from Jodette’s Belly Dance Academy shimmied down Fair Oaks Boulevard followed by horses, military jeeps and bands. Students of Kovar’s Satori Academy of Martial Arts and Robinson’s Taekwondo provided martial arts moves along the parade route, and uniformed Boy and Girl Scouts chanted slogans as they walked by the review stand.

Ask the County Law Librarian - Swimming Pool Safety Laws

2011-06-30T23:25:07Z

Q: I recently purchased a home in a nice, family-oriented neighborhood. My neighbors to the left of me have a large swimming pool, which their young children and the children’s friends frequently play in. I’ve noticed that the pool doesn’t have any sort of barrier around it. Isn’t there a law that states pools must have a surrounding fence to protect young children from an accidental drowning? If so, is it my duty to report them?
-Rick

A: With summer upon us (finally!), it’s certainly true that pool owners should be especially vigilant in regard to pool safety measures for children. Laws and regulations concerning pool safety will vary depending on the state and county in which you reside, so be sure to conduct legal research in the appropriate jurisdiction.

In California, Section 115922 of the California Health & Safety Code requires that private pools built or remodeled after 1998 feature at least one of seven safety devices, specifically: an isolating enclosure or barrier; approved mesh fencing; an approved pool cover; an alarm on each house door that accesses the pool; a “pool-use” alarm that notifies the home owner when someone has entered the water; and any other device that offers equal to or greater protection than the previously listed features. Be sure to read the official code section for further details.

Counties and cities may impose further requirements, as long as those requirements do not conflict with state law. Section 15.64.070 of the Sacramento City Code, for example, requires that new or remodeled pools be enclosed by fences with self-latching gates. Homeowners that fail to take this precaution may be cited for an infraction, per section 9.16.090. To be thorough, consult both the city and county codes in your area: according to Chapter 16.18 of the Sacramento County Code, a violation of the County’s Swimming Pool Code (Chapter 16.36) could lead to a citation for nuisance.

Keep in mind that many current “swimming pool laws” were enacted fairly recently and may apply only to new or remodeled pools. Your neighbor’s pool may not be subject to these requirements, so it’s best to gather all the facts before acting. If you live within the city limits of Sacramento, believe your neighbor’s swimming pool to be in violation of the city code, and would like to report it, you can file an online Code Violation Complaint or call 311.

For more information on pool safety requirements, precautions, and helpful resources, you can read the Sacramento County Public Law Library’s Everyday Law article on Swimming Pools, or visit the California Department of Public Health’s “Safety Guide for Home Swimming Pools and Spas.”

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian

www.saclaw.org

Stuart Little Comes To The Salvation Army

2011-06-29T22:55:03Z

Today, the kids from The Salvation Army’s day care and summer day camp programs had a chance to see Stuart Little. Not the movie, but an actual live production, performed by the American River College Theatre Arts Department.

The performance took place at the Salvation Army’s Oak Park campus.

“It’s great that we can bring this to a warm and friendly environment,” said Tracy Martin Shearer, director of the play. “That’s the thing about the arts; it brings joy, entertainment, education and excitement. We often find that more than half of children watching had not seen a play until our performance."

The latest presentation was part of the theatre arts department’s “Children’s Theatre Tour” in which the performers (consisted of nine American River students) take the show to a local elementary school and education program. Most times, the schools are charged a small fee for the performance, but Shearer wanted to do something different for The Salvation Army.

“We wanted to donate the show for the kids this morning,” Shearer said. “It looks like The Salvation Army is doing a great thing for the neighborhood and for the children involved."

The 50-minute play of the classic E.B. White children’s novel was not your typical show. It was very interactive. Some of the children in attendance were asked to participate on stage or interact with the characters during the play.

“This was a great way to expose our children to the arts and for them to see a live theatre production,” said Sonja Stires, Salvation Army’s Director of Programs for the Oak Park campus.

The ARC students will continue performing “Stuart Little” at least four more times in July at the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse. All of those performances are open to the public.

Syd Fong is the director of public relations for The Salvation Army-Sacramento County Operations. For more information about The Salvation Army in Sacramento, log onto www.salarmysacto.org. For more information about the Stuart Little live show, you can call (916) 224-7947.

Kids Summer Camp Round-Up

2011-06-28T05:44:40Z

School is out for the summer!
Summer camps are up and running until mid-August in the Sacramento area, and there are plenty of children’s camps for both indoor and outdoor preferences including giraffes or superhero comic books, gravity tag, classic camp songs, 3-D abstract sculptures and even rock climbing or slime.

KidzArt
Parents who choose KidzArt can expect their kids to get messy and explore with different art media such as silk painting, acrylic painting, watercolor, clay, oil pastels, sand and even rock salt, centered around themes like Go Wet n’ Wild with KidzArt and KidzArt Animal Style.

“Our ultimate goal is to build self confidence, teach them some art fundamentals and make sure they have a good time,” said Paige Schulte, executive director at KidzArt.

KidzArt summer camps are organized into several theme-related projects, such as drawing animal scenes depicting monkeys going down a waterslide, 3-D abstract sculptures made out of bendable wires or dioramas of amusement water parks, which are then displayed in a gallery at the end of the camp, Schulte said.

“Every project comes with fun facts, either related to the theme or the subject matter,” said Schulte about emphasizing education while the children create art.

KidzArt serves 70 elementary schools in the after-school program and also hosts summer camps at 18 different elementary schools. The art-based summer camp runs 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and is geared for children in kindergarten through the sixth grade.

Campers can attend either five days a week, three days or two days. Camp locations include Natomas, Land Park/East Sacramento, Davis and others. For specific dates, pricing and more information click here.

Mad Science
With Mad Science, children and parents can choose from 80 different camps in eight counties around the Sacramento Valley; exploring the world of robotics, living in space, engaging in activities that teach about photosynthesis, chemistry equipment, the physics of sports and the respiratory or circulatory system.

“Our purpose is to get kids excited about science by sparking imaginative learning,” said Doug Christensen, franchise owner for Mad Science of Sacramento Valley.

Crazy Crime Lab is a CSI-like camp that teaches children about forensics, security and evidence detection, Christensen said.
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The five-day Radical Robot camp allows children to build their own robot, said Christensen, and includes exploring the challenges involved in creating a gripper for the robot to grasp items.

In NASA: Academy of Future Space Explorers, children place their hands in thick gloves and experience what it might be like “being in a space suit and trying to do some manual manipulations inside of a chamber,” Christensen said, “which sort of replicates the problems people on space walks have.”

Mad Science summer camps run from now through Aug. 12. The summer camps provide two instructors per 15 children. Christensen said that Mad Science could also bring workshops to groups of 15 children or more. For more information click here.

Zoo Camp
The Sacramento Zoo features a summer camp selection of 72 different options for children in pre-school through ninth grade, and also a camp counselor program open to teens.

“The purpose is for them to learn and appreciate the world around them while they are learning and having fun,” said Lisa Hetherington, Sacramento Zoo Education Manager. “We strive to follow our mission.”

Superman-imals camp, held Aug. 1 – 5, is available for children in kindergarten through the first grade.

The camp is “all about how different animals are specialized in different things. The tallest animal would be the giraffe, and they are known as the sentinels of the savanna,” said Hetherington. “They can see really long distances, so that would be a super adaptation.”

Other animal examples that may have adaptations that seem super-hero-like include the cheetah for its speed, and the owl for its sensitive hearing abilities that allow it to effectively capture prey in pitch-black environments.

Kids who join the Superman-imals camp at the Zoo can expect to create a comic strip displaying animals and their adaptations or super-hero-like powers that they have learned about during the week, Hetherington said.

“Teachers that teach the camp are actual instructors during the year, we let them create their own curriculum,” Hetherington said.

From the 72 options Zoo Camp offers, one is called Little Ducklings and is geared for pre-school-aged children.

There are six, two-hour-long classes that teach campers about different parts of the world and the animals that inhabit places such as Sumatra, Australia, the Himalayas and Africa. The course is designed for a child and their mom, dad, uncle, grandparent or other any other buddy, Hetherington said.

“During the camp they get an up-close, personal introduction to one of the animals. Make one or two crafts, as well as participate in animal enrichment,” said Hetherington.

Animal enrichment involves creating a toy or object that will stimulate the animal’s mind, explained Hetherington.

Specific animals that children may be introduced to include the African hedgehog, the blue-tongued skink, a red tailed fox, a desert tortoise, and birds like the blue and gold Macaw.

Rocknasium
Rocknasium offers three-hour-long, four day summer camp sessions, now through Aug. 25, for ages 6 through 14.

Children at Rocknasium can expect to learn about rock climbing and proper equipment usage as well as ropelling, or descending down buildings like super heroes often do in the movies.

Ropelling is where “there is a rope anchored to the ceiling. The kids are taught how to manage their safety using specific equipment and techniques,” said Chris Townsen, Rocknasium staffer.

“All the skills that they learn throughout the week, culminate on the last day in a really cool mission impossible adventure at the gym,” Townsen said.

They go through an obstacle course pretending to be secret agents in search of a deactivation button, said Townsen. The mission impossible involves a zip line from one side of the gym to the other, available for summer camp sessions only.

Rocknasium, located in Davis, exhibits 26 feet tall rock climbing with 24 top ropes, and an estimate of 80-120 color-coded routes for climbers.

Routes are “constantly changing so that our members are always challenged,” Townsen said.

Camp Have-a-lot-of-Fun
This summer camp is open for ages 3 through 11 and is offered Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for eight weeks until Aug. 12.

“The camp program is a traditional summer camp that started over 40 years ago, and in the last six years, has evolved into an imagination-based experiential camp,” said Katie Little, Camp Supervisor and former Coordinator, involved with the program for nine years.

“Each week has a theme, we transport kids into an imaginative fantasy land that has different characters in it,” Little said.

The camp is divided into age groups of three to five and kinder through sixth grade. Typical weeks include eight to ten campers’ led by one kid staffer and between two to three leaders from the leadership development program, Little said.

“Kids like to show you how fast they are and they like to show you how strong they are,” Little said about the Aug. 1 – 5, Return to Planet Superhero week theme.

The children are transported to a planet where super heroes live, said Little. They are divided into heroes and villains, learn super powers and run around in imaginary adventures.

“All the things that kids like to do, the superhero theme encompasses,” Little said.

The campers can expect to sing classic camp songs every morning, about animals like sharks and bears.

Among the weekly themed-camps that are offered, Ultimate Team Challenge, is favorite to both staffers and campers, Little said.

The week is filled with four teams of campers competing for the Sunshine Cup trophy by engaging in team relays, scavenger hunts, dance competitions and athletic activities. A mirror competition including the staffers called Unity Wars goes on at the same time.

“It builds super intense competition. The kids wear different colors every day, they come up with cheers, there is even a couple rivalries that have developed over the last couple years,” Little said.

“I have been told for years that is it the best bargain in town because kids absolutely love it and it is affordable for families of all income levels,“ Little said.

To learn more about Camp Have-a-lot-of-Fun click here.

Grand Opening For New Salvation Army Education Facility in Oak Park

2011-06-23T00:14:06Z

After nine months of construction, The Salvation Army opened the doors to its new Child Development Center in Oak Park today.

The education facility is two stories high and nearly 14,000 sq ft, and it is the home for The Army’s day care and after-school programs.

“To see this come into reality is incredible,” said David Bentley, Salvation Army Sacramento County Coordinator. “We have a new education building that can make a real impact for many families in our area.”

The Child Development Center replaces an old 2,400 sq ft modular building that used to house the day care program for 24 years. A capital campaign was started in 2008 to raise the necessary funds for the construction of a new facility.

“It was not the best time for a capital campaign three years ago,” Bentley said. “But we needed to move forward because of the need in the community. We were very blessed that so many stepped up and assisted us with this project.”

In all, the construction cost $3 million.

The more spacious facility allows The Salvation Army the opportunity for expansion in both education programs. According to Salvation Army officials, the plans are to double the day care and after-school capacity.

“I’m really excited about the possibilities,” said Isa Losè, a mother of two children in the after-school program. “There’s just more room for the kids and more tools for them to learn.”

Since the start of the construction, the day care and after-school programs have been operating within The Salvation Army Community Center. The students will transition into the new building by the first week of July.

Disclosure: Syd Fong is the Public Relations Director at The Salvation Army Del Oro Division, Sacramento County Operations.

Real Relationships: Help with a 4th Grader

2011-06-20T15:36:45Z

Q: My husband and I have just one child. We had planned on having more, but it never worked out. Now I am seeing that as a good thing because our son is going into the fourth grade (he is going to be 10 in November), and he has become a virtual nightmare to deal with on a daily basis.

His third grade teacher had to call me at work several times to report that he didn't come to class, that he got in a fight with a classmate or that he was rude to her. We have been having a lot of problems with him at home, too. He talks back to me, has even hit me on occasion and does not listen when we tell him to do things or try and punish him.

I think we are at the end of our rope. It is causing some issues between my husband and I as well, and that isn't helping the situation. I don't know what to do.

A: I am really sorry that you have to go through this right now. I am guessing that there was a time when your son was younger that life was good and could never go wrong. My suggestions to you are multi-leveled.

I think your first step is to make sure your relationship with your husband is on solid ground. Kids pick up on parental tension very easily, and your son may be responding to what he senses between the two of you. I realize it is hard to decipher which came first, but deal with something you can control: you.

Figure out why your problems with your son are causing a rift between you and your husband and fix it. Talk through the difficulties you are having together, come to an agreement about how to proceed, and stand firm together on every decision made about punishment, counseling or any other direction you decide to go. Presenting a united front to your son will go a long way in his return to exemplary behavior.

As for your son, this is likely to be a long, hard road to travel. I believe you are probably at the point where you need to seek help outside of the home. Professional counseling may not be an option for you, but having him sit down with a trusted friend or adult figure in his life to talk through some of his frustrations may be an option. If he is unwilling to do that, ask him if he will write a letter about why he is so frustrated with life or what makes him angry. Sometimes writing is easier than speaking.

There may be things going on at school you aren't aware of. Talk with his teacher and find out if he is being picked on or if there have been any other situations that you didn't know about. If he has some specific friends he always hangs out with, talk to their parents and find out if they know of anything that is going on or if they have noticed similar behaviors in their kids.

The bottom line is, you need to be involved in what is going on in your son’s life. If your schedule allows, volunteer in his class, do things together as a family, talk to each other. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are just giving him space. He wants your attention and he wants your love. Acting out may be his way of asking for it.

Here are a few Sacramento resources you can look into for professional help:

River Oak Center for Children

Family Tree Couseling

Carrie Harper: Marriage and Family Therapist

Cross Creek Family Family Couseling

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in Real Relationships.

June Programs at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento

2011-06-14T16:00:44Z

Enjoy a summer of reading, fun educational programs and PRIZES for the entire family! Sign up at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento.

Summer programs for the entire family have started at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library - but there's still time to sign up!

Summer Reading Program, Ages 0-12: Read books, win prizes, join us for fantastic programs at the Library! Sign up at the Library and get a book bag, a reading log and a list of all the summer programs. Visit the Library at least 6 times during the summer, check in at the Information Desk to chat with us about what you've been reading. Come to programs and travel around the world without leaving your home town. Get your Grand Prize! Each child who completes the program will receive a free paperback book and a free pizza from Round Table Pizza.

Alaskan Adventure: The entire family can join us for stories, crafts and show and tell for a real Alaskan adventure! Tuesday, June 28th, 2 pm.

Teen Summer Reading Program, Ages 13-18: Sign up and start reading to be eligible to win some fun stuff. Prizes range from gift certificates to a Flip Camera. The more you read the more chances you have to win prizes. Program runs between June 1st and August 15th only.

Cartooning with Robert Armstrong: Got something you want to say? Say it with comics! Renowned comic book artist Robert Armstrong will teach a beginning cartooning workshop where teens can learn basic drawing skills and how to tell a story with pictures. All materials provided. Monday, June 20, at 2:30 pm.

Adult Summer Reading Program, Adults over the age of 18: Everyone enjoys sharing books they love. Share your recommendations with the Library and you can be entered into a drawing and may win a prize. The Library will post your review (anonymously) and others can discover new and exciting reads!

Pick up the "Novel Destinations Book Recommendation Form" and start reading! Let us know what books you like and a very brief "why". If you would like to enter into a raffle for a prize, fill out the cotact information at the bottom of the form. We will be posting the book recommendations around the library. Help your fellow readers discover new books. The more recommendations we receive the better.

The drawing will be held during the August Book Chat program: Wednesday, August 10th, at 5 pm.

Regular ongoing programs:

Hug-A-Bye Baby Story Time: Join us for a warm and cuddly lap-sit program that will share with parents ways to stimulate language development through songs, lullabies, fingerplays and books. This program is geared towards parents and infants ages 2-12 months.

Thursdays at 11:15 am

Mother Goose on the Loose: Parents with children ages 12-36 months are invited to join us for music, movement, visual literacy and language development.

Tuesdays at 11:15

Preschool Story Time: Parents and children ages 3 to 5 years are invited to join us for stories, rhymes, finger plays, songs and crafts to help develop early literacy skills and encourage children to engage in group participation.

Fridays at 10:30 am

Bilingual Story Times: Children ages birth to 5 years and their parents may join us for stories, songs, movement, rhymes and finger plays.

Spanish/English: every Tuesday at 6pm
Russian/English: every Wednesday at 6pm

All programs are FREE and are held at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento, 1212 Merkley Avenue. Call 916-375-6465 for more information.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the Library!

Disclosure: Gabrielle Callison is a Grant Coordinator with Yolo County for the Arthur F. Turner Community Library

Kick Off the Kids' Summer at the Free Safety Fair

2011-06-03T01:05:56Z

Sacramento families can jump-start their children's summer fun at the neighborhood Kids' Safety Fair taking place Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The free event will be held on the lawn of Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625 24th Street in Sacramento (corner of Fruitridge Road and 24th Street). Among the free activities offered are a bounce-house, face-painting, crafts, music and helpful information from local family and safety resources. A free hotdog lunch will be served.

A map and directions, plus a downloadable print-friendly flyer, are available.

The safety fair is presented as a community service of Bethany Presbyterian Church volunteers.

Bethany Presbyterian Church is the oldest of the Presbyterian churches in the South Sacramento/Land Park area, drawing participation from as far away as Pocket/Greenhaven, Elk Grove/Laguna, East Sacramento/Rosemont and midtown/downtown Sacramento. The church, which moved from Oak Park to its current site in 1954, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014.

For details about the Kids' Safety Fair and additional summer activities, see the church website or call (916) 428-5281.

Summer Oasis Program for Children saved from Budget Cuts

2011-05-31T23:30:39Z

With current budget cuts happening in most City departments, it is hard to find an opportunity to directly save programs without having to offset it with cuts elsewhere. That is why, I am pleased to announce that I have been able to allocate funding and salvage a very worthwhile and important opportunity for children in District One.

If you have children in your family in need of a fun, positive and exciting summer activity – check out the Summer Oasis Program.
The Summer Oasis Program is a camp for kids that has been offered for several years. Due to cuts to the Parks & Recreation budget, the program was slated to be removed from the 2011 summer offering. After being brought to my attention by Natomas families, I discovered that over 100 Natomas kids love this camp, so I made it my mission to find a way to bring it back. Using District One discretionary funds, I was able to save the program by donating the $10,000 necessary to reinstate it for the summer of 2011. Fox 40 did a special story on it, which you can check out here: Natomas Park and Rec Program Saved from the Ax. This program provides children in 1st through 6th grade with an opportunity to get outside and participate in games, field trips, activities, arts, crafts, and more. This is an 8 week program and cost to attend the camp is $75 per child (field trips will require an additional fee of approximately $20 per field trip) which covers the entire 8 weeks, but you may cater the program on a week by week basis and pay only for those weeks your child attends. Please click on the flyer above for more information and tell your family, friends and neighbors – let’s fill this camp up and get our kids out in the parks having fun and enjoying growing up in Sacramento!

Space is filling up fast so make sure to visit Parks and Recreation Web site to register. Once you arrive at the page, click on “ After School Programs and Day Camps ” on the left hand side bar, then select " Youth ", and then on the right hand side scroll down to “ Summer Oasis ”, select “ Show Courses ” and make sure to select the “ Regency Park – Summer Oasis ” option.

Blogs can offer moms friendship, lifeline

2011-05-04T00:20:52Z

When 34-year-old Elizabeth Jackson was a first-time mom staying home alone to raise her son, she felt isolated and sometimes unsure of herself – but a creative outlet her mother never knew of when she was an infant helped her feel connected and confident – her blog.

“The community was the best thing,” she said. “Being a mom is so isolating.”

The isolation, she said, comes from not being able to have a conversation with an infant – who was the only one home. For Jackson, the isolation was made harder, as she was new to Sacramento, but her blog gave her a ready community of people going through the same things, and they were always just an email away.

“You have all these questions,” she said. “You don’t know if you’re doing it right.”

She had already built up a following on her blog, which she started six years ago – before her 4-year-old son Eli was born.

Before then, her blog had been about her day-to-day life without kids.

“I just love to write, and it was more meaningful than writing in a journal because I knew people were reading it,” she said.

Blogging about Eli and, more recently, her 10-month-old daughter Katherine made parenting a lot easier.

“I really, really don’t know how I would have done it without my blog,” she said. “It was my lifeline.”

According to Jackson, blogging is a good outlet for more than moms, as there are myriad communities of bloggers on any conceivable topic, and they’re just a Google search away.

She had come to Sacramento with her husband, who got a job working for the state after finishing school in Lincoln, Neb.

While Jackson still blogs about her kids, her blog focuses on her day-to-day activities, and unlike a journal, she said the public nature of her blog means she doesn’t always speak her mind.

“I know my in-laws read it, so if I’m mad at my husband, I don’t want to blog about it,” she said with a laugh.

Sara Malan, who lives in Oakland, said she has been a friend of Jackson’s since they were 10 years old.

“I think (her blog) is great,” Malan said. “She’s an amazing writer, and it’s something I would never get to read if she didn’t blog. She wrote about when my daughter was born, and it was emotional and touching.”

Jackson said that even if new moms don’t feel comfortable putting their own writing on the Internet for everyone to see, just reading other blogs written by moms can be a reassuring and helpful experience, and that by commenting on them and taking part in discussions, it can help build the community she said she has been fortunate to become a part of.

“It saved me,” she said.

Some local bloggers she said she enjoys reading are: Holly, Sarah (who just had a baby), Mel (who has kids) and
Amy.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @brandon_darnell.

Low-cost support for Natomas moms

2011-04-29T02:39:41Z

Participating in a family-centered activity group in Natomas helped Katie Rozental feel less isolated when she was a new mom.

Rozental said she benefits from the Natomas Mothers’ Group, which offers a wide range of activities for mothers and young children up to age 5 for a membership fee of $40 per year.

“I’ve been in the group for almost five and a half years now, and I really don’t know what I would have done without (Natomas Mothers’ Group),” Rozental wrote in an email Thursday.

“There were times when I was a first-time mom where I felt trapped in my own house and just felt lost, and if I didn’t have the play groups to go to, I think I would have gone crazy! NMG has been an invaluable source of knowledge, friendships for both me and my children and support,” she said.

The group, which is welcoming new members, hosts play groups for mothers and their children about three times each week, said Leslie Whitesel, a leader in the group. In addition to the play groups, the group organizes field trips for kids, seasonal parties, and Moms’ Night Out events.

The group formed more than 20 years ago and now has about 34 members, she said.

Group members help each other when they experience major life events. When a member is pregnant, undergoing surgery or facing a death in her family, the Natomas Mothers’ Group holds its Sunshine Support activities.

“(For) anybody who needs extra support, we will ask for volunteers to bring them meals, or anything else they may need to get them through a difficult time – usually, it’s for a couple weeks,” Whitesel said. “For example, right now, there’s somebody who’s going to have surgery next week. All she wants is just somebody to take care of her kids – to get her kids out of the house, to take them to the park (and) take them to play with other kids while she’s recovering at home.”

The group is active in community service events, and has donated to Women Escaping a Violent Environment, a nonprofit organization that assists people in domestic violence and sexual assault crises.

Children also make friends through the group. Whitesel’s son, Joshua, who said he is “6 and three quarters years old,” said he met his best friend through the Natomas Mothers’ Group. He said he enjoys the group’s annual family camping trip.

“It’s like it’s a little tent neighborhood,” he said.

Email natomasmothersgroup@gmail.com to join the group.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Real Relationships: Sibling Rivalry

2011-04-18T15:42:43Z

Q: I have two children that are close in age. My son is 13 and my daughter is 12. I feel like all they do is fight. I am a single mom, I work full time and the last thing I want to deal with when we are home together is them fighting non-stop. Half the time I am not even sure what they are fighting about, but sometimes it gets really loud and they are so angry.

I am just about at the end of my rope. What can I do to get them to get along and bring peace back to our home?

A: First of all, you are a hero for raising two kids alone and working a full-time job. That must be really hard, and you are a champ for even trying. As for the troubles at home, I can see how that would get really old, really fast. Your kids are right at the age when they are slowly leaving their childhood behind and entering the dreaded teenage years. They are fighting for independence even while struggling with the changes they face every day in their own bodies and what is happening around them. Hormones can't be blamed for all their troubles, but maybe that can take part of the blame.

While I don't suggest playing referee during their yelling matches, it is a good idea to sit them both down, listen to them share their woes, whether it be with each other or just the world, and try and come up with solutions together. It is pretty likely that they don't even have beef with each other as much as they do with the rest of the world, and their sibling is just the closest target in firing range.

Sit them down separately and talk about the top five things that they struggle with on a daily basis. Try to come up with solutions to those problems, or at least better ways to handle them. Once you have spoken to them separately, sit them down together and let them know how hard it makes home life to have them arguing and talk about how the three of you can function together as a peaceful family. Have an adult conversation with them about this topic. I think they'll really appreciate it. Ask for their help to make the family work. After all, you guys are in this together.

It is important to discuss this during a time of peace in the household, because that is when their ears are open and receptive. Then when the fire heats up and tempers rise, remind each other about how you agreed to keep things cool. I think it will help.

Like I said, you are a champion and you are doing good things. Keep it up.

Have a relationship question? E-mail sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured every Monday in “Real Relationships.”

Man on the Street: Where in Sacramento would you never want to take your parents?

2011-04-11T21:37:32Z

We all have parents. But while many may love and appreciate their mothers and fathers, there are just some things not meant to be shared between parents and children.

The Sacramento Press recently posed the question, “Where in Sacramento would you never want to take your parents,” to individuals at Westfield Downtown Plaza. After speaking to some fellow Sacramentans, the most common response was nightlife activities.

Kevin Watson, 29, lives downtown and works as a graphic designer. He said he thought taking his dad to a club could get pretty weird. “I wouldn’t want to take my dad to Faces (Nightclub). That place is pretty crazy, and it would just be really awkward if he got hit on while I was there.”

A number of people felt a club was a good place not to take their parents. A couple of individuals even specified strip clubs. Joe Morales, 21, who works as a gold buyer for Gold Rush at the mall, said, “I would never take my parents to a strip club. That’s just uncomfortable and real awkward!”

Whitney Phillips, 23, head cashier at Forever 21 who lives in Sacramento, also said she wouldn’t want to take her mom to a club, adding “She’s just kinda old and it would be embarrassing.”

Malwina Wnorowska, 23, a third-year student majoring in managerial economics at UC Davis, had a very specific answer.

“I would never want to take my parents to Cal Expo during Halloween. They host the Exotic Erotic Zone Ball. I don’t think my parents would want to see that, and I don’t want to give them a heart attack. But then again, maybe they’d like it...”

Despite a number of responses keeping parents away from potentially risque scenes or just away from their social lives in general, a few people noted they don’t go anywhere they wouldn’t take their parents.

Actress Bridggett Bess, who lives Midtown, said, “My parents are pretty open-minded. I think I could take them anywhere and be OK.”

Tell us where in Sacramento you would never take your parents in the comment section below.

Food, Music and Fun at Festival de la Familia

2011-04-01T04:17:01Z

Sacramento, are you ready for a fun-filled day of delicious tacos and carne asada, exciting bachata dancers and beautiful ancient art? The 20th annual Festival de la Familia promises all that and more this Sunday at Cal Expo.

The Festival de la Familia is a cultural extravaganza that pays tribute to the people and cultures of Latin American countries by celebrating their customs and traditions and highlighting the variety of Latin influences within our local community.

“It’s really a celebration where we appreciate other cultures in a safe and family-oriented environment,” said Veronica Delgado, chairwoman for the festival’s Arts and Culture Pavilion.

One of the things the festival is known for is plenty of music, and this year the organizers are going all-out with multiple stages open throughout the day featuring live bands representing a variety of Latin styles and sounds, dance performances, a puppet theater and even salsa lessons from professional dance instructors for anyone who wants to give it a try.

In addition to the many singers, dancers and live bands performing throughout the day, the headliner act of the event will be Sonora Santanera, an iconic musical group from Mexico playing their recognizable topical sound.

“We’re really going to put on a show,” said Susie Cano-Guzman, festival president and food vendor coordinator. “It’s a very fun event.”

The festival will also showcase foods from more than 20 Latin countries, Cano-Guzman said. Food vendors will be set up in booths and walking around with carts offering such treats as paletas (fruit bars), raspados (snowcones) and gazpacho – a specialty from the Michoacan region of Mexico – and much more.

Cano-Guzman said she suggests attendees come hungry, because the food is going to be “phenomenal.”

“There will be fresh, authentic foods from Mexico, El Salvador and Peru,” Cano-Guzman said. “And, new this year, we’ll have Cuban food, too.”

Many local restaurants that have provided food to the festival in past years will be returning this year, including Carmen Taqueria, Baqueros, and Frank Levya’s Xochimilco Mexican Restaurant and Grill.

Not only will there be opportunity to eat plenty of food, but parents and kids will be able to make food, too. Margaret Gomes, chef and nutritional instructor with the Live Food Academy will be on-hand throughout the day teaching how to make healthy food for the family with a simple, fun, hands-on approach.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be the “Latin Culture Walk” exhibit in the Arts & Culture Pavilion.

“We’ve really enhanced the arts and culture exhibits this year,” Delgado said. “It will focus on a variety of media, from photography to sculpture to mixed media. It’s just incredible what these artists have put together.”

The pavilion will feature a host of ancient artwork and literary works from Latin people through the ages along with a variety of contemporary art displays and more than 40 local artists will be on-hand to discuss their work and answer questions in this interactive exhibit.

Delgado said local artist, illustrator and photographer Felipe Davalos worked with the artists on the new arts exhibit to direct them in fine-tuning their projects and “helped them create something great for the community.”

Nicole Zamora, festival events chairwoman says the all-day event will also include many activities for children, including arts and crafts activities and a chance to meet the players of Sacramento Gold semi-pro soccer team.

“The players will be out there to show off some drills, play with the kids and take pictures with fans,” Zamora said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone who comes.”

Teddy Herrera, the bicyclist from Elk Grove who just returned from cycling over 11,000 miles across the United States will be on hand at one of the kids’ stations in the Children’s Activities section of the festival talking to kids about health and fitness, and leading kids in games like jumprope and hopscotch.

At one of the many crafts tables available on Sunday, kids will be able to make traditional “papel picado,” bright colorful tissue flags with cut-out designs that are hung on strings to wave in the wind.

“The papel picado are used in many Latin countries for all sorts of festivities,” said Cano-Guzman. “The bright colors add to the environment of celebration.”

Zamora said attendees won’t want to miss the parade featuring dancers, musicians, and performers, which begins at 1:30 p.m. and is a festival highlight for families and children of all ages.

“It’s like a traveling cultural exhibit right before your eyes making its way from one end of the festival to the other,” Zamora said.

Delgado said volunteers, committee organizers and sponsors have all worked closely over the past year in a community effort to get everyone involved in making the event interesting and fun.

“Volunteers are the legs we stand on,” Delgado said.

The all-volunteer event makes use of 400-500 volunteers to help with children’s events, watch the stages and guide people through exhibits. Volunteers are still needed for the day of the event, and anyone interested in helping can sign up online here.

The day’s events start with a Catholic mass at 9 a.m., and then entertainment kicks off at 10 a.m. and continues until the gates close at 6 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors 65 and over. Kids 12 and under are free. Discount tickets are also available online here.

For more information, visit the festival’s website at www.festivaldelafamilia.org .

Free 10-Week Music Program for 4th-6th Graders Starts During March, "Music In Our Schools Month"

2011-03-07T23:38:48Z

Children in grades 4-6 are invited to participate in a new 10-week community-wide music program.

Under the leadership of educator and choral Dr. May Tuan Tucker, this new youth choir will rehearse Mondays and Thursdays, 5:45-6:30 p.m., at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625-24th Street, in Sacramento (off Fruitridge Road between I-5 and Highway 99). Rehearsals start Monday, March 14, 2011. There will be no rehearsals the week of April 18, when most local schools are on spring break.

To sign up or ask questions, parents may contact May Tucker by e-mail or telephone (916-428-5281), or simply show up at rehearsals. The first rehearsal will be Monday, March 14 at 5:45 p.m.

Rehearsals will lead to a free community performance on May 22 of Project: Peace, a chorale composed for public school choirs by Roger Emerson. With over 900 titles in print and 30 million copies in circulation, Emerson has been the recipient of ASCAP’s Standard Award for 20 years running, and his works have been performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. In addition to composing, Emerson teaches music at the College of the Siskiyous in Northern California. Project: Peace is a hauntingly beautiful work that communicates the benefits of peacemaking, tolerance and teamwork. The chorale features nine uplifting and inspiring musical numbers created specifically for children and youth to sing.

Free refreshments will be served at rehearsals. Parents and siblings are welcome to remain for rehearsals.

Bethany Presbyterian Church, which in 2014 will celebrate its 100th year of serving Sacramento, is hosting the children's music program as a community service. "We know that funding for music in schools is scarce," says choir director May Tucker. "The science behind music education is there, though: kids involved in music education typically outperform their peers academically, as well as gaining an understanding and appreciation of collaboration and teamwork. Children who participate in this program will learn music fundamentals and build new skills while having fun preparing for a live community concert."

The new music program is being launched during March, which is celebrated as Music In Our Schools Month across the nation.

There is no charge to participate in the children's music program.

A downloadable flyer and parent/guardian information letter are available at www.bethpres.com.

Real Relationships: Welcome

2011-02-28T16:29:55Z

I hear it all the time: "Life is hard!" In reality, life is easy. It is the relationships in life that are hard. Our lives are full of relationships in every category: intimate, work, family, friendship, etc. On some level you even have a relationship with the person who makes your Starbucks every morning. In fact, that is probably the easiest relationship you have (or at least the most rewarding).

If you are married, dating, single or jaded, you interact with people every day who shape your life and how you lead it. If you are married, your spouse is likely the first person you see in the morning. Those first couple of minutes the two of you have together can shape the rest of your day. What if you fight? What if you say something you regret right before he or she walks out the door? That could ruin the rest of your day. Hopefully those first few minutes together are positive and uplifting, and your day turns out to be spectacular. It is mind boggling to think that just a few minutes in the morning can make or break your whole day, but we have all experienced it.

You may have experienced a similar situation with your children. Before you send little Suzie off to school, she accidentally spills her grape juice on your white carpet and you freak out! Well, not only is your day ruined because of how you dealt with her, but hers is, too.

What about dating? Dating is hard. Especially when you move from “we aren’t that serious” to “is he ever going to propose?” Ladies, we think we are the only ones suffering in relationships, but guys feel it too. They don’t talk about it as much, but it is just as hard for them as it is for us. They just express it differently.

We encounter so many forms of relationships throughout our day that sometimes we don't even identify them as actual relationships. Like the co-worker in the cubicle next to you, your boss, your son's daycare provider and of course, your loving significant other. Relationships can be life-giving or cause our deepest sorrows, but without them life wouldn't be worth living. I have studied and experienced many different kinds of relationships, including the conflicts that arise. I enjoy writing about relationship management and giving advice to those in need of direction.

Beginning Monday, I will be writing a column that will, hopefully, help you address some of the you are dealing with in your relationships. That doesn't just mean intimate relationships, either. I would like to hear from you about your kids, your parents, significant others and your co-workers. Thriving and healthy or suffering and weak, every relationship has its share of problems and solutions. Maybe together we can figure them out.

You can submit your questions to sacpress@live.com, and I will feature your questions and my answers/advice every Monday. Any questions that I cannot feature in an article will be answered personally. If you have a question that you would not like featured, please indicate that and I will be happy to dispense advice for you personally. All questions will be featured anonymously, so don't be shy!

I look forward to talking with you every Monday about Real Relationships.

Orangevale Grange to hold 6th Annual Family Fair

2011-02-17T20:39:24Z

To celebrate Grange Month, Orangevale Grange presents The Orangevale Grange Family Fair for the 6th year and extends an invitation to the families in and around the community to come to their Grange and have some fun.

Admission is FREE for this community event.

Offered is a diverse collection of activities so that each member of the family can find something to do, something to watch, something to intrigue them. There will be many vendors, performers, animals, crafts, games, and activities, along with food, live music, public service displays and much more. There will be other local not-for-profit organizations and businesses on hand demonstrating or exhibiting as well.

The Grange, the oldest agricultaural organization in the nation, is a non-profit family fraternity whose roots are in agriculture. Their focus today is still on agriculture as well as community service and legislative activities. Local community growers, family gardens and the Grange garden provide important educational opportunities and valuable and delicious results!

Why was the Grange started? It was formed in the years following the Civil War to unite private citizens in imroving the economic and social position of the nation's farm population. Over the past 135+ years, it has evolved to include non-rural families and communities as well.

What do I gain by becoming a member? The Grange offers it's members:

•a friendly, family oriented organization that provides membership at any age
•an opportunity to join with others (individuals & organizations) to improve communities
•a chance to influence local, state and national laws
•a social gathering place for activities & recreation
•a place to develop skills for a lifetime

During the month of April each year, dues for new members are FREE. New members are offered the opportunity to experience the Grange for free and then consciously decide to continue their membership in the years to come.

The Orangevale Grange No. 354, organized March 31, 1910, is the oldest service organization in the town of Orangevale. For over 100 years, the members have been active in the community, not only participating in many community activities and events but sponsoring them as well. THe members are honored to be a part of a community that posesses such a long and rich history.

Today's Grange provides an opportunity to serve by providing leadership for local community service projects. For more about the Grange in general, click here.

For Orangevale Grange No. 354, other projects include: distributing personal dictionaries to third graders (Words for Thirds), serving breakfast to the community every second Sunday of the month, celebrating our country's independence with a fireworks booth and demo each July, sponsoring informational workshops and seminars such as Identity Theft Awareness, First Aid & CPR classes, making our Grange Hall available for rentals and for community events.

When Love Hurts

2011-02-01T04:00:06Z

Children are caught in the cross fire of domestic abuse every day in the Sacramento region, and throughout California. According to Sacramento-based WEAVE Inc., nearly one in every three women will experience abuse at some time in their lives – abuse that is defined as between intimate partners, where one partner is using physical or emotional abuse to gain power or control.

The cycle of violence, which includes a tension phase, explosion, and a honeymoon period often repeat until, ultimately, someone is damaged beyond repair.
Enter Juliani Cardenas.

Juliani Cardenas is a name that every Californian has come to recognize.

An unfortunate four-year old who unwittingly graces the spotlight with his megawatt, missing-tooth smile, thanks to Jose Esteban Rodriguez’ abusive behavior and desire to control an ex girlfriend.

But Rodriquez is just one of many abusers to make headlines, and there are many more whom we will never hear about at all.

According to Sergeant Brian Dean, of the Folsom Police Department, most domestic abuse goes unreported.
“When we arrive at domestic violence calls, the person will frequently tell us this has happened before, but that he or she didn’t report it,” he said.

There are several reasons that abuse might go unreported. Sergeant Dean explained the victim might be afraid of retribution, or feel like he or she deserves the abuse. Also, the abuser might be the main breadwinner in the family.
“Frequently the violence goes unreported because the likelihood is that one of the parties is going to go to jail,” Sergeant Dean said.

Would Juliani be safely ensconced in his family home if Tabitha Cardenas, Juliani’s mother, had reported the abusive behavior?

According to statements from Amparo Cardenas, Juliani’s grandmother, Rodriguez’ three-year relationship with her daughter was “tumultuous due to his possessiveness and jealousy.”

Though Tabitha Cardenas had broken things off with Rodriguez, he continued to drive by the home – stalking behavior that must have raised red flags for the family.
Possessiveness and jealousy seem to be prime catalysts in the abuser’s arsenal of anger.

Jennifer Sanders, a petite blonde whose tired appearance ages her by 10 years, though she’s only in her mid 30s, knows how abusive a jealous lover can be. Married in 1992, Sanders’ husband, now divorced, kidnapped her at gunpoint, tortured her, and spirited her away to his mother’s home for three days.

While Sanders’ husband went to prison for his crime, the horrific night he abducted her was the first time he’d been caught, but was not the first time he displayed jealousy with his feet, fists and firearms.

The marriage was a dangerous one right from the start.
“I had a daughter from another marriage, she was five years old in 1992,” Sanders explained. “Not long ago my daughter asked me, ‘mom, do you remember when he would tie you up and make me go sit in the closet’? Everyone was afraid of him,” Sanders admitted.
When Sanders’ husband went to prison – just a three-year term, according to Sanders’, because of the fact that she was a drug addict, her husband still exerted control.
“He would keep me on the phone, from prison, practically all day and night. I would have to beg him to let me get off the phone long enough to give my daughter a bath, or to walk to the store to buy food,” Sanders said. “He made me move in to an apartment across the street from his mother, and God help anyone (male) who made eye contact with me.”

Sanders said she was too scared to reach out for help. “Everyone was so afraid of him; the whole family was,” she said.

Mona Iki, a 28 year old plump-cheeked and smiling young woman, was a victim of domestic abuse as well. She knew her husband, now divorced, was abusive when she met him.
“He had just gotten out of prison for beating another girl, but I thought I could save him,” she said. “It started slow; manhandling me, grabbing me, but it eventually progressed to full-blown punches.”

Iki said her husband was paranoid; always thought she was cheating on him.

“If we were going anywhere, I would have to look down. He would sometimes think I had a man in the house – he would frequently search. There was just no winning with him,” she said.

Today Iki’s ex husband is in prison for beating yet another woman.

Abuse is frequently repeated; a familial pattern or cycle from both the victim and perpetrator’s perspective. According to Nancy Atchley, pastor and executive director for Powerhouse Ministries, the cycle of abuse frequently begins in childhood.

“Usually trauma begins as a small child. Those people (victims) usually select partners who are abusers as well,” Atchley said. “Usually their self image is low, and often they are dealing with pain and trauma in their lives by self medicating with drugs or alcohol.”

Atchley believes that for abusers, the cycle frequently begins in the childhood home as well.

“It’s a big problem with our youth. Some young men have a father in prison, and have seen violence growing up. A lot of our men are insecure, as well,” Atchley said. “They want to be respected, and that comes out in dominating ways.”
Powerhouse offers programs that teach youth about appropriate and acceptable behavior.

“At our ‘Love on the Backseat’ event, we talk about domestic abuse, teen pregnancy – a lot of parents don’t talk to them,” Atchley said. “For some kids, this is the only sanity in their lives.”

With programs offered through organizations like Powerhouse Ministries, Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE), and drug and alcohol treatment programs, situations like little Juliani’s might be prevented.
But for now, the Patterson community holds its collective breath and waits – for a sign, a clue, or God forbid, something even worse.

Sacramento's Alien Invader

2011-01-27T23:22:04Z

When visiting the downtown/midtown area of Sacramento, be on the lookout for Sacramento’s favorite alien, the Brutha From Another Planet (B.F.A.P.). He can be spotted performing his unique dance moves to his favorite music on his space age music box which includes 70’s and 80’s funk, disco, and dance music from all eras. The B.F.A.P. was named by a group of admirers who first witnessed his funky dance moves.

Meeting and greeting the B.F.A.P. is easy. He is very family friendly and is a great crowd pleaser. Youngsters of all ages are delighted and frightened by his robotic dance movements after seeing him frozen in place.

Ruben of South Sacramento, age 10, described the B.F.A.P. as “Really Good.” Angela, a 30-something woman visiting from the Bay Area stopped to have her photograph taken with the B.F.A.P. She stated that the B.F.A.P. was “Awesome.” When Jamy of Carmichael, age 6, stopped to contribute a dollar to the B.F.A.P. to help repair his crashed spaceship, she was startled, terrified, and thrilled by his excited reaction in gratitude. With the support of her parents, she eventually posed with the B.F.A.P. for a picture.

The B.F.A.P. relates that his body movements are robotic because the gravity here on earth is stronger than on his home planet. At different times of the month his skin color, music box, and clothing change from silver to gold due to mysterious forces from outer space. Because of his alien heritage the B.F.A.P. is unable to speak. Beings from his home planet communicate with sounds that human ears hear as a thin whistle. The B.F.A.P. understands and writes in English. The information for this article was obtained through written questions and answers via email at Bruthafromanotherplanet@yahoo.com. The B.F.A.P. welcomes comments and will respond to questions from anyone who wants to know more about him and his home planet.

The B.F.A.P. is no stranger to Sacramento. He visited the area from 2001-2004 until he was summoned back to his home planet. After a 6 year absence, he missed his friends in Sacramento so much he decided to make the return trip. His spaceship malfunctioned and crash landed in Cesar Chavez park in the spring of 2010. Unfortunately, the B.F.A.P. is stranded until his spaceship is repaired.

When the B.F.A.P. is not meeting old friends and making new ones on the streets of Sacramento, he is busy repairing his spaceship in a top-secret location. Generous supporters often make donations to help him to raise enough funds to repair his spaceship.

When you see the B.F.A.P. make sure to take a moment to enjoy his charming personality. He is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Our children are just numbers to them

2011-01-25T20:10:35Z

“I don't understand why they placed him like they did, when he is clearly not what they say he is.”

At 18 months old, my child was diagnosed as autistic. Like any concerned and loving parent, I immediately began learning about his developmental delay as I gathered all the resources I could to help him. I learned of a frightening statistic; One child in every 166 births will be diagnosed with autism. He began receiving speech and occupational therapy from the Alta Regional Center.

As I watched and participated in his hours of therapy per week, I saw my non-verbal but happy child make progress very slowly. Sometimes the constant mental prodding was just too much, and he would melt down. We would stop for the day, knowing we could try again during the next appointment. No matter the stress he and I underwent, he was still happy, and I was still determined. He would get his chance to receive a proper education; I thought I had done my best by getting him the services he deserved.

At the age of 3, my toddler was set to attend diagnostic preschool in the San Juan Unified School District. I cried the tears of a reluctant yet eager mother as I placed my tyke on the bus for the first time. I saw it as a milestone, and I was relieved because I had helped prepare him for this situation. I trusted in the school and the teachers to help me help my son progress. I asked questions, gave input and collaborated with the school's staff for his Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The staff would test him, bring me the results, and we would discuss what our goals were going to be that year. Anyone with a special needs child can tell you a good amount of thought and time goes into the IEP process.

Fast forward five years. Different school district, same label and same education process. We had continued over the years to ask the questions and develop my son's IEP based on his path and progression. My son was now attending school in the Sacramento City Unified School District, and we had had nothing but good experiences with the district and his teachers. His recent IEP, however, brought something to light that none of us had ever imagined could happen.

“I don't understand why they marked him like they did,” said the school psychologist. “He tested low average, not where they put him.”

I sat across from the psychologist as she explained to me that all this time, he was in the wrong classes. I looked at her as though she had just told me she was Napoleon. Her passion shone through, and my heart sank. During my son's attendance in the San Juan school district, they had mislabeled him. He had tested in the low/average percentile, and they marked him lower with a label of “Intellectual Disability.” Before 2006, this label was known as “MR” or “Mental Retardation.”

Someone in the San Juan district had studied the test results and signed off on the wrong classification.

For the past five years, his classes have been based on this mislabeling. He learned mostly living skills and speech, while academics took somewhat of a backseat. Both of his teachers over the past few years had recognized his intelligence. It was because of this recognition that the most recent IEP had new information. They had retested him, and the scores proved him to be in need of challenges. With this news, we plotted a new course: a new school with a new class – one with the correct curriculum for his current stage of learning.

My son is behind five years in his education because someone in the San Juan school district marked him lower than his test scores. The impersonal nature of the educational system made it easy for whomever marked him, because he or she saw a number for the bottom line – not a child.

He has gone from finger-painting and preschool math to multiplication he has never seen. These jumps occurred in the span of a week. His frustration has meant increased meltdowns and desperation on our part to just help him overcome these hurdles. As a baby, I pushed him gently but firmly to endure the therapy and education placed before him. He took it on as best as he could, and even though it hurt my heart, I knew I was pushing him toward a better future. I lost a lot of sleep making sure he had all the help we could access, but I didn't mind because I knew it would pay off for him. Now, I have to do it again to catch up on everything he has lost due to the person responsible for marking him as something he was not.

I tend to wonder how many other children in this type of situation have fallen through the cracks due to ineptitude. I worry about the carelessness on the part of school officials who depend on mere numbers to place children in special programs. These children have enough challenges as it is without being cheated of a “free appropriate public education.” I know my son is not the first child this has happened to, and unless there is an outcry, he won't be the last.

Any parent with a child in school needs to learn a lesson from our family. If you suspect for even a moment that your child may have special needs, take the reins. Get all the help you can, do all the research, access all the resources. Don't trust the school to tell you what your child is without asking for explanations for every term they use.

When you get that booklet of parent rights, you get to decide what happens. Even if you are overwhelmed, you need to keep asking questions. There is no such thing as too many questions. You will know a school is not for you if your questions annoy the school staff. You need to find a school that is willing and capable of helping the special needs of your family. Find ways to access private testing. There are plenty of programs in your area that have this information. Never assume that the school district possesses the same agenda you do. Request the numbers and e-mail addresses of the staff involved with your child closely, and keep in contact with them often to see to it that your child is making the proper progress.

Take our story to heart and take part in your child's future. Our goal is to help families avoid the situation we are in at this time. The resources we have found in Sacramento and in the state of California are plentiful, even with budget cuts. If this hits as close to home as I believe it will for many of you, find out what is available in your area and contact someone today. Our situation is unfortunate, and our story is not over.

Citizenship ceremony for young Americans

2010-12-28T22:32:13Z

When Nancy Swift and husband Tom Chandler adopted 2-year-old Meskerem, Swift met Meskerem’s biological mother, who had one request: that her child be given every possible opportunity.

On Tuesday morning, Swift, Chandler and Meskerem made the trip from their home in Mt. Shasta to Sacramento, where Meskerem joined 23 other children aged 12 and under in receiving their citizenship certificates.

According to Swift, receiving the certificate is a big part of providing her adopted toddler with the opportunity her biological mother asked for.

“She’s been such a blessing to us,” Swift said. “This is finalizing her status here in this country. It’s been a long journey to becoming a family.”

The 24 children in the ceremony were already American citizens whose parents are citizens – whether naturalized or native – but the certificates they received will serve in lieu of birth certificates as proof of citizenship.

“I think if Lina could speak, she’d be proud,” said Khalid Bachkar of Fairfield, who brought his 2-year-old daughter to the ceremony.

“I applied for the certificate because I knew in the future she’d need it,” he said. “It’s important for school. I want her to be accepted for scholarships, and you have to be an American citizen.”

Bachkar is a teacher who brought his family to the United States from Morocco.

Huy Dang, an 8-year-old from Vietnam who now calls Rancho Cordova home, sat in the front row for the ceremony, calmly flipping through the booklet each child was given while clutching a small American flag.

“It’s good to be an American,” Huy said. He added that he enjoyed learning the oath of citizenship, the Pledge of Allegiance and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Jasmeen Nat, an 8-year-old from India, echoed Huy’s sentiments.

“I always wanted to be an American,” she said. “I was 2 years old when I came over here. I want to be a doctor.”

The ceremony was put on by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to spokeswoman Sharon Rummery, the ceremonies are typically held twice per year – once in December and once near the Fourth of July.

“We don’t have to have the ceremonies, but it’s a little something we can do,” she said.

For most of the children, getting citizenship didn’t make an impact – as they were not present for their parents’ naturalization ceremonies, during which they technically became citizens as well, she added.

"This is something they will take with them for the rest of their lives,” she said.

All 24 children took the same oath their parents did, renouncing their former citizenship and swearing allegiance to the United States.

The group represented 12 countries: India, the Philippines, Moldova, Vietnam, Ukraine, Fiji, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Morocco, China, Thailand and Ethiopia.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Migrant Children capture their lives through their own eyes

2010-12-24T01:43:05Z

A sunny day on the grassy playground, family gatherings around the table, an empty house, Our Lady of Guadalupe – these are just some of the vivid imagery captured by children of migrant agricultural workers temporarily living in Yolo County. Each of these photographs tells the untold story of migrant children – their fears, hopes and dreams as they migrate with their families from season to season, farm to farm.

A Través de Mis Ojos (Through My Eyes), sponsored in part by The Latino Legislative, Caucus Foundation and Spanglish Arte, is a collection of 48 intimate photographs featured from Dec. 10 through Friday at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Sacramento (CCAS). Viewers of the exhibit had the rare opportunity to experience a personal glimpse into the world of migrant children.

Most of the children in the exhibit learned about the art of photography in a class at Yolo Family Resource Center (YFRC) in Woodland.

Through the six-week program, facilitated by Neil Hollander and Natalia Deeb-Sosa, the children, most of whom never used a camera before, learned the mechanics of developing film and using 35mm cameras, which were donated by community members. Through these skills, the children were able to document aspects of their daily lives from their own perspectives. Their photographs also helped educate the community on the unique lives of farm workers

On Dec. 11, the art center held a Second Saturday reception, where they raised approximately $600 through donations, as well as through selling photographs and T-shirts. Proceeds will go toward the migrant children and their families, building YFRC services and setting up a darkroom so the children may continue producing quality photographs, such as the ones featured in "A Tráves de Mis Ojos."

According to Xico González, curator of the CCAS exhibit, “The class was such a huge success that the YFRC made a space for a small darkroom in their building.”

González first brought the idea of curating this exhibit “as a fundraiser and as an educational tool to provide the general public with an insight into the lives of farm workers.”

After past outreach experience in the Yolo County area, he decided to focus the project on the migrant community of Yolo County, specifically through the Davis Migrant Center, Dixon Migrant Center and YFRC.

“The responses have been very positive from the community towards this project, and exhibit,” González said. “People are very impressed by the children's photographs in terms of subject matter and aesthetics.”

One of the highlights of the exhibit includes an invitation to take "A Tráves de Mis Ojos" to San José State University in May 2011.

Local theater teacher gets kids out of their shells for the holidays!

2010-12-09T04:16:33Z

Theater has always been a form of art native to children. Watching them play and create their own games and stories has been a staple of the family tradition, and more than a few parents have taken the opportunity to canonize these moments on YouTube.

Cynthia Speakman, a local actor and teacher with the Sacramento Metro Arts Commission, has been in the game for over a decade, working with children to improve their performing skills and ability to be outgoing and expressive.

"I think it's very natural for kids to act because they have an enormous need to communicate to others," says Speakman. "Even the kids who aren't extraverted want to be more confident, and for parents it's a remedy of sorts for getting [their kids] out there when they see them as 'too shy.'"

Speakman always emphasizes the idea of the storyteller in her after-school programs, and says that what gets kids going more than anything else is their ability to not only be in a story, but also to see how one is made.

"I think that's what theatre should be about when you're a little kid," says Speakman, "how a story is put together in a visceral way, and how to communicate verbally so you can get through those presentations that you're going to have to do your whole life!"

Over her career as a teacher, working in the multi-purpose rooms of many local elementary schools such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Crocker Riverside, she has taught over 2,000 children and young adults the mystique and fun of the stage.

One of her more recent students, Will Block, 15, played the role of Puck in the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival's 2010 production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." His younger brother, Tom Block, 13 and another of Speakman's students, played Wally Webb in City Theatre's production of "Our Town."

"Some of my students have gone on to do bigger things with their acting," says Speakman. "The majority of my students have more confidence, and that's what I'm after."

When she's not teaching children the joys of theater, she enjoys performing in a local troupe called StoryVoices, a group of spoken word artists who create theme based programs for fundraisers and benefits. She also performs as a guide for Hysterical Walks, a walking tour of Old Sacramento.

Her most recent program is a workshop that stimulates cultural awareness in kids. The children come together at the California Stage and throughout the three day camp they conceive, write, rehearse and perform vignettes for family and friends about what New Year's celebration is like in other countries.

The workshop will take place over the break between Christmas and New Year's. The workshop is from Tuesday, Dec. 28—Thursday, Dec. 30, and last from 9 a.m.—3 p.m.

For more information about classes, contact Cynthia Speakman. For more information on the workshop, visit here.

PHOTOS:

1. Cynthia Speakman (Courtesy of Studio 24)

2. Speakman performing for an audience during a Hysterical Walk

3. StoryVoices (from left to right: Marni Webb, Jan Ahders, Cynthia Speakman, Claire Lipschultz

Local Charities Wish for “Regifting” this Christmas

2010-12-02T21:05:37Z

Sacramento CASA is a local nonprofit that helps children who have been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse and placed in foster care. They are one of more than 1,000 cause-based organizations registered on The Giving Effect that are hoping to connect with new donors this holiday season.

Sacramento CASA is hoping people will donate gifts this holiday season that can be distributed to the children in their care. Kimberly Loya, the organization's Development Coordinator, writes, "These supplies are for school and the holiday season. Some of these children do not have a support system that can provide them with all of the items they need for school. They also may not receive gifts at holiday time. These items will help them feel well prepared and cared for and bring great happiness to them."

Donors use The Giving Effect to connect with charities that need pretty much everything you can spare, from clothes, food, books and shoes, to cleaning supplies, cars, fencing and lumber.

“We are working to create a greater awareness of people in need, which is especially urgent during the holidays,” says Mitchell Silverman, co-founder of The Giving Effect. “Each donation on our site becomes a living story that can be shared on Facebook or Twitter to spread the holiday spirit, encouraging friends to follow your lead.”

Other local organizations registered on The Giving Effect include the Sacramento County Animal Shelter and the Tubman House.

Donating is easy—browse the site by needs, location, and categories to find causes you’d like to connect with. Then, complete a simple form to arrange a pickup, drop off, or shipment. Tax receipts are issued via email when the items are received.

About The Giving Effect

The Giving Effect uses social media to help donors discover and connect with organizations that need items such as clothes, shoes, and food. It’s the first website to create stories around each in-kind donation that can be easily shared online to inspire others to give. The goal is to create a national movement to get food, gently-used items, and more to people in need. The Giving Effect is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY.

About Sacramento CASA

Sacramento CASA volunteers are Court Appointed Special Advocates for children – trained community volunteers appointed by a judge as Officers of the court to speak up for children in juvenile court, and to help to humanize the often frightening and confusing child welfareand legal systems for these children.

Disclosure: Mitchell Silverman is the Founder/CEO of The Giving Effect

PODS of Sacramento supports annual Coats for Kids Winter clothing drive, donations accepted now through Dec. 3

2010-11-24T22:02:38Z

PODS, ABC News 10 and Swansons Cleaners team up to collect coats for 20th annual charity drive in Sacramento.

PODS of Sacramento, part of the PODS Enterprises, Inc. national franchise network, is donating portable storage containers to collect donated coats in support of ABC News10 and Swansons Cleaners annual Coats for Kids Winter drive.

Donations of new and gently used coats will be accepted now through Dec. 3 at nine Swansons Cleaners throughout Sacramento.
Now in its 20th year, Coats for Kids has collected and distributed more than 475,000 coats to children and families in need. This year, goal is to collect 500,000 coats or more.

For more information about donations or to get involved, call ABC News 10’s Coats for Kids hotline at (916) 321-3362. For a complete list of drop off locations, including Swansons Cleaners, go to: www.news10.net/life/community/events/coats-for-kids/donations.

About Storage Mobility and PODS
Storage Mobility is the largest independent provider of PODS, Portable On Demand Storage, in the world. Since 2004, Storage Mobility has been serving the storage and moving needs of residents and businesses across the country from their 21 franchise locations since 2004.

In addition to providing exceptional moving and storage services, Storage Mobility is all about giving back. Storage Mobility and PODS support a number of different charities and community events that seek to enrich the lives of children and their families in the communities it serves.

Founded in 1998, PODS provides moving and storage services in 48 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and England. To date, the company has completed more than 200,000 long-distance moves, exceeded one million deliveries and has over 138,000 PODS containers in service. For more information, go to: www.pods.com.

PODS containers are available in two sizes, approximately 8-by-8-by-12 feet and 8-by-8-by-16 feet, and can be delivered to use as temporary or long-term storage at a designated location, at the local PODS Storage Center, moved across the street, or moved virtually anywhere in the country.

PODS Greater Sacramento Area Storage Center
6271 Florin Perkins Rd, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95828
Telephone: (866) 229-4120

Media inquiries
Consortium Media Services
Pressroom@Consortium-media.com
Adrienne Stephens (805) 654-1564, ext. 116

Disclosure: Tina Vervoorn is the Public Relations & Social Media coordinator for Consortium Media Services, representing PODS.

Free After School Running Program

2010-11-03T20:46:39Z

Project Fit Launch Has Kids Up and Running
Local after school non-profit youth initiative

Sacramento, CA - Project Fit, the free after school running club offered to Sacramento elementary schools by Fleet Feet Sports J Street, is underway with ten schools and over 500 kids participating. Of the ten schools, six are considered Title I, in low socio-economic communities,
and several schools have more than 80 children participating. The program initially started several years ago at Crocker Riverside Elementary by three moms, including Jan Sweeney, co-owner of Fleet Feet Sports. Sweeney then collaborated with the non-profit 'Be Change' at Oakridge Elementary in Oak Park last year and helped coach 50 kids in their after school running program.

Sweeney and her husband, Pat, officially announced Project Fit, complete with website, in August. Launching the Project Fit website was due in part to the demand for implementing this successful after school program in other areas and schools. Chipotle Mexican Grill then offered to host a fundraiser for the endeavor, which was reported to be one their most successful events. Several Fleet Feet Racing Team members volunteered their services as coaches, re-enforcing the passion in the community for Project Fit and its part in the local school systems. Within thirty days, Fleet Feet Sports, with the support of adidas, had ten schools ready to run by providing them with a workout plan, tee shirts, water coolers and a “track in the box” supply kit. For the Title I schools, Fleet Feet Sports is also providing an assistant coach to help run workouts each week and in some cases, healthy snacks provided by the Sacramento Food Bank.

“The benefits of after school running clubs are far reaching,” says Sweeney, who is coaching Project Fit this season at Capital Heights Charter Public School in Oak Park. “To foster the strength and discipline of running in a fun way is extremely empowering for kids and builds their confidence. As they move into middle school it will hopefully give them the motivation to make good life choices. That is our goal.”

For more information, please contact Jan Sweeney at 916.442-5732 ext. 1, email at jan@fleetfeetsacramento.com or visit www.projectfit.fleetfeetsacramento.com.

2nd Sacramento Safe Routes to School Conference - Friday, November 12

2010-10-29T23:49:02Z

In 1969 almost half the children in the U.S. walked or rode a bicycle to school. Today, fewer than ten percent do. The consequence for our children has been more obesity and related health problems, poorer social connections to the community and less responsbility for self-management.

The Safe Routes to School movement works to change all that. enable community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone.

Locally, WALKSacramento and the Sacramento County Department of Transportation are hosting the 2nd Sacramento Safe Routes Conference on Friday, November 12, from 9 am - 4 pm at the Sacramento County Office of Education, 10474 Mather Boulevard, to bring together parents. school district staff and leaders, transportation planners and others to learn more about how to organize walk ot chool programs, deal with liability concerns, address 'stranger" danger and find the money to do it all. The event is FREE with an optional lunch.

Building on the success of last year, this year’s conference will have breakout sessions with something for everyone from Safe Routes novice to transportation engineer. The day will include information on:
 Evaluating conditions through surveys and walk audits
 Selecting engineering treatments for roadways
 Incorporating pedestrian and bicycle education in school curriculum
 Funding Safe Routes to School
 Establishing policies supporting Safe Routes to School
 How to stay safe on the journey to and from school

View the agenda and register online at sacramentosaferoutes2010.eventbrite.com. Cost is FREE to attend with an optional lunch.
We have a limited number of complimentary lunches available.

Contact tpreston@walksacramento.org or 916-446-9255 for more information.

This conference is provided by a U.S. Dept of Transportation Safe Routes to School planning grant. Co-sponors include the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, 50 Corridor TMA, North Natomas TMA, Safe Kids Coalition of Greater Sacramento, Local Government Commission and local school districts.

Disclosure: Terry Preston is Complete Streets Coordinator at Walkable Communities - Communities of Walkers

Dinner on the Farm, A Triumphant Success!

2010-10-13T03:14:41Z

"It’s about a wood-burning oven, which will make so much more than pizzas," claimed Mary Kimball, executive director of the Center for Land-Based Learning at Sunday's inaugural Dinner on the Farm.

The Center for Land-Based Learning aims to inspire and motivate people of all ages, especially youth, to promote a healthy interplay between agriculture, nature, and society through their actions and as leaders in their communities. They do this through engaging elementary- and high-school children about agriculture and cooking in a farm setting.

When invited to this dinner, I originally thought I was looking at another form of urban agriculture project, but this seems to be going far beyond that. In a grove of walnut trees, a group of about 70 people was hosted to a wonderful cocktail hour and formal sit-down dinner in thanks for contributions to getting that wood-burning oven.

"We made it. We made enough so it can be built," Kimball said. From the labor involved in creating the oven to the famous San Francisco chefs devoting their time, this was a labor of love for all involved and who are working tirelessly to make sustainable agriculture approachable for all ages.

Our dinner started out with appetizers and a fully stocked bar of wines donated by Crew Wine Company, Marr Cellars, Putah Creek Winery, Turkovich Family Winery, Yocha DeHe Farm and Ranch and a bartender making a wonderful selection of bourbon cocktails.

The Butternut squash shooter with nutmeg spiced cream was still warm in the shot glass as it was served, and it was beautiful in flavor. A particular favorite was the golden beet Napoleon with herbed goat cheese in a layered fashion. The lamb merquez meatballs with cucumber and mint yogurt were savory and reminiscent of a gyro.

After the initial cocktail hour and mingling among some of the sustainable/environmental/agricultural people who work in Sacramento along with a huge San Francisco presence, we headed over to the formal table lit by twinkling lights.

The other guests were as enjoyable as the food. From meeting a scholar of sustainable agriculture curriculum at the graduate level, a wealth of very devoted foodies, photographers and silicon valley techies, this was an eclectic cast of characters and the perfect representation of people who are excited about food, sustainability and a good time.

Our first course included a melon salad with arugula, crispy prosciutto, pickled watermelon rind and olive salt – the crispy prosciutto was the perfect saltiness countering the sweetness of the melon. But the true highlight of the meal for me was the roasted delicata squash salad with lardo, chicories, hazelnuts, pecorino and fried sage – from the creamy hazelnut purée to the perfectly cooked squash, it was a table-wide hit.

The main course included beef sausage with fresh shelling beans, tomatoes, mustard greens and pepperonata. The sausage was perfectly seasoned, and although it was supposed to include charred padrone peppers, it turned out that they were picked too mature (larger pepper, much more spicy), so these were served separately to those who wanted to try them.

This part of the meal turned into a wonderful fear factor-like drama to see who was up to the task. All parties at the table made it only a half-bite through before the tearing-up started. (These peppers had a heat equivalent twice that of habaneros). This first dish was followed by roasted lamb truncetta with sweet potato purée, braised dino kale and rosemary jus – the lamb was perfectly tender, and the rosemary jus was my favorite part, as it made the dish.

As the light grew low and the sun was setting, we partook in scrumptious desserts including chocolate and walnut torte with nocino chantilly and reduction, and fig tart with goat cheese while the farm owner, a very charming Clint Eastwood lookalike named Craig McNamara, made sure we were enjoying all festivities.

Craig McNamara was not only very hospitable but a revolutionary in the sustainable agriculture movement with the likes of Michael Pollen and Alice Waters (who were also guests of his farm), making agriculture approachable at all ages. He and his family are strong supporters of the FARMS Program (FARMS stands for Farming, Agriculture and Resource Management for Sustainability).

The meal was a triumph, and it made me very much look forward to what these people will get together and do in the future.

First 5 Sacramento Children’s Celebration Brings Fairytale Town to Life

2010-09-24T16:56:54Z

Three-year-old Jenny has listened to her mom read her books and nursery rhymes since she was a baby, including favorites like The Three Little Pigs, The Little Engine that Could, and Jack and the Beanstalk. These stories and more will come to life on Saturday, Oct. 9 as Jenny joins more than 6,000 Sacramento County families at Fairytale Town for the First 5 Sacramento Annual Children’s Celebration.

“First 5 Sacramento supports programs and services to help meet the diverse needs of local families,” Roger Dickinson, Chair of First 5 Sacramento and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. “Our Children’s Celebration brings the community together to learn about these valuable resources in a fun environment for the entire family.”

Funded by First 5 Sacramento, this FREE family event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be filled with fun, resources, food, entertainment, activities, exhibits, raffles and much more. While local children ages zero to five engage in learning activities, meet larger than life mascots, watch puppet shows, pet farm animals and color on a giant kid’s coloring wall, parents and caregivers will gain valuable information about countywide programs and services from more than 60 community organizations, including free dental, vision and hearing screenings, the Library Wonder Wagon, the Smile Keepers mobile dental van and First 5 California Hands-On Health Express mobile van. The annual Conga Line starts at noon and this year features The Cat in the Hat.

at William Land Park on the corner of Sutterville Road and Land Park Drive in Sacramento. For more information on the free day of family fun and available resources to help parents raise children “happily, ever after,” contact First 5 Sacramento at (916) 876-5865 or online at www.First5Sacramento.net.

About First 5 Sacramento
Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life. Based on this research, California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes to support programs for expectant parents and children ages zero to five. In the last year, First 5 Sacramento distributed approximately $15 million to local programs and services that meet local needs of Sacramento County children and families.

Sacramento Child Advocates' A Wine Benefit For Children, Celeb Cook Off & Helicopter Golf Ball Drop

2010-09-23T22:53:08Z

When children are brought into this world, the universal hope for them is a loving, supportive, healthy life, with loving parents, a good education, and every need met with the utmost satisfaction. The sad truth is that even in our own Sacramento community, children are placed into the foster care system. Child abuse, neglect, drug addiction, and poverty are only a few of the nightmares faced by many young members of our city. These kids never asked to be in these situations nor do they have much of a say as to what happens to them including where they live or where they go to school. This is where Sacramento Child Advocates comes in! They have Given a voice and protected the rights of over 5000 abused and neglected children since 1991.
To celebrate their incomparable service to Sacramento’s youth in need and to ensure the services continue, SCA is holding a Wine Benefit for Children, this Saturday, September 25, 2010, 5:30 to 8:00pm at the private estate of Robert Buccola of Dreyer, Babich, Buccolla & Wood, LLP. We’re talking a wine party with Silver Oak, Caymus, and Rombauer and food from many local celebs like Rick Kushman and Jane Scully. You won’t want to miss a fantastic live auction with David Sobon of David Sobon Auctions. A two-bedroom condo in San Diego, a helicopter ride, and a chalet to Napa are just a few of the items up for bid!
Then to top it all off, A Wine Benefit for Children will showcase a Helicopter Golf Ball Drop! An extraordinary event where golf balls will be dropped out of the helicopter and whichever ball lands closest to the pin, wins! Prizes include: 1st place, $1,000 cash and 2 Southwest Airline Tickets; 2nd place, $500 cash; and 3rd place, $250 cash. Individual golf balls cost $25 each or you can get 5 golf balls for $100. To help the kids by purchasing golf balls, please contact Laura Fast 916-364-2342 or Lfast@sacchildadv.org.
Sacramento Child Advocates serves the young people of our city that feel alone, lost, and forgotten. It’s time to show those kids we support them and buy a ticket to this event you will never forget! Tickets to this outstanding event are $100 and can be purchased online at http://www.sacchildadv.org/fund.shtml.

Grand Opening of Plate's Cafe & Catering

2010-09-10T20:38:17Z

St. John’s will give formerly homeless women with children the opportunity to gain work experience and become more self sufficient with its new restaurant, Plates Cafe and Catering. St. John’s Shelter Program for Women & Children celebrated its anniversary on Thursday along with the grand opening of Plates. Guest speakers such as Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Assemblywoman Alyson Huber and Mayor Kevin Johnson attended, along with 350 supporters from the community.

"Plates is a very, very special place,” Matsui said. “It provides a place, a structure, a sanctuary.”

After graduating from the 90-day program at St. John’s Shelter, Plates trains women with skills in the food service, catering, retail, and hospitality industries.

The 90-day program works with women on a one-on-one basis and sets up weekly and monthly goals. The women are required to attend classes and workshops each week and to do community service. Services and classes include domestic violence counseling, mental health counseling, drug and alcohol treatment, weekly health services from a nurse, parenting classes, fitness and nutrition, employment services, art therapy, budgeting and financial management class, and other self-development classes. “Some women are able to start at Plates before the 90-day period is over,” said Rachele Burton, Community and Government Relations Manager at St. John’s.

The women work 25 hours a week for six months, create their own resumes and interview for the positions at Plates. “There are four paid employees at Plates,” said Michele Steeb, Executive Director at St. John’s. “20 women make this happen. They are leaving a state of dependency and becoming independent.”

Reverend Scot Sorensen from St. John’sLutheran Church was in attendance and talked about the need for this shelter and the church opened St. John’s Shelter almost 25 years ago, on Nov. 1, 1985.

St. John’s had been looking for a business for a while, to make more revenue and become more self-sufficient. St. John’s sought out the help of MBA students at Intel to analyze different industries. Research showed that the hospitality and food industries were the most flexible for women with children.

“In April we found out about the space here at Depot Park,” Burton said. “And in two months we were open.” Plates occupies the building lease free - all St. John’s pays for is utilities. By eating at Plates you are “helping women transform their lives with a French fry,” Burton said.

Michelle Barry is in the Plates program and plans to complete it in November. The program has inspired her to be more self-sufficient.

“I hope to help at St. John’s in the future so that they can maybe benefit from my experience,” she said. “We get no tips and no pay, but St. John’s pays half our rent.”

David Husid works for Lutheran Social Services and has been working with St. John’s for eight years. “It’s real good work experience for the women going through the shelter,” he said. “Great food, great prices.”

Plates plans to get its own garden started, but currently uses local produce, meats and cheese.

Breakfast prices range from $1 to $7 for the continental breakfast. The lunch and dinner options include the buffet for $18 per person, which serves items such as Southwest Caesar Salad and Mediterranean Pasta.

Plates is located at 14 Business Park Way in Sacramento. It is open Monday through Friday. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. lunch is served from 11a.m.-4 p.m. and dinner is served from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. http://www.eatatplates.com/

“We will be here for many, many years,” Matsui said.

Art, music, and magic at CurtisFest

2010-09-03T05:28:49Z

Whimsical ceramic characters that wink as you walk by, domestic and exotic animals who allow you to pet them, a fairy who paints a glittering swan on your face, and musicians whose songs are brand new each time they perform. These are only some of the imaginative artists and activities that await kids and adults at the 4th Annual CurtisFest on Saturday, September 11th. Presented by the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA), Curtis Fest will be held from 10am until 4pm in Curtis Park, an eighteen-acre parcel of ground surrounded by quaint bungalows and shaded by heritage trees.

The photography of Eleakis and Elder, Francisco Dominguez and Donald Satterlee will be displayed at the festival. Doug Wylie, Lori Ervin and Wes Ervin will present their ceramics and pewter; Gerilyn Maslowski her vases, wall tiles, and pottery; Mickey Abbey his stained glass; and Patt Illouli her ink, watercolor house portraits and general portraits. Laville Logan will display her original and giclee prints, watercolors, and soft pastels; Wendi Weston her handmade totes, and Susan Barnes’ her oils and watercolors. Yoly Petra Stroeve will also offer her paintings, and Robyn Slakey her garden totem poles and ceramic vertical sculptures. Painter Reine River will be there with her watercolors, acrylics and pastels, and Natalie Thiele with her broken tile mosaics.

A number of innovative ceramicists will bring their work to share with attendees. Ellen Huls fanciful “kitschy characters” will be joined by the ceramics of Sharon Bloom and the creations of Rosalie Roth. Phyllis Koessler’s pottery and ceramics will be on display, as well as Denise Wilken and Joan McClellan’s handmade scarves, jewelry, birdhouses, and table runners. Marsha Elam will offer her ceramics, jewelry and collage.

Heading off the early-entry artists who work in jewelry and related media are Olga Barmina and Paula Forman with their “From the Heart Hair Clips” and June Bug Jewelry, Caron Gregg and her beaded jewelry and jewelry boxes, and Dot Edwards with her jewelry, glass and mosaics. The jewelry of Mary and Lee Coldren will be shown, as well as the jewelry and mixed media of Jodi Queenan, and Gale Lee and Jodi Vidad’s handcrafted costume jewelry and handmade fabric totes. Attendees at this year’s CurtisFest will also be able to enjoy the jewelry art of Linda McAtee, of Leticia Botello, and of Sandi Osterman. Finally, Christi Hunter will be at the event with her sterling silver jewelry and art glass vessels.

There will be lots more for attendees to do as they delight in the work of the visual artists. Offering their musical take on the richly creative atmosphere of CurtisFest will be the improvisational project band Instagon. Begun in 1993 as a musical experiment in the unexpectedly compelling sounds that can be created from everyday objects and situations, Instagon formed when a number of local musicians began incorporating this “noise” into a fusion of progressive rock, jazz, and drunge punk. Different musicians join Instagon for each performance, keeping the vibe crisp, intoxicating, and very much alive.

In 2007 a trio of musicians from Instagon developed the idea of creating a band with a solid lineup of jazz cover-versions of popular songs and riffs. The idea caught on with fans, and Garage Jazz Architects was born. Now on indie label TIF Recordings, Garage Jazz Architects will bring their spontaneous garage-jazz covers to CurtisFest to share with all.

The third musical group on board for CurtisFest is The Mike Justis Band. After performing together throughout northern California for twenty-five years with the popular band, Poetic Justis, Steve Mc Iane, Kathy Barwick and Mike Justis formed a trio to bring their mix of country rock and blues to venues in and around Sacramento.

Children are perhaps the most special part of CurtisFest, and this year’s festival offers two events that have proven to captivate children of all ages. Voted 2010 Family Favorite by the Bay Area Parent magazine, Happily Ever Laughter is an ensemble of specially-trained performers who’ve created a cast of singular characters to entertain at all sorts of children’s events. These professional “faeries” are known to enthrall children with not only their extraordinary face-painting, singing, magic, and balloon art, but also their genuine connection to the children with whom they “play.”

After conversing with the fairy from Happily Ever Laughter, kids can wind their way over to visit the animals of Pony Ranch Parties. The law firm of Soluri Meserve is sponsoring this first-ever CurtisFest petting zoo. Expert at providing a safe and fun experience for both children and animals, Pony Ranch Parties introduces children to a variety of domestic and exotic animals. The adult staff members of Pony Ranch Parties go the extra mile to share and teach in this memorable interactive experience.

No event would be complete without great food, and CurtisFest’s blend of culinary items will not disappoint. The first vegan food cart in Sacramento, Happy Go Lucky will offer its gourmet, healthy street food to the patrons of this year’s festival. Happy go Lucky was voted Best Vegetarian Food Cart by the Sacramento News & Review. Soon to be featured on an episode of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Dad’s Kitchen will be on hand to offer its scrumptious cuisine. Chunk's Stand By Me is the lifelong dream of street food enthusiast Ryan "Chunk" Filippini, who prides himself on his quality hot dogs, hot links and hot pastrami, all served on fresh baked rolls. And when ready for something cool to finish the experience off, kids and adults can enjoy Shasta Valley Shaved Ice’s frozen treats.

This richly-conceived celebration of creativity and community is offered free to children and adults of the Sacramento area. “It’s got something for everyone,” says Dusty Miller, one of the event’s organizers. “And it’s a great lead-in to Second Saturday.” Event chairperson Nicole Soluri agrees. “The community of artists and artisans participating in this year’s CurtisFest is incredibly talented, diverse and enthusiastic” says Soluri. “Our city will not be disappointed.”

For more information on the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Associations 4th Annual CurtisFest, call (916) 452-3005 or email faith@sierra2.org. Those interested in knowing more--and in hearing about new participating artists and vendors--can also follow CurtisFest on Facebook. Posters and postcards highlighting the event, designed by Curtis Park artist Scott Gordinier, can be seen throughout Sacramento.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) formed in the 1970’s to rescue the old Sierra School from demolition. Since then, SCNA has brought neighbors together for a diverse slate of year-round events, and has offered a cohesive voice for community concerns. The restored Sierra 2 Center serves as a focal point for artists, teachers, students, parents, children, and seniors, who rely upon its dance studios, gardens, performance spaces, meeting halls and class rooms to provide a secure, charming home. Curtis Park is a neighborhood of approximately 2500 homes, a patchwork of diverse architectural styles situated around a quaint park.

Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center's After Hours: Wine Event & Live Auction

2010-09-03T00:42:02Z

In every fairytale the good guys always win, the bad guys always lose, and there’s always a “Happily Ever After“. Real life however, is a very different tale. Financial woes, unemployment, addictions, and lack of support hit so many Sacramento residents who then find themselves with nowhere to go. Thankfully there is a program like the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center that helps and supports these families in their time of crisis. Just like a real life fairy godmother.

Seems only fitting that on September 10th, 2010 Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center will be having their 18th annual After Hours: Wine Event & Live Auction fundraiser at Fairytale Town in William Land Park. Tickets are on sale for $50.00 per person for an evening under the stars filled with fine wines, delicious food tasting, and live music. There is a newly added live auction performed by Benefit Auctioneer David Sobon of David Sobon Auctions. Some of the items up for bid are A San Francisco Getaway at The Ritz Carlton, Golf for A Year & A Beach Cruiser Bicycle. Featured live music acts include The Retronaunts and The Putah Creek Crawdads. Be sure to look for the Wall of Wine, a Lottery-Style wine purchase!

So for the same price as a restaurant dinner, come feast and dance the night away in the spirit of helping the SAEHC who has served many families and young people turn their lives around. Since 1972 the non-profit SAEHC has helped over 10,000 families receive housing services, 68 % of the participants are children. Additional programs offered include self-sufficiency workshops, living skills, parenting classes, and mental health care to name a few. Support Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center as they shape the lives of so many people in our community. A true reason for Sacramento to give. For tickets and more information please visit http://www.saehc.org/fttah.php

SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON YOUNG AUTHORS/WRITERS AT UPCOMING CAPITOL CITY YOUNG WRITERS MEET THE AUTHOR EVENT

2010-08-26T17:06:34Z

SACRAMENTO, CA (Sept 11) – The publishing world always seeks new, young authors, songwriters, poets and journalists. On Sept 11, young writers, in grades 6-12, from throughout Sacramento, surrounding counties and potentially the bay area (if they’d like to make the drive) will gather with published authors, book industry professionals, and university professors at an innovative workshop specifically designed to help young writers fulfill their dreams and launch their careers.

Capitol City Young Writers Writers “Meet the Author” workshop takes place Saturday, September 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Sacramento Bee’s small auditorium, 2131 Q St., in Sacramento, CA. Aspiring young writers and avid readers from grades 6 thru 12, will mingle with peers, published authors and book industry professionals on a morning featuring several guest speakers and a writing workshops. (www.capitolcityyoungwriters.org/meetings)

The Sept 11, “Meet the Author” event will feature writing for the young reader. Guest speakers will include Dawn Lairamore and Rachel Dillon

DAWN LAIRAMORE

Dawn’s first novel, Ivy’s Ever After, published by Holiday House in May 2010, is a middle-grade fractured fairy tale about a princess and a dragon who team up against the handsome prince. Visit www.IvysEverAfter. com to read Chapter 1.
Dawn earned a B.A. in English from the University of California, Davis. She has worked as an editorial assistant for a small publishing house, as a technical writer for a giant software conglomerate, and currently spends her days as a civil litigation paralegal. From time to time, she enjoys leaving the real world behind and hanging out in kingdoms of long ago and far away.

RACHEL DILLON
Rachel graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1994, with a Bachelor of Science in Art, emphasizing in Graphic Design. Rachel is the author and artist of a nonfiction children's book, "Through Endangered Eyes - a poetic journey into the wild." It was published by Windward Publishing in 2009. Rachel combined her passion for animals, teaching children, and creative expression, to write and illustrate her first book. Rachel is currently working on her second endangered species book with Windward Publishing, "Through Desert Eyes." Rachel is a signature member of Artists for Conservation.

WORKSHOP: WRITING THAT CONNECTS WITH CHILDREN by RACHEL DILLON
Learn how to write stories and poems that keep a child interested, inspire them to ask questions, and make them want to hear it again. The focus will be writing for children 4-7 years old. Learn where children are developmentally at that age to help you determine the type of messages they understand. We will also discuss readability levels, and the power of repetition.

Membership and attendance for the five annual “Meet the Author” events are free. Space permitting, parents of the young writers are welcome to attend. Educators are also invited. Become a member via the website or at the door on the day of the event.

Capitol City Young Writers is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to the education and inspiration of aspiring writers. The goal of the organization is to educate today’s youth on the art and craft of writing, a skill necessary for success in any field of work. Members will gain exposure in the genres of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, screenplay and more as they meet professionals in the industry ranging from published authors, editors, educators, journalists, songwriters and broadcasters. Through this exposure, young writers will discover the many different career paths in the world of writing. Opportunities will be presented for writers to improve their own writing by participating in readings, workshops, writing contests and conferences. Leadership and internship opportunities will also be available.

The sponsor for Capitol City Young Writers meeting space is The Sacramento Bee. If you would like to be a sponsor and support the organization, please contact Verna Dreisbach at verna@capitolcityyoungwriters.org.

For more information, call 877-816-7659, 916-804-5016, or go to www.capitolcityyoungwriters.org

‘Wizard of Oz’ singalong transforms Crest Theatre to Land of Oz

2010-08-24T04:23:52Z

Lions and tigers, and bears, oh my! were fortunately not present at the Crest Theatre this past Sunday — but Dorothy’s, tin men (and women) and even munchkins sure were.

Outword media, an extension of Outword Magazine, collaborated with the Crest Theatre to host a “Wizard of Oz” singalong, with nearly 400 people in attendance.

On stage before the show, children marched in a parade to show off their costumes. Each child received two tickets to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus.

Children were not the only ones to dress up. An adult costume contest showed off more Dorothy’s, an apple tree, a tin woman with her own WD-40 oil and, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West.

Carol-Agnus Pantages, 5, won best costume overall for her Tin Man getup by audience applause. She received a ruby slipper with a $100 cash prize. Second place went to Carol Curtis, 6, for her Cowardly Lion costume.

General Manager for the Crest Theatre, Sid Heberger dressed in the best of 1939 Kansas: Dorothy’s tornado-blown farm house, complete with the shiny ruby slippers of the Wicked Witch of the East protruding from below.

“It’s quite cozy in here: It’s got cable, a Jacuzzi, even a minibar,” Heberger said.

The cardboard box took Herberger a day to make, and was converted from a puppet stage for a comedy show.

This is the second annual singalong from Outword and the Crest. Last year’s was the movie “Grease.” The first film was such a success that they decided to make the singalongs an annual event.

“I just can’t wait to see what we cook up for our third annual,” Herberger said. “Hopefully it doesn’t require me wearing a giant box.”

Along with the costumes, preshow events included karaoke to “Wizard of Oz” songs to warm up for the film, tornado trivia and Emerald City, Ruby Slippers and Yellow Brick Road-flavored popcorn available for purchase.

Carrie Tedrick, Wendy Hill and their children Aiden and Addison came dressed as a “same-sex munchkin family.”

“It’s fun that things are happening on the weekend, during the day and that they’re kid-friendly,” Hill said. “There aren’t that many events where we can bring our kids and dress up as a family.”

Frank Palmer of Outword media, marketing and events said he wanted to have an event at the Crest for the community.

“It’s important to have things for families and kids and support them,” Palmer said. “It’s very important to have a sense of community spirit.”

Pictures by Renae Getlin

Summer Ends with Music in the Park

2010-08-13T23:42:14Z

As children are about to return to school and the temperature is about to drop, the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association invites everyone to Curtis Park for its last Music in the Park of the summer of 2010. On Sunday, August 29th from 6 - 8:30pm the eighteen-acre parcel at the heart of the Curtis Park community will play host to rock, rhythm and blues for adults, songs and games for kids, and an assortment of innovative health and wellness ideas. This free concert is part of the season of events of one of the busiest neighborhood associations in the state of California.

Making his debut performance at Music in the Park will be singer-songwriter G-Whiz, who will present his unique line-up of songs and games for children. With originals like “I Just Put a Spell On You” and “Stinky Mouth” and classics like Shel Silverstein’s “Daddy, What If?” G-Whiz offers children of all ages the opportunity to delight in the magic and absurdities of life. G-Whiz, aka Gary Weinberg, is an actor, writer, musician and composer who has worked in the stage, concert, film, and television mediums for twenty-five years. As a musician Weinberg’s credits include an international tour with the live docudrama company Ironclad Agreement. Weinberg is currently creating a pop musical based on the biblical story of Esther called Whispers Over Persia for the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio.

Moving the concert into the evening is the high-voltage burst of musical moxie called The Bad Catz. Playing their signature mix of rock, blues and r&b, The Bad Catz is a seasoned ensemble of musicians and vocalists whose music has proven impossible to sit still for. The group formed several years ago when two well-established rock-blues bands--Stark Rhythm Maniacs and Blues Farm--decided to merge. The result was The Bad Catz, a crowd-pleasing company of musicians who perform both original compositions and adaptations of musical favorites. Featuring guitar, keyboards, sax, drums, and vocals, The Bad Catz will perform this month at a variety of clubs and events, including Gold Rush Days in Old Sacramento and the McConnell Estates Winery in Elk Grove. The Bad Catz are currently recording their first CD.

A host of health-and-community-minded sponsors are returning to help make this local concert tradition possible. It’s All Yoga has been voted “Best in Sacramento” twice by Sacramento News & Review. Personal trainer and nutritionist Sham Sanghera’s Inspired Wellness Boot Camp enables clients to achieve goals and maintain healthy lifestyles.

Since 1946, SMUD has empowered its customers with solutions that increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, and reduce global warming. D20 Dental, the first green dental office in Sacramento, combines the latest clinical practices and technological innovations in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Locally-owned since 1973, the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop is a trusted source of natural foods and products, and a reliable resource for consumer information. Farm Fresh to You has been growing mouth-watering organic produce and delivering it to customers since 1976. For twenty-five years Miss Helen has inspired children with developmental activities in the areas of music, crafts, and movement, and Go Solar is a leading provider of solar electric and domestic water systems. The Law Office of R. Andrew Murray prides itself on its personal attention to clients in matters of real estate, business formation, estate planning, and bankruptcy. Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, established in 1977, is a public agency devoted to supporting, promoting and advancing the arts in the region.

Joining SCNA as Music in the Park’s main sponsors are City Councilmember Lauren Hammond, who provided the funding for the event’s updated setting, and Meg, Michael and Melissa Heede of RE/MAX Gold, the number one independently-owned brokerage firm in California.
In accordance with city codes, alcohol will not be permitted at Music in the Park. However, fine beer and wine will be provided in an enclosed garden area. All beverages are available for purchase by concert attendees. Proceeds will benefit the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association and the 2011 season of Music in the Park.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) was formed in the 1970’s to rescue the old Sierra School from demolition. Since then, SCNA has brought neighbors together for a diverse slate of year-round events, and has offered a cohesive voice for community concerns. The restored Sierra 2 Center serves as a focal point for artists, teachers, students, parents, children, and seniors, who gather frequently in its dance studios, gardens, performance spaces, meeting halls and classrooms.

Playground Arson Sucks!

2010-08-09T20:29:08Z

Last night the Auburn Community's main park had it's playground torched. As an member of the rec district's board of directors I am obviuosly upset. As a father and resident of the community I am furious. Vandalism & delinquency costs a community on so many levels, from lost dollars and time, to lost opportunities and as was the case with a rock toss over an overpass recently, serious injuries and possibly worse.

Whether in the heart of a city, or in an outlying suburb it is getting worse, and nobody is immune. I so encourage anybody that witnesses any questionable activity to please notify the proper authorities. Only by banning together & sending a strong message we will not accept this sort of behaviour will it begin to end. Somehow appreciation & respect continues to erode from our society. Community Leaders, Teachers, Parents and kids all need to work to educate and instill a sense of worth and value that will make kids think twice before committing a sensless act such as torching a playground, or inflicting injury.

Just my 2 cents worth for today.

“Hot Moms and Cool Kids” strut their stuff at fashion show

2010-08-02T05:12:45Z

Moms and children strode in fashionable attire on a pink and white striped runway last Friday to raise funds for the Sacramento Children’s Museum.

A couple hundred people gathered at 33rd St. Bistro in Midtown to support the fundraiser for the museum that begins demolition today. Ten dollar tickets benefited the museum directly.

Sponsors Koukla Kids Boutique, M.E. Boutique, Firefly Salon and Boutique and 33rd St. Bistro began planning the event only three weeks ago. Kathryn O’Connell, co-owner of Koukla Kids, said they saw a need for a fundraiser to benefit a place that could be fun, safe and educational for children of the Sacramento area.

“All the other major metropolitan cities have a children’s museum, and we don’t. That’s,” she said. “what drove us to do an event.”

O’Connell said the turnout for the fashion show was far beyond what they expected.

“We oversold the event,” she said. “People were eager to participate. I think they saw the need for something so valuable for Sacramento.”

Moms and kids modeled clothing from the boutiques, starting their runway walk in the M.E. Boutique located next door to 33rd St Bistro. After strutting outside on a multicolored chalk-drawn floral runway, they ended their loop inside the bistro.

Ten mom models and their children participated, all chosen by the sponsors. All clothing modeled was available for purchase, with 20 percent of the proceeds going to the museum.

Alan Godlove, president of the board of directors for the children’s museum, served as emcee for the event. He announced raffle ticket winners, which were available for purchase at $1 per ticket.

He said the museum, which is expected to open in March 2011, will focus on children from ages 0 to 8.

“There are a lot of many wonderful museums in Sacramento, but the focus on that age group hasn’t existed in awhile,” Godlove said. “It gives young children a way to learn in an environment that parents can feel comfortable in.”

Godlove, who has young children himself, said parents can feel safe letting their young kids roam around the museum.

Natalie Truman, who handles fundraising development for the museum, said the Sacramento community will have the option of becoming a founding family. The family’s name will be memorialized in a tribute displayed in the museum.

“The founding families campaign is $500 or more and donor recognition on the wall to the first 500 families, with all proceeds going directly to construction,” she said.

The idea for the museum began six years ago when two school teachers got together after visiting a children’s museum in another city. Founding partners, The city of Rancho Cordova, the Junior League of Sacramento and Roebbelen Contracting, Inc. helped bring the project to a reality.

For more information on the Sacramento Children’s Museum, visit sackids.org.

Music, merriment and message in Curtis Park

2010-07-23T17:57:31Z

On Sunday, July 25th, revolutionary artist Kevin Sandbloom will headline an event that integrates great music, easy relaxation and family fun as the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association presents this year’s second Music in the Park. This free summertime concert is part of the 2010 season of events from one of the most active neighborhood associations in the state.

Each performer, activity and sponsor will reflect the event’s theme of “Health and Wellness.” This midsummer event will feature elements that are both familiar and new to the many residents and visitors who flock to the annual Curtis Park concert series.

Children will race to the stage at the start of the evening to hear legendary children’s composer and performer, “Mister Cooper,” who is returning to offer his participatory musical presentation. The creator of Songs That Teach, an original curriculum-based music program, “Mister Cooper’s” musical talent and rapport with children have made him indispensable to schools and parents throughout Sacramento. Cooper’s music, as Christie Hamm of Belle Coolidge Library says, establishes “a connection with children long after the songs are over.”

During intermission, kids can once again participate in a hula-hoop contest, and can visit Sacramento’s Health Education Council, who will be on hand to educate both kids and adults on the best ways to eat healthy and stay active. In operation since 1979, the Health Education Council’s mission is to promote well being in Sacramento’s communities through education, programming, and partnerships. Children who visit their table can also play the health trivia game, for which they’ll be awarded prizes for correct answers.

Next up on the stage will be headliner Kevin Sandbloom, who offers audiences his unique blend of music and message. A guitarist whose style is referred to as “urban delta soul,” Sandbloom’s compositions are sung in a voice, says Sean Rasul of WhoGotSoul.com, that ranges from “a smooth or raspy falsetto to a powerful and distinct tenor,” and with lyrics that are “poetic and insightful.” It’s music that reaches the gut” from a musician who is active in the world of community involvement and human rights.

Sandbloom is currently releasing an EP of songs related to the cause of social justice, with partial proceeds benefiting the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, an organization devoted to the advancement of ideals named in the United Nation’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With grooves ranging from soul and R&B to hip-hop and bossa nova, Sandbloom is the perfect centerpiece for an evening of soulful relaxation. As the online music blog Rasx Context says, “If you take the extremely talented D’Angelo and Ani DeFranco, and mix it with even more humanity, you end up with Kevin Sandbloom.”

A number of returning sponsors are partnering with Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association to help make the event possible. Since 1946, SMUD has empowered its customers with solutions that increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, and reduce global warming. It’s All Yoga has been voted “Best in Sacramento” twice by Sacramento News & Review. Personal trainer and nutritionist Sham Sanghera’s Inspired Wellness Boot Camp enables clients to achieve goals and maintain healthy lifestyles. For twenty-five years Miss Helen has nurtured children and provided developmental activities in the areas of music, crafts, and movement. The Law Office of R. Andrew Murray prides itself on its personal attention to clients in matters of real estate, business formation, estate planning, and bankruptcy.

These familiar sponsors are joined by Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, which, established in 1977, is a public agency devoted to supporting, promoting and advancing the arts in the region. Born at Home, an independent midwifery practice providing complete maternity care to families in Sacramento and surrounding counties. Tammy Cohen of K9 Bliss teaches dog owners the structure and consistency of communication that results in secure, blissful companions. D20 Dental, the first green dental office in Sacramento, combines the latest clinical practices and technological innovations in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Locally-owned since 1973, the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop is a trusted source of natural foods and products, and a reliable resource for consumer information.

Returning as Music in the Park’s main sponsors are Meg, Michael and Melissa Heede of RE/MAX Gold, the number one independently-owned brokerage firm in California, and City Councilmember Lauren Hammond, who is gifting SCNA with the stage that is the main setting for the event.

In accordance with city codes, alcohol will not be permitted at the event. However, an enclosed garden of fine beer and wine will be on site, with beverages available for purchase by concert attendees.

The Underground World of CPS

2010-07-21T11:43:02Z

It is amazing to me all the road blocks that Sacramento County CPS puts up to make it nearly impossible for a parent to assert their rights and fight for what is rightfully theirs--their children. In the past four years I have seen, heard, and experienced things that would ignite fear and furor in Americans…if only they knew about it. However, these actions of which I speak are closely guarded under the cloak of confidentiality that hides Juvenile Dependency Court and involuntary child custody proceedings from the public. At first guess, you assume that this so-called “confidentiality” is in place to protect the children in these cases. However, it doesn’t take long for a person to realize the protection is not for the children but rather the protection of CPS and their corrupt policies and actions.

The actions of CPS thrive in a underground world where warrant-less search of a home and seizure of a child is common practice. A world where due process rights violations occur on a daily basis. A world where a child can be removed from the home, detained, and placed into protective custody simply because there is a potential for abuse. Even if there is no history of abuse, sign of abuse, a witness to the abuse, or admittance of abuse. Within this hidden system the parent's and the children's rights are concealed and when a parent finally realizes their rights it’s too late and their child is gone forever. This well run factory shuffles families in and out daily in robotic fashion without real care or concern for children, parents, or extended family members.

Court-appointed attorneys argue cases with the judge, come to an agreement, call in the parties involved (children, parents, others that have the ability to intervene such as a Native American Tribe), and then call the case. Parents are forced to make split-second decisions without informed consent and sometimes the court-appointed attorneys will make decisions and motions without the parents' knowledge. These court-appointed attorneys will out-right refuse their clients requests and/or motions. This is clearly ineffective assistance of counsel which should afford you the right to a Marsden hearing. However, that right is usually denied too. If a Marsden hearing is actually had, the judge can choose NOT to release your attorney, NOT appoint you another attorney, and can even choose NOT to allow you to represent yourself if you so choose. In essence your stuck with an attorney that refuses to represent you in your best interest.

Fairytale Town Launches Adults Only Costume Ball

2010-07-10T09:10:16Z

Fairytale Town opened its gates on Thursday for a special After Hours event, the Once Upon a Night: Moonlight Costume Ball, just for adults. The event was open to adults 18 years of age and older and featured live music, a DJ, dancing, two themed bars, food and beverage, a henna artist, and more.

Fairytale Town continues to promote the imagination, creativity and education of children as their core mission. However, its After Hours programming will help develop an avenue to reach new audiences, and raise funds to support the park's programs for children and families. "So many Sacramentans remember coming to Fairytale Town as children, and hold fond memories of the park. We want to give those who don't have children the opportunity to return to Fairytale Town and continue having magical experiences, even without the kids," said Kathy Fleming the Executive Director. -Fairytale Town Media Release

Welcome to Fairytale Town.

The event kicked off with a performance by Fairytale Town's favorite belly dancers, UNMATA.

Live music was provided by The Enlows.

A fire performer with UNMATA.

President Obama gets down on the dancefloor.

A taco tries to drum up support in the Fairest of the All costume contest.

A partygoer enjoys one of the slides.

A Good Fairy gets some help with her wings.

One of the many excellent costumes at the Ball.

Tweedledee gets some henna work.

Owl's House, one of many attractions in Fairytale Town.

DJ Matt Brys (not pictured) from Extreme Productions Entertainment kept things moving on the dancefloor.

Evil Fairy, the winner of the female Most Wicked costume contest. All costume contest winners received a gift bag filled with goodies.

The runner-up of the female Most Wicked costume contest.

Poison Ivy?

Victory for The Steampunks in the Best Group costume contest.

California Museum Hosts Kids Activities Weekly

2010-07-02T05:02:13Z

The California Museum launched its third annual Poppies, Butterflies and Bears Oh My! weekly summer program Wednesday.

The museum hosts an event offering hands-on art activities for children from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday. The program will run through Aug. 18 and is free with admission to the museum.

“Each week we do a different craft or activity related to the state symbols,” said Erin Crump, museum education and programs associate. “This week we're panning for gold, relating to the Gold Rush and history but gold is also our state mineral.”

Visiting children use pans to search for gold flakes from a container filled with water and sediment.

“It offers parents and children an educational experience here at the museum,” Crump said. “They get to come see firsthand how miners panned for gold. They didn't have money back then, so they used gold flakes to barter for different things.”

Thirty children along with parents and guardians attended the event. Crump said an average of 25 to 50 children attend each week.

“(My children and I) came to the museum a couple months ago, and they really liked it,” Jenny Di Paolo of Elk Grove said. “We’re looking for activities to do this summer.”

Jenny Di Paolo brought her children Audrey, 7, and Albert, 9, to try panning for gold.

“Boy, I love this stuff,” Audrey said. “I found 10 grams!”

After the activity, children can go on a scavenger hunt through the museum led by an activity sheet on state symbols.

“Most people know about some of (the state symbols) like the grizzly bear,” Crump said. “But we talk about the lesser-known ones.”

Future events for Poppies, Butterflies and Bears Oh My!:

July 7: Create a Dragon
Related to the museum’s exhibit, “Under the Dragon.” A crafts project to create dragons in celebration of California’s diversity and history.
July 14: Find Fossils
Related to the state prehistoric artifact, the chipped stone bear. Children can bring in items they would like to have “fossilized.”
July 21: Design a State Seal
Children can design a state seal based on their perception of California today.
July 28: Quail Cuties
Children can learn more about the state bird and design quail puppets.
Aug. 4: Make a Bear Flag
The state flag and its evolution will be discussed. Children can design their own flags.
Aug. 11: Build a Log Cabin
An activity related to California history. “While it's not a state symbol, it kind of relates to California's pioneer heritage,” Crump said, “and all the miners who came over here for the Gold Rush and everything that kind of helped settle California back in the 1800s.”
Aug. 18: Plant a Redwood
Children may create their own redwood tree with stencil designs.

The California Museum is located at 1020 O St. Adult tickets cost $8.50. Seniors (65 and over) and college students with identification get in for $7. Children (6 to 13) get in for $6. Children 5 and under visit for free.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is open from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. (916) 653-7524.

Photos:

1) California Museum exterior.

2) Audrey and Albert Di Paolo pan for gold.

3) Audrey and Albert Di Paolo pan for gold.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Foster Care Defined

2010-06-22T18:26:12Z

No one aspires to be a foster child. No child wants to live in a stranger’s home. No brother or sister likes having their family torn apart; losing contact with siblings. No teen chooses an unknown future.

Yet, every month, over 2,000 children statewide are placed into protective custody through the foster care system. Over 150 of these children are from Sacramento County.

Foster care is designed to be a temporary safety net for children who are unable to live safely with their birth families. Children enter foster care because they have been abused or neglected or have experienced other family problems such as substance abuse, mental illness or a parent’s incarceration.

A primary goal of foster care is to help children return to their families, preferably their birth parents. If that is not possible, kin (extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles or adult siblings) are often able to step in and raise a child. This is usually an ideal situation as the children tend to stay connected to their siblings and other family members, as well as to their culture, community and church. However, family care is not always an option. At this point, when the courts have determined that children cannot return safely to their birth parents and extended family is not available to care for them, an adoptive family is needed.

Lilliput Children’s Services is a local non-profit agency that works with children and families who have been touched by foster care, adoption and kinship care.

Founded in 1980, Lilliput has completed adoptions for over 4,500 foster children statewide.

In fact, Lilliput finalizes the most foster adoptions of any private agency in California.

Last fiscal year, of Lilliput’s 519 adoptions, 146 of the children were from Sacramento County’s foster care. This accounted for 40% of the county’s foster-adoptions.

Please follow “Lilliput Children’s Services” for more articles about foster care, adoption and kinship care.

For more information about Lilliput and their services, visit www.Lilliput.org.

International Kid's Festival Celebrates Diversity

2010-06-01T06:58:13Z

The sixth annual International Kid's Festival brought together hundreds of children and parents in William Land Park Monday. The event was organized by Russian American Media, Inc. and founder and CEO Sergey Ivannikov.

Audience members watch performances on the festival's main stage.

According to the festival's press release, it is organized to "inspire children to make healthy choices, live in harmony with nature and celebrate a world of diverse cultures." Performers were from an array of cultural backgrounds including Russian, Asian, Latin, Indian and African American to "inspire pride and represent their cultures."

"Ping Pong" Flow Crew performs.

"We'd like to teach kids how to be friends with each other and how to understand different cultures," Ivannikov said.

Members of Bhaskar's Art Academy perform a South Indian dance.

The festival included performances by the karate club of Community Outreach Academy, Ukrainian Ensemble, Ohana Dance Group, "Red Ribbon Flying" Flow Crew, and Bhaskar's Arts Academy, among others.

Members of Bhaskar's Art Academy perform a South Indian dance.

This year's celebration was themed "Green Future." The event ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Children play on gymnastic equipment and mats.

A toddler plays with a balloon courtesy of the Dynamic Mechanical booth.

Children play in one of the four bounce houses at the festival.

Professional trick roper and whipmaster James Barrera performs with volunteers.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Please help Big Brothers Big Sisters fund raise for WALK 'N ROCK FOR KIDS

2010-05-12T20:22:38Z

This Saturday Jimmy Valoria, "Big Brother" and Marketing Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and his "Little Brother" Saxon are doing a car wash to support their fund raising efforts for WALK ‘N ROCK FOR KIDS. All proceeds of the car wash will directly support the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Please go out and get your car washed. It will be taking place between the hours of 9a and 2p at the Smog 'N Go parking lot, located at 9580 Harbour Point Dr. in Elk Grove. Please come support and tell everyone you know. If you can not come out, you can also donate directly to Jimmy's online fund raising webpage. To do so, click HERE.

Thank you to Jack Williams and Smog 'N Go for their much-appreciated support of Big Brother's Big Sisters, Walk 'N Rock, and Hope Productions. For more information on Smog 'N Go, visit smogngo.com.

About Walk 'N Rock

WALK ‘N ROCK FOR KIDS, taking place Sunday, May 30, 2010 at Raley Field in West Sacramento, is a fund raising walk and benefit concert event will unite the community for a day of fun to raise funds to support our local children. The event kicks off with a community 5K walk in the morning that begins at Raley Field. Later that same evening, Hope Productions and community corporate partners will host an exclusive VIP reception and benefit concert on our behalf, which is open to the general public. The proceeds from the concert will be divided among this year’s Hope Production Foundation nonprofit alliance partners. The concert will be performed by iconic female rock band Heart, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar. For more information on Walk 'N Rock, visit www.bbbs-sac.org.

Passport to Summer Youth Fair a success

2010-05-10T14:35:36Z

Along with the sunshine, the trees of Southside Park set the perfect scene for the ninth annual Passport to Summer Youth Fair on Saturday. At the event, dozens of booths showcased local activities and opportunities for youth during the summer while a main stage provided entertainment, games and raffles for the crowd.

The fair was sponsored by State Senator Darrell Steinberg, Assemblyman Dave Jones and Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong. Steinberg stressed the importance of staying active during the summer when addressing the crowd.

"(The fair) is a time for us to see what we all have to offer," he said. "In these hard times, it's amazing to see the community come together." Steinberg also let loose on the dance floor by participating in a breakdancing lesson from the performers of Capitol Roots Studios.

Local hip hop dance crew Second Nature took the stage around noon and wowed the crowed with its intricate choreography.

The summertime activities represented at the fair ranged from biking to ballet, employment opportunities to science camps.

Angelica Rodriguez from Southgate Recreation and Park District was at the event promoting their R.E.C. (Recreation Engaging Children) Van. The R.E.C. Van is designed to travel to local parks with an array of group games and crafts for youth.

"It's vital for children to be active," Rodriguez said. "We want to make it easy and accessible for kids to stay healthy."

Next weekend, the vehicle starts its tour and will continue to provide free activities until mid-September. For the R.E.C. Van schedule and for more information about Southgate, visit southgaterecandpark.net.

Another unique booth highlighted at the fair was by People Reaching Out, a nonprofit dedicated to creating programs that foster the development of personal growth while staying drug-free. The organization hosts a wide variety of events, from exercise camps to parent-teen discussion groups. Special Projects Manager Cole Forstedt spoke about organization's mentoring program, which trains high school students to work with young children.

"We want to eliminate the strict division between adolescents and adults," Forstedt said. "We're trying to connect all the dots and unite our community."

Another upcoming project by People Reaching Out will be a series of podcasts called "Family Meals." These multilingual podcasts will teach the community the importance of eating healthy and the benefits of sharing meals as a family.

The organization currently works with several local school districts and will continue to have day camps during the summer. For more information, visit peoplereachingout.org.

Shine Building to brighten up downtown

2010-05-08T08:13:22Z

San Francisco-based developer John Stricklin came through Sacramento six years ago and fell in love with the downtown scene.

"The downtown corridor has really transformed in the last few years," he said. He also praised the unique qualities of Sacramento's urban, yet small-town vibe.

Already a designer and restaurateur who owned an American bistro and a pizzeria in San Francisco, Stricklin set out to expand his business to Sacramento. While driving through the Mansion Flats neighborhood, Stricklin was struck by an old, run-down building on the corner of 14th and E streets.

"The building had been vacant for several years and was becoming an eyesore for the area," he said. Stricklin decided to buy the 8,000-square-foot building and convert it into five retail spaces.

The development, now under construction, will be called the Shine Building, after William Shine, who owned and operated a cash-register distribution company in that location.

The corner space will be a bistro called the Shine Cafe. Owner Rena Davonne plans to open the restaurant in two months.

On the 14th Street side of the building will be Penleigh, a child-development center catering to the downtown area. Sacramento is in desperate need of child care, with wait lists at nearly all downtown facilities.

Penleigh will occupy two spaces in the Shine Building and have room for 40 children. Two walls are lined with windows, so the center will be well-lit and colorful, with a security system for the children's safety. The site also will include a state-of-the-art rooftop playground.

"One of the challenges with this project was creating a play area while containing space," Stricklin said. "The elevated play area will do both and also be exciting for the kids."

Ola del Mundo owns the child-care center. She has been an educator for 15 years in the United States and overseas. Del Mundo opened two schools in the Philippines also called Penleigh, which means "meadow" in Old English. Because of her background in psychology and experience working with special-needs children, del Mundo stresses the importance of early-childhood education and preparation for primary school.

"When (children) go to kindergarten, they should already have basic reading skills," she said. In addition to education, the center will focus on social interaction.

"Learning comes more naturally for anyone in a social setting," del Mundo said.

Marivel Camasura, del Mundo's partner and program director, owns and operates a child-care center for eight children out of her home. The children in that center will move with her to the new site, which is seeking certification as a child-development center.

"We will be a licensed preschool that offers a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate," she said.

The preschool will include a room for infants, and the center will accommodate special-needs children as well.

The school tentatively will open Aug. 1.

Photos:

1. Shine Building sign

2. Camasura, Stricklin and del Mundo outside of the school site

3. Shine Building

Sierra Forever Families Elects Dee Hartzog to Board of Directors

2010-04-01T17:21:16Z

Sierra Forever Families Elects Retired Attorney and Child Advocate Dee Hartzog to the Board of Directors.

Sacramento, CA – April 1, 2010 – Sierra Forever Families, Northern California nonprofit and industry leader in youth permanency, elects Dee Hartzog to its Board of Directors. Dee joins the 15 member board led by Eric Ratinoff, partner with Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff.

Dee Hartzog is a retired corporate attorney, having practiced 23 years with Weintraub, Genshlea & Chediak, a Sacramento law firm. Even before retirement, she began to realize the importance for a child to grow up in a loving and caring environment, both for the child and the community.

“I am extremely motivated by Sierra’s purpose and what it has accomplished,” remarked Dee, whose commitment to Sierra’s mission mirrors her passion for children, “Transforming children’s lives is my biggest passion.” As the grandmother of three small children, Dee sees first hand what nurturing can do for young children.

Dee has dedicated much of her time and her wealth of experience by serving on a number of non-profit boards, most of which are involved in helping children get a positive start in life. She currently serves on the following boards: Sutter’s Children’s Advisory Board, Mercy Foundation, and Mondavi Center Board, and previously she served on the board for Wonder, Inc.

“As president of the Board of Director for Sierra Forever Families, I am pleased that the board unanimously voted in favor of Dee’s nomination to the board.” Eric Ratinoff shared. “Dee’s passion for helping children and the experience she brings to the board will undoubtedly assist the agency in meeting its mission to transform the lives of children living in foster care.”

Sierra Forever Families mission is to transform the lives of children in foster care by building and nurturing permanent families. Through the leadership of our dedicated board and executive staff, Sierra has transformed the lives of over 2,500 children since its founding in 1983.

"Children of Chinatown" Author at Time Tested Books

2010-03-30T05:23:24Z

Projecting archival photographs above stacks of albums, Jorae described the familial and political relationships of a generation of children marginalized by two cultures.

On Sunday night, a dozen history buffs arrived at Time Tested Books to partake in an informal discussion with local author and educator Wendy Rouse Jorae about the research behind her recently published book, "Children of Chinatown: Growing Up Chinese American in San Francisco, 1850-1920."

Jorae wrote her dissertation for the University of California, Davis on the pioneer generation of Chinese Americans in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Her interest in the subject was sparked as a history student in Sacramento where she became involved in an archaeological excavation of a Chinese pioneer site near Lincoln.

While examining the accounts of first-generation Chinatown, Jorae was struck by the number of photographs she came across featuring children. Considering the assumptions of that period of Chinatown as a “bachelor society,” Jorae began investigating the experiences of these children largely overlooked in the recollection of history.

Their existence alone was highly politicized, as militant anti-Chinese forces propagandized an image of Chinatown as devoid of family or morality. Chinese American merchants attempting to refashion the image of Chinatown as “family-friendly,” proliferated photographed images of schools and children.

The highly charged nature of this exchange made political tools out of Chinatown’s children. Jorae’s research delved beyond this, exploring the daily experiences of these children, organized by immigration, family, work, school, the missions and courts.

Touching on research detailed in her book, Jorae shared a sampling of childhood experiences characterized by segregation, exclusion and identity conflict. She described the establishment over time of a sense of roots, rights and the forging of a new identity.

Follow Time Tested Books online for upcoming literary events, including its ongoing Living Library series.

Feed the 'Beast' your creativity

2010-01-13T02:22:17Z

Imagine being a child in a world with endless possibilities for creativity. Welcome to Art Beast, an art studio for children located at 2226 K St.

Children of all ages are encouraged to act, paint, color, play and dream inside the sacred walls of Art Beast. Parents and adults feel like the visitors in this magical world. The Art Beast contains three floors and a basement perfect for letting your child's creativity run wild.

"Everything is here in this building," grandma Rose Orlandi said as she watched her two grandchildren ages 4 and 2. "Clay. Sand. Paint. They have it all and I don't have to worry about getting it on my carpet. Where else can I play too?"

Different floors are dedicated to different activities. The basement contains the play room. Inside is a magical world of space capsules, forts and a stage. Children are encouraged to interact with the different props. The second floor is where most art takes place. Easels and sandboxes are scattered throughout, tables with crafts highlight the center of the room. Each day a new craft is designed to entertain and educate children. The third floor is the studio. Highlighted by a wall of windows, children and their adults can dance or stretch in class settings.

"This is a unique place in Sacramento to uncover my child's creative side," dad Jacob Helmar said. "I also get to do it with him. As an artist, that important for me to spend quality, creative time with my son Otto."

That's how everyone feels once they cross the doorway. A bad work week, bad weather or just a bad day all ends once you enter the Art Beast. Parents are encouraged to participate in all activities and classes. The Art Beast is not just an opportunity to allow your child's imagination to grow, but an environment that helps build the foundation for a healthy, loving family.

A few classes include:

Yoga and Creative Movement is a class offered from 10-10:30 am on Mondays. This class encourages the movement of children through dance and yoga.

Beastie Song Circle is offered at 11am on Thursdays. This class is a chance for all ages to sing and dance as their heart wishes.

Storybook Art and Fingerplay is offered from 10:30- 11:15 am on Fridays. Children and adults use songs to convey classic children stories.

For a complete class list, visit the Art Beast website.

Coats for Kids Drive

2010-01-02T03:41:19Z

As the rain came in with the cold front, News 10, Swansons Cleaners and The Salvation Army were on hand to deliver coats to those without.

Wednesday marked the 19th annual Coats for Kids, and this year's drive raised over 33,000 coats that were handed out all over the region.

Eight distribution centers were scattered from Stockton to Lodi, Fairfield to Roseville and Cal Expo. 15,000 coats were handed out at the Cal Expo distribution center alone.

"This is our largest center by far," Sacramento County Salvation Army Coordinator David Bentley said. "By comparison, the Roseville center will only hand out approximately 1,500 coats."

Long lines wrapped around makeshift rows at Cal Expo building B as children and adults waited patiently for their turn. Wait time for most was a little over an hour. That didn't detour anyone from waiting.

Adam Godina, a third grader, was excited as he stood in line with his dad and two sisters. "I want a blue coat," he said. "It's my favorite color. I also want one with hood." His sisters were looking for pink and purple coats.

Alina Petrichko, a fifth grader from Williamson Elementary School in Rancho Cordova, carried a handful of coats as she walked behind her mom. They were there together on behalf of the rest of the family.

"My mom and I found a pink coat," she said. "It looks and feels very cozy."

Will Frazier was there volunteering like he has for the past three years. "I get a good feeling out of doing this," he said. "I like doing something positive."

He wasn't alone. Over 225 volunteers worked three shifts to keep the operation running smoothly. Miguel Zizzo was volunteering with his Sacramento County D.A.R.T. team.

"It's important for everyone to have a warm coat," he said. "Especially today, these children deserve something like this."

Zizzo had organized the training rig to be on hand for demonstrations and education about the dangers of the water. As they were preparing to drive out to Cal Expo, a call came in.

"The guys that were bringing the rig here are now racing to save someone," Zizzo said. "We get as many calls during the winter months as we do the summer months. People need to be aware about the dangers of the waterways and rivers, especially children."

David Bentley and The Salvation Army thought the operation was a success.

"We could always use more coats though," he said.

For more information:

Coats for Kids Website

Matsiko Children's Choir in Sacramento

2009-12-21T04:11:56Z

Looking into the eyes of 12-year old Camela, one would never know that she was an “AIDS orphan” from Uganda. Her eyes and her stories mirror not the tragedies of the past, but the promise and hope of the future, and the happiness and sense of community provided by the Matsiko Children’s Choir, currently touring California. On Dec. 19, the choir performed at a sold-out show at the West Sacramento-based Center for Spiritual Awareness. Matsiko, which means “hope” in Swahili, provides just that to the 29 at-risk children in the choir.

The children, dressed in bold yellows, oranges and reds, delivered a performance full of infectious energy, continually engaging their audience with hugs, handshakes, personal testimonials, and stories. Their songs alternated between English and Swahili, familiar hits like “Joyful, Joyful” and somber tributes to the power of education and the beauty of Uganda. Hands and ankles kept the beat on huge wooden drums and small percussion instruments. The children in Matsiko are energetic, motivated and very bright. The choir has been touring the United States for seven months and, in that time, many of the children have learned English. Before the performance, Camela explained that, with the support of her sponsors at International Children's Network, she intends to attend a university. The seventh-grader said she considers her choirmates brothers and sisters, "except we don't fight!" She cited the highlights of the tour: swimming in pools in Idaho, seeing the mountains in Montana and eating french fries. Camela said she's looking forward to visiting Oregon next week, a state roughly the size of Uganda.

Camela and the other children speak with confidence and ease about their experiences with Matsiko. Don Windham, who founded ICN in 2001, attributes this to the pride the children take in representing a “glimmering future” or inspiration for “what can be” to orphans and at-risk children all over the world. The numbers of these children is estimated at 600 million, and they gain a face through the Matsiko Children's Choir. Windham called the choir “something like the Mouseketeers of Uganda,” bringing in sponsorships so at-risk youngsters can enroll in school, all the way through university. Windham assures that 98 cents of every dollar contributed to ICN sponsorship goes to its intended purpose -- futures for the children. “We see that they can become doctors or lawyers, and go back to their villages and make a difference …and this is possible because it's beyond politics, its just working together,” Windham said.

The choir's message of hope was warmly received by the audience at the Center for Spiritual Awareness. The Rev. Georgia Prescott, with the center, organized the event and said she hoped it would be “the first of many multicultural events, because they reflect the diversity of our church.” The center invites the public to its observation of Kwanzaa on Dec. 27.
For more information on the Center for Spiritual Awareness, go to www.csasacramento.org.
For more information about International Children’s Network, go to www.icnchildren.net.
For more information about Matsiko Children’s Choir, visit www.myspace.com/icnchoir.

Photos curtesy of Julie Jenkins Sathe

Bright Shriners

2009-12-21T03:06:52Z

A Christmas tree of lights brightens the front entrance to Sacramento's Shriners Hospital for Children during the holidays.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is an international health care system providing high quality pediatric specialty care to thousands of kids each year. All care is provided with no financial obligation to the patient or their family. Their mission is made possible solely through the generosity of donors.

There are many ways to give from direct gifts to planned gifts. All gifts, big or small, make a difference.

For more information, please visit: shrinershospitals.org

SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

Unique elementary school in South Sacramento to celebrate the winter season

2009-12-01T11:55:48Z

One of the best kept secrets of the South Sacramento area is a small, private school tucked away in the Lanai Shopping Center on Freeport Boulevard, neighboring the Sacramento Executive Airport, where it has existed in rented space for 21 years.

Over the years, most of the shopping center tenants have moved away. Meanwhile, countless hours of parent, teacher and student work have gone into transforming a run-down property into a school with colorful classrooms and playgrounds.

It has an understated entrance, but Camellia Waldorf School is an oasis for children.

The kindergarten yard is home to Mr. Mountain, a big pile of dirt, and Ms. Sandy, a big pile of sand. There are climbing structures in trees, hay bales, a water pump, chickens and a garden of oak and fruit trees, flowers and vegetables.

Young children run, jump, play and are close to the elements. Walking down the central corridor, a visitor may hear music, singing or poetry being recited. Watercolor paintings line office windows.

The community at Camellia Waldorf School is a diverse group, including families from Sacramento, West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Carmichael and Rancho Cordova. Parents are engineers, pastors, attorneys, health practitioners and public school teachers.

Many parents work for the government (federal, state and local), and in a variety of occupations. Families are from a wide range of social, economic, cultural and spiritual backgrounds.

With regard to racial/ethnic diversity, 8 percent of students are African American, 8 percent are Asian American, 17 percent are Hispanic American, 10 percent are from other racial/minority groups and 57 percent are Caucasian.

Families are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. Camellia is one of the most diverse Waldorf schools in Northern California. Diversity is important, but what bring families together are deeply shared values regarding how children should be raised and educated.

The school and its values, in many ways, resist the tide of mainstream society. Public schools emphasize academics at younger ages; preschool children are being taught phonics. Camellia remains steadfast to its protection of childhood – encouraging preschool children to play outside, rain or shine.

Rooted in the tenet that a child learns through movement in his or her first seven years, the early child curriculum encourages movement through creative free play and in structured activities. Woodworking and finger knitting, learned in kindergarten, develop fine motor skills for writing in later years.

Storytelling and song stimulate creativity and nonlinear thought, vital to the development of critical thinking skills and problem-solving. Gardening teaches children about the life cycle and our environment, while keeping in tune with the seasons and harvesting healthy foods to be eaten at snack time.

In this digital age, media and technology are central to our lives. Camellia encourages keeping both from young children until they are developmentally able to handle the intense sensory input.

The interdisciplinary curriculum for the grades balances the sciences, humanities, and the arts. Subjects include math, science and history, as well as music, art and woodworking.

According to a standardized test used at Camellia, 8th graders' average scores over the past 3 years were higher than the expected Grade Equivalent for all 9 academic subjects tested. Scores for 8 of 9 such subjects were at 10th grade level and higher.

Some Camellia graduates continue their education at the Sacramento Waldorf School in Fair Oaks, while others transition to public schools or private schools such as Christian Brothers and St. Francis High School.

According to a study of Waldorf graduates in North America, 94 percent attend college and nearly 80 percent intend to attend graduate school.

The same study reported that 47 percent of undergraduates majored in arts and humanities, 43 percent in math and science, and the remaining 10 percent in a variety of other fields.

Camellia Waldorf School’s annual tuition is $8,675. Considered low for a Waldorf school, it is expensive for the average family.

What most people do not know is that, perhaps unlike other local private schools, Camellia provides more than $170,000 in tuition assistance to an unprecedented 42 percent of its student population.

Contrary to public perception, 10 percent of Camellia students would qualify for free or reduced lunch in a public school. This Waldorf School is committed to providing its integrated curriculum to a socio-economically diverse population. Parents of all backgrounds make sacrifices to send their children to this school.

The school's mission is to educate by “honoring childhood, appreciating the individuality of each student and nurturing a sense of moral and ethical responsibility while building capacities for learning and encouraging clear and creative thinking.”

Camellia Waldorf School is more than a school. It is an educational community of committed staff, faculty and parents that strives to achieve and live a shared mission.

On Dec. 12, the school will host its 21st Annual Winter Faire, open to the public. This event offers a variety of activities for children such as puppet shows, storytelling, craft activities, and a store just for children to select gifts for family and friends.

Over 40 local artisans and craft vendors will be selling handcrafted items and unique gifts for holiday shopping.

This year the Faire will offer free demonstrations on beekeeping, hand-blown glass ornaments, and blacksmithing.

Festive and culturally diverse music and dance performances will also be free and include Kalpulli Xihuacoatl - Danza Azteka, the Southern Brothers Drum Group, Val Shadowhawk, the Nada Brahma Music Ensemble, Agua de Beber Capoeira, The Benny’s and the Ntshiab Li Nag Hmong dancers.

A “Gingerbread Creations” exhibit will feature the "work" of local architects and housing developers. The public, too, will be invited to build gingerbread structures.

The “Golden Ladle Soup Competition” will serve gourmet soups from local restaurants including Ella Dining Room and Bar and Magpie Café to be judged by local celebrities, such as Mai Pham from Lemongrass Restaurant, Sonney Chong from CAPITAL, Paulette Bruce of The Dining Divas, and Councilmembers Rob Fong and Kevin McCarty.

This event is open to the public and free. Some activities require nominal fees. Celebrate the winter season at this exciting event! CWS, 5701 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 427-5022. See www.camelliawaldorf.org for more information.

This article was submitted by Marisa Cheung, Camellia Waldorf School Parent, and Meredith Johanson, Camellia Waldorf School Administrator.

Neighborhood Services' Spooky Hall 2009

2009-10-26T23:38:09Z

The Neighborhood Services Department invites you and your children to join us this Friday from 10am to 3pm for a fun and safe Halloween trick or treat celebration at New City Hall (915 I Street).

Ghosts, goblins, and characters of Halloween will roam the passages of City Hall giving away sweets and treats.

We look forward to seeing you.

School Board meeting and the issues brought up

2009-10-22T07:27:46Z

The Sacramento City School District held a board meeting on 10-15-09 at Kennedy high school in which many issues that the school district is facing for the year were discussed in a public forum.

The big issue at the board meeting revolved around the hours being to cut to instructional aides who work with special needs children. The aide’s hours are being cut from 6 hours to 5 hours. Some parents were extremely upset about the cuts. One parent Rebekah Norris whose daughter has been going to school for almost 14 years expressed her frustration over the cuts. Ms. Norris said “the budget cuts have put her special needs daughter safety at risk.”Her concerns were of such things as bathroom duties and in the classroom. Ms. Norris shared a story in which her daughter got lost looking for the bathroom and she said “it wouldn’t have happened if someone was there to help her daughter.” The instructional aides were upset because the special needs kids weren’t going to be getting enough help with the cuts to the hours. One instructional aide Emily Barajas said “271 instructional aides had their hours lost hours.” The hours were being cut from 6 to 5 hours. Ms. Barajas said “that her and the other instructional aides feel underappreciated and want their hours restored.”

Another issue that was brought up at the board meeting was H1N1 virus and the precautions that are being taken. Superintendent and board secretary Jonathan Raymond said “the district has implemented a hand washing policy to combat the H1N1 virus.” There had only been a minimal amount of cases of H1N1 cases so far this school year but they were prepared for more cases to come as we move farther along into the winter and flu season.

The census count which will occur early next year was brought up by the board during the meeting. The board members all emphasized the importance that everyone be counted for the census next year. If California gets an accurate count next year not only will the schools get more money but California will be able to keep its congressional seat. If California doesn’t have an accurate count next year we will lose our congressional seat for the first time in over 100 years. It has never happened to California yet either. Board Member Diana Rodriquez said “Being counted in the census is everybody’s constitional right. The census will go out in March and will be counted on August 1, 2010.

The meeting itself concluded with the approval of the minutes and was the closed. The school district faces many issues this from the H1N1 to budget cuts that have lead to the hours of instructional aide’s hours being cut. They have many obstacles ahead of them including tuff decisions such as the budget but these things hopefully will improve in the near future,

Cooking Doesn't Have To Add Extra Stress To Your Work Week

2009-10-15T01:17:52Z

Being a mother means that you have a ton of things to juggle on an everyday basis. However, being a mother does not mean that you have to suffer or feel overwhelmed about your daily activities. One activity that many moms might view as a chore is cooking. Women across the country are constantly looking for ways to provide nutritious meals for their families while making sure that they do not spend too much time in the kitchen. “Cooking All Together” is an online show designed to motivate families to get in the kitchen and cook with their children. Our hosts are a 31year old working mother (Ciara) and her 7 year old daughter (whose nick name is Nani). "Cooking All Together" provides its viewers with a warm, refreshing, family atmosphere that they can learn to implement in their own homes.
Ciara and Nani have decided to provide you with a few recipes that you can implement on your own that will allow you to eat a tasty meal without feeling as though you had to put it lots of work. Keep in mind that the goal is to take stress of the parents while spending time with the kids. Have fun!

Helpful Tips: Please remember to place a washable/ disposable table cloth down (for easy clean up). Please remember to encourage your child to be creative and to have fun! You should also try to have all of your supplies set out before you begin these activities (with your child). This will allow everyone to have a more enjoyable experience!

Taco Salad Recipe
Ingredients Needed:
Precooked taco seasoned turkey or hamburger meat (follow directions on packet)
Crushed Tortillas Chips
Bag of Salad/ Lettuce
Kidney Beans
Cheese (grated)
Sour Cream
Avocado (sliced)
Sliced Olives
Salsa
Green Onions (sliced)

Directions:
To begin, please have everyone wash their hands. This is a very simple meal! All you have to do is have everyone fill their bowls with all of THEIR favorite ingredients above. Once that has been done, dig in and enjoy this delicious and satisfying meal!

Lemon/ Strawberry Surprise
Ingredients Needed:
Lemon Muffins (Cake)
Strawberries (3 per person)
Strawberry Ice Cream
Powdered Sugar

Directions:
To begin, please have everyone wash their hands. Next, place muffin tops in a bowl and heat them in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds. Next, wash and slice strawberries. Then, place a scoop of strawberry ice cream on top of the muffin. Next, place sliced strawberries on top of the strawberry ice cream. Lastly, sprinkle powdered sugar on the top of your yummy treat and enjoy!

One Pot Roast Beef
Ingredients Needed:
Beef Stock (64 oz/ enough to fully cover roast)
3lbs Beef Roast
Olive Oil
½ Red Onion Sliced
Baby Carrots (1 cup)
3 to 4 Potatoes (pealed and chopped into quarters)
Minced Garlic (2 tablespoons)
Seasoned Salt
Black Pepper
No Salt Seasoning/ Mrs. Dash

Directions:
First, rinse and season each side of the roast (to taste) with seasoned salt, black pepper and no salt seasoning. Next, coat the bottom of your frying pan with Olive Oil. Next, heat the pan on a medium high setting. Next, place the roast and minced garlic in the heated pan for 5-7 minutes (on each side) or until it a crispy dark coating (on both sides). Next, place your pan seared roast, cooked garlic drippings and the remaining ingredients in the crock pot. Cook roast on the lowest setting for 6-8 hours (roast must be totally submerged in beef stock). Turn the crock pot off and let the roast rest in juices for 30 to 60 minutes (prior to serving). Last but not least, slice roast and dig in!
Christmas Cookies Recipe
Ingredients Needed:
Pre-made Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Frosting
Food Coloring
Various Types of Sprinkles
Plastic Knives (1 per child)
Paper Plates

Directions:
To begin, please have everyone wash their hands.
Next, decide what color frosting your child would like to use to frost the cookies.
Please follow the directions on the box of the food coloring to create the desired colors.
Next, use the plastic knife to frost the top of the cookie.
Next, place sprinkles or other candy topping to complete the cookie masterpiece!

Graham Cracker Ginger Bread House Recipe
Ingredients Needed:
Graham Crackers (6 halves per house)
Vanilla Frosting
Food Coloring
Various Types of Candy (Be creative)
Various Types of Sprinkles
Powered Sugar (optional)
Plastic Knives (1 per child)
Large Cookie Sheet
Paper Plates

Directions:
TIP: If time permits please pre-make each house at least 1 hour in advance. Otherwise, your house will probably fall apart as you begin to decorate it!

To begin, please have everyone wash their hands.
You will need six graham cracker halves to create one house.
First, place frosting on each side (four side’s total) of the graham cracker half.
Continue to do this until you have created a block (four halves needed)
Next, place the remaining two halves on top of the block, (frosting on each side as well) to create your roof.
Next, use additional frosting to fill in any gaps along the edges and corners.
Again, please allow at least one hour to dry to ensure a sturdy house (otherwise it is a huge mess)!

Next, decide what color frosting your child would like to use to decorate their house.
Please follow the directions on the box of the food coloring to create the desired colors.
Place the various candies on plates for easier access.
Now that they are dry let your child begin to decorate their house by using their imagination!
For an added effect, use a sifter to sprinkle powered sugar over the completed house to give the allusion of snow.
Don’t forget to take out the camera to snap pictures for your scrapbook!

For more questions or comments email us at ciaraandnani@yahoo.com or look us up on FACEBOOK.

Editor's Note: Ciara Anguay is the Marketing Director for "Cooking ALL Together".

Put 'yer Hoes Down!

2009-09-28T22:21:13Z

Come join us in celebrating 22 years of the Hoes Down Harvest Celebration in the Capay Valley (Yolo County). This celebration will promote agricultural arts and sustainable rural living through two fun-filled days of workshops and events. Located within two hours of San Francisco and Sacramento’s busy metropolitan areas, the rural Capay Valley region is home to many small farms that supply Northern California’s families, restaurants, and neighborhood grocery stores with fresh organic produce. The Celebration will offer the public a special chance to enjoy rural life and deepen their understanding and connection to the local food system.

On Saturday, October 3rd, the Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm will feature educational farm tours, a magical children’s area, games, live music, local farm products and an abundance of fresh, organic food! Hay rides, pulled by a team of draft horses, will continuously tour the farm. Workshops will be offered on an array of agricultural topics such as tree pruning, herb gardening, solar energy, compost-making and more! A craft marketplace will showcase farm-made products and an all-organic farmers’ market boasts the bounty of the season: fresh picked almonds and walnuts, a huge variety of melons, apples and, of course, pumpkins! The children’s area has been described as the “Best in the State” with arts and crafts, storytelling and music, farm animals to visit and lots of games and contests -- all with an agricultural theme. Kids will have a chance to watch a cow being milked, make felt out of wool and grind their own corn. Adults also have a chance to join in games and contests; be sure not to miss the Manure Pitch-Off, which really lets you get your hands dirty! Over 4,000 people from across the state attended our last Harvest Festival, California’s premier sustainable agriculture festival. There is an admission charge: Adults $20.00 per person, Children 2-12 years $5.00, children under 2 years of age free. Camping on Saturday night: $20 per car. Full Belly Farm is off of State Highway 16, just past Guinda in the Capay Valley.

On Sunday, October 4th, a variety of in-depth on farm seminars will be offered on various farms throughout the Capay Valley, highlighting the agricultural diversity of the region. On farm seminars will include topics such as olive oil making, alternative energy, sausage making, butchering, and plant propagation. Admission for individual workshops: $10-35. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited so register early!

The Hoes Down Harvest Celebration is a program of the Ecological Farming Association a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. All proceeds from the event will go to benefit sustainable agriculture, local organizations and worthy projects benefiting the environment and rural communities.

For more information on both these events, please visit www.hoesdown.org or email info@hoesdown.org or call (800) 791-2110.

A Walk for Our Kids: 100% of Donations Go Directly to Specialty Services at Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento

2009-09-11T18:01:50Z

SACRAMENTO – In a new twist to the benefit walk, area residents who support the health of our region’s children will walk Arden Fair Mall on Saturday, Oct. 17, as part of Together for Kids’ fund-raising campaign called Walk Across America. A full 100 percent of the funds raised during the local walk will go directly to the specialty care services at the Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, where many of the children throughout the region and beyond receive their care from birth to 18 years old for conditions ranging from low birth weight, cancer and brain tumors to diabetes and congenital heart defects.

The goal of the Sacramento walk is to help bring better health care to more of Northern California children by offsetting the shrinking funding for children’s health care from public and private sources. All funds raised by the Walk Across America at Arden Fair will stay in our community and help the Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento address the most pressing needs of young patients in Northern California.

The Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, is a comprehensive pediatric medical center, which serves as the regional referral center for neonatal and pediatric care for more than 23 counties and 48 hospitals throughout Northern California, Southern Oregon and Northern Nevada. It is the only medical center in the greater Sacramento area that offers on-site, 24-hour, board-certified pediatric intensivists and neonatologists, as well as 24-hour on-call pediatric anesthesiologists. Services begin for the children at birth; the Children's Center is home to Northern California's premier neonatal intensive care unit that treats hundreds of babies a year, including quadruplets and other multiples.

Because of its breadth of services, excellent outcomes and quality care, the Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento has national recognition as a specialty children's hospital from the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions and is the first community, non-university hospital to hold this NACHRI designation. It is also the only non-teaching facility in Northern California granted associate membership with the California Children's Hospital Association.

“The funds raised during this walk will go a long way toward providing necessary medical services for our young patients in the greater Sacramento region,” said Dr. Gregory Janos, medical director of the Children’s Center at SMCS. “These services range from Sutter’s comprehensive pediatric oncology, neurology and cardiac programs to such groundbreaking services as our Pediatric Healthy Lifestyles Program, which is fighting adolescent obesity.”

Walkers and non-walkers alike can participate in Walk Across America by registering online at the Together for Kids Web site, www.togetherforkids.org. To sign up to walk or to make a donation to a walker, choose Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. Walkers will meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on the second level of Arden Fair Mall, located at 1689 Arden Way, and will be treated to donations by some of the Arden Fair merchants, including breakfast items. Walkers can also sign up at the event. Major sponsors of the walk are the Children's Specialists Medical Group of Sacramento and SAFE Credit Union.

“Usually, these types of benefit walks are held in the great outdoors, but sometimes it’s not safe to exercise outside due to the weather and smog, or because of diseases such as asthma,” said Celeste Chin, co-chair of the Arden Fair Walk Across America for Sutter Medical Center Foundation. “This mall walk sends a message to the children and adults of the region that you can get your exercise just about anywhere – including the mall.”

Together for Kids was launched in 2007 and is committed to providing an urgently needed national fundraising mechanism to support the work of member hospitals such as the Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. Dr. Janos and other pediatric specialists from Together for Kids hospitals who make up its Physicians Advisory Committee have prioritized childhood obesity and accident prevention as critical challenges on which hospitals will work together to make a real difference.

National statistics show that the percentage of overweight children jumped from 6 percent in the 1980s to 17 percent in 2007. Obesity puts children at risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In addition, the leading cause of death for children age 1 to 14 is accidental injuries – more than all other causes of death for this age group combined. Each year, 20 percent to 25 percent of all children in the United States – more than 39,000 each day – will sustain an injury serious enough to require medical attention and/or bed rest.

Together for Kids (www.togetherforkids.org) is a national alliance of children’s hospitals and other hospitals serving children. The organization provides an urgently needed national fundraising mechanism for its member hospitals, helping them care for seriously ill children and tackle the toughest health issues facing all kids, with a focus on childhood obesity and injury prevention. The organization was established in 2007 and consists of 53 hospitals in 47 U.S. cities.

The Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento is located at Sutter Memorial Hospital, 5151 F St., in Sacramento, and specializes in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, pediatric neurosurgery, oncology and cardiovascular surgery. The Children’s Center is affiliated with Sutter Health, a not-for-profit, community-based health system located throughout Northern California. For more information on Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, visit the website at suttermedicalcenter.org.

Video Phones Bring Teachers and Students Together

2009-09-11T09:01:14Z

Ever since the 1950’s, the video telephones has been flaunted as an inevitability. And yet 50 years later, at a time when cell phones and the internet are considered essential services by most, video telephone phones remain a mere possibility to all but 0.7% of all households in the U.S.

That number may change dramatically if the teachers and tutors at the Neuro-Linguistic Learning Center in El Dorado Hills, California have their way. The NLC has unveiled a new In-Home Tutoring Program that offers free video telephones to families with children who are struggling in school.

The in-home tutoring program is aimed at kindergarten though high school children struggling with chronic learning problems like those often associated with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Autism. “These families often find it difficult or impossible to get competent, appropriate tutoring for their children,” according to Gerald Hughes, Director of the Neuro-Linguistic Learning Center in El Dorado Hills, California. “Many of the families who come to our Center drive one, two, sometimes three hours just to get their children the help they need.”

The new program brings the resources teachers and tutors right into the homes of the children who need it most. Unlike traditional tutoring services which require either the student or teacher to travel to meet the other, this new in-home tutoring program allows families to have their own personal NLC Tutor or Learning Specialist working one-on-one with their child right in their own home. Instead of interrupting important homework time or disrupting the family schedule, the in-home program provides immediate help to the student when and where it is needed.

In addition to struggling students, the NLC has specialized programs for advanced students and home-schooling families who may need a little help to keep their children on track and moving forward. “I’m not saying we should completely abandon our current educational system,” says Lauren Meade, mother of two home-schooled children with ADHD, “but for many bright children who need something different, this new program is a God-send.”

The Neuro-Linguistic Learning Center is one of several facilities that specialize in working with children and adults who are struggling with the effect of Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism and other learning challenges. “We’ve always worked to educate and empower the parents to take our programs back into the home,” says Mr. Hughes. “The video phone was the logical next step in providing the best service we can to our children and their families.”

In so doing, the NLC has definitely raised the bar for the tutoring industry. By offering free video phones as a part of every educational program, Mr. Hughes hopes to transform education around the country and, perhaps, around the world.

Interested families can receive more information on the Free Video Phone Programs by contacting the Gerald Hughes or the NLC directly at (916) 358-5803 or visiting their web site, www.swish4fish.com.

Art for the beasts

2009-07-29T01:10:23Z

Hey parents, wondering how to keep your little beasts - er, I mean children - busy for the rest of the summer?

Let your free-range kids explore Artbeast, a newly opened art studio for the little ones in midtown Sac.

It's full of art exploration rooms and loads of classes.

Kids can really dig into the arts. An ArtBeast monthly

membership offers unlimited time in the open studio and

arts exploration rooms, and one or two weekly arts classes.

Let 'em get their feet muddy.

And their hands, too!

They'll love it. Really!

They can sing and mess around playing somebody else. Dramatic play spaces

change monthly so children can explore the creation of story lines with ever

changing scenery, props, costumes, and puppets.

The can even make believe as puppeteers.

Or play hide and seek from their playmates.

Work out their frustrations on the heavy duty clay.

Lots of beads for necklaces.

Artbeast is a great way for parents to interact with the young ones - the

paint is unlimited!

Mini-sized easels for the little Picasso wanna-bes.

Some like to wash away the paint that others put on.

Did we say there'is unlimited paint?

Bring your little beasts to Artbeast for dance, yoga, storytelling, singing, Spanish, visual arts, music, movement, and dramatic arts.

The paint never runs out, the clay is always ready to be molded or pounded, the drums played and mud walked in!

Every dime given to Art Beast directly supports and sustains Tubman House, a nonprofit that serves young, homeless parents and their children.
Tubman House is a free, 18 month transitional living program for Sacramento's homeless, parenting youth. At Tubman House, youth experience dynamic coursework, community support, counseling and healthy living so that they leave prepared to be leaders in their own lives and the lives of their communities.

Artbeast is located at 2226 K St., midtown Sacramento.

Photos | Kati Garner

FREE Fishing Derby at Granite Regional Park

2009-07-18T00:16:00Z

Grab your poles, bring your kids and come on out for some good ol' fun, family fishing at Granite Regional Park.

I am proud to say thanks to myself, a few other volunteers, and several sponsors, the Annual Gone Fishin’ Derby – an event held at Granite Regional Park for the past five years – will continue its sixth derby this year despite the bad economy and the Director’s medical conditions. The event will take place on Saturday, August 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Granite Point area of Granite Regional Park and is open to the public. Refreshments will be provided at no cost, along with loaner fishing poles from the Department of Fish and Game for those needing it. Children’s prizes will be rewarded for various fishing contests, and raffle prizes will be available for adults who wish to purchase tickets. In addition, a clothes drive will be held to benefit the St. John’s Shelter for Women & Children.

The Gone Fishin’ Derby event first started in 2003 by Tom Burruss, a local community member and activist formally with the Avondale Action Committee. Tom noticed the lack of community events for kids and families in the neighborhood and decided to put together a fishing derby, an event the community can be proud of to call their own. Tom, a one-man-shop (with assistance from his wife), coordinated the event from his home with his own personal funds, along with some donations from WalMart.

This year’s event was originally going to be cancelled due to Tom’s limited mobility access in preparation for his hip replacement surgery. It was then when a friend agreed to pledge $1,000 for the event, while others agreed to help coordinate the event. From there, several local businesses and organizations stepped up pledging to sponsor additional funds.

“The volunteer staff, Department of Fish and Game and the businesses within the Power Inn corridor who have stepped up to make this event happen are prime examples of a community that cares deeply about its youth,” says Tom. “It gives me great pleasure to know that something I started can now be carried on by some very caring and generous people. For that I thank all who are involved.”

The Annual Gone Fishin’ Derby is currently an unincorporated association that is applying for their non-profit 501(c)3 exempt status. The group presently consists of four individuals who are diligently volunteering their time to make this year’s event the best yet.

To learn more about the Annual Gone Fishin’ Derby or to pre-register, visit www.gonefishinderby.org or contact Tom Burruss at (916) 392-0154 or via e-mail at tomburruss@comcast.net.

To view St. John’s Shelter’s wish list, please visit www.stjohnsshelter.org.

Sponsors: BLT Enterprises, HDR|The Hoyt Company, Jackson Properties, Power Inn Alliance, Granite Park Partners, Teichert, Stonebridge Properties, and WalMart

Balancing the budget topples hopes

2009-07-01T19:16:00Z

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) congregated at the steps of the Capitol to voice their frustrations with how the state legislature is handling the budget.

Yvonne Walker, President of the SEIU, opened the rally with a fiery speech about how state workers “are on the tipping point,” with the continued proposals to cut state workers’ pay and adding a third furlough day.

Walker described the two-day furlough already in place for state workers as “the equivalent of one month’s pay.” She explained an additional day of unpaid leave would increase the financial burden on state workers, causing some to lose their homes.

Workers were well aware of this possibility as they walked circles around the Capitol lawn, some waving signs that read, “The future face of poverty.”

The impacts of pay-cuts have had severe effects on the lives of the workers.

“I have two children and I cannot afford a fifteen percent pay cut as a single mother,” said Kendra White, a tax technician. She added, “I already can’t pay my bills,” though the further proposed cuts have yet to be implemented.

Richard Wilcox Jr. is an employment program representative who processes employment insurance claims forms. He attended the protest in solidarity for his fellow workers.

“Some of them are at a point where they are actually filing for unemployment insurance claims forms,” seeking the exact help they provide as a part of their job, he said.

Some of the rally attendees held up signs that referenced the safety and well-being of their children. “I’m having to make choices about my kids being in daycare, and in a potentially dangerous situation” said Angela Ramirez, a DMV employee.

“I had to actually check with child services to see if it was okay to leave her home for a few hours out of the day until the lunch hour when I could come home,” Ramirez said.

She touched on current situations at her office that reflect the effects of the budget cuts on the community as a whole. “We’re backlogged, and customers are disappointed that the services are taking a lot longer.”

These services include filing paperwork dealing with DUI offenders. “Getting drunk drivers off the road is getting longer. The paperwork is taking longer,” she remarked.

“We’re doing a disservice to the community, not only the workers but the state of California,” Ramirez said.

Members of the SEIU have pin-pointed many ways to re-direct pressure off of state workers. “We’ve identified $34.7 billion in private outsourced contracts,” Walker said, hoping that the amount of money pouring into private contracts is reduced.

“One idea which I have,” said Wilcox, “is basically we start taxing oil companies for the oil that they drill out of ca public land.” The same is currently done in Alaska where they “actually make enough money where every year the Alaska state government sends its citizens checks.”

While he does not think the possibility of drilling an equivalent amount of oil in California is possible to generate that income, “it could at least offset the hurt.”

The SEIU planned to have a candle-light vigil and spend the night on the Capitol lawn, but some of the coordinators called it off because it looked like the legislature was not going to be in session that evening.

The protest at the Capitol Tuesday evening was a precursor to today’s rally. The SEIU expects over 2,000 workers to convene at the Capitol around noon to rally against the projected cuts.

2nd annual California Children's Rally

2009-06-24T21:53:25Z

A swarm of children took over the Capitol Tuesday to defend education in the face of massive budget cuts.

Ranging in age from eight years old to 18 years old, students from all over California sought to answer the question, "What is the purpose of public schools?"

The Children's Rally, coordinated by Sandra Tsing Loh, an author and member of the Burning Moms organization, is a congregation of young students as participatory citizens in the political dialogue of their state legislature.

The Burning Moms originated as a group of parents, fathers included, who had frustrations about the education system in California. “I'm a Proposition 13 baby, and my children continue to be affected by the way funding is done in California,” said Loh.

The purpose of the event was to, “Get our children in the habit of coming to the Capitol and meeting with their legislature,” Loh added.

The style of activism is “more hands-on, more creative, and uses what we know about the Internet,” she said. The Burning Moms work in a Burning Man spirit, the week-long annual event in the Black Rock desert of Nevada that celebrates art and community, and commissioned students to install a giant, interpretive art piece on the Capitol steps.

This year the Children’s Rally coincided with Senator Gloria Romero’s informational hearing on SB 604, which would obtain input from students, parents, teachers, and members of the public about the mission of public education in California, and include a preamble to the Education Code.

Senator Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, highlighted the purpose of the hearing in an interview, “We want to hear from students; they are rarely represented in California.”

In the span of an hour and a half, several elementary, middle and high school students took the stand to testify on their school experiences and to provide feedback for reform measures. Almost every student addressed increasing sizes in classrooms and a general lack of funding.

“It is important that a classroom has proper equipment, but equipment is nothing if there isn’t a teacher who has a good salary,” said 11-year-old Amira Telloch.

Telloch continued to express her hopes for the future of education, “It is also important to have a fun, nice, clean and safe school system that celebrates diversity, encourages ideas, is open to change, listens to all ideas from adults and children, and provides a good education for all children who seek one.”

Heather Wiley Cox, a soon-to-be fifth grader in Burbank County, was deeply concerned about the trouble students will have as a result of bigger classrooms. “There will be more children that will have trouble focusing and will be getting less assistance from their teachers,” she said.

She touched on Proposition 13 and addressed the legislative body saying the proposition, “corrupted your inability to balance our state’s budget,” and she demanded, “Roll up your sleeves, drop your agenda, and take a good look at what our state needs.”

The audience was taken aback by the passion and eloquence in her speech, as with many other young students, hearing the word "wow," circulate the room quickly.

After the hearing the children and their parents convened on the West Steps of the Capitol for a kazoo parade. State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, led the tune, "Saints go Marching In," for the kazoo parade and expressed his gratitude for student participation in the day’s events.

Assembly woman Julia Brownley also made an appearance at the event. Sandra Tsing Loh led her to the interactive art installation equipped with a spinning wheel to see what will be cut next from the budget. The installation was political in nature, commenting on legislation that “goes nowhere” at times, said Assembly woman Brownley.

Senator Romero said she is trying to combat this by focusing the Education Code with a mission statement, “If we had a clear direction and purpose, I think we could begin to answer the question and to provide for stronger certitude as to what we expect from our public school system.”

This direction begins with the students themselves. The diversity in their backgrounds, coming from magnet, public, and technology specific schools showed the solidarity among young people in regards to the future of education. “You talk about how if you do this you will be saving the future of the state, but you are cutting the education of the children that are the future of the state,” said Wiley Cox.

Students from Los Angeles to San Francisco were able to mingle with important state figures yesterday, and their voices were heard. In these trying times, young students are recognizing the difficulty of looking to the future of education, and they are doing something about it.

For more information, click the following links:
California Children's Rally
The Burning Moms
Senate Bill Number 604

SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school

2009-06-12T15:09:40Z

The SCUSD Board of Education voted 5 – 1, with 1 abstention, to drastically reduce summer school programs for the next two years - effective immediately. The decision eliminates all programs for elementary and middle school students, and reduces summer school for high school students. In addition, special education programs will be reduced and adult school programs will either be reduced or converted to a fee based system. The decision will also impact almost 300 district employees, some of whom planned to report to work as early as today.

In her opening statements, Interim Superintendent Susan Miller stressed that the budget for this and next fiscal year was balanced as of May 14th, but then “the bottom fell out” and the district was forced to use stimulus funds. She added that they were leaving “no stone unturned” but that after years of “cutting to the core of instruction” vital services including employee contracts, support staff and transportation were being considered for cuts.

Ellyne Bell (Area 1), the only member to vote against the decision, asked what resources the district would provide to schools who will now be charged with the difficult task of bringing students up to grade level without summer school programs. Miller had no clear solutions to offer and stated only that it would be “reasonable to expect that (schools) will have to lead the charge to work (extra instruction) into the school year” and that the district would make “assisting them a high priority.”

Bell expressed deep reservations regarding the suggestion and reminded the board that they “made a commitment to keep cuts as far away from kids as possible.”

Board Member Diana Rodriguez (Area 5) raised questions regarding alternative options, such as charging a small fee for summer school. While SCUSD counsel suggested this might violate the K-12 constitution for California, district staff admitted the matter had not been researched. No other alternative options were presented to the board. The proposal also contained no information on the long-term impact of eliminating summer school programs for below grade level students.

With most summer schools slated to begin on June 22 and some beginning as early as today, the board had little time to consider researching other options.

Nine members of the community spoke publicly against further reduction of summer school programs, urging the board to “just say no, for a change” and expressing frustrations about the lateness of the proposal.

Supt. Miller addressed the crowd directly, urging them to understand that there were no ulterior motives behind the lateness of the special meeting. Current budget conditions left the district with no choice but to take immediate action.

Donald Terry (Area 3) also spoke frankly to the audience. He applauded his colleagues for making tough decisions in a difficult budget year and encouraged attendees to “pick up a newspaper and look at what other districts are doing.”

Jerry Houseman (Area 2) was the last to address the crowd. He admitted making the suggestion to Supt. Miller after he discovered that the Los Angeles Unified School District, which “represents ¼ of the students in the state,” was forced to cut summer school. “We need to join them,” he added. Houseman also stressed the importance or renegotiating union contracts and pointed out that salaries comprised 88% of the existing budget.

Roy Grimes (Area 6), Patrick Kennedy (Area 7), Houseman and Terry voted for the reductions. Gustavo Arroyo (Area 4) abstained from voting and Bell was the only “no” vote.

Program Reductions Defined (taken from the SCUSD proposal)

Eliminate Summer School Programs

Elementary and Middle Schools (for 2 years)
Adult Education (ESL, GEB, ABE, Distance Learning, Older Adults)

Convert Adult Education CTE Classes to Fee Based

Shift Cost of PACE/HISP/IB to Site & Grant Funds

Maintain Special Populations Programs to Close the Achievement Gap

Culturally & Linguistically Reponsive Pedagogy Programs
Hmong, Mien, Lao Program
Refugee Student Assistance Program
CSUS Math/ELA Academy

Maintain High School Programs with Modifications

Eliminate On-line Credit Recovery
Concurrent Enrollment with Adult Ed.

Let's continue EARTH DAY

2009-05-07T15:02:58Z

SACSCUBA Dive for Earth Day continued at HURRICANE BAY LAKE TAHOE. We will be making a Splash

Lake Tahoe, CA– This 21st day, 2009 June, SACSCUBA and community volunteers will join in the action for Project AWARE Foundation’s global Dive for Earth Day events continuation. More than 300 collective events will take place in over 100 countries around the world and SACSCUBA will make a local splash for this conservation celebration.

Join SACSCUBA hikers, bikers, walkers, divers and snorkel volunteers to keep Lake Tahoe clean. Let’s start the summer off right! We will be meeting at 9am. Please stop by Sacramento Scuba World, Sacramento or Fisheye Scuba, Folsom.

Each year, divers and water enthusiasts worldwide make a splash for water conservation in partnership with Project AWARE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to underwater conservation. This year events include shoreline and underwater cleanups, coral reef surveys, AWARE Kids projects, mooring buoy installations and more.

Please contact: John Day at SACSCUBA to take action for our Earth Day continuation this year. We really need folks to help on the shore, bike path and bushes.

Earth Day began in the United States on 22 April 1970 to raise the status of environmental issues to the global stage. In 2000, Project AWARE began to help dive volunteers put aquatic issues on the Earth Day map. Since that time thousands of divers in 115 countries around the world have helped protect underwater environments and educate local communities each April.

This year SACSCUBA decided to keep up the effort and add a Local clean-up at Hurricane Bay Lake Tahoe.

Project AWARE Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. www.projectaware.org.

Contact: JOHN DAY, SACSCUBA
Email: divetraveltrain@gmail.com

Crocker Announces Summer Art Classes for Children, Teens & Adults

2009-04-23T18:14:15Z

This summer let the Crocker Art Museum’s world-class art collection be your source for exploration, instruction and inspiration. The Crocker presents more than 20 educational opportunities this summer for children, teens and adults interested in expanding and exercising their artistic awareness and abilities. All classes are taught by highly skilled teaching artists and are designed to encourage students to unleash their imaginations while receiving formal lessons in color, line, texture and a variety of media.

Summer Art Classes for children range from two-day workshops to week-long sessions, and this year marks the first series of Summer Art Classes for Adults. The Crocker’s Teen Action Team has also planned three half-day workshops and events for teens. Each session is designed for a particular age group and taught by local artists using artwork from the Crocker collection and changing exhibitions for inspiration.

Registration is now open and Crocker members receive discounts. Session fees range from $40 to $145 per student and include class materials and refreshments.

Classes and workshops vary by location. Due to construction for the Museum’s expansion, most summer classes for children are held offsite at the West Sacramento Civic Center Galleria, located at 1110 West Capitol Avenue, approximately five minutes from the Crocker.
For more information, contact the Education Department at (916) 808-1182 or education@crockerartmuseum.org. Download a registration form at crockerartmuseum.org/summer.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; Thursday until 9 p.m. Admission is free on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.