Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver kicked-off the holiday season at the 78th Annual State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony, themed A Season of Giving. Due to an earlier forecast of bad weather, the outdoor event was been cancelled and the ceremony was held in the State Capitol Rotunda, standing room only. Wyatt Iles (pronounced Isles), of Pomona, California, was selected from the more than 245,000 children and adults served by the Department of Developmental Services to help the Governor light the tree. Wyatt is an eight year old boy who at the age of three was diagnosed with Autism and began receiving services from the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center. Thi

A 1950s Lionel train advertisement shows a father, mother, little girl and boy peering into a window display featuring a model train going through a city, over a bridge and into the mountains. The father appears to be the most interested -- head cocked, hand on his chin, ready to help his child build the toy train set. An adjacent Lionel Train advertisement shows a father sitting on the ground assembling a train set, while his son sits in the background frowning. California State Railroad Museum's "Some Assembly Required" exhibit, which opened today, featured a somewhat similar scene. Many families were in the museum, but the historical toy exhibit seemed to strike the strongest chord wi

Monday, Nov. 16 Noon - 1 p.m. Sacramento Area Coalition Against the Death Penalty will be holding a noon-hour vigil in opposition of the death penalty on the north steps of the Capitol. 15 people are expected. Tuesday, Nov. 17 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Following a tradition which began 27 years ago, State Department of General Services employees will raise the California's official Christmas tree, a 55-foot fir, on the west lawn of the Capitol. After its delivery by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, it will be trimmed and adorned with 1,500 handmade ornaments created by developmentally disabled Californians. The Governor and First Lady's official tree lighting ceremony o

It took about thirteen extra seconds, but at the end of a rousing countdown Midtown got its own Christmas Tree. Here is the video of the countdown. Tonight the Midtown Business Association, The City of Sacramento, and California State Parks all helped light up the beautiful Christmas tree at Sutter's Fort on the corner of 26th and K streets. Vice Mayor Steve Cohn, California state assemblymember Dave Jones, and Mayor Kevin Johnson all had kind words for the crowd. There was plenty of cheer in the crowd. Sometimes living in Midtown it feels like there are no families or kids in the nighborhood, but at this event families and children were front and center. The kids running around playin