If you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, but fears sharks and sunburns or just don’t have the time to drive to Santa Cruz , you can head to Elk Grove to try out the Flowrider, the indoor surfing wave at new business called Surf Xtreme. Darla Parvizyar and her husband, Chris, opened Surf Xtreme at 3443 Laguna Blvd. May 1. In addition to the Flowrider, the complex also houses a 2,400-square-foot trampoline room, an outdoor paintball arena and a beer and wine bar. “We wanted something that was fun for all ages,” Darla Parvizyar said. “We love kids, and we love making people happy.” She said that the business was previously open and run by another owner, but issues with the humidity generated

These not-quite-spring gray days remind me why I left Washington state; to land in sunny Sacramento. I hopped in my car early this afternoon and headed south due to weather reports hyping the possibility of hail and thunder, I jaunted from Sacramento Marina to the northern edge of Elk Grove. Saw no hail or lighting. Did get rained on. Here's some dismal day dandies: Starting from the south the yellow flowers and stormy clouds caught my attention.

Anyone looking to discover all of the nooks and crannies of Sacramento can join the Sacramento Walking Sticks, a 27-year-old club that organizes year-round walks all over Sacramento. There are over 500 members in the Sacramento Walking Sticks, making it the largest walking club in the American Volkssport Association. The AVA is a walking organization with more than 300 clubs in the United States. The Walking Sticks organize walks in the Midtown and downtown areas as well as surrounding areas such as Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove. The walks are non-competitive, and each person can set his or her own pace. People will often walk with dogs and kids in strollers. The distance is typically 5

Grass roots organization Strive for Strength is hosting a retreat at the SASF/Bel Air Wong Family Community Center in Elk Grove on Monday, April 2, 9am-4pm. It is open to all females ages 12-18 who wish to learn more about social pressures, self-esteem, women's health issues, and other important topics. The objective is to inform, educate, and empower participants. Guest speakers are journalists Laura and Lisa Ling and national speaker and author Julie Marie Carrier, with KCRA 3 reporter Adrienne Bankert as MC. Registration is $45 and includes meals, a t-shirt, and a giveaway bag. For more information or to register, visit http://strive4strength.homestead.com or call 916-595-5999.

Lance Briggs, NFL linebacker of the Chicago Bears and comic book writer, visited his hometown on Friday, March 2, to celebrate the life of a legend.  At 3:30 p.m. you would have found an army of toddlers, a sprinkle of teenagers, and parents promptly at the Elk Grove Library, listening to one of the most memorable books of our time—“Green Eggs and Ham.”  “Green Eggs and Ham” was one of 44 books that Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, wrote and illustrated before he died in 1991.  Over his lifetime, his books have been purchased by around 200 million people worldwide and translated into 15 different languages, according to DrSeussArts.com.  As an acclaimed children’s b

The Elk Grove Force beat the Sacramento Donkey Fong, 33-23 in the final match, making Elk Grove the first champion of the annual Jumpstart 21 Hoops and Alley Oops Regional Celebrity Basketball Tournament. There were more than 250 attendants watching the game Monday afternoon at the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation basketball arena in Elk Grove. In the final match, Former Monarch Danielle Viglione of the Sacramento Donkey Fong injured her left ankle as she went for a rebound early in the game. In the last six minutes of the game, another Sacramento Donkey Fong player was injured: Rolland Foley III, 20, a Sacramento City College student, injured his knee. "I'm sad for my teammate

The National Basketball Association might still be in a lockout, but the Sacramento region is set to have a celebrity basketball tournament Nov 14. where eight teams representing Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Elk Grove, Roseville, West Sacramento, Rocklin, Citrus Heights and Sacramento are participating for a fundraising event. The Jumpstart 21 Hoops and Alley Oops Regional Celebrity Basketball Tournament is a three-on-three half-court basketball tournament fundraising event held by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (SACC). The proceeds will benefit Jumpstart 21, a workforce development and internship placement program by the SACC for young adults recently out of the foster care

Check Before You Burn Starts November 1 in Sacramento County and its Cities The fifth season of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District’s Check Before You Burn program starts November 1 and runs through February 29, 2012. Residential wood burning will be restricted or prohibited on days when fine particle pollution is forecast to be high. The law is in effect in Sacramento County and its cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento. Residents are required to Check Before You Burn. The District will restrict or prohibit the use of indoor and outdoor fireplaces and wood stoves, and fire pits and chimineas that burn wood, pell

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

What’s a sign that it’s officially summer in Sacramento? Summer is around the corner, and signs of the season are showing up everywhere in the city, the days are warmer and outside recreational activities begin to increase. The Sacramento Press stopped locals in the central city during the Second Saturday Art Walk, and asked, “What’s a sign that it’s officially summer in Sacramento?” Musician/singer Elijah Bell, 19, lives downtown and said he knows it’s summer when girls are walking around wearing less clothing. He added, “The days seem longer, and more songs come out on the radio.” Live music and local street performers are also more prevalent during summer on Second Saturdays. Stre

California Family Fitness has partnered with Sport Chalet to participate in a shoe drive to benefit the tsunami victims in Japan. All shoes that are donated will be sent directly to Soles4Souls for distribution to the Japanese people. “We highly encourage everyone in the community to donate at least one pair of shoes,” said Randy Karr, President of California Family Fitness. “It is devastating to see how the tsunami and earthquake in Japan has affected so many, which is why we have partnered with Sport Chalet in Soles4Souls to lend a helping hand and make a difference.” To donate to this very worthy cause, people can drop off gently worn shoes at either Sport Chalet or a California Famil

It was a night of dirty jokes by the ladies and for the ladies on Friday night at the Laguna Town Hall in Elk Grove, where the Real (Funny) Housewives of Rio Linda brought their comedic talents to the Laguna West neighborhood as part of their current tour of the Sacramento area. A near-capacity crowd made up of women of all ages, some of whom did bring their husbands or boyfriends, filled the hall, which was configured with a more intimate setup rather than a traditional auditorium stage. Without having any prior knowledge about these comedians and their show, one might go into it thinking all five of them perform at the same time as a group. Instead, Sinderella, Kristen Frisk, Kimmie Ka

Having special gifts are truly a blessing...for the most part. The Powers that Be, sometimes known as "God" or any of the other titles held, gives us these gifts when we are young. It is only the 'Prove it to me' scientific attitude of the World that makes us a little jaded and unbelieving and we begin to close off these portals of information; becoming one of those who rely on the scientific realm or begin asking for the tangible results. But what about those days when you just want to run into the market to grab a few things and the cosmic neon sign is on, blinking AND playing a message over the astral loudspeaker? Then the lady in line in front of you turns around and proceeds to give

The duel between two Sacramento County sheriff’s captains is nearly over. Local voters will choose one of two candidates in the Nov. 2 election to replace outgoing Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness. Sacramento County Sheriff Capt. Jim Cooper is in the final stretch of his runoff campaign against Sheriff Capt. Scott Jones. Cooper, who is also an Elk Grove City Council member, sat down with The Sacramento Press on Thursday afternoon to discuss his ideas and qualifications for the sheriff’s post. The Sacramento Press has asked for an interview with Jones, and aims to talk to him before Election Day. SP: In your view, what are a few of the most pressing public safety problems in the

Socks were overflowing at the Foulks Ranch Elementary School in Elk Grove on October 22. It was the culmination of a three-week effort in which students from five Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) elementary schools and six other schools in Galt participated in the second annual Socktoberfest donation drive. During Socktoberfest, students collected socks to help supplement donations distributed by The Salvation Army. Sock bins were placed at each of the schools until the end of the collection. More than 1,600 pairs of socks were collected. "I want to thank all of the schools and students involved for another great effort in this year's Socktoberfest," said David Bentley, Salvati

Teichert Land Co., one of the state's oldest development companies, is seeking city and county approval to turn its old Jackson Highway quarries into a 4,000-acre subdivision that plays up the land's agrarian roots. A community would be built along Jackson Highway on a piecemeal quilt of former sand and gravel mines in what was once known as Brighton, Sacramento's first suburb, under a plan by Teichert subsidiary Stonebridge Properties LLC. The area once contained strawberry farms operated by Japanese immigrants. The land development company is proposing to build a park-centered neighborhood dubbed New Brighton between Florin-Perkins Road in Sacramento to the west and Excelsior Road in S

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

(This is a direct post from the EGPD Press Release and safety information you need to be aware of) ELK GROVE, CA – The Elk Grove police department is asking for help from the community in identifying a residential burglary suspect posing as a “sewer district” employee. Over the last two weeks, the department has responded to three attempted residential burglaries involving an individual who has identified himself as a “sewer district” employee. The unidentified individual has been described as an Asian male adult, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 20 to 30 years of age, wearing a work vest. In each of the attempted burglaries, the suspect approached residences and knocked on the front door. If ther

A pursuit that started in South Sacramento Thursday night, ended in Elk Grove when the driver of the fleeing vehicle crashed through a wall at a house on the corner of Villeneuve Dr. and Power Inn. The driver fled leaving a bloody trail for officers to track him by. Other occupants of the vehicle were trapped until Firefighters extricated them and were transported to the hospital with injuries. The driver was found and arrested in the neighborhood a short time later. The capture came by officers tracking the blood trail, fresh footprints, K9 alerts and neighbors calling in too 911 with sightings. CLICK HERE TO SEE SCENE VIDEO FOOTAGE

When Land Park resident Ken Parks was first strolling through the listing of available places he wanted to rent, he thought “wow, newly built, upscale neighborhood, pool, gym, great price, quiet home away from home living, what more could a guy ask”. However the listing that Parks was searching through wasn’t your typical rental listing in the apartment or home market, it was a room space being rented by a homeowner out of her Natomas condo complex. Parks, a 34 year-old state employee represents a growing number of people within Sacramento County and around the country that have taken to calling someone else’s home their home with room space renting or sub-leasing housing. It is not a tota