It’s time for the first Top Five Fridays of 2013! Scroll down for The Sacramento Press’s most-viewed articles of the past seven days. Community Contribution 5. New Year’s Eve fireworks in Old Sac | Photos by Kati Garner Making one of her regular appearances on Top Five Fridays, Kati Garner comes in at No. 5 with another great photo journal. 4. Django Unchained by Luke Soin This movie is HOT right now. In the words of Mr. Soin, “People are throwing the word masterpiece around this movie like they throw cigarette butts on the ground at a Depeche Mode concert, and rightly so.” 3. Tune up cycling skills with free Bikeology 101 Workshop by Bonnie Osborn Free bike info? Sign me up! Don’t wo

UPDATE - On Friday, January 4, 2013, a male and female associated with Carlito Montoya were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon related to this incident. Amber Scholz-36 is believed to have instigated the altercation and her husband Charles Fowler-Scholz-34, was involved in the physical fight that preceded the deadly shooting. No further details are available at this time.   UPDATE - Suspect identification: According to a Sacramento Police update, the suspect, 22-year-old Carlito Montoya, is in police custody in an area hospital. Montoya is receiving medical treatment for multiple gunshot wounds.   A 22-year-old man wanted in connection with a New Year's Eve shooting in Old Sacra

Following a popular tradition 13 years in the making, visitors to Old Sacramento will be treated to a free New Year’s Eve celebration along the historic waterfront.  Prior to the two dazzling firework shows scheduled to light up the night sky at 9 p.m. and midnight, the festive community event also features live music, food and drink vendors and a variety of live entertainment all evening from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.  There will be kid-friendly entertainment provided under the tent in the early evening at Waterfront Park stage followed up later by a crowd-pleasing 70’s and 80’s cover band. The free celebratory evening activities are produced by the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and

The final Saturday night game of the 2012 regular season drew a sold-out crowd of more than 14,000 fans to Raley Field to watch the Sacramento River Cats in game four of a five-game series with the Salt Lake Bees. After winning the first two games of the series the River Cats dropped their second straight game to the Bees on Saturday by a final score of 4-3. The score was quickly 1-0 in favor of Sacramento when Collin Cowgill, who reached base on an error, was driven home on a single to center field by Kila Ka’aihue in the bottom half of the first inning. However, Sacramento’s lead would not last long. With two outs in the top of the second inning Hank Conger hit the first of three Sal

In what had been a close game for the first six innings, the Sacramento River Cats used a five-run seventh inning to distance themselves from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and take game one of the four-game series by a final score of 9-3 on Saturday night at Raley Field. Saturday night also meant it was a fireworks night at the ballpark in West Sacramento, and a crowd of 11,130 came out for the game and the pyrotechnic show that begins once the final out is recorded on the field. The River Cats received yet another outstanding performance by a starting pitcher. Recently named Pacific Coast League All-Star Graham Godfrey kept his perfect record intact and improved to 8-0 on the season. God

Q. Hello, I found your website and I have a question about fireworks. I happen to have been born on New Year's Eve and always thought it would be fun (weather permitting) to have some of the Red Devil fountains to light . . . I guess they are called safe and sane now . . . in my day, that meant Red Devils! So, is it legal to set off California legal fireworks any time of year? If not, would I need a permit or something? Also, is it legal to purchase fireworks online, as long as they meet a safe and sane standard? Also, I would most likely be celebrating with friends in Citrus Heights . . . does that make a difference? FYI, we would either use the street, or the driveway. I'm totally wi

Lighting fireworks at the Fourth of July block party is a common tradition in Sacramento, and local firefighters shared tips to make sure those fireworks are used properly so the holiday is a safe one. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Assistant Chief Dale Turner said the two most important safety concerns with fireworks are making sure they are used correctly with adult supervision and that they are used in a safe area away from combustible materials. There should also be 30 feet of pavement, concrete or dirt around fireworks to ensure no fires are started, Sacramento Fire Department Deputy Chief Lloyd Ogan said. He added that only “Safe and Sane” fireworks are legal to use in the

The City of Sacramento reminds residents and visitors to be safe this July 4th Holiday weekend. Below are a few friendly reminders: • The City and County of Sacramento require that anybody under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while in the regions’ waterways. • Children should be supervised at all times when fireworks are in use; even Safe and Sane fireworks can cause injury. Do not let your children run with sparklers and ensure that they maintain a safe distance from others while handling them to avoid accidental burns. Always have a functioning hose ready to fully extinguish used fireworks. • And, please do not drink and drive. Given the historically high volume of calls over

Q: I was surprised recently to come home to a fireworks stand in a parking lot adjacent to my house. I feel that it is too close for safety. What are the laws in the city of Sacramento for fireworks stands? Thank you, Lori   A: Thanks for reading and submitting your question! Late June, fireworks stands start appearing seemingly overnight and appear on almost every street corner. Before the individual or organization can set up a fireworks stand in the City of Sacramento, they must first apply for a Permit to Sell Safe and Sane Fireworks. All applicants must provide the city with a public liability policy in the amount of $50,000 and a $25,000 property damage policy and a products lia

The streets of Old Sac were packed New Years Eve night in anticipation of the fireworks show announcing the year 2011. The Theatre of Lights showcased as well as music and fun things for the kids. Here's a glimpse of what was happening: At the conclusion of the Theatre of Lights show on K St. confetti was sprayed onto the crowd. Kids and their parents enjoyed the evening with food and glow lights. RadioDisney.com offered contests for the little ones in the Waterfront Tent on Front St (above and below). A youngster tosses a hula-hoop trying to encircle the gal in white at right. On his first try, the hoop caught me, but that didn't count. Contestants ran across the stage with recyclab

Looking for a festive (and free!)  way to ring in the New Year?  Following a New Year’s Eve tradition 11 years in the making, visitors to Old Sacramento will be treated to a free New Year’s Eve celebration all along the waterfront.  Prior to the two dazzling firework shows scheduled to light up the night sky at 9 p.m. and midnight, the festive community event also features live music, food and drink vendors and a variety of lively street entertainment, all taking place throughout Old Sacramento and lasting from 6 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.  Of special interest to children and families, kid-friendly entertainment will be provided from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the tent in Waterfront Park.   The fr

If you can't make it to watch tonight's fireworks show somewhere, check these babies out from Raley Field last night: SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

The Skies light up with Fireworks following a 4-3 come-from-behind victory in 11 innings as the Sacramento River Cats celebrate the Independence Day holiday with a win over 1st place Fresno. The Cats have lit up the standings with14 wins out of  its past 18 games.    

Throwing a Fourth of July celebration? Your fellow Americans have some tips, ranging from home-grown parades and potlucks to Elvis impersonators, dunk tanks and old-school amusements. This week, a handful of Sacramentans offered ideas on how to have fun and maybe even save a little cash this holiday with celebrations as diverse as the country. Organizing your own Independence Day parade topped the list of suggestions. Processions can be as small and impromptu as a clanging pots-and-pans parade of kids and adults moseying around the block or as big as a community parade with marching bands and dozens of floats closing down streets. Jeff Dominguez, who owns Exit Realty West in Midtown, i

 Looking for an explosive way to spend your Fourth of July? Well, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Fourth of July events in the Sacramento area. Sacramento Cal Expo will once again host an Independence Day Celebration sponsored by Coca-Cola and Miller Lite at the Miller Lite Grandstand near the East Gate entrance. The festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a performance from Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers. State Fair mascot Poppy will also be there to entertain the crowds. Cal Expo’s media partner, radio station 107.9 The End, will provide music to the spectacular fireworks show, starting at 9:30 p.m. Parking for the event is $10, and general admission to

The people of Rocklin and its surrounding communities have picked up again this year where the City left off.  Celebrate America took the place of the Rocklin Jubilee last year when the City of Rocklin cut the funding for the decades-running event.  But never fear - the private sector is here!  With the help of K-Love/Air-1 and dozens of other sponsoring businesses and donating individuals, Sunset Christian Center is hosting the 2nd Annual Celebrate America event at the Twin Oaks Park in Rocklin tonight.  Gates open at 4PM, and the patriotic musical extravaganza begins at 8PM and ends with an aerial fireworks show.  This free family-friendly event will be a treat for young and old, and be

Spectacular fireworks, entertainment and large crowd (as well as the blue moon), bring the New Year in during Old Sacramento's festivities. Here's some moments:                               SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

You may have already heard the New Year's Eve ball drop is off for this year. Norm Alvis of Edaddywarbucks.com, which co-sponsored the drop last year along with Paragary Restaurant Group, asked both the city and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership to pay a third of the estimated $100,000 for a ball drop. Neither agreed, so the event was canceled. One celebration that might compare to the spectacle of last year's celebration, which drew an estimated crowd of 12,000 to 20,000 people, is a city-sponsored event in Old Sacramento. Organized by the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, the celebration will feature live music, food and drink vendors and perhaps most importantly, a firewor

The hottest spot for a New Year's Eve celebration is aboard the Empress Hornblower in Old Sacramento. They will have two fireworks cruises on New Year's Eve for the 9:00pm and 12:00pm fireworks at Tower Bridge. The first is a Dinner Gala cruise from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Enjoy the fabulous buffet dinner, open standard cocktail bar, including after dinner liquors and house champagne, festive New Year's Eve party favors, pre-boarding photograph and live DJ entertainment for dancing. The second is a Midnight Cocktail cruise from 11:00pm to 1:00pm. Enjoy delicious hors d'ouevres, free flowing house champagne with a no-host bar for all other beverages, festive New Year's Eve party favors, pre-boa

Three juveniles, ages 14 to 15, cased then robbed the fireworks stand on the corner of 47th Ave & 44th St. in South Sacramento Friday just after noon. A Sheriff helicopter orbited the area around the school where the juveniles were last seen breaking apart the large package of fireworks they had just stolen from the fireworks stand hosted by Parkway Swim and Tennis. Public address announcements were made from the helicopter stating to people in the neighborhood: "we are looking for three felons who just stole a large red package of fireworks…" This was the largest package of fireworks offered and is considered a "block party" set that sells for $600. The helicopter spotted the torn apart