The Sacramento Press is reviewing campaign contributions for the candidates in June's City Council race. Here is a breakdown of the main contributions to the candidates in Districts 1 and 3 from July to December 2009. The July to December figures provide the most recent information on campaign contributions for City Council candidates. Look for the list of key contributors for Districts 5 and 7 on Tuesday in The Sacramento Press. DISTRICT 1 Angelique Ashby, City Council candidate Total monetary contributions for 2009: $26,452 Top five contributors, July to December 2009: Sacramento Police Officers Association: $2,550 Ken Stevenson, auditor: $1,500 Molly Fling, retiree: $1,500 Sha

Chances are you’ve heard of Etsy. It’s the world’s most expansive marketplace for handmade and vintage items. With neighborhood networks and a shop-local function, Etsy is revolutionizing the way people shop online. I spoke to artist and team leader of SactoMetro Etsy Street Team, Marianne Bland, about her team of local artists and craftsmen representing the Sacramento area on Etsy.com   Tell me about Sacramento’s Etsy Team SactoMetro Etsy Street Team has soap makers, painters, people making spiritual items, fine art…just a huge variety of items. We have people doing it to supplement jobs, full-timers, mothers at home school… It's an interesting group of people trying to help each other

Councilman Ray Tretheway’s key goals for 2010 are in response to problems caused by the poor economy. He said he plans to concentrate on public safety, jobs and foreclosure. Tretheway’s priorities are listed here as part of a series of stories on council members’ top three goals for 2010. Links to the stories are at the end of this article. The Sacramento Press made repeated requests to interview Councilman Rob Fong, but he was unavailable. Tretheway represents District 1, which includes North and South Natomas and Alkali Flat. He is running for re-election in June against Efren Guttierrez, a real estate broker, and Angelique Ashby, a partner in a consulting firm that contracts with gov

        Valentine's Day can be challenging for everyone out there, whether you've got a special someone to impress or not. The choices are limitless, and it can be hard to set something up that everyone will enjoy. This year, why not please the whole crowd with a just-before-Valentine's Day show starring local indie pop songstress Autumn Sky and up-and-comer Tre Burt?     Miss Sky, who recently won the Sac Show award for best Acoustic Show, holds a Valentine's Day show each year. 2009's show at Luna's Cafe drew a huge crowd, where patrons and audience members alike sat on floors and laps to fit in the tiny room. This year will prove to be no less of a good time, especially considering

News Analysis It’s a fact: Certain Sacramento city council members are angry with high-level city staffers about their role in current city scandals. The council members’ tense relationship with city staffers was apparent in several harsh remarks made at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Councilwoman Lauren Hammond directed critical comments toward Utilities Director Marty Hanneman during a debate over issues outlined in a grand jury report. The Jan. 6 report claims the city may not be adhering to Proposition 218, a state law that mandates how city funds are to be used. “I have to tell you: I have no confidence in your cost allocations,” Hammond told Hanneman. “It’s not personal — I just

I used to go to a Trader Joes back in the early 90's that felt like a warehouse of bulk bins, locally made artisan bread, and produce from the central valley. As I grew into adulthood, and the Trader Joes franchice kept pace with their spurious growth across the US, the store changed. Actual artisan food disappeared, as nearly everything came from a single warehouse in Los Angeles, with most--if not all--of the produce getting trucked up from Central America.  Trader Joes cleverly masks their mass-production, oil-gulping delivery network with the ubiquitous Friendly Flyer, a marketing coup that has convinced us all that they are the local grocer and baker and butcher. We're caught in this

Sacramento jazz band, Counter Intelligence, just announced two new shows in Sacramento. The first show will be on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at Oshima Sushi, Natomas, Ca. The band will play from 6-9:30 p.m. The second show is at Revolution Wines in mid-town Sacramento. The band will play from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Counter Intelligence is a Sacramento based instrumental jazz band. The band has four members: Mark Buchholtz, keyboardist; James Radkins on electric bass; Joe Poteet, drummer and; E.J. Koford playing the flute and saxophone. Counter Intelligence has a history of playing songs ranging from classical jazz titles to blues and funk. The flute and saxophone add an interesting twis

There have been recent reports online regarding the use of social media by small businesses.  As fast as social media has gained in popularity, businesses have expanded their use of it.  It appears as though most social media users are okay with this.   Many businesses have given it a try while others have found too difficult a platform.  Some local perspective about Sacramento Press readers and thieir expectations on social media would be valuable to the local business community.  Please, share your perspective with us.  What do you like from the small businesses you follow?  Who locally is doing a great job using social networking?  What advice do you have for those considering

  *   You have likely heard the old joke that lab rats are being replaced by lawyers because the lab workers do not get emotionally attached to lawyers.  Or the one about a thousand lawyers being chained together at the bottom of the ocean being a “good start”.  As these jokes (and the hundreds of others) show, lawyers have a bad reputation.  Personally, I have never had the need for one and only know a few, and I have worked pretty hard at maintaining the status quo on both of those points.  It seemed to me that lawyers are for people who live near secret toxic waste dumpsites.  Recently, my work helping small businesses with marketing led me to a local Law Firm and Real Estate compan

Well this is it, if you have been following the fun the Sacramento Entertainment Agency and Tommy T's have held the "Sacramento Has Talent" competition; and it has been going on since June. We opened up the competition to any talent and the first 100 acts to sign up. We had singers, rappers, musicians, comics, jugglers, dancers, magicians, and more performed. Then we worked our way through, first getting 100 down to 40, then 40 to 20, then 20 to 10, and all decided by the audience. It was great fun! and a challenge to the crowd. Trying to pick the best from so much local talent wasn't easy. This Thursday at 7:30 inside Tommy T's Comedy Club on Hwy 50 & Hazel will be the end of the line. T

 Date: Sat, 09/26/2009 - 5:30pm XOSO's 2nd Pub Crawl is almost here! We hope to answer the age old debate: Which is better, Pirates or Ninjas? Who would win in a fight? Instead of just polling XOSO players, we want you to dress up to show your support for your chosen "lifestyle". If you think Pirates are better, cooler, cuter, stronger, or anything else, dress like a pirate. If you think Ninjas take the cake, dress like a Ninja! We'll find out the answer based on how many dress up for each! September 26th will be here before you know it!       Players in costume or wearing XOSO shirts will get drink specials at the bars on the route:   R15 at 5:30pm (15th and R St.) - $2 w

 As summer comes to a close, so did Sacramento's XOSO adult kickball season. In the tightest kickball standings XOSO has ever had, four teams had a shot at the championship game on the final day of the season. In the end, the "Kick Backs" (green), in first place for most of the season, faced "You're My Boy Blue" (blue team) in the championship game. In two previous meetings this season, the two teams each came away with one win and one loss, so this was a much anticipated redemption game. Despite playing back to back games in the heat, "You're My Boy Blue" came to play and defeated the "Kick Backs" 6-0 to win their bar tab at On the Y and some victory burritos from Chipotle. Congratul

Syringes on the ground. People emerging from boarded-up homes that don’t have water or gas. Vacant homes with human feces on the floor. You probably don’t associate the term “code enforcement” with drama, grime and social work. Yet, a day in the life of a Sacramento code enforcement officer makes for a gripping tale. The Sacramento Press observed Supervising Code Enforcement officer Bill Hutcheon, Ron O'Connor, department operations manager, and other officers during a three-hour ride-along on Sept. 14. The first stop on the list was a filthy vacant lot at 38th Street and 7th Avenue in Oak Park. Hutcheon scoped out the site, pointing out a syringe on the ground and a makeshift sleeping a

  We've all seen the street cleaning signs Downtown. No Parking on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, take your pick, from 8 a.m. to noon, usually. We've struggled trying to remember which side is which when we've come home late at night, and then tried to find a spot on the correct side. Is it all really necessary? I've had occasion to be home on a number of street cleaning days for my street. The funny thing is, I haven't seen street cleaners--ever! I don't see the evidence that they've even been there. What I do see are tickets. Evidence that the meter maid has come by to ticket you for parking someplace. Someplace where they need to clean, but won't. For transparency's sake, during a recen

The City of West Sacramento announces that they have installed new public artwork in Riverpoint Marketplace, the retail center off Ikea Court and Reed Avenue. "Synergy" is a 26-foot tall stainless steel and bronze sculpture created by Alber De Matteis, a noted sculptor with works in California, Europe, and South America. In addition to having a bold presence in daytime hours, the sculpture is illuminated by colored lights in the evening.  

Traversing the Sacramento County area for a great burger at a great price can be a hard thing to do. Where Classic Burger formerly stood, owner, Steve of the Granite's family, has owned, operated and served up a huge menu of great eats, with "an east coast touch", going on one year now. This isn't your ordinary hamburger stand, Steve serves up a full diverse menu of Charbroiled Burgers, Italian Meatball Subs, Steak and Mushroom Cheesesteak Hoagies, Hot Pastrami on french roll, Grilled Chicago Dogs, Charbroiled Chicken Sandwiches, B.L.T, Chef Salads, Cold Cut Combo, Ham, Turkey, Italian Salami, Pepperoni and NY Buffalo Chicken Wings 10-50pc to name a few, including 92 other menu items to s

Streets and neighborhoods in West Sacramento will again be participating in the National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. The annual event, which promotes public safety and community partnerships, brings neighbors together for block parties and cookouts. At 7:30 p.m., in support of the Bryte & Broderick Community Action Group, the Police and Fire Departments, along with other agencies, will converge at Bryte Park at 425 Todhunter Avenue. For more about National Night Out, contact Community Service Officer Nora McDowell, (916) 617-4837 or noram@cityofwestsacramento.org .  

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Harmony on the River, a free summer concert series from the City of West Sacramento, will present the final concert of the season.  Enjoy an evening with Hurricane Sam & the Hotshots, featuring boogie, blues, and jazz. Harmony on the River is a family-friendly event, so please bring the kids, a picnic, and soak up the sounds. Pets on leash are allowed, but the City asks that you refrain from any glass bottles. Parking is free also, so just see a parking attendant on site for a pass. For more information, contact Scott Stanley of the City of West Sacramento Parks & Recreation, scottst@cityofwestsacramento.org.  

The City of West Sacramento announces a modification underway in the traffic flow parallel to City Hall, 1110 West Capitol Avenue as part of the West Capitol Avenue Streetscape construction project. All eastbound vehicle and bicycle traffic is shifted to a single south lane on West Capitol Avenue. Westbound vehicles and bicycles will continue using the north side of West Capitol. All pedestrian access continues on the north side of the street, as West Capitol's south sidewalk remains closed, and the closure of Merkley Avenue from West Capitol Avenue to approximately 600 feet south stays in effect. The two Yolobus eastbound transfer stations at Merkley Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard have

The City of West Sacramento has announced their Mimi-Grant Program for community service organizations with a great program idea needing additional funding. The City's "Community Mini-Grant Program" provides funds annually to help qualifying West Sacramento non-profit organizations with special funding needs. This year, thirty thousand dollars is available to non-profit organization applicants that can demonstrate a viable need that benefits West Sacramento and its residents. Applications for the mini-grant program must be submitted by Sept. 25, 2009, to the Parks & Recreation Department, 1110 West Capitol Ave., West Sacramento, CA 95691. Once all of the applications are in, they will