Sunday marked the third and final day of competition for this year's state academic decathlon. The "Super Quiz" was held at the Memorial Auditorium on J Street. Sixty-two teams from school districts all over California competed for the honor of state champion, as well as a spot in the National Academic Decathlon held in Omaha, Nebraska next month. California remains a powerhouse in the national competition, winning seven of the last nine events, and Sacramento in particular, between rivals Bella Vista High School and Folsom High School winning the majority of events for the last 20 years at the state level. Teams of nine, composed of three groups of three students, each with A , B and

The Camellia Society of Sacramento held its annual Camellia Show this past weekend. Here are some photo memories:   Matthew Enwia won Best Youth for his Nuccio's Carousel. Ava Urbina's Elegant Splendor also took a Best Youth award.     Julie Vierra won Best Japonica - Medium, Elsie Morrison Memorial, Red Devil Variety.   Barbara Forbes won a Tri-Color award for Magic Slippers variety. Pennie Chwalowski won a second place for Elegance, Magic Slippers variety. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ehrhart won a Best Tray of 5 Japonica - Over 4 1/2" - Michael Stout Memorial. Elida Garibay took an Honorable Mention in Over the Rainbow variety. SacPress Photos | Kati Garner    

By Helen Plenert It's almost time for the annual Sacramento Camilla Festival. Just last week I stopped by my parent’s house and my 85 year old father had laid out old photos of the many festivals he had worked on through the years. We sorted out more than 40 years of buttons he had accumulated as well. The Festival was a huge part of my parent’s lives and as a result became a huge part of my childhood. I know it was about the flowers but that part is sort of a blur to me. I do have memories of the long tables of flowers with ribbons in the basement of the Memorial Auditorium. The folks, young and old, dressed in native costumes from around the world practicing for their upcoming perform

Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi scored a career-high 20 points Wednesday, grabbed eight rebounds and notched two assists. Thursday, he noshed and schmoozed with about 200 people at a Hanukkah party at Memorial Auditorium put on by the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region. Casspi sat in the lobby for nearly an hour signing autographs, talking to fans and posing for photos. He also spoke of how he celebrates the Jewish holiday in Israel. "I usually (celebrate it with) a small group of family, we get everybody to come together, light the candles, sing songs and pray together," he said. "Usually we do that all week (and) on the last night, we go to my grandparents' house, invite a

Join the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region for the 2009 Community-wide Chanukah Celebration! All are invited to see the one-of-a-kind performance by acclaimed supernatural entertainer Lior Suchard (click here to see exclusive video). The entire community is invited to see the show and stay for autographs and pictures with Israeli NBA superstar Omri Casspi (click here for an exclusive video invite from Omri). In addition, three generations of community leadership will be honored as we "pass the torch" from leader to leader, and hear words from Sacramento Vice Mayor Hammond. This event will be one you will want to be sure not to miss! For event details visit www.jewishsac.org and f

As an event planner, it’s hard not to consider venues in terms of their capacity and cost. And, when you are well acquainted with an event space, you can’t help but take its amenities for granted. For example, I know how cold it is when you arrive at the Memorial Auditorium (as early as the Convention Center staff). I can point out all of the electrical outlets and I know what your feet feel like after you’ve spent hours scurrying across the concrete floors. That being said…I feel like I owe my old friend, the Memorial, an apology. While it may not be state-of-the-art, the Memorial Auditorium has a mystique that is missing from most contemporary venues. Last night, Natalie Cole and the

The Camellia Symphony Orchestra opens its 47th season with "Prodigies from St. Petersburg" at the Memorial Auditorium on Saturday.  The concert will feature the music of three composers from that city: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev. “Everything ends on a high note in all three of the pieces and the sounds that the audience members are going to hear are just breathtaking,” said Allan Pollack, music director and conductor. “I think it was a great way to start off the season.” The performance also will feature local cellist Burke Schuchmann, who will perform during Shostakovich's “Cello Concerto No. 1.” Schuchmann said he was excited to work with such a

Nearly 100 cheer teams will gather at the Memorial Auditorium on Sunday for the Nor-Cal Victory hosted by Power All-Stars cup cheerleading competition. "All the big power house teams are going to be here at the first competition of the season and are going to be battling it out," said Power Cheer owner John Herbert. "I wanted an effective and fun competition." According to Herbert, 1,800 all-star cheerleaders ranging from 3-18-years-old will be competing for trophys while the level champions will compete for banners as well as the title of grand champions of the competition, but no bids to nationals will be given. "I'm really excited, they worked really hard and they practiced everyday,

Members of the Sacramento County Historical Society were treated to a guided sneak-peek tour of the Rock and Radio Museum and a talk from music collector Dennis Newhall and Mick Martin of Mick Martin's Blues Party Tuesday night. The museum, packed with Newhall's personal collection, normally only offers tours during Sacramento's Second Saturday Art Walks, but owner Newhall opened his doors to around 30 members as a part of the society's monthly meeting. As an example of one of Sacramento's low points in music and a nod to how far the city has come, the talk opened with a story of the cancellation of Lou Reed's show at the Memorial Auditorium after being oversold by just two rows. While t

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a big deal, and that's exactly why nearly 3,000 people showed up at the Memorial Auditorium Thursday, Feb. 20. The approximately 900 new citizens crowded the auditorium, while their families and onlookers sat in the balcony to witness the event. Doors opened at 7 a.m., but the ceremony took place at 10 a.m. By 11:15, the new citizens were out the door, many in line for a social security card. Outside the Memorial Auditorium, representatives from the Republican and Democratic parties registered new voters, and vendors sold frames for the citizenship certificates. The line, which nearly reached all the way around the block, was filled with many people speaking in