Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "roseville"

La-Z-Boy Owners Donate More Than $12,000 in Furniture to Home For Former Foster Youth

2011-12-21T23:45:57Z

Earlier this week, the local owners of six La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores in Northern California donated nearly $12,000 worth of beautiful
La-Z-Boy furniture to a privately funded home for recently emancipated foster youth in Placer County. Purchased by a concerned citizen and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteer, “Taylor House” is a six-bedroom, newly remodeled home located in downtown Roseville. Once furnished, the home will welcome its first young women residents -- all of whom are no longer able to stay in a foster care environment after turning 18 years of age -- within the next few weeks.

To help furnish the empty home, local La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries owners Liz & Jim Reego donated a beautiful La-Z-Boy sofa, a leather chair, a chaise lounge, two fabric chairs, an English hutch/TV cabinet, five ottomans, a bedside chest, two rugs and a variety of home decor accessories valued at nearly $12,000 total. The local La-Z-Boy owners would like to encourage other businesses and involved community members to follow suit by providing support to Taylor House, volunteering at CASA volunteer or working with foster youth.

“As long-time community members, our hearts go out to abused and neglected children and youth in need of a safe and nurturing home environment,” said Liz Reego, co-owner of six (soon to be seven) La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries showrooms in Northern California. “We hope other businesses and community members will follow our lead and offer to donate, volunteer their time or find some way to support this worthwhile effort.”

Young women chosen to stay at “Taylor House” are required to be actively employed, pay reduced rent, remain drug and alcohol free and abide by the agreed-upon house rules as they bridge from a foster care environment to being completely independent and living on their own.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.

Dam California feature film test screening

2011-12-15T23:51:13Z

Independent filmmaker Isaac Piche' has scheduled a test screening in the Sacramento area for his first full feature film Dam California. The name alone suggests controversy.

Although the film is focused on water as the necessity that it is, Piche' chose a course that intertwines real life events and fictional characters to make his point and tagline, "Don't Mess With Our Water." This film confronts issues between farmers, the endangered species act, and the corruption that would choose power over the balance of life.

“This is still a work-in-progress” says 25 year old Piche’. “Dam California’ is a relevant, current issue based narrative film. Films like this, that are controversial and push the status quo, are films that must be seen now not years later. The message is urgent and the issues are hot. The test screenings let me know if the message is clear.”

Real people and real events portrayed as fictional characters and places. Moving and compelling, this story is shot in full HD with experienced crew members. The talent is SAG and non-union actors portraying intelligent, exciting and transforming characters in a film made for the big screen.

Synopsis: Michael Rodriguez comes home from two tours of combat duty to find his hometown on the brink of self-destruction. A corrupt politician has sold out his small farming town to an evil corporation (Poseidon) controlling most of the county, and the state’s water. The starving community is collapsing, while the corporation buys up the land of the failing farmers with plans to dam up the valley the town rests in.

Dr. Meghan Connors, a feisty environmental scientist, knows too much about the corporate agenda. Connors finds a way to save the Delta Smelt and bring down the water company behind the 3 new dams.

Principal cast includes:

Jeffrey Weissman as Harvey, (Back to the Future II & III)

Josh Reyes as Michael Rodriguez

Sarah Poynter as Dr. Meghan Conners

Douglas Olsson as Jack O'Brian

Steven Segal as Cleatus

Dam California also features two original songs written for the film. California written by Jessica Norgard and Water Wars by Reade Collins.

The film was shot in various locations throughout California including Lake Tahoe, Reno, Paso Robles and many others.

The test screening will be this Wednesday, December 21, at The Tower Theater, 421 Vernon Street, Roseville.

The public is invited to attend the free screening, give feedback, and enjoy this family friendly film.

This screening is sponsored by Stand Out Talent (http://standouttalent.org/). Donations to our screening sponsor are appreciated.

Past test screenings were held at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, CA, Good Luck MacBeth Theater in Reno, NV, Fresno Brewing Company and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology in Fresno. Audience members were given the opportunity to ask questions, share their impression of the film and be a part of the finished product.

Dam California Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SDLMoI5GVu4

Dam California website: http://www.damcalifornia.com/

Dam California Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dam-California/296581413720649

Disclosure: West Ramsey plays a small role in the film and took on location production stills. He is also assisting in spreading the word about the film.

Kaiser Permanente's South Sacramento and Roseville medical centers named “Top Hospitals” by prestigious national group

2011-12-06T21:53:44Z

South Sacramento Medical Center and Roseville Medical Center have been named 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospitals, an honor that rewards hospitals for outstanding success in such areas as using electronic health records to reduce medication and other errors, lowering infection rates, maintaining appropriate physician and nursing staffing, and other measures of safety and efficiency.

A total of 10 Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California, and eight in Southern California, received the honor Tuesday, which means that 18 of this year’s 65 Top Hospitals in the U.S. are Kaiser Permanente facilities in California. They were chosen from a field of nearly 1,200 hospitals around the country surveyed this year.

This is the second year in a row that Roseville Medical Center has been named a Top Leapfrog Hospital. Sacramento Medical Center was a Top Leapfrog Hospital in 2009.
“We are extremely pleased that Roseville Medical Center continues to be recognized by independent organizations for the dedicated work performed on a daily basis by our physicians, nurses and staff members who are leading the way to improve patients’ lives,” said Edward S. Glavis, area manager and senior vice president, Roseville.

“Being named a Top Leapfrog Hospital demonstrates that our team of highly skilled physicians and staff put quality and safety at the forefront of patient care at our South Sacramento Medical Center,” said Patricia Rodriguez, area manager and senior vice president, South Sacramento. “Our model for patient-centered care, and the major expansion we recently completed, put us in a unique position to deliver optimal health-care in South Sacramento County.”

The other Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s Top Hospitals in 2011 are:
• Vacaville
• Antioch
• Walnut Creek
• Oakland
• Richmond
• San Francisco
• South San Francisco
• San Jose

“Kaiser Permanente is consistently recognized by several independent third-party organizations for providing high-quality health care, and this latest honor from Leapfrog is further testament that our physicians, nurses and staff members are consistently delivering personalized, coordinated and technologically advanced care that is improving the health and well-being of our patients and the communities we serve,” said Gregory A. Adams, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan/Hospitals, Inc., in Northern California.

The 18 honored Kaiser Permanente hospitals were all in the “urban” category, and comprised more than a third of the 52 top urban hospitals listed nationally. The other categories surveyed were children’s hospitals (10 honored nationally) and rural hospitals (three nationally).

“The physicians, nurses and staff of Kaiser Permanente consistently deliver outstanding quality care and service that is personalized, technologically advanced and closely coordinated across all disciplines—primary care, specialty care, outpatient care and inpatient care,” said Robert Pearl, MD, executive director and CEO of The Permanente Medical Group. “Our excellent ratings from Leapfrog and other third-party organizations reflect the excellence and superiority of our integrated model for medical care, which enables our medical group, hospitals and health plan to work together on behalf of our patients to achieve the highest quality outcomes.”

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage founded a decade ago to work for improvements in health care safety, quality and affordability. Initially organized by the Business Roundtable, it is now an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers. The annual survey is the only voluntary effort of its kind.

The 2011 list includes university and other teaching hospitals, children’s hospitals and community hospitals in rural, suburban and urban settings. The selection is based on the results of the Leapfrog Group’s national survey that measures hospitals’ performance in crucial areas of patient safety and quality. The questions Leapfrog asks on its survey are consistent with measures used by The Joint Commission, National Quality Forum and Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The results of the survey are posted on a website open to the patients and families, the public and employers and other purchasers of health care. It is the most complete picture available of a hospital’s quality and safety. The website is www.leapfroggroup.org.

Disclosure: Edwin Garcia is a media relations specialist for Kaiser Permanente, a leading health care provider and not-for-profit health plan.

Elk Grove Force wins Jumpstart 21 Hoops and Alley Oops tournament

2011-11-15T06:49:05Z

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 teammates," Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong of the Sacramento Donkey Fong said, referring to his teammates' injuries. "It's kind of hard to enjoy it after that."

He said that the event was for a great cause – Jumpstart 21 – and the game needs to be revisited so that injuries can be avoided in next years' tournament.

Jumpstart 21 is a workforce development and internship placement program for foster youth created by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce.

"The championship game, man, what a game. It was back and forth (and), unfortunately, the other team had a few injuries, we hung in there, and brought the championship for Elk Grove," Professional Water Skier Brian Detrick, 22, said.

In the first round of the tournament, the Elk Grove Force beat the Rocklin Rim Rattlers, 35-12; the West Sacramento Brick Layers won against the Folsom 49ers, 14-12; the Sacramento Donkey Fong secured the victory against the Roseville Annexers, 37-20; and the Citrus Heights Crush beat the Rancho Cordova Magic Makers, 25-20.

In the semi-finals, the Sacramento Donkey Fong beat the Citrus Heights Crush 29-22, and the Elk Grove Force beat the West Sacramento Brick Layers, 35-13.

"Everybody came together for the spirit of helping the emancipated foster youth so we were very excited." CEO and President Patricia Fong Kushida of the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce said. The event went well, she said, except for the couple of injuries during the final game.

Vice Mayor of Elk Grove Jim Cooper said that the biggest winners in the game are the youth in the Jumpstart 21 program. He was captain of the Elk Grove Force team.

Eight cities of the Sacramento region to compete in a celebrity basketball tournament

2011-11-08T05:43:29Z

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 system, said SACC Director of Events and Foundation Matthew Sumida.

The teams will be captained by an elected official from each of the cities and coached by a graduate of the program. Sumida said that the 12-week training program provides the young adults with basic employment skills, and once training is completed, the graduates are provided internship placement within the Sacramento region.

"This program will help raise funds for those internships," Sumida said,"and it's a great way for the former foster kids to get involved and to interact with high-level community leaders."

The captains for each of the teams are required to recruit their own players, Sumida said, where two have to be female, and one has to be a media person. During the game, a female player is required to be on the court at all times. Also, a member of the team should be a representative of the team’s official sponsor. It is not necessary for the teammates to be residents of the city their team represents, except for the team captain.

He said that some of the players have former professional basketball experience, including Danielle Viglione, a former Sacramento Monarch, who is playing for the city of Sacramento team.

Marcos Breton of The Sacramento Bee will be the master of ceremonies.

Sumida said that it would have been ideal to have Mayor Kevin Johnson included in the event, but he was not available.

The tournament will also have its own version of the Royal Court Dancers – the Jumpstart 21 Dancers – who will be trained by the Sacramento Kings Royal Court Dancers. The dancers are event sponsors and public officials, said Six Degreez President Sharon Gerber, the official event planner of the tournament.

There will be a five-minute warmup time before each of the games. Two fifteen-minute half-court matches will play simultaneously, and the teams will have one 30 second time-out.

"We are planning to have this as an annual event, and each year the trophy will be passed on to the next winner. " Sumida said. "It's a fun event that we came up with to help raise money and also to find out who the best basketball team in the region is."

Hear an explanation of how the tournament will work below:

The event runs from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Registration starts at 3:00 p.m.
The event will be held at the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation, 9040 High Tech Court in Elk Grove Tickets can be purchased here.

What the team captains have to say:

Citrus Heights Crush

Coach: Nicole Miller
Captain: Mayor Jeannie Bruins
Members:
Mel Turner
Paul Robins
Joel Archer
Nicole Garing
Diane Ebbitt

"I am looking forward to (a) faceoff with West Sacramento – a challenge I put out to Oscar Villegas," Citrus Heights Mayor Jeannie Bruins said. "We're going to crush them because we are the Citrus Heights Crush."

She said that her team has practiced once, and the players are ready. Unfortunately, Bruins said, she will not be playing and will stay on the sidelines. She said that she will be the No. 1 cheerleader for the team.

"It is just fabulous what they do," Bruins said of the Jumpstart 21 program.

Rancho Cordova Magic Makers

Coach: Angela Montes
Captain: Councilwoman Linda Budge
Members:
Nathan Dietrich
Bob Shallit
Sam Miller
Adam Lingren
Rebecca Sloan

"We have four dedicated basketball fans in our team, and we have been watching the Sacramento Kings for a long time, and hopefully it rubbed off," said Rancho Cordova City Councilwoman Linda Budge.

Budge said that in order for them to win in this competition, they will have to play like a team. She said that she will make sure that her teammates make some assists.

The team has not had the chance to practice together, but she said the players have practiced separately, with some of them practicing basketball with their kids.

"We are doing this because we are basketball fans, but most of all because it is for a good cause," Budge said."We will be playing for them."

Sacramento Donkey Fong

Coach: Roland Foley III
Captain: City Councilman Rob Fong
Members:
City Councilman Jay Schenirer
State Assemblyman Roger Dickinson
Bethany Crouch
Tim Mech
Sam Luong
Danielle Viglione

"We don't care who we meet in the finals, we just know we are going to win," Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong said.

He said that they enjoy being the favorite team to win, even though the other teams might not like it. He has not talked with Mayor Kevin Johnson to get some basketball tips, but Fong said he will definitely do so.

"Most of us are rooted to the earth and won't be doing any jumping at all," said Fong, who also said that this should not be a problem. The team practiced Sunday.

"It is for a great cause, and we are willing to take great physical risk to support it," Fong said. "I'm just hoping that when all is said and done, none of us will be heading to the emergency room.”

West Sacramento Brick Layers

Coach: Reyan Reyes
Captain: City Councilman Oscar E. Villegas
Members:
Chris Ledesma
Kristin Marshall
Bob Johnston
Jeff Dorso
Kalyca Seabrook
Bernadette Austin-Bower

"We don't care who we face off," West Sacramento City Councilman Oscar Villegas said. "Bring it!"

Villegas said that a friendly game is always good for the soul. His team has practiced, and he said that it is going well.

"I would bet somebody else's paycheck that we would win," he added. "I can dunk if they lower the hoop to 7 feet,"

Folsom 49ers

Coach: April Redricks
Captain: Mayor Andy Morin
Members:
Matt Dawson
Teo Torres
Ben Porter
Lani Stowers
Shannon O'Neill

"I would like to go against Rancho Cordova in the final match, because they are our friendly neighbors, and if we can beat them, we can have some serious bragging rights," said Folsom Mayor Andy Morin.

"I want to be as competitive as possible, but I am also looking forward to meeting with old friends in a friendly, competitive setting," he added.

Morin said that his team is set to meet up this week for practice, and he hopes that his team will be in good condition for the tournament.

Rocklin Rim Rattlers

Coach: Leslie Lee Jr.
Captain: City Councilman Scott Yuill
Members:
Greg Daley
Tina Macuha
Brian Jenson
Dave Butler
Paul Ackerman

"I am looking forward most to helping supporting the Jumpstart 21 program and having fun doing it with the regional flair," said Rocklin City Councilman Scott Yuill.

He said jokingly that his team has practiced extensively through email and is well-prepared for the tournament.

"I am a much better golfer than a basketball player, and I am a horrible golfer," Yuill said."I'd like to go head-on with Rob Fong because he usually beats me in golf.”

"In Rocklin, we are very humble and polite, and I think it will be out of character to point out our sheer athletic superiority," he added.

Elk Grove Force

Coach: Naomi Mendez
Captain: Mayor Steve Detrick
Members:
Jim Cooper
Drisha Leggitt
Dan Elliott
Keri Thomas
Alex Van Dyke
Brian Detrick

"My team, of course," Elk Grove Mayor Steve Detrick said when asked who will win. "We are the team to look out for."

He said that he is a recreational basketball player, but his team has not had the chance to practice yet.

"I put my best into everything I do, and hopefully our team can come up on top," he added.

"I think it's great that we are taking the cities of Sacramento and participating in such (an) event for a common goal," Detrick said. “The Sacramento region has no boundaries when it comes to fulfilling such goals."

Roseville Annexers

Coach: Olajuwon Curtis
Captain: City Councilman Tim Herman
Members:
Gayle Garbolino-Mojica
Kelly Brothers
Steve Fleming
Daniel Hahn
Steffi Jones

"We did not snag any former Monarch or King, but we will try to be competitive and have a lot of fun," City Councilman Tim Herman said.

Herman said that his team has already practiced once and will be practicing once more before the game. His players are happy and proud to represent Roseville and Placer County, he added.

"Most of us are under-the-basket kind of players. Unless they lower the hoop, I do not think we will be doing any dunks," Herman said.

"It's for a great cause, and to raise awareness and money for the Jumpstart 21 is a victory for all of us," Herman said.

FREE CAR WASH FOR VETERANS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 AT ALL QUICK QUACK CAR WASH LOCATIONS

2011-11-04T17:11:07Z

Sacramento, CA – November 3, 2011 – Quick Quack Car Wash, a growing chain of exterior-only, express car washes, has announced that it will be offering a free car wash to all veterans and active military personnel on Veteran’s Day in conjunction with the nationwide “Grace for Vets” program.

Veterans may visit any of Quick Quack’s car wash locations from 7am to 7pm on Friday, November 11, 2011 to receive a complimentary wash. Customers will only need to inform Quick Quack employees verbally that they are veterans in order to receive their free car wash. Quick Quack has six locations in the Sacramento area including the newest location in Roseville. Addresses and directions can be found at www.DontDriveDirty.com or via the Quick Quack mobile app available on iPhone and Android.

“We are excited to again participate in this effort to pay tribute to some of our heroes,” said Jason Johnson, President and CEO of Quick Quack Car Wash. “Quick Quack Car Wash believes that it is important to remember those who have served our country as often as we can and this event on Veteran’s Day provides us a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation.”

Started in 2004, the “Grace for Vets” program is designed to honor Veteran’s Day, to show the car wash industry’s support for our armed forces personnel and to reward veterans for their service. “Grace for Vets” happens each year on Veteran’s Day. In 2010, the program reported record numbers. More than 1,200 car wash locations, representing more than 500 companies, washed 101,537 cars. This year, there are over 1,450 participating locations representing more than 620 companies.

Disclosure: Travis Kimball is the Marketing Director for Quick Quack Car Wash

Wine, cheese and 'Art with the Arc' at Studio 700 on Friday

2011-11-02T01:05:52Z

“These shows allow our artists to feel genuinely appreciated by people who don’t see them for what they lack, but see them for what they have," says Jessica Dore, of Studio 700 Center for the Arts.

Twice a year, the artists of Studio 700 have the chance to open the doors of their studio to the community and display their work, in a public recognition of exactly who (and what) they are.

Artists.

“I think there’s a general climate of sympathy rather than appreciation that surrounds this population,” Dore said, “but there’s something raw and unique and wonderful about someone who isn’t ‘classically trained’ putting something down and creating art."

A program of Placer ARC, Studio 700 is the home to nearly 90 artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including conditions such as cerebral palsy and autism. Studio 700 offers a variety of creative mediums that encourage personal development and expression, from performing arts to clothing design, from graphic design to digital 3D animation.

Studio 700 artists have created everything from portraits to letterhead to this D.I.Y. video for "Codes & Keys" by Death Cab for Cutie.

Studio 700 Center for the Arts (700 Douglas Blvd., Roseville) will be hosting "Art with the Arc," a fundraising event and art show on Friday, November 4th, 2011 from 5pm to 8pm. All proceeds from "Art with the Arc" will benefit arts programs for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults.

"Art with the Arc" will be an evening filled with wine, hors d'oeuvres, and music by Thomas and Plecker. Fine art and jewelry made by our incredible and inspiring artists will be on display and available for sale. There will be a raffle that will include free wine tastings and more. Your $10.00 ticket entitles you to one glass of wine and a plate including gourmet cheeses, locally grown nuts, crackers, and fruit. Additional food and wine can be purchased at the event. For online tickets, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207056

Placer ARC and Studio 700 have grown tremendously over the years, and our success is a result of the support we receive from our community!

Check out a preview for Studio 700's upcoming performance of "The Truth About Fairy Tales" on November 17.

Disclosure: Aaron Davis is the Community Outreach Coordinator/ Grant Writer for Placer ARC

Ballet, music and art at Midtown's Second Saturday

2011-10-11T08:37:35Z

Summer has come and gone but crowds at Second Saturday still remain large. Second Saturday events have grown in popularity and other communities participate in Second and Third Saturday art events.

During fall several cities stop their art walks. Folsom and El Dorado Hills had their last Second Saturday of the year in September and October respectively.

Popularity of similar events in smaller towns continues to grow. Attendance and art displays expand in the smaller venues but none of these can compare to the popularity of Midtown’s event.

This Saturday I attended a handful of galleries and events. Since there are so many places to view and experience art I made a list of places I was invited to or wanted to see and took the rail from Folsom to Midtown.

My list of galleries or events I had, included the Sacramento Ballet Studios, the Heart Clothing Boutique, Urban Hive studios and places in between depending on time allowed.

The Sacramento Ballet on 1631 K Street held an open rehearsal for their upcoming “Dracula” performances. The dancers either wore full ballet outfits or casual dancing attire for the performance.

The Sacramento Ballet is one of the most delightful pleasures to experience in Sacramento. Ron Cunningham’s troupe always provides great entertainment. It isn’t until an open rehearsal is performed for public viewing that one can see and experience the time and effort spent on practice.

Once on stage however the Sacramento Ballet puts on great performances that showcase the wonderful talent they have and the time and effort they spend practicing.

The audience that attended this art in motion exhibit watched an impressive performance of Dracula that will take place at the Sacramento Community Center. Four performances of Dracula have been scheduled for October 22, 23, 27 and 28. Performances are at 7:30 except for October 23 which plays at 2:00.

Sacramento Ballet’s Artistic Director, Ron Cunningham, sat facing the ballet dancers during rehearsal and gave few directions as they performed. Any directions may have been more for the benefit of the audience as we followed the Dracula rehearsal.

Once the performance ended the audience vacated the dance area while Cunningham talked to the Sacramento Ballet performers. Outside the dance area people began to come in for another rehearsal.

The second rehearsal will eventually turn out to be a Vampire Flash Mob that will take place at a time and location still unknown.

The Vampire Flash Mob will be based on Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance. Dancers from all ages will be participating in the flash mob. Sacramento Ballet’s Christopher Brian Nachtrab was on hand to lead the flash mob rehearsal and the dance studio was packed.

Nachtrab made sure he announced that there was a video on YouTube that went through the choreography as well in case dancers needed further practice. More information as well as the actual time and place of the flash mob will be given on their facebook page.

Heart Clothing Boutique on 1903 Capitol Avenue celebrated their one year anniversary of business. Owner Vanessa Lopez celebrated by thanking her customers and friends by holding a fashion show outside her shop with DJ Esef playing in the background.

Heart Clothing had plenty of guests to help Lopez celebrate her 1 year anniversary. The small boutique is geared to make each shopping experience unique and personal. Byuti Salon and Spa teamed with Heart Clothing to provide hair and make up for the models.

Down the street at the street at the Gay and Lesbian Center on 1927 L Street a Second Saturday art exhibit was being showcased. As I walked around to look at the art I picked up some delicious appetizers that were provided for guests.

On the outside back patio the Kenny Rego and the Law of One Band played. The four member group played to a small audience.

Although I was only there for a couple of songs they showed a wide musical range touching on some folk, rock, indie and Americana. Kenny Rego’s vocals and their lyrics also excelled. Kenny Rego and the Law of One Band have a myspace page and you can sample some of their songs on YouTube and Reverbnation.

Kenny Rego and the Law of One Band played “Working Class Man” as their last song and its great melody, lyrics and vocals was a good selection to end their set.

Over at Barber’s Shop Alfa Romeo on 1116 18th Street, Mike Blanchard and The Californios played. Some fans watched from seats in the garage while others danced just outside on the parking lot.

A protest rally by “Take back the Night” marchers moved on to K Street from 20th. It looked like well over a hundred marchers paraded down the streets of Midtown carrying protest signs and yelling out demonstration chants to bring awareness to their cause and inform the public.

One of my last destinations was the Urban Hive where an Artober Art Show was taking place. The show recognized the art of four magnificent artists; Milton Bowens, Felipe Dávalos, Theresa Fike and Aaron Hagar.

Art filled the walls of the Urban Hive and several guests were on hand to view the work of these four artists. An intimate question and answer period also took place. Felipe Dávalos and Milton Bowens talked about their work and answered questions from guests.

The show at the Urban Hive Gallery runs from October 6 to November 7 and the Second Saturday event served as an inaugural Artober Art Show. The talents of these great artists can be viewed at the Hive and appointments can also be made to view the work.

Bowens and Dávalos, great artists in their own right, delighted guests with their commentary and it’s great to see this kind of interaction between the artist and their admirers. Dávalos’ art and work have been seen in National Geographic and other renowned publications. He has also created illustrations for children’s books, magazines, archeology, art history and several of his pieces are on exhibit.

Bowens has a powerful presence and talked about his work and the work of poets, writers and music performers who influence today’s society and how their communication medium transcends through cultures via their music.

Bowens described his work by saying, “I use text in combination with color and shades. I pretty much deal in history but there are a lot of hidden messages woven into the fabric of my paintings. My paintings are very personal to me to start with but they’re just anchored in what I consider pivotal moments in American history.” With that comment he described his works and what several items common in his art signify. Bowens continued to talk about his work and made the event very real and personal as he indulged the audience in what his work stood for.

A refreshing artist perspective was shown at the Artober Art Show and it allowed for meaningful dialogue between artist and guests.

Guests to the event were encouraged to bring new art supplies and materials to benefit the Stanford Home for Children and the Wellspring Center for Women. To find out more about Artober guests can visit the Urban Hive or Artober websites or contact Veronica Delgado 916-792-4947.

As many of the artist galleries began to close several other establishments remained open keeping the Second Saturday Art Walk spirit alive. Midtown continues to benefit from the event and it could clearly be seen as lines of people stood outside certain venues waiting to get into several of the popular clubs.

To follow other area artists and performers Roseville will host their Third Saturday on October 15. Several galleries in and around Vernon Street will host several artist receptions.

No, Not Everyone Who Lives in Roseville wears Ed Hardy

2011-08-29T05:35:03Z

So please stop categorizing us as such.

I'm not sure what it is about you downtown folk. I know firsthand it's hard as hell to get any of you to leave the grid. Yes, I know, a lot of you don't own cars, and lord knows you can't ride your fixie all the way to Rocklin. No, it's not that far, actually. A lot of us up here drive down there all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. I suppose if I want to see some of my friends I have to come to them? Apparently.

But I digress. I have heard so many times people from Sacramento blast us up here in the 'burbs. "Oh, they are all Ed Hardy-wearing, steroid-taking, bleach-blond, over-tanned, fake-boobed douchebags who drive BMWs and lifted trucks."

Pretty sure the last time I checked, that's about 15 percent of the population up here. Don't act like this "type" isn't running rampant all over downtown either! All of those mortgage brokers who lost their jobs still live downtown, overpay for VIP booths and act like a-holes when out in public. It's not just a treat for us up here.

It would be really easy for me to just say all people who live downtown can't afford to buy a house, a car, are hipsters, wear god awful neon skinny pants and Toms and ride bikes because they are too cool for cars. (Don't act like you haven't seen this type all over downtown.) Also, the attitudes on these hipsters! Who died and made them god of "I liked this before it was cool"? Ew. No one likes an arrogant hipster. But me saying this and actually believing it all is just as bad as being stereotyped as a "typical Roseville dude-bro tool."

I live in Rocklin. I grew up here and went to school in Roseville. My entire family lives here. I am quite sure that no one in my family, nor anyone in my huge circle of friends is, was, or ever will be what you all call a typical Roseville "bro." Not all of us have hideous tribal tattoos, wear Affliction, or fist bump our homies.

Perhaps, just perhaps, you should attempt coming up here and seeing what it's really like. Sure, we have The Fountains and The Galleria with its expensive brand-name stores. But, hey, guess what? We also have Ross, Marshall's and Target! There are a ton of good restaurants up here, quaint shops in downtown Roseville and even some quality hole-in-the-wall bars (for those of you who prefer a dimly lit, stinky bar that serves PBR).

I have several tattoos, buy my clothes from cheap stores, drink PBR sometimes and love to eat at hole-in-the-wall joints. Oh, and guess what? I drive downtown almost every weekend to a) visit my friends and b) go out. I am always amused when people assume I am from downtown, and by the look of shock and almost horror on said downtown person's face when I tell them I am from Rocklin. "Really? But you look so downtown!" Not sure if that's a compliment or not these days.

A recent article on this site said: "To the people of Rocklin and Nouveau Roseville, it is a bastion of filth and homelessness and liberal politics (Did you feel that generalization come sweeping past at warp sweep?)"

I felt compelled to leave my first comment ever on an article on Sacramento Press, and now here I am writing a POV article almost as a rebuttal.

So please, dear Grid Folk, be gentle in your stereotyping ways. I would think that people living downtown with "liberal politics" would be a little more understanding of things foreign to them.

Zombie outbreak in Roseville

2011-07-28T23:50:16Z

Several hundred zombie enthusiasts gathered at Roseville’s Royer Park to get makeup done and receive instructions before invading Vernon Street.

This was Roseville’s first ever Zombie Walk. Dozens of people who participated in July’s Second Saturday Zombie Walk made their way to Roseville.

Joshua Cox arranged the event via Facebook and was on hand to help apply makeup to participants. Several gallons off “blood” were used to help zombies ready themselves for the walk.

Besides corn syrup and red food coloring, used to emulate blood, several zombies brought items to help with makeup including sponges, cotton balls, food coloring, liquid latex, white school glue and other materials.

Several babies accompanied their parents as they too were made to look like little zombies.

After meeting at the gazebo at Royer Park the zombies made their way towards Vernon Street where the weekly Downtown Tuesday was being held. Zombies were asked not to show up at Vernon Street beforehand in order to make a more dramatic appearance.

Cox directed zombies where to walk as they were divided when they walked over a bridge from Royer Park towards Vernon Street. Half the zombies went to the left and the other half to the right and moved towards the Downtown Tuesday crowd.

Zombies made quite an appearance and were for the most part well received and guests at Roseville’s Downtown Tuesday were treated to wonderful show.

Zombies made a triumphant walk up and down Vernon Street and were very respectful of their surroundings. Several zombies were overcome with heat and fatigue and indulged in some food and drink made for humans.

The Roseville Zombie Walk was well planned and Roseville citizens enjoyed an unexpected treat. This first time Zombie Walk in Roseville was epic and brought life to the streets of Roseville.

Joshua Cox and his group of organizers and volunteers are to be commended for their work. The Zombie Walk was a hit and hopefully it will make a return next year.

More photos will be posted at www.dalvarezphoto.com

Fourth of July roundup

2011-06-30T20:32:12Z

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 two games against the Tucson Padres. There will be a fireworks show after each game to celebrate. In addition to the festivities, there is an American flag giveaway presented by the Army to the first 2,500 fans.

2011 Sacramento Firecracker 5K/10K Run & Walk Sacramento CA
Saturday at 9 a.m.
William Land Park, 3800 West Land Park Drive
Price: Adult entrance costs $35 until Thursday and is $40 on race day
Children (15 and under) are $20
Age: All ages

It’s time to don the running shoes for the Firecracker 5K/10K run. The course will follow the paths and nearby roads of William Land Park and is divided into 5K and 10K divisions.

There will be post-race refreshments at the finish line and an award ceremony and raffle giveaways after the event.

“We’re expecting a few thousand people,” said Robert Mathis, race director. That’s 50 percent more than last year.

“We encourage people to wear red, white and blue,” Mathis added.

Fourth of July Fun at the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
Saturday and Sunday from 12:30- 4p.m.
3615 Auburn Blvd.
Price: Children (3 and younger) are Free, Children (4 - 12) are $4, Teens (13 - 17) are $5, Adults (18 and older) are $6, Senior Citizens (60 and older) are $5
Age: All ages

The Discovery Museum Science & Space Center presents an inexpensive, fun and educational family weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the Space Quest exhibit, and kids finish with free craft activities for children ages 4 - 12. Families can also choose to attend the Planetarium shows (at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) that are included with ticket purchases.

The Science & Space Center will also be selling fireworks at the museum for those on the more adventurous side. Proceeds will benefit the museum.

40 Palooza
Saturday, 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday
7440 Auburn Blvd.
Price: $8
Age: 21 and older

For those looking for a little extra excitement for the Fourth of July, Rocky’s 7440 will spice the night up with drink specials and music from DJs Victorious, Snoope and D-Rock. The 40 Palooza will be hosted by ILL Fam and MySacNightLife.

Old Sacramento Fourth of July Champagne Brunch Cruise
Monday, 11 a.m. - 1p.m.
A cruise along the Sacramento River departing from the L Street Dock, 1206 Front St.
Price: $25.80 - $43
Age: All ages

The Hornblower Cruise will provide a unique way of celebrating the Fourth of July. With a two-hour cruise, guests can dress up and enjoy a brunch buffet, drinks, and a live soloist entertainer. Formal wear is not required, but guests are asked to dressy-casual clothing.

Folsom

Folsom Pro Rodeo
Friday - Sunday
Dan Russell Rodeo Arena in Folsom, at Stafford Street and Leidesdorff Street
Price: Reserved seating is $24.50, and general admission ranges from $15 - $19.50
Age: All ages

The Folsom Pro Rodeo will have daily events including rodeo competitions, a carnival, kids activities, country music and dancing, and nightly fireworks shows over the arena.

Each night of the event, renowned skydiver Kent Lane will free-fall from 4,500 feet trailing a 2,000-square-foot American flag behind him.

El Dorado Hills

Second Annual Fireworks Jubilee
Sunday 4 p.m. - Monday at midnight
El Dorado Hills Town Center
Price: Free
Age: All ages

El Dorado Hills will present a day of fun for all ages. From live music on three stages to a chili cook-off to a fireworks show, there will be plenty to do throughout the town center.

Following the fireworks show is a performance by band Mother Mayhem in the Steven Young Amphitheater until 11:30 p.m.

Rancho Cordova Third and Fourth of July Carnival and Parade
Sunday and Monday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Parade Monday at 10 a.m.)
Hagan Park, 2197 Chase Drive
Price: Free for kids 5 and under, $2 general admission, 10.00 parking.
Age: All ages

For those looking for an all-day, activity-filled event, Rancho Cordova’s July Carnival and Parade offers just that.

“It is the largest local event,” said Shelly Blanchard, executive director of the Cordova Community Council and main organizer of the event. “There will be the parade, concerts and, of course, our highlight is hosting the All-American barbecue showdown. People come with their own decorated barbecue sets, funny aprons, and guests come to taste it all.

“It’s a lot of fun and should be fantastic,” Blanchard added.

Carmichael

Carmichael's Fouth of July Parade and Fireworks
A pancake breakfast starts Monday’s events from 7:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
Parade begins at 10:30 a.m.
Fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m.
Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Avenue
Fireworks can be seen from the La Sierra Community Center, 5325 Engle Road
Price: Free ($5 for unlimited access to the Kid Zone inflatables)
Age: All ages

Folks can enjoy a pancake breakfast at Carmichael Park to start their day and then head over to the La Sierra Community Center to watch the annual Fourth of July parade at 10:30 a.m.The route begins at the intersection of Marconi Square and Fair Oaks Boulevard and heads to the intersection of Cypress Avenue and Manzanita Avenue. The parade will feature community floats, marching bands, equestrian entries, military units, antique cars and more. For front-row seating, head to the front of the park on Fair Oaks Boulevard or watch from the grandstand located at 5757 Grant Avenue across the street from Carmichael Park.

Following the events of the morning, La Sierra Community Center will provide activities for children ranging from puppet shows to Kid Zone inflatables. Food and drinks will be provided by the Carmichael Little League snack bar. Once it is dark, the fireworks will begin.

Elk Grove

Elk Grove Fourth of July Fireworks
The event Begins Monday at 6p.m., and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Elk Grove Regional Park
Price: Free admission, $10 parking
Age: All ages

For an easygoing Fourth of July, Elk Grove will present music, food and fireworks. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Live music from Latin and R&B band Solsa will be provided, and people are encouraged to bring a blanket and have a picnic or barbecue before the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

Roseville

Roseville Fouth of July Parade
Mondayfrom 10 a.m. - noon
Vernon/Douglas/Riverside intersection to Royer Park, 190 Park Drive
Price: Free
Age: All ages

The City of Roseville will have its annual Fourth of July parade. For anyone who wants to go and grab a seat, the parade route will follow Vernon/Douglas/Riverside intersections, continue down Vernon, take a right on Lincoln Street and a right on Park Drive, ending at Royer Park.

The Music in the Park series will have the Capitol Pops Concert Band, playing the kind of music enjoyed since 1997, perform at Royer Park from noon -2 p.m. following the parade. There will be games for kids and food for everyone.

Roseville Fireworks
Monday. Gates open at 7 p.m. Fireworks show begins around 9:30 p.m.
Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All America City Blvd.
Price: Free
Age: All ages

Roseville’s fireworks show will be held in the Placer County Fairgrounds. Guests can bring their friends and families to a traditional setting for the fireworks show.

Roseville Fourth of July Cosmos Crime Run
Monday at 8 a.m.
Sculpture Park, 350 N Sunrise Ave
Price: $20 Age 17 and under, $30 pre-registered runners/walkers, #35 race-day registration, $100 pre-registered team of 4 - 7
Age: All ages

For a healthy start to the day, Roseville will host the 17th annual Cosmos Crime Run, which will benefit the Roseville Community Crime Stoppers. The route will follow the Miner’s Ravine Bike Trail.

“It is a popular event. There were 400 people last year,” said Bob Smith, one of the organizers of the event. “There will also be police and fire service demonstrations this year for anyone who wants to go.”

Citrus Heights

Fourth of July Weekend Carnival and Fireworks
The carnival runs Thursday through Monday, and fireworks will be held Monday.
Sunrise Mall, 6196 Sunrise Mall
Thursday and Friday from 4 - 11 p.m.
Saturday through Monday from noon - 11 p.m.
Price: Single Tickets are $0.95, a 20-pack costs $18 and an all-day pass costs. $20.
Age: All ages

For a day of fun, the Sunrise Mall will host a Fourth of July carnival. Carnival rides and activities will be provided, and the event will be concluded with a fireworks show at about 9 p.m. with an additional hour of the carnival after.

QUICK QUACK CAR WASH CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF ROSEVILLE LOCATION WITH FREE CARWASHES

2011-06-08T19:56:12Z

“Top 50” Car Wash Chain Opens Sixth Sacramento Area Exterior-only, Express Car Wash with 10 Days of Free Carwashes

Quick Quack Car Wash, a Sacramento, California-based company, is giving away free car washes for 10 days to celebrate opening the doors on a new express car wash in the City of Roseville. The free car wash days begin on June 10th and end on Father’s Day, June 19th and are only available at the Roseville location.

The new location is the sixth Quick Quack Car Wash in the Greater Sacramento area and the 15th car wash operated by Quick Quack with additional locations in Texas and Colorado. In 2010 Quick Quack was named one of the Fastest Growing Companies in Sacramento (#2) and the nation (#611) as well as being recognized as one of the top 50 car washes in the country.

The new car wash is located at 1391 Blue Oaks Boulevard near the Roseville and Rocklin city borders, just off Highway 65 near Foothills Boulevard. Summer hours of operations are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

“To say we are thrilled to bring our wash and our brand into the Roseville and Rocklin area is an understatement,” said Jason Johnson, President of Quick Quack Car Wash. “Since we began washing cars in Sacramento six years ago, customers have been begging us to open a car wash here and we finally made it. This location will provide further convenience for our customers who live, work and play all over Sacramento.”

Additional information is available online at www.DontDriveDirty.com.

###

Disclosure: Travis Kimball is part owner and Marketing Director of Quick Quack Car Wash.

Squeezin' into West Sacramento

2011-05-12T02:51:02Z

The original Squeeze Inn on Power Inn Road was made famous by Food Network’s Guy Fieri, who raved about their infamous cheese “skirt,” the restaurant’s twist on the classic cheeseburger. Since then it has opened up restaurants in Roseville and Galt.

Tuesday morning, the Squeeze Inn’s fourth location – at 1350 Harbor Blvd. in West Sacramento – officially opened its doors at 10 a.m.

The newest addition to the Squeeze Inn line is the biggest location so far, seating up to 80 people, according to West Sacramento Squeeze Inn’s publicist, Heather Atherton.

The Squeeze Inn has been a regular on the burger scene in Sacramento for at least 30 years according to co-owner Dave Chambers.

“We’ve always wanted to own our own restaurant, and we love the Squeeze Inn brand. It’s not fast food, and it’s so unique of a brand that it has this crave-ability factor, especially with the cheese skirt. There’s a strong following and we thought it was a great opportunity to start and own something we all loved,” Chambers said.

When Chambers says “we,” he is referring to his longtime friends and partners – Joe Mousley and Eric Ostberg.

The group also has a fourth silent investor who was the one that linked them with the original owner, Travis Hauser, to get the ball rolling on the project. The group were regulars at the Power Inn location, driving in from Roseville to get their Squeezeburgers with cheese skirt fixes.

Atherton mentioned that all three men had previous food industry experience.

“They’re all restaurant industry veterans, some from fast food and some from food services,” Atherton said. “So, there’s a really great depth of understanding of how to deliver great customer service and a really high-quality product.”

Chambers said they had looked at a number of potential locations in Natomas, Vacaville, Davis and Auburn. In the end, West Sacramento proved to be prime location as it was far enough out from the other locations, but close enough in proximity to draw from the original fan base. Chambers also said that it was a truly business-friendly environment.

Atherton seconded Chambers’ comments by saying how welcoming local officials had been.

“We had two soft openings last week to prepare everyone for Tuesday. Friday’s soft opening included a luncheon with the mayor, Christopher Cabaldon, and other officials as a thank-you before their Cap-to-Cap event, which conflicted with the grand opening. We wanted to give them an opportunity to experience the food for all their support,” said Atherton.

Both Atherton and Chambers said the soft openings last weekend had been very busy. Chambers said about 200 people came through on Friday and 500 on Saturday. He expected about 600 to 1,000 at the actual opening.

“There hasn’t been too much real marketing for the event,” Chambers said. “Most of the buzz was created by fans by word-of-mouth. The city and customers have expressed a lot of excitement about it.”

Though the doors wouldn’t open to the public till 10 a.m., the grand opening had an early start as Good Day Sacramento’s Mark S. Allen and Don Geronimo were there at around 6 a.m. helping to further generate noise about the new location with their chatter and antics, including a burger-eating contest with Allen against customers. To watch the contest, check out their website.

By 11 a.m., the restaurant was fully packed and the line was out the door and wrapped around the corner.

Nina Galvan works as a yard supervisor at Stonegate Elementary School and lives near the new location. It was her first time eating at any Squeeze Inn.

“My co-worker was raving about this place for months, and I had been wanting to go, but the other locations are a bit far from here,” said Galvan. “So when I heard about this location opening a few months ago, I was pretty excited to finally be able to try it.”

Galvan brought along her friend, Velina Gonzalez, who works for the city as a site leader for an after-school program.

“I’ve had a burger at the Power Inn location before, but that was years ago,” Gonzalez said. “It was pretty good from what I remember, so I’m glad this place opened up. It’s much closer.”

Both women planned on ordering the classic “Squeeze with Cheese,” with Galvan modifying hers with the addition of some avocado.

Jeff Garrick also came to the opening Tuesday. He’s a forklift driver at Tony’s Fine Foods and a West Sacramento resident.

“I used to work night shifts over at Crystal Milk near the Power Inn location, and my wife, Melissa, would always have me pick up a ‘Squeeze with Cheese’ on the way home ever since we saw them featured on the Food Network show (“Diners Drive-Ins or Dives”).”

The West Sacramento location will feature the same menu and hours as the others. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with all locations closed on Sundays.

For more information, visit the site or call the West Sacramento location at 371-6779.

California Family Fitness Teams up with Sport Chalet in “Soles for Souls” for the Japan Disaster Relief Fund

2011-04-05T17:04:26Z

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 Family Fitness club in Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom, Elk Grove or Orangevale. Shoe donations will be accepted until Thursday, April 7, and will then be collected by Soles4Souls.

To locate a Sport Chalet or participating California Family Fitness location please visit:

http://www.californiafamilyfitness.com

http://www.sportchalet.com

Justin Dyke is a public relations professional in Sacramento, working on behalf of California Family Fitness.

Curling comes to Roseville

2011-03-29T04:33:50Z

As an outsider one may be baffled by terms like: lazy handles, wicky wacky woo, broomstacking and hoggers. However, to the curling junkie these just mean a good night is to be had.

So, how does one go about curling? First, you dress warm and get ready for a couple of hours in 40 degree weather. Second, you take a stone that weights approximately 42 pounds and try to strategically push it to ‘the house’. The house is a 12 foot circle at the other end of the ice (similar to a bulls-eye) and is where teams score points. For a team to score, the throwers stone has to be accurate for momentum is all that carries it forward once it leaves their hand.

As the stone slides down the ice there are two guys with brooms (sweepers) that, if needed, sweep the ice in front of the stone (being careful not to touch it). This process of sweeping ever so slightly melts the top of the ice allowing for a slight altering of direction and distance. The goal of the sweepers (as well as the thrower) is to score the most points; however, this is not always done by getting directly in the center of ‘the house’. Instead, sometimes they try to guard ‘the house’ by setting a stone immediately outside or by guarding one of theirs that is already in ‘the house.’ Another strategy is to try and knock the opponents’ stone out even if it means they do not score themselves.

The game is somewhat like chess where you must think four moves ahead and know what your opponent will do. This process goes on for 10 ends (similar to innings) and the team with the most points (with the stones closest to the center circle) wins. Like many sports there are often lead changes and in the end the games are usually really close.

The game (or sport) of curling is something that must be tried to truly appreciate. When speaking with Patrick McDonald from the Olympic Paraplegic Team he stated, “Curling is for everyone; you just come out and enjoy yourself.” Bob Kuhl, a member of the Wine Country Curling Club, also mentioned that, “anyone can do it; you just need to get out and try.”

Well, now you can. Starting next week Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville will be featuring curling classes on Monday night. For $20 you can receive a basic lesson in curling and then go out onto the ice and learn hands-on. You will experience the weight of the stones, the balance requirements and the excitement as you watch your stone make its way down the ice.

Clinic attendees should wear loose fitting pants, warm clothes, warm hat and leather gloves and clean, close-toed athletic rubber soled shoes such as tennis shoes. Brooms, sliders, rocks and instruction will be provided by the Wine Country Curling Club. Starting in May and ending in July, weekly Curling Pick-Up Games will be held on Monday nights from 5-7:15pm.

When/Where: Mondays, April 4 through April 25 from 5-7:15pm; Skatetown Ice Arena, 1009 Orlando Avenue, Roseville CA

Registration: Space is limited. Register online at www.skatetown.biz or in person

Marc McLaughlin is a contributing writer and photographer for the Sacramento Press.

Fresh from Jalisco: New Midtown taqueria

2011-03-22T00:02:50Z

A pair of Roseville taquerias called Jalisco Fresh Mexican Grill have become so popular that their owner has opened another in Midtown Sacramento.

Fans were driving from as far away as the foothill towns of Nevada City, El Dorado Hills and Auburn to get to the family-owned restaurants in Roseville. Some pleaded with owner Ramon Arias to launch his next taqueria in Auburn so they wouldn't have to travel so far for the tacos, burritos and fajitas.

"They said, 'You should open another taco house,' " Arias, 42, said Monday. "We didn't think there were enough people over there (in Auburn) to keep our business open. I thought Sacramento was better."

Arias and his family opened the third Jalisco Fresh last Monday at the corner of 19th and S streets in the R Street Marketplace. The Mexican eatery has taken over the spot at 1831 S St. vacated by Daphne's Greek Cafe last summer.

A native of Guadalajara in Jalisco, Arias came to the United States in 1984. He went to work at a turkey farm in Sonoma County, where he became the manager. He worked there 16 years before opening his first restaurant in Concord in 2000. He later sold it and moved to Roseville.

Arias opened the first Jalisco Fresh Mexican Grill at 9050 Fairway Drive in Roseville in 2003. He opened a second there three years later at 5180 Foothills Blvd.

His three daughters, who were born in California, came up with the name for the restaurant. The family travels back to his home state of Jalisco every year or two to visit his parents and get spoiled by his mother's cooking, he said.

The restaurants use recipes handed down by Arias' mother and grandmother and others from Guadalajara or the Jalisco region. The burritos and fajitas – made with his mother's recipe – are the most popular, Arias said.

"We do it our own way," he said. "People just love those things."

The menu includes tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, seafood, soup and plates ranging from $2.25 for a small taco to $14.99 for a beef-and-shrimp fajitas. The counter-service restaurant serves breakfast, which on weekend mornings includes Menudo. Beer, horchata and aguas frescas are also served.

His wife, Leticia Arias, brothers Jose and Alejandro, and his oldest daughter, 20-year-old Leidi, help out at the restaurants. The Midtown space underwent a renovation, with a green interior being repainted in terra cotta and pale yellow. The restaurant seats about 50 inside and 20 on an outside patio.

Jalisco Fresh is open daily from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. They're still determining how late they need to stay open as news of the restaurant's opening spreads, Arias said.

"Weekdays is going good," he said. "Weekends is quiet. Nobody knows that we're there."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter and photographer at The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

11th Annual Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference come to Roseville

2011-03-11T19:25:09Z

Roseville, CA – The Robert C. Cooley Middle School will be ground zero for one of the largest youth education forums in Northern California. Close to 1,000 elementary, middle and high school students will converge on the Cesar E. Chavez Youth Leadership Conference and Education Fair on Saturday, March 19, 2011 in Roseville, CA.

For over a decade, this event has provided guidance to youth seeking to pursue higher education and grant information. This unique educational forum allows 6th to 12 grade students and their parents an opportunity to learn how to pursue secondary educational and grant opportunities. College recruiters will be available to answer student questions. There will also be information designed to empower families to become stronger advocates for their children's education.

The conference is open to people of all ages. It is scheduled from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Robert C. Cooley Middle School campus located at 9300 Prairie Woods Way in Roseville, CA 95747. Approximately 700 students and 200 parents attended the 2010 conference. The event is sponsored by The Hispanic Empowerment Association of Roseville (HEAR), the Latino Leadership Council and the Cooley Latino Student Club.

The conference is free to anybody interested in pursuing a higher education. Pre-registration is not required but strongly recommended. Pre-registration is available by downloading conference information at http://www.hear2000.org. The conference was founded 11 years ago by Rene Aguilera, a Roseville City School District Board Trustee. The conference traditionally kicks off a series of Sacramento-area events related to California’s Cesar Chavez Holiday.

There will be an entertainment portion of the conference from 12:30 pm to 2:15 pm. Jose Montoya, former CSU Sacramento professor and original member of the Royal Chicano Air Force will make a presentation. Other performers to be showcased, include:

The Folklorico Latino de Woodland
The Miktlantekuhtli Aztec troupe
The Miktlantekuhtli Aztec troupe
A Bachata dance troupe
The Yemaya salsa dancers
There will also be a live theater presentation of ‘Nightmare on Puberty Street,’ by the Kaiser Educational Theater Program. That presentation begins at 9:30 am.”

“The Cesar E. Chavez Youth Leadership Conference supplements what most school districts do on or around March 31 – his birthday and acts as a primer for learning,” said Aguilera. “We ask parents, students, educators and business and community leaders to come out and volunteer their time to teach and learn from each other on both days. The overall goal of the conference is to help youths learn how to be community leaders; how to become involved; how to learn about social and political issues; and how to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school. Topics will include student financial aid, scholarships and career information including law, journalism, military, teaching, social welfare, art, music and dance, medicine, law enforcement and professional athletics and many others.”

Cesar Chavez was co-founder and president of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. He led the union from the 1960s to his death at age 66 in 1993. The UFW was instrumental in organizing farm workers in several states. In 2000, Governor Gray Davis signed SB 984, asking that school districts give an hour of instruction in all schools around Chavez's March 31 birthday.

The youth conference continues to recognize the UFW founder's lessons on non-violence, self-sacrifice and social justice. Students are encouraged to engage in some form of public service appropriate for their age and grade as part of the Cesar Chavez Day of Service of Learning.

“Overall, we expect around 800 students from throughout Sacramento, Northern California and the Central Valley,” said Aguilera. “Many students come back to this event year after year. They find it beneficial in helping them find out more about college opportunities. They have fun interacting with other students, conference presenters and event volunteers.

“One of the great things about this particular conference is that we have so many parents involved,” said Aguilera. “Once again, the California Association Bilingual Education (CABE) is registering parents for the conference. We will have a parent specialist conduct a presentation showing parents how to be more involved with their child’s school."

For additional information on the Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference, call Rene Aguilera at (916) 532-5998, or fax registration applications to H.E.A.R. at (916) 782-2040. Students can also take their completed application to their counselor and ask them to fax it. Visit the conference web site at www.hear2000.org.

# # # #

Chief Braziel to discuss succession plans

2011-03-08T01:46:58Z

Within the next three years, nearly 75 percent of the Sacramento Police Department’s staff, ranked captain and higher, will be eligible for retirement, according to police department spokeswoman Laura Peck.

Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel will address the department’s succession plans and other concerns regarding top staff at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

City Councilman Rob Fong requested Braziel make a presentation, saying he was concerned over former Sacramento Police Capt. Daniel Hahn’s move earlier this month to become Roseville’s police chief.

“Whenever there are openings in the region, people tend to look at our folks,” Fong said, adding that the city should ensure it’s not “grooming” chiefs for other cities.

In addition to Hahn’s recent move, Braziel seriously considered leaving last year to become Seattle’s police chief. Braziel ultimately decided to stay with Sacramento and stopped the interviewing process in Seattle.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Braziel will discuss “the future of the organization,” Peck said.

The department will need to start preparing for possible retirements of its leaders, she said. Sworn officers are eligible for retirement contributions at age 50, she noted.

Braziel, 51, said last June that he planned to retire in three to four years. Peck said Braziel was unavailable to be interviewed Monday afternoon.

The City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 915 I St.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

City outsources tree pruning work

2011-02-24T00:51:57Z

The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday to hire an outside contractor for tree pruning and removal work despite opposition from a major city union, Stationary Engineers Local 39.

Council members voted 7-2 to pay up to $3.7 million to Roseville-based Jensen Tree Service, Inc., for a contract that could span five years. The contract has a one-year guarantee of work – after that, the city manager will decide each year over the following four years whether to continue the contract, according to Craig Lymus, the city’s acting procurement manager.

A representative for Local 39, which represents urban forestry workers, among many other groups of city employees, said the work that Jensen Tree Services will carry out is usually done by city employees.

“I find this to be an affront to the public employees and the residents of this city,” Linda Norman, business representative for Local 39, told the City Council. “These dollars will be lost to the city’s embattled economy.”

Each year, the city will pay the contractor $749,000, according to Transportation Director Jerry Way. The money will come from a lighting and landscaping fund, he said.

Way told council members that his department is trying to balance its tree pruning work between in-house workers and outside contractors to save money. The city’s Urban Forest Service is part of the Transportation Department.

“We’re growing our outsourcing a little bit, because, you know, we’ve been hemorrhaging general fund dollars,” Way said.

Councilwomen Sandy Sheedy and Bonnie Pannell voted against hiring the contractor. Pannell raised concerns about contracting with an outside firm when the unemployment rate is high. “My problem is: Unemployment is 12 percent,” she said.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

‘Equus’: Powerful Production from TAAC

2011-01-28T01:30:38Z

The current offering at The Alternative Arts Collective Theatre in Roseville is a remarkably muscular interpretation of ‘Equus’, Peter Shaffer’s groundbreaking 1973 play.

‘Equus’ follows the parallel experiences of two men as they struggle to understand and heal themselves of their inner demons. Thrown together are Alan Strang, a young man who has committed the heinous crime of blinding several horses with a hoof pick, and Martin Dysart, a disillusioned child psychiatrist.

As Alan resists acknowledging and accepting his actions and the inner sexual and religious turmoil which motivates him, Dysart explores his own limitations and the ultimate futility he sees in healing Alan. The psychiatrist comes to believe that by removing the young man’s pain, he will also excise the passion and capacity for worship which had been central to Alan’s experience. The crime was an aberrant expression of something both Dysart and Alan come to see as holy.

Contributing to the story are Hesther Saloman, the magistrate who recognizes Alan’s pain and wisely commends him to the psychiatric hospital and the care of Dysart rather than to prison; Alan’s parents, the ultra-religious Dora and hypocritical, harsh Frank Strang; and Jill Mason, a young woman whose attentions precipitate Alan’s break with rationality and lead to his crime.

The cast is well-rounded, with some familiar faces from the local theater community.

Zack Myers, as Alan Strang, displays just the right amount of adolescent posturing, as when he responds to Dysart’s initial questions by singing television jingles and refusing to speak. As the play develops, Myers reveals Alan's cunning side, yet is passive and vulnerable when the conflicted and disparate relationships with his parents (played by Hazel Stream and Bob Nannini) are introduced.

Myers is convincing in his religious rapture, and in his developing sensual and sexual involvement with the horse Nugget (played by Jacob Woods). His sexual attraction to Jill (Taylor Hill) is less believable, although his nervous awareness of the presence of his God-figure Nugget/Equus is clearly drawn.

Richard Spierto said he has “wanted to play Martin Dysart since the mid 1970’s” when he first discovered the role through the traveling Broadway company, and rejoiced that he is “ finally old enough”.

Dysart is plagued by a nightmare in which he is a priest in ancient Greece responsible for the execution and evisceration of hundreds of children, a task he continues long after he has become sickened by it: he fears ridicule and retribution by his fellow priests if he fails in his duty. Spierto delivers this information with eerie, somewhat detached intensity.

Spierto plays the complex and insecure Dysart with confidence in his dealings with Alan, and with a confessional straightforward manner when speaking with his patient’s parents and with the magistrate (Sandy Phillips). He chooses a whiny petulance in his considerable soliloquies, however, and although this communicates his uncertainty and despair it is uncomfortable and disconcerting.

Phillips is relaxed and comfortable, conveying Saloman as a magistrate with the most humanity of any character onstage. She is genuinely concerned for both the patient and the doctor, and one can easily imagine her tucked up with a cup of tea and a clear conscience.

The stage and lighting design are clever, consisting of a single set with a central raised corral-like space sketched with beams and sparsely set with a bench or two and some hay bales. Spotlights direct the viewer’s attention, necessary as every actor remains onstage throughout the entire duration of the show.

The exceptions are the four horses, barely clad actors wearing horse-head masks designed by Ashley Eigenman and Eileen Beaver. The horses come and go; Nugget as the Equus/God is magnificently sensual and totally non-human.

Director David Garrison is both the artistic director and founder of The Alternative Arts Collective. He has assembled an impressive cast and staff of passionate artists.

The ambitious undertaking from this upstart arts group follows on the heels of the TAAC production of ‘Angels in America’, in two parts; both ‘Millenium Approaches’ and ‘Perestroika’ were ably presented with a local cast.

The upcoming TAAC season is robust with productions of ‘Hamlet’ (with a mostly female cast), David Mamet’s ‘The Cryptogram”, several other well-know works, and an original play by Garrison.

"We choose work that is artistically complex," explained Garrison. "It challenges us, and the audience. You have to work for it.

"Our goal is to be non-competitive; we are interested in unifying the community through art."

Although TAAC is currently housed in an unlikely (and chilly) small theater in Royer Park in Roseville, negotiations have begun to move and expand the collective into a larger and more comfortable venue.

This fresh and energetic company deserves more audience and critical attention than it currently enjoys. Lovers of local theater will not want to miss this final weekend of ‘Equus’, and will want to keep a close eye on TAAC in the coming years.

‘Equus’ plays at the Royer Park Theater this Friday and Saturday, January 28 and 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or by contacting TAAC at (916) 538-8013, www.facebook.com/pages/The-Alternative-Arts-Collective or at taactheatre@gmail.com

photos by John Pek/Evek Studios

Hey Friends, that's not a "flash mob" that's my grandma!

2010-12-21T08:33:15Z

Tonight, we gathered the family to go to the Roseville Galleria to sing the Hallelujah Chorus, shop for some last minute Christmas items, and to have dinner together. Our daughter was asked to come and sing by her high school choir and we had heard of these “Random Acts of Culture” in other communities. We understood that the singing was being organized by the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, so we thought it would be a fun, family thing to do. We’ve had it on our calendar for weeks.

The traffic was heavy in Roseville, but when we finally arrived at the Galleria, we were very excited. There seemed to be hundreds, if not thousands of wonderful and excited people just hoping to sing and experience this unique Christmas event. Everyone around us was joyful and happy to share in this positive experience. However, within a few minutes of our arrival the officials began announcing the closing of the mall and, not knowing what was happening, we left immediately.

We came home to news headlines like “Flash Mob Forces Closure of the Roseville Galleria.” Really? We were a “flash mob” and we were forcing the mall’s closure? That was news to me. I’ve never even thought about joining a “flash mob” or forcing the closure of anything. A bunch of moms, dads, children, and grandparents just wanting to sing the Hallelujah Chorus together, that’s a “flash mob?”

There were many postings on the news sites about how reckless this “flash mob” was and how much harm they caused or could have caused. But, causing harm was the last thing we intended to do tonight. We had thought it was a good idea to show up and support the struggling mall. We wanted to come and sing about our King of kings and to share our joy with our community. But, instead we had come and been labeled a “flash mob” which caused great harm. In all fairness, no one could have known how many people would come to the Roseville Galleria tonight to sing the Hallelujah Chorus.

I think the news media is getting this story all wrong. Maybe the story sounds better if it has a sinister title like, “Flash Mob Forces the Closure of the Roseville Galleria.” But in truth, it was really just hundreds or maybe thousands, of local grandmas and grandpas, moms and dads, and children, young and old, hoping to sing Hallelujah to their King of kings. They weren’t trying to be a mob of anything or trying to force the closure of anything. They were just trying to share some HOPE in a hopeless world and maybe show some patronage to a struggling mall while they were at it.

From where I sat, it wasn’t a “flash mob” at the Galleria tonight up to no good; it was just my family and yours coming together in hopes of spreading some Christmas joy.

Galleria Evacuation Forced by Huge Crowd

2010-12-21T07:11:09Z

It was a genuine mob scene—a “flash mob”, that is. The Westfield Galleria in Roseville was evacuated Monday evening when a large crowd strained the capacity of the food court to its limits—and possibly beyond.

Amid reports of the floor cracking and buckling under the combined weight of an estimated 5,000 people, the Roseville Fire Department ordered the entire mall closed and evacuated everyone.

It was an orderly evacuation, though many people were slow to abandon their vantage points. Eventually the grumbling crowds were cleared away from the area around the carousel, the upper gallery and lower floor courtyard, and the surrounding corridors. Shop keepers stood bewildered in their doorways as hundreds of shoppers streamed by on their way to the parking lots.

Some remained in Food Court after evacuation order was given (upper area of photo).

Part of the huge crowd that exited the Food Court area and went to the courtyard.

People using exterior stairway to evacuate into the courtyard from Food Court.

Sacramento Press photographer Kati Garner had accompanied me to the vast mall to report on a “flash mob” event planned for 7:30 in the food court. As members of The Sacramento Women’s Chorus, we had been invited by the organizers, the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, to take part in a "Random Act of Musical Kindness".

We were prepared to join some 200 other choristers from around the area in performing “The Hallelujah Chorus”, an event designed to be “A Spontaneous Celebration of great Music, Community, the Season, and the reopening of the Westfield Galleria at Roseville," according to the Choral Society website. Our director and half a dozen other members were present, scores in hand and voices warmed up.

The word had spread, however, far beyond the scope originally envisioned by Choral Society founder and director Donald Kendrick, who was preparing to direct the mass choir in the exuberant chorus, easily the most recognizable part of the Handel masterwork, “The Messiah”. As singers spread the word, invited friends or relatives or their church choirs, the crowd assembled for the event far outgrew the capacity of the food court to hold it.

When we arrived at 6:00, a full 90 minutes prior to the scheduled concert, there was not a seat to be found in the food court. Tables were jammed; every chair, railing, planter box, and counter space was over-occupied by singers, their supporters, and curious shoppers. It was a wall-to-wall press of humanity, surely more people than were ever expected to occupy that space. The food vendors were doing a brisk business, and the lines for sushi and Panini snaked in long lines through the assembled crowd.

By 6:45, the word was passed through hundreds of cellphones that Dr. Kendrick wanted the singers to relocate to the lower floor. The escalators were frighteningly overburdened, the staircases jammed. People who had been waiting in the food court for hours began streaming to the area around the carousel and were parked three- and four-deep against the gallery rails.

A few folks tried to focus the restless crowd by starting to sing; “Jingle Bells” got off to a strong start but soon faded away in the general cacophony.

According to The Sacramento Bee report, some people heard loud cracking noises and others said they felt the floor shift beneath their feet. Those busy cellphones were soon sending out 911 calls, and emergency personnel started arriving outside, lights flashing eerily through the skylights and windows of the mall.

Soon a bullhorn was heard above the babble: “Roseville Galleria! Attention Roseville Galleria! This is the Roseville Fire Department. The Galleria Mall is now closed. Please move immediately to the nearest exit. The Mall is now closed”.

Some attendees, perhaps nervous in light of the recent devastating fire which damaged much of the Galleria, headed immediately for the exits. Others waited for a second, third, and even fourth announcement from the Roseville Fire Department before clearing out.

Many of the people who were determined to sing gathered outside and Don Kendrick led them in singing the Hallelujah Chorus as planned, although the arrival of more emergency response vehicles drowned out their voices.

Police helicopters circled the parking areas, loudspeakers directing the crowds to disperse. For those who had made it outside on the opposite side of the mall from where they had parked, this entailed a long and chilly trek; when a light sprinkle began to fall, there was a noticeable speed-up of grumbling walkers.

Everyone waved and cheered as a helicopter flew overhead.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the crush of people, and Roseville building inspectors are examining the floor to determine the amount, if any, of structural damage. Westfield galleria has stated that the major department stores (outside access) are being reopened as soon as the evacuation is complete.

Even after reaching the car, I had a chilly wait for Kati to make her way there, and then an even longer wait to exit the parking lot, as there had been absolutely no movement of cars for nearly an hour.

Another member of the Sacramento Women’s Chorus had this to report via email: “It's 10pm and the kids and I just got back from the mob. Sat in the van on the upper level of the JC Penney's parking lot for an hour and a half, unable to move, unable to park and get out of the van….All told, we spent 3 hours in the van with no dinner but no bickering, no injuries, no crying and mom didn't yell once - it's a Christmas miracle!”

Hallelujah!

For more images of flash mob scene, CLICK HERE>>>

Photos | Kati Garner and Ed Fogle, SacMav.com

Roseville Police Don't Sing Hallelujah

2010-12-21T05:59:18Z

Police ejected a flash mob of hundreds of choral singers tonight from the Roseville Galleria mall. The choral singers, many clad in their Christmas clothes, had been anticipating singing an “impromptu” rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” in the food court.

The performance was conceived of by the Sacramento Choral Society and over the last few weeks, word quickly spread via email, Twitter and good old-fashioned word of mouth. As the 7:30 performance time neared, dense traffic in the food court came to a near standstill while singers clutched their sheet music for the 4-minute song.

When mall security was unable to redirect the crowd, the Fire Department closed the mall and ushered everyone outside. Denied their chance to sing inside, the crowd collected in the outdoor courtyard and began singing Christmas carols.

Despite repeated Police orders to leave the vicinity, the determined carolers of all ages stayed and at the appointed time, the “Hallelujah Chorus began”. With such a large group, the song was somewhat disjointed but the soprano voices soared above it all and the crowd got what it came for.

As the song finished, a Police helicopter arrived with bright searchlights and bullhorns ordering the crowd to disperse. But, by this time the chorus had been sung and people were leaving on their own, singing “Jingle Bells” and waving merrily at the helicopter overhead.

On a serious note, the impact of closing the mall must have been particularly hard for store-owners who were just recently able to re-open after the Galleria fire.

Denio’s a Great Place to Buy Quality Holiday Gifts at Bargain Prices

2010-12-08T17:06:09Z

It’s that time of year when people are immersed in their holiday shopping, searching for bargains on that perfect gift.

Denio’s Roseville Farmers Market & Swap Meet is good year-round for wonderful gifts at bargain prices. This holiday season, the 63-year-old establishment will offer a treasure trove of gift ideas each weekend.

Not only is family-owned Denio’s a great location for shoppers, it also provides an outlet for anyone who wants to sell unneeded items and earn some extra money for Christmas.

Rod Smith of Bargain $mart has been selling holiday seasonal items since 1991 at Denio’s and said he always looks forward to this time of year when Denio’s gears up to accommodate the thousands of holiday shoppers each weekend.

“We have a lot of gift ideas this time of year, like tool sets, pocket knives, key chains, gloves, and a lot more that sell very well during the holidays,” Smith said. “You get all kinds of people out here, millionaires and people without a lot of money, and the common denominator is they are all looking for bargains. That’s what Denio’s is known for.”

The 70-acre location houses many items, including jewelry, toys, computers, cosmetics, books, games, hobby supplies, appliances, musical instruments, watches, car stereo equipment, leather goods, sun glasses, antiques and collectibles, back packs, novelty items, and more.

One more reason to shop at Denio’s is its famed produce market. The section is being expanded by 21 percent, making the produce area as large as two football fields. Denio’s currently has more than 130 produce spaces.

For the third consecutive year, Denio’s will lend support to the “Toys for the Troops’ Kids” program, which provides toys for children of U.S. military personnel who are deployed overseas and the families of soldiers killed in action since September 2001.

Radio personality Big Jim Hall of K-Hits did a live remote at Denio’s on Dec. 4 and will return on Saturday, Dec. 18. Hall is encouraging people to join in donating new and unwrapped gifts for the children of military personnel.

Santa Claus, along with Sacramento’s famed “Top Balloon Twisters Barry and Bob,” will also be on hand so children can receive a fun balloon and have a picture taken with Santa.

Denio’s is located at 1551 Vineyard Road in Roseville.

Denio’s is open every Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The Friday outdoor market is also open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.deniosmarket.com or call (916) 782-2704.

Disclosure: Jeffrey Weidel is V.P. of Halldin Public Relations in Roseville, and is a Representative for Denio's Farmers Market & Swap Meet.

Annual Roseville festival promises something special…real snow and much more

2010-11-23T18:50:41Z

Snow is predicted in Roseville on Dec. 9 as the fifth annual Festival of Lights takes place from 5-8 p.m. at Horizon West Roseville and Sierra Hills care centers located on Cirby Way in Roseville.
Mountains of fresh snow will be trekked into the parking lot of the two facilities for snow play in addition to a display of holiday lights inside and out, live music including the Glee Club from Vencil Brown Elementary School, a local jazz band and a variety of food and beverages.
For the kids, free train rides will be available along with opportunities to visit and have a photo taken with Santa Claus himself.
This is a free event and a Toys for Tots Donation Center. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to children in need this holiday season.
For more information call Victoria Tanforan, 624-6230 or Grace Bagaybagayan at 778-8636.

Blue Oaks Cinema 16 opens its doors

2010-11-19T20:55:47Z

The new, locally owned and operated, Blue Oaks Cinema 16 in Rocklin opened its doors today to a waiting crowd. The state-of-the-art megaplex features 16 all digital theaters with high-end Klipsch surround sound. The Theater also features a UDC theater with a wall-to-wall screen, 13.1 surround sound, leather seats and more leg room.

The owner, Dan Tocchini, stated that the theater is the first in the world to feature elevated digital projectors that do not require any projection booth. The technology allows them to maximize usable space and give the audience a better experience. Continuing with the advanced features in the theater, Tocchini stated that every aspect of each theater is controlled by an iPhone looking device: lights, projections, air conditioning and sound can be adjusted instantaneously – allowing for each movie to get a personalized touch.

With an average of 175 seats per theater (individual theaters range from 130 – 290 seat), there is ample room for the growing Placer community. The theater also conveniently offers four ticket kiosks, along with your normal ticket counter, as you enter the doors. These kiosks allow you to purchase tickets or pick-up tickets you purchased online.

For the convenience of families, the theater is offering an Early Bird special for all movies starting in the 10:00am hour. The price for the Early Bird special is $5.50 for general movies and $8.50 for 3D movies.

PRICES:

General Cinema

General Admission $10.50
Children (3 – 11) & Sr. Citizen (60+) $7.00

Bargain Matinee
Any Show Before 6 pm(Mon - Fri
All Shows before 2pm Sat, Sun & all Holidays $7.75

Early Bird
1st Matinee showtime everyday $5.50

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema

General Admission $13.25
Children (3 – 11) & Sr. Citizen (60+) $10.25

Bargain Matinee
Any Show Before 6 pm(Mon - Fri
All Shows before 2pm Sat, Sun & all Holidays $10.75

Early Bird
1st Matinee showtime everyday $8.50

Ultimate Digital Cinema

UDC General $13.25
Children (3 – 11) & Sr. Citizen (60+) $10.00

Bargain Matinee
Any Show Before 6 pm(Mon - Fri
All Shows before 2pm Sat, Sun & all Holidays $10.75

3D Ultimate Digital Cinema

3D UDC General $15.25
Children (3 – 11) & Sr. Citizen (60+) $12.00

Bargain Matinee
Any Show Before 6 pm(Mon - Fri
All Shows before 2pm Sat, Sun & all Holidays $12.75

For more information on Blue Oaks Cinema 16 please follow this link.

Photos by Marc McLaughlin
Marc McLaughlin is a Contributing Writer and Photographer with Sacramento Press

Garbolino rosy about state of Roseville

2010-11-17T05:05:28Z

In her State of the City address Monday, Roseville Mayor Gina Garbolino acknowledged the punch the Galleria arson dealt the city last month.

“Certainly, the fire is a blow to the Galleria and city, but hardly a knockout punch. Roseville is tougher than that,” she said.

Roseville’s innovative city programs and services as well as its careful resource planning assure the city’s continued role as a regional leader, she said.

Garbolino said she oversaw the “second-best era” for Roseville. “I absolutely believe the very best is still to come.” Garbolino became mayor in 2008. She also previously served as mayor from 2004 to 2006.

With Macy’s and Nordstrom now open and JC Penney scheduled to open by Black Friday, Garbolino called on shoppers to patronize the Galleria.

Public Affairs and Communications Director Megan MacPherson said in an interview, “We’re looking at less than half a million (dollars) in terms of the sales tax revenue hit to the city’s general fund.”

She said it is not yet clear whether the city will need to make budget cuts or will decide not to move forward on new projects.

Roseville is a mixture of old and new. The shopping powerhouse of the Galleria contrasts with the quaint, 100-year-old city center.

Garbolino described prospects for continued revitalization of downtown Roseville through a nonprofit development corporation, a public and private partnership that would be able to compete for federal and state funds not currently available to the city.

“We’ve never been this close to remaking our downtown,” Garbolino said. “Before long, we will all see that vibrant downtown we’ve talked about for years.”

In March, the Roseville Redevelopment Department completed a $13 million streetscape upgrade project on Riverside Avenue, an exit off I-80 that leads to downtown Roseville. Improvements include streetlights, benches, new parking configurations, new curbs and sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings, infrastructure and landscaping.

In addition, bright graphics depicting scenes from old Roseville adorn fourteen new signs, comprising a “History Mile.”

New housing projects under way at the city’s west end will make their imprint on the city’s next era.

The city has adopted two plans to add 2,700 acres and 9,000 new housing units to west Roseville, north of Baseline Road and west of Fiddyment Road. These communities will include the parks, shopping and open space that Garbolino said are hallmarks of Roseville.

Sixty percent of the city’s new housing exceeds the state’s standard for energy efficiency, she said.

The city’s green utility programs also include a “food waste to energy” program that will divert 3,600 tons of food waste annually from the landfill and convert it to “clean energy,” Garbolino said.

Additionally, the city will be able to fully utilize its Aquifer Storage and Recovery Program in 2011. Aquifer Storage Recovery is a system by which water is injected into ground wells for use at a later time.

Roseville this year once again has the only Class I flood protection rating from FEMA. According to the city’s website, less than seven percent of property within Roseville is affected by flooding, and most of that is open space.

Roseville’s fire department also received an “international accreditation,” rare among fire departments in California, Garbolino said.

She thanked city employees for their efforts at city improvement.

“There’s no magic involved,” she said. “Just hard work day in and day out.”

City manager Ray Kerridge was hired in June and has no shortage of work in front of him. With 1,100 full-time employees, 115,000 residents and a $447 million budget, the scope of Roseville’s government – including police, fire, parks, water, wastewater, garbage and electricity – is massive. No other city in the region runs an electric utility.

Kerridge previously was city manager for the city of Sacramento and worked for the city of Portland for more than 25 years prior to that.

Looking forward to the projects on Kerridge’s plate, Garbolino highlighted the city’s role as a regional leader.

“It’s vitally important that we continue to be good neighbors to our friends in South Placer, she said. “Roseville is not an island.”

Garbolino said Roseville needs to coordinate with its neighbors in land development, improving road systems, and water management.

She called bringing a four-year university to the area “a major component of our future.” She said, “The city is committed to working with any and every partner to make this happen.”

Garbolino closed what she said was her last speech in elected office with moist eyes, thankful for her career in public service and making her home in Roseville.

“Others will see Roseville as the jewel of Northern California. We will be the ones lucky enough to call it home,” she said.

Current and newly elected City Council members were in attendance at the State of the City address.

Susan Rohan and Tim Herman will be sworn in as City Council members on Dec. 2. Rohan will become vice mayor because she received the most votes for City Council in the recent election.

As current vice mayor and the highest vote getter in 2008, Pauline Roccucci will be sworn in as the next mayor, also on Dec. 2.

Roccucci now is serving a third City Council term after one term of reprieve per city code. Measure H to cap City Council terms at three in a lifetime failed on this year’s ballot. Roccucci is the only person now serving three City Council terms. She previously served as mayor from 1989-1991. Her husband, Richard Roccucci, served as mayor from 1982-1984.

Rohan will become mayor after the election for City Council in 2012.

Photos by Laura O'Brien

DeMarcus Reaches Out

2010-11-15T18:10:37Z

The Sacramento Kings new forward, DeMarcus Cousins, signed autographs at the Jack-in-the-Box on Foothills Blvd in Roseville Saturday night. DeMarcus greeted a max-capacity crowd around 5:30pm signing memorabilia ranging from hats to shirts and snapping pictures with adoring fans.

One set of fans arrived at 8:30am and waited all day just to get DeMarcus’s autograph. When asked why they would wait over 9 hours for a player they stated, “We come out for all of these and never miss them.”

Jack-in-the-Box
5150 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747

Photo by Marc McLaughlin

Marc McLaughlin is a Contributing Writer and Photographer with Sacramento Press

500 Needed for Galleria cleanup

2010-10-24T00:41:58Z

A local company will take resumes on Sunday and Monday to find cleanup workers.

Details here.

Opinion: After the fire

2010-10-22T18:53:22Z

Today we are all Rosevillians.

Yeah, I know that sounds goofy – and it's said half in jest. But only half.

Surely, the day after the horrific arson fire that shuttered the Roseville Galleria – on the eve of the holiday shopping season – even the most dismissive Midtown hipster can feel for our suburban neighbors.

During the last decade, we've come to think about each other as something other than neighbors or fellow citizens – we've become competitors. And the divide has come to have a cultural flavor.

Suburbanites dismiss the central city for its liberalism, for its "attitude," for our homeless, for the need to walk a couple of blocks from parking spot to destination, or for being what one poster on Sacbee.com called "ghetto town."

But meanwhile, central city occupants deride people from beyond the rivers as SUV-driving dye jobs, monoculture "bridge-and-tunnel" philistines who take all the parking, don't understand how to drive on a one-way street, and have ruined the Second Saturday Art Walk, among other things.

And the resentment of even our local leaders over the unbalanced investment by Westfield in the Downtown Plaza versus the Roseville Galleria has led to some bad feelings. Why does Roseville get all the improvements? It's not FAIR!

As someone raised in the Arcade suburbs who has long lived in the central city, I am clear which "side" I'm on. I couldn't wait to get out of there, and I can't imagine what would possess someone to live "out there." The schools, I suppose. Or the hills.

But despite my biker's resentment at having been nearly run off the road by soccer moms with two tons of steel in their hands, today I want to recognize this fact:

The greater Sacramento area is one place, one economy, and we rise and fall together. Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom and other increasingly tony suburbs are important parts of our greater economy, and seeing their gains as our losses, or vice versa, is short-sighted.

The more people live and thrive in those small suburban towns, the more people there will be who can come downtown and see shows, support local bands and artists, admire our century-old architecture, learn about our history, participate in our heterogeneous culture and yes, shop in our stores.

And when a town like Roseville suffers an economic hit like yesterday's – the loss of jobs, and of sales tax income has yet to be absorbed – it strikes me as the perfect time to reaffirm that we are all part of one community.

For as Roseville has risen on a tide of Bay Area immigration, central Sacramento has not fallen – we have gotten busier and more interesting; and as Roseville suffers the results of this crazy crime, the central city does not rise – there will be fewer people with disposable income to spend at Mix or Old Ironsides or yes, Downtown Plaza.

This arson was a mad strike at our whole region, and our whole region will suffer for it.

So today, at least, let's put aside our petty differences and one-upmanship and recognize that, while we may not all be Rosevillians, we should all acknowledge the damage and pain that this crime is causing, and will continue to cause for many months ahead.

Whether we live in Roseville or Carmichael or Rancho Cordova or the central city, today, and every day, we are all Sacramentans.

And that is no joke.

Denio family still swapping after all these years

2010-10-18T04:35:24Z

It’s like Christmas every weekend for each bargain-hunting, fresh fruit- and veggie-loving passerby who ambles through the opening in the shiny chain-link fence at the corner of Church Street and Atkinson in Roseville.

Since 1947, the gaps in the never-rusty metal fence have been letting folks enter into a world of constants and a world of the unexpected all the while wandering through a well-planned maze of wooden tables that is Denio’s Farmers Market and Swap Meet.

Denio’s, located at 1551 Vineyard Rd., is an iconic part of greater Sacramento’s history. People have been coming out to the boonies of Roseville for years to peddle their no-longer-used “items” out of a ’57 pickup or load up on the best fruits and vegetables in the vicinity. And the Denio family has seen it all.

Started over 60 years ago by Jim and Marilee Denio and originally called Denio’s Farmers Market and Auction, it began with a single vendor selling produce near the Southern Pacific Railroad yard. Soon thereafter, Jim Denio held auctions on Saturdays and people began renting empty asphalt spaces to feature their items. It wasn’t until 1969 that the trading post opened on Sundays.

Running the show these days is Jim and Marilee’s son, Ken, and he is assisted in the marketing department by his son Eric. Eric rolled by in his golf cart and spoke about the history of Denio’s.

“It started out with three locations but settled here at Atkinson and Vineyard,” said the third generation market-running Denio. “Grandpa was selling produce out of a Model T, and, lo and behold, 63 years later it’s Denio’s Farmers Market and Swap Meet.

“It’s been a wild ride. We actually know families that are on their third generation and working on their fourth of both selling and shopping, so it’s been pretty fun for me to meet new people. We have people coming from all over the world to visit us.”

Eric has even gotten into the social media aspect of the business. With the newfangled ways to advertise, you can now follow Denio’s on Twitter, where they have about 2,000 followers, and on Facebook. You can even find updates on YouTube by searching Denio’s.

One trip past the wooden ticket booth and the senses will be overloaded with the smooth but distinct scent of cinnamon on your left, the charcoal grill emitting the aroma of fresh barbecued pork sandwiches directly in front of you, and soy sauce-covered Asian vegetables and rice from the food shack on your right. It can be overwhelming.

Further down one of the many layered aisles, you can find anything. NASCAR collectibles, old Nintendo cartridges, huge living room carpets and even some cool luchador outfits for the youngsters.

If you follow the normal routine — for folks parking in the large lot that used to house the old cattle auction building — you run a circle around the yard and wind up in their famous produce area on your way out. This seemingly endless covered territory houses the now cornerstone part of the long-standing family business.

Families have been coming to this outpost of the unusual for many a growing season. Currently, there are still cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, grapes and more still fresh and ready to devour.

The Nguyn family was out in force this day romping through the vast array of fresh produce laid upon the various vendor’s tables, picking what they could before someone else’s hand outreached them for freshness.

Nikki Nguyn had enough in her rolling metal cart that she will be able to fill the salad bar when she gets home. Her reason for visiting the old auction site is like so many others who are out on this sunny day.

“I’m saving money and buying fresh produce,” Nguyn said.

Denio’s may be the place that you find all the fixings for a great home-cooked meal or the missing piece for your special collection.

Denio’s is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free parking, and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with $3 parking. For more information on current promotions and the history of Denio’s Farmers Market and Swap Meet, go to http://denios.org.

(Not so) Red Hot Chili Peppers

2010-10-12T15:44:40Z

   Right now, I have 11 different hot sauces and a full pound of fresh jalapeño peppers in my fridge. It’s about par for the course. I incorporate chili peppers into almost every meal I prepare. For me, a really great meal is often a battle of attrition, from which I walk away sweating, with saliva flooding my mouth, tears welling in my eyes and endorphins coursing through my veins.
   To paraphrase the great George Costanza, I would drape myself in chili peppers were it socially acceptable.
   Sunday was the inaugural Roseville HOT pepper festival & chili cook-off. It is a rare event that can pull me away from the morning games on NFL Sunday Ticket, but a hot pepper festival and chili cook-off is near the top of that short list.
   What I found was equal parts street fair, classic car show, farmers market, carnival and cook-off.
What I didn't find, unfortunately, was anything that challenged my taste buds or my tolerance for pain. The "HOT" in "HOT pepper" stood for "Historic Old Town" Roseville, and little else. Although I was a bit disappointed by the misnomer, I still enjoyed the festival as a whole.
   At the heart of the festival was a beer and margarita garden that faced a stage featuring live music from local bands. While I was wandering the grounds, a two-piece band called "The Afterlife" was regaling the audience with a broad range of selections, from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Miles Davis.
Extending outward from the festival hub were four branches, each with its own distinct focus.
Pacific Street featured the classic car competition.
Church Street was chock-full of arts and crafts.
Main Street was farmers market-esque, featuring farm-fresh produce, baked goods, spices and a food court.
Lincoln Street was where the chili cook-off went down.
In addition to the four wings, the parking lot adjacent to Lincoln Street was turned into a carnival-like play area featuring a cornucopia of games and rides for the little ones.
   A few highlights:
   The Great Harvest Bread Company – from Yuba City, apparently it's a national brand with franchise opportunities, but I'd never had it before. I tried the cracked pepper and swiss, and honey whole wheat loaves, both of which were very good. I can't imagine a better base for a PB&J than the latter.
   Two Spicy Ladies – based in Roseville, they had an extraordinary selection of spices and spice blends. Plus Sher and Shane (One Spicy Lady, and her progeny) were a pleasure to talk with.
   Barbecued oysters – from Xochimilco restaurant, they were really good, and their selection of spicy toppers was to be lauded.
   The Placer SPCA – Kittens!

Snowy Peaks Christmas Tree Farm- cause it's gonna be here sooner than you think. They, more than anyone else, brought the hot. A small tree festively adorned with red and green peppers, and bags of roasted hot chilis. The chili peppers, from New Mexican seeds, were roasted on site, in a contraption that was part bingo cage, part torture device. Pretty neat.

The chili – for $5, festivalgoers got to try six different chilis, all of which were good. Unfortunately, the competition was not as fierce as it might have been. Four of the competitors chose to use ground beef in their chili. While this, in and of itself, wouldn't necessarily remove them from contention, it put them at a distinct disadvantage – a disadvantage which proved insurmountable.

   This left two contenders, both of whom had large hunks of uber-tender sirloin as the centerpiece of their respective chilis: California Transmissions, whose booth was adorned with ribbons and trophies galore from previous competitions, and, Randy, whose booth was adorned with, well, nothing.
   As much as I would have liked to vote for the unsung little guy, Randy's version, while very good, couldn't quite measure up to the tour de force bowl served up by California Transmission. They have all those awards for a reason. The meat in their chili was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and it was pretty much all meat.
   "We only put one bean in there, and you didn't get it" bellowed Gene as he served me up a heaping sample. (There was a competition requirement that the recipe had beans in it. Well, a bean, anyway).
   It was a near-perfect chili, although I would have liked the heat kicked up a notch. Or four.
My advice to Randy is to keep up the good work, but next time bring the heat. You aren't going to knock off the champ with subtle flavors.
   Overall, I'd say it was a solid freshman effort for the festival, but event planners certainly have room to improve and grow.
Diedre Trudeau, of Ezeeye Imaging, ~~organizer of the event~~, media liaison said she feels the same way.
"Our hope is to introduce the concept to the region this year and expand it from a one- to a two-day event, extend the hours and broaden the competition from just chili to barbecue, salsa, hot sauces, etc. in the years to come."
I, and my masochistic taste buds, are looking forward to the new additions. Hopefully next year will hurt a little bit.

September's Second Saturday

2010-09-13T19:54:41Z

This month’s Second Saturday ended on a bad note. Although the details are not known, as of this writing, a shooting took the life of 24 year old Victor Hugo Perez Zavala. Second Saturday has grown in popularity these past few months and crowds have also increased. Over 10,000 people show up to shop, admire art, eat, drink, listen to local bands and socialize during the Second Saturday event.

The Second Saturday venue gives local artists a chance to show off their art where otherwise they would not get such an opportunity. This event has been so popular that similar events take place in Folsom, Roseville, Placerville and other areas surrounding Sacramento.

September’s ending to Second Saturday leaves a bad taste and hurts businesses around the Midtown area. This popular event has been a catalyst in keeping local economy prospering. It hurts local artists who look forward to acquiring available space to show off their beautiful art. This type of tragedy hurts everybody involved.

September’s Second Saturday has expanded where now block parties are held to showcase our local artists and allow local fund-raising activities for clubs such as this weekend’s Midtown Community Festival held to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento. This festival allowed the raising of approximately $20,000 for the club. Local bands played and activities were held for kids.

One of my favorite local bands, One Eyed Rhyno, played a long set here and I think years into the feature they can look back at this event as one of the catalyst events that helped launch their early career. Andrew, Elaine and James put on a fantastic show. I chatted with Elaine and James’ mom for a little while as she taped their performance. Actually, today I saw 4 bands whose members were in High School or grades below. Mrs. Hunter was not the only parent who attended their children’s performance and I have noticed that many parents take an active interest in their children’s musical growth. One Eyed Rhyno put on quite a show as always. I saw them last week at the annual Chalk It Up event at Fremont Park and every time I’ve seen them they do something different enough where they’re not putting on the same show.

Further down the street between 20th and 21st Streets, off of J and K, the City of Sacramento Scottish Pipe Band put on a show and girls in costume danced to their music. Over in front of the 20th Street Art Gallery the Linda Bracamonte Band played a set. Other musicians were stationed at various other places throughout Midtown.

I also got a chance to pass by the Kings on L Street store front where Francisco Garcia was signing autographs. I stopped and chatted with him in Spanish for a couple of minutes. As we chatted, people came around to say hi and get his autograph. He was very pleasant and signed every request. Inside the store Sacramento Kings tickets and other merchandise was being sold.

Several other bands that had played at last weekend’s Chalk It Up performed in front of City Bicycle Works on K Street. This was the first time I’ve seen The Trees perform and I was very impressed. They played mostly cover songs and pleased the audience in attendance. As The Trees finished their set I walked back with some friends to their place on P Street but by the time I got back to City Bicycle Works Simpl3jack had finished their set and I was very disappointed since they’re becoming one of the best bands in Sacramento and they put on an energetic set. At the Chalk It Up performance last weekend their lead singer lost his voice and reluctantly they cut their performance short.

Dog Party played the last set of the night and again they delighted the audience. I’ve been following their progress over a year now and I continue to be impressed as to how far their progress has come. Their original tunes mixed with cover songs (my favorite right now is Los Angeles by X) are very striking. A lot of music comes from the Giles sisters and if you haven’t seen them perform I would suggest looking them up on their MySpace page and catch one of their upcoming shows.

Listening to some of these bands with young performers I tend to think of the Seattle scene of 15 years ago when so much rich music came out of there. Who knows maybe in the next few years the same can happen with some of our local bands. I believe we have some extraordinary talent that, in the not too distant future, will put Sacramento on the musical map.

As I was passing by the Sugar Plum I heard some music coming from their back patio. The Sub-Fobias were playing some hard core head banging music. This was another band that I had not heard play before and I should have kept some extra ear plugs. Their punkish sound was loud and they have reason to be proud. Their raw excess energy flowed to the audience and they put on quite a show. As they finished their set I could already hear the ringing in my ears. At the same time I committed their name to memory and I’ll be following their progress as they play in the Sacramento Area.

On Saturday art came second to the music on September’s Second Saturday.

Photos:

1 to 4 - One Eyed Rhynos,

5 to 7 and 8 - City of Sacramento Scottish Pipe Band, Hula demo

9, 10 - Linda Bracamonte Band, Francisco Garcia

11, 12 - The Trees (drummer not pictured)

13, 14 - Dog Party

15, 16 - Sub-Fobias

Athletes > Cancer

2010-07-27T01:35:26Z

Celebrity athletes are just like you and I. Well, maybe not just like you and I, but similar. They are like richer, better-dressed, more-fit versions of us (Or, in Scot Pollard's case, just richer).

The similarities were on display at the second annual Athletes vs. Cancer golf tournament at the Woodcreek Golf Club, hosted by Matt Barnes on Saturday.

Barnes founded the AVC to honor his mother, who passed away from cancer in 2007. Their mission is to "support research, create awareness, provide screening opportunities and deliver support to cancer patients."
The tournament featured many athletes with local ties, among them former Kings Chris Webber, Scot Pollard, Bobby Jackson, Doug Christie and Brad Miller.

I'm a huge sports fan, an avid golfer and I've lost two uncles to cancer. When I heard about this event, I jumped at the chance to attend.
Heres how it worked: Teams of four paid $2,500 dollars to play in the tournament. Each foursome was joined by a celebrity. There was a shotgun start: All the teams started simultaneously on different holes. (Or almost simultaneously, as there were a few more teams than holes).

The tournament was a scramble, meaning each team member tees off, then they pick the best ball of the five. Everyone takes their next shot from that spot. Rinse and repeat until ball enters cup.
Scrambles are probably the most popular tournament format, because it's the only way your average duffers will ever see negative numbers next to their names.

And decent golfers will see BIG negative numbers next to their names.

The winning team, featuring Kings announcer Grant Napear, finished at a whopping 21 under par. For reference, the PGA record over 18 holes is 13 strokes under par.

This day was not about scoring or winning, however. It was all about fan interaction, players and fans enjoying themselves while raising money for a good cause.

I've never been to a more fan-friendly celebrity event.

At the first tee, a hopeful young lady holding a basketball politely asked Chris Webber, "Mr. Webber! Do you have time for an autograph?"
Webber, who was about to tee off, responded to the crowds delight "Sure, as soon as I hit, I'll sign at every hole, all day."
Webber, who proceeded to bring the house down by mimicking Charles Barkley's notoriously herky jerky backswing as he addressed the ball, spent five minutes signing anything and everything thrown his way. CWebb was charming and affable, telling anyone he missed to meet him at the next tee.

Matt Barnes was, if it's possible, even more accommodating. Later in the day, coming off the the 10th green, he stopped to talk to a group of 40 or so fans, many of whom were having a pool party at one of the course-side homes.
He slowly worked his way through the throng, signing every item given to him, posing for every picture request, engaging every one of his fans personally, if briefly. As he went, he deflected the thanks of the adoring spectators: "No, thank you....We couldn't do this without you. You guys make this happen."

Larry Tipper, who won the honor of caddying for Mr. Barnes through a contest sponsored by this site, was having a blast. "I'm in awe. Everyone has been so great!" said the caddy, who is currently undergoing chemo himself. The 37-year-old, who had delegated much of the caddying responsibilities to his son Jacob, nephew Justin and their buddy Brandon, is scheduled to undergo his final treatment on Friday, which also happens to be his wedding anniversary.

The 30th is a big day for the Tipper family. I have a feeling that they'll be getting good news. Remission is the perfect anniversary gift.

A few other celebrity highlights:

Scot Pollard was a walking highlight. The 6-foot 11-inch Pollard was a fan favorite during his years with the Kings, loved as much for his sense of humor, flamboyant hairstyles and outrageous fashion sense as his hard-nosed play. "Samurai Scot" lived up to reputation on Saturday.

Pollard chose to adorn himself in matching, form fitting, DayGlo floral print shorts and shirt. It was spectacular.

I came across Doug Christie on the course early on in the day. Christie was wearing head-to-toe linen, white pants and a pink shirt. I complimented him on his look and asked him if he'd seen his former teammate Pollard. He hadn't, but luckily our photographer, Steve, had plenty of pictures and was happy to share them.

"That is the worst outfit I've ever seen," Christie offered, laughing. He showed the pictures to his neighbor in the golf cart.
"Is that a one-piece?" she asked before returning the camera.

Not 15 minutes later, I watched as another former King, Bobby Jackson, addressed his ball in the tee box. I looked back and saw the unmistakable sight of Scot Pollard and his floral onesie coming up the previous fairway. He noticed his onetime teammate about to tee off. I could see the wicked look on his face from 130 yards away.

He waited until Jackson had completed his backswing before letting out a booming "BOBBBBBBBBAAAYYYYYYYYYY," which reverberated across the course. Jackson's tee shot went WAY right, and he looked back at Pollard, incredulous. After a moment, he cracked a smile, shook his head and teed up another one. Clearly, this type of high jinx was to be expected from the 10-year NBA center.

We caught up to Jason Kapono and the rest of his fivesome as they were about to tee off on a par three. I heard one of them grumbling about their dearth of beverages. They were happy to hear about the open margarita bar we'd encountered at the next tee box. "Let's get going" said one of the non-celebs.

The first to tee off was a young man of about 13 named Nick, who was clearly on cloud nine. I asked him how he and Jason were getting on, knowing full well what his answer would be.

"Awesome," he replied, grinning from ear to ear. Jason overheard our exchange and produced a large mustard-colored stain on the back of his shorts. "You see what the kid did to me?" I looked from the stain to Nick, who tried to hide a mischievous smile.

After Nick hit a line drive that never got more than 5 feet off the ground but went straight and rolled forever, the next fellow pulled his to the left. Nick's ball was still best. The third guy to hit went WAY left, square into a tree trunk, and the ball rolled back to the front of the tee box. Young Nick still had the best ball, and more to the point, guy No. 3's tee shot ended up well short of the ladies' tees.
"TDO," said one of the fellas. "Yup, TDO for sure."

"TDO" is an unwritten rule that some amateur golfers (generally those of the sophomoric male persuasion) play by, where-in should someone not hit his tee shot past the ladies' tees, it's a "Texas D*ck Out." The offender has to go to his ball, sans pants. After some good-natured ribbing and to riotous laughter, No. 3 dropped trou on the tee box. Thankfully, the underpants stayed put. They hadn't been drinking THAT much.

Kapono hit next, ending Nick's shot at finishing with the best ball by hitting a moonshot that landed softly on the green, pin-high. Jason looks like he may be able to put up negative numbers without the help of the scramble format.
On my way off the course I passed the Kapono fivesome again.

"We just had another TDO," one of the gentleman informed me.

"Same guy?" I asked.

"Same guy," he answered, laughing boisterously.

One final celebrity exchange I had was with former 49ers running back Roger Craig. I asked what he thought of the tournament and how he got involved.

"What Matt's doing is fantastic. Cancer affects all of us," he answered, then added, "I'm here for the Rocklin fans," referring to Niners training camp locale for their glory years from 1981 through 1997. "We made history together."

Twenty years removed from his last Rocklin training camp, he still carries the love from the fans who supported him at those sweltering offseason practices. Pretty cool.

If the response from fans and participants is any measure, the event was an unmitigated success. Although we won't know the final tally for a week or so, we do know a lot of money was raised for a great cause.

I highly recommend attending this event in specific, and celebrity golf tournaments in general. You'll never find athletes more at ease, happier to sign or pose or simply shoot the breeze, than they were on Saturday. Everybody I met regaled me with stories of how great this guy was, how accommodating so and so was, how friendly such and such was. There was only one celebrity who I heard anything negative about, though admittedly his name came up repeatedly.

I won't give his name, because ultimately he showed up and supported a good cause. Also, if you are rubbing people the wrong way at a love-fest like this one, I'm sure there are plenty of negative stories floating around already. Thankfully, he was the one exception that proved the rule.

Not the TDO rule, that's totally different.

All photos courtesy of the one and only Steven Chea. Praise be unto him,

Capitals defeat Freedoms, keep playoff hopes alive

2010-07-20T06:56:43Z

The Sacramento Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Freedoms 23-19 in overtime Sunday night, keeping their hopes of earning a coveted playoff spot alive.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King was also on hand to help celebrate the Cap's 25th Anniversary. The Capitals have won six King Trophies, more than any other team, and are looking to add another WTT Championship in 2010.

For more information and tickets please visit: Sacramento Capitals

Match Results:

Men's Doubles: Mark Knowles\Dusan Vemic (Capitals) def. Prakash Amritraj\Ramon Delgado (Freedoms) 5-3

Women's Doubles: Vania King\Riza Zalameda (Capitals) def. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn\Courtney Nagle (Freedoms) 5-3

Men's Singles: Ramon Delgado (Freedoms) def. Dusan Vemic (Capitals) 5-3

Women's Singles: Vania King (Capitals) def. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (Freedoms) 5-3

Mixed Doubles: Courtney Nagle\Prakash Amritraj (Freedoms) def. Vania King\Mark Knowles (Capitals) 5-4

Overtime - Mixed Doubles: Mark Knowles\Vania King (Capitals) def. Prakash Amritraj\Courtney Nagle (Freedoms) 1-0

Sacramento's Brett Joelson comes into the stadium during player introductions.

Philadelphia's Prakash Amritraj returns a shot during Men's Doubles play. Sacramento would go on to win the set 5-3.

Sacramento's Dusan Vemic gets ready to crush a forehand.

A ball boy and ball girl race during intermission. The goal was to make it around the court without letting the ball fall from your racquet.

Prakash Amritraj and Ramon Delgado talk strategy during their Men's Doubles loss to the Capitals.

Ramon Delgado serves during his Men's Singles match against Dusan Vemic.

Capitals Stadium at the Westfield Galleria at Roseville.

Backhand from Ramon Delgado.

Mark Knowles and Vania King celebrate a point during the Overtime Mixed Doubles set. Sacramento went on to win the match.

A ball boy gets ready to throw to a serving player.

Sacramento's Vania King concentrates on her backhand during her 5-3 Women's Singles win against the Freedoms' Noppawan Lertcheewakarn.

The Capitals sideline watches King in action during her Women's Singles set.

Mark Knowles gets some air while ripping a one-handed backhand.

Ramon Delgado is not pleased with himself after hitting into the net and losing the point.

Textbook one-handed backhand from Mark Knowles.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King and WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss (not pictured) were on hand to honor the Capitals before their match. The Capitals, celebrating their 25th season, are the oldest team in the league by seven years.

Mark Knowles and Vania King clinch the win for the Capitals during the Overtime Mixed Doubles set.

Mark Knowles waits for the hop before connecting with a forehand.

Capitals Coach Wayne Bryan gives instructions for a contest during intermission. Each pair tossed their tennis ball to each other using only their racquets, getting further apart each time, like in an egg toss.

Dusan Vemic serves to Ramon Delgado during the Men's Single set. Delgado would go on to win.

Capitals Coach Wayne Bryan sees something he doesn't like.

Ramon Delgado returning to Dusan Vemic during Men's Singles.

The crowd shows the Capitals some love.

Forehand from Mark Knowles.

Sacramento's Dusan Vemic and Brett Joelson sign autographs for fans after the match.

Photos by Steven Chea

Resurrecting Classic Cinema In Downtown Roseville.√

2010-06-07T19:44:56Z

If you live anywhere near the Roseville area then you know that not only this town, but this entire region shuts down around 7 o'clock. For year's your evening "hang out" choices consisted of A) Denny's, B) Mel's, C) the random bar or D) your own living room. Residents of this area seem to be forever relegated to driving all the way Downtown Sac for some type of nightlife that isn't the above mentioned choices. That is, until now.

Recently, a ragtag group of people under the leadership of Hector Marquez (A local filmmaker native to Roseville) have decided to start screening classic films in Roseville's iconic Tower Theater (not to be confused with Downtown Sacramento's Tower Theater). They call it Mystic Cinema. "Our goal is not to create yet another place where movies are shown in this area," said Marquez. "We have plenty of those. Rather, we want to give culture and community a place to form and grow. We live here and work here and know how boring it gets at night. We wanted to make a place that we would want to hang out at ourselves. We love old movies and we love the old style of the Downtown Vernon strip so we decided to start there."

And start they did with a big party and one of Hollywoods most venerated films. The screening of the indomitable "Casablanca was a tremendous success!" Marquez said. "More than half of the attendees dressed up in 1940's cocktail party garb. We had authentic Moroccan food catered that night by Jaye's Catering, a red carpet and even a period fashion show put on by Image Provocateur and The Boho Boutique. We're not just interested in making a name for ourselves, we want everyone to benefit from this, local businesses and patrons alike."

It has been that kind of inclusive attitude which has, in two short months, brought a number of diverse and unique businesses together to build something that has, as of yet, not been seen in this area. From the NCCSA (a national non-profit which works to protect children from violent crimes and abuse), to the Sac City Roller's (our very own local Roller Derby league), to various local businesses large and small, they all seem to be catching the fever.

If your a business owner, "we're not interested in simply selling you a slide, cashing your check and calling it a day. We want partners who have a greater vision for what this downtown area could and honestly should be." Said Marquez. For example, a local print shop, Copy Depot has come on board to help with print materials. Edwins, a local coffee shop, has come out and provided gourmet french press coffee to patrons during the shows. The Sac City Roller's have sent out a bunch of their girls to the shows and not only added to the vibe but also gave away some free tickets to their upcoming bouts. Local restaurants like MCYG Elite Celebrations and the soon to open Italian Restaurant "The Place" have also gotten on board by selling meals at the theater before and during the shows. Even local pubs like the Owel Club have gotten on board by hosting after parties for a number of the shows.

"It's so much more than just movies on the big screen" said Marquez. Every show starts off with a personal introduction to the movie by an MC for the evening. The MC then hands out random prizes from the various business partners to people in the audience. "My favorite prize to award is for the person who is best dressed for that evenings event. We really get a kick out of having the audience cheer for the individual they want to win."

Currently Mystic Cinema is open two days a month and screens four movies. One of those days consists of a 2pm matinee show, a 7pm show that is geared towards families, and a 10pm show for the late night crowds. They also have a midnight show on an entirely different day that caters to the local insomniac crowd.

Upcoming Movie Dates and Times are as such:
-June 18th:
   -2pm: Ben-Hur ($5)
   -7pm: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ($7)
   -10pm: Ben-Hur ($7)
-June 25th:
  -Midnight: Blazing Saddles ($8)

Kid's are always $5. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website at mysticcinema.com, or talk to them on facebook.

Kerridge to earn $237,300 in Roseville, starts work June 17

2010-05-22T02:11:11Z

Former Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge will earn $237,300 as city manager of Roseville. He also will earn $21,357 in deferred compensation.

His contract was approved by the Roseville City Council at a May 19 meeting.

“He brings with him a lot of experience that we all feel the city of Roseville can utilize as we go into our future,” Roseville Mayor Gina Garbolino said.

Kerridge, who earned $215,000 as Sacramento’s city manager, will start work in Roseville on June 17.

The city will save $65,000 with Kerridge’s contract in comparison to that of former City Manager Craig Robinson, Garbolino said.

Kerridge said in an interview earlier this month that he was recruited for the Roseville city manager position and applied in January. He resigned his Sacramento post in March.

After resigning from the Sacramento job, Kerridge said he had accepted a private sector position, about which he declined to provide details.

Kerridge said that Roseville's staff, City Council, business community and neighborhoods are a partnership. If a city is going to move forward, he said, “everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction.”

Kerridge was Sacramento's city manager during recent scandals in the Utilities and Community Development departments.

Photo courtesy of the city of Roseville.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Athletes fly high outside Galleria Mall

2010-05-10T03:55:39Z

The Journeys Backyard BBQ Tour rolled into Roseville Saturday to amaze hundreds of action sports fans for its only California stop during the 2010 tour.

Fans from all over Northern California flooded the south parking lot of the Galleria Mall in Roseville for the opportunity to watch their favorite extreme sports athletes. The event brought Sacramento a rare opportunity to watch stars participate in freestyle motocross, skateboarding and BMX demos on a 60,000-square-foot playground of ramps.

The event featured stars Rob Dyrdek, Danny Way, Dave Mirra and riders from the Metal Mulisha freestyle motocross team.

While the athletes were not putting on a show, live bands entertained the crowd on a 36-foot stage that presented a “Battle of the Bands” contest. Along with the athletes and bands putting on a show for the fans, the event offered many tents set up by sponsors to offer free swag for the fans.

One fan, Beau Riddles, drove down to the event from Plumas Lake in order to watch the Metal Mulisha perform high-flying tricks.

“Came down here to see the Metal Mulisha,” the 21-year-old Riddles said. “They're crazy, dog. Anybody can jump on a bicycle. You fall down, its not that bad. If you're flying through the air 30 feet up [on a motorcycle], and you fall, you're gonna break something.”

Many others saw the event as an opportunity to bring their kids out and enjoy the warm spring weather while they watched the show.

“I just wanted to bring my son to see Rob Dyrdek and Dave Mirra,” said Brandon Glasgow, who brought his son Cordell from Lincoln to watch his favorite stars.

Cordell said he wanted to come to the event to see Rob Dyrdek mostly, since he himself skateboards about three hours a day.

With music blaring and action sports athletes performing ridiculous tricks, the event produced quite the atmosphere for both the fans and the athletes in attendance.

“The atmosphere is awesome," said professional BMX rider and DC team member Chris Doyle. "Everyone's been really friendly, and it's been pretty cool.”

For DC team member and amateur skater Wes Kremer, the atmosphere was like nothing he had ever experienced.

“You know, this is honestly what I'm not used to. This is probably the most hectic skate event I've participated in. I'm just used to free skating with the homies and having a mellow day,” Kremer said. “It's not my usual environment. At the same time, it's good for the people, and everyone's hyped as long as the people love it. If everyone's having fun, it's all good.”

As an amateur skater from Carmel Valley on the DC skate team, Kremer knows what it takes for someone to make it in the industry.

“Skate at your own pace. Have fun," he said. "Don't do what anyone else thinks, don't even care about anything else. Do what makes you happy and have fun doing it."

The Journeys Backyard BBQ Tour has four more stops scheduled, including Dallas, Cleveland and Boston before ending in Nashville.

Picture 1: BMX rider performs a backflip for the crowd

Picture 2: Young gun Chaz Ortiz rides the mini-ramp

Picture 3: Rob Dyrdek of MTV's "Rob & Big" watches Chaz Ortiz ride the mini-ramp

Picture 4: Rob Dyrdek skates the mini-ramp

Picture 5: Chaz Ortiz hits the rail down the stairs

Picture 6: Rider from Metal Mulisha shows off his tricks

Picture 7: Riders from the Metal Mulisha fly high above the crowd

Picture 8: The stage that presented the "Battle of the Bands" contest

Picture 9: BMX Rider drops into the mini-ramp

10,000 to Give Helping Hands to Distressed Sacramento-area Parks on Saturday

2010-05-05T20:11:47Z

SACRAMENTO – More than 10,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their friends will descend on parks throughout the Sacramento region Saturday, May 8, to perform necessary work from clean-up and general maintenance to painting, planting trees and even construction jobs.

Under the banner of Mormon Helping Hands, an international program of the Church that has provided manpower in distressed communities and organized relief efforts after natural disasters, the volunteers have chosen parks in their own communities to perform work in state, regional and city parks that have been hit hard by the recent downturn in the economy. The Sacramento effort is part of a statewide Mormon Helping Hands undertaking whose theme is “Preserving California’s Parks.”

“Members of the Church since the 1840s were instrumental in the establishment and building up of the state, including Sacramento and many other local cities and towns,” said Dennis Holland, Director of Public Affairs for the Sacramento Region. “We feel it is our duty to continue in following Jesus Christ’s example of service to others by helping to improve the communities in which we live, especially during these tough economic times for our local and state governments.”

One of the projects will be at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, which will be losing its funding from Sacramento County on July 1. Located inside Ancil Hoffman Park in Carmichael, the nature center has a list of projects to be accomplished, but no funds to pay for the labor to accomplish them. Among the projects that the Helping Hands volunteers will tackle is the construction of a natural playground out of fallen trees, the weeding of non-native plants from the nature area, the restoration of a pond, and the building of a display stand for a section of a 150-year-old Valley Oak tree.

“There is no way with our current low staffing levels we have now or expect to have in the future that we could remove the invasive and very tall-growing, non-native weeds,” said Marilee Flannery, Park Interpretive Supervisor of Effie Yeaw Nature Center. “This and the other projects would never get done without the helping hands of these volunteers.”

About 800 volunteers – including Hmong and Samoan groups – will donate more than 2,000 man-hours at the City of Sacramento’s William Land Park, which has seen its finding cut by 60 percent in recent years and its maintenance staff trimmed from 22 to seven employees. Volunteers will focus on numerous work projects, including historic trail restoration, power-washing of park amenities, landscape maintenance, specialized gardening, and the cleaning out of the park’s three ponds. The volunteer service in Land Park has an estimated value of more than $70,000.

To thank the Helping Hands volunteers, both the City and County of Sacramento have officially declared May 8, 2010, as Mormon Helping Hands Day.

The numerous other local projects include:

In Natomas: Partnering with the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the Sacramento City Council, volunteers will plant 86 trees at Rosebud Park in North Natomas and build a community garden in a Natomas neighborhood that doesn’t currently have such amenities.

In Sacramento: One of the oldest cemeteries will receive a sprucing-up, as 400 volunteers will do some light painting, trimming around headstones and cleaning them up at East Lawn Memorial Park at Folsom Boulevard and 43rd Street.

In Orangevale: Volunteers will be refurbishing one of the town’s biggest draws: the Frisbee Golf Course at Orangevale Park.

In El Dorado County: At the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, where early members of the Church were instrumental in discovering gold and sparking the Gold Rush, hundreds of workers will paint and restore several buildings. Last year, the state park was threatened with closure.

In Placer County: More than 800 volunteers will be working in the Hidden Falls Regional Park, installing several miles of fence posts and non-barbed wire, clearing existing trails, building new trails and clearing brush.

In Yolo County: About 400 volunteers will be performing necessary work in six Woodland parks as well as the Woodland Opera House. In addition to weeding, raking and spreading bark chips, the volunteers will paint and stain buildings, gazebos, benches and picnic tables, replace roof shingles and pressure-wash buildings.

To cover one of the projects, please call Gary Zavoral at (916) 367-9537 or e-mail him at bigzav@hotmail.com.

For more on the churchwide Helping Hands program, go the Church’s Newsroom at http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/-mormon-helping-hands-program-a-decade-of-service.

###

Local artists visiting Cambodia, restoring hope to victims

2010-04-08T03:45:15Z

When Shane Grammer's old church acquaintance Clayton Butler asked him to paint a mural in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he didn't think twice. Grammer, a 38-year-old artist currently residing in Roseville, completed similar murals in Peru, Mexico and Brazil, sometimes teaming with urban kids on the pieces.

"I'm ecstatic; I love that," Grammer said. "I've offered stuff like that before, and people are just busy or don't do it. So when I'm asked to do it, I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm there tomorrow. Where do I sign up?' "

On April 12, he will be leading a team of six to Cambodia to help Agape International Missions, where Butler works, to help end child sexual slavery and help restore hope to its victims. The team's goal is to "bring hope and joy" through art to the young girls in Phnom Penh's red light district, Svay Pak. They will paint a mural on a new building planned to be a new community center for the girls.

Grammer discovered his passion for art as a young teenager after he was assigned a project in driver education. He had a choice of writing a 10-page paper or creating a model. After choosing to do the model, he found that he enjoyed the two-week-long project so much, he would spend hours every day perfecting his assignment.

Watching the 1983 documentary "Style Wars" on graffiti and hip-hop culture sealed the deal and introduced Grammer to urban art. He's made a living as an artist for the last 15 years and currently runs a company, SG Studios, that makes themed environments for theme parks, casinos, and even churches. On the side, he creates fine art, and painted a graffiti mural at the B Street Skate Park.

When he told his sister-in-law, artist Becky Watson, about the opportunity to paint a mural in Cambodia, she replied to him, "I'm coming with you. You need to find a way, because I have to go."

Watson said she'd done art with youth before in Africa and Nicaragua, but this would be her first time creating a mural with kids. She also invited friends from different fields - a writer, a videographer, a photographer and a musician.

She wants the group to help the girls - some recovering victims of sexual abuse, some still working in brothels - "to tap into their creative process. I think if we can unwind them and give (them) a paintbrush in hand (to) experience it, they will remember it."

But while the two are "like a literal brother and sister," said Watson, they have different ways of mentally preparing for their trip.

"I've broken down and cried once," Grammer said. "That was last Saturday night at a church. They gave me about five minutes to speak and tell them about what I was doing, and they ended up giving me about $2,000."

Since then, Grammer, a self-proclaimed "emotional guy," said he's been so busy with work and family, he's been able to file away his emotions.

Watson, on the other hand, is planning the group's itinerary.

"I think about it every day, and I think about the kids we're going to see, so I keep my mind on it and I'm focusing on it 100 percent of the time," she said. "I just don't want to forget something I want to impart on the kids."

The group, called "Heart for the Kids," will hold a final fundraiser for the trip Thursday night at the Roseville Tower Theatre, 421 Vernon St. The 7 p.m. event will feature art, music and a live auction. Admission is a $10 donation at the door. All proceeds from the event will cover the group's expenses for the trip, with the remaining money raised being donated to Agape International Missions, a Rocklin-based nonprofit. See the above flier for more details.

Inc. Magazine’s 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year to Keynote Roseville 2010

2010-04-07T21:12:20Z

Kevin Surace, Inc. Magazine’s 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year and CEO of Serious Materials, has been selected to give the keynote address at the Roseville Chamber of Commerce’s annual business event, Roseville 2010. A noted speaker and writer on climate change and the built environment, Surace’s innovative and dynamic management style has help to turn around more than one crippled company. He will share his vision on what it takes to build a great company at Roseville 2010, Thursday, May 13 at Hewlett-Packard in Roseville.

The event, which will run from 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., will also feature a Regional CEO Panel, breakout sessions, a bus tour of South Placer County’s key developments, the State-of-the-City address from the Roseville City Manager and a sponsor showcase. A networking reception will follow the event from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

CEO panelists include Steve Kircher, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Solar Power, Inc.; Michael Zeigler, President and CEO, Pride Industries; and Cecelia Lakatos-Sullivan, CEO, Pinnacle TeleCommunications, Inc.

Tickets to the event are $75 per person and include lunch and the networking reception. Individual tickets to the networking reception are $25. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rosevillechamber.com, or by calling the Roseville Chamber of Commerce at (916) 783-8316.

Editor's Note: The author of this story is a member of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce and is contracted for Public Relations for this event.

City and RWA Seeks Water-Efficient Gardeners to Star in Regional Advertising Campaign

2010-01-29T17:42:50Z

Do you have a beautiful water-efficient garden?

If so, the City of Sacramento, the Regional Water Authority (RWA) and its partner agencies are looking for you!

The Regional Water Authority (RWA), City of Sacramento Department of Utilities and other local water providers invite Sacramento-area residents to show off their “Blue Thumb” by staring in its new television and radio advertising campaign promoting water efficiency.

“We’ve all heard of ‘Green Thumb,’ which is often used to describe someone who has a natural skill for gardening,” said RWA Water Efficiency Program Manager Linda Higgins. “Our campaign will showcase people who have a ‘Blue Thumb’—a talent for creating a beautiful water-efficient landscape.”

The campaign will feature residents in their own garden talking about how they earned their Blue Thumb by using water efficiently outdoors through every-day tasks such as making sure sprinklers water the lawn instead of the sidewalk, adjusting their irrigation system according to the season or using a shut-off valve on their hose.

“In the Sacramento region, more than half of the urban water used is for landscape irrigation,” Higgins said. “Making sure landscape irrigation is efficient and eliminating water waste outdoors are two of the most cost-effective ways to stretch our limited water supplies and ensure that we continue to have sufficient water for the Sacramento region to prosper.”

RWA invites residents to nominate themselves, a neighbor or someone they know who has a beautiful, water-efficient landscape to be showcased in the public service campaign. A water-wise landscape uses efficient irrigation, seasonal scheduling and efficient design to ensure water is not wasted.

“We know through research that Sacramento-area residents care about water efficiency—even when our local rivers, streams and creeks appear full,” Higgins said. “We are looking for people who are ready take a stand and say, ‘We care about the Sacramento region. We know water efficiency is important to the health of our community, as well as the health of our local rivers creeks and streams. We take care to water our landscape as efficiently as possible, and you can too.’”

While a garden full of native or drought-tolerant plants is a plus, the campaign will highlight the every-day best practices people use to keep their landscape both water wise and beautiful. Examples include:

• Making sure sprinkler timers are set according to the season and local watering guidelines.
• Adjusting sprinklers and watering times to prevent overspray and runoff.
• Fixing water-wasting problems in the irrigation system quickly.
• Using a shut-off valve on a hose nozzle.
• Using a broom instead of water to clean driveways, patios and sidewalks.
• Checking the irrigation system every month for leaks and broken sprinkler heads.

To qualify to participate in the campaign, residents must receive water from one of the local water providers who participate in the RWA Water Efficiency Program (see list below). For more information and to download a nomination form, please visit www.rwah2o.org

Nomination/entry forms will be accepted through February 22, 2010. RWA’s water efficiency campaign will launch in April and run through August 2010.

RWA is a joint powers authority representing 19 water providers in the greater Sacramento area. Its primary mission is to help its members protect and enhance the reliability, availability, affordability and quality of water resources.
RWA Water Efficiency Program Participants:

California American Water
Carmichael Water District
Citrus Heights Water District
City of Folsom
City of Lincoln
City of Roseville
City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
City of West Sacramento
El Dorado County Irrigation District
Elk Grove Water Service
Fair Oaks Water District
Golden State Water Company
Orange Vale Water Company
Placer County Water Agency
Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District
Sacramento County Water Agency
Sacramento Suburban Water District
San Juan Water District

Roseville Filmmakers Just May Change Your Life

2010-01-07T17:21:04Z

A group of Roseville filmmakers have made their dreams reality with an inspiring full-length film.

No Parking is a beautiful story written by Seth Shore made into a full-length film directed by Hector Marquez. It premiered with great local acclaim that hopes to propel it to further success as a project that is much larger than the movie alone. Much like the movie’s tagline, “the ride is the destination”, the film is only the beginning of the overall drive for No Parking.

Grief coerces Paul and Ray to embark on a high school dream they never entertained with action. An 11 day road trip in a ’73 Volkswagen Bus is impetus for revelation into the human heart at its rawest point; when ‘the darkness takes all the good memories’ and all the cheer-up clichés are stripped away. The journey relieves a sense of hopelessness thru goading discussion and sometimes the frank challenge of a friend.

No Parking was filmed in majority on the road. The actors and crew traversed the California countryside in a caravan led by the film's true star, a cherry red VW Bus affectionately dubbed ‘Lucille’. In a testament to tenacity of entire project, Lucile would be the only vehicle not to experience mechanical trouble the entirety of the trip.

The film quality is not as strong as its commanding story, but as a stepping-stone to the overarching project, No Parking is an outrageously promising dream you cannot help but cheer-on to reality. At present it is a gripping story accompanying a breath-taking film montage of the state of California, but its future is one without time.

Marquez says the next step is to finish the "final cut" and discover an agent to represent the film for domestic and foreign theatrical release.

“Fox Family Home Entertainment has extended a domestic DVD release offer for retail release (Target, Wal-mart, Best Buy, etc.), and rental licensing (Blockbuster, Amazon, Netflix, etc.)!”

The greater goal is for as many people as possible to be able to see the story. Marquez adds, “If it makes a difference in their experience of life, then pass it on!”

Keep an eye on their journey, but do not stop there. Join the journey at noparkingmovie.com or follow them on twitter @noparkingmovie

Care Packages For Soldiers

2009-11-17T15:53:47Z

The Blue Star Mothers of America know how hard it is to send their children off to war. They send the comforts of home care packages to the service men and women. I visited the Roseville Veterans Hall where volunteers put together 700 care packages. Check out their story on video.

Order of appearance:
Pam Woodward - Co-founder
SGT Michael Scofield - US ARMY

video by: Chris Morrow

Follow Chris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/morrowchris

Charity Sale to Benefit Local Family in Need

2009-07-01T17:01:12Z

Most of us will never have to face the pain, confusion, and uncertainty that the parents of critically injured children face each day. On June 17th, a 2 year old Roseville girl was crossing the street in her grandfather's arms. Just when they were about to reach the other side, a car struck the grandfather. The little girl was thrown in the air, and landed several feet away on her head. Her grandfather suffered several broken ribs, a broken pelvis, and gashed his head from falling into the windshield. Luckily, a soldier and his friend were walking by, and together they were able to resuscitate the little girl and keep her grandfather stable until help arrived. The 2 year old girl is still in the hospital in critical condition with her long term prognosis unknown.

Community members have arranged a charity sale to benefit the family. The sale will take place July 3rd (9AM-4PM) and 4th (8AM-3PM) on Pinecrest Court in Roseville. Items for sale include furniture, boutique clothing and hair bows, adult and children’s books, toys, hand-dyed silks, clothing, beads, photography, chair massages, lemonade, and more. Visitors are welcome to leave a note of encouragement, faith, or a personal experience for the family. For more information, please contact Adam at classicsredone@gmail.com or 916-216-0516.

Car Wash

2009-06-27T22:06:00Z

There is a Car Wash for the Woodcreek High School Marching Band and Color Guard! (In Roseville)

Price: Donation (Normally $5-$10) But it is up to you!

Location: Raley's Parking lot (Woodcreek Oaks BLVD and Pleasant Grove BLVD)

NO CAR WASH WEEKEND OF 4TH OF JULY

Day/Time: Every Saturday from 10:30a-2:00p

Date: June 13, 2009 - August 7, 2009

ALL PROCEEDS: Go towards the Woodcreek High School Marching Band and Guard!

Four alarm apartment blaze takes out at least one unit, damages several others

2009-06-17T07:10:55Z

Early Tuesday evening, Roseville fire department was called the apartments on Woodcreek Oaks Blvd., south of Junction Blvd., in Roseville for a fire. When fire crews arrived, high flames and smoke were coming from backside of one of the back buildings in the complex.

Several apartment units in the building were involved by the time the fire was brought under control. This was a four alarm fire which even brought units from Placerville Fire Department.

While it was initially believed that this was a barbeque fire that ignited the patio, the actual cause of the blaze is under investigation and fire investigators were searching the area for a youth to question.

There were no injuries, however a cat from the unit where the fire started is unaccounted for.

Roseville brush fire quickly contained in spite of access issues

2009-05-23T07:57:25Z

Rosville firefighters had a difficult time gaining access to a brush fire burning upslope toward homes.

At approximately 6:45 p.m., a fire call was dispatched for a brush fire at the rear of 6921 Roseville Rd. When fire crews arrived at that address, smoke was billowing in the air behind the commercial structure, however, fire crews quickly found that the fire was inaccessible from that side. They had to work their way around to find the fire access road that runs along the railroad tracks.

With the fire burning upslope and a possible limited water supply, the incident commander called for an additional type 3 grass fire engine to protect the homes above the fire.

Several acres burned along the slope below the homes, but firefighters moved swiftly and the fire did not reach the homes.

One firefighter was treated on scene for skin irritation after being exposed to cactus oil while overhauling some burning cactus.

Sacramento Office Space Rates Decline

2009-03-30T23:49:53Z

The Sacramento office market experienced a year-over-year decline of up to 13 percent for key submarkets as landlords began lowering prices and offering incentives in order to attract tenants. In addition with businesses downsizing or closing offices altogether, more space has come on the market which has helped to drive down prices even further.

The following section shows the year-over-year declines for the average price of space in key Sacramento submarkets. (The price range factors in specific location and class of space) :

Downtown - 2009 rates are 8 to 11 percent lower

El Dorado Hills - 2009 rates are 7 to 11 percent lower

Elk Grove - 2009 rates are 8 to 11 percent lower

Highway 80 Area - 2009 rates are 6 to 10 percent lower

Roseville/Rocklin - 2009 rates are 10 to 13 percent lower

While none of the major submarkets posted a gain in average price between 2008 and 2009, there is a silver lining for businesses that signed leases at higher rates. Depending on their individual lease situation, they may be able to negotiate for a lower rate if they are willing to renew their lease. However with the current market situation, many Sacramento businesses are apprehensive about making long-term commitments until the economy begins to turn around. Until that happens, prices for office space in Sacramento will likely go even lower.

Data Source: Synergy Real Estate Group

HPI Chronicles: West Roseville: Why is this Area So Haunted?

2009-01-25T00:10:17Z

Date: January 22, 2009, Thursday. I am still on vacation, after my trip to Aruba and Venezuela. I am taking a vacation from the vacation, getting rested up, I have until the end of this week and then I go back to work on Monday. When I am at home for my vacation, I love sleeping in. But, today is an exception, I am up early and its 9:30am and I am here sitting at a Starbucks waiting for my client TJ. TJ lives in a new home in West Roseville and her home is haunted.

I am preparing the interview process and will be asking TJ a series of questions. TJ has just walked in. With soft brown eyes, she gently extends her hand to shake my hand. TJ has an interesting story to relate to me. She tells me that her home was built in 2005. There are rumors that pagan rituals have taken place on the property area, where TJ's home was built at. When TJ moved into her home, she got sick instantly, she felt like her life energy was sucked out of her. In one incident as she pulled up into her driveway she has felt like her head was in a vice and she has had some extreme headaches. She has had several various attacks, in which she feels ill.

Some of the activity that she has witnessed in this home are: a) vision of a little girl with golden blonde hair hanging by her neck from the ceiling, b) watching a girl with long silky brunette hair either 14 to 20 years of age walking up the stairs, she was unable to see her face, c) seeing a full body apparition that appeared to look like the Ice Witch of Narnia, that appeared to be watching TJ and her children, d) 3 shadowy entities in the shape of humans moving while attached to the walls, e) hearing footsteps and objects being moved around by unseen forces, f) when first moving into the home, TJ found rocks set in formation in odd ways, like peculiar lines or in circles, g) some homes near her home have experienced unnatural phenomenon indicating that other homes in the area may be haunted.

Date: January 23, 2009, Friday: Friday night is here and the investigation is ready to commence. Paranormal Investigators present: Robbie Thomas, Kathy & Tom, David Mace, Mandy Lewis, Tammy Straling, Chantal Apodaco, Rita Reyes, Annie Rolls and Valerie Rankin.

Equipment and Other Essentials Used: Digital cameras, digital audio recorders, dowsing rods, holy water, prayer beads, video camera, temperature gauges, EMF Readers.

Two teams are created with Tom and David Mace leading each team in the areas that they are assigned to. The home is a large two-story home and one team would take the 2nd floor level, while the other team would cover the first floor. 45 minutes would be the duration for each team to conduct their investigation in the areas that they would be covering. After 45 minutes, we would go over the collected evidence and have a short 15 minute meeting, before each team would trade investigative areas and go for the 2nd phase of the investigation.

Experiences Felt by Investigators:
Some investigators felt a heaviness on their chests. Some investigators felt a heaviness in the air as they entered one of the closets. One investigator felt depression or sadness. Three investigators smelled something foul, almost like stale vinegar. The smell comes and gos. The smell would last maybe a half a minute. Tom felt a headache as he entered the laundry room. He felt a shooting pain around his temple areas, later he would feel lightheaded. Investigator thought she saw a dewy mist go past her. At one point of time, I thought I saw a white fleeting figure by a 2nd floor window, it could have been my mind playing tricks. Robbie felt a brushing warmth that went across her face and later she thought she saw a quick moving shadow.

FINDINGS:
Investigator gets what sounds like the word 'dodgers' EVP. The EVP sounded like a man. The word sounded like 'dodgers' or 'dodge her'. Another EVP was what sounded like 'Moslo' when the question was asked: 'Is Anyone Here?' Moslo could have been a 'Must Go'. Tammy Straling received EVP that sounds like a woman sighing. Kathy takes a picture in the back room on the first floor that looked like a twisting tornado with a bright light at the base of the tornado. Could this photograph be of a vortex/portal? All EVPs and Kathy's vortex photo need to be further analyzed. Robbie takes a picture with a black shadow moving across the ceiling. Her 2nd photo shows no shadow moving across ceiling. I had Tom take Robbie back into the same area to try and recreate the photo and the photo could not be recreated.

CONCLUSION:
With the possible EVPs and the unusual vortex photo. This place seems to have possible paranormal activity.

Lead Investigator Paul Dale Roberts final comments.
Many homes in this area make claim to hauntings. The homes are fairly new, such as this home. It is possible that the land is haunted? A rock quarry near this home was once a place for Irish miners during the 1800s. Some of these Irish miners were rumored to practice Pagan rituals that they brought with them from the old country. TJ showed us strange burn marks on her patio seat covers. She does not know why these patio seat covers have burn marks on them. TJ discussed how she may have been hexed once in her life by a person from Louisiana. The hex, also known as a mojo or evil eye could be the possible source for the haunting activity in this home. Valerie did a cleansing on TJ using an egg. This type of cleansing allows the egg to gather any supernatural energy that surrounds TJ's body. I did a Catholic blessing of the home that included a hedge of protection prayer around TJ and later dispelling any entities in this home by the use of my prayer beads and holy water. The 4-Winds prayers were conducted in the backyard and front yard. When I touched the forehead of TJ with holy water, she felt her stress leave her body.

I will be checking up on TJ and if the activity does continue, a further investigation will be warranted and other type of cleansings/blessings will also be conducted to dispel the entities from her home.
Now to a lighter note, see how ghosthunters have fun:
January 22, 2009, Thursday: I get a call and Shannon 'Ms. Macabre' McCabe and Jennifer Baca took me out to Tapa of the World Bar and Restaurant in downtown Sacramento for Spanish Tapas. This was my birthday lunch! Then afterwards, Shannon, Merilee and I, went to the new Red Hawk Casino to gamble and listen to Kevin Bacon of the Bacon Brothers play their tunes. We ran into John O'Hurley - Actor, Colleen Shannon - Playboy Bunny, Perry King - Actor, Brad Miller - Sacramento Kings, Kenny Thomas - Sacramento Kings, Charlene Tilton - Actress, Linda Blair - Actress, Bobby Rydell - Rock Singer. Yes, they were gambling too. We even ran into Gold Rush Ghosts/Ghost Girls Staff Member Judy Cooper and her husband. This was definitely a fun day and night.

Below is some news from the Alien Seeker News!
The Alien Seeker News Chat Cafe
We would like to invite all HPI members to be a part of our newly opened Alien seeker News Chat Café. Our chat rooms offer not only text chatting, but also webcam and voice chat. It is a place for all paranormal, UFO, and truth seekers to come together and exchange information and ideas. We have created an HPI chat room just for you, so that your members can have a local place to hang out and to keep clued into the latest happenings within the world of the paranormal. Discuss your investigative techniques, share your images, or just relax and get to know each other.
Some of the features of our new chat café include: video and voice chat, image and link sharing and online games. We will also be adding in the near future an MP3 player. We will be trying to add one where you can not only listen to a selection of great music and paranormal radio talk shows, but we hope to add a feature where users can upload their own favor music, or even EVPs that you want to share with other members.
Please keep in mind that this is a brand new chat room so it will take time to build it into a community, which is going to be up to you to just how fast that community grows. Sign up today and add your picture to your profile, which will become a part of the rotating pictures on the sign-in page. This way your friends will know that you are a member of that community. Let's make this one of the greatest paranormal/UFO chat rooms on the Internet. If you will do your part, then we promise, at The Alien Seeker News, to do our part by adding more new features as we grow together to make it a place where no one wants ever leave. So pour yourself a cup of coffee and pull up a chair and get ready to meet some great new friends and to explore the world of the paranormal together!

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager, Paranormal Investigator & Ghostwriter
Shannon McCabe's HPI
Haunted and Paranormal Investigations International
www.HPI.paranormal.net
www.ghostgirls.net
http://www.shannonmccabe.com/Conversationswithaserialkiller.html
(Paul and Shannon on TV Show Conversations with a Serial Killer - see link above)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dale_Roberts
www.nancybradley.org
www.jazmaonline.com
Staff Writer - Alien Seeker News - http://www.alienseekernews.com/
WPRT Paranormal Radio - Content Editor
Email: JazmaPika@cs.com
Paranormal Cellular Hotline: 916 203 7503 (for comments on this story).

If you have a possible investigation call: 1-888-709-4HPI

Penn & Teller invite Shannon McCabe and Paul Dale Roberts to the “Bullshit” of 2012!
It’s Columbus Day as I sit down to write this article. The funny thing about it is, as Columbus was a discoverer so am I. My writing partner Paul Dale Roberts and I were just called by the Showtime Network, and they have asked us to go down to Cancun Mexico with them for the Penn & Teller, “Bullshit” show. They want us to discover the mystery of 2012. Now, if you have ever seen the Penn & Teller “Bullshit” show, you know that they will be ripping us a new one on just about everything we “discover”. Bring it on I say! Let me tell you a little about the Maya people and their calendar that ends on December 21st, 2012.
The Mayans were a very intelligent society that excelled in Mathematics and Astronomy. They were also very prolific writers. The Mayans were so well versed in Astronomy that they predicted that the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, would come into alignment with our Sun possibly causing a huge Axis shift that could send us into catastrophe. They predicted this to happen in 2012.
On a metaphysical level, some think that 2012 will bring our planet to a higher spiritual transformation.
If you ever listen to Riley Martin on Sirius Station, Howard 101, he claims that in 2012 the world will come into a spiritual transformation, and that the Biaviian (pron. Be-Ah-Vi-An) aliens will actually come down out of the sky and let us on to their Mother Ship.
On a more scientific level some believe that 2012 could end in an apocalypse and the end of our modern world as we know it.
My question is what should humankind expect on Dec. 21, 2012, when the Maya's "Long Count" calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era? Did they just run out of rock to carve and trees for their paper? God only knows…
Here Are Some Facts
Date founded:
250 AD rise of the Maya civilization
Place founded:
Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Western Honduras, & El Salvador
Supporters & Followers:
At one time up to 2 million. Today, several million Maya practice a Roman Catholicism that retains many elements of traditional Mayan religion.
Theism:
Polytheism, they believed in more than one god.
Main gods:
Itzamná, Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl), Bolon Tzacab, Chac
Practices:
Astronomy, divination, human sacrifice, elaborate burial for royalty, worship in stone pyramid-temples, prolific writing on actual papyrus made from the local trees, carvings in stone that mark their daily activities.
Society Colapse:
The Mayan Society collapsed in 1200 AD, and the reasons are unknown.

In the late 18th Century explorers discovered pyramids, monoliths, temples, and plazas all deep in the Guatemalan Rainforest decorated in carved pictures and hieroglyphs. The ancient Mayans had been keeping very good records of their civilization through these carvings which brings me to the wonderful man named, Diego De Landa.

De Landa was a Spanish priest, and in July 1562 he found carvings of what he found to be the “Devil’s work”. These carvings were of human sacrifice. He was so self- righteous that he had 5000 Mayan Idols demolished, along with all but three of their papyrus books. This is probably why we don’t know much of the Mayan civilization today. Luckily the temples and pyramids were made of stone and were not easily destroyed and we can still visit them today.

On a good note, De Landa did not destroy one very important book, the Relación de las cosas de Yucatán (1566). It was reprinted in 1864 and gave us a phonetically accurate look at the Mayan Hieroglyphs. Another book that was very significant was the Dresden Codex. The Dresden Codex was named after the city it was found in.

In 1880 a German scholar named Ernest Forstemann cracked the code of the Mayan hieroglyphs so that many of the carvings on the existing pyramids could be translated into what we now know as the Mayan Calendar.

As I mentioned earlier, the Mayan Calendar is called a “Long Count” calendar. It spans over 5000 years and happens to end at December 21st, 2012. There are many ways to look at this: One, The end of our modern civilization as we know it. Two, the beginning of a spiritual awakening where the world will be peaceful and serene. Three, Nothing will happen and the world will go on just like it did on January 1st, 2000. Remember Y2K? Funny wasn’t it?

There are many unsolved mysteries to this Mayan Calendar and the 2012 mystery. And I, Shannon McCabe, plan on finding out just what they are… Stay tuned, in the next month when I return from Chichen Itza I will recount everything I saw, felt, heard, and experienced at the Mayan Ruins. In fact, Showtime has gotten me a really cool HD, infrared camera to record a digital diary of the trip. I will also be bringing all my other equipment so that I can possibly capture some EVP’s and maybe even some UFO activity, remember the “Mother Ship” that Riley Martin talks of? And although Penn & Teller are probably going to rip me to shreds for my findings, I welcome them with open arms. I have been a very big fan of their skeptical humor, and those who know me, know I am a skeptic myself. I am sure as Bullshit that they will make me look like a complete idiot and I am lovin’ it! Chichen Itza here we come!

I’ll be reporting my findings soon… !Ariba!

Shannon McCabe
President, H.P.I. International
(Haunted & Paranormal Investigations)
www.HPIparanormal.net

Shannon McCabe
www.ShannonMcCabe.com

Ghost Girls TV
www.GhostGirls.net

Showtime’s Penn & Teller Bullshit Show
http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/home.do