Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) announced today a $25,000 commitment to support the Sacramento Tree Foundation and Greenwise Joint Venture in an effort to plant 30,000 trees in the Sacramento region by March 8, 2013 (Arbor Day). The 30k Trees Campaign engages volunteer organizations, individuals, businesses and local governments by adding trees to the Sacramento area to grow a healthy, livable community. Support from PG&E will help fund 10 tree planting events around the region over the next year. “We are committed to this campaign because we understand the importance of trees to the vitality of our communities,” said Jimi Harris, community relations manager for PG&E. “We realize a healt

Get your tree on! The Sacramento Tree Foundation is teaming up with Greenwise Joint Venture to generate 30,000 tree-planting pledges over a 30-day period, March 7 through April 8. The 30k Trees Campaign engages volunteer organizations, individuals, businesses and community groups by adding trees to the Sacramento region to grow a healthy, livable community. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to plant 30,000 trees throughout 2012. People can take part in the campaign by donating money to purchase trees, providing tree-planting locations, organizing a tree-planting event or simply by volunteering to plant a tree. To learn more about the 30k Trees Campaign and make a pledge, visit www.3

More than 100 employees from University of Phoenix’s Sacramento Campus joined together to help maintain and beautify the Northern California Parkway, a landmark scenic area that helps differentiate Sacramento as the “City of Trees.” In support of the Sacramento Tree Foundation (STF), volunteers planted 43 trees, demonstrating the significant impact volunteers can make in just one day when working together. “University of Phoenix Sacramento Campus has a fantastic group of employees, and fosters a culture that encourages ongoing community involvement and volunteerism,” said University of Phoenix Sacramento Campus Director Scott Lewis. “We are proud to support the efforts of the Sacramento T

Local residents gathered at the Clunie Community Center in McKinley Park Saturday for a workshop on tree health by California arborist Susan Sims. The workshop was hosted by the Guardian Stewardship, a private nonprofit dedicated to supporting teaching about preservation, with the help of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, a local nonprofit. The four-hour presentation consisted of a video, a guest speaker and a outside tour of the trees in the park. “We are creating a new legacy,” said Ray Tretheway, executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, during his opening comments to the presentation. Tretheway also gave a brief history of the 31.9-acre McKinley Park. In attendance of Sims

As the 2010 holiday season goes into full swing, the Sierra 2 Center offers the Curtis Park and Sacramento community at large a truly unique way to combine its indulgence in merriment with its interest in sharing with those in need. On Friday, December 3rd, the Sierra 2 Center for the Arts & Community presents Best Friend Friday, an ongoing social gathering at which attendees get to meet new people, enjoy terrific food and drinks, and learn something they didn’t know about their own community. This Friday attendees will get the chance to meet Harvest Sacramento, an amalgamation of area residents, non-profits, community groups and businesses who work together to gather uneaten fruit and ve

Supporters of outgoing Sacramento Councilman Ray Tretheway gathered in North Natomas on Monday night to celebrate Tretheway’s nine consecutive years on the City Council. Tretheway, who was first elected in 2001, lost the District 1 re-election race in June to his opponent Angelique Ashby. He will leave his City Council seat in late November, but will keep his position as executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation. More than 100 people turned out for Monday night’s event held at the North Natomas Library. District 1 includes North and South Natomas and downtown’s Alkali Flat. “We are knitted as a community,” Tretheway told his supporters and constituents Monday night. “There’s

While Sacramento County’s budget problems are likely to result in harsh cuts to public safety and social services departments, some of the smaller budget cuts are raising concerns among certain organizations. Sacramento County’s elected leaders are expected to decide this week whether to cut funding from several groups, including the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Board of Supervisors plans to approve the county’s budget Thursday or Friday. Hundreds of employees could lose their jobs as the supervisors address a $181 million budget gap. The Sacramento Tree Foundation, which promotes and administers tree plantings, may receive no funding

More than 250 volunteers from Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a nonprofit organization that builds "playspaces" across the nation, showed up at Zapata Park today to assemble a new playground designed by children and refurbish the park. The playground, located in Alkali Flat on 905 E St., was the 1,764th playground constructed by the two companies and was built for children ages 2-12. Workers also filled the playground with brand-new sawdust, painted hopscotch squares, repainted a picnic area and repainted the lines of the basketball court. The Sacramento Tree Foundation also came out and planted some trees. Kenny Altenburg, a project manager at KaBOOM! said that the project has been in the work

Residents of Washington Square and Sherwood Court now have a new playground in their own Zapata Park. Two hundred and fifty volunteers gathered at the park located at E and Ninth streets Thursday afternoon to construct a new playground. The construction was completed within five hours. A welcome sign for Kaboom and Home Depot. The new play space is thanks to the sponsorship and fundraising of The Home Depot Foundation, Kaboom and Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC). A view of construction at 11:30 a.m. of construction. Construction began at 8:30 a.m. and wrapped up at 1:30 p.m. Volunteers in orange Home Depot shirts worked to music playing over large speakers, occasion

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

Even though autumn had its official start three weeks ago, I had my first foray into fall on Saturday's tree tour through my own neighborhood Arden Park, hosted by the Sacramento Tree Foundation. The tree tours were started over five years ago by longtime Sacramento Tree Foundation member Fran Clarke. It was Clarke's goal to make the community aware of the many spectacular trees found in Sacramento. Eighteen resident citizens, from 2 years age to retired, gathered at La Sierra Park for an informational walk-about with Sacramento Tree Foundation stewardship coordinator Luanne Leineke. "The trees are not only beautiful, they play important roles in our community," Leineke said. "They help

A non-profit group that promotes an “urban forest” through programs to plant and maintain trees is likely to receive a $750,000 federal stimulus grant to hire additional staffers. The Sacramento Tree Foundation has been selected to receive the American Recovery and Reinvestment grant and is ironing out the details for how it plans to use the money. The federal stimulus dollars will be distributed through the U.S. Forest Service and will be administered through California ReLeaf, a Davis-based environmental group. “We’re privileged as well as excited to receive the grant from the Forest Service,” said City Councilman Ray Tretheway, who is the foundation’s executive director. “It hits at a

Israeli music, the sound of pounding drums, and the smell of Mediterranean food lingered in the air as crowds mingled among white tents at the west steps of the Capitol yesterday afternoon. More than 3,000 people participated in Sacramento’s first Jewish Heritage festival yesterday despite the unpredictable weather, according to the Sacramento Jewish Federation. The festival, presented by the federation, began with a “Salute to Israel @ 61 Walk-a-thon,” consisting of a “walk for unity” around the Capitol. The walk was followed by an opening ceremony emceed by Bill Slaton, member of the SMUD Board of Directors, and Sacramento’s KCRA Channel 3 Anchor Edie Lambert. Both the celebration of