Susan has been on the cusp of modern medicine her whole life. Having been born with a heart defect, she is no stranger to heart conditions. In 1959, Susan was born with an interatrial septal defect, also known as a hole in the heart. When Susan was only 2 years old, she had open heart surgery to repair her heart. The procedure, which was still very new, was performed by the famous pioneering heart surgeon, Denton A. Cooley, M.D. The hole was surgically closed and Susan went on to have a happy, healthy and normal childhood. It wasn’t until Susan was in her late 20s that her heart started having problems – problems that were completely unrelated to her heart condition as a child. In June

Since her twenties, Linda felt like she had the word "smoker" tattooed on her forehead whenever she'd see a doctor. Her symptoms – shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue – were always chalked up to her smoking habit. "Of course, I knew that my smoking contributed to my symptoms, but I wished I had a doctor who would be proactive about my health, even though I'm a smoker," she said. As Linda got older, she became increasingly concerned about her health. “I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse,” she said. “It’s a common condition that explained a lot of my symptoms. But I found out later that was a misdiagnosis – my condition was much worse.” Around her 50th birthday, suspected she may

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, Student Health & Counseling Services, and Active Minds are pleased to announce The Vagina Monologues at the Sacramento State University Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Eve Ensler, a playwright and feminist, wrote The Vagina Monologues. The monologues are a compilation of Ensler’s interviews with hundreds of women on their views and experiences of sex, relationships, and violence and cover issues of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Sac State’s production will include only student actresses reciting the dialogues. The Vagina Monologues are part of V-Day, a global activist movement to end violenc

For the holidays, Plates Cafe and Catering is serving Christmas cookies, baked and prepared by the women in St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children. St. John's provides shelter, education and childcare to homeless women with children. As part of the shelter's six- to 12-month training program, Plates Cafe and Catering, located at 14 Business Parkway, serves as an on-the-job training site for the shelter, where the women perform restaurant positions such as cooks, waitresses and hostesses, Stuart Edgcombe, 46, Chef at Plates Cafe and Catering, said. "It's more than just cooking," Edgcombe said. "It's teaching them life lessons." Teresa Kamekona, 39, said her experience at Plat

Bridging the gap between male and female bicycle enthusiasts, female mechanics at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen are helping women learn the technical skills needed to maintain and repair their own bicycles. Bicyclette is an after-hours session hosted by Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, located at 1915 I St., that is exclusive to women, transgender and female-identified people, according to Andrea Havelaar, 37, outreach coordinator for the shop. The free session is held from 6 - 9 p.m. every third Monday of the month. "In our society, there is the tendency for guys to do things for a woman instead of thinking that she has to do it for herself," mechanic Robin Evans said. The Midtown resident

Daisies, Tomatoes and Parsnips, Oh My! The relationship between what you grow and the air you breathe Researchers at the University of Virginia found that air pollution is destroying flower fragrance, making it harder for bees to find flowers when foraging. This proves that the relationship between the air we breathe and what we grow can be a crucial factor on whether your garden will have the best petunias on the block or whether they fall flat. The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the air districts of the region want to provide tips on how you can make the most out of your garden. This can be done while reducing pollutants in the air you breathe and bringing

This Saturday female skateboarders and street artists are teaming up at Granite Skate Park, located on Ramona Avenue, to spend the afternoon skateboarding together and celebrating art. From noon - 3 p.m. Few and Far, an organization working to create connections among female artists and skateboarders, will be hosting its first Few and Far Skate Jam. This is the first skate event that Few and Far has hosted but they “plan on making it an annual event,” said Joanna Mahaffy, the skateboard representative for Few and Far. Few and Far is an organization that is based out of northern California and seeks to connect women interested in street art and skateboarding from around the globe. Few

The smell of chocolate truffles, orange cream and strawberries flooded the KVIE commercial kitchen Wednesday morning as Women’s Empowerment graduates were hard at work. Making 1,200 desserts for 550 people was no easy task, but the 10 women took on the challenge with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. The desserts are for the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Independence Gala that benefits Women’s Empowerment, a Sacramento non profit that helps homeless women find jobs and housing for their families. The gala is Thursday from 5:30 - 9 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt, 1215 J St. The women worked diligently to make the perfect cheesecake bites from a recipe of one of the graduate’s grea

Living in the city and wondering how you can do your part to Spare The Air and maintain your glamorous self? The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the air districts of the Sacramento region have five trendy tips to help you learn how to help improve the air quality while being chic in the Sacramento region. 1. Be a Nerd Doing your part to help the environment and society is not always easy. You are studying for your biology midterm and not quite sure why it has to involve frogs. Then, last week you picked up an extra shift at the coffee shop to pay for that can’t-take-my-eyes-off-every-time-I-walk-past-the-window scarf at the boutique on J Street. On top of work

Do you watch the Millionaire Matchmaker? No, me either. Did you see the episode where the guy reserved the baseball stadium for his date—first date, mind you—because they were both huge baseball fans? He had dinner served in the empty park, just the two of them in the stands during the off-season. He then proceeded to romance her with tales of what a great story it would make for them to tell their children one day, mom and dad’s first date…blah, blah, blah. It continued on to be an incredibly romantic evening, and she was completely swept off her feet. Later, in the Matchmaker’s office, he admitted that he had no intention of ever calling her for a second date, for what I reason I no l

“Freedom has not come as a gift, but as a triumph.” –Alice Paul The 1911 victory for California women made California the sixth state to win equal suffrage for women. The California win doubled the number of women who could vote in the United States, building electoral power and support for the 1920 passing of the 19th amendment, which would give all women in the country the right to vote. The Sacramento History Museum has unveiled a unique and wonderfully elaborate exhibition detailing the long struggle women fought to win the vote, not only in California but in all of the United States, aptly titled “We Won the Vote! 100 years of Equal Suffrage in California.” The exhibit displays tru

Q: I have recently broken up with my boyfriend of five years. In some ways it was heartbreaking, but in some ways it was just time. We grew apart and decided that there really wasn't a future for us as the people we had become. It still hurts though. Now I feel like I am lost and don't know what my next move is. I am 32, single and don't remember how to start looking for someone to date, not even sure if I want to. I am scared of being alone for the rest of my life, though. I am not sure what my next move should be. A: I am sorry to hear what a painful time you are going through right now. It sounds like the decision you and your ex-boyfriend made was the right one. Staying in a relation

With a sold-out audience screaming in excitement the ‘Thunder from Down Under (TFDU)’ took to the stage this evening at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort. If you are not aware of whom this group is it would seem that you may be in the minority. TFDU is a group of well-toned Australian men who whip women into a screaming frenzy by gyrating, tantalizing and teasing through individual as well as group strip-tease acts. This all male revue, which has been in operation for almost 20 years, is Australia's answer to America’s famous Chippendale Dancers. The main difference between the two acts is that TFDU travels world-wide and continually sells-out most of their shows. This global presence, alo

Co-hosts Liz Franco and Ashlee Gadd are bringing popular clothing exchange Stitch Swap to The Citizen Hotel Saturday. “Stitch Swap is an opportunity to meet new friends, rid your wardrobe of things you no longer wear, find new items for your closet, all while raising money and awareness for Women Escaping a Violent Environment," said Gadd, marketing and public relations manager for The Citizen Hotel. Participants bring $10 as well as any accessories, clothing or shoes they want to swap from 3 - 5 p.m. Saturday at the Citizen Hotel 926 J St. There is no limit to how much people can bring or how much they can take, Gadd said. Franco is a legislative assistant who started Stitch Swap in 2

The first Friday of every month, the Sacramento Branch of the California Writers Club gathers for development opportunities, social interaction and solidarity among area writers. This past Friday, June 3, a group of 25 writers hosted Dr. Caroline Wadlin, a local, award winning physician specializing in women’s health and holistic medicine. Wadlin’s recently published book, “A Woman’s Guide to Balancing Life in Today’s Fast Paced World,” is dedicated to all women: “May you be blessed with more energy, less stress and more fun.” Her compact guide to balancing life includes tips on how to reorganize your priorities so that you can lead a happier life. “It’s not selfish to do that,” Wadlin

Nearly 100 years ago in a special election on October 10, 1911, women successfully won the right to vote in California.  Now, two museums in Sacramento will celebrate the hard-earned victory for full voting rights for women with the compelling exhibition We Won the Vote! 100 Years of Equal Suffrage in California.   Produced jointly by The Center for Sacramento History and California State Parks, the exhibition will officially premiere at the Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento on Thursday, June 16, 2011.   After a three-month display period at the Sacramento History Museum, the exhibition will move to the State Capitol Museum (located inside the State Capitol building) with an ope

The time to recognize our mothers has come again: Mother’s Day. The Sacramento Press recently took to the streets and asked people how they make their moms feel special on Mother’s Day. Here is what they had to say: Olegario Casas, 39, is an iron worker who lives in Elk Grove. “Two weeks before Mother’s Day, I call my mom, and I send her a card and flowers because she is in Mexico,” Casas said. “I tell her I love her and I miss her and I can’t wait to see her.” Vanessa Young, 28, is a student at Syracuse University, but she comes from East Sacramento. A phone call is important, Young said. “We also go out to lunch, take a walk or go hiking – my mom likes that,” she added. Arturo

Men of all ages and shoe sizes gathered at the corner of 18th Street and Capitol Avenue, ready to walk one mile in women’s high heels to support WEAVE’s first “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event. “There are so many men that are affected by sexual assault, and this is a way for men to show their support,” said Amber Stott, WEAVE director of communications relations. Stott estimated that since Friday WEAVE has raised over $63, 000. Stott said all proceeds will go to WEAVE and benefit the various services that WEAVE provides, including counseling, WEAVE safe house, legal assistance, prevention programs and 24-hour support and response teams to help survivors of sexual assault. In addition to

Smart phones. E-readers. Netbooks. Mama sure does a lot of reading these days, but not too much of the paper-and-ink kind. Enter: Kidaround. It was as appealing in a tired mother’s hand as a latte and as likely to induce a welcome perk. Yes, you read that last line correctly, it was. Barbara Hennelly announced on Facebook last month that the November/December 2010 issue of Kidaround would be her last. After publishing the bimonthly magazine for five years, Hennelly decided that the financial stress finally was too much. The magazine was profitable, but cash flowed too slowly. Delays in collecting advertising revenues meant Hennelly scrambled to pay her print bills each issue. “I think

Country music fans came out in droves on Sunday night to see superstar duo The Judds perform at Arco Arena. The iconic mother and daughter team of Naomi and Wynonna Judd drew approximately 6,500 predominantly female fans to Arco, selling out the seating layout for this particular performance. It has been more than 10 years since the The Judds toured last, and this current outing – “The Judds: The Last Encore" – is being billed as their final reunion. The pair opened with “Had a Dream” and followed with Judds classics “Girls' Night Out” and “Love Is Alive.” Here are some photos from the show:     Naomi Judd greets a fan in the front row. Wynonna Judd Naomi Judd Photos by Steven C