Wooden boxes of chard, kale and collard greens on Charles Mason’s front yard in Oak Park are likely to be installed at dozens of spots in Sacramento next year and into 2012. Mason, the founder of environmental nonprofit group Ubuntu Green, is organizing a project to place up to 60 small gardens in an area that includes the neighborhoods of Oak Park, Tahoe Park, Lemon Hill and Fruitridge Manor. The home gardens project, funded by the California Endowment, is one of three programs Ubuntu Green will focus on in 2011. Ubuntu Green will work next year on a land-use environmental project with eight neighborhoods as well as host an annual event in September on environmentally friendly living.

 Sacramento, CA | Early Tuesday morning, two South Sacramento families were awakened to find their homes ablaze. Sac Metro Fire and Cosumnes Fire Departments were called to Liscarney Way in the area of Vintage Park Dr. and Calvine Rd., for two homes burning. When firefighters arrived, they found two, two story homes with the second floor of both homes well involved with fire. All familiy members made it safely out of the homes after neighbors awakened them. Per Sac Metro Assistance Fire Chief Rice, both homes were severely damaged and the families would not be able to inhabit them. Red cross was called to assist the families. SacPress Contributing Writer and Photographer, Kati Garner, was

  The 34th Street Dance company put on another high energy performance last Saturday at the Guild Theater. The theme was Fiat Lux, which is Latin for "let there be light.  The show wrapped up with a tribute of dance routines to the late Michael Jackson, along with a heart felt and tearful ceremony to the seniors graduating from the company. “Our mission is to use dance as a tool to build community and develop each dancer as a creative thinker, dance technician, and a leader” said Sheila Coleman, the founder and director of the company.  The company trains in modern, hip-hop, and contemporary movement forms and for seven years, has shared its passion for dance with audiences all over Cali

A 44 year old Sacramento man robs a convenience store but gets dooped by technology Wednesday afternoon. Sacramento, California According to Sacramento Police Department spokesman, Conrad Vonschoech, 44 year-old Colon Carmelo is the suspect being held for the robbery of the Fast Stop Food Stores, at 5600 Wilkinson Dr. in South Sacramento Wednesday afternoon. He was booked into Sacramento County Jail at 7:32PM Wednesday evening for felony robbery. Per police radio traffic Wednesday afternoon, at the time of the robbery, the store clerk was able to insert a tracking device into the money bag before handing it over to Carmelo. A short time latter, officers began picking up the signal from t

Peace. Love. Swap. is a one of a kind independent coalition that organizes ongoing kid's swaps. The swaps are for local eco-minded parents to get together and recycle (exchange) their kid’s stuff (ages 0-14 and maternity). After the swaps, I donate the leftovers to local charities and needy families. How it works: You bring items to swap (clothing, toys, sports equipment, etc.) plus $5 per family. While the volunteers set up, the kids can play in our family friendly venues and parents can look around at our vendor tables. Once set up is complete, families can come in and take as much or as little as they need.   I'd like to invite you to view more information, read our mission statement,

Terrence Johnson said he wants Oak Park and surrounding South Sacramento neighborhoods to have more clout in City Council decision-making. “I felt as though the (District 5) neighborhoods didn’t have a voice,” he said. Johnson, 58, is one of five candidates competing for the seat held by Councilwoman Lauren Hammond. In addition to Oak Park, District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Curtis Park, Colonial Heights and Tahoe Park West. The Sacramento Press is interviewing City Council candidates in advance of the June 8 election. Johnson is a 20-year Sacramento resident and the executive director of the Oak Park Business Association and the Stockton Boulevard Partnership. He is chairman of

District 5 City Council candidates came face to face with community members at the Oak Park Neighborhood Association's monthly meeting Thursday. Four of the five candidates met with residents at the Sacramento Food Bank to discuss their political plans in an open forum. Approximately 40 people attended to ask questions and gain more insight on their potential representatives. Candidates running are Terrence Johnson, Leticia Hilbert, Patrick Kennedy, Jay Schenirer and Henry Harry. Hilbert was absent from the meeting. Chairs formed a half-circle and faced the seated candidates. Questions were collected from the audience and presented by members of the neighborhood association's board of dire

An unoccupied South Oak Park home explodes Sunday morning and the cause is under investigation. An unoccupied home in the South Oak Park area exploded early Sunday morning. Debris from the home blew all the way out to the street. The home was a total loss and while the cause is under investigation, natural gas has not been ruled out. Per Sac City Fire, the home was a total loss and no one was injured. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SCENE VIDEO Visit us at Maverick Photography and SacMav for the action news the News misses  

Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell said she plans to concentrate on key issues facing her South Sacramento district this year, including flood protection, a beautification effort on Meadowview Road and youth services. Pannell’s goals are explained as part of a series of articles on council members’ plans for 2010. Links to the articles are at the end of this story. The Sacramento Press made repeated request for interviews with two council members, Rob Fong and Ray Tretheway, but they were unavailable. Pannell represents District 8, which includes the Meadowview, North Laguna Creek and 63rd Street/Cromwell neighborhoods. Her primary focus this year is on 100-year flood protection for areas in h

A pursuit that started in South Sacramento Thursday night, ended in Elk Grove when the driver of the fleeing vehicle crashed through a wall at a house on the corner of Villeneuve Dr. and Power Inn. The driver fled leaving a bloody trail for officers to track him by. Other occupants of the vehicle were trapped until Firefighters extricated them and were transported to the hospital with injuries. The driver was found and arrested in the neighborhood a short time later. The capture came by officers tracking the blood trail, fresh footprints, K9 alerts and neighbors calling in too 911 with sightings. CLICK HERE TO SEE SCENE VIDEO FOOTAGE

Shots fired on Bamford leads authorities to a Panos Ct. home and a SWAT operation January 28, 2010   Shots rang out Wednesday afternoon near theSamuel Jackman Middle School on Bamford Rd. Juvenile subjects allegedly fired the weapon in the air causing the school to go on a full lockdown for over an hour. The subjects fled to a home on Panos Ct. where neighbors stated is the center of neighborhood trouble. Neighbors stated that the woman living at the home is always bringing the juveniles to her home and was just released a few days ago on gun related charges. Sacramento Police department, including the SWAT unit and K9, moved in on the house, front and rear, safely taking several juveni

Mother Ruby Muhammad is proof that it's never too late to do anything. An orphan who met her father when she was a teenager, Muhammad joined the Nation of Islam at age 49 and learned to read at 60. Sacramento's oldest supercentenarian at age 112, Muhammad will perform songs and tell stories about her life March 7 at the Imani Community Church. The first-time performer will be joined for the one-night-only performance by her friend, playwright and vocalist Suzanne Brooks, and Brooks' band, The Jazz Generation. The show is tentatively called "I Believe I Can Fly," after Muhammad's favorite song, written by R. Kelly. It also aligns with her positive outlook and her belief that if she had wi

On November 21, 2009, the Sacramento Building Healthy Communities collaborative hosted two events in Oak Park and South Sacramento, designed to educate communities on the 10-year Building Healthy Communities (BHC) process. Earlier this year, the California Endowment awarded funding to 14 communities over ten years as part of their Building Healthy Communities program. This effort was designed to infuse at least $10 million into each community to bring about systemic change. The efforts are to be driven by four goals: • Health systems are family-centered and prioritize prevention. • Schools anchor communities, promote healthy behaviors and are a gateway for resources and services. • Human

One of the best kept secrets of the South Sacramento area is a small, private school tucked away in the Lanai Shopping Center on Freeport Boulevard, neighboring the Sacramento Executive Airport, where it has existed in rented space for 21 years. Over the years, most of the shopping center tenants have moved away. Meanwhile, countless hours of parent, teacher and student work have gone into transforming a run-down property into a school with colorful classrooms and playgrounds. It has an understated entrance, but Camellia Waldorf School is an oasis for children. The kindergarten yard is home to Mr. Mountain, a big pile of dirt, and Ms. Sandy, a big pile of sand. There are climbing struct

Group Shot of HPI Paranormal Investigators. To see pictures of this investigation, stop by here: http://s886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/PaulDaleRoberts_bucket/Sabrina/ The date is November 14, 2009, Saturday. Tonight my investigators will be investigating a home in South Sacramento. A home in which the previous owner died. How she died, it appears that no one knows, but it is rumored she died of natural causes or old age. This is a home that footsteps are heard in the hallway, an apparition has been seen walking past the bathroom. Let’s find out exactly what is going on in this home. Let me conduct my first interview with the occupant (Sabrina Jacquez). Sabrina says that she has seen an

Built Environment/Green Space Presentation November 10, 2009 5:30pm-7:30pm Sacramento Food Bank 3333 3rd Avenue, Sacramento, CA AGENDA Moderator: Charles L. Mason, Jr., Ubuntu Green Confirmed Panelists: Anya Lawler, Consultant, California State Assembly Committee on Housing Graham Brownstein, ECOS Davida Douglas, Alchemist CDC Brandon Kitagawa, Regional Asthma Management and Prevention, Statewide Coordinator of Community Action to Fight Asthma (CAFA) Constance Slider, Coalition on Regional Equity Invited Panelists: Paul Zykofsky, Director of Land Use and Transportation, Local Government Commission Randy Rosalex, Green Sacramento Builders Darnell Robinson, Clearinghouse CDFI

Approximately 40 Sacramentans attended the Charter Review Committee meeting held at Sam Pannell Meadowview Community Center on Wednesday.  The committee drafted a report that recommends changes to the City Charter Committee. Committee members William Edgar, JoAnn Fuller, and Chester Newland presented an overview of the committee's purpose and tentative decisions reached, and took turns answering questions from the audience.  Handouts were distributed, delineating Charter Review Committee procedures, focus areas for review, and a time line for their work plan.   "The City Charter Committee was appointed by City Council in response to the 'strong mayor initiative,' Edgar said. "We were not

#1. WEST SAC- West Sacramento police and Davis SWAT served warrants on several locations in West Sacramento related to recent gang activity occurring in the city including the fatal shooting at the Ortega's Night Club. Two people were arrested and a medium sized marijuana grow was located during the operation. #2. SOUTH SAC- A shooting occurred in an apartment on 44th Ave near 39th St in south Sacramento. The victim was shot once in the leg and transported to Kaiser South Trauma Center. Further details were unavailable at the time. #3. SAC COUNTY- A shooting occurred at an apartment complex on Tuolumne Dr near La Riviera Dr in Sacramento County. One victim was shot in the arm while stand

Join South Sacramento VISIONS at their annual Family Disaster-Preparedness Day, a family event sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente and Sacramento County, feautring classes, games, entertainment and more! Kids will enjoy the kids zone with bounce house, all will enjoy entertainment by J. Rene Academy of Dance and Vocalist Sheryl Counter. Saturday, September 26, 10:00am-2:00pm at the Jose Rizal Community Center, 7320 Florin Mall Drive, Sacramento, CA. For more information contact mswhitton@aol.com or 916-391-3107

Sacramento, CA- Two juvenile burglars remain at large Wednesday night. Witnesses approached a friends house in the 7900 block of Deer Creek Drive Wednesday evening, near 11 p.m.  When they noticed that the people they could see in the house were not their friends, they called police. Sacramento police arrived rapidly, however the black, male juveniles had already fled. Police set up a perimeter and found several subjects in the area that matched the description of the subjects. Police drove witnesses by the detained subjects in a "field show up" (the equivalent of a line-up in the field) to identify the burglars; however none of the detained individuals were positively identified. Public