Friends of the Sacramento Library were given a  piece of baseball history in a Bible, once owned by Branch Rickey, when he was the general manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953.  "Rickey's Bible" will be on public display next month in honor of Black History Month, at the central branch of the Sacramento Public Library downtown, 828 I Street. 31 different signatures, including manager Fred Haney,  Hall of Fame member Ralph Kiner, and broadcaster Joe Garagiola, are inscribed on the first page, along with "Pirates 1953" written across the top in blue ink. Branch Rickey is best known for breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson in 1945. Two years later,

Emmy-award winning comedian and author Paula Poundstone will return to Sacramento for a performance at the Crest Theater on Saturday, February 16th. Paula helps raise awareness for Friends of the Library groups as national spokesperson with United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, a division of the American Library Association. The Friends of the Sacramento Public Library will host an information table at the event. Paula is also a member of the Friends of the Library, and will be raising money from this performance to help our Sacramento public libraries have more summer reading programs, author events, and computers. Paula says that

It happened Sunday, Jan. 20, about 7:15 p.m. I had missed the last 19 bus at Arden Way and Del Paso Boulevard by 10 minutes, so decided to go to the Rite Aid store by El Camino Avenue and Del Paso Boulevard. Bus 15 was my only last option, and wouldn't be coming for another 50 minutes, so I decided to catch it across the street from Rite Aid. As I waited for the bus in my wheelchair with oxygen on, someone suddenly came from behind and put their big hands, which were inside rough work gloves, tightly around my face, so that I could barely breathe. He said that he wanted all my money, and wouldn't take his hands off my face as his grip got tighter and tighter. I tried to take my hands and

Giant warehouse clearance sale at The Book Den 8250 Belvedere Ave. Suite E (off of Power Inn Rd) in Sacramento, 95826 Fill a grocery bag (s) for only $6. Over 50,000 adult and children's used books, fiction, non-fiction, hard bound, paperback, DVD'S, CD'S, records, pocket books, and much more are available. Please come and help support the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library so we can have many more library programs for the children and adults. Saturday January 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday January 13, 9-4 p.m. (916) 731-8493

If Frank Sinatra was alive today and came back to our beautiful-diverse city of Sacramento, I’m sure he would agree. I’ve lived here for almost 24 years and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, except maybe Colorado where my son now lives. Besides the warmer weather, the people here are the best in the West. I love Sacramento! This story is about homelessness, the people that came out of it, and the many that help us get off the streets, to help us become a part of society, and enjoy life again. By God’s mercy I’ve been clean and sober for almost 20 years and un-homeless since 1992. To God be the glory for all the many wonderful, caring people from Sacramento that help us along the way, s