Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Mark Forsyth

Mark Forsyth on "The Sacramento Coffee Tour"

2009-08-24T04:57:51Z

i love vintage cafe. good food and coffee, nice atmosphere and in a cool building. not to mention, the coffee is only $1. No price gouging at vintage.

Mark Forsyth on "It's Down River Day today!"

2009-08-02T05:56:57Z

sounds like a great time. How did it go?

Mark Forsyth on "Eppie's Great Race still going strong in its 36th year"

2009-07-25T01:24:46Z

I participated this year. Eppie's is a great race. The competitors are very friendly, just out for a good time. Everyone races at their own pace. It's a great experience. I will be back next year.

Mark Forsyth on "A Great Night on the Town in Sacramento"

2009-07-12T08:16:07Z

I didn't know the Delta King had a theater. Thanks for the article Sherrie, it's great to see new writers joining Sacramento Press!

Mark Forsyth on "Deer lands through family truck windshield near downtown"

2009-07-08T17:36:33Z

I drove by shortly after firefighters arrived and blocked off the del paso exit. It's scary to think a deer could just jump into the freeway.

Mark Forsyth on "City To Demolish Landmark "Bel-Vue" Building"

2009-07-04T16:41:08Z

Wow, I really look forward to parking in that structure. Good job City of Sacramento

Mark Forsyth on "Midtown neighborhoods alarmed by unsafe activites at event."

2009-06-30T19:09:52Z

I have yet to make it to one of these huge "block parties." I don't have much desire though, as they seem to be designed for the suburbanites rather than midtown/downtown residents. I understand the frustration over the noise etc. I can imagine the uproar that would be caused if one of these parties took place in a suburban neighborhood late into the night.

Mark Forsyth on "Good Work NOW!: "Toxic Co-workers""

2009-06-30T19:05:38Z

I think the article titles could stand alone without the "Good Work NOW!" tag. Just my 2 1/2 cents

Mark Forsyth on "Street Interview"

2009-06-30T19:03:24Z

Exactly beerzie. Do we want Sacramento to be a Northern California L.A? Most definitely not.

Mark Forsyth on "Yummy Yogurt opens in old Benny J's spot"

2009-06-29T20:27:40Z

haha, it's an obvious difference?

Mark Forsyth on "Ask Officer Michelle - One Man's Garbage is Another's Treasure"

2009-06-29T20:26:24Z

Scavengers are coming by my cans all hours of the night on a daily basis. They are very loud, wake me often, and worst of all throw trash outside the cans and leave it for me to collect. Quite frustrating.

Mark Forsyth on "Scenes from Sac Pride Festival"

2009-06-21T03:18:58Z

were you there? what was it like? were there protestors everywhere? big turnout?

Mark Forsyth on "Patterson Brings New Weapon to DeFrancesco’s Arsenal "

2009-06-18T22:33:58Z

fun story. I saw the steal by Ellsbury broken down a hundred times on sportscenter. It is definitely an exciting play. Congrats to Patterson.

Mark Forsyth on "WalMart Super Center opens in South Sacramento"

2009-06-18T03:59:14Z

from what I understand, it doesn't matter where a wal-mart pops up, there will usually be an increase in crime around and near the wal-mart.

Mark Forsyth on "Yosemite storm traps hikers"

2009-06-14T07:27:32Z

UPDATE:: Park Rangers confirmed that a man fell from Half Dome to his death. Stranded hikers were escorted down the mountain to safety. The man is as of yet unidentified.

Yosemite storm traps hikers

2009-06-14T00:51:43Z

It is estimated that more than 100 hikers are trapped on the trail to Half Dome in Yosemite, CA Sat. evening June 13, and one person is believed to have fallen. The person’s condition is unknown as is the condition of all hikers who became caught in a violent hail storm at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Weather took a quick turn from cloudy and dry to the hail storm that currently pommels Yosemite Valley. Rangers are unable to attempt rescue attempts at the moment due to the dangerous weather.

According to park rangers, the trail is impassable until the storm subsides which might not be until early Sun. morning.

At least four Sacramento hikers are stuck atop the mountain with no knowledge of their current condition or well-being.

Mark Forsyth on "Jaywalkers Beware!"

2009-06-09T06:37:28Z

thanks for the heads up! I've been warned by officers about jaywalking in midtown but never received a citation. I'll have to be more careful now

Mark Forsyth on "Second Saturday Needs Volunteer Crossing Guards"

2009-06-05T05:47:43Z

bars and nightclubs that have police stationed outside their venues are required to pay for the services. i think it makes sense to charge the midtown businesses to utilize police services since they are profiting from the event. how to facilitate what to charge and to whom is a bigger question.

Mark Forsyth on "sofa photos from The Sacramento Press and Entreprini Tweetup (part three)"

2009-05-31T05:56:44Z

awesome. the red bull shot is hilarious

Mark Forsyth on "Prop 8 decision: initial reaction"

2009-05-27T03:31:27Z

Blue, Democrat, left-wing, not conservative. Those typical ideas associated with California. I have friends from out of state that are shocked that prop 8 passed. So what I mean by "liberal" is that people see us as a state that would support "liberal" type laws such as gay marriage.

Mark Forsyth on "Prop 8 decision: initial reaction"

2009-05-27T00:37:52Z

I have many friends that were quite upset about this decision today. It's crazy to see a "liberal" state speak out so vehemently against equality issues.

Tree falls on car

2009-05-23T06:28:43Z

Approximately 10:30 p.m. Fri. May 22. My girlfriend and I were entering our car parked on the corner of 14th and Q Streets after enjoying some portabella and tofu burgers at Burgers and Brew.

A loud crack rang through the night air drawing my attention. Seconds later a second crack followed, this time louder. I surveyed the street wondering if I heard a minor car accident when the unique sound of splitting wood occurred.

I watched as a branch, at least 15 feet in length with several large branches attached to it fell 50 ft. to the street landing directly on the hood of a car.

We walked around, amazed at what we had just witnessed, when I noticed a sign posted on the street directly in front of the tree. The sign stated, "No Parking 5-23. Tree Trimming."

I snapped a few pictures as a police car pulled up and an officer exited the vehicle to access the situation. I asked him if this happens often to which he replied, "Yes," and continued to do his job.

So apparantly trees fall onto cars all the time in the city, and I have seen this on a few occassions, however I find it extremely ironic that this particular tree was scheduled for maintenance the following day--no doubt to take care of the branch that failed only hours before they could trim it.

See pictures for the incident. Enjoy your weekend and be careful when parking under large trees! Luckily no one was injured, although my girlfriend and I had quite a start to have a branch fall less than 20 ft. from where we stood.

Sacramento State graduation 2009

2009-05-23T05:55:41Z

Sacramento State University sent thousands of graduates off to their next venture in life Fri. May 22 during graduation ceremonies held at Arco Arena. Tomorrow, Sat. May 23, will see thousands more move their tassels.

The ceremonies' main speaker was Sac State president, Alexander Gonzalez, who wished the graduates well in their upcoming quest for employment. He placed emphasis on the importance of hard work and diligence in the struggling economy and requested alumni to remember to give to the university when they achieve success.

A highlight of the College of Arts and Letters commencement ceremonies, held at noon, was the graduation of 92 year-old Estelle Rees Arroyo who received her Bachelor of Arts History degree. When asked why she returned to school Arroyo told ABC news on Wed. May 20, "I was watching too much TV. I decided if I kept it up my mind was going to go to mush." Arroyo received a standing ovation twice, once when her accomplishment was announced by Pres. Gonzalez and also when her name was called to receive her degree.

Another moment of importance was the awarding of an honorary doctorate degree to Sacramento businessman and philanthropist, Fred Teichert. Teichert is executive director of the Teichert Foundation, which offers grants to charities and other local community organizations.

After a long ceremony, graduates refrained from the traditional hat throw, opting instead to bat around several beach balls. Excitement filled the air as congratulations were offered by Pres. Gonzalez and the group was dismissed to celebrate with their families.

Mark Forsyth on "Sacramento Press contributor wins Hearst journalism prize"

2009-05-18T22:52:43Z

congrats ali. i look forward to reading more of your articles.

Mark Forsyth on "The end of what could have been much worse"

2009-05-16T22:27:32Z

great coverage Ed. thanks for the news

Mark Forsyth on "Jim-Denny's celebrates 75th anniversary"

2009-05-15T17:19:18Z

Geoff helped me to discover their delicious veggie burgers

Mark Forsyth on "Renaissance Tower 20 Year Anniversary "

2009-05-15T17:17:10Z

great history. I love that building too. Thanks for the info Michael

Mark Forsyth on "There's a New Buzz at RetroLodge"

2009-05-09T20:34:22Z

excellent, I knew there were talks of getting that space, I'm glad it's going to work out. It'll be fun having a venue on this side of town. I look forward to checking it out.

Mark Forsyth on "Rainy Weekend"

2009-05-04T06:21:23Z

yeah there were so many events this weekend. its a bummer the weather was so wet.

Mark Forsyth on "The slow and steady always win?"

2009-04-27T17:45:34Z

Don't forget to mention that Crabtree actually went to the other Bay Area team 3 picks later. That was a strange pick by Al Davis. Both players could have been taken later in the draft.

Mark Forsyth on "Interning at the Press"

2009-04-27T05:54:06Z

Thanks everyone.

Interning at the Press

2009-04-25T01:48:01Z

I have worked the last 16 weeks as one of four unpaid interns at Sacramento Press. I started with no experience in journalism and felt completely overwhelmed with my new responsibilities, which were in addition to taking five classes at Sacramento State University. Now, nearly four months later, I leave this position with an appreciation for the writing skills I have developed and a deeper understanding of journalism.

Sacramento Press is not traditional journalistic reporting. As you know this is a community-contributed news site. The reporting, with the exception of a very small group of staff and interns, is done by members of the community, which is the reason Sacramento Press stands out against the mainstream media.

When I began the internship on January 8, there were 117 people signed up to write for the site. As of April 22 there are 327 writers and over 1100 total users signed up on the site. It has been exciting to witness the growth of community-reported news.

The ability to comment on posted articles is my favorite aspect of the website. It opens possibilities for discussion and debate, and I'm happy to see a wide range of personalities and beliefs interacting through these comments.

I have thoroughly appreciated the freedom given by Sacramento Press to write about issues that concern or interest me. My articles have covered a wide range of topics, most of which I am very passionate about. My personal favorites, if you would like to check them out, are Tent City, Trivia Night, Sacramento's Catch Phrase, and the Outdoor Activities thread.

As an interesting side-note, my email address is the second most Googled item containing the words "Sacramento Press." Thanks to whoever has been tracking me down! Although the office seems to think I should be slightly concerned that I have a stalker.

All in all I had a great time at the Sacramento Press. The office, if you haven't popped in or seen it at one of the writing workshops, is a relaxing and inviting space in which to work. The staff is a fun group of people and I enjoyed the many conversations I've shared with everyone. I'm sad that it's over, but ready to move forward.

I will continue to be around, both at the office and as a contributing writer. I will also be working with the marketing department helping to spread the word about Sacramento Press and expand our portfolio of readers and writers.

Mark Forsyth on "Cocktail Contest has bartenders ginning"

2009-04-24T22:59:43Z

I saw the 2nd place winner at Biba last night. I was tempted to ask him for a sampling of his 2nd place drink.

Mark Forsyth on "A brief history: farmers markets promote family farms in Sacramento"

2009-04-24T22:58:15Z

Excellent rundown. I definitely look forward to all the seasonal markets making their way back to the grid.

Mark Forsyth on "Where the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyways?"

2009-04-22T17:12:03Z

Hit up the local farmer's markets. Starting on May 1st there will be 7 or so running in the Sacramento area throughout the week. In my opinion it's the best place to get produce (and by far the cheapest)

Mark Forsyth on "T-Bone and we're not talking steak"

2009-04-21T18:52:29Z

I agree. As as cyclist, I sometimes feel uncomfortable riding down 21st street even though there are bike lanes. There are many drivers out there who just don't pay enough attention while driving in the city.

Mark Forsyth on "Learn to Snorkel"

2009-04-21T18:46:39Z

I haven't been snorkeling in years. I loved kicking around the shores of Catalina Island when I was young. Beautiful.

Mark Forsyth on "Sacramento's spin on Record Store Day"

2009-04-21T18:41:27Z

Silver Darling was great! I look forward to seeing them soon. If you're interested here's the info. Silver Darling and Knock Knock Luigi's Pizza Sat. May 2 8p.m.

Mark Forsyth on "Earth Day 2009: Christmas for the environment-not!"

2009-04-21T17:59:29Z

Last year was a lot of fun. I look forward to the festivities again this year.

Rock climbing

2009-04-21T02:37:30Z

I have never felt so alive as when I'm holding onto a ledge on the side of a mountain hundreds of feet above the ground surrounded by nothing but rock and clear blue sky.

Rock climbing is an exhilarating sport that has had a presence in the California Sierra Nevada mountains since the 1950's. California is home to several of the most famous climbing locals in the world such as Yosemite and Bishop and Joshua Tree in southern California. But you don't have to travel that far to enjoy beautiful outdoor scenes and high class climbing routes.

Sacramento is a central location to many excellent climbing spots for any level from first-time beginners, to professional-rate advanced climbers.

Beginners typically feel more comfortable learning in a rock climbing gym and the Sacramento area has 3 such gyms- Pipeworks in midtown Sacramento, Rocknasium in Davis, and Granite Arch in Rancho Cordova. Detailed information can be found at their websites.

Gyms offer the challenge and fun of rock climbing in a controlled and safe environment complete with knowledgable staff and padded flooring. All necessary equipment can be rented and lessons are available to learn to belay (hold the rope while a partner scales the wall) and get a handle on basic climbing techniques.

While climbing gyms are a great place to learn and practice newfound climbing skills, the excitement of rock climbing is not fully experienced until you get outside on a real rock. Outdoor Adventures, based out of UC Davis, and Peak Adventures, based out of Sacramento State University offer beginning climbing trips for a low cost.

Once you've learned the skills and aquired the gear (or acquired climbing friends who have gear) you can head out to one of several beautiful locations nearby. Directions and routes can be found in climbing guide books (which can be purchased at any of the gyms mentioned or at REI) or online with a simple search. Online climbing communities also abound, information can be found and questions answered by fellow climbers.

Below is a rundown of the primary climbing styles that can be found in the area.

Climbing Styles

Top Rope- A rope is fixed to an anchor at the top of a rock climb. One person climbs with a partner belays them up the wall. This is the safest and most basic climbing style. The primary climbing style in gyms.

Bouldering- Climbing without ropes on short routes (less than 15-20 ft. high) that require more strength than roped climbing. Beginners can learn to boulder and many prefer this style to top-rope. This is also prevalent in climbing gyms.

Lead- Advanced climbing. A rope is attached to the climber's harness and as he/she climbs he runs the rope through clips attached to the wall/rock. This takes practice and experience. Not recommended for beginners.

Traditional- There are no clips attached to the rock, but rather the climber carries equipment to slip into cracks in the rock, then runs the rope through it. The most enviromentally friendly style of climbing. Very advanced skills required.

Mark Forsyth on "Homeless advocates vow to stop the disbanding of Tent City"

2009-04-16T18:12:59Z

The homeless don't want to mooch, if you offered them a place to stay their pride would prevent them (most of them) from taking you up on the offer anyway. They just want to be left to their lives, like totalderelict said. They know how to take care of themselves, they just want the means to do it. Tent city is centrally located, allowing them to get to the aid programs available and to get downtown to handle their business. This whole situation is a big mess.

Mark Forsyth on "Take a hike"

2009-04-12T09:57:59Z

thank you for the corrections.

Mark Forsyth on "Graffiti in Midtown, is it Art?"

2009-04-11T20:45:32Z

True, but it makes sense in that many people group the two together. I am a fan of grafiti art. I hate the tags that go on every new sign that pops up in my neighborhood.

Take a hike

2009-04-11T19:08:32Z

It is spring in Sacramento. Flowers are blooming and the trees have grown back their thick canopy of leaves. Our bodies are feeling the natural urge to be outside in the sunshine to enjoy what nature has to offer, and the greater Sacramento area definitely has a lot of it.

Sacramento and its surrounding areas contain some of the most beautiful landscapes in California. There are hikes and nature walks aplenty in this region that can give a good dose of springtime joy, all of which can be reached with a short drive or bicycle ride.

Following are some classic favorites:

Capitol Park: Downtown, 15th and L Streets — 1.5 mile loop

Not so much a hike as a walk, but beautiful nonetheless. A nature sanctuary in the middle of the city, there are trees and plants from around the world, all tagged with their name and place of origin, and memorials scattered throughout as well. The rose garden has yet to grow back from its winter cut, but there is a desert garden in the southeast corner that is interesting to check out and other flowers are blooming throughout the park. Of course there is also the stunning Capitol building in the middle of it all. Restrooms and drinking fountains are available to park-goers.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center: Carmichael, near Ancil Hoffman Golf Course — 0.75-3 miles

Three trails are offered by this park, each a simple day-stroll through a small preserved section of the once vast riparian woodlands along the American River. Wildlife abounds on these hikes and you can expect to run into deer, snakes, wild turkey, rabbits, and birds of all kinds. An information center is located next to the parking lot and historical information as well as trail maps can be found there. Also near the parking lot, examples of traditional Native American life can be seen in the form of a shelter, grinding rock, granary and other interesting items. The nature center has restrooms, picnic tables and an outdoor theatre available for use. Directions and information can be obtained at their website.

Cosumnes River Preserve: I-5 and Twin Cities Road — 4 miles of connected loops

20 miles south of Downtown Sacramento lies the Cosumnes River Preserve. The Cosumnes River is the only free flowing, unregulated river on this side of the Sierra Nevadas. The easy trails through the preserve offer a glimpse at what the Sacramento Valley once used to be. Bird-lovers frequent the preserve as it is a major migratory stop for water fowl of all varieties. There is an information center with interactive educational displays and rangers ready to answer any questions. Guided hikes and other programs are offered; information can be obtained at their website at www.cosumnes.org. This time of year the vernal pools are exploding with colorful flowers and waterfowl and the area is rich with life and beauty.

Jepson Prairie Reserve: Highway 113, 12 miles south of Dixon — nature walk, no distinguished hiking trails

To see the natural Sacramento valley in all its springtime glory, check out the Jepson Prairie Reserve. Filled with vernal pool flowers and wildlife, this area is a beautiful example of the natural state of valley prairies. Guided tours are offered Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. through May 11. There is an information booklet available at the parking lot for a small donation if you choose to take a self-guided tour at your own leisure. The reserve contains over 400 species of plants, many rare and endangered species, and a wealth of bird and reptilian wildlife to view. Information about the reserve can be found at their website at nrs.ucdavis.edu/jepson.html

UC Davis Arboretum Trail: Just off the south side of the UC Davis campus — 3.5 mile loop

Another easy stroll, but filled with thousands of species of plants spread throughout numerous gorgeous gardens. The park was begun in 1936 by UC Davis students and today encompasses 100 acres. A favorite attraction of the arboretum is the Coastal Redwood grove which offers picnic tables, making it a great place to stop for lunch. There are gardens of plants indigenous to California and other gardens consisting of plants found around the world in diverse places from Australia to South America. Plaques line the walkway giving information about the plant life, making this a fun and educational hike.

There are other hikes around Northern California, satisfying the pleasures of all that nature has to offer, from coastal mountains, to strolls along the beach, to rigorous mountain hikes. Information on hikes of all kinds can be found easily online or in any number of books that can be located easily at one of our downtown bookstores or the public library.

*Information about the hikes was gathered from personal experience and the book 60 Hikes within 60 Miles-Sacramento

Mark Forsyth on "Building 'green' in Sacramento"

2009-04-08T21:05:02Z

Andrea Lepore's response as emailed to me about the trees: "The city requested they be removed as they were diseased, we have already replanted one and the other 2 are coming when the landscaping is finished."

Mark Forsyth on "Budget to close in on mental health"

2009-04-08T06:59:15Z

The budget cuts abound in the social services field. It's sad that this is one of the first areas to suffer along with education. Sad

Mark Forsyth on "A Dog's Love"

2009-04-08T04:54:34Z

I'm a fan of forgiveness. Life's too short to hold grudges.

Building 'green' in Sacramento

2009-04-08T04:45:49Z

The new retail/restaurant concept, Hot Italian, on the corner of Q and 16th Streets, is embracing green ideology in its entirety, completely renovating an old, vacated retail space with a sleek new design that Mother Nature would be proud of.

Andrea Lepore, co-owner of Hot Italian, had the environment in the front of her mind when she first had the idea for Hot Italian. The reason is simple. "I think the environment is important to everyone,” she says. “Especially when you're in a space where you're eating, drinking, and relaxing. We wanted to create a restaurant that offered healthy food, but was also healthy to be in."

Lepore decided to pursue a Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the space. LEED is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council that gives a strict set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. The system is based on a point system that ranges from 26-69 points. The building can receive a rating of 'certified' (26-32), 'silver' (33-38), 'gold' (39-51), or 'platinum' (52-69). Hot Italian is currently awaiting its accreditation rating, and once certified, it will be the first retail or restaurant building in Sacramento to achieve a LEED rating.

Several aspects of construction are considered in the certification process, including low-flow faucets and toilets, solar water-heating and tube lighting, ENERGY STAR appliances, recycled building materials for everything from the floor to the furniture, plenty of two-wheel parking, and many others. Lepore has worked with her general contractor and her architect to follow these guidelines to the highest standards.

When asked why she chose to pursue the certification, Lepore answered, "I’m competitive by nature. So if we were going to basically rebuild a building, I wanted to do it right and have a real, achievable goal."

John Johnson worked as the general contractor on the project. This was his first LEED construction and he said there was no additional difficulty in the 'green' nature of the project. "It was a learning process in following the paperwork and knowing which bouncing ball to follow to get through the process," he said, but with the guidance of the green building consultant, a required aspect of LEED, everything moved smoothly.

Edward Mojica, from Mojica Architecture Studio, was the architect on this project. He shares Johnson's sentiments and stated that, "the most difficult part was convincing the neighborhood and the city that this was the right project to happen at this location."

There is a statement on the menu, "Tutto e Possible" which means, “anything is possible.” That belief helped Lepore work through delays in the LEED process to get Hot Italian where it is today. She appears to have achieved the restaurant’s goal: to inspire, make a difference, and create better neighborhoods. The result can be seen at the once-dilapidated corner of 16th and Q Streets, where the restaurant has been serving its traditional pizza and gelato as well as other treats since February 14.

Mark Forsyth on "The R Street redemption"

2009-04-06T06:49:40Z

Awesome. I anticipate spending quite a bit of time on this corner. R15 and Monte Carlo are around the bend as well. This will help with the Sacramento barhopping scene for sure.

Mark Forsyth on "Streetcars Proposed for Capitol Mall"

2009-04-02T02:33:22Z

exactly, great idea to combine west sac with downtown. go retro and put it in!

Policing downtown

2009-04-01T19:48:27Z

Cities are like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. The same can be said for neighborhoods within cities. The Sacramento Police Department understands this and manages the policing of downtown Sacramento differently than its surrounding areas.

Sacramento poses one major issue that differs from other cities. We house the State Capitol building and, at times, the governor himself. Being the capitol of an important world entity, California, Sacramento sees special events of all kinds. The Amgen Tour for example, which stopped in recently, required the closing of many streets in the city. Other events, such as large-scale protests, marches, or parades, also require heavy monitoring and planning. The SPD is responsible for the smooth operation of the city amidst the road closures and large influx of people that come to town for these events.

Sergeant Norm Leong of the SPD shed some light on the challenges of policing downtown Sacramento.

He explained that the majority of crimes committed here are property related. Thefts of all kinds are reported regularly to the SPD. Robberies and muggings are also common on the light rail or near light rail stations. "They are mainly crimes of opportunity. Late at night there may only be one or two people on the train and the opportunity presents itself," he stated. Crowds play a major role in deterring theft from taking place.

Sacramento Regional Transit is patrolled by the Sacramento Regional Transit Police Department, which is managed by the SPD and funded by the Sacramento Regional Transit District. This unit is comprised of SPD and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department officers who ride the train in order to deal with any problems and keep people safe. There are also undercover units riding the light rail regularly to help maintain safety.

Gangs do not center in the downtown area. They do come to town for entertainment purposes, although typically there are few gang-related issues downtown. The topic of gangs raised the issue of graffiti, and Leong said that the majority of spray painted walls can be attributed to "taggers" rather than gang signs. "Taggers have turf too," he responded when asked about identical tags located in concentrated areas around town.

An interesting aspect of the SPD's responsibilities lies in the downtown entertainment industry. Weekends see police vehicles parked outside certain night clubs into the early morning hours. These are part of the “entertainment unit,” whose services are paid for by the night clubs that require them. This unit keeps an eye on the clubs that are known to have problems, and also works with the owners of the night clubs to quell any potential issues. The rental of city police cuts back on calls that would otherwise cost the city large amounts of money and also reduces the number of disturbances that might be caused if they were not present.

Downtown also houses a large population of transients. Since this is an issue that persists, the SPD must monitor them and does so through the use of “homeless police,” a small unit assigned to handle the homeless population.

Another issue that is considered by the SPD is high pedestrian traffic. "Population more than doubles during the week with people who work downtown," said Leong. This increases traffic, which, doubled with the high pedestrian traffic, results in a high number of accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.

Leong explained that the policing of downtown is a combined effort of the California Highway Patrol, County Sheriffs, and SPD who partner together to keep the city safe. The presence of the County Jail (jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Department) and the State Capitol (jurisdiction of CHP) forces the cooperation of these three departments, and they do cooperate well, considering each other to be assets in carrying out their duties.

Mark Forsyth on "Same drum, different 'beat'"

2009-04-01T18:07:56Z

FYI- the officers pictured above are actually CHP bike officers, not SPD.

Mark Forsyth on "Sacramento: Energy-efficient light bulb capitol of the nation"

2009-04-01T02:49:02Z

San Francisco is filled with a bunch of hippies. But seriously it's good to see Sacramento, the poster child of urban sprawl, start improving in the environmentally friendly arena.

Same drum, different 'beat'

2009-04-01T01:07:35Z

Downtown/Midtown Sacramento is awash with bicycle activity, and why not? Bicycles are the quickest and most efficient way to maneuver this metropolitan area.

The Sacramento Police Department realized this as well, and in 1989 established a four-person bike unit in the Downtown area to patrol the streets during business hours. Today this unit consists of 10 officers and a sergeant who patrol from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m., seven days per week. They cover an area of the city from Old Sacramento to 19th Street between H and N Streets.

Sergeant David Valdez spoke with Sacramento Press to shed some light on the role of the bicycle police in Sacramento. He has been a part of the bike unit for seven years, two as an officer and the last five as sergeant. He said of the bike unit, "We can sense and approach things better than an officer driving by in a car at 30 mph."

His sentiment is supported by the statistics. Sacramento's bicycle police boast the second quickest response time in the department, second only to the helicopter unit. He attributes this to the mobility of bicycles, especially their ability to get through and around heavy traffic that would otherwise slow a patrol car. Patrol bicycles are official police vehicles and are equipped with lights and sirens, just like a patrol car. They share the traffic exemptions that other officers utilize in responding to disturbances, such as traveling the wrong way down a street, running red lights as needed, and riding on sidewalks.

They work in tandems, patrolling downtown through rain or shine, or even hail. "Our only disadvantage is the lack of technology," said Valdez, citing the lack of computers and other gadgets that patrol cars are equipped with. Otherwise, the bike units have the full authority and abilities of any other police officer, including making traffic stops. They keep a vehicle parked at the K Street Mall in the event that a perpetrator must be transported, and are in full contact with car units in cases that require additional vehicles or backup of any kind.

A large concern for the bike unit lately has been the rise in popularity of fixed-gear bikes, said Valdez. Many of these bikes do not have brakes, which is an issue when approaching a red light. Valdez voiced his concern, saying, "They either skid and make a sharp turn, or they just blow right through the red light." He mentioned that brakes are required on bicycles, and that the bike unit is working to educate riders on the necessity for proper safety equipment.

Critical Mass, a bicycle proponent group that organizes rides though Downtown Sacramento, once posed an issue for Sacramento police and traffic safety. Initially the group would incur a large number of traffic tickets for infractions, but through education and cooperative efforts by the bike unit, Valdez said, "things are now good." The bike unit is managed by Central Patrol, which looks over other Sacramento metro units such as the equestrian, footbeat (officers without a vehicle), and marine police. While these units are currently sun separately, Sacramento PD is looking to combine them and is working toward cross-training between these departments.

While there is sometimes a general stigma against police, Valdez stated that these bicycle officers are "approachable, friendly, helpful, and accessible." He emphasized that they are here to help the community, and feels that being on a bicycle, rather than in a patrol car, allows them to interact more intimately with the people.

Next time you see officers on bike patrol, give them a wave and let them
know that we appreciate their presence in the city.

And for those who were wondering, bicycles require a white headlight that can be seen for at least 100 feet, reflectors on the wheels, pedals and back of the bike, and at least one handbrake that can bring the bike to a skidded stop on dry pavement.

Mark Forsyth on "Sacramento to celebrate Vlade Divac"

2009-03-31T05:59:40Z

vlade, webber and bibby. the good ol days

Mark Forsyth on "Digging into The Docks"

2009-03-24T18:26:40Z

interesting facts. I never thought of the Sacramento River as reminiscent of the Mississippi. Hollywood and its tricks... Sacramento River- Not the Mississippi, but it plays it on TV

Mark Forsyth on "The future of news"

2009-03-24T18:09:32Z

well said gadfly. I agree that money gives more "merit" to certain voices in this society. Unfortunately money can't buy intelligence or ethics and often we are left with a bunch of crap and not much else. This is why I appreciate Sacramento Press. Everyone gets to post and have their voice heard. Keep the articles coming everybody.

Colors of spring at Southside Farmers Market

2009-03-23T05:11:47Z

Spring is making its presence felt. Flowers are blooming, leaves are returning to the trees, allergies are flaring up, and colorful foods are finding their way back to the market.

Today, Sunday March 22, the Southside Farmers Market (across W St. from Southside park under the freeway) was displaying foods and flowers that have been absent during the winter months.

Asparagus, beets, sweet peppers of all colors, artichokes, strawberries, beans, and kiwi among other foods were splayed out in tall mounds of edible art. Multiple vendors sold flowers of all kinds to market goers eager to tout the signs of spring.

Southside Farmers Market was a hub of activity with people meandering through the converted parking lot from booth to booth picking out the perfect produce. The vendors, northern california farmers, were full of smiles and morning greeting while they weighed produce in hopes of driving home with an empty truck.

If you've never visited the market, you'd be surprised to discover the amount of food you can purchase for a small amount of money. Your money goes directly to the farmers--an added benefit to shopping there. Many vendors employ organic, pesticide-free farming, and all are local.

Check out the Southside Farmers Market, open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon on Sunday mornings all year long. Other year-round markets can be found at Sunrise Mall, Laguna Gateway Center, Country Club Plaza, and at Sears on Florin Rd. Seasonal markets will be opening in the downtown/midtown area beginning in May--check back around that time for a preview, or take a look at the local growers website at www.california-grown.com.

Local bank stands its ground

2009-03-20T23:17:04Z

At a time when banks are relying on government help to remain in business, one local bank continues to rely on the same privately funded, “grassroots” business plan it has had for over 30 years.

The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (SFBFS) is a privately-funded, non-profit organization that serves the working poor of Sacramento County, and is perhaps best known for its "Run To Feed The Hungry" — a 5K and 10K event that takes place on Thanksgiving Day each year. Its mission statement is simple: "Dedicated to assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pains and problems, and moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence." Established in 1976, it has extended its services without interruption through good economic times and bad, and it continues to expand with new programs aimed to educate individuals in a variety of areas.

The SFBFS’s primary focus is helping the working poor, people in the midst of tough times who may have difficult financial decisions to make. Its clientele includes single parents, disabled individuals, veterans, families, people in low-wage jobs who do not have a high school diploma, the elderly and children. Over half of its services benefit children under 12 years of age.

Blake Young, President of the Food Bank said, "Serving the poor and trying to educate the community is an important endeavor."

Young oversees the coordination and operation of 13 different services and programs offered to the community by his organization. Besides the obvious distribution of food, the non-profit also provides clothing, the Computer Clubhouse—which is an after school program for kids ages 8-18—adult education workshops, and a mother-baby program among others.

Young spoke with pride about the organization, sharing certain figures of the work it does. In 2008, the SFBFS served five million pounds of food to 18,000 people and gave away 500,000 articles of clothing. The SFBFS’s programs serve roughly 1,000 people daily. Between 450 and 550 people receive food from the SFBFS daily. Young also shared that 500 women participate in the mother-baby program every month and 150 women participate in the women's art program every week.

An operation of this size requires an extensive workforce to function. This need is met by a staff of 30 along with about 3,000 individuals who volunteer their time on a monthly basis.

During business hours, 100 volunteers are always on site at the Food Bank's headquarters on 3rd Ave in Oak Park, making the facility an ant hill of activity.

Immense funds are also needed to keep the SFBFS running. The SFBFS is 100 percent privately funded, receiving no funds from government sources. Of this, 62 percent of all funds received come from individuals, a number well above the 50 percent mark that indicates a healthy charitable organization, said Young. He cited this community support as the key to the SFBFS's success, "Our business is building long-term relationships with grandparents, parents, children, organizations."

The organizations he spoke of include KCRA, the Sacramento Bee, Clear Channel, UPS, REI, Intel—whose employees donated 10,000 volunteer hours in 2008—the UC and CSU university systems and local churches of all denominations.

"We couldn't do this without the churches," Young said. The "brown bag" lunch program relies on churches that donate their parking lots on Sunday afternoons and help hand out food to all comers.

Young talked about the current state of the organization, saying that "there has been a 25 percent increase in people served from this time a year ago, most of whom are using our services for the first time."

Despite this increase in demand, he said that the SFBFS is still able to meet the need in its entirety. Donations remain steady, and although he does anticipate a slight drop as the economy worsens, he is confident the SFBFS will continue to meet the city's need. There are no plans to seek grants or government funding of any kind.

A couple who had just received a cart full of groceries said, "They're doing great things for the community. If it weren't for the food bank there'd be a lot of starving people in Sacramento. I hope they never close, people would be in trouble if it closed."

In his newsletter, Young extends an open invitation for anyone in need to seek SFBFS's services, writing, "If you or your friends know of a family who has fallen on hard times, please refer them to our organization. Seeking assistance can be an embarrassing situation. We will make sure to serve their needs in a very dignified manner.”

If you're interested in donating or volunteering, you can receive information through the website at sfbs.org.

Mark Forsyth on "National Ag Day: Local and Organic In Sacramento "

2009-03-20T19:03:00Z

Not to mention that as more and more pesticides are used, insects become resistant to them making them less effective and driving demand for more potent chemicals that could cause even greater health concerns. There has got to be a better way.

Mark Forsyth on "Moviebrief: I Love You Man"

2009-03-20T07:09:50Z

sweet. I was wondering how that would turn out. It seems to have a lot of potential. Thanks for the review

Mark Forsyth on "Dinner and a Movie, for the Homeless?"

2009-03-20T05:36:32Z

I like the idea. Quite a bit. During my couple hour stint at tent city a couple weeks ago I was thanked by several people for simply talking to them. The homeless are people, just like home dwelling people and deserve decent human respect. I appreciate your generosity and will help where I can. Great suggestion.

Mark Forsyth on "100 Miles of Visibility Photos"

2009-03-18T06:54:34Z

wow, those shots are beautiful. Thanks Michael.

Mark Forsyth on "Week 11: 7 Days, 7 Things to do"

2009-03-17T23:47:02Z

wow. great events and great fun. Thanks for the information!

Mark Forsyth on "Air Jordans"

2009-03-17T06:15:05Z

I have shared your curiosity on this matter for a while. I always thought they were a safety issue.

Mark Forsyth on "Students Speak Up"

2009-03-17T04:09:12Z

I understand the uproar about budget cuts to the schools. But as a student at CSUS I understand that most of the students are upset about fee increases, not necessarily program cuts. The CSU system is one of, if not THE, cheapest in the nation. I have gone through my entire school career with no scholarships or grants of any kind. I've paid my way and I would have paid more if underfunded programs could have served students better. I know this makes it a little more difficult for students to afford fees. But that's the thing, it makes it a "little more difficult." If people want an education they can get it.

Mark Forsyth on "Gear up for rafting season"

2009-03-17T04:01:12Z

The action photos are actually taken by the companies that perch above the rapids. They sell the pictures to participants (i bought a day's worth of them).

Gear up for rafting season

2009-03-16T06:15:16Z

"2009 rafting flows confirmed!" The American River website (www.theamericanriver.com) boasted the good news on Sat. March 7 following a storm that dropped enough presipitation to guarantee a full and fun-filled whitewater rafting season through the 2009 summer.

This is exciting news for thrill-seekers, water sport enthusiasts, and rafting guides (such as myself) alike.

The South Fork of the American River is the most rafted river in California, with hundreds of people boating down the Class II and Class III rapids on any given weekend throughout the summer months. It is the historical site of James Marshall's discovery of gold that led to the "Gold Rush" and the eventual statehood of California, and many hopeful people continue to mine this region for gold.

The South Fork is located east of Sacramento up Hwy. 50, just west of Placerville. The small town of Coloma is home to dozens of rafting companies that take participants down the 21 mile stretch of river which starts at the Chili Bar Reservoir and flows to Folsom Lake. The river is divided into two sections, 'the upper' and 'the lower', and trips are run with one-day or overnight options.

The lower portion of the South Fork is the most popular option for several reasons. Trips begin at about noon (as opposed with 9.a.m) when the water flow, which is released from Chili Bar Reservoir at appx. 9 a.m., makes its way to Camp Lotus, the most common "put in" point. This section also features more Class III rafting than its counterpart with rapids such as 'Satan's Sespool' and 'Hospital Bar' waiting to drench anyone willing to challenge them (and photographers ready to capture the moment perched nearby).

'The upper' features an exciting rapid named 'Troublemaker', a grueling run through a rocky section labeled "Meatgrinder", and a series of other Class II and III rapids in quick succession of each other. It is a less popular run due in large part to the early "put in" time, but offers a great deal of excitement none-the-less. 'Chili Bar Hole' is a favorite rapid amongst kayakers who practice 'surfing' and other tricks.

The peak rafting season is June-Aug., but for those who can't wait for warmer weather, trips are beginning to run now. Information on rafting or other fun area activities can be found easily at the American River website or through a simple Google search. Some of the more prominent rafting companies are listed below and have websites with specific information. Get out there, enjoy the rushing waters, and experience an exciting portion of northern California.

W.E.T.
ARTA
O.A.R.S
Whitewater Excitement
Peak Adventures (the company I guide for, based out of CSUS)
Tributary
Gold Rush
*and many many more

Mark Forsyth on "Inside Sacramento's "Tent City""

2009-03-15T19:43:56Z

It's as a courtesy to those who live there. An attempt (however feeble it may be) to lessen "tourist" traffic to the site.

Mark Forsyth on "Inside Sacramento's "Tent City""

2009-03-14T03:32:14Z

Thanks for the corrections. I was trying to track down the super duo's identities. Glad more people know about them. They have a great reputation. I understand that many of the folks on GA are in line for SSI and two ladies I spoke with began receiving their checks, yet remain in the homeless community.

Inside Sacramento's "Tent City"

2009-03-14T01:02:29Z

Sacramento's "Tent City" has become national, even world-wide, news over the last two weeks. This article is Sacramento Press' take on the situation based on a visit by myself and our photographer, Anthony Bento, earlier this week.

I had been by there before, on several occasions, and expected to see a dozen or so tents and a large pile of trash. But what I found blew my mind. After ascending a certain hill (I'll leave the exact location undisclosed in this article) the gathering comes into view. It is, by my estimation, at least 10x larger than it was in July 2008. Hundreds of tents scattered over several acres make up "Tent City", and a city it is indeed.

Estimates of the total number of homeless living in this area range from 300-1200: I place my estimate somewhere in the middle at about 500 homeless.

First impression-"Wow"

The area was a hub of activity. Smoke plumed from several campfires over which residents prepared meals, people were coming and going from the camp on bicycles and on foot, and a kid of about 10 years weaved between tents on a gas-powered mini motorcycle. A man played fetch with his dog, while other dogs on leashes sat near their owners. There were no putrid smells. The residents appeared to range in age from early 30's to mid 50's. I saw a news van from ABC Channel 7, based in the bay area, setting up for a live feed and walked over to speak with them.

They were preparing for a feed to 5 different news broadcasts located across California including San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. 'Pat' (name changed), the camera operator, shared with me his thoughts on the situation and his concerns that he could see himself in a camp like this if he were to lose his job. "This business isn't doing so great right now. I'm lucky, I still have my job, but you never know."

Anthony wandered off to snap photographs as I made my way into the makeshift city and headed for one of the campfires which several people were gathered around.

"Baldy" (his street name), a black man in his mid-40's who isn't bald, was busy breaking apart pallets to fuel the fire as I approached. The group was hesitant to speak with me, but after hearing that I was a student and an unpaid local reporter, "Baldy" opened up.

I asked him how he came to live in "Tent City": "Well, I moved out here from the east coast last July, been homeless since August. I met some people who invited me out and been here since." A woman shouted from twenty feet away, "Baldy ain't been nothin' but problems since he got here," following the statement with a laugh. "That's Theresa, she got me settled in here."

I asked if this was a new experience for him: "I know what you're thinkin', but I never been homeless. I come from a good middle-class family, I had good parents, a good upbringing." He moved out here with hopes of finding work. He has two decades of experience in construction and kitchen work, but has been unsuccessful his his job search. "I'm always lookin' for work. There's no jobs," he paused and continued to break wood for his fire, "I won't give up. I won't give up."

I asked about "Tent City" itself. "Tent City, Homeless Town, we call it 'The Wasteland'." He pointed out the different sections of town--the drug users located across the field several hundred yards away, the bad crowd near the drug users (violent types), the recluses across the train tracks in an area dubbed, "The Snakepit". I pointed to a cozy-looking place with a fence and gate built around a tent. "Yeah, they moved here a month ago. I don't plan to stay long enough to want to build somethin'. But if you have pallets, you can build anything."

"The originals", a group of homeless who lived at this site months before, moved upstream about a half-mile seeking a more peaceful area. "You should see some of their digs, man. They got crazy set-ups." Baldy told me that the city's population has exploded since he arrived, prompting me to ask about safety of the area.

He told me in a loud, proud voice, "This here is one big family. We look out for each other and take care of our own." A half dozen of his neighbors voiced their approval, "That's right, uh huh." Theresa shouted from her tent nearby, "Tell him about 'Batman and Robin'." At this the entire group chatted amongst themselves as Baldy explained.

"You got good cops, and you got bad cops. And we got 'Batman and Robin'."

This duo of city policemen drive through the camp almost daily. Also known as the "Homeless Cops", they know the usual residents and keep watch for anybody who doesn't belong that might cause problems, and prevent the "bad cops" from harassing the residents. "For all the people trying to cause us grief, 'Batman and Robin' do more good for the homeless than anybody else out here." He attributes them for helping to keep "Tent City" in its current location.

Baldy told me that churches come out almost every weekend to pass out tents, sleeping bags, clothes, food, and most importantly, water. There is no water system flowing to "Tent City", so the delivery of bottled water is much appreciated. Other aspects that we might take for granted are lacking as well--sewage, electricity, trash pick-up.

Recently porta-potties and a massive dumpster were donated by local rental companies to fill the communities need. Prior to their arrival, waste of all types was deposited across the levee on the river banks. Everyone I spoke with praised these amenities. One man told me, "We're homeless, but we don't like living in filth. Before the dumpster we just put our trash across the levee on public land. Then the county had to take it anyway."

The sun began to set and Baldy wanted to eat his dinner he had been cooking while we spoke, putting an end to our conversation. He left me with one last trinket, "I'll tell you one more thing, man. Something you probably don't know. Maybe about 50% of people here are on GA (Government Assistance). When the first of the month hits, this place is like a ghost town."

He refused to expand on that statement and I shook his hand and thanked him for his time. I walked through the camp to meet up with Anthony who was snapping pictures of some of the settlements and spoke briefly with several other "Tent City" citizens while they sipped on Steel Reserve and smoked cigarettes, before we headed back to our bicycles and home.

Amid talks of sanctioning or closing "Tent City", I was happy to get a better understanding of the gathering. It functions like a standard community, housing people of all types, from drug abusers to day laborers. Many of these people have ambitions and a desire to improve their current situations. Many are first-time homeless who are temporarily down on their luck and expect to rebound soon. Many are also government leeches, taking aid checks and spending it on booze and drugs.

Overall this is a content group of people. While I was there I heard more laughing, and saw more smiles, than I do while walking around downtown and midtown Sacramento. People were friendly and wiling to talk, sharing jokes and poking fun at the news vans that have pestered them lately. It was a great experience and enlightened me a bit more to the plight of the homeless.

Keep in mind that when much of the country, and the world, thinks of Sacramento, the pictures above and the pictures splattered across the internet will be what they see. Mayor Johnson has many difficult decisions ahead on what to do about a situation that continues to worsen. Time will tell the fate of "Tent City".

*Photographs by Anthony Bento

Mark Forsyth on "The Scoop"

2009-03-13T22:46:23Z

You should have swam across the river to get that story!

Mark Forsyth on "Wildflower season has begun"

2009-03-10T18:59:24Z

Great story Jeff! One of my favorite places to view the wildflowers, and see a vernal pool (Yes they still exist, barely), is Jepson Prarie. Preserved by UC Davis. Check it out. (from the uc davis site) "Walking tours will begin Saturday, March 8th, at the Jepson Prairie Preserve, located south of Dixon in Solano County" http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/jepson.html

Mark Forsyth on "Irrigation notification "

2009-03-07T03:42:05Z

Thanks for taking responsibility for it Sarah! Many people might have become defensive about finding a note of complaint on their door. Save that water!

Fairytale Town still going strong at 50

2009-03-07T01:10:01Z

If you grew up in Sacramento in the last 50 years, chances are you have memories of running around the fairy-tale-themed structures inside the childhood wonderland of Fairytale Town. Attractions such as “The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe Slide,” “Cheese Stands Alone,” “The Pirate Ship,” and the live animal exhibits still remain today behind Humpty Dumpty's wall—the entrance to this land of fun.

This Saturday, March 7, Fairytale Town is continuing its anniversary celebration with "Faces and Places of Sacramento - An Archive Project." The park will be offering free admission between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to guests who bring in photos, video, or memorabilia of past visits, with hopes of building a history to put on display. Full price weekend admission is $4.25, according to the park’s brochure.

Events are scheduled throughout the year in celebration of the park’s 50th anniversary. Upcoming events include "Hina Matsuri," a traditional Japanese festival, on March 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a theatre performance month through all of April; and "Egg-stravaganza,” an Easter egg hunt, on April 11 and 12. Check out the calendar for more events at fairytaletown.org/calendar.htm.

For those who don't know, Fairytale Town is a non-profit organization that is, according to their website, dedicated to expanding children's imaginations, creativity, and literacy as well as knowledge of other cultures. It is located across the street from the Sacramento Zoo in William Land Park. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information on the park visit the website at fairytaletown.org, or call 916-264-5233.

Mark Forsyth on "River's rising"

2009-03-05T10:38:26Z

haha, that's precisely how a levee break might occur. A drought lulls people into comfort levels, security measures are forgotten, and emergencies occur. Sacramento's levee system is vastly out of date and apt to breaks in several vulnerable areas (from what I've heard as a "environmental studies" student at CSUS). But seriously, we have safety measures in place that have worked well in the past (at least in the city of sacramento) and should prove useful this year as well. Good luck to the outlying areas, however, especially the levee containing the Cosumnes River. That is most likely to break if anything (again referencing the experts at CSUS)

Mark Forsyth on "What's in a name? "

2009-03-05T10:34:52Z

Great article. You highlighted many items I had pondered while working at Sacpress. I believe we are different, and that people here have more to offer than the "anonymous" posters of other news sites. I think our subscribers should have the security of knowing that they can post their opinion, and have it accepted in our online community, without fear of some other form of retribution.

Mark Forsyth on "City (Finally) Gets Tough on Bin Scavengers"

2009-03-04T21:43:36Z

"recycling programs are such a money losing venture" Yes they are. I can't find any resources to prove this at the moment, but I remember hearing that Sacramento, many times, has considered canceling the recycling program multiple time due to its inefficiency and high cost. Has anybody else heard of this?

Mark Forsyth on "City (Finally) Gets Tough on Bin Scavengers"

2009-03-04T18:21:57Z

I will be sad to see the police cruisers sitting in alleys with three or four homeless/needy dumpster divers sitting on a curb receiving tickets that will never be paid, or going to jail for a night which could conceivably cost more than the recyclables could have been worth. I haven't had any issues of the dumpsters being emptied on my street though so I guess I don't really care very much about them taking the recycling out.

Mark Forsyth on "Drought, eh?"

2009-03-04T01:20:30Z

it's a short-term-minded world we live in.

Mark Forsyth on "Event champions local food and organic efforts"

2009-03-03T18:38:11Z

Love the picture George, that's my friends' roof. I love the idea as well. I try as much as possible to buy local and I'm a huge fan of our area farmers markets. Thanks for the information.

Mark Forsyth on "Drought, eh?"

2009-03-03T02:36:34Z

This is the good part of the drought for sure. Those pictures are beautiful. As a rafter I look forward to the coffers filling (upstream dams), but remember that we receive absolutely no rain during the summer months. Last I read about a week ago, we were still almost 8 inches behind average rainfall numbers which is a bad sign for the grueling summer. We will see how grim the situation actually is in September when the water levels at Folsom dam tell the true story.

Mark Forsyth on "Independent Bookstore thriving in Landpark"

2009-03-01T09:54:57Z

Avid Reader is a good source for new books. Check out this article from a while ago about the used bookstores in town. The owners are great and extremely helpful. Support our local businesses and avoid Borders! http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/2691/Downtowns_Used_Bookstores

Mark Forsyth on "The NEW Cal Expo"

2009-02-28T09:29:06Z

By the NBA? With assumptions that the Kings new stadium would be housed there? This reminds me, I have been wanting to visit the harness races.

Mark Forsyth on "Results not typical!"

2009-02-28T09:25:58Z

haha, excellent. I loved it. Thanks Tony.

Mark Forsyth on "Banjo-Rama 2009"

2009-02-28T05:40:56Z

There will be no bluegrass. All old-fashined 4-string banjo playing.

Banjo-Rama 2009

2009-02-27T21:03:23Z

Twing, Twing, Twing, Twing -- the sound a banjo makes will be filling the air this weekend when Banjo-Rama 2009 comes to town.

Nearly 200 expert banjo musicians from across the west coast will be performing Sunday at Banjo-Rama 2009 at the Carmichael Elks Club, playing Roaring Twenties-style music. There will be two stages running simultaneously during the event, which is scheduled to begin at 11:40 a.m.

All musicians are volunteers, and all profits will be donated to Shriners Children's Hospital in Sacramento. Event organizers expect 700-900 attendees. Admission is a $20 donation at the door.

The Sacramento Banjo Band is hosting as well as headlining Banjo-Rama. The group of 35-40 musicians, which plays the 4-string banjo and other folk instruments such as the tuba, fiddle, and washboard, take the main stage at 4:40 p.m. Group size ranges from 2-40 among the other bands. The event has been an annual tradition for more than 40 years. Rex Inglis, a member of the band for the last 18 years, stated that over $120,000 has been donated to local charities during that time.

Tonight features a "jam session" at the Straw Hat Pizza on Mather Field Blvd. beginning at 5:30 p.m. Directions and additional information to all events over the weekend can be found at the Banjo-Rama website. The Sacramento Banjo Band also has a website with additional information.

Mark Forsyth on "$550 Million for New Sacramento County Courthouse "

2009-02-26T18:45:56Z

wow, 550 million huh? Maybe it'll have some precious stones imbedded in the walls, or solid gold window frames. Those comparative numbers are great. It makes us think that this project could be done quite a bit cheaper.

Mark Forsyth on "WHY IS'NT STATE CORRECTIONS DOING THEIR OWN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS?"

2009-02-26T18:33:02Z

I would imagine that it is against ethical standards to conduct their own criminal investigations. For instance, if one of their guards turned out to be responsible, an internal investigation would be more apt to try to hide that fact. However, the Fresno Sheriff is not connected with the correctional officers and will provide (theoretically) an unbiased and truthful report. It's a system of checks and balances.

Mark Forsyth on "Sacramento's GPA Provides Positive Role Models"

2009-02-25T09:02:59Z

That's cool to see them coming back to their roots and working with less fortunate kids. Oh. and let's not forget about the local sports star, Greg Vaughn

Mark Forsyth on "Five Hundred Capitol Mall"

2009-02-24T02:38:52Z

Colorful lights are becoming the signature of Sacramento. Every new structure seems to have some sort of illumination on it.

Slacklining in the City

2009-02-22T21:50:37Z

Your first question is, "What is slacklining?" Well, it's a mix between chain surfing, tight-rope walking, and trampolining, and it's called a "balance sport."

Slacklining is an up-and-coming activity/sport across the world, and Sacramento. Its popularity is partially due to the simplicity of the sport. A length (at least 60 ft.) of 1-inch nylon webbing, two 15 ft. lengths of nylon webbing, three carabiners, and a couple trees are all that is required to participate.

Initially one might find it difficult to just stand on the line. A little practice will yield big results, however, and before long that same person will be attempting spins and jumps. Excitement grows with each new trick that is learned and many who attempt slacklining quickly become hooked.

Slacklining is closely associated with rock climbing due to the use of climbing equipment and the creation of the sport by Yosemite rock climbers in the late '70's. Since its creation, people of all backgrounds have taken to slacklining and it is no longer not entirely associated with climbing. A complete overview and history of the sport can be found at slackline.com.

Groups are setting up lines in Sacramento fairly regularly in the last several months. Even through the winter (which has been exceptionally sunny) I have seen lines set up in Midtown/Downtown parks. Southside, Fremont, and McKinley Parks are the most likely locations to find slackliners in the city.

If you see a group of slackliners in one of Sacramento's parks, feel free to ask for a try. Slackliners are typically very friendly and willing to teach their sport to newcomers. If balancing sports are not your forté, you're welcome to sit and enjoy the show.

Mark Forsyth on "Another one bites the dust..."

2009-02-21T00:10:54Z

Downtown/Midtown-ers need to go to these places more. I often see neighbors of mine strolling into the nearby Starbucks, although Butch n Nellie's and Weatherstone (by Old Soul) are only a few blocks away. I imagine the starbucks down the street from Sargent's is still thriving (although I love the coffee cup they have on the building). I don't think location is the issue with this shop, Alhambra is a busy street...but who knows?

Mark Forsyth on "Two-Way Conversion Project"

2009-02-20T20:18:41Z

:::::::UPDATE::::::: From the Dept. of Transportation The City of Sacramento Department of Transportation is converting 9th Street from E to H Street and 10th Street between E and I Street from one-way to two-way on Saturday, February 28, weather permitting. The streets had been scheduled to convert over to two-way on February 21, however, the work has been delayed one week.

Mark Forsyth on "Capitol Corridor Stitch 'n Ride 2009, knitting for a cause"

2009-02-20T20:15:40Z

That's an awesome idea. Has this taken place in the past?

Mark Forsyth on " Last Night at the Mayor's Meeting ..."

2009-02-20T20:09:22Z

Sounds like a great idea! I am curious how it was received as well. Is there any hope of the even taking place this year?

Mark Forsyth on "State forcing RT to cut: Will Sunday service and free parking disappear?"

2009-02-20T17:58:48Z

What will people, who depend on RT for mobilization, do if Sunday is eliminated? How many routes are going to get cut? This is a sad article, and a sad reality for Sacramento.

Mark Forsyth on "Hot Breakfast Month in Sacramento"

2009-02-20T00:48:17Z

My favorite cheap breakfast dive is Cornerstone on J and 24th. And for a great Sunday brunch with $5 unlimited mimosa--Capital Garage. mmmm, this is making me hungry. Anybody have good low-key locations for breakfast?

Two-Way Conversion Project

2009-02-19T20:50:19Z

A new traffic signal was erected this morning at 10th and H street. This is the first stage of a project that will convert 10th street, currently one-way running north, to two-way traffic between E and I streets. 9th street is also included in this conversion, changing from a one-way running south to two-way between E and H streets. Bike lanes and parking spaces will also added on either side of the street for both 9th and 10th. One benefit of the change will be increased access to the underground parking garage below City Hall.

The conversion is scheduled for this Sat., Feb. 21 and the roads will be open to two-way traffic by Mon., Feb. 23. There will be no closure to traffic during the project.

This is part of the Central City Two-Way Conversion Project which gained approval on seven similar projects. Below is a list of the seven first-priority projects, the only one of which to be completed after Monday is J street between 30th and Alhambra. The project is meant to improve neighborhood livability, relieve traffic congestion, and increase pedestrian safety. Sacramento Press reported on the conversion of N street to two-way traffic in Nov. 2008.

The City Council approved the following package of seven first priority streets for conversion:

19th Street (H Street to Broadway, from three lanes to two lanes with bike lanes)--completed
21st Street (I Street to W Street, from three lanes to two lanes with bike lanes)--completed
N Street (21st Street to 28th Street, to two-way)-- completed
3rd Street (I Street to J Street, to two-way)-- completed
J Street (30th Street to Alhambra Boulevard, to two-way)
9th Street (E Street to I Street, to two-way)-- in progress
10th Street (E Street to I Street, to two-way)-- in progress

Have any of these projects improved your commute or "neighborhood livability"? Do you see these as valuable changes? Will the project on 9th and 10th streets improve your daily commute in any way? How do you feel about the city converting sections of one-way streets to two-way?

Mark Forsyth on "The Sacramento...Who?"

2009-02-19T03:42:09Z

Goodbye Brad Miller. Loved having you with the Kings for so long. You'll be missed. Yet another familiar face lost to the chopping blocks.