On June 8, Sacramento residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes on a number of issues and elective offices, including party primaries for governor and attorney general as well as Sacramento City Council seats in districts 1, 3, 5 and 7. Many candidates are using online social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to try to get their messages out and gain an edge over the other candidates. For example, in the race for the Republican primary for governor, candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner have Facebook and Twitter pages with followers in the thousands, and the primary fight is widely seen to be between the two. However, even in the more local and community-driv

The fourth annual Celebrate Oak Park community event entertained many families Saturday. The event, which took place at McClatchy Park during the afternoon, drew hundreds of people with live music, food and a kids area that had inflatable obstacle courses and a rock-climbing wall. Event organizer Joany Titherington said the event started as a home improvement fair eight years ago before transforming into something that promoted community involvement while shining light on Oak Park's unique legacy. "This event celebrates the vibrant history we've had here," Titherington said. She added that when Oak Park was established in 1887, it becamse Sacramento's first suburb. Since then, it has be

Thursday, May 6 6-7:30 p.m. About 1,000 people will gather on the north steps of the Capitol to pray and observe the National Day of Prayer. The event coincides with thousands of similar events happening nationwide, with millions expected to participate throughout the country. 8:30-9:30 p.m. The California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation is holding a candlelight vigil as part of the two-day 34th Annual California Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony. The CPOMF is a nonprofit foundation that recognizes peace officers who died while on duty. The vigil will take place at the memorial monument at 10th Street and Capitol Mall. The vigil will include remarks from the CPOMF President, a Roll

Latin alternative rock band El Marauder capped off the Spring 2010 lineup of California State University, Sacramento, Unique's weekly Wednesday Nooner concert series with an impressive and energetic performance. The Modesto-based five-piece band showed off its musical talent, utilizing guitar solos and driving drums to sound like a Latin-and-punk-influenced Foo Fighters. El Marauder wasn't afraid to mix it up either, throwing in some reggae as well as a longer experimental song to end their one-hour set, which featured songs in both English and Spanish. El Marauder played on the outdoor Serna Plaza stage and drew a crowd of around 50. The band members were clearly having a good time, con

Wednesday, May 5   9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is holding its 2010 Capitol Day. The Capitol Day will allow visitors to talk with legislators about reproductive health issues and participate in the Planned Parenthood education fair. There will be food available throughout the event. Around 1,000 people are expected to attend. No other information was available. 9-10 a.m. Assemblyman Jared Huffman is holding a press conference about Assembly Bill 7, which places a moratorium on non-wooden bats used in high school baseball. About 100 people are expected to attend.

 Monday, May 3 5:30-7:30 p.m. The California Latino Legislative Caucus is holding a reception for the winners of the Latino Spirit Awards on the south steps of the Capitol. The awards will be given at 11 a.m. in the Assembly hall. The public is invited and should RSVP by calling 916-442-0696. The reception will include a mariachi trio and refreshments.

Saturday, May 1 8 a.m.-noon The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is hosting its annual Great Strides fund-raiser. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the 3.2 mile walk starts at 9. Preregistration is encouraged, but not required. There also will be live music and a raffle. Proceeds will benefit the foundation, which funds research on the disease. About 400 people are expected to attend. 4-9 p.m. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is hosting the Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis walk. Registration starts at 4 p.m. and the two or three mile walk starts at 5 p.m on the west steps of the Capitol. Walkers can preregister at the walk's website. There will be a festival following the wa

11 a.m. - 3p.m. Caltrans is hosting its annual Workers Memorial on the west steps of the Capitol. The memorial will honor workers who died in the line of duty while fixing signs and potholes, working on highways and other transportation-related jobs. Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary Dale E. Bonner will be at the memorial along with people from Caltrans and the Office of Traffic Safety. It is expected to be an emotional and moving event. About 800 people are expected to attend. 2-3 p.m. The California State PTA (California Congress of Parents, Teachers, and Students, Inc.) is holding a Rally for the Children on the north steps of the Capitol. The rally is part of the PTA's

 After many delays and an appeal, the issue of a redesigned Taco Bell with a new drive-through will finally be decided at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. The Taco Bell, located at 5641 Freeport Blvd. near Fruitridge Road, was built in 1977 without a drive-through and has not seen a major change since. Taco Bell applied for a permit to rebuild the facility and add a drive-through, and the city's Planning Commission voted 6-4 to allow the building during a Feb. 11 meeting. However, the property is adjacent to a residential neighborhood, and many residents in that neighborhood are worried that this new drive-through will lead to increased noise, pollution and trash in their backyards.

The Harlem Globetrotters entertained families at Arco Arena Sunday with their lighthearted comedy and high-flying basketball action. The Globetrotters bested their longtime rivals, the Washington Generals, by utilizing impressive ball movement and powerful dunks. The game almost resembled a circus act with all of its tricks and slapstick humor. For instance, the game opened with an inflated ball that floated away from the players. Other comedy bits included a consistent sketch where the coach of the Generals would hypnotize a Globetrotter with his white and black striped umbrella. Once hypnotized, the player would make plays for the Generals, take a nap in the middle of the court or danc

Monday, April 26   10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Perry Atwood will be hosting COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) screenings on the west steps of the Capitol. COPD is a general name for a group of lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory asthma, and bronchiectasis, according to the COPD Foundation. About 200 people are expected to attend. No other information was available. 11 a.m. - noon The Gay-Straight Alliance Network will be holding a press conference at the Capitol, and 100 people are expected to attend. No other information was available. 3-7 p.m. The Professional Beauty Federation of California is hosting the 10th annual "Welcome to our World" event on t

 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. March of Dimes will be having a March for Babies walk. March of Dimes is an organization that supports research to make sure babies begin healthy lives. Registration starts at 7 a.m., but the walk starts at 9 a.m. at the west steps of the Capitol. Seventy-six cents of every dollar raised supports research. About 7,000 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

 9-11 a.m. Caltrans is hosting the Annual Litter Day on the south steps of the Capitol. The event is part of the statewide Don't Trash California campaign, and the main part of the event starts at 10 a.m. There will be speakers from Caltrans and the CHP to raise awareness of the problem of littering. Afterward, officials from Caltrans will be going to Interstate 5 to pick up litter. About 200 people are expected to attend.    

 Thousands of people from across California gathered at the Capitol to express their anger over continuing cuts to social services in the state Wednesday afternoon. The rally came on the last day of a 48-day, 365-mile march that started in Bakersfield in early March. While there were six main marchers, many other people joined them for certain days or sections of the march. The audience hoped that the march and rally would send a message of discontent with declining funds for social programs including schools, universities and homecare providers. "This isn't the end of a march, this is the beginning of a movement," said Doug Moore, executive director of the United Domestic Workers of Ame

 It was an awkward afternoon for one-man electro rock band Sevenrepeat. Sevenrepeat played to a virtually empty room at California State University, Sacramento, Wednesday as part of Sac State Unique's weekly Nooner concert series. About three students were in the room at any time, filtering in and out through the set. While Mac Valentine, the man who makes up Sevenrepeat, must have been disappointed, he didn't give students a good reason to stay. The sound was heavy and thick, comparable to Nine Inch Nails or a heavy Depeche Mode, but none of it was very creative. The music had droning beats and loops playing in the background as Valentine would add to the noise by playing a distorted g

City Councilman Rob Fong said there will be continued development on Broadway during his 2010 State of the District Report Monday evening. Fong, who represents District 4, gave his report at the Area One Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting. "I'm not up for reelection this year," he said. "So you will have the truth tonight." Fong said that west Broadway Street will see some development in the next few years, and the focus will be on housing and retail. Fong also said he is trying to get a community center to be built in that neighborhood. Most of the plans for District 4 are centered around the Broadway corridor, according to Fong. "We're trying to re-imagine what Broadway can be," Fon

Tuesday, April 20 Impending rain has postponed both The Green Fair and the Financial Literacy Fair. Neither event has a new date. Wednesday, April 21 4-6 p.m. The March for California's Future will be making its final stop on its 45-day march on the west steps of the Capitol. The organization will hold a rally, which will include music and speeches from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and California Federation of Teachers President Marty Hittelman. The focus of the rally will be on restoring public services, including public education, public safety and public health. The rally marks the end of a march that started in Bakersfield on March 5. Thousands are ex

 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The California Correctional Peace Officers Asssociation is having a "Victims March on the Capitol" memorial service on the west steps of the Capitol. Around 600 people are expected to attend. No other information was available. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There will be a second amendment rally at the traffic circle at the Capitol. It is an unarmed rally. About 150 people are expected to attend. No other information was available. Noon - 1:30 p.m. The We The People Foundation will do presentation of the Articles of Freedom at the south steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

7:30 a.m. - Noon The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting its fundraiser, the MS Walk. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and is free, but donations are recommended. The walk -- one mile or 5K -- starts at 9 a.m. The walk will be followed by a lunch, a "Strut your Mutt" dog contest and a performance by Jodette's Belly Dancers. A silent auction will run from 8 to 11 a.m., and there will be a booth to buy tickets to a June 3 River Cats game, with a percentage of sales going to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. No other events are planned until Monday.

 Noon - 4 p.m. The Tea Party Patriots are holding a rally for limited government on the one year anniversary of last year's tea party protests. The rally will be hosted by radio personalities Armstrong and Getty and will feature speeches and songs. Thousands are expected to attend.    No other events are planned until Saturday.