Posted by goya vasquez My daughter and i were on our way home today from the park. She was riding her bike and rode a little ahead of me. She stopped at the corner to wait for me. I noticed her turn and start talking to someone but i couldnt see who it was. I heard her say ‘we live over that way’ i spoke loudly to her ‘who are you talking to?’ she pointed up the driveway of the corner house of the street when i walked up to her and looked up the driveway i saw a man standing there. He said ‘hi’ to me then turned and walked away. We continued on our way home but i was just not comfortable with what hapened. I stopped my daughter and asked her what that man was talking to her about. She said

Today with the economy failing and people losing jobs, mental health issues are rising at an alarming rate. What I don’t understand is how there can be budget cuts in mental health, especially now and in California. Proposition 1E (which did not pass) proposed to cut mental health care in Sacramento County by $20.5 million, which would have affected several thousand people who depend on mental health services in Sacramento. However, my mental health clinic still cut over 1,000 people from receiving mental health care even though Californians voted no on Prop 1E, (which would redirect funds allocated for mental health from Prop 63 back in 2004 to the general fund for two years). This did

Lights inside the Crest Theatre were dim, the spotlight was bright and nothing could be heard besides the feathery footsteps of the Sacramento Ballet dancers during the first annual Capitol Choreography Competition Friday night. A crowd of about 600 experienced the talent of three choreographers from around the world who created 18-minute dances in six days. The choreographers, chosen by Ron Cunningham and his wife, Carinne Binda, artistic directors for the ballet, were Viktor Kabaniaev, resident choreographer of Diablo Ballet; Amy Seiwart, artistic  director of Im'ij-re and choreographer in residence for the Smuin Ballet in San Francisco; and Matthew Neenan, artistic director of BalletX

“I remember when I turned 40. Yeah, way back in seminary school,” quipped alt rock legend Mike Watt upon mention of local rock promoter Brian McKenna’s birthday. Then he and his band, The Secondmen, flew into another extended jam. Watt and Co. were part of a celebration of the life and times of McKenna, who hit the big 4-0 Saturday, and also has spent half of those years putting together gigs in Sacramento. That showed at the party, the lineup for the evening read like a who’s who of early-'90s greats, including Kai Kln and NoMeansNo. The Secondmen alternated between laid-back blues grooves and frenetic psychobilly freakouts. Though more than a decade McKenna’s senior, Watt was absolutel

Jennifer O’Neill-Pickering As both a visual artist and poet, Jennifer O’Neill-Pickering brings a painterly eye to her words on the page. She shows us “the dark blur of crows,” and comments on “silver threads of light/illuminating something you can’t hold/and therefore can never lose.” From "turquoise unions" to "apricot light," a strong visual sensibility is at work in her poetry. When she was growing up, Jennifer he wanted to be an artist and a poet. Her early years were spent in the rural community of Tierra Buena, fifty miles north of Sacramento, with a view of the Sutter Buttes. Today, Jennifer wears many hats, as artists often do: mother, wife, writer, artist, teacher, graphic arti

I have been on over 300 paranormal investigations and have written over 300 articles.  I will never stop writing articles.  I am prolific and I will continue to be prolific.  I have a book coming out next year.  I embrace life and enjoy life to the fullest.  If you like my adventures, read them, if you don't like reading about my adventures, then don't read them.  My articles have been discovered by many TV producers.  Shannon and I have now done 5 documentaries.  The most recent is History Channel's Monster Quest and we were recently sent to Los Angeles to look for the ghost of a very famous deceased pop singer at the Shrine Auditorium.  If this special is successful we will be looking fo

Shock and terror will overcome visitors to Fear Overload. Men carrying chainsaws, bloody zombies, masked figures and decapitated limbs are everywhere. People never know where or when they will be attacked. Fear Overload wants them to stay and play awhile, compared with most haunted houses that push people through as fast as possible by scaring from behind. Visitors to the ravaged chemical plant will be approached by killers from all angles. They'll even be trapped in rooms and forced to figure out how to get away, escaping certain death, according to owner Dave Polanco. Rooms are filled with dead bodies, spilled neon-colored chemicals and blood-spattered walls. One corridor features a

Some people are still scratching their heads over Whiskey Wild Saloon. As recently as two weeks ago, regulars posting on yelp.com wrote to ask what had happened to the tavern, where for two years, people danced on the bar and drank $2 "train shots" whenever trains rolled by. "Did this place officially close?" wrote someone who stopped by, only to find the place dark and the front doors chained and bolted. The bar at 1910 Q St. closed over the summer for reasons that aren't clear. The owners surrendered the bar's liquor license to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on Sept. 9. The bar closed at least a month earlier, according to its MySpace page, where someone post

The closing arguments in the case of William Strange et al vs Entercom not only summed up the case for the jury, but presented them with guidelines for determining compensation should they find Entercom liable for the water drinking death stemming from KDND's January 2007 "Hold Your Wii to Win a Nintendo Wii" radio contest. Sacramento Bee reporter Andy Furillo and KOVR CBS 13 reporter David Begnaud reported that plaintiiff attorney Roger Dreyer is seeking more than $24 million, and plaintiff attorney Harvey Levine is seeking an additional $12 million. They report that Defense attorney Don Carlson told the jury $4.5 million would be more appropriate compensation. But those broad numbers d

If you spend a day at Fremont Park in Midtown, you’ll just have to “hold it” until you can find an open restroom elsewhere. Restrooms are shuttered at the park, which draws a range of citizens, including the homeless. When the city reopened bathrooms at many parks in August, the restrooms at Fremont Park remained closed because of public safety issues. In an example of how neighbors can change city policy, Fremont Park's bathrooms have been closed for more than a year. The city closed the park’s bathrooms in September 2008 to address neighbors’ complaints about crime. The Sacramento Police Department and the Park Safety Rangers unit reviewed the park’s public safety conditions and, in a F

Even though autumn had its official start three weeks ago, I had my first foray into fall on Saturday's tree tour through my own neighborhood Arden Park, hosted by the Sacramento Tree Foundation. The tree tours were started over five years ago by longtime Sacramento Tree Foundation member Fran Clarke. It was Clarke's goal to make the community aware of the many spectacular trees found in Sacramento. Eighteen resident citizens, from 2 years age to retired, gathered at La Sierra Park for an informational walk-about with Sacramento Tree Foundation stewardship coordinator Luanne Leineke. "The trees are not only beautiful, they play important roles in our community," Leineke said. "They help

Photo shows HPI MDavis Reconnaissance Task Force (group shot) Somewhere in the Sacramento area, there is a home near a creek. The creek area is a place that I am very familiar with, because I have investigated this creek area one year ago. People claim to have seen American native Indian ghosts, ghosts of settlers and a demonic entity with red eyes that has the ability to fly. So when the occupant Michael Davis tells me his home is haunted, I have the tendency to believe him. The date is October 17, 2009, Saturday. Paranormal Investigators that show up for this investigation are: Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager; Tammy Straling – Case Manager/Lead; Connie Brenner – Lead (En-Vision

Small bursts of laughter and sniffles filled a dark room, as more than 200 people watched a slide show commemorating the life of Byron Blackburn Friday night at Beatnik Studio. Blackburn, a local musician and partial-owner of Javalounge, passed away from cancer on Sept. 18 in his Sacramento home. During the memorial, bands such as The Inversions, The Alegria Quartet and Jalapeno Chocolates to name a few showcased their appreciation for Blackburn by performing in his honor. He inspired many people around the community, many of whom attended the memorial, including local painter Mark Fox. “He was such a positive person,” Fox said. “And he influenced me tremendously. He was always at all

The artists participating in Sacramento's first plein air festival survived a week of chaotic weather to produce a vivid collection of locally inspired paintings. A "plein air festival" celebrates the physical beauty of a place by requiring participants to create artwork depicting aspects of a location within a specific time frame. Participants in the Capitol Plein Air Festival selected locations such as the Crest Theatre and Cezar Chavez Park for inspiration. Others chose lesser known places, such as the Meadowview Light Rail station or simply a wet sidewalk. "All of the work was created since Sunday," explained event organizer Patris Miller at the event's gala, held Friday at the Capi

Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary celebrated their 16th anniversary at their new Folsom Boulevard location Saturday. Hundreds of people came between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to check out the new sanctuary once located on 56th Street in an 800-square-foot space, now located on Folsom Blvd. in a 3,400-square-foot space. "It's a huge success," volunteer Cherilyn Burton said. "It's great to have more space." According to Kay House, director of Happy Tails, it is a 100 percent volunteer organization with 200 active volunteers on their roster. It is a no-kill, cageless sanctuary for rescued cats from other shelters, homes, or situations of abandonment. The sanctuary takes in the cats that would be euthaniz

Emotions ran high on stage keeping the audience at the edge of their seats during the dramatic showing of Suddenly, Last Summer, a play by Tennessee Williams, which opened Oct. 2 at the Lambda Players new theater home on 21st Street. As the audience entered the newly designed, intimate theater space, which seats approximately 40 patrons, a social experiment ensued. The seats, which have yet to be properly numbered and ordered, left patrons roaming through the four aisles trying to figure out an order or pattern to the seating chart. Eventually the groups would simply situate themselves in an open section. However, those who had already figured out the disorder were entertained by the new

There are many stories about Old Sacramento that have yet to be told. Fights, lovers quarrels and bad business. Some say that the spirits of the people who died there still haunt the streets. Is it true? Maybe. You might find out for yourself one night. Old Sacramento's deadly history dating back to the 1800s was brought to life Friday as the Haunted Ghost Tours began. Costumed actors were scattered throughout Old Sac to tell the interesting stories of their characters' demise. One of the most interesting stories was that of Assemblyman John Bell, who was shot and stabbed in the stomach over an El Dorado boundary dispute with Dr. W. H. Stone April 11, 1860. The two men argued about the s

Today, 25 tons of pumpkins were there for the taking by Sacramento kids. The Antelope Pumpkin Farm, operated by Antelope Christian Center since 2002, aims to put smiles on kids faces. They provided free hayrides, carnival games, face painting, bounce houses, arts & crafts and, of course, a free pumpkin to every child.    In East Sac the Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park celebrated its 50th anniversary by holding their fall festival and annual sale, together, this weekend.    There's hundreds of arts and crafts, interesting plants, holiday decorations, lights, tons of books, and lots more miscellaneous stuff. The sale continues through tomorrow. Where: Shepard Gar

Sierra II in Curtis Park was the location for the ninth and final Town Hall Meeting of the City of Sacramento Charter Review Committee. The crowd of approximately 45 people was on the Baby Boom-plus end of the generational scale. It included members of the public, neighborhood representatives and former, current and candidate public officials, from the Central City, Curtis/Land Park, Oak Park and the South Area. The City Charter legally and procedurally defines the City of Sacramento and its operations. Kevin Johnson's Strong Mayor Initiative, which would dramatically change the City Charter, will be on the June 2010 ballot. Sacramento was founded with a City Charter in 1858. In 1921, d

Highlighting the one-year anniversary since Prop 8 was passed into law, Equality Action NOW, is co-sponsoring along with Courage Campaign and 20 other organizations and individuals, Camp Courage Sacramento, November 7-8, 2009. Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principles and skills of community organizing and how to become an effective activist. Drawing on techniques honed for decades by progressive social movements and proven results used by the Obama campaign, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills. It is designed primarily for new activists of all ages or those who have never engaged wi