Sacramento Community

VIDEO: CORE Dance Collective gives a bike inspired performance at the Crocker

2013-05-10T16:04:14Z

Sacramento bike enthusiasts had a full day yesterday, with the Capitol Bike Fest at Fremont Park followed by the Crocker Art Museum’s monthly Art Mix – which was all about bikes.

Art Mix/Chain Reaction featured a Kustom Bike Show by Ted Florez, Lauren Cole Norton’s spoken word, and a bicycle-themed mural created by Danielle Fodor. Sacramento Press reader (and proud bicyclist) Dan Allison sent us this clip of the CORE Dance Collective’s bike-inspired performance:

There are bike events nearly every day during May is Bike Month. Get the latest on their calendar.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Indulge in beer, get your chili on at Fremont Park

2013-04-04T15:05:01Z

Unlimited beer tastings, paired with as much chili as your belly and tongue desire, will take up Fremont Park this Saturday in a fundraiser for the Sacramento Artists Council.

The second annual Beer and Chili Festival will feature a chili cook off competition (industry and individual), live music, a bicycle valet, and kids' zone with crafts and face painting. Four-legged friends are also welcome to the afternoon event, so long as they're leashed.

The event is a fundraiser for the Sacramento Artists Council and will raise money for art programs that assist at-risk children, children of homeless families and fund adopt-a-school arts programs for Sacramento regional schools.

Tickets range from about $20 for just beer, or just chili, and go up from there. Pre-sale tickets for all-access (unlimited beer and chili) are $36.50 online, and will be $40 at the door.

Confirmed brewers include Mad River Brewing Company (Blue Lake, CA), American River Brewing (Rancho Cordova), Heretic Brewing Company (Pittsburg, CA), Hoppy Brewing (Sacramento), Lost Coast (Eureka, CA), North Coast Brewing (Fort Bragg, CA), Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (San Francisco) and 21st Amendment Brewery (San Francisco).

[Sponsored: Why drive to a beer and Chili festival? Take Light Rail. The 16th Street Station is only a two minute walk away. Plan your trip to Freemont Park online here.]

The event will be held rain or shine, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Fremont Park is at 1515 Q Street.

Downtown arena open house - live blog

2013-03-22T14:33:41Z

The City of Sacramento held open house on the plans to build a downtown arena Thursday at 5:30 pm to 7:30pm in the New City Hall Foyer. Here's how the meeting went down on Twitter:

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

PSAs: Water use tips, free pet services and volunteer opportunities

2013-03-08T18:37:37Z

Don't overwater that lawn!

The Regional Water Authority is raising awareness about water waste and has provided a few tips on ways to keep sprinkler systems from contributing to that loss.

The public service campaign is focusing on landscape water efficiency "because most water use – and water waste – occurs outdoors," the RWA stated. More than 65 percent of a Sacramento region's household's yearly water consumption typically goes toward landscape irrigation, the agency said, and of that, 30 percent is lost due to overwatering or simply evaporates.

The outreach program begins in March and coincides with daylight savings time (March 10) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Fix a Leak Week" (March 18-24) and encourages residents to "Do the Sprinkler" by:

• Tuning up their sprinkler system in March and April
• Checking their sprinkler system every month for problems
• Repairing water-wasting problems within 48 hours
• Scheduling their sprinkler controller according to the weather and their water provider's guidelines

Free pet services

Thanks to a recent grant from PetSmart Charities, the Sacramento SPCA and the City of Rancho Cordova are offering free spay/neuter surgeries for pit bulls and pit bull mixes from two specific Rancho Cordova zip codes.

The two-year grant will fund a total of 600 free surgeries for pit bulls whose owners reside in the 95670 or 95827 zip codes.

Spay/neuter surgeries will be performed by appointment only at the Sacramento SPCA’s satellite spay/neuter clinic, located on Bradshaw Road.

In addition to the health and behavior benefits of spaying or neutering pets, Rancho Cordova dog owners can save more than $100 in annual licensing fees when licensing an altered dog.

For more information or to schedule an appointment through this program, please call (916)504-2825. Addition program information is also available at www.sspca.org/rcpitbulls.

Volunteers needed for WE Connect event

A state-wide campaign that helps families gain access to basic services they may otherwise be unable to attain is coming to Sacramento.

WE Connect is holding an event at Hiram W. Johnson School, at 6879 14th Ave., on March 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The services and information provided is "an effort to encourage attendees to live healthier, more financially secure lives." Some programs that will be represented are: Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Healthy Families, and 2-1-1 Sacramento. Some services that will be provided (though are subject to change) are:

• Tax preparation
• Health care application assistance
• Flu shots and medical exams
• Dental screenings
• Deferred action for childhood arrivals and other naturalization information
• Access to local programs and resources
• Other money savings programs and services

Though WE Connect encourages all to attend, the agency is in need of volunteers to fill multiple roles including:
• Directional arrow holders and parking assistants
• Greeters and map distributors
• Medical fair and insurance application assistants
• General assistances and rovers
• Internet connectors with good computer skills
• Friendly assistants at the Dream Wall
• Stay Connected booth assistants to help attendees post and update their Facebook profiles and check in to the event
• Food distributors

WE Connect is also looking for energetic, friendly volunteers who are bilingual in Spanish, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese of American Sign Language to help with all aspects of the event, including greeting and escorting, food distribution, parking and more.

To register to volunteer for the event, visit www.handsonsacto.org and click the “Become a Member” icon on the homepage. After registering, you can sign up via the “We Connect” icon that is also on the homepage. You will be asked a few questions upon doing so such as which shift you can volunteer, if you speak one of the languages listed, and if you would like to be a translator. Please note that volunteers who are available to attend both shifts will have lunch provided for them.

You may also contact Hands On Sacramento at 916-447-7063 ext.314 or via email at rholderby@handsonsacto.org if you need any assistance registering on the site.

Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink to open with free skating Friday

2012-10-29T23:44:44Z

A downtown holiday tradition kicks off Friday as the Sacramento Downtown Plaza Ice Rink opens for its 21st year with free skating and skate rentals from 2 - 10 p.m.

“Our crew has been really hustling all month over at Seventh and K streets to set up our outdoor rink,” said Annie Stuckert, senior events manager for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “Last week’s winter storm really put us all in the mood for these fun holiday activities, and we’re excited to kick off the season.”

Last year, the ice rink set a record with more than 30,000 visitors – a 20 percent increase over the previous year.

Tuesdays this year will be devoted to family skate nights, and there will be theme nights every Thursday, with “Big Bang Theory” Friday nights and other social media-driven events throughout the season.

The rink will be open from Friday through Jan. 31, and admission is $8. Skate rentals cost $2.

City officials formed the rink in 1991, and it was shortly taken over by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, which continues to run it today.

Sacramento District 4 candidates Joe Yee, Steve Hansen to hold forum Wednesday

2012-09-17T19:47:28Z

One of Sacramento's hotly contested City Council races will be the subject of a forum Wednesday, as Joe Yee and Steve Hansen vie to represent downtown, Midtown and Land Park in November's election.

Yee is a longtime Sacramento resident who currently lives in Land Park, while Hansen lives downtown.

The two areas are decidedly different, and the challenge for each candidate will be how to represent both.

Each candidate has been supported by city unions. The Sacramento Press recently chatted with Yee, and Hansen was endorsed by local firefighters last week.

Hansen and Yee will square off from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ,
2700 L St., in a forum moderated by the League of Women Voters.

Questions will be centered on topics including homelessness and affordable, accessible housing; hunger; land use and community
equity. Questions from the audience will also be accepted, and questions can be on any topic.

Occupy Sacramento protests proposed law for City Hall

2012-07-24T17:38:57Z

Occupy Sacramento will protest proposed legislation today at 2:45 p.m. at City Hall that would prevent protesters from holding events without permits on the City Hall property.

[Update: Occupy Sacramento City Hall discussion put off till Aug. 9]

The Sacramento Press held a live conversation Tuesday with the Vice Chair of the ACLU Board of Directors Cres Vellucci, who works with Occupy Sacramento and is opposed to the city's counci's move.

The Occupy group has gone from a large marching protest and occupation of Cesar Chavez Plaza to a small core of protesters on the front lawn of Old City Hall. The group left Cesar Chavez Plaza last year after 110 protesters were arrested for violating the city’s curfew ordinance – which was upheld in the courts earlier this month.

City Hall is not a park and therefore was open for the group, but the City Council’s Law and Legislation Committee will discuss enacting a similar ordinance to the park curfew law today that would cover City Hall.

Occupiers wrote in a press release today that they believe the city is trying to take away their First Amendment rights by preventing them to assemble on the City Hall property 24 hours per day.

According to the Law and Legislation Committee agenda, the aim is to preserve the city’s capital investment in the City Hall property, and there will be an event-permitting process for people who want to demonstrate in the block bounded by H, I, Ninth and 10th streets.

No laws will be passed today, as any proposed ordinance will have to go to the full City Council for approval.

Thursday is last day for loose-in-the-street yard waste pickup till October

2012-05-30T23:33:03Z

Sacramento residents who haven’t finished raking leaves in their yards will want to get it done soon: Thursday is the last day of loose-in-the-street yard waste pickup until October.

The pickup service is available to customers who participate in the city’s containerized waste program, and it is only available during eight pre-scheduled weeks each year.

According to the city Department of Utilities website, acceptable yard waste material includes leaves, branches, and grass trimmings. Pet waste and fencing material is not accepted.

During the scheduled loose-in-the-street collection weeks, customers are expected fill their containers first, and any extra materials may be placed on the street.

After Thursday, the next scheduled loose-in-the-street yard waste pickup date will be the second week in October.

The full loose-in-the street yard waste pickup calendar for 2012 can be found on the city’s website.

For questions about containerized waste service, residents can call the city’s 3-1-1 information line.

Sacramento community art event to benefit animal shelter

2012-05-25T02:08:57Z

For those who enjoy wildlife and nature-related art, the Sierra 2 Center will be hosting an art show May 31 to celebrate local artists and raise awareness and funds for the Front Street Animal Shelter.

Local artists including Hope Harris, Nikki Solone and Jennifer Foss, will be showing art inspired by their experiences with nature and wildlife, and guests will have a chance to win some of the art in a raffle and a silent auction during the event, according to a Monday press release.

The event will be held 6 - 9 p.m. May 31 at the Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th Street.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and include food, wine, live music, and access to the silent auction and raffle.

For more information, visit the Sierra 2 website, or call 452-3005.

Save Our Pools campaign reaches $1 million goal

2012-04-13T02:01:45Z

Sacramento’s pools will be open this summer as the Save Our Pools campaign announced Thursday that it raised $1 million through individual donors, corporate donors and a $500,000 match by Save Mart Supermarkets.

The campaign kicked off Feb. 14 with a goal of funding local pools so the same ones that were open last summer will be open this year.

"It takes collaboration from all types and sizes to make a great city. Thanks to the efforts of Save Mart and its customers and vendors, plus our business community and residents from across the region, kids and families will have swimming pools available this summer in Sacramento. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the summer," Mayor Kevin Johnson said in a press release.

“We are thrilled to have met the $1 million goal and secure six pools and five wading pools back to the Sacramento community,” Alicia Rockwell, Public Affairs Director for Save Mart, said in the press release.

Part of the campaign involved a donation when people "liked" a Facebook campaign, which originally was scheduled to end March 13, but was extended through April 10.

According to the release, it was the last-minute donations from a few corporate donors that helped close the gap.

Wells Fargo donated $50,000, and the Greater Sacramento New Car Dealers Association pledged $60,000, and with the Save Mart matching funds, the $1 million needed was reached.

For more information on the campaign, click here.

Occupy Sacramento: Voices of the protesters

2011-10-19T06:59:12Z

The Sacramento Press asked Occupy Sacramento protesters at Cesar Chavez Plaza Tuesday, "What brought you out here, and what would you like to see happen over the next days and weeks?"

Here is what they had to say:

Hilary Brumley:

Sandra Delgadillo:

Christopher MacDonald:

Naba Kadel:

Videos by Brandon Darnell

Second suspect in viral video assault identified

2011-10-15T01:18:15Z

Sacramento Police Department press release:

The Sacramento Police Department is searching for the second suspect, 19-year-old Donnell Wade, in the unprovoked attack that was captured on video.

On October 12, 2011, the Sacramento Police Department was made aware of a video, showing suspects assaulting a female, which had gone viral on the Internet. We received calls from throughout the country inquiring about the investigation. Detectives assigned to the case discovered that patrol officers responded to an assault call on October 1, 2011, at approximately 12:11 p.m., near Center Parkway and Mack Road. The officers arrived and determined the suspects had fled the scene and the victim, a 42-year-old female, did not wish for prosecution at that time.

Based on the newly discovered video evidence of the assault, detectives continued to pursue the identity of the involved suspects. After officers saw the video image of the suspects and with crime tips that came in from the public, detectives were able to identify the suspects seen in the video. The first suspect that hit the victim was identified as 21-year-old Rasaan Zawadi. On October 13, 2011, Zawadi was taken into custody without incident. The second suspect that hit the victim was identified as 19-year-old Donnell Wade. Efforts to locate Wade have not been successful. The Sacramento Police Department is releasing Donnell Wade’s photo in hopes of receiving information as to his whereabouts. Wade currently has a warrant for assault with a gang enhancement.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this suspect to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Arrest made in viral video assault case

2011-10-13T23:50:34Z

Sacramento Police Department press release:

The Sacramento Police Department arrested 21-year-old Rasaan Zawadi for the unprovoked attack on a female that was captured on video and believed to have been posted by the suspects.

On October 12, 2011, the Sacramento Police Department was made aware of a video of an assault on a female that had gone viral on the Internet. We received calls from throughout the country inquiring about the investigation. Detectives assigned to the case discovered that patrol officers had responded to an assault call on October 1, 2011, at approximately 12:11 p.m., near Center Parkway and Mack Road. The officers arrived finding that the suspects had fled the scene and the victim, a 42-year-old female, did not wish for prosecution at that time.

Based on the newly discovered video evidence of the assault, detectives continued to pursue the identity of the involved suspects. After officers saw the video image of the suspects and with crime tips that came in from the public, detectives were able to identify one of the suspects seen in the video hitting the victim. The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Rasaan Zawadi (first suspect to hit the victim). Detectives working with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Zawadi and were preparing to look for him, when a Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy stopped him near German Drive and French Road this morning on an unrelated incident.

The Sacramento Police Department arrested Zawadi for assault with a gang enhancement. Detectives believe that the assault was gang related. Detectives are continuing their investigation into the second suspect involved in the assault.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Seeing purple in Sacramento Thursday: Photo essay

2011-04-22T00:38:03Z

Sacramentans have heart and they aren't afraid to show it. Thanks to all of the people who sent us their Here We Purple photos today. Below you'll find photos of purple shoes, dogs wearing purple, coworkers wearing purple and even a purple zebra. If you have more photos to share, send them to journalism@sacramentopress.com and we'll add them in here.

To read more about the current efforts by city leaders and businesses to keep the Kings in Sacramento, click here.