Beginnings and endings. Yet another coincidence this week as I found myself watching a couple of otherwise enjoyable new films that had endings that didn’t really seem to match their beginnings - or their characters for that matter.   The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Directed by Don Scardino “…and the Amazing Anton Marvelton.” Aside from the problems associated with very long titles, the fact that the sidekick’s name is missing from the title of the movie is indicative of the character of Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and his level of blowhard self-importance. He’s the bullied and ignored kid who rose to fame and fortune and lost all sense of reality and scale in his life. Although

  Over 5,000 runners and walkers took off in the 9/11 Run to Remember 5K run/walk and 10K run at 9:11am this morning. After they finished the race, they went on to the Capitol Greens to place a flag inside a Pentagon shaped memorial containing all 3,000 of those killed Sept. 11, 2001. There was a long line waiting to place a flag next to the name of someone whose life was taken by terrorists on 9/11. The overall mood of the event didn't feel somber as I roamed around. Firefighters were lined up, talking while waiting for a burger at the Burgess Brothers hamburger stand. Kids were playing inside a few inflatables. Runners were stocking up on free liquids and food. Here's some images I c

This morning as the first rays of the sun hit Capitol Mall, people from agencies of Metro Fire, Sacramento Fire, Cosumnes Fire, West Sacramento Fire, Folsom Fire, Sacramento Airport Fire, Sacramento PD, Placer Sheriff, Sacramento Sheriff, and Elk Grove PD were constructing a Pentagon Memorial between 5th and 7th Streets, for the second time, to remember the 3,000 people who died from the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Setting up the memorial this morning was a trial run for the Run to Remember and Tribute in the Park happening Sept. 9. It  was later dismantled and will be re-constructed before the Run to Remember. Metro Fire Deputy Chief (Ret.) Geoff Miller responded to the Pentagon on September

“The Amazing Spider-Man” Directed by Marc Webb Review by Malcolm Maclachlan & Tony Sheppard Malcolm: The best thing I can say about this version of Spider-Man is that I liked it a lot better than the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire films. But I would have liked it a lot better if the Raimi/MacGuire ones had never been made. After the film, I keep hearing other people in the audience talked about what a “great reboot” it was. Which left me wondering why we aren’t being offered more original software. Tony: I hear ya! But Hollywood is a risk averse place and these comic book movies generally sell pretty well, with this new one already beating records for similar opening days/dates. That said it’s

Despite budget reductions and recent layoffs in the police department, serious crime in Sacramento has dropped 18 percent over the last three years – the second largest decline in California among cities of similar size – according to a report that Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel presented to City Council Tuesday. Braziel told council members that the core mission of the Sacramento Police Department hasn’t changed since 2008 when he took charge. The mission, he said, is still “reduce crime, engage the community and provide excellent service.” What has changed, however, is the number of police personnel – 81 sworn officers were laid off in July – and a department budget reduced by $1

Ten years ago Sunday, 3,000 people lost their lives from acts of terrorism in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Today Sacramento honored those people with a Day of Remembrance. At 5:30am a vigil and reading of the names of those who died took place on the west steps of the Capitol. A moment of silence occurred at 5:46am. Firefighters participated in Sacramento’s annual 9/11 Memorial Climb. This event  honors the 343 Firefighters of FDNY that paid the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. This year’s Climb was held at the “Renaissance Tower”  in downtown Sacramento Over 3,000 runners took to the streets In Downtown Sacramento for the 9/11 Memorial 5K

Ten years after the events of 9/11, Karen Bearson brings large-scale photographs of Lower Manhattan to Axis Gallery at 1517 19th St. in a solo exhibit entitled “Reflection Spot: Ten years before, ten years after.” The exhibit opened Sept. 3 and runs through Sept. 25. “On the tenth anniversary of this event I wanted to create a series of images that explored the loss – the absence of what once existed,” Bearson wrote in her artist statement. “I visited NYC in May to recollect my own past history there 20 years ago, photograph familiar places, visit old friends and spend some time at Ground Zero. Ten of the images are a result of this trip.” Bearson is a painter and professional photograph

Sunday marks the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The anniversary offers a time to consider that day, and to also question what has changed in the past 10 years. The Sacramento Press spent the past week asking individuals for their thoughts on post-9/11 Sacramento, and in what ways the city has changed. “Things have gotten more consolidated,” said Stephen Mosquedo, a 23-year-old cook living in South Sacramento. “Much more safety. It was a wake-up call. I’m a lot more scared, and I think about death a lot.” Mosqeudo believes that Sacramento citizens fear of terrorism is a product of the high percentage of government jobs in the Sacramento area and the attacks on Washin

This morning Sacramento Area firefighters local 522, in cooperation with local fire jurisdictions held a pre-event presentation for Susan Clark, the Sister-in-law of United Airlines pilot Captain Victor J. Saracini, Captain of United Flight 175, which hit the South Tower of the trade center at just after 9:00am on September 11, 2001.She said that 9/11 was "a tragic day and we are a strong country."Clark says her family has wonderful memories of Victor."We should never forget," Clark said. "We should remember what happened to our country - reflect on it. And remember the sacrifice people made that day and that their families continue to sacrifice."When asked what she'll think about when the

The 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is coming up, and throughout the country there will be memorials honoring the dead, but Sacramento firefighters ask that locals take the opportunity to come out and run a 5K race for a good cause. Through a partnership between various Sacramento area Fire Departments, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sheriff’s Department and more than 2,000 local volunteers, a 5K run/walk has been organized as an addition to their third annual 9/11 Memorial Climb, in which 343 firefighters – the number of New York firefighters killed on 9/11 – climb the Renaissance Tower in downtown Sacramento to honor fallen firefighters. “It’s very personal for the f

The 12th annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival opens its SummerFEST program tonight by honoring another long time Festival director.  This year's Film Arts Service Award will be presented to Cecile Mouette Downs, director of the Sacramento French Film Festival.  Cecille has worked previously for the Film Department of the French Embassy in New York City, and as a Press Officer for the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel in Paris. She has a master’s degree in history, is a regular contributor to “France Today” magazine, and was the 2010 recipient of the Arts Executive of the Year Award from the Sacramento Arts & Business Council. This is the fifth Film Arts Service Award to be presented

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, local Life Scout Alexander Aprea will erect a sculpture memorial representing one one-hundredth the size of the Twin Towers including a steel piece from the wreckage. Alexander Aprea, 14, is a life scout from Boy Scout Troop 802 who is working toward achieving the Eagle Scout rank by organizing and building a sculpture representing the Twin Towers as a way to honor the victims and survivors of 9/11. “Eagle Scout is something that I have always wanted to obtain since I joined scouting, and this is kind of a way for me to really feel like the project that I am doing to earn my eagle scout is a worthy project,” Alexander said. Alexander explaine

Gina Knepp has worked in high-stress city government jobs for more than two decades. But even though she spent nearly 20 years at the city’s 911 call center and now heads the 311 call center, her sense of humor remains intact. Knepp, 48, is the division manager of 311. She reflects her humor in certain activities – designating a day to wear tin foil hats – and in her office décor, which includes a sign that reads: “Dumb should hurt.” The 311 center, which handles a wide variety of queries about city services, has lost about 65 percent of its budget to cuts in the last couple years, she said. Though her division is understaffed and 311’s budget is tight, Knepp conveyed great enthusiasm a

Three hundred and forty three Sacramento area firefighters climbed 110 flights of stairs early Saturday morning in honor of the 343 firefighters who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. The second annual Sacramento 9/11 Memorial Climb was held at the 28-story Renaissance Tower on 8th and K. Fire departments representing cities including Sacramento, Davis, El Cerrito, Placerville and Vacaville participated. Climbers made four ascents: three from the basement to the 26th floor, and a final ascent from the basement to the roof, bringing the total number of floors climbed to 110, the same number of floors in each of the towers of the World Trade Center