Midtown Business Association Executive Director Elizabeth Studebaker said she is hopeful that the organization will be able to renew its status as a property and business improvement district in July. That status comes at an annual cost to local property and business owners – totalling $633,000 for the district – that is similar to an added property tax. In return, the MBA provides numerous services, such as graffiti removal, trash cleanup, private security patrols and marketing. If the assessment renewal is not passed, those services will not be funded, and the MBA will revert to being a much smaller organization able to do minimal marketing and advocate for the district at City Council

Candidates for the Midtown Business Association's June 20 elections will need to be able to cast aside their own business goals and work together to make Midtown a better business environment as the organization goes through a transition, according to MBA staff and business owners alike. “We’re at this pivotal point in Midtown, and I’d like to see a focus on the greater good – a sustainable Midtown business environment,” said Kimio Bazett of The Golden Bear and the upcoming Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. Ten of the 25 Midtown Business Association Board of Directors seats are open to be filled by June 20, and only about seven incumbents are returning, meaning the organization will see ne

It was a night filled with drinks and divine desserts for the Sacramento Children’s Chorus’ Wine and Chocolate: A Harmony of Tastes fundraiser at Revolution Wines Friday night. According to Sacramento Children’s Chorus’ executive director Daphne Quist, the event was held in honor of the chorus to raise money for the organization, some of which will go toward tuition scholarships for students. “It was a great success for our organization,” Quist said. This is the first Wine and Chocolate event for the Sacramento Children’s Chorus and Quist hopes to continue it every year. Corporate sponsorships, individual donations, concerts and one large event each year help fund the organization, Quis

For children who have been victims of abusive environments, a new outdoor classroom was built, with a performance stage, a mini “Delta Prince” boat-themed playground and a vegetable garden. Enormous pink-handled scissors were used to cut the ceremonial ribbon at the classroom revealing for Sacramento’s primary crisis intervention provider WEAVE on Tuesday. Pink balloons also brought color to the ceremony as cosmetics company Mary Kay gifted WEAVE’s Executive Director Beth Hassett with a $20,000 grant check from the Mary Kay Foundation for improvements to the shelter. WEAVE Director of Development Amber Stott said there are hopes to build new transitional housing units at the site, but f

 Good spirits were all around at the Rubicon Brewing Company, located at 2004 Capitol Ave., on Saturday for their annual Women in Brewing event. The event, which features women brewers from the area and around the world, with proceeds from the sales and a silent auction supporting WEAVE, drew several thousand beer enthusiasts throughout the day to sample some good brews. Several of the brewer s attended the event, including Denise Jones, the Brewmaster for Moylan’s Brewing Company, who brewed the Hell’s Export Lager for the event. “Usually, beers are turned over in 14 to 21 days, whereas this beer took probably about six to seven weeks before I released it to the public,” Jones said of t

On April 8th members of the business community and leaders from the California State Government joined together to raise awareness and funds for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County.   Presenting sponsor, Accenture, and 22 other corporate supporters hosted “Break the Cycle.  Build a Connection” at the California Museum. Dignitaries in attendance included Senate President proTem and Sacramento County Supervisor Susan Peters. Event chair Gail Gregori created the event as a response to WEAVE’s struggle to ensure that life-saving and changing services remain available to families in need during these challenging economic times. Photos on web site, www.phototia.

 On March 24th representatives from Nissan, WEAVE and Capital Public Radio met with key supporters of the 13th Annual Nissan Retire Your Attire Clothing Drive to accept donations of apparel for WEAVE’s Suited for Success program. During the 10 day drive Capitol staffers and elected officials donated thousands of suits, dresses, shirts, shoes and ties to be distributed to victims of domestic violence who are reentering the workforce and working to rebuild their lives. Beth Hassett, Executive Director of WEAVE, was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Capitol community this year and by the support members have shown for domestic violence services. On March 25th the boxes of clothes will be