As St. Patrick's is celebrated on March 17, here are some photos celebrating the St. Patrick's Parade in Old Sacramento and St. Baldrick's at de Vere's. Above is Father Dan Madigan Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Parade Below, Mayor Kevin Johnson who also made an apperance at St. Baldrick's.       ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Not everyone was happy about giving up their locks Above and below, before and after photos More St. Patrick's Photos More St. Baldrick's Photos

A local dance troupe hopes to help turn Sacramento's St. Patrick's Day Parade into a céilí – and for all you non-Gaelic speakers out there, that means one big party. While a little beer is known to flow on St. Patrick's Day, the kind of party we're talking about is more of a cultural celebration. The céilí – or céilidh in Scottish Gaelic – developed in Ireland and Scotland as an entertaining get-together where stories were told, poems recited and songs sung. Modern céilís (KAY lees) often include dancing. The céilí is what St. Patrick's Day is all about, said Helen Healy, one of the grand dames of the city's Irish-American community. "It's a Celtic word for a gathering of music, song a

On Thursday, Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (SFBFS) broke new ground on its 22,000-square-foot space, which will be home to a new education center, urban farm and children’s recreational area. The building is expected to be completed in Fall 2011. “(It’s) all about compassion, kindness for people. That's it,” said Father Dan Madigan, Founder of SFBFS. The education center will include expanded adult education, a computer clubhouse, youth academy, “PlayCare” and mother-baby programs. It will be a resource for the unemployed and dislocated workers in the community to receive job skills training and computer education. The urban farm will be 5,000 square feet. “(It’s) less abou