Forget about bake sales and raffle tickets. Lincoln resident Tony Overbay knows how to get people excited about school fundraising. Overbay is an experienced marathon and ultra-marathon runner. On Friday morning, he put his feet to work to raise money for school sports programs at Glen Edwards Middle School (GEMS) in Lincoln. His goal: to run 125 miles within a 24-hour period. This is the third year that Overbay has used a 24-hour run to promote the GEMS 5K run. In his first year, he set a goal for 100 miles. He accomplished 111 miles. The second year he ran 120 miles. He accomplished his 125 mile goal on Saturday morning. GEMS students joined Overbay during the day Friday as he looped

  And … the winners ARE ...Jennifer Lawrence for moving up to the stage with such grace – ultimately. ...Seth McFarland for telling his “joke” about President Lincoln being shot in the head reminding me of a jerk record salesman who told me, one day in my office not long after the presidential assassination in Dallas, “That JFK got it through his head that he wasn't welcome in Dallas.” (Presidential assassinations aren't funny, from any century, Seth.) ...Chris Terrio for getting through (sort of) an acceptance speech for a best writing award (“Argo”) while being drunker than anyone ever in Hollywood. Chris' performance would've made Norman Mailer jealous. ...Meryl Streep for really c

Sacramento, California ~ National Freedom Day is a United States observance of the February 1, 1865 signing by President Abraham Lincoln a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constution.  Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr., born an enslaved American, believed that there should be a day when freedom for all Americans should be celebrated.  He invited local and national leaders to meet to organize a movement for a national holiday to commemorate Lincoln's signing of the 13th Amendment. The National Freedom Association proposed a memorial date to call attention to the continuing struggle for freedom for African-Americans.  President Truman signed

Zero Dark Thirty Directed by Kathryn Bigelow As with “The Hobbit” a few weeks ago, this is a movie that people are going to watch (or not even bother to watch) and evaluate for completely different reasons, with the quality of the movie not necessarily being foremost in a lot of people’s minds. For that reason, the column is broken into thematic sections. Torture For starters, the film depicts torture – or “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques.” This has been cited as controversial but there’s nothing especially controversial about what’s shown – at least not in terms of whether or not what we see is what happened. The most extreme, sustained technique depicted, that’s subsequently used a

Hyde Park on Hudson Directed by Roger Michell This is the latest film in a recent run of releases that focus on larger than life figures, with vast careers and records, by concentrating on brief but defining and/or representative periods in their lives. In “Lincoln” the attention was on the passage of legislation that became the Thirteenth Amendment. In “Hitchcock” it was on the making of “Psycho.” And in “Hyde Park on Hudson,” it’s a weekend meeting between Franklin D. Roosevelt and King George VI. As with the other subjects, one could make epic movies about Roosevelt – he was a four term President who took the country from the depression era through the Second World War, dying in offic

Contrary to popular belief, the Emancipation Proclamation did not free very many from enslavement.  The US Civil War measure  announced freedom for those enslaved in the Confederate States that had succeeded from the Union. Salient to the Presidential Executive Order was the official announcement and call for Black Soldiers to join Union Soldiers to fight for freedom and help end the U.S. Civil War.  The proposed National Emancipation Day requires education and advocacy to share the authentic legacy. You are cordially Invited to celebrate Freedom's Eve ~ 150th Anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation California Black Farmers and Agricuturalists Association co-hosts the celebration with

Hitchcock Directed by Sacha Gervasi There’s a similarity between the new film “Hitchcock” and “Lincoln,” which opened and was reviewed three weeks ago. Both are films about strong, well regarded men at the top of their respective professions, who had impressive and broad-ranging careers and life stories that could be adapted into  films of epic proportions. But, instead, both films tackle a very specific time period and project, relatively late in their respective careers, in an attempt to illustrate the men and their temperaments and achievements through those specific chapters in their lives. In “Lincoln,” the focus is on the passage of what would become the 13th Amendment to the US Co

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. NY Centennial Address If our nation had done nothing more in its whole history than to create just two documents, its contribution to civilization would be imperishable. The first of these documents is the Declaration of Independence and the other is that which we are here to honor tonight, the Emancipation Proclamation. All tyrants, past, present and future, are powerless to bury the truths in these declarations, no matter how extensive their legions, how vast their power and how malignant their evil. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed to a world, organized politically and spiritually around the concept of the inequality of man, that the dignity of hu

The regional Sacramento community is invited to join us Noon, Monday, December 31, 2012 at the California State Capitol to celebrate Freedom's Eve celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Historical contributions by people of African ancestry throughout the Sacramento region (1840 - 1865) remains a "hidden secret."  In the traditon of "Kuumba" during our special Kwanzaa celebration of creativity, National Emancipation Day is celebrated.  January 1, 2013, marks the 150th Anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln signing the executive order of the Emancipation Proclamation. The California Black Agriculture Working Group leads the effort to recognize a special mile

Lincoln & Twilight There’s a movie opening this week that features a strong, charismatic leader with a rich life experience, making compromises and forging alliances to avoid future persecution of a targeted minority, against the backdrop of an extremely uncivil, civil war. Actually there are two as, on some level (and the comparison may offend some), that description oddly fits both Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” and “Twlight” – or more accurately “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.” Naturally, the higher quality outing comes courtesy of Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lincoln and stars Daniel Day-Lewis in the lead role, a role he allegedly immersed himself in so completely that even the cr

Saturday, September 22, 2012, 2:00 p.m., Interfaith, Intercultural and Interactive Expressions of Freedom at the California State Capitol reflect upon the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  His words remind us of where we have come from and how far we have to go... Dr. King presented the following speech at the New York Civil War Centennial Commission’s Emancipation Proclamation Observance, New York City, 100th Emancipation Proclamation Centennial Address. If our nation had done nothing more in its whole history than to create just two documents, its contribution to civilization would be imperishable. The first of these documents is the Declaration of Independence and the other is t

Sacramento, CA ~ Along Antietam Creek in the State of Maryland, not far from our nation's capitol was the deadliest single day in all of American Military history.  The name, pronounced "An-tee-tum", derives from an old Algonquian Indian word meaning "swift water." Along the American River in the State of California, not farm from our state capitol, the destruction of historic Black Agriculture communities remains a "stolen legacy" anchored by the history of the "African Founding Father of California," Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr., U.S. Vice Consul for Alta California.  150 years ago, the Agriculture production of rural America was replaced by unspeakable horror and pain

Black Agriculture leaders mark the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and prepare for regional education events that highlight the ongoing journey towards a greater measure of freedom. Educators, business leaders, government officials and community members will help kick-off the effort to showcase a renaissance of celebrating the emancipation of people of African ancestry enslaved in much the same way that Jewish people celebrate their ancestors' freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt. President Barack Obama continues to utilize the lessons of President Abraham Lincoln to keep a nation united 150 years later and bridge the gap by showcasing source documents of our American

The global slave trade which, from the 6th to the 20th century seized millions of Africans from their homeland to deport and enslave them in different parts of the world, has long been a hidden history including slavery in the Sacramento region. In order not to forget this tragedy, UNESCO launched, The Slave Route Project: Resistance, Liberty, Heritage, whose aim is to meet the historical and moral obligation of tackling in a holistic, methodical and consensual manner this painful chapter in the history of humankind. “Through their struggles, their desire for dignity and freedom, slaves contributed to the universality of human rights. We must teach the names of the heroes of this story,

photographs by Barry Wisdom / At 43, Diana Krall is no longer the wunderkind who snuck up on jazz lovers in 1993, and gave them a small, wet kiss on the back of their necks in the form of her debut album, "Stepping Out." Seasoned as a pianist, singer, writer, Krall is now a wife (she's married to Elvis Costello) and mother with 12 albums to her credit, and a 13th ("Glad Rag Doll") due out Oct. 2, she is – as they say – not getting older, she's getting better. Krall, accompanied by a tight combo, showed off her still-maturing virtuosity in a romantic, sensuous set on the Thunder Valley Casino Resort Amphitheatre stage Saturday evening. The warm, late-summer breezes seemed appropriate f

William Jessup University is hosting a major traveling museum featuring a man with a biblical name who served our nation during a very difficult time and helped begin a new path for people of African ancestry in America.  The authentic legacy of America's second independence day remains cloaked in mystery and many false assumptions. William Jessup University, showcases new expansion along a major gateway to Gold Rush California.  This exibit will provided a unique opportunity for intercultural and intergenerational opportunity for the Sacramento region. People of African ancestry and the entire Sacramento regional community can view documents salient to a better understanding the ongoin

What does Abraham Lincoln have in common with Buffy Summers, Blade, and Van Helsing? Apparently vampire hunting. Yes, according to novelist turned screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (The Hard Times of RJ Berger) our nation’s 16th president slew the undead as a young man and even while he was leading this great nation as the president. Director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and producer Tim Burton (Edward Scissor Hands, Dark Shadows) seem to agree. Surely a film would have to be a success with names as big as these involved right? Right?? After witnessing a vampire murder his mother, a young Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) makes it his mission to get revenge. But when he finally works up the c

Thunder Valley Casino Resort will host Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson this Friday night, September 16 at 8 p.m. The event will take place in Thunder Valley’s Outdoor Amphitheater, an excellent venue for a fun night of country music. The country duo of John Rich and Big Kenny will perform this weekend as part of their Xtreme Musik tour. The show will be one of just a couple of shows in California before the tour heads north. Grammy, CMA, ACM and AMA award winner Gretchen Wilson is paired with Big & Rich for the evening. Wilson has been co-headlining the tour since it began in mid-June. The pairing is ideal considering the numerous collaborations among the three of them. “Fake I.D.” is one

On August 28th, 2011 Walt Gray and Hope Productions revved-up their engines, at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort for the ninth annual Walt Gray Ride for Kids. Starting at 8:00 am thousands of motorcycles lined-up in the Thunder Valley Casino parking lot in Lincoln, CA and prepared for a beautiful ride to the Nevada County Fairgrounds. With over 3000 riders raising money for charity it was another fantastic turn-out for the annual event. With a new venue, Thunder Valley Casino and Resort, and amazing weather the event started off with a bang. Walt walked around greeting the riders and making sure to thank everyone for attending. Like in years past, you can tell that this is an event close

With classic songs like, “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,’ Saturday in the Park, Hard to Say I’m Sorry, and Baby, what a Big Surprise” Chicago took the stage at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Saturday night. While they still perform crowd pleasing and solid versions of their classic hits, Chicago does not have the same stage presence it once did. Throughout the entire hour and forty-five minute set the band took turns singing their classic tunes (instead of founding member Robert Lamm taking center stage). Although this worked on many levels, the fond memories many of us have of seeing Robert sing center stage with his powerful and addictive voice was lost. The reason is somewhat obvious,