On February 19th, non-profit agency, The Effort, will hold grand opening ceremonies at their new Rancho Cordova Community Health Center, (10423 Old Placerville Road), which houses a primary care medical clinic for all ages and state-of-the-art children’s dental clinic. The celebration also heralds the announcement of the change from their longstanding name, “The Effort” to the on-site unveiling of a new name and logo that better reflects the agency’s mission and the scope of services they provide. Elected Dignitaries slated to address grand opening attendees include Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Senator Darrell Steinberg, Assemblymembers Ken Cooley, Roger Dickinson, and Dr. Richard Pan. “

Famed bounty hunter Leonard Padilla and the staff of Leonard Padilla Bail Bonds will hold an open event Wednesday, Dec. 12, in front of their office at 816 H Street to promote their Holiday “Guns For Turkeys” Campaign….Turn in a gun, get a turkey. With no questions asked, gun owners who turn in their registered or unregistered guns to Leonard Padilla Bail Bonds will receive a Raley’s turkey gift card. This campaign will run through December 20th, 2012. The event, which began November 15th, will include a pen full of live turkeys, some ready-for-the-oven gobblers and a display of antique rifles and pistols. In a pre-Christmas appearance, (in his work uniform), Santa himself will be passin

On Thursday, November 29th, from 3pm to 7pm, in support of our troops serving overseas, the Nor-Cal Go Girl team and employees and their families will gather with the Blue Star Moms for a big “Packing Party.” Close to one hundred employees, partnering with the Blue Star Moms of service men and women serving overseas, will be assembling “care packages” containing much appreciated items—anything from snack foods to disposable razors to socks and CDs and DVDs. “Our hearts go out to those with family members in the armed forces. We can do this – collect and assemble boxes filled with supplies – as a simple way of letting these men, women and their families know we appreciate their bravery an

Serious grillers …. “Q-teams”… will compete in the 4th Annual Albie Ribbin’ BBQ Cook-Off being held Saturday, October 27th, at the Hilltop Tavern (4757 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento). The event, which takes place from Noon till 6, will feature over a dozen teams, grilling and smoking two full racks each of St. Louis style ribs, with proceeds benefitting the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation. And who better to kick out the jams at a Q-off than popular Sacramento party band, the Q-Balls, performing from 2 to 5. The price for this all-ages family event is $20 for adults and $12 for kids, which includes a rib lunch served from noon to 3.  There will also be a silent auction and raffle with

Cool Ham Luke …the hippest ham to hit the scene will be diggin’ donations in 150 businesses in the Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Gold River and Elk Grove areas in hopes of makin’ bacon for the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation. (Disclaimer: The previous paragraph brought to you by Writers Gone Wild) Albie Aware’s Stuff the Pig campaign will take place throughout October; Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Only a week old, the campaign has created great enthusiasm with participating businesses. Nancy, at Mamma Susanna’s Ristorante Italiano, is a breast cancer survivor who has a dinner special to support Albie Aware during October and she wanted a piggy bank to