Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Amabelle Ocampo

Color Run Supplies A Dose of Happiness

2012-08-06T14:17:11Z

You can’t run with scissors in the happiest 5 kilometer race on earth, but you can run with chalk in neon colors.

Toddlers, teenagers and grown-ups in tiaras and tutus played in Sacramento's downtown streets on Saturday's Color Run braving pink, yellow, orange, purple, and green colored fairy dusts to paint Picassos on their white t-shirts.

“We dedicate this run to all the cool kids who inspire us to color our lives with creativity,” said Crystal Brooks, 32, a pastry chef from Midtown Sacramento waiving her hands in the air in excitement. She swivels her hips and skips with three of her girlfriends in glee. All four sports a matching white shirt cut in symmetry, knee high plaid patterned socks and Asics running shoes while waiting for the Color Run to start.

“We felt like paper dolls cutting these,” said Heather Wright, 36, a resident of West Sacramento and mother of two teens attending River City High School.

“This one has narrow cuts while Crystal’s has wide windows. We designed each of our shirts a little differently. It will fill in with chemistry in bright neon colors,” said Domina Stames, 36, a science teacher at River City High School.

“The dust is smooth to the touch. It is also edible,” shares a staff member in yellow at the first color station blazing high-energy techno music.

Tough mommies in tiaras, babies in strollers, ballerinas, and runaway brides were squirted with the grainy sand from plastic mustard and ketchup bottles. The color stations resemble food fights with colored cornstarch as ammunition. Volunteers covered their noses with handkerchiefs and nurse’s masks to avoid breathing in the non-toxic Crayola like soot.

Some of the kids tossed it at each other like snow. Others rolled around on it. They waved their arms and legs while laying on the bright stuff on the ground to make snow angels.

Each station carries a fluorescent color. 1k is yellow. 2K is orange. 3K is pink. 4k is blue. The finish line was green. Swarming like bees in the color stands are college and high school students like Kelsey Wong, 19, a sophomore attending St. Mary’s College who had so much fun at the Color Run in San Francisco in mid July that she had to volunteer in her hometown of Sacramento.

Color Run is heading east across the nation from California to Colorado, New Mexico, New Jersey and back to the west coast up to Portland.

“I wanted to be in the happiest run on earth. The videos looked so much fun on YouTube,” said Jessie Wong, 19, a sophomore attending the University of California, Berkeley who graduated from high school in Elk Grove.

“I found Color Run through Facebook and started inviting all my friends,” she said.

Her cousin Katherine Lei, 18 is a junior at Princeton University. The Color Run is scheduled to arrive in New Jersey on September 1st. Instead of waiting, she decided to come to Sacramento’s Color Run and reunite with family in California.

At the halfway point, 15,000 runners filled up with water. The station was set up next to a truck carrying a large aluminum cylinder like the ones that refill gas stations. Instead of gas for fuel, it pumps gallons of water into blue plastic tubs filled with blocks of ice.

“Yeah, that truck is a beauty. It carries a 60,000 gallon tank,” boasts Lee Richie, 72, the main water tender wearing a red emergency vest. He worked at El Dorado Water and Shower for twenty-eight years.

“We’ve used it in statewide emergencies to supply drinking water for fire fighting crews in major forest fires like the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado. We have also used it for concerts and other foot races, but we’ve never seen anything like this. ”

“We pumped out about 6,000 gallons of water for this crowd,” he adds.

“The rest… they will need to hose that bright paint off with a cool shower.”

Disclosure: Special Thanks for the pictures provided in this article by Chris Rylee, Leonard Row, and Tom Huynh. Please watch our video with more amazing pictures from the event on August 4, 2012.

At Fremont School for Adults, State Cuts Take a Casualty

2012-06-21T14:10:16Z

Editor's note: The Fremont School for Adults closed on June 18. The author of this story, Amabelle Ocampo, is working on a follow-up article.

Foster youth students who may have fallen through the cracks in the Sacramento City Unified School District always had one last hope at the end of the education continuum: The Fremont School for Adults. Fremont’s fully accredited High School Completion program provides the opportunity to earn credits necessary for high school graduation, and includes two classes specifically for youths who age out of the foster care system.

Barring a financial miracle, the school will close permanently on June 18.

The FSA closure will displace 2,000 students in the fall. More than 15 classes will be dropped including two classes serving ”aged out” foster youth who use the facility for accelerated credits to graduate from high school.

“The students are the same kids who failed in community college due to weak English skills, or have dropped out of high school, ” said Victoria Hass, a concerned ESL teacher who works for Sacramento Unified School District. (SCUSD)

“Many want to improve their English to get a better job, to finish high school with a GED. Their options are limited.”

SCUSD held the hearing to alert the public on Tier III school closures transferring $5,093,862, in unrestricted general funds to instructional K-12 programs according to Patricia A. Hagemeyer, the School District’s Chief Business Officer.

Fremont is not the first school in the state to close. They are among the 200 statewide facing financial trouble, the largest in state history, according to the California Department of Education. In comparison, Oakland Unified School District is closing five elementary schools. While Long Beach Unified School District made more than $20 million in cuts in an effort to balance their 2013-2014 budget, eliminating Head Start preschool programs and 300 employee layoffs.

Fremont provides ESL and Citizenship education, high school GED equivalency tests, and accelerated credits towards a high school diploma.

It has helped young adults such as Jordan Buell, an 18-year-old former foster youth in an independent living program (ILP), earn credit through FSA’s concurrent enrollment. Buell graduated on Monday, June 11, from American Legion Continuing High School with his class.

A high school diploma is required to be eligible for the first year of the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant. The Cal Grant increases the GPA requirement from 2.0 to 2.7 under Governor Jerry Brown’s 2012-13 budget proposal, which creates a climb for students who fell behind in high school.

The dropout rate in Sacramento County is 19.7 percent over a four-year period, slightly above the state average of 18.2 percent. The rate is far worse for students of color. In Sacramento County, more than one of every four black or Latino students dropped out of school during the last four years

Gustavo Arroyo, a board member was especially strained by the decision to close the school. He later discussed with Fremont students a way to possibly keep basic ESL open in another facility, but the foster youth program will cease.

“We are scrambling with emergency fundraising to raise $1.5 million,” said Susan Lytle Gilmore, Director of Adult Education at Sacramento City Unified School District. A car wash and rummage sale was the student’s last effort to keep their classes going.

Watch what the students and teachers had to say here.

Local business owners of Celia’s, 3 Sister’s Restaurant, Zocalo, Dos Coyotes, La Fiesta Bar & Grill are donating a portion of their profits on June 21 and 24 with little help to the budget shortfall.

Perhaps, the only way the school can remain open is if the voters pass the Governor’s November tax initiative designed to fund education.

Disclosure: Author is a Journalism for Social Change Fellow. Article was first printed in the Chronicle of Social Change. http://chronicleofsocialchange.wordpress.com/

A lesson in civics, a lesson in life

2012-05-26T01:22:36Z

Thursday, May 24 marked a day when youth voice was alive at the capitol.

It was the "Annual Shadow a Legislator Day" for foster youth leadership advocacy group, California Youth Connection. Among the excitement of hundreds of elementary school children on a civics field trip of the state capitol, an important announcement was being made by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Daniel Heimpel, a child welfare journalist and CYC Board Member.

They urged support for two bills, AB 2093 and AB 1712, which will affect the future of foster youth across the state.

In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Skinner's legislation, Assembly Bill 2093 "Foster Youth Higher Education and Support Act," was introduced to provide post secondary education support to foster youth who attend California's public colleges and universities by designating a foster care service coordinator.

The passage of the legislation would help raise the devastatingly low college entry and graduation rates of foster youth.

Consider the statistics, for the 80,000 foster youth in California, less than half will graduate from high school. Only ten percent will pursue a college education. Of those only 2 percent will actually earn a degree.

Still, a second, more urgent bill, AB 1712 authored by Assemblymember Jim Beall echoed through the halls, to the I-5 freeway, to the lives of 2,166 youth turning 19 this year in California.

The problem is that it forces youth out on the streets on their birthday. Foster youth like Julio Quezada, 18 who graduated from Modesto High School last week. His birthday is coming up on December 6.

In January of 2013, he will need to reapply, if AB1712 is not passed. The process is disjointed and with county funds in flux, the likelihood of youths finding themselves homeless is high.

A hearing for AB1712 is set to remedy the funding gap created by Assembly Bill 12, which extends support services to foster youth until age 19, in 2012, then 20 in 2013. The last minute amendment is what pushed out a generation of foster youth who are turning 19 this year out.

Quezada didn't do anything wrong -- his biological mother was only thirteen, when she got pregnant. She was dealing with mental health issues, mixed with drugs, and weaved in and out of jail.

As luck would have it, if only his birthday was a year later, he would not have to leave foster care, then reapply, then try to come back in the system for help.

The lack of safety net for foster youth in transition could make them vulnerable to homelessness, incarceration, or poverty.

"My great grandparents raised me till they died. A social worker placed me in foster care for 3 years. I live in group independent living now. They told me to go to ILP classes. That's when I found CYC. I'm learning to put it all together now. I need some time. I'm afraid. By December, I won't have a place to go." said Quezada.

Despite some tough obstacles, Quezada's stride is moving forward. In the fall, he wants to go to Modesto Community College, transfer to Sacramento or San Jose State to become a social worker then maybe a legislator.

Disclosure: Author is an ex foster and a journalism for social change fellow. She has a local blog http://istreetbridgeproject.tumblr.com/

Siblings struggle to bridge the gap

2012-05-23T14:42:16Z

When Lily Colby turned 18, she had nowhere else to go. Her foster parents gave her fair warning that she will be on her own. If she did not find a way to survive, she would be homeless.

The same fate would have faced her brother, David Colby at 18, but his saving grace was new state legislation AB12, California’s Fostering connections to Success Act, a promise to extend support services to foster youth until the age of 19 in 2012, then to age 20 in 2013.

But, a last minute amendment to the original proposal changed the logistics.

In an effort to save money when AB12 was passed, legislators phased in the extension of care.

With realignment shifting the power from state to counties, 2,166 youths will find themselves on a funding bubble, potentially losing services on their 19th birthday.

This leaves it up to cash-strapped, individual counties to fill in the gap. Every county is dealing with its “bubble” kids differently, a Northern California ILP Coordinator’s Council discussed on May 17. Some opted in allowing them to choose to stay past age 18, while others like Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, and Fresno were unable to keep youth in care.

This year, there are 123 foster youths aging out of foster care in Sacramento County, 19 in Yolo County, 19 in Sonoma County, 9 in Solano County, and 6 in El Dorado County according to data from Child Welfare Services reports. Here is an interactive map by Anna Jacobi.

A rally by current and former foster youths will be held at the North Steps of the State Capitol on Thursday, 9:15 a.m. to urge state legislators to pass two bills that will affect outcomes for transition age youth across the state.

We can support these youths in transition by coming to the rally, May 24.

Assembly Bill 1712 remedies the funding gap created by Assembly Bill 12 which previously was created to help the “bubble” kids. AB 1712 is a prime opportunity for state leaders to fix this unintended and unfair consequence of AB 12.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee will decide if Assembly Bill 1712 and 2093 are necessary bills to act on Friday.

In the mean time, many kids like Lily and David Colby are struggling to bridge the gap. They are left out in the cold, without the basic necessity of shelter after age 18.

Disclosure: Author is a Journalism for Social Change Fellow.

Pacific Rim Festival Pride

2012-05-22T13:18:45Z

Old Sacramento welcomed more than 20,000 visitors bustling to the sound of ukuleles, taiko drums, and the aloha of the islands during the Pacific Rim Festival. The streets came alive with vivrant colors and the lure of barbeque, teriyake chicken, pulled pork, and the sweetness of hawaiian shave ice on Sunday, May 20. There were many cultures in attendance sharing the arts, food, and roots of an Asian heritage.

This is the 20th iteration of an annual event that has steadily gained popularity among families who live in the region. The Census Bureau shares that Sacramento County houses the country's 12th largest Asian American population.

Tango by the River dance studio seeks community support to stay open

2012-05-14T06:48:01Z

Tango by the River is facing some harch economic realities. The studio has been losing money every year since it opened in 2000.

"Visions of Eden can no longer subsidize the studio during these hard times," states owner Donna Tielsch in an email asking for the community's support in upcoming fundraising events to save the studio from closing.

A fundraiser is scheduled on Monday, May 14, a tango pizza party to be held at the studio from 7p.m. The guest of honor is Eduardo Saucedo. The suggested donation is $25.

There are special events being held at the Tango by the River studio weekly in Old Sacramento. To find out more details, please go to their site www.rivertango.com or call (916) 443-7008

McGeorge graduates growing responsibility

2012-05-14T05:46:45Z

There's no use in sugar-coating. Reality hurts.

This is the message of a commencement address given by Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye of the Supreme Court of California on Saturday as she painted a dismal outlook of the future, grim with lack of decent paying options for recent graduates of University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

It was the kind of speech where even the most optimistic of parents cringe upon hearing of the lack of jobs available to those armed with newly minted law degrees.

Still, the bleak expectation failed to deter the graduates from pursuing their calling. Within this class is the mark of resiliency. Each held their heads high holding on to their dream. Many walked with their children strutting close to their side.

In all, 308 Juris Doctor degrees and 38 Master in Law degrees were presented to the graduating class of 2012 by Dean Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker on May 12th, a significant day for many to celebrate a lifelong achievement.

Here is photo montage of some the graduates and their families at the commencement ceremonies held at the Memorial Auditorium on 15th and J Street in Sacramento, California.

Hearts out at Women Go Red

2012-05-08T14:21:51Z

What do women want?

Try a gentle nudge, fusing health with spa treatments to spark awareness that women self-care is necessary, especially when the goal is to live well enough to enjoy watching your own grandchildren grow up.

More than 1,300 people attended the 2012 American Heart Association’s Annual Go Red for Women benefit at Woodlake Hotel on Friday.

A white linen luncheon complete with chicken salad, walnuts, cranberries, and light vinaigrette, chocolate truffles and mousse dessert graced the tables as girlfriends engaged in conversation, a mini shopping spree, red feather boas, Macy’s gift cards, zumba with the Golden 1 Credit Union mascot, and sparkly heart shaped accessories.

Too many women die each year because they are unaware of their No.1 killer, heart disease. One in three women suffers in silence, and almost one woman dies every minute from this preventable disease.

When a woman takes up the fight against heart disease, she shouldn’t do it alone. Having the support of a team can greatly influence one’s ability to succeed. This is why the American Heart Association joined forces with Sutter Health & Vascular Institute in its fight against heart disease in women.

Go Red for Women combines community resources with education to connect millions of women in supporting them to make personal choices that turn into life-saving actions.

The luncheon featured emcees Reba Arnold, co-anchor, News 10 and Amy Lewis of KFBK. A special zumba session stirred the audience to act starting with regular exercise. Dr. Michael Fugit, an interventional cardiologist at Sutter Health & Vascular Institute presented more health tips for women to impact their odds for heart health.

Afterwards, Nick Fowler and his mother Kirsten shared their account of surviving multiple heart surgeries from the young age of only seven days old. Nick is now nineteen, studying kinesiology in college, and focuses on his future though he continues to be monitored by his doctors.

Within the audience, are open heart surgery survivors, like Bonnie and Stephy. After surviving heart surgery, Stephy decided to turn her pain into art, drawing from her understanding, the designs of hope transferred to graphic t shirts. She shares the shirts with other heart disease patients traveling as a vendor with other Go Red events sharing the findings of her craft, through the Mosaic Heart.

These are women who found their inner calling through healing and changing their lifestyle. Within each other is strength. Within each other is knowledge. Within each other is the support and creativity to end the isolation of heart disease.

Health tips from Dr. Oz at California Museum

2012-05-02T17:25:23Z

California’s fiscal fitness depends on adopting healthy habits. On Monday, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a popular television host of "The Dr. Oz Show" led the charge for a two year pilot workplace-wellness program designed to promote healthy habits at work.

“Health happens in the Workplace” was launched with Yvonne R. Walker, President of SEIU, State Controller John Chiang, and State Treasurer Bill Lockyer pushing forward to improve state worker’s health to save money on long term cost.

A study by the state controller’s office found that in 2008, California could save between $18 million to $54 million a year if only five to fifteen percent of government workers are able to prevent chronic disease through changes in diet and increased physical activity. The state can save three dollars for every dollar spent.

The workplace-wellness program follows the imprint of HealthCorps, a Sacramento based nonprofit founded by Dr. Oz and his wife to end childhood obesity. It is expected to gain traction in workplace environments throughout California.

HealthCorps started in 2003, and has spread to 53 high schools across the country. The vision is to take steps similar to this youth empowered program and apply like wise solutions to workplace needs. The workplace-wellness program is an effort by Kaiser Permanente, The California Endowment, and the Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which is the largest state workers union .

A national study on the rising cost of healthcare graphically shows how income is outpaced by healthcare cost inflation. National income can’t seem to keep up with rising healthcare cost with more than 41 percent of adults in America having trouble in finding the care they need.

The pilot program comes at a time when getting lean is a necessity. During the rally, Eunice Pannell, a state worker at Department of Public Health nearly fainted from heat exhaustion during the lunchtime lecture. Dr. Oz, a heart surgeon tended to her care. She was treated then released by paramedics on scene.

The Department of Public Health is the first state agency to implement the program focusing on health education, employee screenings, and peer support in social environments.

Disclosure: Author is a state worker with BOE and writes on issues related to foster youth and advocacy in her blog: istreetbridgeproject.tumblr.com/

Poetic voices educate immigrant choices

2012-04-24T06:42:41Z

More than 85 people attended a poetry benefit at the Guild Theater on April 21, 2012 to raise funds for the “Que Llueva Café” scholarship which aims to support the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of college bound undocumented students so they can earn their college degree and allow their hard work and sacrifice to persevere.

Thirty scholars were chosen holistically by a panel of community volunteers through CORE, Chicano Organizing and Research in Education earlier this month. Every year, the group aims to raise $15,000 to help undocumented scholars working towards higher education. Recipients live everywhere in the United States, not just in California.

“When we first put this scholarship together five years ago, there was a lot of hate,” Miguel Cordova, a state worker at Department of Education admits. He said some of the board members endured threats for moving the controversial scholarship forward.

“I think there is a great deal of fear. We have since come a long way towards bridging the gap for equality in education.”

He wishes that he could provide help to all 1,400 scholars who apply yearly. Their stories are enduring, but the group just does not have all the funds required to help them all. The applications go through at least five reviews until a decision is made.

The benefit is one of the many that the group organizes for the year which raised $13,000 so far. They are well on their way for their goal with one more fundraiser planned late in 2012.

Francisco Alarcon, Julia Connor, JoAnn Anglin, Nancy Aide Gonzalez were some of the educators who recited prose. Other poets include Betty Sanchez, Sean Penna, Rosalba Gabriela Ruvalcaba, and Paco Marquez. Musicians, Patrick Grizzell, Cynthia Llano Faulkner and Joaquin Clemente also gained spectators attention.

The evening is proof that poets come from all walks of life. From social workers, to lawyers, musicians, to visual artists, they paint the picture representing the meaning of the American dream.

"Poetry makes business sense,” said John Martinez. “In poetry the use of similes communicates the ideas that we are trying to set forth. I use similes daily when I'm closing," said John Martinez, an attorney who rededicated himself to writing rhyme at age fifty.

After four children and half a dozen grandchildren, he decided to pick up the passion he left behind at twenty. “It's never too late,” he adds. His wife Rosa America said that he used to write poems when they first met as a young couple starting out in life. When you follow ambition, work and family responsibilities have a way of taking over your life.

Here is Martinez in one of his rare public appearances.

And just like many influential older brothers, he was able to convince his younger sibling Ramiro Martinez, a visual artist to also share his take on literacy in the open mic later in the night.

Ramiro’s poem can be viewed here.

Tango with Team in Training

2012-04-12T09:09:45Z

On any given Tuesday, Michelle Gorre's students push through more of what feels like a workout instead of a tango class at Sierra 2 Center. She guides the class through warm-ups, isolations, drills, routines, floor work, and cool-down. The participants move through exercises to become better dance partners.

With the same discipline and energy she expects from her class, Gorre is raising funds to support the cure with her TNT Leukemia & Lymphoma Society training team. She is very close to reaching her goal, with a little bit further to go.

This Friday, April 13, 2012, a tango dance party will be held at The Capital Athletic Club on 1515 8th St.

At 7 p.m., there will be a beginner lesson with Gorre and a more advanced lesson with Homer & Cristina Ladas who will be performing later that night.

The lesson will start newbies off on the right foot with basics then experienced tango afficionados will engage the milonga.

There will also be a drawing to win clothing, accessories, jewelry, wine, art, private dance lessons and other goodies.

A suggested $20 donation is encouraged at the front desk. The benefit raises funds to find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. To find out more, see the team in training webpage.

Film Festival fosters creativity

2012-04-09T22:22:31Z

The 48-hour film challenge took place on the weekend of March 30, for the Sacramento Film Festival at The Artisan. All the 32 registered teams had to make a creative sprint that began 7:30 p.m., March 30 and ended at 7:30 p.m., April 1. Only 26 teams completed their project according to Martin ~~Ayala~~ Anaya, the event organizer.

Mine was one of them.

As an aspiring multimedia journalist, writing stories for a year, then following my friends on their film projects in the last three. I decided to attempt the challenge for myself.

After all, the best way to learn is to just do it.

My vision was to have a crew of all foster children who have turned 18 – and “aged out” of the system that I met at LaVerne Adolfo, a transitional living center in Mather. I've met many of them last year. In many ways, we grew up together because for many, Adolfo is as close as you can get to what you would call a family.

We didn’t have all the bells and whistles or fancy equipment, or even an Apple computer, but I did have an understanding of how to bring resources together for good storytelling.

As soon as the Sacramento Film Festival organizers handed out rules to the aspiring filmmaking teams, we said go!

The organizers required all the teams to add a character named Kamel Attaboy, a frisbee, and a line “These aren’t the droids you are looking for” and a random genre out of a hat.

My team was the novices among those who had greater experience, but this did not deter us from our goal.

We brainstormed for at least three hours throughout the night. It took eight hours to take the stills at the Capitol, California State University, light rail, and Adolfo. It took another seven hours of editing on a borrowed computer.

The most difficult part was coordination from one location to the next, especially when our only transportation was light rail, bus, and walking. The other difficult part was putting together the sound, so we used a fusion song “I Know The Truth,”by Pretty Lights to fix the weak link.

Also, one of the young guys on our crew had his phone cut off, so we couldn’t connect later in the day. We did what we could to scramble with what we did have.

Though the film has some missing elements, the fact that it is finished is in itself the accomplishment. It is the journey not the destination. What I learned is that youth, especially foster youth, in general, greatly benefit from the support of mentors, not just in film or writing, but every profession in the community.

Hopefully, this idea resonates in our film to be shown at Crocker Art Museum at 7 p.m. on April 28 along with the shorts made by the other 25 teams.

We’re lucky to get into the film festival. Most of the movies that will be shown are by veteran indie producers and directors, including many who won awards.

The film festival takes place from April 21-29. The main venue is The Artisan, 1901 Del Paso Blvd.

Here are a few of the festival highlights:

The Pink Room Documentary, Directed by Joel Sandvos, Written by Fernanda Rossi – A documentary about child sex trafficking in Cambodia and how one young woman overcomes affliction with the help of her community, a heart wrenching epic battle to end sex slavery from rescue to prevention.

California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown - Award winning filmmaker Sascha Rice creates an intimate, inside look at the iconic California governor of the 1960s, the father of Governor Jerry Brown — and the making of a political dynasty.

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 – This film examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in the black community and Diaspora from 1967 to 1975. The film combines music, startling 16mm footage and contemporary audio interviews from leading African-American artists, activists, musicians and scholars.

Pig – Directed by Mark Stolaroff A man (Rudolf Martin) wakes up in the desert, a black hood over his head, his hands tied to his back. He is saved by a woman (Heather Ankeny) and her son, and when he recovers he realizes he’s suffering from total amnesia. The only clue to his identity is a scrap of paper with the name Manny Elder on it. He leaves the woman and her son and goes on a journey to discover who he is – or was.

For the full schedule, click California Film Foundation.

Editor's note: Edits have been made to this article after publishing.

Finding balance with Tai Chi

2012-04-07T21:20:47Z

There's a willing way to the heart and it cuts like a tai chi saber. For centuries, tai chi, chi gung, and "internal" martial arts practices have been known to improve mental and physical acuity.

At Riverwalk Park in West Sacramento, every other Sunday, at 12:30 p.m. Daniel Quincy Sifu will be sharing this art form with the public.

Quincy has been teaching tai chi since 1986. He has taught many students through Tai Chi Club in UC Davis, Experimental College, and public parks in the East Bay and Sacramento. He was first introduced to the art form while doing his post doctorate research in biophysics at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

He was active in all kinds of sports from boxing, wrestling, skiing, to bicycling as a college athlete. Tai chi was an activity he took up after enduring injuries that forced him to find low impact alternatives to these sports.

According to Quincy, some of the most common "Family Styles" of "T'ai-Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan)" are "Chen Style", "Yang Style" , "Wu Style", and "Sun Style".

All these "internal" Martial Art styles which fall under the heading of "T'ai-Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan)" are of relatively recent Chinese origin, seven-hundred-and-fifty years or less.

The Mayo Clinic refers to tai chi as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through gentle movement that connects mind and body. It is generally non competitive. The benefits include gentle physical exercise and stretching that aids in breathing, sleeping, strenght, stamina, and stress relief. It is particularly useful practice, if you have problems with joints, spine, or the heart.

He walks through the relaxed movements with his class, embrace tiger pose, grasp sparrows tail, leopard pose transitions one to the next with ease and fluidity.

"Sometimes, he balances on one foot longer than the rest of us can handle, " jokes one of his students, Eduardo.

This is quite impressive as Quincy will be three and a half years short of his seventieth birthday in May.

"Strengthen from your core," Quincy explains.

"Our own will disrupts the flow. Inhale for inspiration then exhale for expiration."

To confirm group class times or arrange for private lessons, call Daniel Quincy Sifu at 916-670-0176. He teaches tai chi throughout the region in Sacramento, Woodland, and Davis. Follow him via twitter @tccsac.

Young Leaders on the Metro Edge

2012-03-09T17:45:41Z

The Park Ultra Lounge on Thursday was standing room only with more than three hundred fifty young leaders converging for one mighty night on the town at the 2nd Annual Young Leaders connect sponsored by Metro Edge.

There are no strangers - just bright engaging people out for a typical happy hour. While there was the usual attendance of capitol state workers, lawyers, financial analysts, and lobbying professionals, the company also included teachers, engineers, and cattle ranchers grazing from as far as Lodi and Rio Vista.

You’ve heard of the “six degrees of separation” theory, right? Pick anyone on the planet, and chances are you already know them through no more than six acquaintances. Nowhere is this theory truer than now.

"As the Sacramento economy picks up and recent graduates pound the pavement for their dream job, the key to finding the right fit is face to face networking. The edge provides the avenue to do that." says Jason Andalora, project manager at University of Phoenix.

President's day weekend west coast swing

2012-02-18T08:27:21Z

More than 300 dancers let their walking do the talking at Capital Swing's west coast swing convention on President's Day weekend.

On it's 20th anniversary, the annual west coast swing convention in Sacramento attracts everyone from novices to champions dancers worldwide. Last year, the convention drew enthusiasts from as far as Brazil and France.

For those who are local, long distance travel isn't necessary to catch a piece of the action. All you have to do is drive through Exposition Boulevard to the Woodlake Hotel (formerly known as the Radisson)

"It's great exercise. The people here are all nice. Everyone dances with everyone else. It's just a great community to be a part of," said Christine Anderson, a professional development consultant for teachers from Fair Oaks.

Anderson won what is called the West Coast Swing 101 competition late Thursday night. It was tournament for beginners in which your dance partner is a fellow beginner picked at random. Later this weekend there will be similar dance tournaments for intermediate, advanced, and champion level dancers.

Before getting into west coast swing, Anderson have not tried other forms of partner dancing but the music of contemporary, rock, and country appealed to her while line dancing with her friends at Stoney Inn. West coast swing allowed her the freedom of solo line dancing to syncopate with a partner.

In contrast, her partner in the West Coast Swing 101 competition, Richie Selby, came from International Latin roots, which he said held very strict ballroom standards. To counter the regimen, he took up hip hop with a crew called Press P.L.A.Y. Press P.L.A.Y. stands for passion, love, art, dance, and youth.

A friend from Press P.L.A.Y invited him to a west coast swing social soon after at The Station in Roseville. The Station has been in and out of controversy last year, on a city ordinance ordering the owners to stop the dancing. Still, most people who start, know that they end up liking the west coast swing movement so much, they never could stop. There's just no looking back according to Selby.

"West coast swing has people who really love it. This is what's good about the community. We have people who really love it," Selby said.

Come, try it ! Free Beginner Lesson at Capital Swing with Theresa Mcgarry of Ballroom of Sacramento !

Friday, Feb 17 - 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb 18 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

at Woodlake Hotel & Convention Center, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA 95815 (formerly the Radisson)

Also, Sunday Night Dance is $10 from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Disclosure: Author is a west coast swing dancer.

Heart and Soul-idarity

2012-02-13T03:05:00Z

More than 300 people attended Thursday night's Art Mix at the Crocker Art Museum blending the celebration of Black History Month with Valentine's Day. Heart and Soul-idarity, was the theme of the evening bringing together the passion of singers, dancers, poets, painters, and art afficionados to an eclectic era in learning.

There was something to please everyone. The evening began with a Tour of the museum called Love Stories. At the same time, some event attendees crafted hands on momentos of the event with African-art-inspired accessories by Betty Davis and Yvonne Warren.

Sol Collective's Jazz'n Love Lounge featured spoken word, poetry, and music performance in the art of words tradition. The most memorable moment was Bonafide Rojas poem about his daily ritual on the "D train" in New York, which starts in Coney Island in Brooklyn then goes over to 205th Street in the Bronx by way of the western side of Manhattan.

He also shared "Love Letter from the Bronx" before dedicating his last reading to our nation's teachers, who influence youth to write. Watch his very inspiring speech here.

Sidomy took the audience further by describing Portland's landscape in her spoken word tribute. James Cavern originally from England sang, "Stand by Me" and "Just the Two of us" with guitar accompaniment as tribute to noteworthy African American music artists then featured his own original piece with hip hop artist Courtney Turner.

The contemporary open space of the Friedman Court bustled with energetic dancers who danced the wobble and other popular line dances as DJ Rock Bottom spun beats.

White linens lined the round tables. Food and refreshments was made available for guest through the Crocker Cafe. An open mic love song contest entertained attracting some tough competitors with Ayla Dozier, 19, a freshman from Folsom Lake College and James Cavern, 24 leading the American Idol generation. Dozier sang "Make you feel my Love" by Adele accapella. Cavern shared, "In my sleep" , a song he wrote about a relationship on the tip of a break up.

The night tapped into heart and soul-idarity with the takeaway being a connection with community. Learn how to live, to love, and to embrace your talents in a way that motivates the soul to be free.

†††’s Live 2012

2012-02-06T06:32:23Z

It’s Friday night at Ace of Spades with Chino Moreno, lead vocalist of the Deftones, and Shaun Lopez, guitarist of Far, crossing over to a new experimental era with †††.

A line of tattooed girls with skin tight jeans slink through the crowd as fans trickle in. Over 500 people paid homage filling the bar, to near capacity with a mix of high school students, collegiate couples, 80’s heavy-metal fans, punk rockers and adult film models.

There were two openers Secret Empire, a six man band from Los Angeles and Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross from Chicago. Both bands were the opposite of the other, balancing a yin that sided on the side of heavy metal and the yang on the side of experimental electronic fusion.

The first, Connor Ragan (24), wrote all the songs for Secret Empire including “Plastic Wrist” and “Alien Burial.” His bizarre mohawk, a deep blond, contrast with his black long-sleeved threads and jeans evoked a dark confidence in a young idealist wanting to be noticed in a conservative world.

The second, Dexter Tortoriello (25), of Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross was more understated. In a gray t-shirt and plastic-rimmed glasses, he tested the limits of a synchronized drum machine, a Mac, and a microphone hypnotizing the crowd with "White Sun" and “Blacks.” The entire set included a civil rights speech and the song Ave Maria layered with electronica sounds.

Connor Griffith, a senior from Mira Loma High who scored tickets through an online guitar site was in the audience impressed by the varied styles of music. He was excited to finally see Moreno, the former Deftones vocalist, who is not only a role model to teens everywhere but also his own fourteen year old son.

An altar of crosses await. The †††’s color change from hot pink to turquoise blue to a pure white light. The fine line of rock music and religion dilate. The audience is almost inclined to dunk their fingers in holy water. Then again, within these walls, there is plenty of sin.

“We’ll drink from the waves and feel our souls. We’ll fall asleep on the graves and seal our souls,” Moreno’s deep melodic tone shrills in “Holy Ghost.”

Dino Campanella and Chris Robyn then elevate with drums, facing each other to the lyrics of the song, “This is a Trick (Hello Hello I Know)."

On keyboard and guitar, Jono Evans and Chuck Doom summoned a calypso rhythm to “Bermuda Locket.” The lyrics ignite a light, "just come this way and I will bring you to life."

Lopez lures the audience deeper with the forbidden “Frontiers,” sailing off into the sun to rediscover the height of “Prurient.”

“Back in Sac, what's up?” Moreno yells at the top of his lungs. The crowd jumps at his beckon, the light of their phones waving in recognition, seizing the moment to welcome a hero. They wave their hands in empathy, accepting their star with “Telepathy.”

After all Moreno, originally came from Sacramento. A moved fan snuck on stage to pay respect, then hurled himself at the spectators. As long as you let me play, I’ll let you win.

The mood then changes as the synthesizer blaze to a somber, “1987.”

“A shoebox of ashes, a silver casket, a mother dressed for eternities, breathe in the waves.” His words reminise on identities, lost, and graves.

Shaking it off, Moreno says, “I want to dance. This is so much fun. I’m so glad that we are here. This song goes out to my pops and Uncle Chi (a tribute to Deftones bassist Chi Cheng who was left in a coma after a 2008 car accident),” as he transitioned to “Trophy.”

He then embraced fans, holding their hands to the call of “Option.” Moreno’s profound evolution, with Crosses, his fear surrendered to what is dear.

“Just open your heart and say, ‘I swear on the cross. Can you promise this to the grave?’”

Lights dim to the ringing of church bells. The music is his calling. A promise to give it all as Crosses return with an encore, the “Years” and another EP in the works for 2012.

When things fall apart

2012-01-30T09:40:37Z

Every morning 1,800 employees enter the California State Board of Equalization Building. Past the sliding glass doors, security, then up the elevators to get to work. Most never notice the 2 by 5 signs taped to the glass doorways upfront.

Warning: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, may be found in the facility. California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.6

Though it's not only harmful chemicals, that has plagued the safety of the buiding in the past. Two weeks ago, on January 11, pieces of broken glass fell eight stories to the sidewalk on 5th and N Street.

The sidewalk is still blocked with caution tape and orange cones although the gaping hole between the 8th and 9th floors has been secured with plywood according to the Department of General Services.

Sooner or later the cones and yellow tape will also go away and the employees won't remember a thing. They will go on with their lives, remaining apathetic because, they're just too busy to think about it.

After all, a day without work means no revenue for the State of California. The staff is there to complete the work, not to complain about their environment.

"It's dangerous, really dangerous," exclaimed Phillip Robinson, an IT professional who has worked in the building for more than 8 years. "In the past, they had scaffolding on all four sides. I'm surprised they only blocked off the side where the window fell off."

He glances up at the high rise pointing to where the piece fell off. There were more random pieces that fell down in the afternoon. This prompted the guards not only to close the sidewalk but also the traffic lane adjacent to the building on 5th Street to close.

"We don't know if other debris will fall. There's no guarantee. Watch your head, " a security guard warned.

Tax professionals slaving away at their desk received an email from the union in the afternoon to encourage letters of concern to media.

"No one wants to say anything. Most are afraid to be fired if they did," states Luz Susa who works in the returns support unit. Silence is golden for the golden state.

While it is true. Management does have every intention to move the employees out of the place, they just do not have the funds to do so. The money for relocation would come from the general fund because the owners of the building is the Department of General Services.

With California holding the bag for a $17.5 Bilion deficit, and already cutting jobs and social service programs, there is just no room to renovate the building to code.

Even if civil servants end up with tumors after serving their time, it looks like management will still be at this gridlock.

Historically, the building has had it's string of flaws. People have reported getting trapped in elevators, plumbing breaks leading to floods on the 9th floor, and front glass sliding doors coming loose almost falling on innocent bystanders. Other red flags wave at poor air quality, freezing temperatures that force employees to work with their winter coats on, mold scares, and strange odors that forced entire floors to close.

Still, the managers, tax representatives, and support staff continue to work in hazardous health and safety conditions like it's not any more dangerous working in the BOE building than Fukushima.

Why do they do it? They do so because they have hungry families to feed, because they have no other place to go, and the State of California urgently needs this money. This money that they can't even touch.

The irony is that state workers file in to work with more pressure to collect needed tax dollars so California can be restored to a fully functional budget, not factoring in their own risk in the equation.

After all, is it worth losing a job when your family, sanity, and long term health is really what is at stake?

Maybe we should take the action of the vendor who used to run the cafeteria's example. One day , they just up and left without notice to the Department of General Services.

If it looks dangerous, it probably is.

Run away, really fast. DGS obviously does not care about the people who work in the building. In fact, they're careful to make them stand under more danger while they wait for their lunch to cook.

Disclosure: Author is a civil servant. She also worked in commercial and residential real estate for 7 years prior to joining the state.

Window falls off downtown high rise

2012-01-11T19:18:05Z

A window fell off the 8th floor of the State Board of Equalization Building on N and 4th Street. The cause is still under investigation. A section of the street was closed off at 10:30am.

Kwanzaa Love Train opens new year

2012-01-02T22:34:03Z

It's the beginning and the end. The alpha and the omega.

The final day of Kwanzaa welcomes the new year with the principle of Imani, faith in a play based on "One in the Spirit" written by Ione Murchison and adapted by Rebecca Davis, Rosanna Herber, and Michael Pollock.

The performance featured original hip hop soundtrack by sixteen year old Isiah White and dances by the Fenix Drum & Dance Company.

Afterwards, a feast was served for the annual diversity gathering at Center for Spiritual Awareness in West Sacramento.

On it's ninth year running, this is largest attended so far with over 170 people said organizer Rebecca Davis.

The church provides three turkeys, drinks, and bread for the potluck with the community pitching in with side dishes and dessert to share.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach after the Watts riot in Los Angeles. Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community.

The play unites all with the song love train moving into the new year as illustrated in this original1973 video.

Amtrak train stops on I Street Bridge

2012-01-02T05:19:07Z

A west bound Amtrak train suddenly stops on the I Street Bridge on January 1, 2012 at 12:35 p.m. The train was detained for twenty minutes then was pulled back to the Sacramento train station. A few minutes later, the bridge swiveled over to let a Hornblower cruise ship past through.

To see the train being rolled back, click video.

A day in Sacramento

2011-12-20T04:00:47Z

Yes, there are a few gems in Sacramento. Times when you can honestly say, living here can be good after all. The thing is you have to know is where to look.

This Sunday, we decide to share some of the glow.

Bank Protest and the Why of Occupy 2

2011-11-07T08:58:02Z

It’s cold out there. It never stops raining. Despite some chilly conditions, the weather was not cold enough to deter the warmth heralded by the protestors of Occupy Sacramento who kept marching on Nov. 5 in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street for bank transfer day.

Some are people whose homes have been taken away due to foreclosure. Others are disappointed because their children’s favorite teacher has been cut from lack of funding in their public school. Some just can’t get the health insurance they need. Others are sick and tired of the lies fed by government.

Others are aging and their basic Social Security check no longer covers their necessities. Others are people on disability whose earnings can’t cover all the medication for their health.

Another set are newly minted college graduates who just can’t get jobs in their field. There are none.

There is a couple needing help because a layoff resulted in one spouse not working. Now they both have to pack up and live with their parents. Worst, their parents are barely making ends meet so they can’t help them either. Now, they are out in the street.

Each face at Cesar Chavez Park has its own story. Why do they choose to be there on a cold rainy day? Some say they no longer have a choice.

While the focus of Saturday’s march from the north side of the State Capitol through downtown financial district and on to Caesar Chavez Park was to encourage people to “Move their money” from big banks into local credit unions or small banks in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, every person there also had their own grievance.

Occupy Sacramento remains a leaderless organization – a group of people drawn together by the common thread of frustration with the economic system. They hold long meetings, called assemblies, to attempt to develop a consensus on issues. There are facilitators who bring together committees to function but really they are people from the middle class needing things to change in the world that they live in.

The occupiers in Sacramento have lately been drawn into a long conflict with the Sacramento City Council over whether or not they can get a permit to stay overnight in the park. The fight with the City Council has sucked energy away from the group’s goal of reforming the U.S economy.

The grim reality is that the choices are shrinking. The bigger choices like where we choose to work and how we earn are disappearing.

A Chancellor’s professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, Robert B. Reich, explains the problem with our economy best in this two minute video.

Reich’s analysis boils down essentially to one issue: The richest Americans have gotten a lot richer – in part by paying less in taxes than they did in 1980s – while most of the middle class has lost ground economically. The result, Reich states, is that the institutions of democracy are strained because they are starved of resources.

It’s not that the protestors want your money. Heck, Occupy Sacramento’s entire budget is less than one person’s bank account. Their reason for protest is for the rest of us to stop and think.

Two blocks past the Citizen Hotel on the sidewalk of the Sheraton paints a contrast. A line of powerful people in suits, and women with tall boots and Prada purses waive taxis or wait for valet in conspicuous consumption. Tonight, they all go home to the security of their own warm bed.

So are these people the middle class? Are these the people the Occupy movement is fighting for? If it is, they haven’t a clue. I asked and another lady had to explain to her friend what I was talking about.

And life in Sacramento goes on.

As the occupiers organize late into the night, with a barely working electrical generator fighting for their life, a future, this park, a symbol of hope for the day we once were invincible.

To View More pictures of the bank protest and videos please go to this link by Ed Fogle.

Disclosure: Normally, I would try to be a tottally objective and fair journalist but this bank protest painfully reminded me of my own experience when I faced foreclosure and lost my home because the bank refused to call me back.

It's a hard knock life

2011-11-06T16:47:52Z

Raymond and Sylvia Munoz did not know what they were getting into when they first signed up to be foster parents. They nearly called it quits after helping 30 foster kids then the arrival of Sean opened their hearts to the possibility of adoption.

"It's been 13 years of bliss," said Sylvia recalling the day.

When Sean's adoptive father, a military veteran and Americorp volunteer passed away in 2010, Sylvia was left on her own to raise a teen.

She was at the adoption orientation for National Adoption Awareness Day at the State Capitol on Nov 3 to find out how to adopt two older foster siblings.

It's a hard knock life for 60,000 foster kids living in California. Though, 25,000 of these children are eligible for adoption. The thought of a caring role model and a permanent place to call home is really all they need.

In the greater Sacramento region alone, there are over 3,400 foster kids in the system. 1,000 of these children need a permanent family. Many are teens who will otherwise age out of the system with daunting odds.

Studies conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services from 2009, show that within 2-4 years over 50% of these young adults will struggle with outcomes as homelessness, drug addiction, or imprisonment.

Given the trauma they experience when the kids are separated from their families and removed from their home for their own protection. Too many live in uncertainty, unsure of what is happening and who is committed to them for a lifetime.

An intimate panel with EMQ Families First, Lilliput Children’s Services, and Sierra Forever Families, as well as Sacramento County Child Protective Services addressed The Need, Myths, and Reality about adoption.

Here are some common fears and realities that they shared:

It’s not too expensive to adopt from foster care. While domestic infant adoption and international adoption vary in cost from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, there is little or no cost to adopt from foster care.

The parents of the children will come back to reclaim them. Once parental rights have been terminated by the court, the parents have no further recourse for gaining custody of the children. The adoption is final.

Children in foster care are not all juvenile delinquents. Children enter the foster care system through no fault of their own, they may have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and deserve every effort to help them find a permanent loving home.

Single parents cannot adopt. Single parents can and do, adopt. Last year, from the children adopted from foster care, 31% were adopted by single parents.

“The first thing to do is to find a foster care parent support group and talk to those who have adopted. They can share with you their experience, hope, and candid advice on adoption and parenting a child who is a survivor of foster care,” said Bob Herne from Sierra Families.

If interested in adopting, please begin with organizations listed in this Sac Press article.

Disclosure: Author is an ex foster kid.

Laughs Unlimited’s tickling therapy

2011-11-02T14:15:38Z

Aha! I’ve found Utopia and it is on a ten by ten pulpit with a steel sliding microphone stick. Instead of hate, oh the waves of laughter it creates.

Where the orators can offend and there’s nothing to defend just the hilarity of truth bared down to its presence, a roll in the dark with a spotlight and a red pulsing timer.

I know a place. Ain’t nobody crying. Ain’t nobody worrying, I’ll take you there.

Open mic, at Laughs Unlimited on Tuesday drew over 18 comedians and more than a hundred people in the audience for comic relief. At a time when letting go of everyday reality is almost impossible, the $5 cure of a healing drink and laughter is cheap therapy.

"This is a rare time, when there are more than a dozen or so new comics on stage.” said Shane Murphy, a veteran comedian and promoter of the open call sign-ups. “Want to be” professional comedians can use their time as a live audition with the owners held on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Tonight, the torch for host was passed to a “she”, giving free reign to voluptuous, Hannah, whose sweet raunchiness kept your ass glued to the seat for the next performance.

The comics left no borders untouched from urban violence in Oakland, to sparing use of the “n” and the “f” word, to the joys of interracial sex and size matters, to a guide to hiring Mexicans in front of Home Depot, to being lost in a street called Man love, to poking fun at a church choir director’s need to date under-age girls, and not understanding what it means to give head to an Arab, there was no topic left un-slapped in the scope of two hours.

Come and spare some change, the tummy massage beats a vibrator, and the company is worth a nightcap.

Fil-Am history emerge through Hip Hop and Art

2011-10-29T18:36:57Z

Now is it Filipino with an F or a P? It must be an F because as most Fil-Ams would agree, it’s not Filipino without food and family. In Sacramento, hip hop artists, break dancers, designers, and other creatives came together at Sol Collective on 21st Street and Broadway to celebrate Filipino American History Month.

They came from as far as Vallejo, Stockton, and South San Francisco to share what it means to be Fil-Am.

The heat resonates from the thin sachets of lumpia simmering in the boiling bubbles of Crisco oil. Dominique Marquez, 26 with her long silky hair, tank top, tribal ink tattoo, and shorts helps her mom "Nanay" with her brow covered in sweat over the open fire of the gas grill. She stirs the tray full of lumpia sizzling in the iron pans next to the rice cooker.

Armies of people line up for a taste. lumpia, rice, adobo, and pancit appease the appetite. For some of the Gen Y dolls in skinny jeans and guys in baggy jeans with shirts printed in sarcastic humor and baseball caps, this is about as close to a Filipino home cooking as one can get.

Inside, heads bob to Jonathan aka DJ rated R spinning old school tunes with Stevie B. and Jocelyn Enriquez in the mix. The nostalgia brings up memories. Growing up in high school when these superstar icons were the rage and life was care free, the memories replay an era. Back to a time when the girls ran for homecoming queen and the boys tricked out cars with loud speakers, chose street racing as pastime, and tagged bridges with graffiti.

“Tagging is getting your name on something. Bombing is covering the entire wall with it.” explains Eric Nodora, 33, a graffiti artist turned painter and graphic designer.

“It was fun till we got caught, then my parents would hear about it. They weren’t happy when we got home escorted by police. Then again, it’s better than the alternative. Could have been high off something, but tagging was my high.”

Nodora, now lives in Oakland but grew up in South Sacramento graduating from Valley High.

Tonight he outlines a new painting, a single Jeepney on wood. Next to him leaning on the window sill is a piece he just completed, a scene straight out of Manila with more than a dozen colorful Jeepneys dancing on oil based canvas.

“Jeepneys are everywhere in the Philippines,” Nodora said as he recalls a trip back home, a "balikbayan" trip to the Philippines in 2009. Bright solid colors and exquisite detail are the trademarks of his work.

“They’re all a little different, kind of like Filipinos. We each have our own flavor”

In the back room stands a large 6-foot palette part of the "Igorot" series inspired by a second balikbayan visit in 2010 searching for his roots. An Igorot man holds an axe on blood red background with deep wrinkles on his face, the wisdom of an angry grandfather, "Lolo" with tribal design tattoos on his chest.

"I wanted to portray the fight of the native people who refused to be driven out of their land. The battle between the Mactan Island Chieftain Lapu Lapu and the foreign aggressor Ferdinand Magellan on April 27, 1521 stands as a reminder of Filipino bravery.

“Every one of the distinct shapes on the aging headhunter’s body is a battle scar, kind of like how Fil-Ams earned stripes as part of the US military,” Nodora said.

Filipinos are spread out throughout the United States but most are centered in the West Coast. About 480,000 make their home in Southern California with Los Angeles County hosting the largest community in America with more than 262,600.

Nearly 121,000 Filipinos live in Daly City and the San Francisco, according to US Census. Many of these families immigrated here as engineers, nurses, doctors, or military veterans from World War II.

In the race to conform, many have let go of tradition, often trading in their “da” accent for the perfect “th”. Some parents have refused to teach their children, Tagalog. Taking in English as native tongue meant acceptance. In this way, Fil-Ams came to be known as the “invisible majority” especially in California.

As in Nodora’s case whose parents speak Ilocano and common among young Filipinos, most can understand but do not speak the language. Tagalog, Ilocano, Visayan or any of the more than 100 languages ~~80 native dialects~~ of the Philippines comes as a rare linguistic trait as the first generation of Fil-Ams die off without passing this knowledge on to their children.

Clamoring for answers, Gen Y Fil-Ams are finding voice in music like Hip Hop. Many are mixed, half Caucasian, Chinese, Mexican, Black, Irish, Italian, and so on. Filipinos have blended in so well there really is no true Filipino race instead an amalgamation of cultures within a race.

The Sol Collective party kept rolling with the raffle giveaway. Energetic rappers lyrics rage to occupy the room, break dancers levitate with uncanny floor skills, and artists paint pieces with Filipino inspiration. A three-year-old boy joins the break dancers with his own interpretation of the rhythm of the music. (You can see the video here.)

Nina Rebultan, 23, one of the organizers explains her reason for bridging together Beats and lumpia on its second year.

“Last year was fundraising. This year it’s fun. It means everything to me. It’s how I share the stories told by my grandmother. That’s why I do what I do.”

We got into a conversation about the tattoos on her wrists. “This is Baybayin, an ancient Filipino script, in its more formal form, also called Alibata, what is written here is Maganda at Malakas.”

A typical hard-working Filipina, Nina’s tattoo stands for beautiful and strong. On her right wrist, Nieves, her grandmother’s name tattooed on top of the sun found in the Pilipino flag, surrounded by plumeria flowers.

It shines bright like sunlight. Tattoos memorialize a culture for a generation unearthing what was repressed, searching for answers.

“It’s ashame we never got taught Filipino history in school,” Nodora adds. "If we never learned something, it can easily be dismissed. It's like saying it never exist."

*To learn more about Filipino American History, get involved with your community . National Federation of Fil-Am Association has events throughout Northern California where you can get in touch with other Filipinos. Also, this timeline is a good place to start.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated after publishing.

Disclosure: I'm a Fil-Am dedicated to helping my community learn about resources available for personal development and enrichment.

The Why of Occupy Sacramento

2011-10-21T06:32:57Z

Why Occupy?

Right now, regular folks ― young, smart, educated young people ― are frustrated because they don't see a way to claim their piece of the American dream.

For Julio Escobar, 19, a Sacramento City College student who grew up in Oak Park, the decision to stay and offer himself up for arrest by not leaving Cesar Chavez Park was one of principle.

The issue with the park started on Oct. 6, when 19 protestors elected to stay after closing at Cesar Chavez Park on behalf of the 99%. The nineteen took the bullet for the majority refusing to leave in civil disobedience despite repeated warnings by the police to disburse or be taken to jail.

A video of the events unfolding can be seen here.

Hundreds of people have protested in Sacramento’s downtown financial district in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, a movement that started in New York’s Zuccotti Park now renamed Liberty Plaza. The movement has many people fueled with discontent over the country’s economic woes, the disparity of “have” and “have nothing” as evidenced by the people in the "99%."

The Cesar Chavez Park arrests is merely a sign of the times, a thermometer heating up the people’s economic conscience. As of October 15, 2011, 951 cities and 82 countries have joined together in this new form of democracy in action, a single global protest. Government by the people, not at the hands of elected officials who failed their expectations by catering to the few who control the majority of the nation's resources. The net effect is an ever shrinking middle class.

In Sacramento, the Occupy movement continues to gain traction, showing up at City Council meetings, and growing influence into neighboring cities like Davis. Davis launched their version of Occupy about a week ago. Tents are strewn in Central Park just like Cesar Chavez Park except there is not an ordinance in place to keep demonstrators from meeting at night.

"We are love on the frontlines," said Kevin Carter, an activist from Oak Park who led the march to a recent City Council meeting. “When you see a brother down, you’ve got to help them back up. We’re not complaining, the signs explain what we do. We need to take responsibility for our community.”

Contrary to the belief that Occupy is a leaderless organization, at general assembly facilitators take matters into their own hands by appointing leads for committees on finance, education, park clean-up, media, and other special needs.

“There is no reason why an Occupy movement should not exist in every city in America,” said a young mother who attended the open forum on Monday with her baby and asked that her name not be used. “Knowledge is power. We need to get in front of the politicians.”

General assembly had over one hundred participants meet in the park, brainstorming ideas to fix the ills of a broken society, the exemption to the no camping overnight ordinance was one of the first order of business but not the only issue they grappled with.

The park has been inhabited by demonstrators every day since Oct. 6 and arrests are up to 58. It’s one way to let others know of the urgency to correct what is wrong and have the elected politicians work for us not the other way around.

There are bigger problems plaguing the middle class besides holding on to a park. Protesting is one way to take the power back to the people as implied by the Constitution. The people need to feel safe to express their First Amendment rights not just in the park, but in their everyday lives.

Because governments have adopted policies that compromise the well-being of the middle class, millions now suffer a debt that is creating havoc for the 99% of American families who are not very wealthy. Banks were bailed out by government but there is no bail out for these families. Many are fighting for homes that they may no longer have if they lose the battle to foreclosure. The banks were bailed out but the people are the ones stuck with the bill.

Other consequences include rising tuition costs, program cuts in schools, veterans losing benefits, lack of jobs, and adequate health care, the "Why" of Occupy is about economics.

Without reform America is headed to a lifetime of servitude. See it as a wheel, without affordable education, the middle class is ill prepared to take on better paying jobs. Jobs that help pay for basic needs of our families - like food, health care, and education. Without change, the next generation will suffer a nationwide poverty cycle much like the depression of the 1930's.

Ironic, because America used to be one of the few place in the world where immigrants could work and break through the status quo by building a business.

The opportunities are slipping away taking our best and brightest overseas where cost of living is still affordable. One such example is some UC Davis students who are opting for studies abroad to finish their college degree. Countries like Spain and the Philippines offer a college education for a fraction of the cost in California.
.
“You can dissolve corporations, but you can’t dissolve the people,” said Steve, who asked not to use his full name. Despite losing a home that housed eight students barely getting their start in life in West Sacramento to a loan-modification scam by Bank of America, Steve lifted himself up by giving time to mentor a high school student.

“It’s going to take more than occupying a park to rebuild the dream. Everyone needs to support each other. That's one way to make a difference”.

Occupy Sacramento holds open forum at Cesar Chavez Park on a regular basis, come visit with the volunteers under the blue tent or check the website for meeting times.

*This is a photo documentary of Occupy Sacramento from October 6th to present.

Disclosure: Unfortunately, I am not rich enough to be part of the wealthiest 1 percent.

Women in Philanthropy share $en$e-ability

2011-10-16T21:12:45Z

Yellow flowers, silver ribbons, and shopping bags line the white linen covered tables in the Macy's courtyard of the Downtown Plaza Mall in preparation for a 10th Anniversary benefit fashion show for United Way's Women in Philanthropy. More than 230 women attended the luncheon to honor the group that brings women together to foster youths towards adulthood.

Honorees walked the runway with great reason to celebrate being that the day marks a milestone. Reaching $1 million in funds for programs, 1,223 towel sets, 75 luggage, 904 holiday gifts, and 34 life skills workshops given to foster youths aging out of the system.

This year, the group shares a new idea, $en$e –ability, individual development accounts (IDA) designed for foster youth before they leave the system to help them become self-sufficient. Matching funds are deposited in an account held by nonprofit agencies to be used for purchase of transportation, education, computers, rent, and health insurance.

It’s basically a savings account to prepare for the day when foster kids have to be on their own. Good grades, school attendance, class completions, and resumes are other ways to earn extra credit. The aim is to help the kids with a stable financial start towards a vocation and college.

Chloe Walker, 23, was one of the speakers who reflected on her past as a survivor of the foster care system.

She urged the ladies at the benefit to extend their generosity to foster youths by sharing their knowledge and financial help through the United Way's new program and getting involved in service.

She is now attending Sacramento State preparing for a vocation to help other foster kids learn about their choces as peer lead for Sacramento County Independent Living Programs. On a daily basis, she encourages foster youths to make smart decisions.

She credits her success to the strong women in her life like Jenny, her foster mom and her daughter Belinda who helped her when she was fourteen, her aunt Laurie for helping with a place to stay while she finishes college and Katie who adopted her foster sibling Brandon when he was 6. They all supported her dream of moving forward to a bright future.

“As for Women in Philanthropy”, she said “the group has helped me become aware of the resources available. I hear the conversations in networking and feel empowered when it’s recognized, the work that we need to keep doing for others,” said Walker.

Lisa Watts, chairwoman of Women in Philanthropy agrees citing the stunning reality. There are over 60,000 children under the age of 18 in foster care in California. 6,000 of those are in the five county regions: Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo.

Watts, whose initial involvement was a result of the Intel work campaign, understands the need. She had an aunt and uncle who took on the responsibility of raising foster kids while she was growing up.

“We can’t help everyone but we can certainly start by providing the most basic necessities toiletries, luggage, holiday gifts, and sharing our $en$e-ability.”

Click here to learn more about Women in Philanthropy.

Blues for Life celebrates survivors

2011-10-06T14:34:52Z

A mother, a sister, a spouse, a best friend is diagnosed with breast cancer everyday. This life threatening illness claims over 40,000 lives annually.

In Sacramento, the love for survivors goes beyond the pink celebrating with Blues for Life, a fundraiser for Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation held at the Torch Club last Sunday.

Every $100 pays for a mammogram that can save a woman's life. Over the past four years Blues for Life events raised over $125,000 to help those diagnosed with breast cancer in our community.

Considering that the average age of diagnosis is 37 years old, more than 70% of cases have no family history, and the leading cause of death among women between 40 & 55 is breast cancer, early detection is key to proper medical care.

Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation empowers people affected with breast cancer through awareness, education, and support.

Founder Doug Carson, thanks the many volunteers, sponsors, and musicians who kept the event going strong on its fifth year.

This year the back parking area was opened up to accomodate the thousands of attendees who make the annual pilgrimage to Sacramento for food, fun, and camaraderie.

Pasta was served up by Rio City Cafe, Plates Cafe, Lucca Restaurant, Evan's Kitchen, The Bread Store, Michelangelo's, Sergio's Steak and Seafood, House, Mama Susanna's, and Blue Print Restaurant.

Entertainers in the new outdoor space was Keri Carr Band, Walking Spanish, Kaye Bohler, Bone MacDonald Band, and Nibblers.

Musicians in the indoor bar space was Bryson & Jill Marie Van Cleve, Gino Matteo, Jimmy Pailer featuring Sista Monica, Jelly Bread, and Mercy Me!

"The best thing that happened today is that a woman who survived cancer last year, came up and gave me a hug, then shared tears of joy for her sister who was able to take the medical screening tests," said Carson.

They found the cancer she said. She is also getting the help she needs.

Crawling the great paper trail

2011-10-04T14:16:39Z

It was like a pub crawl for history buffs – without the crawl.

Saturday was the first ever Archives Crawl in Sacramento, an event where four leading historical research facilities highlighted their offerings to the general public.

For five hours the California State Archives, the California State Library, the Sacramento Central Library and the Center for Sacramento History opened their doors, their files and their secret vaults to the general public.

All of the information on display Saturday, can be seen for free but other than serious historians few people ever take advantage of the resources.

For those who missed the crawl, here were some of the highlights:
Mugshots: One of the popular features in the California State Archives are the prison mug books. There you can flip through a 100 years worth of mugshots of every inmate who ever did time at San Quentin or Folsom state prisons, which at the time also included women. In 1913, there were three mug shots of every inmate: one with a hat on in street clothes, one hatless in street clothes and one shaved and in prison stripes. (Female prisoners did not get their heads shaved) There was a tough looking convicted murderer from Oakland, next to an attractive 18-year-old woman who was convicted of bigamy.

It’s not just morbid curiosity that draws viewers to the mugshots, said Jessica Herrick, an archivist.

“It’s important for genealogical research,” she said. Many people have an ancestor who served time in prison. He could be the black sheep that no one talks about. “Often the only remaining photo of their ancestor is in the mug book.”

RFK assassination: All the evidence and testimony from the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy are available for viewing. Not only can you view records from the trial of his killer, Sirhan Sirhan, but you can even examine bullet fragments and other forensic evidence. Note: If you want to actually hold Sirhan’s handgun, you have to make an appointment because a CHP officer has to be present.

Flipping pages from 1493: One oldest and most unusual books at the California State Library is a history of the world compiled in 1493 by a historian from Nuremberg, Germany. The book, which is all in Latin, is an amazing early example of the hybrid form fine books of that era. It was printed on movable type, which was still relatively new to Europe after the Gutenberg Bible was printed in 1439. Then artists went back through and painted in all the illustrations which were printed from woodcuts. So the book is a hybrid between the old hand-illustrated manuscripts and newfangled mass printing.

The book is also an example that copyright theft has been around for hundreds of years – it’s not just illegal downloads of music. The history was so popular, said Gary Kurutz, principal librarian of the special collections, that other nobility from other cities had the book copied word for word. “They just substituted name of their town instead of Nuremberg,” Kurutz said.

Blues for Life 2011

2011-09-30T09:04:07Z

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In Sacramento, the festivities kick off with Blues for Life at The Torch Club , a live music festival & pasta cook-off from 1pm to 7pm on October 2.

Ten bands, 10 restaurants, and a five-year Sac town tradition, this event is the primary fundraiser for Albie Aware, a foundation that brings preventive care, support, and education for those with breast cancer or seeking assistance for early detection and treatment.

“If treated early, cancer fatality can diminish with the proper care,” commented Doug Carson. In 2002, his wife Albie Carson, a 50 year resident of Sacramento, lost the battle with cancer because the tumor was caught too late.

This loss prompted him to build a legacy to help others stay alive.

Albie Aware as in I’ll be Aware provides the social, educational, and in many ways, financial support for those who otherwise would not be able to afford adequate health coverage essential for breast cancer survival like MRI, PET scan, medicines, or even a simple insurance co-pay.

Last year, more than 1,500 people in Northern California were recipients of some kind of care from the organization.

In 2010, according to the American Cancer Society, there will be 209,060 new cases of breast cancer in the United States. 40,230 of those discovered will result in death of which 4,230 will be in California.

So think of it. For only $20, you will not only be able to get your blues on, grub on, early Christmas shopping on, but you will a join a movement to help save thousands of lives of men and women affected by cancer.

Now, that is a great deal.

Bands include: The Nibblers, Mercy Me, Walking Spanish, Kaye Bohler, Ron Hacker, Gino Matteo, Bone MacDonald, Sista Monica, Trubaduo Pailer, and Adams & Joyce.

The Competing Pasta Cook-off Restaurants are Blue Prynt Restaurant & Bar, Clark’s Corner, Evan’s Kitchen, House Kitchen & Bar, Lucca Restaurant & Bar, Mama Susanna’s, Ristorante Italiano, Michelangelo’s Italian Restaurant, and Rio City Café.

There will also be a silent auction with over fifty raffle items complete with a Flat screen TV, signed art works, exotic trips, local restaurant entertainment, gift certificates, and so much more.

Buy your tickets early by clicking HERE or at Torch Club on Sunday.

100 Thousand Poets for Change

2011-09-27T07:27:15Z

Can poets unite and give voice to issues left unsaid?

100 Thousand Poets for Chang e, an international movement to promote serious social, environmental, and political change brought more than a dozen poets to two public parks: the Rose Garden at the State Capitol and Fremont Park.

Saturday’s event was an international day of poetry, celebrated with 700 events in 550 cities in 95 countries in every continent but Antarctica. The multi-national event mixed politics and poetry in some odd and surprising ways.

While a politicized poetry reading is not controversial in most countries, in some nation’s organizers risked harassment or arrest for expressing independent viewpoints with their words.

The Sacramento line-up included an array of perspectives covering modern societal ills such as universal healthcare, to the war in Afghanistan, to the development of public spaces, to economic disparity, to disappointment in our world leaders, to acknowledging those who still struggle to exercise the freedom of speech in their country, and the fading so called "American" dream.

Readings were recited by Mario Ellis Hill, Bob Stanley, Allegra Silberstein, Alexa Mergen, Sean King, Lawrence Dinkins, Susan Kelly-DeWitt, Emily Wright, Tim Kahl, Frances Kakugawa, Sandy Thomas, Bill Gainer, Abe Sass and a handful of open mic participants.

The highlights were Dinkins evocative poem about "America" and King’s forceful riff - "One Day" on healthcare – or the lack of it.

My favorite was Kahl’s clever, bluesy critique on the privatization of public spaces. Kahl melded his own spoken word with Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Sunshine When You’re Gone” to make a powerful statement about the environment, homelessness, and the economics of community destruction.

Editorial Note: A correction was made to the caption of image 6 after the story was published.

Heroes of the American Red Cross

2011-09-16T19:11:13Z

Did you know there is a hero in all of us?

A parole officer, two teen lifeguards, a one hundred year old senior citizen, a doctor, and a scientist were among those recognized by the American Red Cross for their life changing efforts in the capital region.

Nominated by their peers, these honorees exemplified the characteristics of a hero such as courage, selflessness, and perseverance. They were recognized at a luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel in Arden on Thursday, September 15, 2011.

Here are the award recipients and their deeds.

Good Samaritan Adult Hero – Sean Ferguson, 43, called upon his 15 years of American Red Cross training to rescue a teen boy who was struck by oncoming traffic.

Animal Rescue Hero – Patty Letawsky, co-founded the We Pay to Spay program. She is the driving force behind a local dog rescue program, and has personally saved more than 100 dogs from euthanasia.

Military Veteran Hero – Sacramento Patriot Guard Riders banded together to protect soldiers from protesters. They also regularly attend welcome home, send-offs, and funerals of soldiers totaling nearly one hundred missions annually.

Good Samaritan Youth Hero – Wayne Batchelor, 16, used his recently completed ARC lifeguard training to courageously dive into a pool to pull a young girl out of the water to safety.

Law Enforcement Heroes – Deputy Mark Limbird and Deputy Matt Silvey worked together to face down a heavily armed man in a residential neighborhood who was endangering the lives of officers and residents.

Spirit of the Red Cross Hero – Todd Reiners volunteers to help women and children stricken by homelessness in the region and helped reunite a homeless man with his family after 13 years.

Professional Rescuer Hero – Brittany Martin, 16, courageously performed CPR to save the life of a 4-year-old boy using her ARC lifeguard training.

Medical Professional Hero – Dr. Mark Drabkin, a Sacramento ophthalmologist performed many sight restoring operations and trained local doctors in developing countries including Ghana, Nicaragua, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Good Samaritan Senior Hero – Bob Fletcher, who just celebrated his 100th birthday, gave up his job as an agricultural inspector to temporarily care for three Japanese owned farms during World War II, preventing the mortgage from lapsing and protecting the families’ livelihood. Bob received his award citing his wife's support of sixty six years and received a standing ovation from the hundreds of attendees present.

Workplace Hero – Anita Turley rescued a coworker who was suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. She is now traveling the country teaching others the life saving techniques she used to save a life.

Hero of the Year – Selena Li, dedicated more than 1,000 hours of her free time since freshman year in high school to develop a potential alternative treatment for liver cancer. Because of her work, she was able to develop a potential alternative treatment that is more widely available and more efficient than existing transplant and chemotherapy treatments.

Military Hero – US Army Corporal Jarus Perez was awarded the Purple Heart for pulling an unconscious comrade to safety after their unit was attacked while he was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. While he received the best of care in the military for his injuries, he realized that local school children do not have the same care. In order to raise awareness and funds for health care for kids, he persevered a fifty-mile run recognizing each of the fifty states that require substantial healthcare reform.

“We all have potential to be heroes,” Perez says. “There are many ways to act. Get involved locally with organizations like the Red Cross. Be prepared with first aid/CPR training and give generously with your time, energy, and resources to help others.”

So what are we waiting for? The hero is in all of us.

Be the change you want to see.

Disclosure: Kati Garner is an American Red Cross volunteer. Amabelle Ocampo is trained in First Aid/CPR and is an emergency first response volunteer in her workplace.

Interview with Eisley at Macy's Arden Fair Mall

2011-09-13T07:27:30Z

Back to school shopping just got better as Macy's Mstyle Lab in the Arden Fair Mall hosts an acoustic concert with the band Eisley on Saturday, September 10, 2011.

Eisley is a rock band from Tyler, Texas with four siblings – Stacy, Sherri, Chauntelle, and Weston Dupree. In 1997, Sherri and Chauntelle began playing music together after being inspired by bands like the Beatles, Jeremy Enigk, and Radiohead.

The band also performed live at Ace of Spades earlier last week with brother, Weston DuPree on drums and cousin, Garron Dupree on bass.

This time around only the girls were featured with a keyboard and acoustic guitars as accompaniment.

The mood was earthy and natural. This was the first time Eisley, named after Mos Eisley in Star Wars, has ever performed at a mall. Stacy Dupree’s transition from keyboards to acoustic guitar took a slight adjustment but her vocals shone through singing beautifully through her signature song "Ambulance" from “The Valley” EP.

The crowd was mellow. Past the department store’s fluorescent lighting, the sister’s voices created an intimate feel with the two hundred plus fans present.

Emi Clark, 20 and Kaylah Davis, 23 long-time fans of the band drove from Gilmore to catch the show. This was Kaylah's third time to see the band and Emi's sixth. They talked about the band's friendly demeanor and fondness for Starbucks.

A pair of twins, Amanda and Melissa Gruba, 17, seniors at Bradshaw Christian High School, who has grown with the band’s music, was so inspired they decided to draw a poster with the imagery from the band’s song lyrics.

The DuPree clan sang "Better Love", "Come Clean", "Please", "Kind", "Ambulance", "192 Days" and "I wish" at the Macy's concert.

Their latest release of the “The Valley” EP in March of 2011 met with positive reviews although it has been criticized for focus on love and broken relationships a contrast to their original whimsical style and fantastic imagery of their 2005 debut “Room Noises”.

It basically reflects changes felt by the Dupree clan, separating from the Warner Brother’s label and some heartache and angst from relationships that did not work out.

Growing up together, there are more changes in the pipeline. There is talk of a solo album for their youngest sister, Stacy Dupree. Also a new band EP will be released in November with five new songs under their new label, Equal Vision Records.

Here is the video to the interview with the band, after the concert.

Whirring in The Joy Formidable at Harlow's

2011-09-12T09:08:36Z

The band’s name says it all. Joy, an emotion evoked by well being, success, and good fortune or the prospect of having one’s desires. Formidable, a feeling of awe and admiration from grandeur and great strength combines the artistry of the trio formed in 2007 from North Wales -- Ritzy Bryan on guitar and vocals, Rhydian Dafydd on bass guitar, and Matt Thomas on drums.

This is a band that should be seen live. The recorded music, especially the new song “Whirring,” is good. But the trio thrives before live audiences.

Live, the band lives up to its name projecting a soul-filling joy. Whether you are a sweaty youth in the crowded mosh pit or a 40-something professional grooving to the band from the safety of the bar, Joy Formidable delivers. Ritzy Bryan’s guitar riffs, her voice even her facial expressions were all delivered with charismatic intensity. The concert, in the tight confines of Harlow’s, was one Mr. Toad’s wild ride.

This band is ideal for open air performances in front of thousands of people like Outside Lands Music Festival and Lollapalooza. Harlow’s was way too small of a venue to contain The Joy Formidable. To see the band in a more intimate venue is a lucky break for Sacramento. Kudos to Radio 94.7 for arranging the band’s appearance.

The trio has developed a buzz around the song “Whirring,” from the EP “The Big Roar,” with Foo Fighters’ front-man Dave Grohl tweeting that it could be the 2011 song of the year. I thought Grohl’s tweet was over the top until I saw the band. “Whirring” is best enjoyed live -- the band’s full intensity comes through.

The mix of mellow intellectuals chilling at the bar with hard rockers thumping up a storm showed the wide range of people who enjoy this loud, alt rock, shoegazing, band that combines edgy heavy metal with choral pop. The Joy Formidable is steadily developing a larger fan base by incorporating what's cool in other types of music to create their own.

Ritzy Bryan knows how to connect. In her black suede long sleeve frock, icy blond symmetrical coif, and tights with short boots, she jumped, trashed about, and broke through a highly optimistic, bubbly persona with manic depressive anger and rage. Her expressions changed erratically from innocence to jerky runaway robot pushing that velocity into a see-saw of pink clouds. High fives with fans and eye contact engaged concert goers, even those wedged in the crevices of the club.

They played “A Heavy Abacus”,” Greyhounds in the Slips”, “Austere”, “Ostrich”, “The Greatest Light is the greatest shade”, “Cradle”, “Buoy”, and “Whirring”. They also came back for an encore performance with “Magnify” and “I don’t want to see you like this”.

Just so you don’t feel left out, here’s a treat --front row seats to "Whirring" at Harlow’s, and you don’t even have to brave the mosh pit. Once you see this video, we’re convinced you’ll want to see The Joy Formidable live too.

Fans like the Mota family drove all the way from Reno, Nevada because they wanted to see the band again. The first time at Outside Lands, the second at Harlow’s on Saturday night. “I kind of wish I brought my fourteen year old son.” commented Debbie Mota, 47. “He would have rocked with that drummer,” she adds.

Fashion's Night Out: Sexy Shoes, Swag, and Mayor Johnson

2011-09-10T05:46:43Z

The line between runway deities and real people was blurred on Thursday night.

That’s because the global Fashion’s Night Out show at Pavilions on Howe and Fair Oaks featured real people from all walks of life, not just magazine covers. Movers, shakers and other people of influence in Sacramento's community gathered to restore consumer confidence and support the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The night’s theme: When you look good, you feel good. When you have the feeling of fulfillment, you won’t have the tendency to give up. Whatever you decide to do with your life, do it with style.

For the 38 inspiring real-life role models on stage, how looking good, leads to feeling good, and being motivated is the common thread. Backstage, preparations were underway for the 100-foot plus catwalk lined with VIP spectators under the white sparkling lights of the trees. Photographers were ready for action. The synergy of a good life with style was infectious.

Here are some quotes from the models when asked how the clothing enhanced their lives:

• “I think it’s a great to gather new ideas using what you may already have in your own closet.” Skylar Mundy, 19, a fashion student and blogger who works part-time at Starbucks for survival in this tough economy.

• “I feel young, vibrant, and a true woman,” shared Ashley Andrews, 31, whose husband, Todd, runs a dental practice near McKinley Park.

• “I felt incredibly luxurious and special,” added Daniel Farley, 47, Vice President of Hamilton Jewelers.

• “I feel like a bohemian princess. Love the feathers. How you feel, your attitude is brought out in what you create for yourself,” said J.J. Fox, 42, a life coach; as she showed off the feather necklace she wore during the show.

• “I was comfortable with myself even with the ascot. It was great to support the cause,” said Sean O’Brien, 28.

• “It was lovely,” said a smiling Jodi Hicks, 40, VP of Governmental Relations for the California Medical Association. “I had a lot more fun than I expected, a really good time. I never had clothes, make up, hair done up before.”

Outfits coordinated by shops and stylists of Pavilions reflected personal style & attitude. The stores are Calla Lily, Franco Ferrini Shoes, Hamilton Jeweler, It’s a Small World, Pavilion Salon Shoes, Madam Butterfly, Patrick James, Julius Clothing, Daitaro, and Lucy. They were backed by Bella Bru, Piattis, and Ruth Chris Steak House who served appetizers and drinks for themore than two hundred VIP guests in the evening.

Those who came to cheer on friends and savor outfits paired with sexy shoes were just as fashionable as the models strutting on the catwalk. A short video clip of the finale can be viewed here.

“We came to support our friend Kara Turner, to shop one of our favorite boutiques Madam Butterfly, and hang out with Kevin Johnson,” says Stefania Aragon, 41 from Roseville.

On a girl's night out with Melinda Yodar, 43 from Fair Oaks and Stephanie Ferre, 41, from Roseville, the trio enjoyed the festivities and look forward to a glimpse of Fashion's Night Out in 2012.

Fashion's Night Out Countdown

2011-09-06T19:23:16Z

From Manhattan to Milan, Atlanta to Australia, the after-hours shopping extravaganza Fashion’s Night Out is counting down to its September 8, 2011 debut. Celebrities, designers, and stars will perform and mingle with shoppers as they take part in the FNO-exclusive event to snap up special designs.

The 2011 edition of the fashion party will be even better this year heading locally to boutique shopping mecca, Pavilions on Howe and Fair Oaks. Check out all the ways to shop and have fun on this flier.

Highlights include Celebrity DJ Joel Madden spinning tunes for fashionistas. Also, there will be a special appearance by Mayor Kevin Johnson.

Pavilions will provide live music throughout the night and a limited supply of Fashion’s Night Out registered merchandise including t-shirts and baseball caps. Come early from 6-8pm to take advantage of the free event.

Stores will provide exclusive discounts, free gifts with purchase, trunk shows, stylist advice, informal modeling, wine, hors d’ oeuvres, art exhibitions and more.

In keeping with the Fashion’s Night Out tradition, participating stores will hold extended hours on Thursday, September 8, 2011.

Proceeds from the VIP seating in the Runway After Party from 8-11pm benefit the UC Davis Children's Miracle Network.

Gov. Brown at Working Families Labor Day Picnic

2011-09-06T07:15:53Z

Labor Day honors the contribution of working people commonly enjoyed as an end of summer celebration with picnics, parades, and a long weekend.

At Land Park, the annual Labor Day Working Families picnic came with lunch, light hearted laughter, and an appearance by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Gov. Brown spoke on jobs and the economy. A short clip of what he said at the picnic is here.

Many noteworthy political leaders were also at the picnic including Sen. Darrell Steinberg, Assembly member Mariko Yamada, and Assembly member Richard Pan. In this clip, they sing an ode to the working folks and their unions.

We do have unions to thank for giving us the weekend known as Labor Day.

It's a good time to reflect and honor workers whose sacrifices and contributions have gained the working class benefits like pensions, adequate health care, and over time pay. These are great gains for some but the struggle continues for others.

"It is not just a fight for fairness and inequality- it is a fight for our children and grandchildren." says Yvonne Walker, President of SEIU Local 1000.

United Farm Workers & Union March: Soles for SB 126

2011-09-05T04:48:02Z

Reminiscent of Cesar Chavez's 300 mile pilgrimage from Delano to Sacramento in 1966, more than 5,000 farmworkers, their families, and supporters marched the final steps of a 13-day, 167 miles pilgrimage through California’s Central Valley, to the north steps of the capitol on Sunday, September 4, 2011. The farmworker's call to action is for Governor Jerry Brown to sign SB 126, a bill that would make it easier for farm workers to join unions and speak up for fair labor rights.

The last leg of the walk for civil liberties in Sacramento began at Southside Park at 10am and ended with an urging of support for Governor Brown to sign the bill that is making its way through the California Legislature.

SB 126 penned by Senator Darrell Steinberg includes a revised version of the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act (SB 104), a bill that would have made it easier for farm workers to join a union and speak up for their rights, previously vetoed by Gov. Brown and legislation to would allow farm workers the right to be paid overtime after 8 hours of work per day.

This comes at a time when safety conditions for the state's nearly 400,000 agricultural workers who spend long days in the hot sun each summer to harvest fruits and vegestables is at its worst. At least 16 California farm workers have suffered from heat related deaths since 2005 and State Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating two other California farm worker deaths - one in April in Imperial County and one in June in Riverside County.

Francisco Estrada, a migrant farm worker recalls the last day of his wife's life, Lillia Estrada while working in the farms. “She complained of dizziness. The ambulance did not come until an hour later”, a translator noted in Spanish. “We came in as two and I came out as one.” There is not a day that passes where he does not think of his wife and the two sons she has left behind.

“There will come a day, when farmworker rights will be left at the hands of our children,” Becky Chavez, the daughter of Richard "Ricardo" Chavez urged in her speech.

The philosophy of The United Farm Workers, brothers Richard "Ricardo" Chavez and Ceasar Chavez’s legacy continues. The movement behind the Delano Grape Strike of 1966 still continues. Equity has not been reached for low paid workers as long as the struggle by farm workers continue.

Watch the her very moving speech by clicking here.

Today, unions appear to be the vehicle of choice to level the playing field for low paid workers otherwise deemed silent. Fewer than 5% of the farm workers have the protection of union contracts. A day before labor day, the walk is symbolic of those farm workers who continue to struggle for their rights to unionize and receive equitable labor practices.

Organizers say they want Americans to know that the fresh food we take for granted on our tables were hand picked by human hands.

"My grandparents were farm workers. My dad started out working in the fields. I'm here because I understand the importance of these jobs especially for immigrants and their families. These are hard jobs and the people who work these jobs...deserve more protection, " urged Rebecca Gutierrez, 23 a student from Fresno State.

The Naked and Famous at Harlow's

2011-09-02T08:49:39Z

On the last day of August, Harlows was filled with a crowd of stadium-sized intensity. The New Zealand indie rock band defined The Naked and Famous philosophy. Naked in the way that Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers vocal combination brought the crowd to climax then mellowed down to rise again, in roller coaster action.

Auckland’s five-piece delivered exquisite dream pop, oscillating between the calculatedly energetic beat, glitzy rhythms, and airy synthesizers underneath.

Xayalith wearing all black, in a long sleeve top, mini skirt, tights, and short boots was definitely not naked but sexy nonetheless, confident in her barely five-foot tall frame. She was smoking! She faced the drummer in the back to regroup between songs, refresh, and wipe the sweat off her brow, or fall in exhaustion.

Fans waited over an hour to mesh with the electronica lifestyle offered by this up and coming band nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2011 and topping the New Zealand chart at No.1 in 2010 – the first New Zealand artist in three years to do so.

The show was like air for the 20-somethings whose exchange with the band appeased their needs and vice versa. The “Passive Me Aggressive You” debut album released in September of 2010 definitely caters to the young, whose lyrical obsessions center around love, mistakes, sleep, and parties.

Hollywood has discovered the band and Wednesday’s set featured several songs used in TV shows. “Punching in a Dream” was featured in Vampire Diaries. With its care-free lyrics and upbeat electronic dance discord, that song set the mood for the night at Harlow’s. “The Sun” a tantalizing song, and “Young Blood” were both used in the tv show Gossip Girl.

Also in Wednesday’s set, “The Bells” enchanted. “Eyes” and “DADADA” saw and freed the spirit of youth. Calmed by Xayalith’s vibe was the pairing of an acoustic guitar in the beginning of “No Way” then picked up again into upbeat rhythm running with “Girls Like You.”

An edge of MGMT and Radiohead was present in the repertoire. Powers and Xayalith said they grew up listening to Massive Attack, Bjork, PJ Harvey and Tricky.

But their intensity, like their sound, is really all their own. After six months of constant touring, this band of four dudes in T-shirts and jeans with a hot Asian doll in the middle still had plenty of energy.

“It sure is full in here. We’re coming back.” Powers still trying to catch his breath from the performance.

They did with an encore and the crowd went home sweaty and satisfied.

‘Flowers’ raise funds for foster kids

2011-08-31T13:37:53Z

“The Language of Flowers” expresses the yearnings of the heart.

Author, Vanessa Diffenbaugh is doing just that as she kicks off a nationwide book tour with a five hundred dollar a head fundraiser to raise money for foster kids who have aged out of foster care, followed by a talk & book signing at Tsakopoulos Library Galleria on Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 7:30pm to 9pm.

The petals hide the tragic inequities of foster care. Her protagonist, Victoria, a damaged foster kid, ages out at 18 and finds herself sleeping in a park. She works at a flower shop for change and communicates meaning through her artistry of flowers. It is what she determines is what she is good at, a creative outlet and sets the direction for her to help herself and others. Victoria’s journey unfolds with love and forgiveness through the “language of flowers” engaging readers and subtly prompting them to act against those inequities.

A native of Chico, CA, and a graduate of Stanford University, Diffenbaugh, 33, sets the scene in parks familiar to Sacramento. The parks could well be our own backyard. That’s because she wrote the entire book here recalling hours at a café on S Street. Plus, she draws from her own experience teaching art to low income youths and life of being a foster mother.

Inspiration for the book’s protagonist came from a 15-year-old girl that Diffenbaugh and her husband mentored.

“We loved her and considered adopting her, but she was so hard to get to know. Even after a year with her in our home we couldn’t get through to her.”

Hidden in ‘flowers’ is strong emotion, one that has universal support as the book has been translated in 34 languages, and is a No.2 perfect-seller in Italy. It has also been a subject of choice for Glamour, NPR, Ladies Home Journal, and Good Housekeeping. Vanessa appears this month on an interview about the book through BBC Breakfast.

Along with the book release, she also founded the Camellia Network, a non-profit whose mission is to create a nationwide movement to support youth transitioning from foster care.

The meaning of camellia in the language of flowers is “My destiny is in your hands.”

We all have a role in influencing the society we live in by sharing our talents with our youngest citizens.

The "Inspiracion" of Calexico

2011-08-24T09:16:20Z

How does Calexico, a relatively low key Americana/ Alternative country rock band keep the momentum going after two decades?

They never seize to experiment with rhythms & ballads reaching new heights in what the fans crave.

Calexico embraces Latin sounds of mariachi, conjunto, cumbia, and Tejano music and fuses it with Southwestern country, '50s-'60s jazz, and '90s post rock. Their signature sound is "desert noir" reminiscent of the border city of Calexico.

For many who have never experienced Calexico’s live performance, their poetic storytelling approach to music captures audiences then beams them up to beach surf cities, matador bull rings, outer space, tango milongas and flamenco cafes, western vistas, and undiscovered European and Asian empires.

A woman going through a cancer ordeal shared on Facebook, “Going to get lost in the music tonight. …Calexico take me away!”

“I have all their albums in my iPod,” Alex Lackner, a physical therapist/yoga instructor from Vienna, Austria admits. He is quite possibly one of the group’s most dedicated fans. Alex has been crisscrossing the country from Los Angeles, to Albuquerque, to Denver, to Sacramento in the last six months and managed to attend other venues on the band’s tour including one in Saratoga on his birthday.

Barely making the concert at Ace of Spades after an eight-hour train delay due to flooding along the Mississippi river. He was thrilled to make Calexico’s first song of the night, Roka (Danza de la Muerte), which was from their fifth studio album Garden Ruin.

“A couple of years ago, I saw them in Vienna. They opened for Amos Lee. Now Amos Lee is touring with them in the northwest,” Lackner shares one his many pieces of Calexico of trivia. He plans on making the August 26th show at Chateau St Michele in Washington as well before returning to Austria.

The opening band for Calexico in Sacramento was a group with local roots, Sea of Bees. Led by Julie Baenziger, a resonating soprano, and co-vocalist Amber Padgett (an alumnus of the Waldorf School of the Arts in Fair Oaks) the Sea of Bees set include fan favorite “Gnomes” and some new material.

Baenziger's unique voice was a perfect pairing to Calexico’s eclectic sound.

Calexico’s set included “Man Made Lake” and “Two Silver Trees” – both from the 2008 CD, "Carried to Dust," – with a haunting futuristic space age texture. They also played “Sunken Waltz” a contemplative mellow tune from the 2003 CD “Feast of Wire,” which some critics and fans regard as their best CD. One of the most memorable songs was Minas de Cobre (For Better Metal) an instrumental with deft interplay of Spanish style guitar and two trumpets.

"Inspiración" was the night’s capstone. Trumpet player Jacob Valenzuela showed off his vocal abilities, singing in Spanish on this 2008 song about his relationship with his brother. His performance was breathtaking, a serenade complete with solo jazz trumpet instrumental. It is cupid’s arrow of love,a romance inspiration for the crowd. You can view it here.

The audience applause signaled deep appreciation but they hungered for more, Calexico returned onstage for an encore performance of Alone Again, a lovely cover of the 1967 classic by the late Arthur Lee and his band Love.

The finale “Guero Canelo” is one crazy party mix. A novice will say that the lyrics describe the high life of drugs and rebellion in Tucson (“Guero Canelo” roughly translates as ‘cinnamon blond’ in Mexican Spanish and there is a famous Mexican restaurant in Tucson of the same name) but a more refined follower like Lackner can attest to another secret hidden in the third stanza of the lyrics -- the high is not from drugs but the music of an exotic Latin-inspired indie rock six-man band, Calexico, brought together by two fair gringos, Joey Burns and John Convertino who enlighten fans for more decades to come.

Summerfest 2011: Fashion & Film Frenzy

2011-08-20T02:56:51Z

Stop the Press. No, really do not throw that newspaper away! Recycle. It is the raw material for the fashion challenge!

Ten fashion design teams press, paste, and staple newspaper into a dress. Besides the dress, they need to deliver a complete look, so the teams adorned the models with accessories, hair, make up, and jewelry to match.

Paper dolls strike a pose and walk the runway at The Crest theater. The lively premier of The Sac Bee Fashion Challenge is a recent addition in this year’s festival. fashionista and film buffs alike, collide like origami samurai figures on Wednesday night.

With plenty of beautiful people in the audience, the applause in the spotlight signaled that the spectators were impressed with the designs.

Patience awaits the victor -- or better yet, a $1,000 prize in style products, equivalent to a wish come true, when a thousand paper cranes are “made” as in the Japanese tradition.

The designers who completed the Sac Bee newspaper fashion projects are Diana Santibanez, Edward John Radanovich III, Jennifer N. Nodora, Jesus Medrano, John Thao, Lacey Taylor, Melina Carrie, Natassja Price, Rachel Goldmark, and Samantha Rachele.

After the runway show, a documentary titled Non Alien by Jimmy T. Murakami, 78, a Japanese American animator from San Jose, CA enlightened us with his film on the plight of the Japanese Americans held in the Tule Lake internment camps during World War II.

Cecille Mouette Downs, co-founder and director of the Sacramento French Film Festival, and awardee of the SF&MF’s 2011 Film Arts Service Award was a judge in the fashion face off. Though we probed for a favorite, she was quiet on her preference. She did not want to spoil the surprise for the one fashion designer who will be crowned victorious prior to Saturday’s screening of Hollywood to Dollywood by twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane. Sunday's feature likewise, prior to the revealing of the winner of the 10 X 10 film challenge is Fordson: Faith, Fasting, and Football directed by Rashid Ghazi.

Mixing fashion, documentary feature films, and 10 X 10 film making challenge in a weekend is unconventional. It is indicative of the diversity of creative talent available to us in Sacramento! Organizers packed three entire days with a feast of the arts. The competition aspect is a twist in the game of creativity.

Really anyone who attempts an entry is a winner. As Jacob Schantz, 29, a 10 x 10 film challenge entrant and graduate of Art Institute of California put it, “As for winning, it doesn’t really concern me, though I am not above putting it in a resume or a poster. If I was only concerned about winning, my work would lose the edge I try to achieve. I would rather they laughed at my jokes.”

As such, the films and team leaders due to debut their 10 X 10 film on the big screen on Sunday are : Pull A Trigg A Team lead: Richard Ryan; Black Magic Team lead: Stephen Halpin; Dilly Dalling Around - Team lead: Amir Haeri; Bad Toy - Team lead: Dwight Taylor; 11:38 - Team lead: Jeffrey Vanacor; Daniel's Last Day on Earth - Team lead: John Blake; Two to Tango - Team lead: Lucinda Chrisman; Yeller - Team lead: Donovan Albright; Missing April - Team lead: Justin Buettner; The Sign Guy - Team lead: Tobin Halsey; Check - Team lead: Cathi Beekstrand; Hyper Blue - Team lead: Miles Matsuoka; Herstory - Team lead: K. D. Beebe; Watered Down - Team lead: Jacob Schantz; French Fried - Team lead: David Chernyavsky; The Last Supper -Team lead: Noah Damiani; Obstinate Orange - Team lead: David Hoyt Lawlor; Hostage - Team lead: Amresh Gosai; Jubilee - Team lead: Gina Lobosco; Envy - Team lead: Don Carlos Sanders; A Thousand Words - Team lead: Stephanie Hyden *; Transfer - Team lead: Josh Mihal *; and The Return of Blake - Team lead: Justin Crose.

As local artists wait and fret over their Picasso, the fluid transition of fashion to filmmaking, to frolicking between the mermaids at Dive Bar across the way from The Crest after the festivities lead to a philosophy – Pursue your passion and persevere, that is all there is to it.

Please support local artists and find out the winners of the competition nightly by heading over to The Crest this weekend.

Stop the press. Stop the press. The newspaper dresses caress.

Highlights from Buddhist Festival

2011-08-16T12:02:41Z

The Japanese Food & Culture Bazaar was larger than life.

There was so much to eat, pray, and love about the event hosted by the Sacramento Buddhist Church of Sacramento. If you were not there, here are some of the highlights. Highly recommended is to try a first, second, or third helping of the melt off the bone teriyake chicken and to come earlier in the day next year.

This way you have time to relax and watch the Sacramento Taiko Dan. Still, if you missed them at the festival, stay tuned for their upcoming 22nd year anniversary performance at The Crest Theatre on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

A Rockstar, A Reverend, and Redemption

2011-08-16T09:02:37Z

It’s a church. No, it’s a rock concert.

It’s a church. No, it’s a rock concert. Actually, for tonight, it’s a rock concert in a church. Grammy nominated Christian singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp’s lyrics soared with spine tingling, melt your heart, open your soul to true, goddess-like quality of Aphrodite truth - giving the audience chills and a shot at their own authenticity.

What better place to test the acoustics than St. Marks United Methodist Church, though Knapp really didn’t need the microphone to amplify her strong powerhouse of a voice. In fact, the audience didn’t even notice until she alerted the sound booth that she had forgotten to turn on the acoustics on the guitar for the first couple of bars.

The people were mesmerized by her sound. You could feel the mellowness ripple through the pews on the diverse faces of the audience. Some of them sat with their eyes closed, holding their hearts. Others waved their hands in faith, feeling her lyrics, as she mixed known classics, from first hit single, "Undo Me," from her debut album “Kansas” (1998) to the song, "A Little More," from her Grammy award nominated album, “Lay It Down” (2000). In 2001, “The Way I Am,” was also nominated for a Grammy. In total, her three albums have sold over one million copies.

An artist truly is an artist defined when her loyal fans still seek shelter in her glow after a seven year hiatus of traveling, soul searching and validating her true self.

Fans drove from as far as Chico, California just to hear her fluid transition to coming out. She discussed her life trials and how creativity and music serve as an outlet for her feelings.

“We came because we love her music; didn't expect to be so validated in my belief,” shared excited 24 year old Teri Abshier. She and a friend drove the long miles north from Bakersfield.

Sprinkled between Knapp’s set is her speak easy humor poking fun of herself and the decision to come out as a “lesbian.” She is now a role model for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community, in contrast to her conservative Christian pop/folk singer past. This is one woman who has grown truly honest with her sexuality and assertion, as reflected in her new album, “Letting Go.”

She has come to the realization that she can’t please everyone, and the best she can do is “let go” and accept the person she has become.

After Knapp’s performance, Reverend Gene Robinson, an openly gay New Hampshire bishop who delivered a prayer for President Obama's inauguration in 2009 and is now an activist for LGBT issues, delivered his philosophy on the LGBT movement. He likened the movement to Martin Luther King's civil rights activism of the 1960’s against racism. The -isms he was referring to included racism, sexism and the 234 other isms that limit human understanding. He discussed why the movement was also about religion and what the bible really says about being gay is left to interpretation based on each of our experiences.

A same sex couple, Elizabeth and Sarah Kelly, were also at the concert. At the moment, they live in Roseville near the church because it was where they got the support they needed when they first moved to California.

Sarah aspires to become a youth pastor after graduation so she can support, encourage and advise young LGBT. LGBT teen suicide is a concern that Rev. Robinson pointed out in his talk. The kids feel left out and alone without a support group to have their voice heard. This lack of understanding is what plagues both adults and children.

“It’s preposterous," said Sarah Kelly, voicing her growing frustration over Prop 8.

"We live the same as married couple. We share the rent, expense for our household needs, join the military, act as domestic partners, access IVF and even adopt children legally, but because we are the same sex, we are still unrecognizable by the courts as legally married,”

Proposition 8 eliminates rights of same-sex couples to marry. The passing of Prop 8 in 2008 and the debate over same sex marriage has been a back and forth pendulum since the 1970’s. The measure added a new provision, Section 7.5 of the Declaration of Rights, to the California Constitution, which provides that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

The next stage in California's Prop 8 court case is set for Sept 6 when the Supreme Court of California will hear arguments on whether Prop 8 supporters have legal standing under state law to overturn California's gay marriage ban.

Buddhist Festival embrace 1940's Japantown

2011-08-12T08:14:07Z

In honor of 66,000 lives lost at Hiroshima. In honor of 39,000 lives lost at Nagasaki . In honor of 110,000 Japanese Americans eradicated to internment camps in 1942. In honor of 20,739 lives lost in this year's tsunami earthquake.

A Sacramento Buddhist Church embrace a 1940's Japantown tradition.

It's going to be big.

Over 40,000 people will come for the 65th Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar on August 13-14, 2011.

The festival unites past and present residents of Sacramento’s Japantown neighborhood to the 112 - year old church located on the corner of 2401 Riverside Boulevard and X Street.

Many families have moved away from the neighborhood but return yearly to support the fundraiser for the Japanese community.

The festival is one of the few traces left of the original Nihonmachi. Sakura Gifts, Osaka Ya, June’s Café are the few remaining businesses in Southside’s dwindling Japantown.

The Japanese American Civil Liberties wall asserts, “1958 - forced removal due to redevelopment, led to the final demise of Sacramento’s Japantown.”

After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the effects of Executive Order No. 9066 still resonate for those who lived through the ordeal.

U.S. Representative Robert Matsui, husband of current U.S. Representative for California‘s 5th congressional district Doris Matsui was a prominent advocate for redress and reparations for Japanese Americans following the incarceration and exclusion of Japanese Americans during World War II. As a child, Matsui's family was forced to eradicate from their Sacramento home and was held in an internment camp at Tule Lake for a year.

“Today, we celebrate the freedom to keep tradition alive even after many trials," shares Sherman Iida, festival organizer.

The food for the event requires10,000 pounds of chicken, 1500 pounds of beef for teriyake, 400 pounds of shrimp for tempura and sushi dishes, 500 pounds of sugar and salt for seasonings, and six tons of ice for cool drinks. It take over 700 volunteers to prepare the place for the occassion.

The free festival is open to the public. Neighbors work side by side in harmony to present the vibrancy of The Koyasan Spirit of Children Taiko Group, the grace of the Japanese Folk Song & Dance Society(odori), the teachings of Buddhist Philosophy, the old school funk, soul, R&B, and classic rock sound of The East Wind Band, the peace of gardening with the Sacramento Bonsai Club, the beauty of Ikebana (floral art) by Ikebana School, and the joy of Japanese calligraphy among the many activities. Here is the full schedule.

The festival is the church’s annual fundraiser that supports many programs including sports, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth groups, adult and senior support, and the Japanese language school.

In honor of those who have lived before us. Don't miss two fantastic days of remembrance.

It's Summertime - Break out with your shorts

2011-08-06T19:32:45Z

Not the daisy dukes kind, but the on-screen shorts. Although, we do like the visuals of short shorts on shorts.

Ten Minutes of Film. Ten days. Twenty eight film makers. This is Summerfest 2011 10X 10 Film Challenge at The Crest. If you see people running around in a hurry around the city, they could be part of the 28 teams who have taken the dare .

The rules are easy. Each team leader tore open an envelope containing a photograph and a list of paint colors. The pictures range from old school wedding photographs to a snapshot of Crater Lake. Their challenge is to incorporate the photo into their film. They also must feature a paint color that was chosen by order of lottery.

Teams have until 7pm on Sunday, Aug. 14 to complete the assignment. Their finished projects must be turned into the Crest Theater on deadline to have a coveted spot on the big screen premiere on Sunday, August 21.

On its twelfth year, the Sacramento Film and Music Festival continues to deliver crazy filmmaking programs. Previous year's 10X10 film challenge project winners are featured here.

The criteria for the winning film is based on best use of the image, paint color, and presentation.

"Essentially, the prize is the admiration of their peers and the right to refer to the win in their resume or profiles in the Internet Movie Database - there are no actual prizes," explained Tony Sheppard, a professor at California State University, Sacramento.

SF & MF's Summerfest runs from August 17th through August 21st. The 10X10 film challenge screening of shorts is the finale for weekend. It closes with the announcement of the award winners after party at Parlare Euro Lounge.

Attracting an international audience, the event also incorporates the Sacbee Fashion Challenge. This year, the theme is Catwalk: Outfits fit for a red carpet event - with a twist.

Tickets and Screening Passes are available at the Crest box office and through tickets.com.

More Festival information and the complete schedule can be found at www.sacfilm.com.

Wanderlust 2011: Could you be love – or be loved? Part 2

2011-08-05T02:35:58Z

“Yell Fire!” as in Franti's lyrics. We did. After the performance of the Phoenix Fire Dancers. It was quite a cleansing. Walking in calm after the Wanderlust revolution. The body now knows - a stretch has no limits. Healing happened. Hearts opened to each other. Love is found. Our confidence manifested. Open to more knowledge, we share the second half of wisdoms from the festival.

We burned a path of purpose with Phoenix Fire Dancers.

From the beginning of the first explosion, to the last pyrotechnic crescendo, Austria’s Phoenix Fire Dancer’s pulverized. Agile dancers balanced raw flames as if it was an extension of their own bodies.

The juggler explains as he lifts the ashes,” Allow your light to shine bright before the flame disappears. For, no matter how much we accomplish in our lives, we all return to nothing.”

We supported worldly causes.

Just outside the gates of Anusara Village. Many vendors sold clothing, shoes, and energy drinks. Just about everything you need to live in simplicity. This clothing store, Rksa soul donates a portion of its revenues to support children in rural India.

We kept our fifth chakra in check as we moved with Rolf Gates.

.It felt like the slow melt of ice. The open air studio was also symbolic in that it doubled as the ice skating rink in the winter, thus the term “melt” applies just as well to the frozen raw emotions freed by yoga fans in Rolf’s class. His calm demeanor transitioned yogis through mountain, eagle, tree, warrior, and pigeon pose as the echo of sniffles and tears massaged its way to our emotions.

Now, is it because the pain in our heart liquidated or is it because the stretches were so juicy? The enlightenment was enhanced by Girish singing through the fresh morning air winding through the mountain peaks and sunlight. We really were flying.

We practiced yoga with a view then rested on a bed supported by our peers at Yoga Tree.

Jason Nemer & Jenny Sauer-Klein’s class on meditation and thai massage, not only had breathtaking views, but a novel concept. They taught the students how a full body Thai massage can be done with your toes. So the hour was not only filled with insight, but belly aching laughs paired with tickling.

Here’s another great analogy. ”When the going gets rough, rely on your friends to give you support.” Literally, a posture-pedic massage bed made out of human bodies.

We levitated above the mountains -- with a little help from a gondola

A bird’s eye view above the pine trees and the mountains awaits. The clear blue waters of Lake Tahoe in the distance harness our gratitude. This view is available to us 365 days of the year.Though we are leaving now, the Squaw Valley gondola will be here when we decide to make the trek again, next year.

Wanderlust 2011: Could you be love – or be loved?

2011-08-03T11:05:33Z

We came. We lusted. We followed the sound wave of the ohm to Squaw Valley. We swam to freedom picking up the dreams we've forgotten and learned to love not just our lover, our children, and our neighbor, but ourselves. Boundaries were challenged. We twisted our squared lives through yoga, and turned it into a triangle, an oblong, a parallelogram, and finally the “star”. As in Franti’s song, Could you be love – or be loved? Here are ways the love was shared at the Wanderlust Festival.

We accepted that being a “Rockstar” has no age limit. Michael Franti & The Spearhead invited for his final song on stage, children of all ages. Mixed in with the group was a grandfather and a six year old kid. Franti quipped, “Now, when you grow up, wouldn’t you want to be the 69-year old dancing onstage at a rock concert?” The crowd cheered in agreement.

We danced for 90-minutes to a nonstop mash-up by Girl Talk: Girl Talk (aka Greg Gillis) gave a rocking, raucous hour and half musical tour that sampled at least 100 songs from the Beatles to Lady Gaga. A few thousand people danced without a break and, as he often does, Girl Talk, invited fans to dance on stage as he performed. Besides the high energy music, the crowd was throughly engaged as they rolled in toilet paper, bounced beach volleyball, showered in ballons, steamrolled in long air pillows, and was covered with confetti for the finale.

We felt like we were in an MTV spring break party in July: The pool at Squaw Valley was the hottest – and coolest – place at Wanderlust. Hundreds of healthy people showing off their yoga toned bodies at the pool and hot tub all at once; complete with hula hooping, go-go dancers, roller-skating dolls, buff guys playing tug of war as acrobats walked tightropes over the pool. More eye candy than an MTV spring break live special.

We released the energy of the rowdy and restless with Random Rab: Fusion fans like this San Francisco DJ so much, Random Rab played twice at Wanderlust anchoring late night shows on Friday and Saturday. His sets ranged from rowdy to chill. His musical background includes time as classical trumpeter and bass player in a country band. Perfect way to end a long day with dub step or start an even longer night.

We got real high with Portland’s MarchFourth Marching Band It’s rather funny actually! On the way up to hike the 2.2 miles up to Squaw Peak, we ran into the MarchFourth Marching Band’s go-go dancers. Hiking at high altitude on stilts, they were literally up 20 feet, as tall as the top of the ski lifts. MarchFourth’s eclectic brass marching band style, complete with visual theatrics of stiltwalkers, flag dancers, and sliding pole dancers spun Saturday night's party into a frenzy. Their one-of a-kind call and response technique prompted the crowd into action.

There was so much to go, see, and do, this barely touches the surface. We’ll need more time to give it all to you. So tomorrow, we will continue to share the love at Wanderlust ….

It takes two to tango – or Ten 22

2011-07-30T20:46:22Z

Hungry for tango?

Whether you are a tango dancer who loves to eat, connoisseur of South American cuisine or perhaps just a couple feeling romantic, this new Ten 22 and Tango by the River collaboration had something for you. A visit to Argentina without the airfare

Chef Jay Verregge prepared a three-course meal while dance studio owner Donna Williams, lined up the entertainment as Argentine tango singer Ernesto Rassi set the mood for couples on a night out this week.

Chef Jay Verregge’s authentic Argentine meal began with Chorizo empanadas, followed by plates of green salad drizzled in red wine vinaigrette. The main entrée was the highlight, Barbacoa with Salsa Criolla - - slices of steak and chicken marinated in lime seasoned with slivers of garlic paired with Chilean merlot. Rassi’s voice and tango intertwined with the meal. Finally, caramel dulche du leche with whipped crème served with black coffee savored the sweet tooth.

The meal, the music, and the lovely dancing provided just the romantic equation for a South American couple, Jorge and Susan Escobar, who were celebrating 38 years together

“Our favorite part of the meal was the empanadas. We missed them while living in Paraguay,” shares Susan Escobar, who was there with her husband Jorge.

A fairy tale South American romance.

The couple was thrilled with the experience. They’re new to tango dance but not to the romance of South America. Their fairy tale romance began in Stockton and included Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay.

The couple met at University of the Pacific in Stockton in the early 1970s. Jorge studied biology as an exchange student and Susan was completing her teaching credential.

We are interrupted by two women laughing and sipping their wine as they waive for attention for Ernesto Rassi to help demonstrate close embrace in tango. We hear the light clicking of their high heels and the bandoneons in the background as they sway to the sounds of an "orchestra tipica".

After graduation, Jorge returned to Paraguay. Susan on the other hand, taught English in a town in Chile called Temuco. After Jorge got a job with a bank in Paraguay, he decided to surprise Susan with a visit. What he didn’t know was that she was away on holiday in Santiago.

“We literally crossed paths. I stopped by Santiago to get to Temuco in Chile,” he smiles recalling the day. He recalls losing her address. He didn’t give up, instead knocked on all the doors in the neighborhood in Temuco until he met a family who knew Susan. One of the sisters phoned a relative in Santiago. Susan then returned to the village to meet her love.

Just then, Ernesto Rassi breaks out in the finale. Three couples dance in harmony around him, as he sings “Cambalache”. The song is about the life of unpredictability and disorder like the hustle and bustle of bazaars and open marketplaces in Argentina. Rassi’s wife, Cecilia, a Humphrey's scholar from UC Davis translates the final stanza,

Que es lo mismo el que labura
noche y dia, como un buey
que el que vive de los otros,
que el que mata o el que cura
o esta fuera de la ley.

In English,

It's the same the one who works,
day and night like an ox,
than the one who lives from the others,
than the one that kills or heals
or than the one who lives outside the law.

Ways to waken your Wanderlust

2011-07-26T19:21:23Z

If you listen real close, you can hear the "ohm" resonate from Wanderlust Festival 2011 in Tahoe into the valley. Mind, body, and spirit comes alive in this annual pilgrimage for outdoor enthusiast, music lovers, and yoga aficionados. Located in the natural setting of Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, few festivals in the world compares to majestic mountains, eclectic music, and meditations to match the mood. On its third year, the festival offers all who attend relaxation, revelation, and rejuvenation with organic foods, wines, scenery, music, and community. In true sun salutation, here are simple ways to waken your wanderlust.

1) Hoof it to Heaven, Schulyer Grant’s hike in the picturesque surroundings of the Sierra is a “must do”. Guided morning meditation hikes revitalize. Several nature treks are scheduled during the festival. Each step will take your breath away as you reach higher elevation.

2) Groove to live music, from rebel rocker Michael Franti & Spearhead (Friday night) to Girl Talk, to Jai Uttal, to the legendary Wailers. Musical talents abound so rock it out. (Full music schedule here) Other performers include the Phoenix Fire Dancers and the MarchFourth Marching Band also there for your enjoyment. “Do wah diddy” dance to the late night DJ parties on Friday and Saturday. If that is not enough, YogiTunes will be spinning an amazing collection of beats to soothe your soul and hush your humanity at High Camp from 2-6pm daily.

3) Speakeasy is a series of dynamic lecture style therapy for those seeking solutions to life’s dilemmas. From dancing with the divine, to mindful eating, to creating the future that you love, to spiritual authenticity, and steps to life fulfillment. Afterwards, try wine tasting various varietals of wine at Winederlust held at Uncorked from 4:30pm to 7:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with support from Capital Public Radio.

4) Stir your crown chakra nightly with a feature film sponsored by the Gaiam Spiritual Cinema Circle. Films featured are critically acclaimed Yogawoman, Kumare, The Heart of Transformation, Connected, and Wake Up. Nightly starting times at 7p.m.

5) Yield to yoga, try Shaman of the Moon or Yoga Twister. Shaman of the Moon is body, mind, and music exercises led by Anne Marie Kramer, a 13 year exercise physiologist and teacher at Zuda Yoga, at 19th and O Street in Midtown. “The key,” Kramer says. “is to try as many yoga styles and teachers as you can. Make use of your mountain pose in nature around Squaw, and in the evenings enjoy the music.”

Overall, this event is sure to rock your short list, tickets are still available at Wanderlust.com.

Social media biz success: All a function of brute force

2011-06-03T14:40:02Z

98 percent of the people using social media do not know what they are doing, but the 2 percent who do know what they are doing are rapidly expanding their businesses and making money.

That’s the message from, Patrick Schwerdtfeger, an author and new media marketing guru, who spoke this week to a group of about 40 small business people at the Sacramento Speakers Network.

“Most people practice trial and error and fail their way to Success,” Schwerdtfeger says. The ground floor method is to attempt campaigns, and see what happens.”

Schwerdtfeger, 40, a native of Ottawa, Canada now based in the Bay Area, spoke to the group the very day his new book – titled “Marketing Shortcuts for the Self Employed: Leverage Resources, Establish Online Credibility & Crush your Competition – came off the presses.

Wearing a navy blue suit, light blue tie and an engaging ear-to-ear grin, he wowed the standing-room only crowd at the Doubletree Hotel with stories of companies or individuals who did something unique in the “raging river” of social media that went viral and drew thousands of eyeballs to their product or project.

Schwerdtfeger singled out campaigns where people did fairly simple things that earned attention. The first was a case study on the new Wizardly World of Harry Potter Theme Park. The vice president of media marketing of Universal Orlando Resorts invited seven bloggers, who all write for Harry Potter fans, to an exclusive on-line midnight preview of the theme park. The seven bloggers wrote about the park and lots of their followers re-posted their stories on their own blogs, Facebook pages or tweeted about it on Twitter. Within 24 hours the “exclusive” scoop for seven fan bloggers grew to over 350 million.

Bringing it home, he suggested that business owners build their online identity via a blog and connect that blog to Facebook, LinkedIn, and other sites. Nobody will be listening unless your content is shared. There are thousands of article directories to link your blog to. If blogging becomes too boring, record a podcast and post your idea to iTunes, then after that post several videos where you are demonstrating what you are remarkably good at and post the link to YouTube. Schwerdtfeger credits the numerous videos linked to his blog as the interface that brought About.com and then eventually Wiley to agree to publish his book.

“Learn to demonstrate your expertise in the midst of a raging river,” he says. The river being the infinite number of conversations going on in Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other popular social media networks.

He also pointed out other examples, Dave Carroll, a musician from Nebraska who got ticked off when United Airlines baggage handlers broke his beloved Taylor Guitar and then the company refused to accept responsibility. He wrote a song about it then posted it to YouTube “United Breaks Guitars” – which has been viewed 10, 467,000 times.

Another inexpensive way to increase awareness and build expertise is to provide a free pdf e-book on your site. He pointed to Dr. Helaine Smith’s blog. She provides a free eBook on her blog called “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Sex.” Providing something free gives an incentive for readers to come to your site. You can even place a limited time offer like a 10 percent discount for services if people provide comments on your Facebook.

Another example is Naked Pizza in New Orleans who gave 10 percent discount to customers ordered a pizza by tweeting Naked Pizza.

As for reverse marketing, Jet Blue he says has people doing searches on their competition finding people unhappy with their current airline service, and tweets a response providing a slightly better alternative in real time.

Overall, social media networking provides the ability for your product to expand the frame. For instance if you are selling wine jelly, it’s not just about selling wine jelly. It’s about selling the benefits and privileges that goes with buying that product. On Facebook, you can offer a tour of the winery where that wine jelly is made, provide pairings, options for other uses for the product, and then take photos of the participants who may agree to be tagged so they can share the product with their friends on Facebook. At that point, it’s not just wine jelly. It is an experience to be shared.

Robert P. Weaver, a Folsom CPA, was inspired by the lecture and plans to “provide useful content to his site.”

While members of the audience reacted enthusiastically to Schwerdtfeger’s presentation, some were not sure how his lessons would apply to their businesses.

“It’s a great idea but probably not for me,” Colleen Watters, a Roseville attorney who specializes in estate planning.

Others like, Susan Rueppel, already practice some of Schwerdtfeger’s tips and are eager to utilize more.
Rueppel, who describes herself as a “chief intuition officer” of her Midtown business devoted to helping people and firms “create a bigger vision and have a clear path forward.”

Sacramento Speaker Network regularly meets on the first Wednesday of the month with the next meeting is July 6 at 6:30pm at the Doubletree Hotel. The speaker will be Donna Hartley, a DC-10 plane crash survivor.

Planet of the Vampire Women returns to Crest Theatre

2011-05-27T20:28:20Z

It’s not too late to co me back for a second helping .

If you missed the April premiere of Planet of the Vampire Women, the film is coming back to The Crest. Featuring some of the galaxy’s sexiest space pirates reminiscent of the hunks of Hollywood film of the 60's and 70's, the action packed sci/fi adventure film, has three evening shows slated for Memorial weekend, May 27 through 29.

Stephanie Hyden, a Sacramento native plays a playful anime-like character named Astrid in “Planet of the Vampire Women,” which premiered at the Crest Theatre in April. In the movie, her superpowers allows her to change her outfit at the flip of her hip. She credits Amy Slockbower, one of the film producers and make-up artists, Jace Whitman and Vanessa Diaz in bringing her many looks together. Her many costume changes is definitely one of the selling points of the movie.

Acting has always been a part of her life, even as a toddler. Her mother used to dress her up for theater play dates growing up in what used to be the farmlands of Elk Grove. The skits were performed in front of neighbors. This early recollection motivated her to share improv with all levels of actors at an actor's clubhouse where she teaches.

“It is entirely possible to appear in a project in Sacramento even with limited experience,” she said. “You just have to be willing to try new things, take some risks and not be afraid to fail.”

In 2004, she auditioned for a part in “Monster of Bikini Beach” that led to her role in “Planet of the Vampire Women.” Trash Film Orgy Productions, spearheaded by Christy Savage, producer and Darin Wood, director were pivotal in getting her start. She has worked on projects with the TFO cast and crew since. Within the TFO network, they were able to bring together a set that is a cross between “Planet of the Apes,” “Star Trek” and a jazzy bar scene with a touch of “Kill Bill” influence. The set, enhanced by computer graphics, fake-looking monsters and scantily clad women who turn into vampires, brings a cheesy but fresh perspective to the big screen.

In a word, “Planet of the Vampire Women” is fun. Not a single cast person was paid, but they did get rewarded with improved acting and technical skills. The effort is really a labor of love.

Although she admits working pro bono on “Vampire,” has led to other gigs after the release. In the last year, she collaborated with Sean Kime, a local filmmaker from El Dorado Hills. Their combined efforts in writing and directing have earned outstanding 48 Hour film for "Hope" at the Sacramento International Film Festival in April of 2011. They also earned the People’s Choice Award for “5250” at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival in October 2010.

When asked what it takes to be cast as a vampire woman, she said you have to be “fierce, sexy and confident.” She laughed, “I sound like (America's) next top model, but that’s the truth.”

“Support the film because it is local,” she said. "In fact, most of the sets were filmed in a warehouse on 65th and Folsom. We had a lot of fun bringing it together. Hundreds of volunteers, mainly family and friends of the cast and crew collaborated to bring this project to the big screen. They donated food catering, time handing out fliers and doing what it takes to bring a film to the big screen.”

What are you waiting for? Go out and see it.

And, definitely worth a second helping.

AIDS epidemic outweighs gold

2011-03-06T23:14:26Z

Three Oscar statutes march on the red carpet offering vials of liquid pleasure. Chiseled bodies, photographer’s lenses can’t resist. Camera flashes bounce off their shells like bullets aimed at Superman.Stylish partygoers can’t help but to be intrigued. They all want a sip. Come closer, the golden boys six-pack abs invite. Emblazoned in black letters is the campaign slogan for AIDS and HIV prevention: “Play, but Play it Safe.”

Yes, it is the Oscars, but we can’t help to be reminded of the impact of the deadly disease. Christian, one of the golden boys agrees, “We wanted to raise awareness for AIDS and HIV,” said Christian, who asked that his last name remain unpublished. “We’re raising money for those affected with the disease and keeping it fun.”

“5,000 people in the region are infected – one in four doesn’t even know it,” said Joyce Mitchell, president of the Capital City AIDS Fund (CCAF) and a prevention advocate for 16 years. “If they do not know, then they are spreading the virus. It is 100 percent preventable,”
Contrary to popular belief, AIDS is not a disease of men. The World Health Organization announced in November 2009 that HIV/AIDS is now the number one killer worldwide of women and girls ages 15 to 44 worldwide. In the United States alone, a woman is infected with HIV every 35 minutes.

Beck Morgan has a fun job. He’s one of the make-up artists who covered the three Golden Boys’ bodies with glittering theatrical makeup. But he gets serious when talking about the lethal nature of AIDS.

“The highest rate of new infection is between the ages of 18-25 years old,” Morgan said. This year the fundraiser was not held downtown, moving instead to an unoccupied penthouse suite on the twelfth floor of 2020 Gateway Oaks in the Natomas area.
The new space, with its 360-degree views of the city allowed organizers to expand the event so that 770 people were there for dinner and the auction – and to sell more food and drinks, which in turn means more money for HIV programs – or AIDS patients – in the Sacramento region.

“This year, all the silent auction items received bids,” said Paula Gammell, auction volunteer. “We started requesting items for the silent auction in November and got over 130 packages.”

The opulent spread included: a $7,000 red ribbon diamond and ruby necklace handset in platinum donated by Madison Avenue Diamonds in New York, wedding bands by Grebitus and Hamilton Jewelers, paintings from numerous artists, dinner reservations, Jet-Blue tickets,Mac cosmetics, magnum size wine bottles, espresso sets, spa treatments, leather jackets, fur coats, and more luxury items and services.

Changing the vacant penthouse to an Academy Award winning experience was the biggest challenge. “We started with a plain shell ... an unfinished concrete flat,” said volunteer coordinator, Rachel Perlman. “It took eight months of planning and weeks of volunteer assistance to make the transformation. Every piece of furniture, lighting, audio-visual equipment, sound, sofas, lounge/dinner chairs, table cloths, auction items, glasses, curtains, you name it, was hauled up through those elevators by one of our 130 volunteers.”

A fun night indeed, complete with body shots. But a final glimpse at Christian’s chest is a reminder that the message is dead serious.

“Play (but) Play it Safe. Everyone does it. Everyone has sex. Everyone needs to use protection. Every time.”

For information on how you can receive free, confidential, walk-in testing check out CARES Clinic. March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and includes events in Sacramento.

West Coast Swing vogue in Brazil

2011-02-24T15:12:16Z

In it’s 19th year, Capital Swing Dancers, a nonprofit dance club, hosted its annual Presidents Day Weekend Convention. The event has grown steadily, bringing in competitors nationally and worldwide.

Bruno Silva, 24, is a visiting student from Fortaleza, Brazil. He participated in the West Coast Swing 101 Jack & Jill designed for newcomers.

He wanted to experience a World Swing Dance Council sanctioned event in the United States before going home from his university break. He was visiting Tennessee on work exchange with Hard Rock Cafe. Unlike the United States, Brazil’s winter break runs from December to the end of February.

Though he has only been dancing West Coast swing for one and a half years, his prior dance experience includes salsa, zouk, cha-cha, samba and forro. These disciplines helped him to pick up the second-place medal for his moves.

“There is not as much rules compared to other types of dance like salsa, which is symmetric,” he said. “The breaks are synchronized to the down-beat of contemporary music like Akon. We call it the freedom dance because dancers are not confined to a box, the dance (slot) keeps going.”

He credits learning about West Coast swing through a dance academy in Brazil informally called “Diego’s House.” Competition videos of dance students and Silva at the dance academy can be found at suncityswing.blogspot.com.

Many U.S. Open Swing Dance Champions regularly come to Sacramento to teach at local Cap Swing monthly events. These are the same instructors Silva credits for learning his basics from in Brazil. These traveling instructors include Michael Kielbasa, and U.S. Open Swing Dance Classic Champions, Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollman.

Besides the convention, Capitol Swing dancers hosts weekly dance and beginner lessons at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at The Station in Roseville. There is also a monthly dance at 7:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month at the Fair Oaks Clubhouse. The monthly dance offers free beginner lessons at 5:30 p.m. More details can be found at capitalswingdancers.org.

Kevin Wallace, 34, a local resident who placed first in the competition, added, “I’ve been dancing for more than six years. Though, (I’ve) never competed, (I’ve) taken more than a dozen private lessons and attended many conferences. This is the first time I competed (WCS 101), but maybe not the last,” he said, already missing the scene in Sacramento. “That is, until I move to Germany, who knows, I may end up teaching West Coast there.”

*Amabelle Ocampo is a "westie" who regularly dances at Capital Swing. She is also a writer with Sacramento Press.

Firehouse 5 heats up dance community

2011-02-01T17:54:20Z

One can feel the warmth, seeing the steam roll off the windows. Red mood lighting, the pulse of blues music playing in the background, comfy old couches, smooth but funky wood floors, and full length mirrors alongside an antique firefighter’s pole describes a typical scene at Firehouse 5. Their fuel is music, and the dancers in close embrace are the matchsticks.

The building on the edge of downtown that once housed one of Sacramento’s first motorized fire engines has evolved into one of the region’s most eclectic dance venues and hangouts. It’s a place where students come from UC Davis or even Chico so that couples can dance tango, blues or west coast swing, which combines lindy and swing moves from the 1950s with contemporary music such Lady Gaga or the Black Eyed Peas.

“It feels like a club but there is no pressure to have to buy a drink,” said co-owner Dan Printz. Firehouse 5 does not sell alcohol or food. It only offers a chance to dance and make friends. It’s where people who love to dance for hours can get their fix while those who are curious but clueless can practice without being embarrassed.

From the outside, it’s a nondescript gray building, with antique remnants of an old firehouse station that opened in 1913 located on 9th Street between U and V. One can be easily fooled by the subtle exterior, but a walk through the doors reveal this cool, casual, come-as–you-are haven for dancers of all ages to collaborate.

Printz was a jazz musician for many years. In 2006, he found the location when he was helping some of his friends establish a same-sex tango community project. Although that project never came into fruition, the idea for Firehouse 5 was born and refined to include a modern mix of dance forms.

“It started out with (co-owner) Chris Peake and dance partner, Kendra teaching tango classes and branched from there,” Printz said.

Currently, Firehouse 5 offers lessons in salsa, blues dance, west coast swing, traditional Argentine tango and Tango Alternativa, which combines tango moves with electronic music. Except for a salsa class for kids, the instruction is geared to adults. But the venue, which its scuffed wooden floor is popular among the college crowd and many high school students who want to try partner dancing in place that feel more hip than a ballroom.

Sunday is the most popular night. It starts at 7 p.m. with a beginner lesson in blues of West Coast Swing. Then there is a three-hour open dance where novices and veterans move from partner to partner without jealousy or pretense. The DJ alternates a blues numbers with pop hits. Couples dance close blues, west coast swing or whatever hybrid mix of discipline they brought with them. For example, Jay Prabhu was in a dance group in India and then learned west coast swing, then blues at Firehouse 5 to combine them into a unique style.

“I first took the beginner blues class but I didn’t dance afterward. I watched for about two or three lessons till I got the hang of it,” said Prabhu, an engineering student from California State University, Sacramento. “Now, I come here regularly, it’s a needed break especially when I have a Sunday night free.”

There is also a “welcome steal dance” where newcomers are partnered with more experienced dancers who take turns cutting in on each other to welcome the first-timers.

In addition, to regular classes, there are workshops by traveling, top-level dance instructors such as tango innovators Homer and Christina Ladas or Mihai Banulescu, who teaches blues. West Coast Swing, which holds competitions, has been taught by champions such as Ben McHenry, Chuck Brown, Nick Jay, Nick King, and Shane Gomez.

“Our goal is to create a non-profit to promote tango, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, salsa, and blues at this downtown location,” Printz said.

Besides Firehouse 5, Printz also promotes dance events at other venues. The market for tango, and blues dancers overlaps a little but can be very different. By promoting partner dance in general in Sacramento, Printz found a formula that is both good for the community and makes for a livelier dance scene.

Firehouse 5 currently doesn’t offer open salsa dancing. But salsa instructor Nicole Lazo has a devoted following of grownups on Monday nights and kids (ages 6 to 16) on Wednesday evenings. Nicole Lazo is unusual among dance teachers because she started learning to teach the dance just as she was learning it herself from Fahad four years ago.

“I knew from the beginning that I wanted to teach dan ce,” said Lazo, who perfectly looks the part of the long-legged, high-heeled hot salsera – until she carries her six-month old son in a sling while she teaches.

“I was dancing right up until I gave birth,” said Lazo, smiling at her baby. “His first dance was inside me.”

Lazo’s gentle manner makes it easy for newcomers trying to learn to travel on a dance floor at salsa speed. She helps kids get over their inhibitions about dance.

“I teach kids at their own level. They are a great group.”

Jenny McDonald-Fernandez also knows how to connect with kids through body movement – and that made her a fan of Lazo. McDonald-Fernandez, who only has one arm, teaches first grade at Elliott Ranch School in Elk Grove. She started as Lazo’s student and now helps her teach.

“Dance is great for your self-esteem. It helps you become more comfortable with your body and with moving around,” McDonald-Fernandez said. “I’ve taken classes with guys but Nicole taught me how to really move like a woman.”