Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Jennifer Aten

Matt Cain Junior Giants Field Dedication

2010-06-15T21:50:03Z

San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain was on hand this morning to dedicate the Matt Cain Junior Giants Field at the George Sim Community Center in Sacramento.

Through the leadership of Sacramento City Councilmember Kevin McCarty and the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation and sponsors including the Giants Community Fund, the Good Tidings Foundation, and Giants pitcher Matt Cain, the Junior Giants field in South Sacramento was completely renovated to a top-notch baseball field. Since 1995, the Giants Community Fund has worked with Giants players and partners such as the good Tidings Foundation to refurbish more than 20 youth baseball fields.

Giants Broadcaster Dave Flemming was the event emcee which drew dignitaries from the San Francisco Giants organization and the City of Sacramento. Sacramento City Councilman Kevin McCarty spoke about bringing the Junior Giants league to Sacramento over five years ago and his search for funds to assist with field renovation. Jim Combs, Director of Sacramento Parks and Recreation spoke to the Department’s commitment to keeping the field looking state-of-art for generations to come.

Most importantly, Giants pitcher Matt Cain was honored for his dedication to community service and outstanding performance as a San Francisco Giant. He sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with Mrs. Mazzocco’s second grade class from Elder Creek Elementary. Melissa Huizar, a Sacramento Junior Giant, threw out the ceremonial first pitch and students took home an autographed poster of Matt Cain.

Junior Giants, which started in 1994, was created to give kids a meaningful partnership with community-based organizations and to provide an alternative to drugs, gangs and crime. It is a non-competitive recreational baseball program that teaches the fundamentals of baseball and stresses self-esteem, education, teamwork and leadership.

Opening Day for the Sacramento Junior Giants at the George Sim Community Center is Saturday, June 26th. The George Sim Community Center is located at 6207 Logan Street.

Jennifer Aten on "Jackie Greene plays Fairytale Town"

2010-06-08T06:33:44Z

It was one of his best shows I have ever seen! I love that he is growing as an artist and getting better every year.

"Little House on the Prairie, the Musical"

2010-04-21T14:40:20Z

Ma. Pa. Half-Pint. Mary. Almanzo. For those of us who grew up in the 1970s and '80s, these names mean something.

“Little House on the Prairie, the Musical” opened Saturday at the Community Center Theatre. Melissa Gilbert, who starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder in the original television series, plays the beloved “Ma”. And what a gift she gives audiences that have cherished her all these years.

The musical version of Wilder’s classic series published 75 years ago does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of her story. It is a tale of family, hardship, community and love. This adaptation does a fantastic job of portraying our infant country through the eyes of settlers in the Dakota Territory in the early 1880s.

It also is the story of a young woman struggling to find her way in a country in which being a “wild child” was left to the boys. The heroine, Laura, is as tied to the prairie as she is to her family. She is a spirited and sassy child whose escapades with her sister Mary and archenemy, Nellie Oleson, leave the audience laughing. In the song before the finale, Gilbert sings to her daughter -- the character she played for 10 years -- about finding and loving herself. It is a full-circle moment for fans.

This play is a must-see. For those of us who are decadeslong fans, it is a walk down memory lane. Youngsters new to the story will witness a beautiful portrayal of our country with an engaging storyline. It is a treat for young and old alike.

“Little House on the Prairie, the Musical” runs through April 25. For more information, visit www.littlehousethemusical.com.