Romancing the Pumpkin

It was their first date...Fiona tried to imagine kissing him after he sent forth the horrible sprew...but alas...she could not. (Jack-o by Spike Blessing) Photo by Debbie

Mrs. P's Kindergarten Class

Mrs. Palamidessi's kindergarten class from West More Oaks School were standing tall on a stack of hay bales during their field trip to Dave's Pumpkin Patch in West Sacramento. Photo by Christy.

"Best of Broderick" Community Mural Dedication

The Broderick Neighborhood Tree Committee unveiled the "Best of Broderick" community mural that will hang at the front of the Senior Center at the corner of Cummings and Reuter. This mural was painted by folks of all ages at the recent Neighbors Fair. Photos by Christy

Kids in Costume

This collage is from photos of the annual Kid's Halloween Party at the West Sacramento Moose Family Center. There were just too many great looking costumes to pick just one.
Photos by Barbara.

Jack and Mariana choose their pumpkins!

The tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns originated with Irish children who first carved out the centers of rutabagas, turnips and potatoes and placed candles inside.
Photo by Debbie.

"Every Halloween the Great Pumpkin flies through the air with his bag of toys, and just think.....if you and I sit here all night, we may get to see him!"

Tequila Drinking Devil Dog

In West Sacramento, this tequila drinking devil dog becomes very ferocious
during Halloween, Samhain, Pooky Nights and Dia De Los Muertos.
Photo by Barbara

Actually, this statue was created by well-known ceramic artist Joe Mariscal and I purchased it from Jennifer Pauls Gallery back in the 1980's. Some people are offended by her angry snarl--I find it endearing ...she looks exactly like our old dog Snooper, a fiesty, toothless, Chihuahua fox terrier mix. As for the Don Julio, we acquired a taste for tequila when we visited Guatemala recently.....

Welcome to West Sacramento

West Sacramento is 20 Years Old

The City of West Sacramento was Incorporated in 1987 when the three communities of Broderick, Bryte and West Sacramento voted to combine and form a city. West Sacramento is a Tree City. For more information about Free Shade Trees for a Greener West Sacramento see the City of West Sacramento. Photo by Barbara

Haunted Bungalow

This house in Old Broderick is ready for Trick or Treat Night. Photo by Barbara

The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays goes back to the Middle Ages. Trick-or-treating originated in the British Isles, and is still popular in Ireland, and in some parts of England and Scotland.

Waiting for Lift Off

Anthony found the perfect pumpkin for the big Jack-O Carving Day, but getting this monster home is another story. His mom said the lesson for today is "you should not pick more pumpkin than you can carve". Photo by Anneke Moresco

El Gato: The Gatekeeper

In West Sacramento, El Gato keeps a vigilant lookout during the wee hours, during Halloween, Samhain, Pooky Nights and Dia De Los Muertos to protect our village from "Stray Familiars". Photo by Barbara

The Sídhe Spider

In West Sacramento, the Sídhe spiders become very ferocious during our celebration of Halloween, Samhain, Pooky Nights and Dia De Los Muertos. These relatively innocent looking creatures come alive at night and are especially dangerous to tax collectors, real estate developers and gossipers. Photo by Barbara

Myms in a Pympkyn

A cleverly cut pumpkin centerpiece. Our family is filled with artistic and creative people. Just ask me...Photo by Barbara

The Bryte Post Office

The Bryte Post Office on Lisbon Avenue was established in 1915. The town of Bryte was named after Mike Bryte, a well-known dairy farmer in the area. Photo by Barbara

In the 1980s I was friends with Pearl Reese Loutensock, retired Postmaster with the Bryte Post Office. She was a very colorful local personality who was active in the Soroptimist Club of West Sacramento.

Our view of "The Delta King"

The folks in West Sacramento are treated to this view of the Delta King from the River Walk in West Sacramento. The restored Delta King opened for business in 1989 and serves as a hotel, theater and restaurant at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Photo by Barbara

In the 1920s, The Delta King and her identical twin The Delta Queen carried passengers and freight between San Francisco and Sacramento. They were fabricated from 1924 to 1927 on the River Clyde at the Isherwood Yard in Glasgow, Scotland.

Frank Norton used to tell the story about when he was a boy growing up in Broderick, and there were so many boats on the Sacramento River you could hop across to the other side.

CalSTRS Headquarters Building

Above photo shot from the Tower Bridge on Sept 4, 2009.


Update: Photo above was taken on July 1, 2008. ~ Barbara

Progress photo above-was taken on March 22, 2008.


Photo taken in October of 2007 is the California State Teachers' Retirement System 14-story headquarters building in West Sacramento is expected to be completed in the spring of 2009.
Photo by Barbara.

"The CalSTRS Headquarters building is under construction on the riverfront! The state teachers retirement fund is building a new headquarters building next to the Ziggurat and plans to occupy the new building sometime in late Spring 2009. The steel skeleton of the building is already visible from I-5, U.S. 50 and U.S. 80. This new addition to the City’s skyline will be certified with the LEEDS Silver Certification for energy efficiency. The construction of this $186 million dollar building is the culmination of and extensive site search and years of planning."

Cemex USA project

"On October 10th, it took four fire engines and one aerial ladder truck working through the night to extinguish the fire that burned the wood scaffolding at the top of two of the six silos. Fire fighters worked through the night to fight the flames raging more than 200 feet high." City of West Sacramento news release .

These huge concrete silos are in construction at the Port of Sacramento Industrial Park with the tallest topping out at 222 feet and 60 feet in diameter. Cemex USA will store bulk cement that's shipped here and then trucked to local construction sites. Below is the old plant that will be torn down during redevelopment of the riverbank area. Photo by Barbara

California Sun

..The Pastiche Sunflower....attracts beneficial insects and birds and is beautiful for cutting.... This photo was shot by Anneke Moresco who says "The last of my sunflowers, announcing that fall is here"
.

Holy Myrrhbearing Women Church

This Russian Orthodox Church on Water Street in Bryte was founded in 1925. Women played a major role in the building of the Church--they were not only involved with fundraising, but also the actual construction of the building; hence the name Holy Myrrbearing Women Church to honor these women. Photo by Debbie.

All services are generally served in Slavonic. The church choir generally sings in Slavonic and uses various chants during the worship service. Dates of Feasts are according to the Julian Calendar.

The church is on the list of Historical Sites and Buildings in West Sacramento.

Come to the WSFD Open House—Meet Your Firefighters!

A West Sacramento Fireman shows Jack how to use the fire hose, at the James Marshall PreSchool. Photo by Debbie.

As part of National Fire Prevention Week, the West Sacramento Fire Department invites the public to an “open house, Saturday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Fire Station 45, 2040 Lake Washington Blvd., east of Jefferson Blvd.

Swainsons Hawk

A Swainsons Hawk monitored traffic at the Nugget Market parking lot on Jefferson Boulevard yesterday. See the UC Davis, California Raptor Center website for information about these magnificent birds of prey. Photo by Debbie.

Hawks are believed to have vision as good as 20/2, about eight times more acute than humans with good eyesight. This is because of many photoreceptors in the retina (Up to 1,000,000 per square mm, against 200,000 for humans), a very high number of nerves connecting the receptors to the brain, a second set of eye muscles not found in other animals, and an indented fovea, which magnifies the central part of the visual field.

Neighbors Fair: Kinetic Sculpture Racer

Elliott Ness of Lake County rode his Kinetic Sculpture the "Pear County Chopper" in the Community Parade. Photo by Barbara Smith

Kinetic sculptures are cross-country, human-powered vehicles made to go on sand, water, pavement and other surfaces.

Neighbors Fair: Aneesh Bellydance Troupe

Performing their Cabaret Egyptian and American Tribal styles of bellydance on the stage at the Neighbors Fair, was Aneesh Bellydance Troupe in their beautifully decorated harem pants and choli tops. Photo by Barbara

"This diverse group of women is unique in that all of the performers are over the age of 30 and come from a variety of career fields.......collectively they perform with a passion and sensuality that exemplifies the very essence of female beauty".

Neighbors Fair: Dancing Horses

This Latina rider in the traditional "Adelita " dress and charro sombrero performed with her dancing horse in the Neighbors Parade. They were part of the LULAC Group, the largest and oldest Hispanic Organization in the United States. Photo by Barbara Smith

A Family Tradition: The tradition of the Charros and Charreadas run in the family and go back many generations. It is likely that the Mexican charro tradition derived from Spanish horsemen who came from Salamanca, Spain.

Neighbors Fair: Red Rooster VolksWaffle

Waffles are my grandsons favorite food, and we entered a new appreciation for that delicate treat when we tried the Red Rooster Waffle at the Neighbors Fair. Photo by Barbara.

According to the waffle-makers, Marc Van Mieghem and Michelle Salata, the VolksWaffle is characterized by a special sugar that melts within, and caramelizes on, the waffle when baked. And they are delicious!

Neighbors Fair: "Best of Broderick" Mural

Jack and Hal painted on the Best of Broderick Mural at the Neighbors Fair yesterday. The day started with the community parade that ended at the River Walk park which was setup with a free entertainment and craft area for kids, community group booths, a music concert and a great selection of food and libations. Photo by Barbara

West Capital Raceway Monument

This commemorative monument on West Capital Avenue marks the location of the old West Capital Raceway.

The "Capital Speedway" first opened its gates to the public on Sunday, May 25, 1947 and was located on a 40 acre site at 4200 West Capitol Avenue. Photo by Christy.

Galeria de arte

This artist's home is in the old Elkhorn Village subdivision of Broderick. An eclectic blend of wall art, painted designs on trees, rock formations and sculptures make a very charming gallery of artwork in this culturally rich neighborhood.
Photo by Barbara Smith

The Autumn Leaves vs Bowers of Spring

The leaf colors are changing daily--they were green last week and now are mixed with vibrants reds. Photo by Barbara

Some Trivia: When I was a kid my mom would play "Autumn Leaves" by Roger Williams on a monstrous console stereo we had in the living room. My grandson said Autumn is his favorite season; I'm inclined to agree with him. West Sacramento has been designated a Tree City U.S.A by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Why Turn Red? "A leaf turning red in the fall makes for a much greater mystery than a leaf turning yellow does. The yellowing signals simply a dropping of veils because the yellow pigment has lain hidden in the leaf during its long, green summer. When summer ends and the green pigments break down, the yellow shines through. Reds, however, don't loll around all summer. A leaf with only a few weeks left to hang on its tree summons its faltering resources for a burst of bright-red-pigment making."

Camellia City Orchestra's "instrument petting zoo"

The Camillia Symphony Orchestra brought their "instrument petting zoo" to the City Hall Galleria last Sunday and Hal played many instruments, including the clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, oboe, violin, cello, timpani and the harp. Photo by Christy.

This was the first of a series of 4 free family concerts that the Symphony will be performing in Northern California this fall as a way to introduce families to classical music and live musicians.

São Pedro Association Festa

The São Pedro Association is a Madeiran heritage association founded in 1922 and is focused on retaining its historical identity in our community. The annual festival is held at the San Pedro Park on Hobson Avenue in Bryte and is not only an Madeiran event, it is considered by the townsfolk as a community event. Photos by Jack Schwab.

The original association grounds were on the banks of the Sacramento River in the township of Riverbank. In the 20s, the festa was called the Riverbank Festa after the name of the area, which was later renamed to Bryte.

The Church and Park are on the list of Historical Sites and Buildings in West Sacramento.

CDPB Theme Day October 1st: "Cemeteries and Tombstones"

City Daily Photoblog theme for October 1st is "Cemeteries and Tombstones". Since West Sacramento does not have an official cemetery or burial ground (that I know of) I went across the river to the City of Sacramento for my photo.

John A. Sutter, Jr., the founder and planner of the City of Sacramento died in Acapolco in 1897 while serving as American Consul. His remains were moved to the Sacramento City Cemetery in 1964.

His father Capt. John A. Sutter, Sr. is buried in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Photos by Barbara Smith

You can see other photos of this historical cemetery posted in my album on Webshots.