Gift Ideas

Read the Elk Grove Citizen's Wish Book (Dec. 1 paper) with gift ideas from airplane flying lessons to fishing trips. Our Gift Guide, with gift ideas under $50, comes out on Dec. 8. Be sure to pick-up a copy!

Santa PAWS is Coming to Town!

Get a jump on the holidays when Santa comes to visit the
Sacramento SPCA on Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Don’t miss an opportunity to have your holiday photos taken with your two and four-legged family members and Santa himself. Photo packages start at $25.

The Santa Paws event will also include a holiday adoptathon with half-off adoption
specials, as well as festive treats, kids’ crafts and activities and a holiday boutique.

All Santa Paws events will take place at the Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin-Perkins
Road.

For additional information, please call (916) 504-2802 or visit www.sspca.org.

Breast Cancer Still Kills Too Many

There are many startling statistics about breast cancer, but it only takes one heartbreaking story to really drive the point home. The disease is the second most common type of cancer death for women. And although more women are surviving the disease compared to 10 years ago, it still destroys too many lives.
Florence Williams, or Flo, as she was also called, died early in the morning on Sept. 29 of breast cancer.
I was honored to attend Florence’s wedding in March of this year.
It was a beautiful ceremony held in a ballroom at a hotel in Elk Grove. She married Michael Davis, whom she met while living in the Bay Area. He knew she had Stage IV breast cancer, but wanted to commit his life to her and her children.
When I spoke with Flo’s daughter, Iesha, on Friday, Sept. 24, she told me that her mother was not coherent and didn’t have much longer to live.
“Her main thing now is ‘don’t give up’” Iesha said on Friday.
But unfortunately Flo’s strength didn’t beat the cancer.
Nearly 40,000 women will die of breast cancer in the United States in 2010.
I know there are many survivors around the world, in the nation and in Elk Grove too. There are also those who are going through treatment. We see them at the grocery store, at work functions and at the gym. Some wear bandanas on their heads because of the chemotherapy. Many are tired, emotionally overwhelmed, but still have to work and stay strong for their families and for their own emotion well-being.
When I spoke with Elk Grove resident and Executive Director of the Elk Grove and Stockton eWomenNetwork chapters Karen Penfold at the Relay for Life in May, which benefits the American Cancer Society, she told me the gamut of emotions someone faces when they are diagnosed with breast cancer can only be comprehended by another survivor.
Penfold conquered her cancer, as well as Half Dome, late this summer.
Breast cancer never scared her, she said to my amazement.
“It’s a really difficult thing to go through, obviously,” she said. “It can be scary, but I personally was never terrified.”
She placed her faith in Christ and trusted Him, she said.
Karen’s friend Shannon Crawford organized the Half Dome hike for 25 women, including Karen, to celebrate her recovery from breast cancer.
Karen had made the trek in the past, but “this time it had so much more meaning to it,” she said.
Anna Starr, owner of The Yarn Shoppe in Elk Grove, also beat breast cancer.
Starr said she would like to see more studies done on healthy eating in relation to breast cancer diagnosis and survival.
Her grandmother, who is almost 100 years old, grows her own produce. Starr said she thinks that helps keep her spry and appearing half her age.
Despite all the support breast cancer sufferers receive from their families and communities, there are some organizations that aim to make a profit from donations.
In recent years the number of retailers selling pink products in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has skyrocketed. From gym bags to kitchen gadgets to shoes- October is the month to buy pink.
Yet not all products are labeled with the exact amount that will go towards fighting breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Action group, a nonprofit based out of San Francisco, encourages consumer education when it comes to purchasing products with the pink ribbon with their Think Before You Pink campaign.
The nonprofit has already reprimanded a yogurt company for offering a measly donation for saved yogurt lids, and also encouraged the company to discontinue the use of rBGH (bovine growth hormone), which has been linked to breast cancer.
Karen said as a breast cancer survivor she is weary of the “epidemic” of products labeled with pink ribbons.
“As a breast cancer survivor, I personally start to feel like the pink ribbon is sometimes being used in a selfish way for companies to make a profit,” she said.
The campaign does bring awareness, she added, but it shouldn’t be misused for “marketing opportunities that don’t necessarily benefit breasts cancer survivors and patients.”

During treatment and recovery, it’s essential to listen to your own needs.
One of the most vital steps to recovery is being kind to yourself, said Karen and Penfold.
Below is a list of recovery tips and suggestions from Anna Starr and Karen Penfold.


Recovery Ideas from Karen:
Stay as active as you can through the process
Accept support and help from others
Be very, very kind to yourself- get extra sleep, get massages, get emotional and spiritual counseling
Have a new or celebratory goal
Make it a priority to have a healthy and positive lifestyle
Take time for self reflection, prayer, spending time with people that bring you joy
Become involved in a support group

Recovery Ideas from Anna:
Knitting
Making sure that you do something special for yourself once a week is really important- pedicure or a massage or a facial.
Allow yourself some time for healing
Journal- Anna was skeptical a first, but said she found healing it in.
Laugh. “You get one deck of cards and that’s it,” she said. “It’s just not worth spending time pouting or fretting or regretting. You have to laugh and enjoy every moment.”

The Buzz Around Bees

This week I met with three local beekeepers in Elk Grove for an upcoming features story.
First I met with Kathy and Vern Waldorf. Kathy began beekeeping two years ago as a hobby, then Vern joined in. The first bees they had died due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD. CCD is a major concern among beekeepers because it can wipe out entire colonies, and no one is certain what is causing it. (You'll read more about this in my article, which will come out in the next couple of weeks.)
The next day I met with Richard Henry Martin and Mill Sutter. The two friends teamed-up to manage 27 hives on two properties. Mill found friends who allowed them to keep bees on their property. Gardeners often like having bees nearby to pollinate their plants. This makes their gardens grow better. The Waldorfs said since they started beekeeping, their cherry tree has been more fruitful. Sutter and Martin said they’ve noticed a strawberry patch near their bees has had increased in production.
Beekeepers are a passionate group- and knowledgeable too!
Here are some facts I've picked up this week: without bees 2/3 of the fruits and vegetables available in grocery stores wouldn't exist. Bees die once they sting. Bees keep the temperature in their hives from the lower to mid 90 degrees Fahrenheit- even in the winter.
Martin and Sutter reminded me that the hobby of beekeeping hasn't changed since its discovery thousands of years ago. In fact, they said, honey was found in King Tutankhamun's tomb (honey also never spoils).
I was warned I might get stung, but I'm not allergic to bees so I wasn't too worried. So far I'm sting free!
I had to resist the urge to swat at the bees (which can cause them to sting). Running from the bees can also cause them to attack. But I never felt worried.
Fortunately, Sutter had a beekeepers netted hat for me to wear so the bees wouldn’t sting my face (ouch). And next week, when we visit Elk Grove beekeeper Brian, who operates the blog www.beesarelife.com ,he will have bee suits and hats for the photographer and I to wear.
Bees are so important to agriculture, it's amazing!

The Premiere of RENT in Sacramento

After seeing the Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT on Broadway, I was doubtful any other show would compare. But the Sacramento show at the 24th Street Theatre easily nabs second place in my mind.
This was the Sacramento county premiere of RENT, presented by Runaway Stage productions.
This was one of the best plays I’ve ever seen in Sacramento! Yes, the New York show was better, but not by a lot. The show runs through Sept. 26, so you can still get tickets.
The musical is loosely based on Puccini’s La Boheme. RENT tells the story of a group of friends struggling with love, drugs and AIDS.
The iconic songs and dance numbers were executed perfectly.
The stage props were right-on! The actors, the costumers and their singing voices were fantastic.
The Sacramento production was produced and directed by multiple Elly Award winner Bob Baxter, who teamed up again with Elly Award winning Choreographer Darryl Strohl and Musical Director Christopher Cook.
All the vocal talent in one play is a reason to go see this show!
The actor who played Joann had an amazing alto voice that made my mouth practically drop open when she opened hers.
The song, “Tango: Maureen” was where she really shined!
The actor who played Maureen did a hilarious rendition of "Over the Moon.”
I also loved, loved, loved “Today 4 U.” The actor who played Angel was just as good as the Broadway version, and his dance moves were even better.
Too bad this fabulous show can’t take place at a larger, newer theater that could garner the attention this show deserves.
For information about tickets and show times visit contact the box office at (916) 207-1226.

Elk Grove Citizen's Version of Antique's Roadshow

When I scheduled an interview with local antiques appraiser Gary Cox for the article that ran in the Elk Grove Citizen, I asked him if he could do appraisals for the Citizen staff so I could post them on my blog.
On Sept. 3 we were already getting excited talking about the antiques and collectable items we could bring in and have appraised on his Sept. 7 visit.
I’m thrilled to say that the etching I brought in turned out to be worth $800-$1,300 if put up for auction in America. In Europe it could fetch up to $2,000.
The etching was purchased for only $1 at a white elephant sale in Sacramento.
I knew it was by the Czech artist T.F. Simon (1898-1925), and that one print is hanging in the British Museum.
Gary confirmed that it was an original etching by T.F. Simon complete with his red stamp and a watermark. We were all enthralled that something with so much value could be found among the small collection of items we brought in.
The etching was probably made from a highly polished copper plate, the plate was coated with an acid- resistant wax and then the etching is carved into the wax. The idea is to expose the metal along the lines drawn. The plate is dropped into a bowl of acid, which eats into the exposed metal. When the design is complete, the plate is inked and then the surface is wiped with a cloth, this cleans the plate only leaving ink lodged in the lines that have been etched into the surface. A sheet of damp paper is pressed upon the plate and a print results. Voila!
After World War II, the dollar was strong, he explained, and Americans were able to purchase a lot of European artwork. Now, they are buying their art back, he said. That’s is why the etching is worth almost twice as much in Europe today.
I’ve always thought being an antiques appraiser would be an enjoyable job, but after meeting Gary I’m even more certain of that! It was evident that he was enthralled with his work. We could tell when he would pick up an item with an interesting history because of the look on his face. Wow, he sure knew history well!
Gary looked at a spear that Citizen Photographer Laura Bemis brought into the office. She purchased the spear in Scotland and was told it was from a war between Africa and Scotland. (On a humorous note, Laura said when she purchased this spear she was able to carry it onto the airplane- wow, that must have been some time ago!)
Gary confirmed her suspicions about it being from Africa. He showed us that it was a handcrafted spear made by either the Masasi or the Zulu tribes in Africa, and possibly used during the Boer war between Dutch settlers and Africans. He said more research would be necessary to determine a price, but the amount of history he could recall about a lot of be pieces we brought in was impressive.
On Sept. 3, Receptionist June Hanson and I talked about what items we might have of value. She told me about an antique silverware set she has in a wooden box that looks like it is from Germany. As a fan of Antiques Roadshow, I had high hopes that this would be worth a pretty penny because I’ve noticed that utensils and furniture can often be worth more than one might expect. June was realistic and said she wasn’t certain that it was valuable, but we were hopeful that someone on staff would bring in something with a good story and/or high price.
Unfortunately, June’s silverware set was estimated to be worth $150-$175. Not cheap, but not as much as it could be worth if it was sterling. It was made in America and was silver-plated. The box was in a “German style” but also most likely made in America.
She also brought a pair of baby shoes in the original box from the late 1940s. Cox said the shoes might be of interest to a doll collector.
An antiques appraiser not only looks for signatures, materials and manufacturing stamps to determine value, but also must consider the market. Who would buy this? What is the demand?
Even though not everyone’s items turned out to be worth a boatload, City Reporter Cody Kitaura brought in a lot of historical objects from his family’s past.
The cast iron toy train that his grandfather played with as a child still rolled along like new. He also had several framed photos of his grandfather playing with the train and other toys from that period.
Cox examined the train and right away knew the story behind it.
The train was from the 1940s or 50s, but the photos, with the supposed train, were taken in the late 1920s.
Cox told a story he’s probably uncovered a thousands times. Cody’s grandfather probably lost the original train at some point and someone bought the current train because it looked similar. But to a trained professional like Cox, the ironwork was different and there were minor details he noticed about the construction of the train in the photos versus the train he held.
Cody also had V-mail from the same grandfather who served in WWII. The content of the letters would determine their value.
Reading about “what I had for lunch that day” is not of interest to buyers, Cox said, unless the letters were written from, say for example, the USS Arizona or the USS Enterprise. The letters could also be valuable if the content discussed using a new weapon or an upcoming battle that would later be in history books.
Cody also had a history book with only 44 states in the Union, the last one being Utah. This was only worth about $15-$20 because there are so many of these out there.
I was due for a surprised when I learned my antique bed warmer was a mid century re-creation of an early 18th century bed warmer. I had hoped it belonged to an early settler, but no dice.
It’s often the objects that you don’t expect to be valuable that end up being worth something, he said. That’s why when he goes on appraisal jobs at homes he asks to look around, or, he said, he’ll ask them if they have certain items that many people overlook.
I told Cox that I noticed appraisers on the Antiques Roadshow often talked about the “Arts and Crafts” era. I’ve noticed these items always seem to be valuable.
Items from the “arts and crafts” period can be very valuable, he explained. This was a time, shortly after the industrial revolution, when craftsman were returning to the detailed craftsmanship of handmade items. This was mostly taking place in England.
When I first spoke with Cox on the phone and suggested we meet in an antiques store where I can see him in action, he said that antique storeowners generally know what they’re doing and often price their items on the mark.
The best bet is probably grandma’s attic or the family heirloom you thought was unsightly or estate sales.
For the entire story about Gary Cox read my article about the “Modern Day Treasure Hunter” at www.egcitizen.com

Tomato, Tomahto

I could eat salsa on pretty much anything. But when it comes to eating a raw tomato, I'd rather eat dirt.

The combination of jalapeno, onion, garlic and cilantro in salsa somehow masks the taste of raw tomato and actually makes it edible. Even as someone who doesn't like tomatoes know, it takes a good tomato to make a delicious salsa.

I picked up some tips on growing tomatoes at the Elk Grove Community Garden's 5th Annual Tomato Tasting on Aug. 28.

Read my column, The Scoop and my article covering the event in the Sept. 1 edition. http://www.egcitizen.com/

Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Bailey.