New Slavic Church in West Sacramento

The newly constructed "House of Prayer" Evangelical Baptist Church is the place of worship for many of the Slavic community in West Sacramento. "The Sacramento River flows past the township of Bryte where many of the early Russians who came to California's capitol city settled almost 100 years ago . "It has been said that the majority of these early residents recall they were drawn to this area because the river looked like the Russian Volga."Photo by Barbara.

Russian refuge: religion, migration, and settlement on the North American ...By Susan Wiley Hardwick - In 1987, when victims of religious persecution were finally allowed to leave Russia, a flood of immigrants landed on the Pacific shores of North America. By the end of 1992 over 200,000 Jews and Christians had left their homeland to resettle in a land where they had only recently been considered "the enemy." Russian Refuge is a comprehensive account of the Russian immigrant experience in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia since the first settlements over two hundred years ago. Susan Hardwick focuses on six little-studied Christian groups--Baptists, Pentecostals, Molokans, Doukhobors, Old Believers, and Orthodox believers--to study the role of religion in their decisions to emigrate and in their adjustment to American culture. Hardwick deftly combines ethnography and cultural geography, presenting narratives and other data collected in over 260 personal interviews with recent immigrants and their family members still in Russia. The result is an illuminating blend of geographic analysis with vivid portrayals of the individual experience of persecution, migration, and adjustment. Russian Refuge will interest cultural geographers, historians, demographers, immigration specialists, and anyone concerned with this virtually untold chapter in the story of North American ethnic diversity.

Cajun Zydeco Music in West Sacramento starring Andrew Carriere

There are many fans of Cajun Zydeco music in the Sacramento area and one of their favorites is the bay area's Andrew Carrier and his Zydeco Cajun Allstars who played at the West Sacramento Moose Lodge last night. Andrew originally from Lawtell, Louisiana, comes from a long family tradition of music. His father was the legendary Creole fiddler "Bebe Carriere". Photo by Barbara.

Dave's Pumpkin Patch"No Admission Fee-Ever"

Dave's Pumpkin Patch, featuring Sacramento's largest corn maze is now open. Dave says to" Bring your Flashlight or Buy one at the "Patch" and go through the Corn Maze Friday and Saturday Nights for a Spooktacular Time!!" Photo by Barbara

Mark S. Allen Commemorates "The 100th birthday of the bra"

Promoting the commemoration of the 100th birthday of the brassiere is none other than Mark S. Allen, entertainment anchor for "Good Day Sacramento". Mark televised a "one handed bra removal demonstration" from the Target parking lot in West Sacramento yesterday. Photo by Barbara Smith

Wild Hog-ette

This red Harley touring bike is sweet...My guess is the owner is about to retire or has just retired and this is diversion therapy--this deduction was briefly researched by my watching the movie "Wild Hogs". That was the first movie in about 5 years that The Tomcat was willing to stand in line at the box office to buy tickets... Photo by Barbara.

Carniceria Panaderia y Taqueria

The Carniceria Lopez #3 located at 612 Jefferson Boulevard on a Sunday afternoon. The delicious BBQ fare lures people from all over the Sacramento area. Photo by Barbara Smith

Bridge to Bridge

This photo was shot from the Pioneer Bridge overlooking the riverfront area to be redeveloped in West Sacramento. The building in the left of center is the old Rice Grower's Association which is on the list of Historic Sites and Buildings in West Sacramento.

Notice the Tower Bridge elevated in the background. It will be closed Sept. 17 through Nov. 20 to all vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic while they work on widening the pedestrian walkways on both sides. Since the River Cats came to town there is lots of foot traffic crossing the bridge.

The view to the south shows the notorious "Tank Farm's" on the riverfront . The City of West Sacramento envisions the 200-acre "Pioneer Bluffs" area becoming a mixed-use community and removing the tanks is key to that. It has been proposed that these tanks be relocated to the Port of Sacramento.
Photo by Barbara Smith

Let them eat pork!

This porcine creation (by Joan Smith) highlighted the theme of Kurt and Bret's 40th birthday party last night.. Foods representing the other white meat included carnitas, baconettes, pork and beans, pigs in a blanket, honey baked ham and pork rinds.. It was a great party. Photo by Barbara Smith

Electric Slide

The ride down this slide proves to be a "Hair Raising" experience for Jack. Static electricity is formed when the air is dry or the humidity is low. Photo by Debbie Norton Johnson.

According to historical accounts, Ben Franklin proved that lightning was static electricity by flying a kite in a storm and detecting static electricity by seeing the hairs on the kite string stand on end and creating a spark with a metal key. This dangerous experiment showed that static electricity was being formed in the clouds by the rain.

Vientiane Restaurant

The Vientiane Restaurant has relocated and is now open in their new space at 1001 Jefferson Boulevard (by Round Table Pizza) ....consistently rated as having the most authentic Loatian and Thai Cuisine in the Sacramento area..we are glad they found a new home in our town. Photo by Christy.

Lost Turtle

.... did this turtle run away or was he kidnapped?

When we were kids we had a baby turtle in a bowl with a little palm tree in it; he was probably a prize from a fair or carnival of some kind. We also had pet chameleons on a chain and wore them on our shoulder to school. I guess PETA was not around then. Photo by Barbara Smith

Remembering Dolores Shumaker

Memorial remembrance on September 7, 2007 for long time West Sacramento resident Dolores Shumaker, wife of Art, mother to Cathy and Sharon and daughter of Mamie and Joe Amaral. Photo by Barbara Smith.

Betty Sokolich Stained-Glass at Turner Library

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This stained-glass window is located at the Arthur F. Turner library. It was installed when the library opened in the 70's and was designed by local artist Betty Sokolich, who also did the stained glass at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Betty is currently showing watercolors in the library conference room, as well. Photo by Christy.

Backyard Silhouettes and Pumpkins

Fall is in the air- The days are shorter, shadows are longer and pumpkins grow on the vine. Photo by Barbara Smith
"There's an old saying: To be a successful gardener, grow pumpkins. Hail to pumpkins -- nurturing body and arousing spirit."

"Ensaladas" a la cart

This Sacramento Avenue street vendor has an assortment of fresh fruit that can either be eaten as is, or chopped up in a cocktail in any combination you would like. Photo by Barbara Smith.

Uniform of the Day

Our vigilant crossing guard takes her job very seriously---so scofflaws and speeders beware. Photo by Barbara Smith

Leaning Tower of Ferrari

This tower on the River Road to Clarksburg looks to be honoring Ferrari and the 40th anniversary of Formula One Racing... Photo by Christy.

Dreaming big

Sit here and dream big? I think our city planners have been spending a lot of time on this rock. Photo by Barbara Smith

The Red Stole Ceremony

These Women of the Moose celebrated the vestment of the red stole for one of their past senior regents at a meeting of the West Sacramento Chapter. Photo by Barbara Smith

VFW Halls in West Sacramento

For over 75 years the VFW Buddy Poppy program has raised millions of dollars for veterans' welfare and well being of their dependents.

The West Sacramento VFW Hall on Drever Street has been in operation for over 50 years and Tom's mom and dad were charter members who helped in the construction of the original building. Over the years, our family and friends have attended numerous wedding receptions, funeral gatherings , community events, fund raisers and class reunions in this great old hall. 

The Bryte Memorial VFW is located on Lisbon Street. July 1, 2008 Note: The West Sacramento VFW's roof sign has now been removed due to the new sign ordinance in West Sacramento.

Restoration Process in Broderick

These two story homes in the old "Broderick" neighborhood (named after State Senator David. C. Broderick) were built to withstand a flood every year up to the front porch. In those days the residents used a row boat for transportation out of the flooded areas. Photo by Barbara Smith

Padilla Mural on Jefferson Blvd-Gone Now

This street mural painted by aerosol artist Anthony Padilla was on the Audio Xpress building on Jefferson Boulevard. So sad to see that it has been painted over now.  Photo by Barbara Smith

Didgeridoos at West More Oaks

Students at Westmore Oaks School built their own didgeridoos at the Phil Tulga Event family activity night held at the school. Photo by Kurt Jourdan.

Don's Bike Shop

Specializing in 3-wheelers and repairs, Don's Bike Shop on Drever Street one of the old-timers in our town. Photo by Christy.

You say tomato..I say tomato..

Backyard gardens full of luscious red tomatoes are a tradition in West Sacramento; however, towards the end of summer, when the plants are looking weary and all our friends, families and neighbors are sick of the bags of tomatoes left on their front porches, it's time to replace the vines with the winter crops of radishes and carrots..." Photo by Christy.

1000 Rooms (Motel Row)

This welcome sign greets visitors exiting I-80 at Jefferson Boulevard. In the 1940's and 50's West Capitol Avenue was a popular place for the politicians from across the river to hang out. There was also a small airport behind the Capitol Inn called Capitol Sky Park. It was rumored to be the busiest private airport in the country in the 1950s. Photo by Barbara Smith

Fancy Chickens

These bantam hens were just walking around our neighborhood. Guess the resident feral cats don't bother them. Photo by Barbara Smith

Sikhs in West Sacramento

The Sikh Temple in West Sacramento was inaugurated in July 1983. It is a place of worship for the majority of the Sikh population residing in the Greater Sacramento area. Photo by Barbara Smith.

The Club Pheasant

The Pheasant Club . "The original building was built in 1912. It was owned and used by the University at Davis as an agronomy Laboratory to test the ground for farming. Originally named the Hideaway Cafe, the Club Pheasant has been operating for more than 70 years" and is on the list of Historical Sites and Buildings in West Sacramento. Photo by Barbara Smith

Pelican Isle

These pelicans seem to love the West-Sac water. When I was a kid-the water in West Sacramento was notorious...stinky and foul tasting..much improved since we became a city...Above Photo by Barbara Smith, Below by A. Moresco.