Community Lutheran Church in West Sacramento

Community Lutheran Church on Jackson and Drever Street in West Sacramento. Our family was members of this church for many years and we have had many baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals officiated by the Pastors Fred Sapp, Larry Wyneken and Marjorie Beach. ~ Photo by Debbie.

The Boxer

The car buzzed by me as I was coming out of a driveway and I had to do a double take at the passenger hanging out of the window with ears blowing in the breeze. When I caught up with them at the light, I asked the driver if I could take a photo of his dog...he laughed and said yes. If only I could have captured the look of total enjoyment on the Boxers face as they speed down the street.

The doves are nesting..

These two have been cooing away in our backyard for a couple of weeks.
~Barbara

Yolo Fruits - WE VOTE YES!!!

Stephanie and I stop at least once a week at the Yolo Fruit Stand. They have a wonderful selection of fresh fruits and veggies at great prices. They also have an exotic selection of spices, baked goods, canned foods, juices, nuts and an expresso bar.
~Barbara

Memorial Park-home to West Sacramento Little League

Everyone is getting ready for the big Opening Day Parade and exhibition innings for the West Sacramento Little League this weekend. The parade starts at 10:00 AM and the festivities continue at the park all day. Most of our friends and family will be there...and most of us who grew in West Sacramento remember this event as being one of the high points of our spring....
~ Barbara

Waiting for warmer days at Touchstone Pool

Sunday was the most beautiful day we've had in a very long time....about 75+ degrees with a slight south breeze. I wasn't able to leave my immediate area, so I just went for a walk around Touchstone with camera in hand. I didn't see another soul or any signs of life, other than lots of birds....and absolute quiet as background. No spectacular photos, but this one represents things to come.....just waiting for the swimmers and water babies!
~Florene

Crew practice at the Port of Sacramento

When I shot this from the bank, I could hear clearly the coxswain's instructions.
~ Barbara

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

--and we thought we saw the Easter Bunny today! ~ Barbara

"Peter Cottontail"
Written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins

Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way.

Bringin' every girl and boy Baskets full of Easter joy,
Things to make your Easter bright and gay.
He's got jelly beans for Tommy,
Colored eggs for sister Sue,
There's an orchid for your Mommy
And an Easter bonnet, too.

Old West Sacramento Cleaners Building

According to a West Sacramento Historical Society publication, the West Sacramento Cleaners Building on the corner of Fifteenth Street and Virgina Avenue was built in 1946 by Hubert and Grace Beers. Mrs. Beers sold the building in 1971. At one time there was also a restaurant on one side of the building.

Over the years it has housed Sam Young Studios, Blanche's Flowers and Gifts and several other types of business residences.~ Barbara

La Primavera -The First Days of Spring

Vivaldi Spring La Primavera -meaning the first. The cycle of life once again starting. And sometimes the start of better times.....West Sacramento is so beautiful when all the trees are in bloom.

Trivia: Annual changes in temperature on a planet are caused by a combination of two factors: axial tilt and variable distance from the Sun. On Earth, axial tilt determines nearly all of the annual variation, because Earth's orbit is nearly circular.

West Sacramento Loves The Heritage Oaks

Many of the homes near Park Boulevard and Lakewood Street were uniquely built around the oaks, and if you look closely you will see the oaks trees growing up through the roof tops.

Robynn Goodell’s Very Own Blood Drive!

Robynn Goodell began chemotherapy, radiation and blood transfusions in
March in her fight against Angiosarcoma! Her fight continues and you can help! *

For questions on donating blood, please visit www.bloodsource.org

Robynn Goodell’s Very Own Blood Drive!

We are hosting a blood drive just for Robynn! Friday, April 4th from 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Our Lady of Grace School in West Sacramento! Blood drive will take place inside gymnasium. Bake sale AND silent auction will take place outside of gym

You want to help? FABULOUS!
* To help with the bake sale by providing yummy things to sell, contact Nicole Winger at (916)275-7029 or by email at ninix9@aol.com.
* To donate to our silent auction, please contact Nicole Winger at info above or Emma Arias at (916)662-5304 or by email at aussie38@sbcglobal.net.
* For questions on donating blood, please visit www.bloodsource.org
* For general questions about this event, or to request flyers or posters to pass out, please contact Kim Funk at (916) 834-8704 or by email at kfunkcreates@sbcglobal.net, or Vanessa Scroggins at (916) 206-4828 or by email at vanessaheart@hotmail.com

The Light Rail on K Street Mall

K Street Streetscape: The City of Sacramento, in coordination with Regional Transit and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, is developing a plan to improve the streetscape and accessibility on K Street. ~ Barbara

Trivia: Frank Norton told stories about when he was a young man growing up in Broderick and they would walk across the I Street Bridge and take the cable car to church at 59th and Broadway-then stop at Hart's Cafeteria on K Street on the way home to have coffee and a "snail". Too bad they ripped-up all those old tracks, just to reconstruct them 60 years later.

Pennsylvania Park "In the Round"

Pennsylvania Park located at 17th St. and Pennsylvania Ave in West Sacramento, has a wonderful grove of shade trees with several picnic tables and is just one block from the Little League Park. Drive by during the week and you'll seen many folks enjoying their lunch at this quaint little park. ~ Barbara

Trivia: Cathy Shumaker Perrigo grew up across the street from the park and remembers this: "When we were kids, before the circle became a park, it was just dirt and all the kids would play there building forts and many other things that kids did. I was about six at the time and I remember Santa Claus came to the park one Christmas. Somebody had a tent set up and all the kids came to see him. I thought this was really cool because my parents seemed to know Santa and gave him hot chocolate (but as an adult I now know it was probably not hot chocolate-- teehee!!) My dad's next door neighbor was Art Heasley. Art was the Yolo County Controller and he worked with the City of West Sacramento to have this park developed."

The Great Dane

It was such a beautiful afternoon on Saturday that I decided to drive out Jefferson Boulevard and take some photos of the wild flowers in bloom...I was just starting to aim my camera when this gentle giant bounded up and proceeded to give me a big wet kiss.

Tom has always wanted a Great Dane ---I now see why-they are magnificent. ~ Barbara

Old Sac Quacks Amphibious Adventure

According to a company spokesperson Old Sac Quacks Amphibious Adventure begins cruising the Sacramento River next week.
~Barbara

Grilled Catfish Dinner n' Cajun Music at the Moose Lodge

If you are yearning for some bayou style grilled catfish, beans and rice, stop by the West Sacramento Moose Lodge for one of their monthly Cajun dances. Friday -March 29 will be Mark Saint Mary with his Louisiana Blues Zydeco Band. Guests are always welcome at the West Sacramento Moose Lodge.
Photo by Barbara

Wild Spanish Mustard

Wild mustard is in full bloom everywhere in West Sacramento. The skyline of the City of Sacramento looks over us in the background.

The blooming of the wild mustard calls us to remember the Legend of Spanish Mustard at The Napa Valley Mustard Festival as it celebrates its fifteenth season . ~Barbara

Old Mary Fire Engine

This 1926 Federal with Dodge Brothers engine fire engine , known as Old Mary, is part of the West Sacramento Historical Society Major Collection. Photo was taken last fall at the Community Day Parade. ~ Barbara

Total Concentration

Eye on the ball.....absolutely!
~Debbie

Filler up at Hydrogen Fuel Station

This AC Transit bus will stop to refuel at the Hydrogen Fueling Station at the California Fuel Cell Partnership on Industrial Boulevard in West Sacramento.
~Barbara

Happy 49th Birthday Barbara "Barbie" Millicent Roberts

The original Barbie was born on March 9, 1959. Ken and Barbie started their "romance" in about 1961. These beautiful Barbies were photographed in our local Target.
~Barbara

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

March 9-We loose one hour as we change from Standard Time to Daylight Saving time. It always takes me weeks to recover from losing that one hour. Needless to say, I never got the worm....
~Barbara

A & B Liquors on West Capitol Avenue

According to Tom Spalding's research: "At least since 1961, this has been a liquor store: Henri's Drive-In Liquors, then Springer Bottle Shop, and currently A&B Liquors. But its shape betrays its origin as a drive-in restaurant, and the old city directory confirms this, indicating that in 1957 it was Red's Drive-In".
~ Barbara.

Miyamoto Building: Girls' School of Sacramento

Girls' School of Sacramento will be relocating to the Miyamoto Building on Halyard Drive in West Sacramento. According to the school's website "The school is operated by the Girls’ and Boys’ School Development Group, a California corporation. Enrollment for the 2008-09 school year opens March 5."
~ Debbie.

Sam Combs Park in West Sacramento

Sam Combs Park in West Sacramento is owned by the Port of Sacramento and maintained by the City of West Sacramento. Sam Combs was a popular Yolo County Supervisor that served from 1960 - 1966.
~ Barbara.

I recently had a conversation with Sam's son John Combs, and he shared some information about his father, Sumner "Sam" Combs.

Sumner W. "Sam" Combs was born in Hastings, Nebraska in 1895 and was one of seven children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. Sam worked on the family farm in Butler County and graduated from Ulysses High School in Ulysses, Nebraska, then was drafted into the army during WW1.

Sam attended business school in Omaha and married his high school sweetheart Valdeva Maria Hastings, one of the first females to graduate from University of Nebraska. Valdeva's father was State Senator Lovell Sheldon Hastings. After the depression hit, the family lost their farm and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska.

In 1936, Sam moved his wife and 3 children to San Francisco then came to West Sacramento where Sam got a job with the Hotel Senator Garage. After a stint working for the Hull Hotel Company in Fresno, Sam moved his family back to West Sacramento and ran a service station on the old El Rancho Hotel property until the property was sold and he retired.

Sam was a charter member of the Port District Kiwanis and was friends with William G. Stone, also known as the "Father of the Port, who encouraged him to run for Yolo County Supervisor. Sam went door to door meeting folks in the three communities of West Sacramento, Broderick and Bryte and was elected in 1960.

John sends this information about the contributions that his father made to our community:

SUMNER WILLIAM COMBS, SR., KNOWN TO EVERYONE AS `SAM', MOVED TO WEST SACRAMENTO FROM HOLLYWOOD IN 1946. HE WAS OWNER OF THE EL RANCHO SHELL SERVICE STATION UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 1960. HE JOINED THE WEST SACRAMENTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WAS APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER'S FIRST COMMITTEE FOR CITY INCORPORATION. IN THIS CAPACITY HE BECAME CONVINCED THAT CITY GOVERNMENT WAS FAR MORE PREFERABLE THAN THE COUNTY SYSTEM IN PLACE THEN. CITY GOVERNMENT FOR WEST SACRAMENTO BECAME HIS PASSION AND VISION. VOTERS REJECTED THE INCORPORATION ISSUE BUT `SAM' SAW OTHER WAYS OF BETTERING HIS COMMUNITY, SO HE RAN FOR SUPERVISOR AND WAS ELECTED TO REPLACE LAWRENCE DREW. HE WAS RE—ELECTED IN 1964. DURING HIS YEARS AS SUPERVISOR, WEST SACRAMENTO BEGAN RECEIVING ITS FAIR SHARE OF MUCH NEEDED COUNTY FUNDS FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE. BY 1966 OVER 100 MILES OF ROADS AND STREETS IN THE FIRST DISTRICT WERE BUILT AND REPAIRED. THE 5th STREET UNDERPASS WAS BUILT, BRIDGING THE GAP EXISTING BETWEEN BRODERICK, BRYTE AND WEST SACRAMENTO. STREET SIGNS WERE ERECTED, THE FIRST STREET SWEEPER SERVICE WAS BEGUN, A NEW LIBRARY BRANCH WAS LOCATED IN WEST SACRAMENTO, MAJOR ROAD DEVELOPMENT WAS LAID OUT FOR HARBOR AND INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARDS, THE YOLO COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WAS EXPANDED TO GIVE EAST YOLO TWO MEMBERS INSTEAD OF ONE. HE SECURED INCREASES IN SERVICES RENDERED BY YOLO COUNTY OFFICES, NAMELY, PROBATION, SHERIFF, AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY. A CORPORATION YARD WAS CONSTRUCTED. HE COOPERATED WITH LOCAL GROUPS TO CONSTRUCT THE BUILDING THEN KNOWN AS `THE GIRLS ACTIVITY CENTER' LOCATED IN THIS PARK HIS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND OTHER AGENCIES HELPED PRODUCE THE AGREEMENT THAT DEEDED THE PARK'S LAND TO WEST SACRAMENTO. `SAM' DIED THE DAY AFTER HIS 71st BIRTHDAY IN JANUARY, 1966. HIS FATAL HEART ATTACK CAME IN THE WOODLAND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAMBERS JUST AFTER HE PRESIDED OVER THE LOCAL COUNTY AGENCY FORMATION (LAFCO) COMMITTEE. SOON AFTER HIS BURIAL IN WOODLAND CEMETERY, THE YOLO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED TO NAME THIS PARK IN HIS MEMORY. HE PARTICIPATED IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS AS DISPLAYED ON THE BRONZE PLAQUE DEDICATED IN HIS HONOR TODAY, MAY 23, 2002. THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TILE ON THE WALL ARE MOST APPROPRIATE SINCE HE FOUGHT IN EVERY MAJOR BATTLE IN WORLD WAR I. `SAW' WAS A TRUE PATRIOT. ~John Combs, March 2008.

Raley's Stores Since 1935

In 1984, Raley's Corporate Headquarters opened in West Sacramento.


Trivia: In 1935, Thomas P. Raley opened his first Raley's Market in Placerville, CA and in 1947, he opened the nation's first self-service meat counter stocked with pre-packaged meat.
Photo by Debbie.

My brother in law Chuck Blessing retired from Raley's a few years ago, after cutting meat for Tom Raley for 30 years. He worked for many years at the West Sacramento store on West Capitol Avenue and I still miss going in to say "Hi" and having him pick out our turkey or prime rib during the holidays.

Bah Ram Yew. Bah Ram Yew. Sheep be True!!!

Sheep May Safely Graze by J. S. Bach? ...sheep as a vegetation management tool? This flock was spotted this week grazing lazily on the pristine grasses on Lake Washington and Southport Parkway. Photos by Debbie.

Up a Lazy "Sacramento" River

On the River Road on the way to Woodland last week. I would say that some of the river-folks have a pretty nice life style. Photo by Barbara.

Up the Lazy River
as sung by the Mills Brothers
Lyrics by: Sidney Arnondin

Up a lazy river by the old mill stream
That lazy, hazy river where we both can dream
Linger in the shade of an old oak tree
Throw away your troubles, dream a dream with me

Up a lazy river where the robins song
Wakes up in the mornin, as we roll along
Blue skies up above ....everyones in love
Up a lazy river, how happy we will be, now
Up a lazy river with me

More Street Murals

These beautiful murals were all created by Carlos Lopez Designs of Stockton, CA. The top 3 are painted on the Nugget Market and the bottom is on the Nor-Cal Produce Building.
Photos by Barbara

CDPB Theme Day: Graffiti / Street Art!

City Daily Photo Bloggers Theme for March 1st is Graffiti /Street Art.

My favorite example of street art in West Sacramento is now extinct. It was by aerosol artist Anthony Padilla and was posted previously on this blog - to see post follow this link. Another great street mural project was the "Best of Broderick" Community Mural.

There are currently 144 blogs participating in this theme day:

- Adelaide, Australia by Gordon- Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen- Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney- American Fork (UT), USA by Annie- Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie- Arradon, France by Alice- Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine- Athens, Greece by Debbie- Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar- Austin (TX), USA by LB- Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto
- Baziège, France by PaB- Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic- Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA
- Bicheno, Australia by Greg- Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston- Boston (MA), USA by Fenix- Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre- Brighton, UK by Harvey- Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando- Budapest, Hungary by Isadora- Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt- Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine- Canterbury, UK by Rose- Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne- Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff- Chateaubriant, France by Bergson- Cheltenham, UK by Marley- Chicago (IL), USA by b.c.- Chicago (IL), USA by U R us- Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle- Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01- Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01- Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish- Cologne, Germany by April11- Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic- Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems
- Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01- Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow- Evry, France by Olivier- Forks (WA), USA by Corinne- Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie- Greenville (SC), USA by Denton- Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange- Guelph, Canada by Pat- Helsinki, Finland by Kaa
- Hobart, Australia by Greg- Hyde, UK by Gerald- Inverness (IL), USA by Neva- Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon- Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005- Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria
- Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin- Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine
- Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale- Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944- Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl- Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao- Lodz, Poland by ritalounge- London, UK by Ham
- London, UK by Mo- Mainz, Germany by JB- Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan- Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate- Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo- Melbourne, Australia by John- Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart- Menton, France by Jilly- Mexico, Mexico by Poly- Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol- Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch- Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg- Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly- Montréal, Canada by Douber- Moscow, Russia by Irina- Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia- Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu- Naples (FL), USA by Isabella- Nashville (TN), USA by Chris- Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben- New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser
- Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris- Niamey, Niger by Dinabee- Norwich, UK by Goddess888- Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man- Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy- Paris, France by Eric- Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben- Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea- Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay- Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise- Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar
- Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam- Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo- Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03- Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston- Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas
- Riga, Latvia by Prokur- Rome, Italy by Giovanni- Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke- Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter- Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes- Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate- Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark- San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer- San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia- San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs- Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem- Seattle (WA), USA by Kim- Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck- Seguin (TX), USA by Thien- Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound- Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia- Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa- Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny- Silver Spring (MD), USA by John- Singapore, Singapore by Keropok- Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia- St Francis, South Africa by Sam- Stavanger, Norway by Tanty- Stayton (OR), USA by Celine- Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo- Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC- Sydney, Australia by Sally- Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo- Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann- Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas- Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K- The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard- Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine- Torun, Poland by Torun Observer
- Toulouse, France by Julia- Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy- Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger- Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2- Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin- Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich- Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb- West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria
- West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara- Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto
- Wrocław, Poland by Loompi- Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlyn