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.