Sammy's Astro Club

Nestled among the eclectic collection of store fronts in the Merkley Mall is Sammy's Astro Club. Sammy's has been a popular place over the years for the locals to stop by and have a cold one. The rumor mill tells me that at one time they had a great piano bar and pool table (don't know if they are still there but I plan to stop by and check it out soon). Photo by Barbara Smith.

Oranges Ripening: Do not pick til' Christmas

California navel oranges are considered by many to be the best oranges in the world for eating out of hand. These beauties are languishing on Bill's tree waiting for a cold snap to bring out their sweetness. Photo by Barbara

The English orange name derives from the Sanskrit naranga-s ("orange tree"). When we were visiting our friends Cathy and Marv in Baja, we had fresh squeezed juice daily. The oranges were smaller, thin skinned and sweet.

Remembering our Veterans: "The Tuskegee Airmen"

The George S. "Spanky" Roberts Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. were at the Neighbors Fairs. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc is a non-profit organization with 50 chapters nationwide. Photo by Barbara

"In June 1941, the Tuskegee program officially began with formation of the 99th Fighter Squadron at the Tuskegee Institute, a highly regarded university founded by Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee, Alabama. In all, 992 pilots were trained in Tuskegee from 1940 to 1946; about 445 deployed overseas, and 150 Airmen lost their lives in training or combat.

On 29 March 2007, about 350 Tuskegee Airmen and their widows were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in the US Capitol rotunda."

The Old "Spirit of Sacramento" Sinking in West Sacramento

According to a local newspaper archive "She might not look it, but the two-deck paddle-wheeler now crumbling into the Sacramento River used to be a star. Fifty years ago, the vessel was riding high, spiriting Chinese rural laborers to freedom in "Blood Alley," a John Wayne movie filmed in the Delta. The boat later guided tourists down Gold Rush waterways as the "Spirit of Sacramento."

Lady Liberty in West Sacramento

Liberty Safe's 53 foot Touring Truck Showroom was in West Sacramento this week for an event at their store on Jefferson Boulevard. Founded in 1988, Liberty Safe is headquartered in Payson, Utah. Photo by Barbara

I recently heard about some friends whose house was burglarized. The thief obsconded with their jewlery and other valuables, but not their firearms. They had a gun safe in their closet that was bolted to the floor--the thief tried and failed to break it from from the lockdown, and also were unable to pry open the doors. Lesson: get a gun safe and bolt it down--then store your valuables in it...they are even fireproof.

Pink Perfection

Sacramento has the ideal climate for camellias. Camellias are native to Southeast Asia and first came here, like many other things, during the Gold Rush. These beauties are now blooming in my neighbor's garden. Photo by Barbara

Emma's Taco House since 1953

Ruben Rodriguez, is the owner of Emma's Taco House on Sacramento Avenue in the old Bryte neighborhood of West Sacamento. This family owned business was established in 1953 at this location. If you haven't tried their Mexican style vegetable soup and special house salad dressing you are really missing out. They also have great margaritas! Emma's is also a popular lunch spot for the Capital City Politicians and I have heard that in the old days "Big Daddy" Jesse Unruh and Jack Schrade ate lunch there frequently.

I remember meeting Emma on a Soroptimist Bus Trip to Reno years ago and she was a vivacious and charming lady. She shared her special homemade burritos with us..they were the most delicious I've ever tasted. Photo by Barbara

Beautiful Day for a Bounce House

These kids were enjoying a bounce house from Rebecca's Jolly Jumps last weekend. It must be so much fun-don't know if grownups are allowed in one of these but I'd love to try!

Mark Finan, KCRA 3 Weather Plus Chief Meteorologist says a possible reason for these warm fall days we are having is because of the cold days we had earlier in September.

Ramos Oil Ornamental Derrick

This oil derrrick is displayed at the Ramos Oil facility on South River Road in West Sacramento. The Ramos Oil Company was founded in 1951 as a Shell Oil Distributor by Bill Ramos who learned his trade while serving aboard a tankership during World War II. Photo by Kurt.

KFC-Finger Lickin' Good and Friendly Service

I just can't help salivating when we drive by the KFC on Merkeley Ave. The smell of the freshly fried chicken in the air lures me to the driveup window. Christy worked at this same KFC for franchise owners Mark and Belva Brown while still in high school and I remember helping her memorize what pieces of chicken came in the various meal combinations so she could pass the test to get the job. A special perk in those days was a free strawberry pie if any were leftover at the end of a shift. Photo by Barbara

Trivia: Sunday afternoon dinners when we were growing up in Pocatello usually had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy on the menu. I have never been able to master the recipe or technique for our mom's fried chicken, so thank goodness for KFC.

Fundraiser for the West Sacramento Christmas Basket Project

The community of West Sacramento is invited to attend the 3rd annual fundraiser to benefit the Christmas Basket Project, a volunteer outreach program coordinated by Helena Helmond, a long time community activist in West Sacramento.

Debbie Norton Johnson and Buddy Linker coordinate this annual community service project fundraiser sponsored by the West Sacramento Moose Lodge. Last year they collected over $1000 in donations. The Kiwanis International of West Sacramento also donated $1000 to the Christmas Basket Project.

The Capitol Bowl "aka" El Rancho Bowl

Above Photo by Tom Spalding

These are just some of my memories of the old days at the El Rancho Bowling Alley..The El Rancho Bowl at 900 West Capitol Avenue was one of West Sacramento's best hangouts in the 1960's and 70's. It was home to the Nisei Leagues and the manager was Toko Fuji, the head mechanic was Shig Imura, Joe Bonomo ran the kitchen, Leroy Klink tended the bar in the 300 Room, Virgil Yee was at the front desk, my mom Shirley was the league coordinator and my sister Kathye and I worked in the Kiddie Corral.

I remember watching my stepdad Ralph Marston and Joe Sheldon "pot bowl" all night long and seeing many 300 games during that time. My stepbrother Charlie and his buddies all bowled on the traveling team and their team was always the league champs.

We used to go Blue Chip Stamp bowling on Saturday nights and sometimes would fill 10 books in one night...My sister in law Bev bowled one of her all time highest games in our couples league the night before her first daughter Shelley was born. My brother Howard remembers taking a quarter and playing the pinball machine and building it up to 18 games then selling the games to one of the porters on duty.

More recently, our daughter's put on a 50's style "Family Bowlarama" there about 7 years ago that was attended by about 35 members of our extended family and it was very memorable for all. In 2006, my grandson Jack had his 4th birthday party at the Capitol Bowl....Photos by Barbara

Foggy mornings in West Sacramento

just right for reading and listening to music......(in my dreams).

Crossing the Causeway on these mornings is not for the faint of heart. In the early 1980s a motorist became disoriented in the fog and stopped on the freeway causing a 55 car pileup. Remarkably, no one was seriously injured. I was driving one of those cars. Photo by Barbara

The Yolo Causeway is a 3.2-mile (5.2-kilometer) long elevated highway viaduct on Interstate 80 that crosses the Yolo Bypass floodway and connects the cities of West Sacramento and Davis, California.

CDPD Theme Day November 1st: "The Color Blue"

The City Daily Photo Blog theme for November 1st is "The Color Blue". This vintage 50's Chevy Deluxe 4 door sedan was on display at the Neighbors Fair in West Sacramento. Trivia-the original purchase price of this "fliver" would have been around $1500.

Cities participating in the CDPB November Theme Day: Boston (MA), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Arlington (VA), USA - Cape Town, South Africa-Portland (OR), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Arradon, France - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Stockholm, Sweden - Singapore, Singapore - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Toulouse, France - The Hague, Netherlands - Moscow, Russia - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Stayton (OR), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Detroit (MI), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Greenville (SC), USA - Hyde, UK - Radonvilliers, France - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Saarbrücken, Germany - New Orleans (LA), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Forks (WA), USA - Wichita (Ks), USA - Barton (VT), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Joplin (MO), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Inverness (IL), USA - Christchurch, New Zealand - Toruń, Poland - North Bay (ON), Canada - Le Guilvinec, France - Chateaubriant, France - London, England - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Sydney, Australia - Austin (TX), USA - Mumbai, India - Boston (MA), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Paderborn, Germany - Montréal (QC), CanadaJackson (MS), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Orlando (FL), USA - Grenoble, France - Cheltenham, UK - Forks (WA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - London, UK - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Belgrade, Serbia - Paris, France - Shanghai, China - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Montpellier, France - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Auckland, New Zealand - Evry, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Oslo, Norway - Minneapolis (MN), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Trujillo, Peru - Trujillo, Peru - Melbourne (VIC), Australia - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Durban, South Africa - Brussels, Belgium - Anderson (SC), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Wellington, New Zealand - Prague, Czech Republic - Saigon, Vietnam - Ystad, Sweden - Miami (FL), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Hong Kong, China - Melbourne, Australia - Baziège, France - Greensboro (NC), USA - -