Could McKinley Park earn historic designation? This committee could nominate it

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 25, 2018

The California State Historical Resources Commission will meet in Sacramento next month to consider nominations for federal historic designation of seven state sites, including the city’s McKinley Park.

The quarterly meeting of the state commission will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, in the auditorium of the State Resources Building at 1416 Ninth St. McKinley Park is being considered because of its landscape architecture, including the Fredrick N. Evans Memorial Rose Garden, according to a news release from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

If McKinley Park is nominated and designated, it will join more than 90,000 other places on the list, which also features iconic Sacramento buildings like Memorial Auditorium.

Sites listed on the National Register of Historical Places are recognized as being significant in American history, architecture, art, archaeology, engineering and culture, according to the National Park Service, who oversees the list. Listed sites are eligible for federal protections, specific tax provisions and historic preservation.

The popular 33-acre park, located at 601 Alhambra Blvd., was originally named East Park when it opened in 1872. At the time, it was owned by the Sacramento Street Railway Company and used for streetcars.

It was purchased by the city in 1902 and annexed within city limits. The city renamed it in honor of the 25th U.S. president, William McKinley, a year after his assassination.

The park includes the Clunie Memorial Clubhouse and the Iva GardShepard Garden & Arts Center. The park also features tennis courts, picnic areas, a baseball diamond, running and walking paths, a basketball court and a playground.

Six other sites being considered for nominations are St. Helena Public Cemetery in Napa County, Thacher School Historic District in Ventura County, Martinez Grammar School Annex in Martinez, Beverly Fairfax Historic District in Los Angeles, Canterbury Apartment Hotel in Hollywood and Ramona Main Street Colonnade in San Diego County.

McKinley Park has not been without its fair share of problems, including dealing with drug users and cleanliness issues in the past.

More information on the meeting can be found at the Office of Historic Preservation website.

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to get a free Auntie Anne’s soft pretzel through July 30

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 25, 2018

Few things are better in life than free food.

Soft pretzel chain Auntie Anne’s is offering a buy one, get one free deal on its signature snack to celebrate National Aunt and Uncle’s Day on Thursday, July 26.

The coupon, which can be downloaded or accessed on your mobile device, is for a free Handmade Classic Pretzel with the purchase of another Handmade Classic Pretzel. You don’t even need to be an aunt or uncle or have your aunt or uncle with you.

Note that the coupon states it can’t be combined with other offers and is valid at participating locations in the U.S.

Although the coupon is intended to celebrate aunts and uncles, it’s valid now through July 30, so you don’t have to purchase your pretzels on Thursday.

Auntie Anne’s has Sacramento locations inside Arden Fair and inside the Walmart at the recently-opened Delta Shores shopping complex.

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Channel 40 weatherman Darren Peck departs station for ‘an opportunity in Seattle’

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 25, 2018

Channel 40 meteorologist Darren Peck is trading reports of the Delta Breeze, wildfires and valley heat for gray skies and wet, rainy forecasts in Seattle.

The longtime weatherman reported the Sacramento area forecast for the last time Wednesday at the Fox affiliate KTXL. His colleagues offered goodbyes and wishes of good luck with a special segment on the morning show.

The segment showed some of Peck’s “finest moments” with Fox 40 over the past seven years, including bloopers, funny on-air moments and some of Peck’s interactions with the station’s resident cat, Chroma Kitty, who frequents the outdoor weather set.

The video montage ended with a message from the station that read “Bye, Darren. Thanks for all the memories. Love, Fox 40.”

Anchors Simone De Alba, Martina Del Bonta and Paul Robins followed the video with a conversation about their time together. The crew presented Peck with a Seattle-themed cake and gave him a card.

“There’s an opportunity in Seattle,” Peck said during the segment. “They need somebody to come up and fill in some gaps up there, so I’m gonna go up there and try out the Pacific Northwest for a little while. This was not an easy decision by any means. I love Northern California, and I love working with all of you guys.”

Robins wrote a Facebook post announcing his friend and co-worker’s departure.

“The best dang weatherman in the world is leaving us,” Robins wrote. “Darren has been a wonderful friend as we have worked together for the last seven years. He’s one of the brightest, most capable and clever people I’ve ever known, and I’ll miss him a bunch.”

Followers of Robins posted messages of support, wishing Peck luck and “great success” as well as telling stories about watching Peck on the morning broadcast for many years.

“This was Darren’s choice and we will miss him,” Monika Diaz, KTXL’s news director, told The Bee. “We wish him the best in Seattle.”

Peck said in a Facebook post that he will be working for King 5 News for the rest of the summer and “perhaps longer.”

This story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 2B July 31, 2018.

Peck

 

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘We’re in shock’: Popular Shoki Ramen House on 21st Street shut after fire

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 19, 2018

A fire just after midnight Thursday has forced the closure of a popular Sacramento restaurant near Broadway.

The fire caused extensive damage to Shoki Ramen House at 2530 21st St., after breaking through the back windows of the building, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.

Crews were able to knock down the flames within about five minutes, fire officials said, but were on scene for several hours afterward to put out hot spots and deal with lingering smoke in the building.

The cause of the fire is unknown and an investigation is ongoing, fire officials said. No injuries were reported.

Shoki Ramen House, which has a second location on R Street, was opened in 2011 by chef Yasushi Ueyama and his wife, Kathy.

“I thought it was a prank,” Kathy Ueyama said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

Kathy said she and her husband drove to the restaurant as soon as they heard about the fire, but she still didn’t believe it was real until she confirmed the call came from the fire department.

“It’s very devastating,” she said. “We’re in shock. I don’t know what happened. Right now, we’re just feeling a little lost. [We’ve received a] lot of nice comments from the customers. My husband and I are very grateful that no one was hurt.”

A version of this story was published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 4B July 20, 2018.

download (11)

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UC Davis grad, Sacramento native ‘among the elite’ in American Ninja Warrior finals

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 19, 2018

Sacramento native and local business owner Anna Shumaker represented the region with a run on the “American Ninja Warrior” course in the season 10 finals in Los Angeles, which aired Monday on NBC.

“ ‘American Ninja Warrior’ follows hundreds of competitors as they test their skills on new obstacles in an attempt to join Isaac Caldiero as just the second person ever to win the $1 million grand prize,” reads a description of the show.

Ultimately, the 26-year-old gymnast and UC Davis graduate failed to complete the course. Her run lasted 7 minutes, 16 seconds and ended on the “giant cubes.”

According to the show’s commentary team, Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, at 5-foot-4, Shumaker’s height limited her ability to move from one giant cube to the next.

Still, she was referred to after her run as being “among the elite” by the commentators. The team also dubbed her Anna “Playmaker” Shumaker.

Though she didn’t make it to the end, as the crowd began to chant her name, Shumaker became the first woman to make it past the “door knob drop,” which is where her course ended when she appeared on the qualifying episode on June 6. Additionally, Shumaker climbed the “warped wall” successfully for the first time.

“Simply Magical,” Shumaker said on Facebook. “These are the only words I can think of to describe this moment. Feels like just yesterday that I started dreaming of this moment. It’s been a goal of mine from the beginning to get up that wall. Still can’t believe it’s come true.”

As seen on the show, Shumaker’s mom and her mom’s boyfriend were in attendance for the finals and they even brought along the family dog Bosley.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Shumaker resides in Sacramento and owns two businesses, ShuFit Personal Training, which is located in West Sacramento, and OnPoint Nutrition.

Shumaker graduated from Alameda High School in 2010 and from UC Davis in 2014 with her bachelor’s degree in exercise biology. She competed in gymnastics for 18 years, including for the Aggies.

She began training for “American Ninja Warrior” in 2015 and saw it as a way to fulfill the competitive drive that fueled her gymnastics career.

Prior to the appearance in the finals this week and her qualifying run in June, Shumaker is coming off an appearance in the finals of “Team Ninja Warrior’s” second season as part of Team NorCal Ninjas. She also competed on season nine of “American Ninja Warrior,” but said her run was not aired.

“It’s been so surreal, and I can’t thank everyone enough for the kind words, love, and support I have received,” Shumaker said. “And a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came to my watch party! I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to be surrounded by so many amazing and supportive people. It truly warmed my heart having you all there with me.”

You can see Shumaker’s full run here on “American Ninja Warrior’s” official YouTube channel.

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flowers Foods recalls Swiss Rolls due to possible salmonella contamination

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 19, 2018

Flowers Foods has voluntarily issued a recall alert for its Swiss Rolls snack cakes and Captain John Derst’s Old Fashioned Bread because of a possible salmonella presence.

The salmonella was found in whey powder by the ingredient’s third-party manufacturer and supplier.

The Swiss Rolls are sold under the brand names Mrs. Freshley’s, Food Lion, H-E-B, Baker’s Treat, Market Square, and Walmart’s private brand Great Value and distributed nationwide, according to the company.

The old-fashioned bread is not distributed in California but is sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The “best by” date varies and there are multiple UPCs for the products, the company said. You can visit this link to see which dates and UPC codes are affected.

The Georgia-based company, which owns several brands, including Wonder, Nature’s Own and Tastykake, is urging consumers not to eat the products and to discard them immediately. Alternatively, the company says products may be returned to the store from which they were purchased for a full refund.

The company has also provided a website and phone number for its consumer relations center at 1-866-245-8921.

No illnesses have been reported.

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Former Toys R Us workers seeking hardship fund from the company’s owners

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 19, 2018

A group of former Toys R Us employees is seeking a hardship fund from investment groups that it says are responsible for the demise of the company

The group “will hold a series of actions to raise awareness about their push for private equity firms and creditors to create a hardship fund for the 33,000 employees who lost their jobs after the retailer closed its doors last month,” according to information provided by the group.

Former workers and advocates planned to speak during CalSTRS’ board and committee meetings at its West Sacramento headquarters to “tell stories of losing their jobs and push the pension board to engage in responsible investment and offer their support.”

On Friday, July 20, the group plans to protest at a building located in San Francisco that is majority-owned by Vornado, one of the Toys R Us investors.

According to the group, after being laid off without severance pay, the former employees are seeking $75 million in hardship funds from three investment firms, Vornado, KKR and Bain, which gained ownership of Toys R Us in 2005.

KKR and Bain are open to contributing to the fund, but Vornado has not commented on the matter, the group said.

An earlier version of this story can be read here.

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Here’s how to get free McDonald’s french fries every Friday for the rest of the year

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 18, 2018

Love McDonald’s french fries? You’re in luck this Friday. And the next Friday. And …

McDonald’s french fry fiends can grab a medium order courtesy the company’s mobile app every Friday for free for the rest of the year.

The promotion requires users to purchase at least $1 worth of food through the app — which is available for Android and Apple devices — anytime and then present a mobile coupon in store on Friday to redeem the free fries.

The promotion is good until Dec. 30.

Not a fan of french fries but still want a freebie? Another deal that works the same way allows users to grab a free small soft drink on Fridays instead.

It shouldn’t be too difficult to spend $1 to qualify for the promotion because other app-exclusive deals include a $1 McDouble cheeseburger and a coffee of any size for $1.

This story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the business section on page 5C July 20, 2018.

download (10)

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

State Fair challenges military chefs to turn ready-to-eat meals into gourmet cuisine

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 18, 2018

Expert foodies probably wouldn’t be too excited to chow down on ready-to-eat military field rations, but a challenge at the California State Fair aims to turn them into gourmet dining experiences as teams compete to impress celebrity judges.

On Thursday the fair invites military personnel and veterans in for free with valid identification. And to celebrate Military and Veteran Appreciation Day, the fair is holding its sixth annual MRE Cooking Challenge.

The Meal, Ready-to-Eat, also known as MRE, are “individual rations, self-contained in lightweight packaging that can be warmed without a fire or stove, originally designed for the United States Military to consume during combat or similar field conditions without food facilities,” according to Ready Store, which sells them to the public.

Hosted by CalVet and the California Military Department, the challenge will feature three rounds where military cooks from several branches will team up with veterans to attempt to transform MREs into “culinary delights,” according to a press release.

The meals will then be judged by a panel of celebrities on taste, presentation, skill and showmanship, the release reads. Teams will have 30 minutes to prepare the meal.

Celebrity judges were not announced in the press release, but there will be a few special guests in attendance, including World War II pilot Bud Anderson, Women Veterans Alliance founder and director Melissa Washington and John Busterud, a member of the California Veterans Board.

The events will be held in “The Kitchen,” which is in Cal Expo Building B.

  • First qualifying round: Noon-1:30 p.m.
  • Second qualifying round: 3-4:30 p.m.
  • Final round: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Family members of military personnel and veterans will be expected to pay normal fair entry fees.

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teenager to be charged after a ‘safe and sane’ firework allegedly started Grant Fire

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published by SacBee.com on July 18, 2018

Cal Fire announced Wednesday that charges will be filed against a 17-year-old boy who allegedly caused the Grant Fire with a ‘safe and sane’ firework.

Cal Fire responded to a vegetation fire west of the Grant Line Road exit on eastbound Interstate 580 shortly after 5 p.m. on July 8, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. The fire lasted less than 24 hours as fire crews were able to fully contain it by around 7 a.m. the next day.

Kelly said the teen who confessed to sparking the blaze went to the Manteca Police Department on July 9 and told officers he and an 18-year-old friend were driving along I-580 prior to the fire breaking out when they pulled over after having car trouble.

The teen said he was messing around and threw a firework into the engine compartment of the car and it lit the nearby grass on fire. He and his friend tried to put the fire out by stomping it. They left the scene and called 911, but did not disclose that they caused the fire, Kelly said.

The fireworks were marked for legal use, but the use of any fireworks, including ones marked with the “safe and sane” label are illegal in unincorporated areas of Alameda County, Cal Fire said in a press release announcing the cause.

Officers are in the process of submitting charges of “causing a fire in a negligent and reckless manner” to the district attorney’s office and Kelly said the teen will be arrested. Kelly said the charge is different than arson, which is deliberate. The 18-year-old is not being charged.

The fire was thought to have burned more than 640 acres but “enhanced mapping technology” revealed a smaller area had burned. In total, the fire burned 480 acres of the unincorporated state responsibility area.

It took “a large and coordinated response from over a dozen agencies,” including 10 fire and law enforcement agencies, and fire engines from San Joaquin County and the Alameda County Public Works Agency.

“The fire shut down both directions of the highway for several hours and impacted thousands of motorists,” Cal Fire said in the release.

Kelly described the teen, whose name is not being released because he’s a minor, as being “very cooperative and very remorseful.”

“Luckily the fire did not cause any structural damage,” Kelly said.

A version of this story was also published in the print edition of The Sacramento Bee in the local section on page 4B July 20, 2018.

download (9)

Posted in Sacramento Bee | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment