WELL KNOWN ROCKLIN COSMETIC DENTIST GIVES BACK A SMILE FOR MOTHER'S DAY

PURE Dentistry, the family cosmetic dental practice of Darce Slate DDS, is the hub of great activity as it accepts nominations for a smile makeover that will change the life of one Sacramento area mother forever.

“Project Smile Again Sacramento-Mother’s Day is another piece of the pro bono work I have been doing quietly for years,” said Dr. Slate. “A healthy smile radiates openness, confidence and joy. Without that ability, people tend to feel shame and have lower self esteem. At PURE Dentistry, we have chosen to celebrate Mother’s Day in our way by allowing the community to be involved in selecting one great mom for the makeover of a lifetime.”

“A smile is the shortest distance between two people,” as the proverb goes and Dr. Slate has seen how a healthy smile can transform relationships that can transforms lives. Once smile restorations are complete, folks who lives were broken due to drugs, poverty and other circumstances are more able to live normal lives. There is actual psychological research that supports the benefits of a healthy smile.

Frontier Dental Laboratories of El Dorado Hills, a recognized leader in cosmetic dentistry, has joined Dr. Slate in this project by offering to donate veneers. The laboratory contribution will run into the thousands of dollars. “We are committed as a company to supporting the second chances of people in our community,” said Brent West, Frontier’s Vice President and General Manager.

The makeover will be completed on May 7th andl conclude on Mother’s Day May 9th at a celebratory brunch for the lucky recipient and her family at a local restaurant.

Everyone is welcome to nominate themselves or their deserving mom by submitting an essay of 200 words or less. The entry form and complete rules and regulations are on the nomination page of the PURE Dentistry website. Go to http://www.puredentistry.net/dental-promotions/mothers-day-dental-contest.asp

PURE Dentistry stands for professional, uncompromising, restorative excellence-the hallmark values of Dr. Slate's practice which servies the communities of Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Loomis and Granite Bay.

These are before and after pictures of a mom who is being restored by Dr. Slate. This beautiful woman and her son can smile with confidence and joy now. Doesn't that mom you know deserve such a transformation?

He felt so sad, disappointed and angry that he changed his life.

He started developing a hemp-based biofuel system and fought for legalization of hemp in Arizona to help end U.S. dependence on fossil fuels. He began a national "Drive 55" campaign to lower Americans' gas consumption and reduce carbon emissions — an effort turned into a documentary. And he organized two "Peace Trains" to Washington, D.C., to promote rail travel.

"My interest in biofuels led me to understand the real problem isn't that we need another source of fuel. We need another source of energy," said Castleman, 51. "The real problem is we don't use what we have appropriately. This led to this whole conservation-minded approach to living."

That approach led him to get into bicycles in a really big way. Two years later, he bought a derelict old Worksman trike for $5 from a neighbor. The trike had been through a fire. Two wheels were missing. Castleman saw only a really useful tool that could get him around. Something he could use to bring home groceries, garden supplies and other cargo.

He found Worksman Cycles still in business, ordered a mess of parts and fixed the trike. He painted it black and slapped on a sticker reading, "One less SUV." He was even happier to discover that Worksman has been making bikes and trikes in this country since 1898.

The former HVAC contractor and his 23-year-old son, Cassidy, are now turning a longtime dream into a reality. They're opening a bike shop that's destined to fill a niche by renting and selling Worksman and electric bikes. They'll also offer repair service and retrofitting to make any bike electric.

Tim Castleman wanted to offer bikes for people who can't or simply don't want to pedal all the time. Once he found Irvine-based Pedego electric bikes, the quality and design were the catalyst that pushed him to open the store.

The bruised and bleeding economy allowed them to take over the well-trafficked Old Sacramento storefront vacated by Discover California, a gift shop open for 17 years.

With a little help from his son, Tim Castleman has brought new life to 114 J St., which is close to the bike trail. The 3,400-square-foot space contains exposed brick walls, 9-foot French windows, 14-foot ceilings, back rooms and a basement on the original city level. They cleaned, painted and repaired light fixtures. They prepared wall space for local art that will debut on Second Saturday Art Walks.

He spent more than five days refinishing the showroom's beat-up, old wooden floor measuring about 2,500 square feet.

The tall black, tan and purple front doors are now open, although the targeted opening isn't until April 1. People wandered into the shop Thursday to ask about the Pedego electric bikes. A shipment of 10 bikes painted apricot, maroon or midnight blue had just arrived that day.

Father and son worked together to pull Pedego cruisers out of shipping boxes and stack them out on the floor. They expect 37 Worksman bikes next week.

Cassidy Castleman is a business student at California State University, Sacramento. He also sells solar electricity for a Rocklin company full-time. His dad got him into solar and other environmentally friendly lifestyle habits, including riding bikes.

"I've gotten a lot of grief for wanting to drive a car instead of ride a bike if it was less than 20 miles," Cassidy said. "It's part of who we are as a family."

Tim Castleman likes his old trike so much that he wanted to sell Worksman products. He loves the sturdy, heavy-duty bikes — which are often used for pizza and ice cream deliveries and other business or "industrial" uses — because they're useful, comfortable and strong, and it doesn't take an athlete to ride them. He also likes the price: Base-model cruisers sell for $299.

"For a made-in-the-U.S.A. bike, that's a bargain," he said. "There ain't nothin' out there that can touch that."

Their store will differ from other bike shops in town because their bikes are geared toward regular folks.

"If you go to a traditional bike store, it tends to be geared toward the racers. Most people aren't racers," Cassidy Castleman said, adding many bike stores have cruisers sitting out in front because that's what's selling.

"There's a definite bike culture here in Sacramento," he said. "Most of the people I see riding around have cool old bikes."

Both will staff the shop. Tim Castleman will service bikes and Cassidy will handle marketing, including building a website. The shop will rent and sell Pedego cruisers, heavy-duty Worksman cruisers called Newsboys and Newsgirls, and Worksman side-by-side trikes, both standard and electric. Single-speed cruisers rent for $5 per hour or $28 per day, and Pedegos for $15 per hour or $80 per day.

"People who come down here — they're looking for fun. They're looking for entertainment. And in this economy, people are hurting," Tim Castleman said. "They can rent a bike for an hour or two for five or 10 bucks — that's affordable."

The shop will also sell Pedego's electric folding bikes and from Worksman, sturdy, industrial-grade standard tandems and trikes, recumbants, folding trikes, hand cycles and two-wheel cargo bikes. Dutch-style Worksman Roadsters will sell for $249, and foldable trikes for $429. An electric foldable trike will sell for $969.

Pedego cruisers will start at $1,595, or $1,775 for an upgrade featuring balloon tires. Those bikes have eight-pound lithium ion batteries and 500-watt motors and weigh about 60 pounds. They can be ridden at speeds up to 20 miles per hour and can go for 15 to 30 miles on a single charge. A 16-inch foldable will go for $1,395. The Castlemans plan to hold an event showing people how to use solar power to charge the batteries.

The store even carries one high-wheeler antique replica that will sell for $1,295 because Castleman is also a dealer for Rideable Bicycle Replicas in Alameda.

"This is the original fixie," he said.

Cassidy Castleman happily admits his dad is the driving passion behind the store. The pair has searched for a store location for four years. But Tim Castleman took the leap to open the shop after surviving radiation therapy for prostate cancer in January.

Ironically, it was a bicycle accident that helped make the store possible. A few years ago, he was riding a bicycle downtown on 15th Street when a restaurant valet suddenly opened a car door in front of him. Castleman flew over the bike and suffered a broken arm. He's using money from the settlement to open the bike shop.

The shop may seem like a small thing to some. But the Castlemans think it can really make a difference. Tim Castleman believes Worksman and Pedego's electric bikes can be "game changers."

"I don't own a car anymore," he said.

Practical Cycle will be open seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours in the summer. For more information, call 706-0077 or check out PracticalCycle.com.

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter covering business and development for The Sacramento Press.

Join us to cheer on Tyreke Evans and your Sacramento Kings as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks and their Rookie of the Year candidate Brandon Jennings. The party will include making signs supporting Tyreke Evans for Rookie of the Year AND a visit from Tyreke prior to the game to thank his RekeROY supporters.

Come meet your Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans! The party starts at 5:30 p.m.

If interested in joining us, visit http://www.groupshavemorefun.com/SacramentoPress to purchase your tickets.

Purchase includes a special lower level ticket for $39.50 (normally $79.50) and entrance to the pre-game sign party. Come meet Tyreke, support the RekeROY campaign and see the Kings take on the Bucks! There are a limited amount of tickets so act fast- We would love for you to join us.

Catholic Charities of Sacramento, Inc., has closed down its Cathedral Neighborhood Senior Center downtown because of a funding shortage, said Beth White, associate director of the nonprofit organization.

The center, which is located at 711 J St., had provided a social atmosphere for seniors since 1975, according to White. It shut down March 1.

Elderly residents of single-resident-occupancy motels as well as homeless seniors would gather at the center, White said. They would watch television or enjoy a coffee, she said.

For example, a group of seniors would come to the center in the morning because “that’s where they got their morning coffee,” White noted. 

The closure means that seniors downtown no longer have a meeting place, White said. “We were the last downtown provider.”

For years, the center’s operations were paid for by Sacramento’s county government, the city of Sacramento and Catholic Charities, according to White.

Then, in 2004, the county halted its share of the funding for the center, White said, adding that the center is no longer receiving funding from the city government either.

Without the help from the city and county, Catholic Charities could not pay for the rent on the building, personnel or operational costs, White noted.

“If you live in a SRO, it really is your meet-and-greet place and your social place,” Sacramento City Councilman Ray Tretheway told residents at a Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting Monday in Midtown. “It just breaks my heart to see that go under.”

While the center has closed its doors, Catholic Charities continues to run an outreach program to help downtown seniors gain access to medical, dental and mental health services, among other services, White said. The outreach program is covered by federal funds, monies from foundations and private donations, she said. Catholic Charities operates the outreach program together with the Transitional Living and Community Support organization.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Bold leadership, effective teachers, additional resources for more than 4,600 students

By Gabe Ross

March 16, 2010 – Sacramento’s six most academically troubled schools will be put into a special grouping of schools—the Superintendent’s Priority Schools—with innovative principals, additional assistance and resources Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond announced today.

In a first-of-its-kind effort in Sacramento to intensely focus on improving underperforming schools, the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) will create the Priority Schools to help more than 4,600 students in six schools—Oak Ridge Elementary, Father Keith B. Kenny Elementary, Jedediah Smith Elementary, Fern Bacon Basic Middle, Will C. Wood Middle and Hiram W. Johnson High. Oak Ridge was identified by the California Department of Education last Monday as among the state’s “persistently low-achieving” schools, but Superintendent Raymond said the five other SCUSD schools also have not served children adequately.

“We must take strong, decisive action and include our school communities to help these schools vastly improve how they educate our children,” Raymond said. “Tinkering around the edges of the problems at these schools won’t work. We need bold leadership, more effective teaching and a plan to provide the support our teachers and principals desperately need. We also need more resources to help students learn. We cannot afford to wait another few years and let another generation of students be lost because we didn’t do something to improve their educational opportunity.”

Raymond said the first steps will include meeting with staff, parents and partners involved with each of the six campuses. “We want to move with deliberate speed in this process. That means taking time to meet with staff, parents, students and partners. It means making sure we avoid unintended consequences. It means moving quickly but also taking the necessary steps to learn what is working at each school and what needs to be improved for the students,” Raymond said.

“We have already met with staff at each school and will begin scheduling meetings with parents, students and partners immediately.”

The school district will recruit principals and teachers for the Priority Schools who have a proven record of successful leadership and teaching. Raymond said the six schools will go to “the front of the line” for new computers and other resources, and squads of new volunteers, tutors and mentors will be recruited to help bring additional support to the schools.

Raymond said the six schools will report to one director who will report directly to the superintendent. “That director’s main job will be to support those six schools,” Raymond said. “The days of business as usual are gone. We’re going to take big, bold, dramatic steps to help these schools.”

Academic performance data for these six schools show they have consistently failed to adequately educate children for as long as seven years. Four of the six schools have failed to meet federal proficiency standards in English Language Arts and math for seven years, two have failed to meet the standards for four years. Any gains have been minimal and, in some cases, performance has declined.

All six schools serve primarily economically disadvantaged, minority populations. At all but Johnson, more than 90 percent of the students live at or near poverty.

“We are failing the students we most need to help – those who live in poverty and don’t have the same advantages at home that other students have to help them be prepared to succeed in school,” Raymond said. “We have let failure be acceptable at these schools for too long. But next school year, that culture of failure stops, and a new culture of success and achievement must begin.”

The Oak Ridge school will receive up to $2 million in additional support as a result of the state’s designation of it as a persistently underachieving school. SCUSD will use federal Title 1 money and leverage other private and public resources to pump up the funding for the other five schools, Raymond said.

At Johnson, which has nearly 2,100 students, the district will provide additional resources to support the existing 9th Grade Academy Program to give extra, focused attention to freshmen as part of the Priority Schools initiative. Johnson also will have a special arts school within the main high school.

“The waiting is over,” Raymond said. “Urgent action to improve these six schools begins now. We don’t have a child or a moment to lose.”

Go to the Sacramento City Unified District Web Site

Board of Education Meeting Tonight March 18, 2010

4:30 p.m. Closed Session
6:30 p.m. Open Session

Serna Center
5735 47th Avenue
Sacramento, Ca 95824
Community Room 

The Southbound San Joaquin Amtrak train departs Sacramento on Friday, April 16, at 4:55 pm and arrives in Lodi at 5:33 pm; which is walking distance (one half block) to downtown Lodi and the Wine Stroll. Guests pick-up their wine glasses and enjoy the charm and hospitality of Lodi . The Amtrak train departs the Lodi train station at 10:39 pm and arrives in Sacramento at 11:30 pm. Many wine tasting bars and restaurants remain open following the event. Overnight guests can also take the train back to Sacramento on Saturday, April 17, at 11:34 am. For Amtrak tickets and details call 800-872-7245.

New this year will be live chef demonstrations by local celebrity chefs. Among a few will be Michael Warren with Crush Kitchen & Bar, Julio Camberos with Califas Café & Bistro, and Gary DeGrande from DeGrande’s Café & Restaurant.

Vintners will also be on hand to pour a myriad of varietals and vintages from the Lodi Appellation. The Lodi wine region boasts 75 wineries, 60 varietals and grows 100,000 acres of wine grapes. Wineries will be showcasing not only the well known varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, but also many unique varietals such as Verdelho, Carignan and Nebbiolo.
“The Wine Stroll is an enjoyable event because of the combined ingredients to showcase Lodi – fine wines, unique shops, wonderful cuisine, the historic charm of downtown Lodi and great people,” says Pat Patrick, President and CEO of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce.
 

Assisting in the ‘economic recovery,’ Lodi hotels are offering special discounts for overnight visits. The hotel packages begin at $130 which includes: two Wine Stroll tickets, hotel for one night (double occupancy), transportation to and from hotels, and breakfast. Tickets for the Wine Stroll are $30 in advance or $35 at the event. Designated driver tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the event. To purchase tickets or for additional information call the Lodi Chamber at (209) 367-7840 x 100 or visit www.lodichamber.com.
 

The Lodi Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, 501 (c) (6) organization dedicated to serving its members, influencing public policy and fostering a climate in which business and industry can operate profitably. The chamber works to encourage and promote positive well-balanced economic growth through business development. Profits from the event are shared between the Chamber and Lodi-Adopt-A-Child, a 501(c)( 3) organization that provides back-to-school clothes and Christmas presents for children who otherwise might not be receiving these gifts and necessities.
 

Suggestions for team names began pouring into the mailbox of UFL-Football.com following the announcement on March 3 that the Sacramento UFL team will play five home games at Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State this fall.

Fans will also have the opportunity to potentially win some great ‘Ultimate Fan Experience’ prizes of four suite passes, and four on-field pre-game passes for a home game, an opportunity to meet head coach Dennis Green on the field during pre-game and PA recognition during the game.

Three entrants will be selected at random from among all eligible entries received to win the ultimate fan experience and be designated ‘UFL Foundation Fans’. Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on March 17, 2010. Full details and competition rules can be found at UFL-Football.com.

“We want to empower the fans of this new Sacramento United Football League team to give us their thoughts on the name that they feel has a strong local connection and that they will be proud to chant from the stands at Hornet Stadium,” said UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue.

The UFL-Football.com website is now hosting ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’, inviting football fans to start voting for their preferred choice of team names from a shortlist of six options or to suggest a different team name:

• Sacramento Condors
• Sacramento Miners
• Sacramento Pioneers
• Sacramento Redwoods
• Sacramento Senators
• Sacramento Sting

The Sacramento team will be led by head coach Dennis Green, who in his first United Football League season led the California Redwoods to a 2-4 record and his running back Cory Ross led the league in rushing with 462 yards. As a head coach in the NFL, Green compiled a regular season record of 113–94 with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals.

About The UFL: The UFL was developed to fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. The United Football League debuted in October 2009 with four teams in Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Francisco for its “Premiere” season. The UFL offices are in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is being funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

The team, which played two home games in San Francisco and one in San Jose as the California Redwoods during the 2009 UFL Premiere season, will relocate to Sacramento for all five 2010 UFL home games, giving local football fans a team they can call their own.
Led by Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Green, the team will play at Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State when the new season kicks off in September.

The UFL is inviting football fans to suggest their favorite name for the Sacramento team and announced a ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’ promotion being run in association with Northern California’s Sports Station KHTK 1140 AM. Fans can visit the official league website www.UFL-Football.com to take part in the naming contest.

United Football League Commissioner Michael Huyghue, team owner Paul Pelosi and Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Green were formally welcomed to the California state capital by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson at a press conference at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento on Wednesday.

“Sacramento is a natural home for the UFL in that it is a major market that we believe will support a professional football team and we are excited to be here,” said UFL Commissioner Huyghue. “We are bringing sports fans in the area an exciting and high-quality product on the field at an affordable price and hope they will embrace the team who will become a part of the local community.”

Team owner Paul Pelosi, said: “I was born and raised in Northern California and for the last quarter century have built strong personal and business relationships in Sacramento. I am excited for the opportunity to bring professional football to Sacramento and we look forward to being part of the community and appealing to sports fans in the area.”

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson added: “Welcoming a professional sports team to the city also means welcoming a positive focus for the local community. Whether it comes in the form of economic impact, the creation of jobs or simply the buzz from your city’s team winning football games, the opportunity to have a Sacramento franchise in the United Football League is an exciting proposition. I personally look forward to seeing the team in action at Hornet Stadium.”

As the California Redwoods, the relocated team posted a 2-4 record during the inaugural 2009 UFL season and running back Cory Ross led the league in rushing with 462 yards.

“I am excited that the team will be able to call the city of Sacramento home,” said Head Coach Dennis Green. “When I coached in Northern California I won a Super Bowl ring during my time with the San Francisco 49ers and I hope to bring championship success to the people of Sacramento and the fans of the team.”

Sacramento State President Alex Gonzalez said: “We are pleased to welcome the United Football League to our campus, and we are already seeing the benefits of our partnership. Thanks to the UFL, we are installing a new playing surface at Hornet Stadium without using state General Fund money. The field will allow Sacramento State to use the stadium for additional academic and student activities, as well as give us the opportunity to use it for other regional sporting events.”

Football fans eager to learn about ticket information for UFL games in Sacramento can call an information hotline: 916-233-4870. Messages can also be left regarding partner and sponsorship opportunities, player personnel, future staffing, media relations and general inquiries.

About The UFL: The UFL was developed to fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under-served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve its communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. UFL offices are located in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

Beer Brats

Sonny Mayugba interviews the Kennelly Dance Company.

Sonny sits down with Henry de Vere White.

Sonny interviews Rob Kerth for the Sacramento Press livestream.

The Sacramento Kings dancers at the Sacramento Press booth.

Sonny interviews Simon de Vere White.

News 10's Jennifer Smith and camera man check out The Sacramento Press.