First Friday event: Metal artist Gutermute at the Studio Artists Gallery

From the Woodland Record:

This First Friday the Studio Artists Gallery is hosting a great and unique metal artist, Taylor Gutermute. The reception, from 6 to 9 pm, will be your opportunity to see art work, meet the featured artist, munch on goodies and visit with fellow art lovers.

Gutermute has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has completed two public art works through the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission “Art in Public Places” program. One is in Park Plaza on West El Camino and Truxel Avenues and the other at the intersection of Highway 160 and Del Paso Boulevard as part of the new redevelopment and cityscape project.

Read more at the Woodland Record.

Pimentel uses protection... against Swine Flu

In this exclusive photo taken, you can see Art Pimentel, while visiting Woodland's sister city, using a mask to protect himself from the Swine Flu. Despite advisories against travel to Mexico, Vice Mayor Pimentel decided his peeps deserve more than an excuse about not making it for his visit.

Using a state of the "Art" mask, the influenza strain has no chance of infecting him. Besides, we heard swine are immune anyways. Holding up two fingers is the secret sign for, you are stuck with me as your Mayor for two years.

We will be following every development on this story and will update as we uncover more about his trip to La Piedad, Mexico .

The Associated press took this picture of an unidentified man wearing a mask in Mexico. Hmm, looks like Art to me. Nice shirt! Is that a City cell phone he is using?

Most Restaurantes Mexicanos Per Capita: A Woodland record?

From the Woodland Record:

Could the City of Trees also be known as La Ciudad de los Restaurantes Mexicanos? There are at least 33 Restaurantes Mexicanos in Woodland, excluding fast food chains, mobile food vehicles, food carts and food processors. For a town of about 56,000, we have one Restaurante Mexicano for every 1,697 citizens (approximately).

Woodland: That's a good thing. Considering there are 2.5 million people in Yolo and the surrounding counties, day trippers from Davis, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Vacaville, Fairfield, Vallejo and Napa can easily travel to Woodland for samplings of signature Mexican dishes. Of course, they will need to visit more than once to make a sound scientific judgment of what Restaurante Mexicano is the best.

So can we entice our neighbors by proclaiming that Woodland has the most Restaurantes Mexicanos per capita?

Click here to read more and to look at the complete list (thus far) of Restaurantes Mexicanos.

WJUSD poll results

We just ended our very unscientific poll on whether you would support a bond for the WJUSD. I really can't believe they would be trying for a bond after the battle over their new district office. So far we have no details, which is usual of the district, but I decided to poll everyone before we got the details so we could do it again after.

For some reason I doubt details of our dire straights will change ANY minds. All I hear is we don't understand the situation. Yes we understand programs will be cut, sports will be impacted, things will be in danger.

I don't think they understand the situation. I don't trust them with my money. It is that simple. Pouring more money on a bad spending problem is not going to fix anything. Very poor decisions in the past and ones that are still occurring everyday need to stop. I will never vote for it until there is a big change in leadership. I just can't do it. For some reason I think the majority of the population in Woodland feels the same.

Here are the results of our very unscientific poll:

11 - Yes: Seven were board members, one supe, one financial advisor, one real estate consultant and one attorney.

11 - No: Not sure who these people were, but they were at least nice about it.

28 - Hell No: 19 were last year grand jury members, one was Dan Logue, one was Matt Rexroad, six were laid-off staff... and one was Dudley Holman from the great beyond.

5 - Maybe: These are five of the laid-off staff that voted twice, just in case they can get their job back.

PHS stadium project ahead of schedule?

From the Dallg Domocsat:

Press box, field sod going in at Pioneer High School stadium

A $1.9 million stadium project is ahead of schedule and should be completed by June graduation at Pioneer High School.

View the entire article here before it goes away.

Note: Pioneer High School opened to 9th and 10th graders on September 2, 2003.

WR headlines include: Jury convicts lowlife of raping daughters

Headlines from the Woodland Record:

Front Page
Yolo County jury convicts lowlife of raping daughters
Yolo County HPAC reveals homeless snapshot

Business News
Schmidt joins YCF board

Business Announcements
County announces Job Search Central online

Sports
Wild Wings Golf Club grand 'reopening' on Thursday

Downtown Sidewalk Sale: Recycle-Reuse-Reduce-Respect

From the Woodland Record – Business Announcements:

There is a Downtown Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, April 25, presented by the Historic Woodland Downtown Business Association in conjunction with Green Day at the Library.

Local businesses will offer “green” merchandise. Crafts with recyclable materials, recycling and composting info will be available at the Woodland Public Library, from noon to 3 pm.

For more information or vendor booth reservations contact Anita at The House Dresser, 617 Main Street, 661-9596, or Miriam at wearitnaturally@yahoo.com.

It's time! Scottish Games & Festival at the fairgrounds this weekend

From the Woodland Record:

Woodlander Randy Russell is the Chief of the Caledonian Club of Sacramento. In his "message from the chief" at SacCallie.org, he said, "Our regional Scottish-American cultural society hosts many annual events, including our formal Tartan Ball in November, the celebration of Tartan Day in early April and one of the oldest and largest festivals in California, the Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival, held in Woodland, the last full weekend in April."

"Our Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival is the main event we host, which draws up to 20,000 people each year. This fun, family event includes Scottish clans, competitions, music, dance, live history, children’s activities, animals, vendors and much, much more."

The 133rd Anniversary of the Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival takes place at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, Woodland, this weekend (April 25th and 26th). Doors open at 9 am with closing ceremonies at 4:45 each day. There is an after-games Ceilidh (Kay-lee), or party, on Saturday evening.

Read more at the Woodland Record.

KFBK reports Brett Pedroia pleads guilty

According to the KFBK web page, they are reporting that Brett Pedroia has plead guilty to some charges in Yolo Superior Court. You can view their article here.

It is interesting how the media always has to drag family into stories. I sure would not want to be dragged into my family crap. I guess that's the price you pay if you become famous.

Woodlander identified as suspected Umpqua robber

See who it is and a previous booking photo at the Woodland Record.

Dustin may be on to something

Some may dispute the vaporous words of those who say our town is a dump. Some may refer to us as a wood pile and some may say we're by hell. Surely time will dissipate the intent, tone and triviality of any such utterances.

However, nobody can argue when a mighty corporation casts its slogan into an impervious iron monument in full public view. Nobody can deny the proclamation set in steel and bounded by concrete, ordered by the pillars of the community and rendered by loyal public servants. And nobody can poo-poo the fact that the City of Trees is just a passing fancy, and the true title of our township shall be... the "CITY OF SEWER - WOODLAND."

WR Police Blotter heats up with the weather

Check out the following police reports sent to the Woodland Record:

Cinderalla Motel robbed early Wednesday morning

Sister arrested for stabbing sister on El Paseo Drive

Suspect sought for felony assault on East Oak

Click here to go to the WR Police Blotter.

Umpqua robbed! Suspect on video from bank and Nugget

From the City of Woodland, Police:

Woodland PD Case Number(s): WDP09-002349

At approximately 10:05 am [on Tuesday, April 21,] a lone male adult entered the Umpqua bank located in the 200 block of Main Street and displayed a note to a teller, demanding money. The teller relinquished an undisclosed amount of cash and the suspect left, on foot, towards the Nugget Market. The suspect was captured on video surveillance, not only at the bank but also at Nugget Market. No one was injured during this crime and Detectives are actively looking for the suspect who is described as a White male adult, approximately 30 years old with long, light brown hair, and tattoos covering both arms. The male was wearing a dark colored tee shirt, jeans, ball cap turned backwards, with a pair of white rimmed sunglasses on top of his head.

Video surveillance photos are not yet being released as this is an active investigation. More information regarding this crime will be released as it becomes available.

Woodlanders get to look at this for more than 11 bucks a gallon

No, it's not Sputnik... it's a pedesphere water tank – or more precisely, our new tank will be a Waterspheroid developed by the chosen company Chicago Bridge and Iron in 1954. That's just before the Jetson-era. City staff is recommending CBI over Caldwell Tanks, a company that has been making tanks since 1887. As astute Woodlanders know, any structure built in Woodland must reflect 1880s architecture.

When it's all said and done, the water tank project could cost $4,565,500 for the 400,000 gallon tank. It will be placed smack-dab where the armory once stood.

Check out the WJ post from October 24, 2008:

City chooses costlier, non-1880s pedesphere tank: Savings to come from less repainting

Click here for the staff report for tonight's council meeting.

The city has previously decided that if an image is placed on the tank, it should be the city flag. With that type of water tank, and the proposed mundane image, the city will yet again pass up an opportunity to create a unique landmark.

Read more at the Woodland Record.

Woodland Journal founder steps down as Manufactured Homes Fair Practices Commissioner

Tuesday's council agenda: City staff recommends that the City Council accept, with regret, the resignation of The Realist as Manufactured Homes Fair Practices Commissioner.

That is such a key position, I hope The Realist takes this afternoon and tomorrow to reconsider.

City casting smaller net this time in its quest to placate the state

From the Woodland Record:

In another closed session on Tuesday, April 21, the Redevelopment Agency (Woodland City Council) will continue its quest to patch together downtown properties for the State of California. Although the city is positioning itself to purchase properties for the state's New Woodland Courthouse, the state cannot promise it will buy the properties afterward.

The properties of concern are: 902, 906, 910 Court Street; 913, 917 Fourth Street; 1000-22 Main Street; 425, 445 Fifth Street; 430 Sixth Street; and 1011, 1021 Lincoln Avenue. Negotiating parties include city manager Mark Deven properties owners John R. and Shirley Lauricella, Benito and Marcia Crescione Trust; Nebulous Enterprises, LLC; City of Woodland; Tom W. and Marilyn M. Fields Trust; Robert B. and Devere Garner Trust. Closed session meeting require only price and terms to be discussed.

Read more at the Woodland Record.

Click here for the city council agenda.

Opinion: WRA chair rallies troops to battle 'Delta Storm'

A letter to the editor of the Woodland Record, by Bill Marble:

Someone once said, “That which doesn’t change remains the same.” You might call this an oxymoron, but it is certainly true. In statewide water matters, such as the problems in the Delta, we might be caught napping if we think nothing will change.

Clouds are gathering on the horizon and they are not filled with the drought-busting rains we would all welcome. Doppler radar indicates these tempests have their storm center in the Delta Estuary and are rapidly taking on hurricane proportions that could impact us all.

Read more at the Woodland Record.

Help Gearhead Records celebrate Record Store Day

From the Record Store Day Web site:

Gearhead Records is owned and operated by the independent punk n' roll record label Gearhead Records. The retail store opened in 2007 in response to so many independent stores closing. The focus of the store is fun and education... teaching customers about the joys of independent music, both vinyl and cd, independently produced clothing and merchandise, accessories, stickers, patches and gift items. The theme of the store is rock n' roll, punk, hot rod, biker, and tattoo and a celebrating of the lifestyles that go along with all this stuff.

Read more at the Woodland Record.

WJUSD begins work on $115,000,000 bond for 2010

From the Daffy Dufuscrat:

WJUSD eyes $115m bond in 2010

With many school improvement projects on hand and money tight, Woodland School District officials could soon pursue a $115 million bond initiative.

Interim Associate Superintendent of Business Services Paul Disario said the district is beginning to work on the bond which would be used to finance a number of facility needs.

Click here to read the whole article. Quick, before they take it down.

Cruise-In returns to Main Street on Saturday at Bagel City

Bagel City, located at 1392 East Main Street in Woodland, is hosting a "Cruise-In" of hot rods, custom vehicles, motorcycles, low-riders, and race cars. The parking lot event starts at 5 pm on Saturday, April 18.

More events are planned throughout the spring and summer, April 25, May 2 and 9, June 6, July 4, August 1, September 5 and 12. The July 4 and September 12 events will be at special show locations.

Bagel City is locally owned by Joaquin and Jillian Caunedo, third generation Woodlanders who know the old days of cruisin' Main. For more information call 662-0640 or visit TheBagelCity.com.

Photo from the Bagel City Web site.

Endorsement grubbing: The blogger's approach to political campaigns

Local blogger, professional campaigner and Yolo County Supervisor Matt Rexroad recently announced his decision to run for reelection. He didn't waste time collecting endorsements for his campaign. This strategy can be good or bad depending on how much you value the opinions of the endorsers.

What I can't understand is that someone would endorse one candidate before they even know who the other candidates are. Consider this: Eleven of his "16" endorsers are elected officials. They have just proven that they are prone to making decisions without having all the information. Therefore, my estimation of Matt has gone up (for endorsement grubbing), but my estimation of the others has gone down.

No, Matt, that is not an endorsement.

Here are Rexroad's first nine endorsements listed in his summary:

Woodland Mayor Skip Davies
Woodland Vice-Mayor Art Pimentel
Woodland City Councilwoman Martie Dote
Woodland City Councilman Bill Marble
West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon
Davis Vice-Mayor Don Saylor
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig
Yolo County Supervisor Helen Thomson
Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan

Endorsement #10
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig (this endorsement is so good, it counts twice)

Endorsement #11
Former Woodland City Councilman Neal Peart

Endorsement #12
Yolo County Board of Education Trustee Cirenio Rodriguez

Endorsement #13
Yuba Community College Board of Trustees President Alan Flory

Endorsement #14
Former County Supervisor Tom Stallard

Endorsement #15
Former Woodland Joint Unified School Trustee Jesse Ortiz

Endorsement #16
The Realist

Kirkwood does Q&A at Rexroad's new Web site

Rick Kirkwood: City Manager Mailbag is a blog at PublicCEO.com, a Web site created by political consultant Matt Rexroad and writer James Spencer "to facilitate the occupational demands of City Managers, County Administrators, public executives and elected officials by providing relevant information and timely news about California’s local governments."

Here's a taste of "reader's" comments:

PublicCEO.com reader: Public trust in the government is certainly important but the complexity of the issues may turn off the public.

Kirkwood response: Public trust is the essential ingredient of our democracy and republic. Most citizens simply do not have the time or inclination to get involved in the complexity of the many issues facing public administrators and elected officials.

You're a good man, Charlie Brown

AMBER ALERT IS ON, SAN LEANDRO ABDUCTION

From the CHP Amber Alert Web site:

ON APRIL 15, 2009, AT 05:00 PM, YOSSELINE CAROLINA MEZA WAS ABDUCTED FROM SAN LEANDRO, CA.
YOSSELINE CAROLINA MEZA IS A TWENTY-TWO MONTH OLD, HISPANIC, FEMALE, 40 POUND, JUVENILE WITH BROWN HAIR, AND BROWN EYES, LAST SEEN WEARING A WHITE, LONGSLEEVE T-SHIRT AND BEIGE SWEAT PANTS.

SUSPECT IS LUIS MEZA VALDIVA, A 26-YEAR OLD, HISPANIC, MALE, 5-FEET 8 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 160 POUNDS, WITH BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES.

THE SUSPECT WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A WHITE, 4-DOOR, TOYOTA CAMRY, WITH A CA LICENSE PLATE OF 5GBD911.

THE SUSPECT IS BELIEVED TO BE TRAVELING FROM THE BAY AREA TO THE MEXICO BORDER.

IF SEEN, CONTACT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT (510) 667-7721.

Parks & Rec summer guide

Sign ups are going on now for numerous summer events and sports programs for the City. Here are a few notable leagues and deadlines for signing up.

Adult Basketball
Deadline April 28

Adult Softball
Deadline June 23

Adult Volleyball
Deadline September 9

Woodland Wreckers swim team
Deadline June

There are many other programs available, for more information, click here.

Download the Summer Guide here.

Woodland Record – Business Announcements

Party with the Rat Pack at Tazzina Bistro

Private art in public places, Saturday at the Gateway Center

Click here to view these announcements.

WHS comedy fundraiser coming in June

The Michael Finney Comedy Show is coming to the Woodland High School little theater on June 5th and 6th. Tickets are $20 each, proceeds going to the Woodland High School wrestling team. Tickets available at the following locations:

Kenny's Bar and Grill
Ludy's Main Street BBQ and Catering
Tazzina Bistro
WHS student store

Here is some information from his web page, http://www.michaelfinney.com/

Read more at the Woodland Record.

R.E.A.C.H. 4 Books: Seven Woodland teenagers who are dreaming it and doing it

From the R.E.A.C.H. 4 Books Web site:

R.E.A.C.H. 4 Books was founded by seven American students who were inspired by the village children along the Peruvian Amazon River in South America. R.E.A.C.H 4 Books is a non-profit organization with the sole purpose of providing Spanish books to the children along the Amazon River who are in great need of resources to help promote literacy. By supplying more educationally rich resources, we hope to take a step in the journey toward global literacy!

Founders/Officers
President: Michael Mahoney
Vice President: Billy Landis
Secretary: Melissa Mahoney
Treasurer: Lauren Payne
Director of Public Relations: Matt Landis
Fundraising Representative: Jimmy Landis
Communications Representative: Tommy Payne

Drive up the hits on this YouTube video as part of a grant nomination.

New Woodland Courthouse update: Theaters on hold, county cover-up pursued

STATE REPS: YAMADA TALKS AROUND THE ISSUE, WOLK AND NIELSEN REFUSE TO COMMENT

Excerpts from the Woodland Record:

TWO THEATER proposals for downtown Woodland are on hold according to Woodland City Councilman Skip Davies.

According to a July 27, 2004, Woodland City Council/Redevelopment Agency communication, then city manager Richard Kirkwood began to firm up a plan for a cinema complex at the corner of Third and Main Streets.

In the document, Kirkwood said: "A master developer could be selected for an Exclusive Right to Negotiate from a select list of qualified developers." That developer is Paul Petrovich, who in 2006 submitted to the city and county his intentions to annex 153.4 acres at County Road 102 between Wintun Avenue and Gibson Road.

“The county did not commit any property to the courthouse relocation project,” said county public information officer Beth Gabor on behalf of all Yolo County supervisors and the county administrator who refused to make individual comments. Gabor later stated that the Administrative Office of the Courts did not meet certain conditions of the resolution.

Jim Perry, executive officer of the Superior Court of Yolo County, was asked what conditions the state did not meet. “I don’t know of any,” said Perry.

So far there is no evidence that the state failed to meet conditions of the county's resolution. In fact, just a week and a half ago on April 3, Philip Carrizosa from the Office of Communications of the Judicial Council of California - Administrative Office of the Courts said, "...the AOC’s formal site selection process for the Woodland Courthouse Project has yet to begin, and is not expected to begin until late June at the earliest."

District 8 Assembly Member Yamada, District 5 Senator Lois Wolk and District 2 Assembly Member Jim Nielsen were each provided a copy of a proposal that suggests: 1) Using part of the promised county property (by building around the facilities that contain the jail, library and public defender), 2) Closing Third Street, 3) Using existing surface parking with a smaller scale structure (there are at least 1,226 spaces available), 4) Creatively using the $173 million budget (including $8 million for site acquisition) and 5) Reallocating some of the $459 million state budget intended for other courthouse parking structures in California.

Both Wolk and Nielsen simply refused to comment on the issue and the proposal delivered to them on February 19.

Yamada was able to muster up a generic response on March 13: "At this time, I remain hopeful that the City, County, and the AOC will continue to work out an agreement and the details to move ahead."

Read more at the Woodland Record.

Woodland Record working on May edition, past issues still available

The Woodland Record continues to be your new voice in the community. If you have a story to share, a photograph to publish or an opinion to express, please email stories@woodlandrecord.com. New content is currently being gathered for the May edition.

Past issues of the Woodland Record paper are still available. To download a PDF of an issue, click it below:

December 08 PREMIERE (3.6 mb)
January 09 (2.5 mb)
February 09 (3.8 mb)
March 09 (4.4 mb)

To download the current issue, click it below:

April 09 (4.4)

La Finca fight turns into car chase, driver/assault suspect at large

Woodland P.D. Case Number(s): 09-2121

On Saturday, April 12, 2009 at about 12:24 am, Woodland police officers were dispatched to 534 Bush Street (LA Finca) for a call of a large crowd of people fighting in the street.

Read more at Woodland Record - Police Blotter.

WOW! to explore the new South Yuba River State Park on April 18

From the Woodland Outdoor Wanderers:

On Saturday, April 18th, the Woodland Outdoor Wanderer's (WOW) will be conducting its April outing, a visit to the South Yuba River State Park, one of California's newest addition's to the State Park system. All interested hikers are welcome to participate in this outing, which will offer a gentle hike along the South Yuba River.

Read more at the Woodland Record – What's Happening.

Pedroias receive death threats, suspect arrested

Ok, this has gone way too far.

A person has called the Pedroia's family business and threatened to shoot all of the male family members. Luckily, the police acted fast and caught this guy before something bad happened. See the press release below.

What kind of idiot(s) would do this. Get a life people. What ever happened to sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never harm me? He made some questionable comments, he apologized, sounded very sincere to me, get over it.

To the Pedrioa family, I apologize for this creep, he does not represent me or my family or anyone else in Woodland I am sure.

Woodland P.D. Case Number(s): 09-2091

On Friday, April 10, 2009, at about 12:29 pm, Woodland Police responded to Valley Tire Center at 179 West Main Street for a threats report. On arrival, an officer spoke with the caller and one of the victims in the case.

It was determined that a known suspect had telephoned the business and made specific death threats to male members of the Pedroia family. The suspect made multiple phone calls and stated that the Pedroia males would be shot and killed. Through the assistance of AT&T, officers were able to identify a suspect in the case. The suspect was identified as 47 year-old Woodland resident, Kenneth Samuels.

Samuels was contacted and arrested for violation of 422 PC. He was booked into the Yolo County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Woodland Police Department at 661-7800.

Also see the Woodland Record for updates to this story.

Hey, AOC: When you insult people, don't cc them

Excerpts from the post on Legal Pad, a Cal Law blog:

Never underestimate the danger of the “Reply All” button. Perhaps that’s the lesson to be learned from an odd email exchange between a Yolo County blogger and an Administrative Office of the Courts executive.

Legal Pad often wonders what the real reasons are when officials don’t return our phone calls. Usually we prefer to think, perhaps naively, that it’s simply a problem with the silent recipient’s telephone.

Read the entire post here.

Dustin explains to SacBee

Excerpts from the Sacramento Bee:

Pedroia: Woodland comments taken out of context

Pedroia said the one-on-one interview was held Feb. 10. Pedroia said Craggs asked him about Woodland and what it was like during their wide-ranging interview.

Pedroia said today that he was trying to have fun with his response, as Woodland teens for years have cracked that everyone wants to leave a small town for a bigger one.

Pedroia said he believes the Boston Magazine piece tried to spin it that he was angry at his town in general, "and that's not true."

Click here to read the entire story.

Mall is the "Hollywood of Northern California"

Excerpts from the Dalliy Dalliycrat:

County Fair Mall owner upbeat

The County Fair Fashion Mall's latest success story, Burlington Coat Factory, opened with much fanfare -- festivities welcoming the Woodland shopping center's new anchor store, which sells apparel and home goods, lasted an entire weekend in March.

In a press statement released after Burlington's grand opening, Arjmand describes the mall as a "beautiful tourist attraction" and the "Hollywood of Northern California."

Click here to read the entire article.

The obsessive's guide to the 2009 Boston Red Sox

Excerpts from Dustin Pedroia comes out swinging, one of several features about the Red Sox published online by Boston Magazine:

He got his athleticism from his mother, Debbie, a former college tennis player who also bequeathed to Dustin her small frame (she is 5 feet tall). She was his first coach: T-ball, when he was four years old.

If Pedroia's performance arises from any one trait, it's not some intangible notion like "scrappiness." It's his kinesthetic genius. Consider his swing: Coming into the majors, it wasn't just big. It was wild, overanxious, too long, people feared.

"Everyone wants to get out of there," [Dustin] goes on. "You don't want to stay in Woodland. What do you want to stay in Woodland for? The place sucks. The newspaper there, I don't really get along with.

Click here to read the seven-part article.

A Woodland Journal reader provided the tip for this link.

YCAC: Artistic Sensations gala at RH Phillips Winery on May 2

From the Woodland Record:

The Board of Directors of The Yolo County Arts Council (YCAC) would like to extend an invitation to the 5th annual “Artistic Sensations” fundraising gala to celebrate Yolo Arts and support YCAC’s programs.

Pamper your senses with innovative regional cuisine, fine wine, live music and a silent art auction amidst picturesque vineyards and rolling hills of wheat at the R.H. Phillips Winery, 26836 County Road 12A in Esparto on Saturday, May 2, from 6 to 9 pm.

Read more at the Woodland Record:

Image: “Teach Art” in stainless steel by Stephen Kaltenbach

State Theatre renaissance possible

Excerpts from the Woodland Record article by David Wilkinson:

In 1966, twentynine years after opening, the grand neon tower and marquee that had so charmed Woodlanders of all ages was reluctantly taken down by the State’s second-generation owner, Richard Mann, under orders of the State Division of Highways (since renamed Caltrans). As mind-boggling as it sounds today, Caltrans demanded that any “advertisement” that encroached on its expanded right-of-way, after a section of Main Street was widened from two to four lanes, had to taken down at the owner’s expense.

THE FUTURE of the State: Although downtown’s lone surviving movie theater continues to show first-run movies, the State is vulnerable to suffering the same fate of the many downtown Woodland theaters that preceded it – extinction – without a strong will to preserve it by the community. If we lose it – and many Art Deco movie palaces across the state have been shuttered or have been completely wiped away – gone forever will be a special architectural and cultural landmark that contributes to Woodland’s uniqueness as a historically significant Valley jewel.

With serious talk by the city of bringing a jumbo multiplex theater downtown, several important questions are raised: What about the State? Is it worth preserving and restoring as a movie theater? A performing arts venue? Both? What role should the redevelopment agency play in its revitalization?

Read much more at the Woodland Record.

Dustin homers in first AB of season, Red Sox beat Rays in opener

Dustin Pedroia of Woodland hit a home run in his first time up of the 2009 season. Dustin (who finished 1 for 3 with two runs) and the Boston Red Sox defeated the American League Champions Tampa Bay Rays 5 to 3 at Fenway Park – the season opener.

Click here for the story at Boston.RedSox.MLB.com.

Be sure to follow Dustin here at the Woodland Journal. Check out the link at right – Woodland's original Pedroia Watch.

Tazzina Bistro in Sac Biz Journal

From the Sacramento Business Journal:

Point, Click, Network
Small businesses starting to see marketing potential of social media
by Kelly Johnson

Rebecca Reichardt, owner of Tazzina Bistro in Woodland, uses NapkinNights and MySpace to get the word out about the restaurant’s comedy and music events. “We’re unsure yet if it’s doing much,” she said, but it has “great potential.”

Good Day Sacramento announces job fair in Woodland

From Good Day Sacramento – Job Center:

Job seekers, get your video resume on the Good Day Sacramento Job Center and get discovered by local businesses. Employers, browse our video resumes to find the right job candidate for your business.

Upcoming Job Center Events

Hampton Inn & Suites
April 08, 2008
2060 Freeway Dr.
Woodland
5 a.m.-10 a.m.

Kings half court shot and Grant Napear's soft hands

From the Woodland Record – Sports:

Last week I was selected to shoot the half court shot at the Kings game. I decided to call Bob Brian, the boy's varsity basketball coach at Woodland High, to let me in for some practice shots. I took about 15 shots from an NBA half court, which is five feet longer than High School. I hit about 40%, of them so I figured I had a decent chance.

At the game, during one of the time outs, I went out to half court with my son Taylor. They asked him if he thinks I could make it. Of course he said no, because if he was right, he would get $50. So I took the shot and came up about a foot off to the right. Not bad. My son was happy with his $50 cash. Then they moved me up to the three point line. I play basketball quite a bit and I am decent at three pointers, so I figured I had a decent shot at this one as well. The NBA three pointer is two feet farther than a high school three. I put it up and drained it, nothing but net. I won a gift certificate for Folsom Lake Ford.

It was a great experience for me and for my son. They really treated us great and even gave us a tour of the inner workings of Arco Arena. Very interesting.

But what really stood out for me that night was when I gave Grant Napear a high-five. The guy had the softest hands on the planet. I gave all of the Kings dancers high-fives as well, but none of them came close. How do you do it Grant? You need to get out in the garage and get those hands dirty and rough them up a bit.

There must be a secret here, a special (man)icure shop that massages his hands daily with lotion. I do not know.

Anyways, I had a great time even though the Kings lost the game.

Plainfield Elementary rolls in the money

From the Woodland Record:

Plainfield Elementary sixth graders rolled 9,000 Woodland Record papers in two hours last Friday to raise money for their annual Point Reyes field trip. The class earned $150 and had fun in the process. They have scheduled to roll the papers again next month to earn the remaining money needed to fund their trip.

If you have a group that is interested in earning money, please contact Jeff McCallum at Jeff@WoodlandRecord.com.

Here are a couple of videos of the kids in action:

First Friday Event: Blue Wing Gallery presents 'Landscapes of a Different Color'

Painting by Elizabeth 'Lori' Breckenridge.

Read about tonight's First Friday opening and this month's Blue Wing Gallery show at the Woodland Record.

First Friday event: Antiques, glass and pie

Glass work by Mark Abildgaard, who will demonstrate his techniques during the First Friday downtown evening event at Gallery 625, County Administration Building, 625 Court Street.

Read about a variety of tonight's First Friday events scheduled in historic downtown Woodland at the Woodland Record.

At Knights Landing

They have been having lively times in Knights Landing over April fool matters. The school boys made a straw man and hung it up near the school house. They then locked the door and when the school teachers came they could not get in. Mr. Summers then went to the Trustees but they could not let him into the building and a general row occurred. Just what the outcome will be we can not say, but it is probable that some of the the leaders in the "effigy" business will be expelled from school.

Woodland Daily Democrat, April 2, 1891

Read another April Fools account from the same edition at the Woodland Record.