Sipped in California

It’s a good day when Verizon finally figures out what’s wrong with your phone and then your Frank Family shipment arrives! I now have a working phone and some beautiful wine.

Dear supporters, California Middle School's fundraiser with Mendocino Farms is tomorrow Jan 23, 2024, at 2-9pm, at the Mendocino Farms location at 4730 Freeport Blvd Suite 110 Sacramento, CA 95822. Can we count on you to attend?

California Middle School will receive 20% of the sales. Your generous support helps maintain a breadth of educational programs for all California Middle School students including after school tutoring, after school athletic programs/uniforms/fees, scholarships for field trips, and supplemental supplies for classrooms and can make a significant difference in the lives of the students at California Middle School.

View our fundraising website and please share our attached flyer with friends and family. Thank you for supporting California Middle School!
https://mendocinofarms.force4good.com/event/8c57fae4-cf82-46d0-a461-919067ff8be9

At Break Even Beer Makers, brewing isn't just a process; it's an art form. Nestled in the heart of Amador City, this unique brewery stands out for its commitment to quality regional ingredients and an unwavering dedication to the craft. Let's take a closer look at what makes Break Even a gem in California's beer scene.

The heart and soul of Break Even lies in its one-of-a-kind copper brewhouse. It's not just a vessel; it's a canvas where the brewers execute their creations with deliberateness. The marriage of traditional and contemporary techniques creates a symphony of flavors that dance on the taste buds, leaving a lasting impression.

The brewery and cellar at Break Even were purposefully designed with small-batch flexibility and innovation in mind. This approach allows the brewers to experiment with different ingredients, techniques, and styles, resulting in a dynamic and ever-evolving lineup of beers.

What sets Break Even apart is its commitment to being easy to drink and balance. A majority of their beers boast an alcohol by volume (ABV) at or below 5%. This dedication ensures that every sip is a delightful experience, perfect for both seasoned beer enthusiasts and those new to the craft.

While favoring approachable ABVs, Break Even doesn't shy away from crafting stronger and smaller batches occasionally. Their influences range from beer trends to tradition, and each beer is meticulously designed from the ground up. The brewers play between styles, resulting in a diverse selection that caters to a broad spectrum of palates.

At Break Even, the brewers find inspiration in both contemporary beer trends and time-honored brewing traditions. Every beer is a thoughtful composition, starting with the selection of premium ingredients. This dedication to the fundamentals of brewing allows Break Even to create beers that transcend trends and stand the test of time.

So, if you find yourself in Amador City, make sure to swing by Break Even Beer Makers. Sit out on the deck and experience the fusion of innovation and tradition, sip on carefully crafted brews, and immerse yourself in a world where beer is not just a drink but a journey of flavors. Cheers to Break Even—a haven for beer lovers and a testament to the artistry of brewing! 🍺

Tomorrow is .

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Join the movement and give tomorrow - whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community.

Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.

This year I am giving to the California Middle School Annual Fund https://calmiddle.scusd.edu/donate-cal-pto
The California Middle School Annual Fund is our yearly appeal for contributions that support the extensive and diverse learning environment that California Middle School provides. Gifts
to the California Middle School Annual Fund impact every student, every day by allowing the school to:
Provide a world-class curriculum, both inside and outside the classroom.
Support, develop, and retain Enrichment Programs, The Arts, Science, Theater, Athletics, Student Clubs, and Teacher support.
Sports equipment and uniforms
Supports Cal Middle events such as Jog-A-Thon, Cal-O-Ween,
Calidays, the Spring Auction, and more!

I was ballgirl for he and his teammate’s match at a celebrity tennis tournament in the late 70s in Marin County. I remember him being generous and funny.
RIP Mr. Roundtree. A true trailblazer!

Action At Last By Jeff Harris
A PLAN FOR HOMELESS, BUT WHERE’S ENFORCEMENT?
Every crisis needs a solution. Every solution needs a plan. Homelessness plagues our city, especially since the pandemic and calamities of methamphetamine and opioid addiction.

Against this background, Sacramento Steps Forward recently held a conference titled “All In” to unveil the Local Homeless Action Plan. It’s a regional blueprint for resources and a collaborative, cohesive approach to the crisis.
The event provided insight into the challenges of moving people off our streets and away from the American River Parkway. How to use limited resources more effectively was also discussed.

The action plan contains targets for numbers of people served, housing production and service provisions. It’s an important acknowledgement that the burdens of homelessness must be shared by the county and city.

Drug addiction and mental illness are major contributors to the problem. Now there’s a realistic discussion about the types of housing required, along with the costs of permanent supportive and interim housing, plus shelter beds in triage centers.

What does all this mean? Will we soon see major reductions in homelessness? Unlikely. But the action plan means progress will accelerate over time. Two new initiatives:

Crisis Receiving Behavioral Health Center—Addresses acute addiction and behavioral health. WellSpace, the city’s department of community response and I started this program three years ago. The county is on board and will fund expansion.

Coordinated Access—Organizes service providers so they don’t compete. Resources and data are shared. Available bed space and housing stock updates are available to providers. County Supervisor Rich Desmond and I borrowed this idea from Haven for Hope in San Antonio and secured funds from the city and county. Coordination is critical to the action plan and is finally becoming a reality.

What happens in the meantime? Our city is still a mess with crime, filth and debris, and impeded access on sidewalks. The American River Parkway faces severe ecological stress. Businesses are closing. All due to homelessness. What can be done in the short term?

Enforcement is one answer, but too few elected officials are willing to use it. Enforcement is a political hot potato. But we must enforce rules to keep our city livable as we make progress in housing.

We will never have enough beds for everyone living outdoors. Although we offer more services to homeless people, no encampment should be allowed to become entrenched or grow too large. Negative effects are dire. Camps place severe stress on neighborhoods and generate crime.

Here’s the balancing act. Let’s be compassionate and offer help, but firm in disallowing egregious behavior.

Citizens are rightfully angered by lenient policies the City Council adopted around enforcement. The sidewalk and school proximity ordinances were good efforts, but the political will to enforce them is weak.

The City Council has been tone-deaf to the needs of the community. Citizens know we can be compassionate and clean up our city at the same time.

The action plan is a good program that will bring results over time. But we can’t wait for those results while our city degrades. It takes the homeless action plan and strong enforcement measures to keep Sacramento intact.

Read the action plan at sacramentostepsforward.org.

Jeff Harris represented District 3 on the City Council from 2014 to 2022. He can be reached at [email protected].

Tower Bridge in Visit Sacramento is a capital city icon for a reason! 🌟 Opened in 1935, these golden towers have stood the test of time and are now home to the annual Tower Bridge Dinner each fall.🍴

📷 on IG

Beautiful day for a beer…. And a Kings game!💜🟣

Believe it, or not…. These are mimosas at Mutt Lynch on the strand in Newport Beach.

Today is the day. Go Aztecs!

In response to the PD article regarding the sudden closure of Lucas Wharf last Friday... We wish to further clarify that Fishetarian is not going anywhere! We operate independently of the Wharf and we are in no way affiliated with the Parker family who bought it and has been running it for several years. We are disappointed and disheartened by the closure and we certainly feel for the employees. Meanwhile, we continue to serve our community with open doors and a strong team . We are open 7 days a week 11am-7pm. Sea you at Fishetarian! 🌮🦪

More girl power!!

How the president of Atwater Brewery is making her mark in brewing Jobs in the beer business are mostly held by men, but on this International Women’s Day, the new president of Atwater Brewery wants to help change that.

Napa Valley to host Wildfire Resilience Summit - Decanter The wildfire summit sees wineries and insurance companies coming together to discuss ways to mitigate the adverse effects caused by wildfires.

Heading there in a week😃

Healdsburg winemaker Nicole Hitchcock paving a path for women in the wine industry Among the more than 4,200 wineries in California, only 14% reported a woman as their lead winemaker, according to a recent study. But women are making huge strides in the wine industry, including one out of Healdsburg.

Here.. We.. GO! 🍻

It’s almost that time Elk Grove 😏 We have an absolutely stacked line up of breweries that will be pouring at Elk Grove Brewfest 2023! Over the next few weeks we’ll be announcing these amazing craft beverage producers so check back often to see if your favorite spot will be joining the party! 🥳

ARE YOU READY?! 🤩 Here are the first 10 breweries that will be at EGBF 2023:












Link in bio for tix. We’ll see you on Saturday, April 22! Elk Grove Brewfest benefits our non-profit partner,