For A Good Cause: Breakfast With Santa Claws

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Cops Investigate Natomas Copper Wire Thefts

SacPD is investigating several thefts of copper to Natomas-area businesses.

Sometime during the night of Nov. 26, in the 3200 block of Truxel Road, copper was removed from multiple air conditioning units on the rooftop of the strip mall. 

On Nov. 29 at 8:10 p.m., in the 3300 block of Northgate Boulevard, copper was removed from multiple air conditioning units on the rooftop of the strip mall there.

In both cases, the removal of the copper caused several hundred-thousand dollars worth of property loss and damage. Despite the similarity in these crimes, it is unclear if these incidents are related.

From Sept. 1, 2009 through Nov. 30, 2009, only 23 copper thefts were reported. During that same time frame of this year, 63 crimes have been reported. The increase in this type of theft is concerning.

Detectives hope that someone may have seen or heard something on the above dates, in the corresponding areas, and will come forward with the information needed to identify the suspect(s).

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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Sac PD Investigating Homeless Death In Natomas

Sac PD is investigating the death of a homeless man.

Police officers on Sunday responded to the area of Northgate Boulevard, near the Highway 160 overpass to investigate a report of a possible dead body, around 7:38 a.m. Officers arrived and located the body of an adult man inside a sleeping bag. The victim had obvious trauma to his head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police detectives believe the victim died as a result of the head injuries inflicted on him. At this time, detectives have not identified a suspect or determined a motive for the killing. The victim's identity is not being released at this time pending notification to his family.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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For A Good Cause: Help At Food Bank In Natomas

Peace Lutheran Church, located at 924 San Juan Road, hosts the Sacramento Food Bank on the first Saturday of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Volunteers are needed to help with the food distribution and entertain children while their parents receive services. The church often has 150 to 200 families, about 500 to 600 people, needing help. Last month about 500 people or 180 families were served.

The next food distribution is Saturday, Dec. 4. The church youth group will be there playing games and doing crafts with the children and would certainly welcome help.

To volunteer, contact Pastor Ryan Alvey at 927-5934. 

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Natomas Cares: Mexico Mission Trip Builds Homes

IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING ONE OF THE "HOUSES."

RECIPIENT OF THE HOUSE, WHERE 10 PEOPLE WILL LIVE.

More than five dozen Natomas residents spent their Thanksgiving week traveling to Tijuana, Mexico where they built shelters for people living in a garbage landfill there.

The group built four house and did several additions or renovations to existing buildings. They brought brand-new clothing and toys as well as gently-used items to about 30 orphaned children.

The volunteers passed out fruit, vegetables and water to families that live at the landfill, served a spaghetti dinner to a 200-plus homeless community in the park, and shared a delightful Thanksgiving dinner with another 200 people who work for or benefit from La Roca Ministries.

Several of the 62 people who went on the week-long mission attend Gateway Fellowship and Adventure Church in Natomas.

PHOTOS COURTESY LEXI GARCIA

ONE OF THE SHELTERS AT THE LANDFILL.

VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES WHO WENT ON THE TRIP.

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For The Family: Narnia Event In Natomas Saturday

The Regal Natomas Marketplace movie theater will host a FREE family event 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday Dec. 4 to promote "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

Activities will include facepainting, bean bag toss, coloring contest, arts and crafts, vendors and raffles.

The new "The Chronicles of Narnia" movie is scheduled for wide release next weekend. Regal Cinemas is located at 3561 Truxel Road.

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Seen In Natomas: New Firestation Taking Shape

PHOTO BY PHREEPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

Construction of the new Natomas fire station continues on El Centro Road. It is still on schedule to open in summer 2011.

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Seen In Natomas: Hole-Punch Cloud

PHOTO COURTESY AMBER GILLESPIE

Taken today in Natomas, Calif.

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Bankruptcy Process Starts For Natomas Schools

Sacramento County officials met today with state representatives to start bankruptcy proceedings for the Natomas Unified School District.

The Natomas district failed to meet a Nov. 30 deadline to show both a balanced budget and positive cash flow three years out as required by state education code. The Sacramento County Office of Education has overseen the district's finances for over a year and confirms another $8.9 million is needed for the district to be considered solvent.

County superintendent of schools Dave Gordon told THE NATOMAS BUZZ he met today with Joel Montero, chief executive officer for the state's Fiscal Crisis & Management Team. The state agency is charged with helping education agencies comply with fiscal accountability standards and the purpose of today's meeting was to start the loan process to cover district expenses and the cost of state oversight in the foreseeable future.

"We will have a community meeting in the next several weeks in Natomas to explain how the process works and what a state loan means," said Gordon, who hopes the schedule the session prior to the Christmas holiday.

Meanwhile, talks between Natomas school district officials and the teachers' union continued today and are scheduled to resume again on Monday. The district is asking all employees to make concessions amounting to a 7.9 percent pay cut to avoid a state takeover.

"If along the way, the district and bargaining units would come to some agreement," Gordon said. "The process could be interrupted."

Gordon pointed to concessions made recently by teachers in the Elk Grove Unified School District in the form of furlough days and higher medical co-pays. Sacramento City Unified School District teachers, he said, also made concessions.

"This is not breaking new ground," said Gordon. "It would be better all around for people to settle at the local level and control their destiny."

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Natomas Charter Student Accosted On Way To School

The following Connect Ed message went out via telephone and e-mail shortly after 1 p.m. to Natomas Charter School parents.

Sac PD officials confirm the incident was reported to them at 12:20 p.m. and officers dispatched to the scene a short time later. Officers contacted the victim and searched the area around Cottonwood Park, but were unable to locate any witnesses or surveillance footage.
 

"Dear NCS Parents and Guardians:

This is Patrick Broughton, Student Affairs Director, letting you know that this morning at approximately 9:45 a.m. an NCS female student, walking alone to school, reported that she was physically and verbally attacked by four white males (approximately 20-30 years old) at Ivy Crest Way and Atasca Avenue, which is in the Natomas Park neighborhood between Gateway Park Drive and Natomas Charter School. These men, she explained, were intoxicated.

The student also reported that two of the four men ultimately got into a vehicle, described as a white full-sized sedan with a black stripe along the side, and followed her the rest of the way to school. The other two men followed the student on foot all the way to the school parking lot. When I received this information, I immediately contacted the Sacramento Police Department. A police investigation is currently underway.

Parents, please continue your efforts in acquainting your child with procedures to avoid strangers and encourage your child to travel with at least one other person.

Thank you."

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Where In Natomas?

PHOTO BY PHREEPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

Click on comments below to post your guess for "Where In Natomas?" and the first correct answer wins a Natomas Buzz tote bag!

THE NATOMAS BUZZ welcomes reader submissions to our "Where In Natomas?" feature via e-mail at natomasbuzz@yahoo.com.

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For A Good Cause: NNTMA's Bike Donation Drive

The holidays are RIGHT around the corner! Still looking for the perfect gift?

Bikes are a great gift for the holidays. They are a fantastic present of health and adventure.

What can you do with the old bike in the garage after the new one arrives? DONATE IT!

The North Natomas Transportation Management Association is organizing a used kids' and adult bike drive. The North Natomas TMA plans to repair donated bikes and donate them back to students attending North Natomas schools.

Bikes can be dropped off 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the North Natomas TMA office, 1960 Del Paso Road. The office is closed each day for lunch between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Get in touch before dropping off bikes at (916) 419-9955 or info@nntma.org.

The NNTMA is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. Contributions to section 501(c)(6) organizations are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor’s federal income tax return.

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