by admin on January 31, 2010
West Sacramento Recreation Center, a combined use facility with River City High School.
When the new River City High School was built, the West Sacramento community reaped a big benefit in its adjacent West Sacramento Recreation Center, which the City of West Sacramento shares with the high school. The rec center, which like the new high school opened about a year ago, is a complete workout facility, with both competition and recreational pools (including a water slide!), workout rooms, indoor basketball/volleyball court, aerobic room and even a climbing wall (er, I’ll skip that one). And the best part is that West Sacramento residents can use it at a reduced rate, and no one who uses the rec center has to sign a contract or make a super long-term commitment.
Personally, I already have a gym membership at 24Hour Fitness. However, there are still times I like to use the rec center. And for $5 for a one-day use, why not? Sometimes it is pouring down rain and I don’t want to drive to downtown Sacramento. I can hop on the treadmill at the rec center at 6 a.m. and get my morning run in. Other times, I want to swim laps in an outdoor pool, rather than one of the indoor pools at 24Hour. The rec center’s pool is deluxe — the competition pool has about 7 or so lanes, and it is separate from the recreation pool where the kids romp and play. It is heated year round. And that water slide! Personally, I’ve never used it…but how unique is that? In addition, I have taken swim classes at the rec center, something my health club doesn’t offer.
The center's recreation pool, with its "famous" water slide.
My teen daughter uses the rec center quite a bit; it is even cheaper for her as a student. And there are some fun, unique events, such as the recent WII bowling tournament. Plus the staff is SUPER friendly, and the rec center employs many of our RCHS and other students during the summer as lifeguards and swimming teachers. It gives you a great sense of community to jump in the pool to swim your laps after waving to your next door neighbor’s teenage daughter working as a lifeguard.
So we West Sacramentans have one less excuse to avoid exercising — an excellent workout facility is minutes away and doesn’t cost a fortune.
by admin on December 30, 2009
So this doesn’t fall under reasons to love West Sac, but maybe it does. Law enforcement did a great job of keeping West Sacramentans safe in this morning’s robbery car chase that landed two suspects in the Westmore Oaks section of our city. Apparently, two suspects were caught trying to break into an ATM at 16th and P Streets in downtown Sacramento and police wound up chasing them to West Sac.
The crash did a number of the suspect's pick-up truck, not to mention local streets.
The suspects ended up near the old Westmore Oaks Elementary School (now the College Preparatory Academy), and were shooting at police from their vehicle, according to a woman I talked to who lives a block from the scene. The silver Dodge pick-up truck then crashed into a fire hydrant right ouside the fence line of the school playground. One suspect was nabbed immediately but the other (the shooter) fled on foot. A police dog found him a couple streets away in someone’s garage and the police arrested him. Can you imagine having that person in your garage?? So scary.
The neighbor woman said she and her family heard the gunshots at 4 or 5am. Many neighbors woke to the sound of the police helicopter circling overhead with a spotlight. A voice over a loudspeaker told them not to leave their homes. A barricade was set up over a two block area near the crash at Grande Vista and Haverhill Street. The precautions lasted more than two hours until about 7:30 am with Sacramento Police, West Sacramento Police, S.W.A.T. , Sacramento CSI, police detectives and more at the scene. Most of the major news trucks were there as well outside the police barricade tape at the end of Deerwood Street, near the old high school (the new Westmore Oaks K-8).
News crews set up at the end of Deerwood Street near Grande Vista (near the old high school/Westmore Oaks K-8).
As soon as the second suspect was apprehended, I went out and took some photos. Also, I met Buck, the German Shepherd who found the suspect in the garage and saved the day, and his handler. I told Buck he was a good boy. I think her heard me, but he still seemed kind of wired up from the hunt.
A side note not covered in the news: the broken fire hydrant caused a stream of water flowing down Clarendon Street, almost flooding a few garages. The wonderful City of Sacramento Public Works Department were right on the spot and kept the damage to a minimum.
While some neighbors grumbled about this event hurting property values, I don’t agree. This crime started downtown and the suspects simply landed here. It could have ended up anywhere in the Sacramento area — from Granite Bay to Oak Park.
The scene on Grande Vista. Buck (the wonder dog) on bottom left with his handler.
It’s a good reminder — crime does not discriminate. Where it happens, it happens. West Sacramento was blessed with a happy ending this time. And for that, we can be grateful.
Flooding on Clarendon Street from broken fire hydrant.
