Bike Trail, Fish, Salmon, Wildlife

Sacramento foodie’s cookbook will drive locavores wild

Are you the type of person who fishes shad out of the Sacramento River and who treks along the American River to forage for blackberries, fennel, miner’s lettuce and all sorts of other goodies? Do you go down to Napa to shoot wild turkeys grown fat on thieved grapes from the vineyards or crawl into Dixon to blow away a few quail for dinner?

Local food writer Hank Shaw is best known for his food blog Hunter Angler Gardener Cook (http://honest-food.net), where he chronicles his gourmet approach to wild food. Shaw has recently come out with a new book. Hunt, Gather, Cook: Finding the Forgotten Feast (Rodale, $25.99) is the must read for the hunter/fisher/forager and all-around foodie.

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Bike Trail, Fire, safety, Wildlife

Officials ask for help in identifying parkway arsonist

Fire officials are asking the public to help identify the person responsible for a series of arson fires along the American River Parkway in recent days.

A total of 15 fires were deliberately set — nine on Sept. 10 and six on Wednesday, said Assistant Chief Scott Cockrum of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The arson occurred near River Bend Park, in an area of heavy vegetation that could fuel a major fire, Cockrum said.

“In this area there are no homes, but there is dense brush, with trees, shrubs and a lot of dead stuff,” he said.

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Bike Trail, Fire, safety, Wildlife

American River Parkway arsons, no suspect yet

Arson investigators said the grass fires along the American River Saturday morning were set intentionally.

“Having somebody coming through here and start these fires is really concerning that this was an intentional act to have a huge fire run through the American River Parkway,” Sacramento Metro Fire Assist. Chief Scott Cockrum said.

Sacramento Metro Fire crews fought seven to nine grass fires along the American River around 6 a.m. Saturday, Cockrum said.

The grass fires were spotted from River Bend Park to Hagan Park and burned 19 acres of land.

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Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Parkway crowds generally well-behaved during holiday weekend

The Labor Day weekend was busy on the American River Parkway, but with the exception of visitors who sought to circumvent the holiday alcohol ban, crowds along the parkway were generally well-behaved, said John Havicon, ranger supervisor with Sacramento County Regional Parks.

“A lot of alcohol was poured out,” Havicon said.

He said 20 tickets were issued to people for violating the alcohol ban.

Havicon said rangers this year have found more people trying to bring in hard liquor, often in water bottles, for mixed drinks.

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Bike Trail, safety

Scout project aims to keep walkers, bikers safe on trail in Folsom

It’s hardly anarchy on the American River bike trail, a tranquil oasis in an otherwise busy suburban landscape, but some Boy Scouts and the city of Folsom are striving to make it even safer.

The two-lane trail that winds among the gray pine and oak trees close to Willow and Humbug creeks can be dicey when bicyclists and pedestrians pass one another.

To keep the wheeled and walking a safe distance apart, a simple remedy is planned: Boy Scouts will stencil rules of the road on the bike trail.

The painted advisory will say:

“Runners Walkers Keep Left” in the left lane.

“Bikes Keep Right” in the right lane.

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Rafting, safety, Water

Higher fees, ban on alcohol on parkway this weekend

The American River Parkway will be “dry” and Sacramento County’s regional park fees will be higher over the Labor Day weekend.

The holiday ban on alcohol along the parkway – on shore and on the river – will be in effect from Saturday through Monday. Consumption of alcohol and possession of open containers will be prohibited within the parkway between Watt and Hazel avenues. The ordinance will be strictly enforced, and violations of the alcohol ban may result in a citation or arrest, according to a Sacramento County Regional Parks news release.

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