![Kristopher A. Tjernell of the Department of Water Resources garnished his roll with strips of nori. (Photos by Jennifer Fergesen)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/3_0.png?1648053356)
Lawmakers on a (California) Roll
California government leaders participate in sushi competition to promote the state’s rice industry
State government leaders take a break from making California laws to make California rolls for the Capitol Roller Competition, part of a recent summit for rice industry stakeholders.
![Jerry Gomez (foreground) and Jamie Ranslow work arranging flowers at Flowers by Fairytales in Elk Grove on Jan. 25.
(Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/3-january_25_2022valentine_s_day_2022-3.jpg?1644623684)
Capital Region Flower Shops Prepare for Unique 2022 Valentine’s Day
Florists surmount challenges to serve customers on their busiest holiday
This year florists face supply chain shortages, winter weather and COVID effects, but press on to serve Capital Region romantics.
![The Imaginarium 360 Light Up the Night exhibit at Cal Expo runs through Jan. 16 on selected nights, featuring over 3 million LEDs and a State Fair-like midway experience. (Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/1-december_02_2021holidaylights.jpg?1639681300)
The Season of Light Shines Again
Holiday season events return to the Capital Region in 2021
After a pause in 2020’s holiday festivities, Sacramento’s holiday season returns looking as bright as ever.
![Members of Operation Surf during an event at Capitola Beach Sept. 15. (Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/2-september_15_2021vet_water_therapy.jpg?1637275671)
Capital Region Veterans Roll With the Waves of Life
Veteran Surf Alliance, Operation Surf and other organizations help veterans socialize and heal
Sacramento may be 100 miles from the closest surfable ocean waves, but that hasn’t stopped Capital Region veterans from catching them.
![Foggy Dew Fungi owner Brendan Linnane poses inside the fruiting room. (Photos by Robin Douglas)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/8z2a5604.png?1637168972)
Fascinating Fungi
Foggy Dew Fungi brings gourmet mushrooms to the Capital Region
Foggy Dew Fungi is a small, family-operated gourmet mushroom farm deep in the hills of Newcastle in Placer County, built on respect for nature and strong community ties.
![The walls of Giusti's Place were covered with autographed photos from the likes of Ronald Reagan, Jay Leno and Mickey Mantle, plus 1,500 baseball caps hanging from the ceiling. (Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/6-august_11_2021giustis_place-6.jpg?1631288343)
Remembering a Century of History at Giusti’s Place
On Sept. 9, the much-beloved Delta restaurant Giusti’s Place burned to the ground, taking a century’s worth of memories with it.
![Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen speaks about the history behind Old Town Plaza and the efforts to reboot the community gathering center. (Photos by Rahul Lal)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/elk_grove_mayor_speaks_on_grand_reopening.jpg?1629087903)
Photos: Elk Grove Community Returns to Rebooted, Historic Old Town Plaza
Elk Grove’s Old Town Plaza, a community gathering area built on the site of a historic train depot, opened to the public July 21 after 13 months of construction.
![Jillian Watkins and Alice Ferrer harvesting the last of the lavender crop at the end of the season. (Photos by Robin Douglas)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0821_blog_aracelifarms_lead.jpg?1628093595)
Cultivating Zen at Araceli Farms
Lavender is soothing, but harvesting it is hard work, as Justina Salinas realized when she opened Araceli Farms in Dixon in 2017.
![Sacramento’s first home game wasn’t until May 18, and the River Cats’ mascot Dinger danced on the dugout before threatening skies at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park. (Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/1-may_20_2021the_minors_0.jpg?1627489424)
Photos: Minor League Baseball Returns to the Central Valley
When the Sacramento River Cats won the Triple-A championship in September 2019, nobody could anticipate the changes that would occur before the Pacific Coast League team would play again.
![Buildings line what used to be an Old Sacramento street in the 1850s before sidewalks and buildings were raised about 10 feet to escape the regular flooding that would occur. (Photos by Steve Martarano)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/3-may_27_2021old_sac_underground-3.jpg?1624993186)
Head Underground to See the Hidden World of Gold Rush Sacramento
Many visitors to Old Sacramento may not be aware that remnants of
an 1850s gold rush city still exist below the buildings and
cobbled roads.