Fred Greaves has been using photography to tell stories for over 25 years. Whether he is inches from a raging wildfire, documenting the chaos of a kindergarten classroom, or catching the enthusiastic smiles of U.S. Service Members stationed in Afghanistan as they take photos with their favorite A-list celebrities, he is always surrounded by action. Fred is a specialist at catching the powerful, the touching, and the unforgettable. He is no stranger to pressure-packed environments, and is comfortable creating iconic commercial photos for corporate clients, documenting the lives and the landscape of the world for an NGO, or anything in between. Online at http://www.fredgreaves.com
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Are We Ready for the Electric Revolution?
The Capital Region is leading the charge to make California EV compliant in the next decade
These days, there is a sense of possibility in Sacramento when it comes to zero emissions technology. Sacramento may not have the population numbers of New York or Los Angeles, but when it comes to EV infrastructure the California capital plays second fiddle to no city in America.
What Does a California Lobbyist Do?
Often referred to as the third house of the state legislature, lobbyists spend long days advocating for their clients
California is one of only 10 states that has a full-time professional legislature, and last year, companies and industries spent a record high $480 million on lobbying efforts in the state.
Building the Future
Veteran architects are essential in mentoring young, emerging designers
The field of architecture is changing, and technology is playing a central role, but it’s not the only element that’s shifting: so is the expectation of what young and emerging professionals are looking for in an architectural job.
The Soaring Cost of Homeowners Insurance
High prices and carriers leaving the state send homeowners scrambling to protect their homes
California’s insurance crisis is damaging the housing market and more. Will legislators fix it before the next big blaze?
What Women Bring
Women reflect on their road to leadership
These women’s paths have led them to positions of influence in their fields, and in some cases, they’ve made history in their roles.
Photo Essay: Afghans Resettling in Sacramento
The Capital Region is home to more than 10,000 Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban. Comstock’s brings you a few of their stories.
What’s Ahead for the Region’s Economy in 2024
Positive news, though risks abound
Those who forecast the direction of the U.S. economy have their eyes on empty office buildings. In September, two commercial real estate experts predicted that the vacant space resulting from work-from-home policies will put banks at risk and collapse tax revenues for large and mid-size cities around the country.
Getting to Know: Amanda Blackwood
The former CEO of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce looks forward to her next chapter
Amanda Blackwood, the first full-time female CEO of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, will step down at the end of 2023. Here are some of her thoughts about her nearly six years in office.
The Bosch Boom
Bosch’s acquisition of TSI Semiconductors in Roseville is expected to significantly impact the region’s economy, workforce and educational institutions
In August 2023, Bosch acquired TSI with the intention of producing silicon carbide chips, a major element in the production of electric vehicles. Bosch is betting that the global demand for silicon carbide chips will continue to grow and intends to invest $1.5 billion in the new fabrication.
Whatever Became of the Auburn Dam?
One of the largest flood control projects in the country was never built
The Auburn Dam could well be the most talked about water storage and flood control facility in the country that simply doesn’t exist — no matter how much it’s been argued about, advocated for and against, legislatively proposed and architecturally rendered.
Brewed to Perfection
The most popular course at UC Davis teaches engineering students the scientific art of making coffee
Coffee is a $225 billion industry in the U.S., providing 1.6 million jobs. But are we growing, roasting and making the best cup possible? That’s what an innovative program at the UC Davis School of Chemical Engineering has been working on for the past 10 years.
Bracing for the AI Revolution
How Capital Region creatives are adapting to generative AI
If you could create an image of anything in the world, what would it be? The house you lived in when you were six? A design for a new wine label? An oil painting of your dog dressed as Napoleon? Generative artificial intelligence has made this a possibility.
Investing in Inclusion
How consultants help businesses incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into how they do business
DEI generally has three components that work jointly. “Diversity is looking at the makeup of the organization. Equity is giving people what they need to be successful. Inclusion comes after getting diversity and equity, and that ensures people are contributing to that environment,” says Dr. Colette Harris-Mathews, principal consultant at Harris Mathews Consulting in Sacramento.
Drought and Deluge
Experts are racing to protect the Central Valley from a catastrophic flood
Unlike “The Big One” earthquake that is overdue along the San Andreas Fault, experts don’t have an ominous name for a flood of biblical proportions that is likely to inundate the Central Valley within the next 500 years.
Women Who Wine
The new face of women winemakers emerges from California universities’ viticulture programs
The viticulture program at UC Davis, as well as its sister programs at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and Fresno State University, are quickly growing a new crop of women winemakers who could steer the industry in new directions.
A Push for School-Based Mental Health
Ratcheted up by the pandemic, students’ mental health has become an important focus in schools
Schools and universities in the Capital Region have taken an array of approaches to assure mental health is one of the many pillars a student’s education addresses.
How the Pandemic Changed Work-Life Balance
Lockdown made many women rethink how they spend their time
COVID has permanently changed priorities at the office and at home, and sparked thorny questions and conversations about the modern work-life balance.
Fuel From the Forest
Can bioenergy technology combined with innovations in finance fuel forest restoration in the Tahoe National Forest?
A new project in the North Yuba Forest is developing a local economy built on wood and other biomass clogging the forest.
The Back Story: McGeorge School of Law
The truth and folklore behind Sacramento’s biggest law school
Prof. Michael Hunter Schwartz recounts stories about some big names that passed through McGeorge School of Law.
The Deepest Sorrow
Parents who lost children to fentanyl were blindsided by the drug
Fake pills loaded with deadly fentanyl are leading to fatal overdoses among adults and kids in our region and our nation. How is the drug being illegally manufactured, and what should parents and teens know?
Special Report: Fighting Fentanyl
Public health officials, lawmakers and law enforcement are fighting back against the highly-potent drug crisis in the Capital Region
The problem has been a sharp rise in the availability of illicit fentanyl, or fake pills, which has shown up in other drugs. The crisis comes when a user doesn’t know the pill they are taking is laced with a deadly dose of fentanyl.
A Winter Wonderland of Breweries
South Lake Tahoe’s craft beer scene is exploding
These days, Lake Tahoe’s south shore has enough breweries for a full tasting tour, giving explorers more reason to drive into the mountains.
New Gold Rush in the Foothills
Mountain towns embrace a growing tech sector
Some people call the western Nevada County area a mini-Silicon Valley. While the area has a technical and collaborative spirit, some are skeptical about the long term potential for the new guard.
Reimagining Commercial Corridors
Capital Region cities inject new investment into aging parts of town
Modern planning now focuses on elements beyond brick-and-mortar
retail and commercial. Community events, alternative
transportation with safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists,
and redesigned streetscapes with drought-tolerant landscaping
have become central considerations.
Self Care A La Carte
The pandemic spurred the Capital Region’s wellness economy to become more widespread and accessible
Wellness is not just a state of being; it’s a perpetual pursuit,
a form of prevention and an entire economy. Many businesses
in the Capital Region are providing ways for people to foster
their own relationship to wellness through progressive services,
treatments and practices.
Pay Parity: Game Changer or Employer Problem?
What happens if a proposed new law forces employers to reveal everyone’s salaries?
New legislation may change how businesses, big and small, draft
job postings and how they report pay data to the state — and
their employees.
113 Years Later, They Still Bring the Bling to California Loan & Jewelry
From Louis Vuitton purses to rare books, you can find it all at the pawn shop
Pawn shop owner owner Warren Anapolsky has an extensive
network of authenticators, including experts in art,
first-edition books and bling. He’s also an expert
himself.
A Man on a Wine Mission
Remembering Charles Myers, winemaker of West Sacramento’s Harbor Winery
In 1968, a lone vintner set out to prove the region’s surviving mission grapes were still marketable. He was in a race against time: Most of the landmark roots were being torn out during that epoch, their soil swapped for better commercial farming options. The late Charles Myers set off a chain of events that would ultimately launch Amador County onto the global wine market.
Where Have All Our Leaders Gone?
In a divided country, some local leaders are serving with integrity
Across the political spectrum, this is perhaps the only thing
that everyone can agree on: The nation lacks inspiring leaders.
While leadership appears to be lacking on the national stage,
quietly — away from the spotlight — local leaders can
inspire.
Harnessing the Power of Sports
Sacramento’s sports teams, big and small, invest in community programs to impact and educate local youth
Sports organizations like the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Republic FC are linking with nonprofits to launch community sports programs that empower youth with life skills and STEM education.
More Affordable Housing Can Happen
Lessons from six cities on getting it built
A few cities around the region have affordable housing projects underway that showcase how they’re getting it done, and their success may hold lessons for other jurisdictions.
The Newest Iteration of the 70-Year-Old Teleprompter Connects Nevada City to the White House
A device designed to make everyone on camera seem spontaneous
The TeleStepper was created in Nevada City just six years ago.
Since then, the innovative teleprompter has been used by
Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Rodham Clinton and more.
The Merits of Mentorship
Workers and managers both benefit from helping guide careers
Mentors can help mentees look for a job, strengthen their
portfolios, navigate the rocky waters of freelancing and
more.
The Lasting Agreement
California’s long legacy of trying to solve its water problem
No one owns water in California, making collaboration and
negotiation between water management players crucial.
The Might of Mycelium
How fungi is changing food, agriculture and the environment in the Capital Region
Companies and researchers are finding ways to use mycelium,
the vegetative body of fungi, to solve problems including
plastic waste, greenhouse gas emissions, antibiotic residue in
water supplies and more.
Tourism Out of Troubled Times
How lockdowns helped Californians discover local treasures of the past and present
As national and international tourism decreased during the
pandemic, regional visitation saw a boost. We profile three small
picturesque towns that got a big increase in visitors.
At the California State Library, the Pleasures and Treasures Are Yours
Six million items are available for viewing
There is much magic to discover at the California State
Library, whether you visit for research or pleasure.
The institution’s keepers take us on a tour of some of
its treasures.
The Essential Work of Women
Women in the workforce juggled careers, families and health concerns amid the pandemic — and found silver linings
As many women faced changes in their jobs during the past two
years of the pandemic, they were able to shift the priorities and
persist with the support of their families, colleagues and
communities.
Home-Bidding Wars
There’s little sign the Capital Region’s spike in home prices will end anytime soon — what does it mean for business?
While the housing boom has led to issues like
limited affordable housing, some see the sizzling
market as a sign of the region’s dynamism. We evaluate how we got
here and what’s on the horizon.
Gold Country Media Defies Newspaper Naysayers
For six Northern California publications, the alleged death of print is a very big typo
Award-winning Gold Country Media keeps pressing on in a
digital-dominated world.
Remote Work Is Here to Stay
So how do you keep your team productive?
In the new world, how supervisors work with their remote teams will be essential to business success, management experts and employers say.
Energy Revolution
Emerging technologies in the Capital Region are driving efforts toward electrification of the two most polluting sectors — mobility and buildings
As energy use advances, utilities ecosystems are looking to
build the appropriate infrastructure to respond in real
time.
Harnessing Psychedelics for Healing
A UC Davis chemist is developing drugs with all the therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs — without the hallucinogenic trip.
Considering the Alternative
Capital Region schools navigate increased instruction options during uncertain times
Though it’s not been without growing pains, the past year and a
half has brought together parents, teachers and legislators to
expand educational options.
The Back Story: Hidden Treasures
University of the Pacific finds a missing link in its rich history: its birth papers
Opening a cherished safe thought to contain untold historic
riches about the origins of University of the Pacific, President
Christopher Callahan wondered what he’d find.
Assembled With PRIDE
Long-standing social enterprise builds on legacy of inclusion
From its beginnings in a church basement in Auburn to its current status as the Capital Region’s leading employer of people with disabilities and other hurdles to employment, PRIDE Industries has always promoted an inclusive workforce.
A Natural Selection
New Sacramento wine bars highlight the Capital Region’s natural winemakers
Small, iconoclastic wineries, vineyards and bars may be set to impact the California wine scene in the same way the microbrewery boom challenged “Big Beer.”
Film Production in the Capital Region Thrives Despite a Year of Uncertainty
Movies, sitcoms, commercials and more are still filming in the
Capital Region, thanks to the work of local film
commissioners.
The Back Story: The Long Pour
After 124 years in business, Frasinetti Winery continues making and serving its wine
Frasinetti Winery is the oldest family-owned wine producer in the
Sacramento Valley, withstanding the Prohibition and both World
Wars.
What Worked in 2020?
Business owners and financial experts weigh in
Capital Region business owners say they’ve learned how to keep their personal and business finances on track during an economic crisis.