Visions of the golden years often include thoughts of second homes, lush fairways and RV cruises through Yellowstone, but for more and more aging baby boomers, one traumatic event — divorce — can upend plans for retirement.

I remember a time when Sacramento’s Downtown Plaza was a thriving mall, a leader in the city’s retail sales and tax revenues. And, back in the 1970s, its design was up to date: many malls were self-contained, with no connection to surrounding streets.

It is 2 p.m. on a Friday, and a techno beat pulses through speakers resting above two cubicles. On a desk are four pizzas, three bags of bread sticks and an opened liter of Mountain Dew.

While Bill Carey is amply appreciative of Highway 50 patrons looking to reconnect with his former establishment, the German-style St. Pauli Inn, he is just as quick to point out that his Forester Pub & Grill is not a Continental restaurant.

Mike Wiley, 59, began his career at the Sacramento Regional Transit District as a service planner in 1978. In 2007, he was named general manager and CEO. He also serves on the executive committee of the California Transit Association.

Prenuptial agreements have long been the norm for the soon-to-wed rich and famous, but they are now becoming de rigueur for baby boomers about to tie the knot.

Early business success often brings challenges. In the case of ol’ Republic Brewery, the biggest challenge is meeting consumer demand.

The key issue for California’s 2012 election is turnout. The presidential election, a key motivator for voters, might be of little help this year. It’s not shaping up to be a persuasion election, despite the millions being spent on advertising. And because it’s not a battleground state, California could see participation wane.

As a CPA and certified financial planner, Daniel Ross makes a living helping clients plan for life’s milestones. But this fall, he and his wife, Anne, sent their daughter off to college with a surprise they never expected.

Tablet computers are becoming the tool of choice in multiple industries, adding convenience to simple tasks such as note taking, to more complex operations such as tracking sales. Tablets haven’t replaced laptops yet, but sales trends favor the handheld devices.

Beutler Air Conditioning and Plumbing may be a poster-business for the rise and fall — and re-birth — of Sacramento’s economy. Rick Wylie, president of Beutler, says the 65-year-old Sacramento company was probably saved by its diversification, partially into green energy models.

For more than a decade Meg Arnold has been actively supporting technology commercialization and entrepreneurship throughout the Capital Region.

The ports of West Sacramento and Stockton are betting that a $30 million public investment in new infrastructure will convince local importers and exporters to transfer their method of goods movement to the San Francisco Bay from trucking to barge shipping.

Despite changes to the goods-movement industry, many transportation experts believe trucking will always be the nation’s primary mode of freight delivery. Now, transportation officials are looking for new ways to ease traffic congestion and improve the way heavy trucks interact with cars and communities.

There is a squad of clean air cops in Sacramento with a strong-arm approach that squashes the stereotype that environmentalists are wimps. These officials make up the enforcement branch of the California Air Resources Board, and they face off against truckers still fuming over
emission-control rules they fear will put them out of business.

The trucking industry is facing a significant driver shortage as baby boomers retire and younger people are unwilling to replace them.

Due to its port connectivity and excess of freight companies, West Sacramento encounters a disproportionate amount of truck traffic.

The day Clark Pacific won the bid to provide the concrete components for the 49ers’ new football stadium in Santa Clara was a day for much celebration. It was a $20 million award. It meant new jobs. It meant an economic boost for the region.

Doby Fleeman can feel the ground shifting. He can almost hear the low rumble of engines.

“The steamrollers are on the move,” says Fleeman, manager of the Davis Ace Hardware Co. “It’s like we’re on tectonic plates. There’s a change in the wind.”

Samantha Smith was 13 when she first left home for the streets of Folsom. Living in and out of foster care, she was driven from homes by conflict and turbulence and returned only when in need of food or clothing.

In 2001, a group of local businesswomen put their heads and dollars together, hoping to make an impact on the lives of Sacramento foster youth.