Judy Farah is a veteran journalist and writer who has worked in the New York, Los Angeles and Sacramento markets. Read more of Judy’s work at www.judyfarah.com and find her on Twitter @newsbabe1530.
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Despite a Playoff Loss, a Winning Season for the Sacramento Kings
The team’s big season rallied a region
Sometimes when things don’t work out the way you wanted, you’re
disappointed — but you’ve still achieved far beyond what was
expected of you. It has to be acknowledged that the 2022-2023 NBA
season for the Sacramento Kings was a success.

Sacramento Feels the Roar
Downtown Commons is flooded with thousands of Sacramento Kings fans for the first playoff game in 17 years
If you wanted to know what it was
like to be at the Sacramento Kings first playoff game in 17 years
Saturday night, Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah can tell you the
fans were so loud you couldn’t hear the player
introductions.

The Beam Effect
How the Sacramento Kings' purple beam stands for success both in and around the arena
When the Kings play and the Beam is lit, it means both the Kings and businesses in Downtown Commons and surrounding region are all prospering.

Battling for Bucks
The Capital Region loses sports dollars to the Bay Area, but we’re luring fans in other ways
Sacramento sports and entertainment managers are trying to reach sports fans who travel for Bay Area games to keep their money here. So what are they doing to compensate for all those sports dollars being lost?

Women in Leadership: Risa Omega
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
Risa Omega is president and general manager of ABC10, currently the most-awarded newsroom in the Capital Region.

A Region Full of Stars
It really wasn’t so long ago that women had to fight to enter businesses that were dominated by men, reflects Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah. In her March letter, she celebrates the women who have broken barriers in the Capital Region along with the fresh perspectives they’re bringing to their work.

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?

PRIDE Industries Expands
New YES! program provides job training for disadvantaged youth
The Youth Employment Services, or YES! program, will help young people with disabilities, trafficking survivors and those who have spent time in the foster care or juvenile justice systems.

Seka Hills Olive Oil Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation produces nature’s bounty on 22,000 acres of tribal land in the Capay Valley
The olive oil produced by Seka Hills is used by more than 300 restaurants, from the famed Chez Panisse in Berkeley to Mulvaney’s Building & Loan in Sacramento, and sold in 700 specialty markets.

Sacramento Is No Longer Just a Capital City
November’s cover star, Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, isn’t the only one changing the city’s reputation. Many trends — big events, world-class sports and food — are contributing to Sacramento’s promising future. Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah considers just how close the region is to overcoming its stereotypes.

How the Oldest Winery in California Got Its Roots
Showcasing four-generation family businesses in the Capital Region
The Sobon family, owners of Sobon Estate and Shenandoah
Vineyards, are continuing a 166-year legacy of winemaking in
Amador County. Their land has been a vineyard since
1856, making it one of the oldest in the state.

What to Consider When Choosing a Health Plan
Local experts provide tips for employee and employer
Fall is open enrollment season, so take time to find a plan that
best suits you.

On the Fast Track: Dustin Vicari
Meet 13 young professionals who are on the fast track, bringing new ideas and innovations to the Capital Region
Dustin Vicari is executive vice president for Elevate Sports
Ventures and holds a dual role as Sacramento Republic FC’s chief
revenue officer.

The Media Has Its Faults, But We Need It More Than Ever
In the past decade, there’s been an earthquake of distrust in the news media. Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah considers how we got here and why we need credible, unbiased reporting more than ever.

Firebird Russian Restaurant Forced to Make Two Name Changes Within Two Months
Sacramento restaurant is a gathering place during Russia-Ukraine war
Firebird Russian Restaurant recently reopened as Noroc with a fresh new look.

Women in Leadership: Sonia Susac
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
As president and owner of a large aerospace company, Sonia Susac
appreciates each step of machinery and craft behind its
ambitious NASA projects.

Saving Our Wildlife
When raging wildfires engulf our forests, what happens to the animals?
Capital Region researchers, veterinarians and advocates are
finding innovative ways to rehabilitate wildlife burned by
California’s raging wildfires.

Nutcracker Magic Returns to Sacramento
Beloved ballet set to open after COVID-19 delay
“The Nutcracker,” the much-loved ballet about a young girl’s fantastical dream at Christmastime, is returning to the Sacramento Ballet after a one-year absence due to COVID-19.

Comstock’s Talks: Three Capital Region Restaurants Keep It in the Family
PODCAST: A dedication to the past allows some family restaurants in the Capital Region to survive through the decades.

Three Capital Region Restaurants Keep It in the Family
A dedication to the past allows some family restaurants in the Capital Region to survive through the decades.

Fueling Demand
Family business close-up
Auburn-based Flyers Energy is expanding on its history of
supplying fuel to trucking fleets.

How the City Faced a Pandemic While Continuing to Grow
During her tenure as Sacramento councilwoman and mayor pro tempore, Angelique Ashby has played a role in some major developments for the city.

As the Capital Region Reopens, We Show Our Resiliency Once Again
Comstock’s managing editor looks back on moments in history that have demonstrated the resiliency of the region and the country.

Fields of Gold
The Sacramento Valley’s climate is ripe for producing quality olive oil
Olive farmers in California are determined to become known as producers of high-quality olive oil, and much of that olive oil is being produced in the Mediterranean climate of the Sacramento Valley.

Coronavirus Divergence
At McClellan Park, one side is bustling, the other side is quiet
During normal times, McClellan Park is busy with 18,000 employees working for the 220 businesses on campus, which has 9 million square feet of building space. But due to the coronavirus, only the warehouses and a few offices remain open.

Follow Her Lead: Virginia Varela
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
As president and CEO of Golden Pacific Bank in Sacramento, Virginia Varela is among just 4 percent of women who hold the top C-suite title in the field of banking.

Follow Her Lead: Wendy Saunders
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Wendy Saunders is executive director of the Capitol Area Development Authority, whose mission is to make housing in the area around the Capitol more affordable and manage and develop residential and commercial properties.

Follow Her Lead: Catherine Reheis-Boyd
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of Western States Petroleum Association, is attempting to rebrand the petroleum industry.

Follow Her Lead: Allison Otto
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Allison Otto, executive vice president of Otto Construction, was a lobbyist at the Capitol before her father called her to join the company her grandfather started in 1947.

Follow Her Lead: Erica Manuel
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Erica Manuel has incorporated giving back in her position as executive director and CEO of Institute for Local Government, a statewide nonprofit that advises city and county governments in California how to succeed.

Life After a Layoff
Losing a job can sting, but it can lead to new opportunities
Losing a job can be one of the most traumatic events a person can go through in their lifetime. It ranks among the top five, right up there with the death of a loved one, divorce, catastrophic illness and moving.

Target Practice
Behind the scenes of a high-tech drone manufacturer in the Capital Region
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is preparing the U.S. military for the next evolution in combat by building high-tech, state-of-the-art aerial target drones.

Dinner Time: Winters’ Buckhorn Steakhouse Serves a Cut Above
The family-owned restaurant chain celebrates 40 years of tri-tip
The famed Buckhorn empire stretches across the country, with 12 restaurants from the Bay Area and Capital Region to New York City.

Testing the Future of Space Exploration
Work at McClellan Nuclear Research Center supports the national aeronautical industry
Built by the U.S. Air Force in 1986 for $20 million, the McClellan Nuclear Research Center is now owned and operated by UC Davis. Inside, scientists conduct high-tech experiments that affect the future of space exploration.

Hopping Again
Fair Oaks Village is experiencing a renaissance fueled by new drink and dining options
Colonized in the late 1800s, Fair Oaks Village is the quaint, charming center of town. It is currently experiencing a renaissance, largely driven by a burgeoning dining scene.

The Growth of Rice
A recent deal to export to China is expected to further expand the market for the popular grain
Half of the rice grown in California goes to the U.S. and Canada; the other half is exported to Japan and 30 other countries, including South Korea, Taiwan and Jordan. Now China, the largest consumer of rice in the world, joins that group.

Filling a Niche
Boutique gyms are helping satisfy the growing demand for unique workouts with activities such as rock-wall climbing and mixed martial arts
Thirty years ago, muscle gyms like Gold’s Gym were the norm and the aerobics craze started by Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons was in full swing. Now, the trend has turned full circle, back to boutique centers.

Former Base Is Booming
Once a key asset during war, McClellan now features a vast array of businesses and services
McClellan Air Force Base was a critical asset for the United States during World War II. Today, it serves as a home base for 230 businesses and organizations as McClellan Park.

Family Affair
After Rusty and Dave Prevatt decided to leave their father’s insurance practice, he followed them into the exciting new world of video
Operated by two brothers and their father, Franklin Pictures is one of the premiere video production companies in the region. The company pays such attention to detail that its promotional videos not only capture an image, but tell a story and evoke an emotion.