From former Vice President Dick Cheney to liberal media heavyweight Arianna Huffington, the speakers lined up for Thursday's Perspectives event cover the political spectrum.

Perspectives is the annual speakers forum staged by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce since 1995. In addition to Huffington and Cheney, this year's lineup includes NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long, former Mexican President Vicente Fox and business author and big thinker Peter Sheahan.

Perspectives is not a cheap date – individual tickets this year run $195 for chamber members and more for non-members – and the recession took a bite out of ticket sales. Attendance peaked in 2007 at about 3,000 people, said chamber board Chairman John Frisch. But he said ticket sales this year are up considerably.

"We've had a great response to this year's event, but it's a very large room and we can still accommodate many more people," Frisch said last week in an email message.

Perspectives runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Sacramento Convention Center. Tickets are available through the chamber website at www.metrochamber.org/perspectives.

– Mary Lynne Vellinga

IN THE NEWS

Burgers do battle in new charity event

If you're the least bit tied into the local food scene, you probably already know about the Sacramento Burger Battle taking place Tuesday evening at Raley Field. Admission to the charity event is $55 ($75 for VIP admission), which includes samples of all 15 burger entries, desserts from participating vendors, craft beer, cider and wine tastings, and free parking at Raley Field.

Behind the news: Web designer Rodney Blackwell is organizing the event to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Blackwell's 9-year-old daughter, Karina, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 5.

Info:www.sacburgerbattle.com.

Elk Grove candidates to offer views tonight

Mayoral candidates and Elk Grove Unified school board hopefuls will face a panel of journalists at the Elk Grove Candidates' Night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Holiday Inn Express, 9175 W. Stockton Blvd.

Behind the news: The forum is being hosted by The Bee, Elk Grove Patch and Elk Grove News.Net. The first hour will feature interviews with the six candidates running to be the city's first elected mayor. Eight candidates running for three seats on the school board will be interviewed in the second hour.

Stay informed: Watch www.sacbee.com for updates.

Memorial marks Farrell's tragedy

The public is invited to a memorial ceremony Sunday marking the 40th anniversary of the 1972 plane crash into a Farrell's ice cream parlor on Freeport Boulevard in Sacramento that killed 22 people. A jet from nearby Sacramento Executive Airport crashed into the ice cream shop shortly after takeoff. Sunday's ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. at the city's Public Safety Center, 5770 Freeport Blvd.

Info: Firefighters Burn Institute at (916) 739-8525 or email staff@ffburn.org.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Get 'A Taste of Sacramento' on Friday

The 14th annual Easter Seals fundraiser, "A Taste of Sacramento," comes to the Sacramento Convention Center from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. The $40 ticket price includes an unlimited sampling of all food, beer and wine offered by vendors.

Info: www.myeasterseals.org/ events/a-taste-of-sacramento.html.

AROUND TOWN

HireLive hosts job fair at Embassy Suites

Aflac, Verizon Wireless, U.S. Bank, Staples and the Valley Yellow Pages are among the companies expected at Tuesday's HireLive job fair at the Embassy Suites, 100 Capitol Mall, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The companies will be hiring for sales, retail and management positions.

Info: www.HireLive.com.

Oroville celebrates return of salmon

For three days starting Friday, the Oroville Salmon Festival celebrates the spawning salmon that make their way back up the Feather River from the ocean. This weekend's 18th annual festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Oroville's historic downtown and at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. Admission is free. Festival patrons can take part in arts and crafts, gourmet food, a farmers market, 5k and 10k salmon runs, a kids zone and live music.

Info: www.salmonfestoroville. org.

California Automobile Museum revisits 1968

Where were you in 1968? And what were you driving? The California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St., Sacramento, will take a detailed look at the tumultuous year - and the cars that were part of it - in its "1968" centerpiece exhibit, kicking off Saturday and running through May 12, 2013. Sponsored by Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, the showcase includes colorful walls with information and photos of cars of the era, automotive magazines, popular culture of the times and a timeline of key 1968 events, many of which occurred in the Golden State. A revolving display of 1968 cars will be the center of attention. The public is invited to a "Mod Preview Party" of the exhibit (wear your best 1960s clothes), from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, featuring guest speaker Stan Atkinson, retired reporter/anchorman for Sacramento TV station Channel 3 (KCRA).

Info: Call (916) 442-6802 or visit www.calautomuseum.org.

Benihana offers class on sushi and sake

The Benihana restaurant in Citrus Heights is hosting a class designed to help participants learn the art of making sushi and pairing it with sake. The class, called "Sushi + Sake 101," will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at 5489 Sunrise Blvd. Under the guidance of a Benihana sushi chef, attendees will be taught skills to create popular sushi rolls and learn which styles of sake pair best with different types of sushi. A $35 entry fee includes a sushi appetizer, cocktail, samples of sake and a commemorative photo. Entrants must be 21 or older.

Info and registration: www.benihana.com/sushi_101.

Pagan harvest festival set in Fair Oaks

Sacramento Pagan Pride and Harvest Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Fair Oaks VFW Hall, 8990 Kruithof Way. The free event starts at 10 a.m. both days. Donations of nonperishable items will be collected for the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Info: www.sacpaganpride.org.

Church will offer 'Weekend in Greece'

Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church is holding its "Weekend in Greece" festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and parking at the church, 9165 Peets St. in Elk Grove's Laguna West's community is free. The festival features homemade food, music and live dancing performed by parishioners and their children. In addition, there will be cultural displays and guided tours of the Byzantine-style church. Guests will have the opportunity to see iconography inside the church and learn about the history of the Greek Orthodox religion.

Info: www.saintkatherine.org/foodfestival

Conference focuses on children's disabilities

Fiesta Educativa, founded in 1978 to help Latino families obtain services for their children with disabilities, is holding a conference Saturday titled "Strengthening Our Family Journey" at Rosemont High School, 9594 Kiefer Blvd. in Sacramento, 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information: Visit www.Fiestaeducativa.org or call (916) 922-1490.

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