Here's something we haven't seen in several years:
A giant crane in place, ready to start pile-driving at a major downtown construction project.
A red, 120-foot-tall crane was assembled this week at the Sacramento railyard. Starting Tuesday and continuing for two weeks, it will be hammering test piles to determine how deep foundations must be for the Fifth and Sixth street bridges that will take cars and pedestrians over the yard's relocated tracks.
Actual work on the bridges is set to begin in late February or March and will take about a year to complete, says Suheil Totah, the Thomas Enterprises VP overseeing the long-awaited railyard project.
The track relocation also will be completed during that time frame. The roads leading to the bridges will be done by the end of next year.
Cost of these components of the massive railyard redevelopment plan: about $127 million.
Totah acknowledges that the pile-driving din may be annoying to some. But it will be sweet music to others.
Says the Thomas exec: "It's the sound of jobs coming to the city of Sacramento."
Time for change
Fair Oaks' venerable Slocum House restaurant has new owners.
Kerry Kassis, who bought the eatery in 1986, on Thursday completed a sale of the business to the owners of the Zinfandel Grille on Fair Oaks Boulevard.
"I've been there a long time and this is a great opportunity for me to do something new," says Kassis, who is 57 and reports he's exploring dining ventures in midtown Sacramento.
Slocum House's new owners – Jack Kandola and Joe Wittren – couldn't be reached for comment.
Kassis says they've been in charge of the restaurant's operations for the past month while waiting for escrow to close – and are "running it like a Swiss watch."
It's a tough time for upscale restaurants. But Kassis says Slocum House has some big advantages over the competition, including a loyal customer base, a beautiful courtyard and garden, and an excellent new chef in Gabriel Glasier.
Not to mention the quirky appeal of having chickens share outdoor space with diners in a semirural locale.
"If (the new owners) take care of the place and nurture it, they'll do fine," Kassis says.
Flu flacks
The local office of Edelman has a piece of a plum state PR and advertising job: a $7.7 million contract to spread the word about containing the H1N1 flu virus.
Edelman's offices in L.A. and Sacramento will take the lead on the public relations aspects of the contract awarded this week by the California Department of Public Health.
L.A. ad agency M&C Saatchi will be the lead firm developing advertising.
The twofold thrust of the multimedia campaign: encourage people to get vaccinated – and to take common-sense steps, like hand washing, to prevent spreading the flu.
Is there a problem prodding folks to get shots when delivery of the H1N1 vaccine has been much slower than expected?
Not really, says Al Lundeen, a spokesman with the state health department.
"Our message," he says, "is to get the vaccination – when it's available."
Reach Bob Shallit at (916) 321-1049. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/shallit.
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