Airshow Soars to New Heights

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - On Monday, August 21, 2023, Sacramento County’s first Safe Stay Community welcomed its first guests. The sleeping cabin-style shelter campus has a capacity of 125 – 75 single cabins and 25 double occupancy cabins and was approved by the Board of Supervisors in June 2022. The first two guests are a couple that will use one of the double occupancy cabins.

What Can Guests Expect?

On-premise guests can use the bathroom and shower trailers, laundry services and eat three meals a day in the common area. The campus also has a gated pet relief area, a computer lab, an entertainment space, employment development and housing-focused case management. Guests will also be connected with transportation resources for off-site needs such as medical appointments or jobs.

Each cabin is outfitted with a bed that folds down from the wall, two storage containers, basic toiletry supplies, a desk and chair, overhead light, HVAC, power outlets, smoke alarm and fire extinguisher and a locking door. Cabins also have enough space to accommodate a dog bed or pet crate. The campus has storage containers for possessions that do not fit in the sleeping cabins.

The Florin Road Safe Stay community is operated by City Net. City Net has more than 25 employees dedicated to managing the campus, as well as meeting client’s basic needs. Employees also provide case management and housing navigation.

How Are Guests Referred?

The Florin Road Safe Stay Community is currently a closed referral process, through homeless services providers engaging with people living outside near the shelter. Existing street outreach providers, both within the City of Sacramento and in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County, will engage with people living outside to evaluate what services and shelter programs they are eligible for and that will best meet their needs.

People experiencing homelessness and looking for shelter resources should contact the Housing Crisis Line by calling 2-1-1 and pressing 8 or the toll-free number at 1-844-546-1464.

How Can the Community Get Involved?

City Net accepts in-kind donations by appointment only. To schedule a donation drop-off or volunteer, email getinvolved@citynet.org.

Accepted donations include, but aren’t limited to:

Hygiene supplies (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene, incontinence supplies, etc.); NEW emergency clothing staples (t-shirts, sweats/shorts, socks, undergarments, etc.) Gift cards of various values; Animal supplies (dog food, cat food, toys, collars, leashes, beds); The minimum age for volunteers is 18 years of age. Each volunteer must complete a volunteer application/waiver and be cleared prior to arrival. No walk-up volunteers will be permitted on-site.

The County has a second Safe Stay site opening off Florin and East Parkway, in the County Department of Health Services parking lot, this fall. The East Parkway site will have the capacity for 65 people at any given time.

If you need shelter or services, please call 2-1-1.

For more information on what the County is doing to address homelessness, visit the Department of Homeless Services and Housing website.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - At the ripe old age of 47, desert tortoise Einstein finally has a place of his own.

Hatched and acquired as a pet in 1975, the reptile is one of many threatened and protected species. He had a series of owners before finding forever family among Effie Yeaw Nature Center supporters. Thanks to volunteer efforts by Carmichael and Arcade Rotary Clubs and Boy Scout Troop 328, the newcomer now has his own outdoor habitat at the center.

Einstein’s 120 square foot enclosure was dedicated last weekend and declared an immediate success. “We put him inside and he checked out every inch,” confirmed Effie Yeaw animal handler Renee Covey. “We’ll still bring him inside at night, but it’s great that he now has his own daytime retreat. He loves it.”

The habitat is planted with clumps of native grasses and has a small water pond. Weighing a healthy 17 pounds, the slow-moving occupant enjoys a vegetable diet, favoring dandelion greens and an occasional banana. Along with his new digs, his new job is animal ambassador for the nonprofit. “He likes people,” says handler Covey. “He sits on laps. If you’re doing desk work, he wanders over and lays his head on your foot.”

Although Southern California deserts are native territory, Einstein cannot be released to the wild. “After being in captivity for so long, he would not do well,” explains Covey. “And he might carry disease or parasites that could put other creatures at risk.”

Before the $10,000 habitat project came to his rescue, he lived at the homes of Nature Center staffers. But the boarder needed his own turf. “It’s recommended an adult male of his species should have a large outdoor space for himself, explains Covey.

Long-time Nature Center supporters, Arcade and Carmichael Rotary Clubs funded the project with cash and in-kind donations. The volunteers consulted Effie Yeaw staffers on design; they milled redwood planks and commissioned metal gratings. For Einstein’s well-being, interior surfaces are unpainted and chemical free. The enclosure’s see-through cover allows visitor viewing. Sunshine and shade are plentiful, and the desert native will soon get a “hide” where he can retreat for naps. As he might live well beyond his 100^th birthday, all habitat materials were chosen for enduring service.

“He will be a great animal ambassador”, considers Covey. “He’s personable; he’s interested in children and adults. If he decides he likes you, he’ll come up and greet you with a bob of his head. He’s used to being handled and does well with travel. We’ll be able to take Einstein to events, where he’ll help teach the public about the effect humans have on our eco system. A desert tortoise is a good example of a species that needs protection.”

Footnote: due to the threatened status of desert tortoises, it is illegal to acquire or keep the reptiles as pets without registration from Wildlife agencies.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A standing ovation and legislative commendations honored John Mohamed as the Park Ranger was feted by Carmichael community last week.

The hero of a Madison Avenue fire, Mohamed recently received a Medal of Valor from the National Park Rangers Association. Employed by Fulton El Camino Park Police and serving other park districts, the officer is equally popular for the professionalism of his service as for his dancing during rock concerts.

Mohamed stepped from park duty and into real danger when he noticed a shuttered restaurant ablaze in May of 2022. First reporting the conflagration, he climbed through a fence to check for occupants. He quickly removed a transient from the fully engulfed building. Leaving the man in a Sheriff’s care, Mohamed reentered the fire to seek other occupants. The roof was collapsing as he struggled to exit.

“My chest was heavy, my throat hurt,” he recalls of his escape. “My first lungful of outside air felt good. I was thankful to have made it out.” The hero was hospitalized and treated for throat and lung damage. More than a year later he still has a persistent cough.

His actions resulted in decoration and community gratitude. “He’s a hero,” considers Carmichael Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Izzy De Lancey. “He didn’t think about his own life; he immediately set out to save somebody else. Officer Mohamed demonstrates how the skills of one highly trained professional can make our community a safer place.”

Attending the Chamber luncheon with his fiancée Denise Ulm, the Ranger accepted congratulations and framed commendations. “I grew up in this area and I've always loved working here,” he told Chamber of Commerce members.

“I don’t think of myself as a hero. All these honors have surprised and humbled me. I just did my job to the best of my ability. The reason I was able to respond to this situation as I did was because of years of training from other officers. I’m grateful to them. And I’m glad there was no loss of life, and that no one was left behind.”

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - In today’s busy world where people sometimes feel isolated and alone, Dr. Jan Cooper has set out to ensure people feel seen.

“I prayed one day,” he said, “‘Lord give me something I can do in five minutes that will make other people happy and will make me happy.”’

The quick happiness solution ended up being quite simple – he learns people’s names and draws them. The name might turn into a dog, cat, or alligator. He allows himself to be inspired by the individual sitting in front of him, and the pen does the rest.

Cooper, who has two upcoming book signing events this fall, is a local author that has dedicated his life to learning and sharing his gifts and his faith.

“I just kept writing. It just kept coming out,” he shared, “The reason I know it’s from the Holy Spirit is because I know I’m not smart enough to write things like that. I flunked English twice in high school and college.”

And continuing to write he has. He is currently the author of ten books, including one translated into Spanish and a coloring book. He is also a former teacher. His career started by teaching inner city youth on an Indian reservation in North Dakota. He made $4800 for the entire year. In 1967, he went to Sacramento and got job offers right away as a teacher in the Grant Union School District but had to “teach himself English by teaching English.” He retired in 2004 but continued to pour into local young people by substitute teaching for another 17 years. He has also taught art – specifically painting and drawing – for over 20 years to both children and adults.

With a teaching career that led him to interact with inner city youth often, he did not shy away.

“Some considered them dangerous, some considered they just didn’t care,” he said. “But I loved the students, and they knew that.”

His love of young people also carries into his love of his country. His books clearly have a conservative tone, and he has a passion to see faith and rationality become part of the political landscape again.

“America has fallen asleep into a state of name calling, bickering, and fighting. Our leaders are supposed to be setting the best example for our youth. All my folks did was yell, scream, holler and fight. I don’t want that in our country because I can see how it can affect our youth.”

Now, Cooper is continuing his mission to share his faith, and his political concerns. He is of the camp that believes socialism is a threat to our nation, and he isn’t shy about saying so.

“My main concern when the pandemic hit was I had so many good ideas, bad ideas, wrong ideas about what was happening in our country,” he said. “I was raised in the military – I went to high school in Japan. I saw what was going on in different parts of the world.”

Being a writer is also healing for himself as well. Recently, he has dealt with chronic pain, and he finds relief when he is artistic.

“When I do what I know God wants me to be doing, the pain goes away,” he said.

You can meet Dr. Jan Cooper in person at two upcoming book signing events. He will be at the Citrus Heights Barnes & Noble on October 28 from 11am-2pm, and at the Arden Barnes & Noble on November 4 from 11am-2pm. You can also check out his collection of books for sale on his website, drjancooper.com.

At his book signing events, he will have his drawing pad. For everyone who buys a book – and maybe even for those who do not – he will be ready to draw their name.