CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael Senior Citizens Club is entering its golden years. One of the community’s oldest non-profits, the group has celebrated a 50th birthday.
Members have organized five decades of potlucks, bingo and entertainment at the Community Clubhouse in Carmichael Park. The same venue recently hosted an anniversary party with a commendation from the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond the club’s twice-monthly meetings, dining-out and casino visits are popular activities. To aid non-drivers, members car-pool for outside adventures. Club President Valerie Hobin says the club's main focus is its meetings, but theater matinees are frequent highlights. "
Our 2019 objective is to increase membership,” she says. “Attendance is steady; we have good community outreach and often invite retirement home residents to join us for lunches and bingo.”
The group donates to local charities and partners with a ladies’ group for spring fashion shows. "We love to welcome couples,” says Hobin. “We also have mother/daughter attendees. Dads are welcome, too. Being with a group like this is a great way to spend time with a relative.”
The club meets on second and fourth Thursdays every month, from 10 am to 2 pm. Bingo follows each session. Annual membership costs $12; members also contribute 50c per meeting for coffee.
For Carmichael Senior Citizens Club information, call (916) 487-5525.

Carmichael Girls Softball League to Host Alumni Game Story

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael Girls Softball (CGS) is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. In honor of the occasion, CGS is hosting an alumni softball game on Saturday, May 11 on Field 2 at Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Ave. in Carmichael.

The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a preview of the evening’s silent auction items, featuring baskets of goodies assembled by each of the 22 teams in the league. At 4:00 p.m., the alumni game will commence with the first pitch. A celebratory dinner will begin at 5:45 p.m., catered by Texas Roadhouse. The winners of the raffle and silent auction will be announced at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to watch the exhibition alumni game, which is free to attend. Tickets for the dinner are $15 for adults and $6 for kids. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.teamsideline.com/sites/carmichaelsoftball and clicking on the “For Parents” link above the anniversary event details.

Founded in 1969, CGS is a non-profit organization 100% staffed by volunteers. CGS welcomes players of all skill levels and any girl between the ages of 4 and 17 can participate.

CGS states that they strive “to teach character, confidence, and courage in a fun environment through quality instruction using the principles of Positive Coaching. Our mission is to provide opportunity for every player to develop her softball skills, have respect for her teammates and competitors, and achieve her individual goals. We will strive to teach life lessons along the way.”

Corey Papais, head coach of the 12U Team, said, “We teach the girls good sportsmanship, camaraderie, and friendship. The girls are the most important aspect of the league, so first and foremost, we want to ensure they enjoy the game.”

“It’s an amazing accomplishment to last 50 years, and to be able to sustain such longevity,” said Papais. “I’m really happy to be involved and excited to celebrate this milestone. I am also very proud of our Board for keeping the league going throughout the years. And special thanks to Rhonda Stefko, the 50th Anniversary Director, who is coordinating the entire event.”

Anyone who played in the league in the last 50 years (excluding current players) is encouraged to sign up to play in the exhibition game. If you would like to participate, email Rhonda Stefko (secretary@carmichaelgirlssoftball.com) or Jen Leavitt (registrar@carmichaelgirlssoftball.com).

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) ­- Carmichael Chamber of Commerce has chosen Anne Marie Schubert – in her second term as District Attorney – as Carmichael Person of the Year. A recent awards dinner saw Schubert and other community leaders honored. Shriners Hospitals of Northern California was named Non-Profit of the Year.

More than 250 chamber supporters attended the sold-out fundraiser at Arden Hills Resort. Program emcee was Good Day Sacramento anchor Tina Macuha. Presenters included former Sheriff John McGinness.

While protestors against Schubert’s recent decision not to charge police officers in the 2018 Stephon Clark shooting gathered in the street, the DA’s indoor reception was notably warmer.  Attendees greeted her introduction with a standing ovation.

The gala also recognized greengrocer Rosemarie Martell as 2019 businesswoman; jeweler/philanthropist Mahmud Shariff was named top businessman; realtor and community activist Ron Greenwood took volunteer laurels. El Camino High School student Connor Pexa was lauded for volunteer work with seniors.

With her two young sons on hand, Anne Marie Schubert reflected that she – and predecessor DA Jan Scully – both were raised in Carmichael and attended Loretto High School. She reflected that if her youth was a halcyon time, her recent times as DA have been harrowing. “2018 was a very tough year,” she said. “There were tremendous highs and lows for my department but we will always be about justice. The [Chamber of Commerce] award means so much to me because I grew up in this neighborhood as one of seven kids. It warms my heart when people come up to me and say they worked with my dad. I’ll always be proud to come back to this community.”

Among auction items offered at the fundraiser, a painting of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center by Carmichael artist David Peterson sold for $700. A group breakfast tour at Good Day Sacramento with Tina Macuha raised $450. Alpha One Ambulance owner Tom Arjil won a $2000 diamond ring donated by Sharif Jewelers.

Event sponsors included SMUD, Dignity Health, Golden 1 Credit Union and SAFE Credit Union.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Avian species provided a plumed pageant for the Effie Yeaw Nature Center’s recent Bird and Breakfast fundraisers.

During two events, more than 100 nature-lovers viewed many nesting critters. A red-tailed hawk hauled twigs to a eucalyptus nest; a hummingbird patiently incubated her clatch; woodpeckers checked acorn pantries. Forty or more feathered species inhabited the Nature Center’s 100-acre preserve.

Audubon Society-guided forays were favored by weather – even after a wet start on the final Saturday. “Kids love to splash in puddles and see foot tracks left on paths by animal passersby,” said a nature Center volunteer. “Nature’s guestbook isn’t so visible on dry trails.”

The events have been a sell-out hit at the center for 32 years. On spring mornings, house-hunting wood ducks provide harlequin interludes. Close to the American River, killdeer moms are belly-down on flood-plain nests.

Nesting above a walking trail last weekend, a hummingbird nursery was a rarer – usually invisible – treat. “We saw the hen incubating on her tiny nest,” explained the volunteer. “She seemed used to people walking nearby  and wasn’t fazed by tourists. It’s amazing to view something so seldom discovered. Audubon people combed  the area in previous weeks and observed nests being built. Such secrets of nature are what our Bird and Breakfast event offers every year.”

Event sponsors included: Fred and Betsy Weiland; Wild Birds Unlimited (Roseville). 

Learn about Effie Yeaw Nature Center events at www.sacnaturecenter.netH 

Celebrating Women in Aerospace

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Aerospace Museum of California Executive Director Tom Jones invited five women from across STEM careers to share their real world experience with young people, their families, and other interested parties in a STEM Education Day event, Celebrate Women in Aerospace. The morning kicked off with activities throughout the museum for children and their families which included a scavenger hunt, photo challenge, phonetic alphabet activity, but the most popular was the paper airplane table situated between some of the indoor display aircraft.

The weather also provided opportunities to view outside exhibits and look into some of the airplanes, including the FedEx classroom plane used by Sacramento City College Aviation students. Docents were on hand to share stories and history, and Warren Searles and his crew were helping aviators in training in the museum’s Flight Zone.

The event’s highlight was the panel talk which kicked off with keynote speaker, Rear Admiral Bonnie Potter.

 “I don’t fly,” said Potter, but that did not hinder her distinguished career which includes becoming the first female physician in the US Navy to be selected for flag rank.

 “My parents encouraged me to do anything I wanted to do.”

She wanted to be a veterinarian, a desire shared by panelist Chelsea Engberg, CEO and founder of Aviatrix LLC. Potter’s road led her to the US Navy where she received a scholarship through the US Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program. She quickly learned that Title 10 prevented her from serving her residency on a ship, as a flight surgeon because she would not be permitted to land on any ship, or on a submarine.

 “How you think is everything.” She was determined to become the best doctor she could be. In 1990, she was assigned to the USNS Comfort, a 1000 bed floating hospital that was deployed in support of Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Part of her responsibility was to set up the hospital, which meant unpacking crates, improvising when parts were not available, and developing an evacuation plan. She became certified as a Life Raft Commander.

“You can’t just wait for things to come to you. You have to go out and look for them,” she said. “Take chances. Test your ability.” These words and phrases were echoed by the panelists who highlighted their careers, challenges, and successes.

 “Live your life with honesty and integrity,” she said, reminding them that “the wrong post can keep you from getting the job you want,” referring to social media.

Following Potter’s address, Jones asked the panelists questions beginning with who their greatest supporters were or still are.

Captain Carola List, US Coast Guard Commanding Officer Air Station Sacramento, credited the support of Chief Petty Officers and her lifelong interest in flying.

 “If you don’t know your passion, try many things,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to fail.”

Chelsea Engberg said that the film, Top Gun, was a huge inspiration.

 “I wanted to be a fighter pilot.” She wrote many unanswered letters to President Reagan asking why she could not be a fighter pilot.

 “I fell deeply in love with physics.” She also fell in love with flying and earned a master’s degree in aeronautical science. Her parents purchased her one hour of flight time with Sean Tucker, and that was the start of a lifelong career, leading to her becoming the school’s COO. “Don’t give up. It’s all about the journey.”

She is a tough woman, even by military standards, having spent fifteen hours in centrifuges. She is a flight instructor, aviation safety expert, movie and television consultant, and aerobatic pilot. She also credits the strong women in her life and a flight to Europe as a child when she was invited to sit in the cockpit with the pilot.

 “The journey will take you where it’s going to take you. Don’t close the door on finding your passion.” She dreams of solo hiking the John Muir Trail.

Sarah O’Meara is currently a Ph.D. student at UC Davis and intern at the Johnson Space Center focusing on human-robotics integration and physiology, and she is a Link Foundation Fellow who uses all aspects of STEM in her research.

 “Math is an everyday thing,” said the quiet young woman who dreams of someday ice diving in Antarctica.

She created, with several classmates, SOAR (STEM Outreach for Academic Reinforcement) Mentorship program.

 “I guess our parents all went to the same camp,” she said when asked about mentors. Her mother had a Ph.D. and encouraged her to follow her dream, with a twist. O’Meara was directed to pursue engineering for her undergraduate degree. After that, she was free to study whatever she wanted.

 “Stop being a perfectionist,” she said, adding that enjoying the process and not being afraid to share ideas are important.      

Shannon Sanders Swager owns Sanders Aviation in Ione and has her master’s degree in business administration.

 “I’ve got a pacifier in my pocket,” she said, a reminder that she is also a mom who, like many women, wears many hats. She also credits her grandmother as a role model and many of the men she encountered on the journey which took her from possible history teacher to working at Disney and returning to college.

“Don’t let people tear you down,” she said. “Look to people who build you up.”

She advised students to enjoy life because they never know where it will lead. “Don’t be afraid to try. If you don’t try, you may never find your passion,” she said.

Upcoming events include Rocket Appreciation Day on Saturday, March 30 and ACE Career Expo 2019 on Saturday, April 6 where interested students and others can learn about STEM career pathways and meet professionals in all of the STEM areas. 

For additional information on Aerospace Museum of California, visit: https://aerospaceca.org.