Family Business Celebrates Milestone
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Katie Pexa’s Watt Avenue Farmers Insurance office recently marked 56 years of family tradition. For 20 of those years, former Carmichael Honorary Mayor Pexa (56) has run the agency she acquired after her career in the US Navy.
Her late father Bob Pexa began a Farmers Alameda storefront in 1961. He later teamed up with son Mike Pexa to run the branch Katie Pexa bought in 1998. “My mom Patti was my receptionist until she retired in 2013,” says Pexa. “We've always enjoyed the feeling of working in a family business.”
Next-in-line is Pexa’s son Connor, an El Camino High junior. “He's in the office nearly every day doing his homework,” reports his mom. “He’s helpful answering phone calls. It's too soon to make predictions, but even at 17, Connor understands customer service. And he sure knows the importance of insurance to protect families.”
Carmichael Parks Foundation Receives Generous Donation
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - The Carmichael Parks Foundation recently received a $10,000 donation from Paul Pennington, a community philanthropist and founding member of the Foundation.
The Carmichael Parks Foundation, comprised solely of volunteers, provides scholarships to local youth who otherwise would not be able to participate in after-school and recreational activities and funds select parks for beautification and facility improvement projects.
Paul commented that he carefully selected the Foundation as a recipient of his sizeable donation because “the Foundation’s efforts greatly assist the Recreation and Park District and are vital to helping enhance the overall quality of life in the Carmichael community.”
As part of another philanthropic gesture, Paul will be hosting a table of lucky friends at the Foundation’s fall fundraiser “Dinner in the Park, a Carmichael Gourmet Affair” which returns on September 8 at the Sutter Park and Jensen Botanical Gardens. As the hidden gem of Carmichael, the unique nature of these parks offer the perfect setting to stroll along the path and enjoy community, gourmet food, wine and music.
When asked what he likes most about Dinner in the Park, Paul said, “It is a great way to enjoy a beautiful park setting with fresh farm-to-fork cuisine and a neighborly setting. I get to enjoy an evening of incredible food and wine while raising important funds for our youth programs and park beautification projects.”
Tickets are available for $100 per person and features an amazing menu from Hawks Restaurant and Hawks Provisions + Public House.
Visit CarmichaelParksFoundation.org for more information.
ARC’s Grubert Earns All-State Honors
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - American River College softball's Kayla Grubert has earned All-State honors from the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association. The recognition caps an impressive sophomore season for the outfielder from Paradise High School.
Grubert led the state with 54 steals in 38 games, being caught only four times. She led the ARC Beavers in most offensive categories including a .415 batting average, 54 hits, 36 runs and 57 total bases. She added three doubles and eight RBI on the season.
Grubert was nearly flawless with the glove as she sported a .951 fielding percentage, 70 put-outs, seven assists and one double play.
To top it off, Grubert had a 1-0 2.63 pitching line, appearing in eight games (one start), 18.2 innings, and recording five Ks.
As a freshman in 2017, Grubert led the Beavers with a .421 batting average and 18 steals. She also compiled a 5-3 pitching record with a 2.43 ERA, one save and three complete games.
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
Feeding America’s Hungry
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers, who participate in the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive — the largest one-day food drive in the nation. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, May 12.
Led by letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO), with help from rural letter carriers, other postal employees and other volunteers, the drive has delivered more than one billion pounds of food the past 24 years.
Carriers collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and in post offices and deliver them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters. Nearly 1,500 NALC branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved.
The United States Postal Service, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, AFL-CIO, Feeding America, United Way, Valassis and Valpak Direct Marketing Systems are all supporting this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
To donate, just place a box or can of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers mail on the second Saturday in May. The carrier will do the rest. The food is sorted, and delivered to an area food bank or pantry, where it is available for needy families.
With 49 million people facing hunger every day in America, including nearly 16 million children, this drive is one way you can help those in your own city or town who need help.
Statement From FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the Trump Administration’s Plan to Lower Drug Prices
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Today is an important day in the Administration’s collaborative effort to address the rising cost of drugs. We know that the high list cost of drugs can adversely impact peoples’ access to medicines. People rely on medicines to improve their quality of life, manage chronic conditions and treat life-threatening illnesses. Access to prescription drugs is a matter of public health. I applaud President Trump for making this one of the Administration’s priorities and introducing a bold plan that puts patients first in advancing actions to address the rising list prices of prescription medicines. The FDA shares the goal of ensuring that American patients have access to quality and affordable care that meets their needs. This is why we’re prioritizing actions to encourage the timely development and approval of generics and biosimilars.
To date, we’ve taken a number of steps as part of our Drug Competition Action Plan (DCAP). We’re helping remove barriers to generic drug development and market entry in an effort to spur competition that results in lower drug prices for patients, and greater access.
One key aspect of our role is to strengthen and enhance the overall generic drug review process. We’ve committed to timelier generic drug reviews to reduce the cycles of review that generic applications typically undergo. In 2017, we approved a record number of generic drug applications—more than 1,000 full or tentative approvals. We expect to beat that goal this year. And although the FDA doesn’t have a direct role in drug pricing, by ensuring that regulatory requirements are efficient, predictable and science-based; we can help reduce the time, uncertainty and cost of generic and biosimilar product development.
In addition, we’re calling out abuses of the system that impede competition and doing our part to fix them. The agency is committed to adopting strong policies and taking action, when necessary, to reduce gaming of statutory and regulatory requirements to help ensure that drug companies don’t use anticompetitive strategies to delay development and approval of important generic drugs.
Our efforts have included taking significant steps to support complex generic drug development and application review; prioritizing the review of certain generics; publishing a list of off-patent, off-exclusivity branded drugs; and enhancing the efficiency of certain aspects of the submission process for generic drug applicants.
The President made it clear today that we all need to play a role—including the FDA and its sister agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—to put American patients first by taking bold actions to help patients have access to affordable medicine. The FDA will continue what it started with DCAP by taking new steps to address the significant health challenges we face and extend that momentum to implementing new measures as part of a forthcoming Biosimilar Action Plan that aims to facilitate the development and approval of biosimilars—which will help address patient access to costly biological products that can treat a range of chronic and life-threatening conditions. We will also be taking additional steps to address some of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) “gaming” abuses that can delay the entry of generic drugs.
These are among some of the new actions that we’ll be taking in the coming weeks. The FDA will continue to work to promote drug competition and access for patients, to advance our public health goals.
It’s Time to Spruce Up Your Sprinklers!
Top 5 Sprinkler Problems to Watch for This Spring
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Most of the water we use goes to watering our yards and landscapes. By checking your sprinklers on a regular basis for problems and fine-tuning their performance, you can make sure every drop counts.
Here are some of the top problems:
Broken Sprinklers
At least monthly, run your sprinklers one zone at a time and look for any broken sprinklers and replace them as soon as you find them.
Clogged sprinklers
Dirt and debris like grass clippings and twigs can clog the nozzles on a sprinkler leading to a blocked or uneven spray.
Misdirected sprinklers
Sprinklers can sometimes be bumped when the lawn is mowed and end up watering the driveway, sidewalk or even your house. Walk your yard and look for sprinklers that are not pointed in the right direction.
Broken Connections
If you notice a sprinkler isn’t working and there’s a large wet or soggy area in your yard, it’s possible you have broken sprinkler line or leak.
Run-Off
After you run your sprinklers check for water running into the street and storm drain. If you see excess water, shorten your sprinklers’ run time.
And don’t forget, Sacramento Suburban Water District is here to help you keep your sprinkler system operating at its best. Call us today at 916.972.7171 to set up a Water-Wise House Call. Our water efficiency experts will adjust your sprinkler timer and troubleshoot any problems. They will also let you know how to apply for rebates for sprinkler system upgrades and WaterSense-labeled weather-based irrigation controllers.
Master of the Chorus - Dr. Donald Kendrick Retires
Retires from Sacramento State after 33 Years of Teaching
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – “Singing is a joyous experience,” explained Dr. Donald Kendrick. “Choral music prepares you for life.”
In August 1985, Dr. Kendrick accepted the position of Director of Choral Activities at Sacramento State University. For the past 33 years, this energetic Canadian has worked diligently to create an awareness of the power and importance of choral and orchestral music via three important pillars of our society - the Community, the State and the Church.
“33 years is a long time,” admitted Dr. Kendrick. “I have seen so many students come together to perform beautifully.”
Don’s final gift for his 110 students and community members in his three Sacramento State choirs will be to provide them with an opportunity to partner with the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra. The students will have the rare chance to sing with a professional orchestra at the SCSO’s season finale on Saturday, May 12 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater: Praise and Jubilation.
Kendrick lovingly refers to this SCSO season finale as his downtown Sacramento State retirement party. There will be a post-concert reception in the Sacramento Community Center Theater lobby following the final performance.
This unique performance will also feature the Sacramento Children’s Chorus Director Alexander Grambow. The musical forces on stage will include 280 singers, three soloists and a 52-member professional orchestra. The main fare on the program is a West Coast première of American composer Dan Forrest’s stunning Jubilate Deo. This work was only recently premiered in Carnegie Hall in 2016.
The rousing performance will feature seven languages with projected supertitle translations. The work brings to life the global aspect of the traditional Psalm 100 text “O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands” by setting it in seven different languages and drawing from a wide spectrum of musical influences. Each movement combines some characteristics of its language-group’s musical culture with the composer’s own musical language.
In the first half of the program Kendrick has programmed Dvorak’s Te Deum (Hymn of Thanksgiving), a work that he recorded with the SCSO and some of the Sacramento State students at the Liszt Academy in Budapest during their summer 2004 European Tour. Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances will showcase the SCSO Orchestra to round out the concert.
Kendrick feels strongly about having his choirs perform out in the community. For twenty-five years his three choirs performed in the beautiful acoustics of Sacred Heart Church in Sacramento. His December Procession of Carols is a tradition that we fervently hope Sacramento State will continue following Don’s retirement.
For more than three decades Kendrick has demonstrated his mastery of creative concert programming. His impact as an educator and conductor has greatly enhanced the quality of life in our region and has resonated on a national and international level.
“I have so many happy memories. So many of my students went on to perform around the world,” said Dr. Kendrick.
The dedicated teacher of over three decades has enhanced lives through great music, bringing beauty, hope and inspiration to our community, but when asked what he learned over the years, Dr. Kendrick graciously replied, “Patience and understanding.”
“The most important thing is that we have music in our lives – period,” said Dr. Kendrick. “And we should bear in mind that we all have a voice.”
Kendrick’s Downton Sacramento State Retirement Party at a Glance
May 12th SCSO Season Finale – Praise & Jubilation
Event: Praise & Jubilation
Date: Saturday, May 12 at 8 PM
Pre-concert talk at 7 PM Doors open at 6:30 PM
Location: Sacramento Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street, Sacramento
Post-Concert Reception in the Sac CCT Lobby – Come join us.
Tickets: 916-808-5181 or sacramentochoral.com
$43-$53 – Students = 50% discount
Student Rush Seats (with ID) - $10 – As of 6:30 PM on May 12th
Information: 916-536-9065 (SCSO Office)