River Cats Invite Fans to Nominate Military Family
The Sacramento River Cats are asking fans to submit photos of loved ones who have or who are currently serving in the military to be featured on Salute to Armed Forces jersey.
Selected photos will be featured on the specialty jerseys worn by River Cats players and will be auctioned off during the game. The annual Salute to Armed Forces Night will take place on Saturday, May 6th when they take on the Reno Aces at Raley Field.
If you or a loved one has served in the U.S. Armed Forces, or know someone who is currently serving, please submit your photo to the "Salute to Armed Forces Jersey Submission" page at rivercats.com or by email to promotions@rivercats.com.
That night's game will be preceded by the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team game, which will conclude a day dedicated to commemorating those who serve our country.
Fans wishing to submit a photo of a service member must visit rivercats.com and then email promotions@rivercats.com with a high-resolution (300dpi) photo of the service member in uniform (must be a picture of just them) and a 2-3 sentence description of said person.
If your photo is selected, you will be contacted with information on how you can preorder the jersey. The Salute to Armed Forces specialty jersey is presented by USAA. Net proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit Blue Star Families, who proudly support military members and their families.
Unsung Heroines Soar in Uplifting ‘Hidden Figures’
The movie’s opening scene is a white cop harassing three black women on the side of a road with a broken-down car. Later, white colleagues of these ladies will refuse their using the same coffee pots, water fountains and toilets at work. Career advancement for these blacks and others working at NASA? Not with the policies set by their white superiors. The movie also throws in a couple of civil rights protests to stress the segregated and prejudiced South of the 1960s. And, yet, in the entire 2-hour-plus movie, not a single “N word” is heard or a drop of blood seen.
What is this, “Cool Runnings?”
While both movies address how unfairly and disgustingly bigotry oppresses black people’s dreams for greatness, a PG rating, mainstream marketing and sanitized storytelling do repress their potential to deliver indelible messages for civil rights, and in the case of “Hidden Figures,” equal rights as well. Picture “Schindler’s List” without Jews being killed or dialogue free of anti-Semitic slurs. But like the aforementioned 1993 comedy about the Jamaican bobsled team hoping to make the Olympics, “Hidden Figures” still inspires. Big time.
Set at NASA during America's space race with the Soviets, the Hollywoodized, yet effecting biopic follows three brilliant black female employees who, despite obstacles placed by mostly male and lily-white superiors at Langley Research Center, make significant contributions while shooting for the stars. Thanks to the movie and the book on which it’s based, by Margot Lee Shetterly, these amazing women are unsung heroines no more.
Each lady gets her day in the sun, but at center is NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson). Without her, John Glenn wouldn’t have been the first American in space, and man might not have landed on the moon as early as we did. Computer scientist Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) does the work of a supervisor at Langley, but the glass ceiling is lowered for blacks, especially those who are also women. Engineer hopeful Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) also is hampered by a system that will require miracles and, like NASA’s space program desperately trying to catch up with the Soviets, a series of firsts. The main actresses make the most of their roles, but only one, Henson, gets the stand-taking moment that both audiences and Oscar voters love.
The mostly white supporting cast includes Kevin Costner as a driven, compassionate NASA chief and Kirsten Dunst as Dorothy’s snippy quasi-racist boss. Both are fine, which can’t be said of a lackluster Jim Parsons as NASA’s chief engineer. Haven’t seen a key role performed so flatly since Wile E. Coyote got road-killed.
Flaws notwithstanding, and they really are just nits, “Hidden Figures” blends emotion, heart, drive and even humor to engaging effect. Its Disney-like approach, where hardly a discouraging word is heard or physical struggle shown, does allow for younger audiences. With STEM and equality so key to our country’s future, maybe a movie like this being PG isn’t so bad. 4 of 5 Stars
Longstanding Clean and Sober Program Helps Many
Thirty years ago, in a letter to a girlfriend, Don Troutman, owner and founder of Clean and Sober Transitional Living, wrote, “My brother was taken from us, not from a natural illness, was not shot with a gun, but was shot with a needle and the needle killed him! Alcohol and drugs! My already sworn enemy has killed my brother.” That was the catalyst that resulted in CSTL with its nontraditional approach to recovery from alcoholism and drug use.
Troutman had been a recovering alcoholic for over a year when his brother died. Two years later he started CSTL with the purpose of providing a place where recovering addicts could be among those who can understand what they are going through. His first house included Troutman and three other recovering alcoholics who agreed to be sober and abide by the rules. Since 1989, it has evolved to a community consisting of six Phase 1 homes for 73 residents and eight Phase 2 homes for 48 residents, for a total of 14 houses. It has always been private pay, never receiving any sort of government subsidy.
When they come to CSTL, residents have usually completed 30 to 60 days of detox and treatment. “Everything you learn in treatment episode is like a block of ice,” Troutman said. “You take a block of ice and you set it into the sun and it is going to melt away.” Therefore the need for a clean and sober living place. “If you took that block of ice and you put it in a freezer or a refrigerator, it’s not sitting in the sun and it lasts a lot longer. It takes a while for a person to buy into and adopt a new life style. It’s a process, it’s not an event.”
The CSTL community is a way of life for Troutman, and what he has learned through the process has resulted in benefit to 6,000 people to date, with a nearly 50% success rate.
When challenges appear, alcoholics and users tend to drink or use as the solution to their difficulties. It is not the solution, Troutman said, it is the problem. The solution is the recovery process. “In Don’s community, people have developed the skills so that relapse rates are very low,” said Susan King, CSTL Outreach. “It is private pay and they are taxpaying members of the community. They work, they go to school. Some of them live here a long time.”
People who come to the community might have looked weak and timid before, said Troutman, but, “When they come in here, they turn out to be role models and house managers. It’s incredible what people can discover about themselves while they’re here.”
The group is almost like a tribe, Troutman said. “We’re self-contained, we have our own government, we have our own congress, we have our own court, we have our own senior peers which are like our police force, more or less,” Troutman said. “And really we get very little outside interference from many problems.”
Resident Shelby, 23, turned to alcohol when she was 16 and had problems at home. “When I turned 20 I got into meth and heroin,” Shelby said. After her husband died from an overdose, she knew she must think seriously about recovery. Now a resident at Clean and Sober Living and clean for six months, Shelby has a regular job but is taking it slowly. “Once I come back here it’s a relief, it’s like my safe zone. Everyone’s still here, and the relationships that you build are so amazing . . . There’s just a connection here. It’s really hard to explain, but we just understand each other here. It’s like a different kind of family.”
Another resident, Rik, 58, has lived his life in and out of treatment programs. He has been clean for over a year and is a Phase 2 resident. He is now kitchen manager, and cooks dinner for at least 60 people for two dinners and three breakfasts a week.
Residents learn to be leaders and participators in life rather than just sitting on the sidelines. “Our future is as great as we would like it to be,” Troutman said. “Whatever you think you might want to be, supersize it, go further, because there’s nothing to stop you from getting there.”
Shelby has great hope for the future. “As long as I stay clean and sober, I see myself going back to school,” Shelby said. “I want to actually be a drug and alcohol counselor . . . But for right now I just have to look out for myself and get myself ready and continue what I’m doing, so in the future I know what’s in store for me.”
Rik is happy where he is. “My family supports me,” Rik said. “I’m kind of doing what I want to do. I really am. I’ve lived a pretty good life. I have four great kids, none have any addictions, which I’m very blessed about.”
Troutman’s old letter ended with the statement, “As if this disease is not cunning enough, the addict will not heed the advice and the concerns of those who are close. But Satan’s curse has a loophole, and that is that the addict will listen to a complete stranger.”
For more information go to www.clean-and-sober-living.com, or call 916-961-2691. “They never call us or the treatment program and come to a dead end,” Troutman said.
City Open for Comprehensive Transit Plan Bids
Citrus Heights is ready to revisit its Comprehensive Transit Plan and will now be taking bids from interested companies. According to the city’s Transit Plan, qualified firms can register with the city online or through the General Services Department.
Per the city of Citrus Heights, “This project is federally funded and is subject to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Policy.” At this juncture, the city is searching for professional consulting services to “develop a Comprehensive Transit Plan and recommendations for the City.”
The General Services Department selection process begins with Requests for Proposals (RFP) and then evaluates the proposals and creates consultant teams to determine which companies to interview.
Part of the city’s requirements is ongoing collaboration with city staff and “significant outreach with Citrus Heights residents and community stakeholders” via surveys, open houses, focus groups and personal as well as group interviews.
According to the city, “Engagement shall be designed to obtain feedback on current services, and assess demand, preferences and community priorities for public transportations services.” The chosen consultant must, according to Citrus Heights, “ensure all public outreach events are publicly noticed to promote maximum attendance.” This will include website, media releases, public notices and surveys and more. Media and translation for Spanish-speaking residents is also required.
The ability work well with other local transit entities is also a stated necessity. According to the City’s current documentation, “The Project includes ongoing and regular coordination with RT (Regional Transit) as one of the Project partners. In addition, the Consultant shall coordinate as appropriate with other local agencies… potentially impacting Citrus Heights transit users, including Roseville Transit, Placer County Transit Authority, Folsom Transit services and the City of Rancho Cordova’s Transit Division.”
The selected consulting firm must show Scope of Work, Project Management, Personnel and Staffing, Qualifications, Experience and References, Federal/State Funded Project Experience and Quality and Responsiveness of the Proposal. Interested parties can contact the city at GSD-Mailbox@citrusheights.net or 916 727 4770. Proposals are due by 2 pm January 20, 2017.
Convoy Shows Giving Spirit
A police convoy of over a dozen Citrus Heights Police Department marked and unmarked vehicles, lights flashing and sirens wailing, made their way through the streets of Citrus Heights to five very special neighborhoods on the afternoon of December 20, 2016.
Residents living along parts of Centurion Circle, Terrell Drive, Stanford Avenue, and Villa Oak Drive were understandably uneasy at first, but then pleasantly surprised as the occupants of the vehicles emerged bearing gifts and much more for one special family at each address.
Nearly two dozen police officers, along with police volunteers, Mayor Jeff Slowey and other city council members, Boy Scouts of troop 635, and of course, Santa Claus executed one “flash gift and toy drop” in each of the four neighborhoods.
The four families chosen to receive the special delivery of toys, food, clothes and other necessities were selected from community referrals to the city’s Holiday Referral Program overseen by the police department. Each family had experienced unusual hardship in 2016 placing them in extreme financial or other difficult situation. Items for these and 30 other needy families helped this year by the program, were donated by the police department, non-profit service organizations, churches, schools, private businesses and individuals.
At the first stop, Elizabeth, whose son was celebrating his 5th birthday, was overwhelmed when Santa, accompanied by half a dozen officers ascended to their second-floor apartment bearing a shiny green bike, toys, games, food and many other items for the family. The officers were then joined by more police personnel and their own children of all ages in singing “Happy Birthday” to her son. Elizabeth, who has no family and no parents to help her thanked everybody and vowed to “pay it forward”
At another address, nine-year-old Julian was also greeted by Santa who handed him a bright red present. Julian’s mother passed away after Halloween following heart surgery. Julian said, “I loved my mom, and I’m very thankful for everyone that came he said.” His father, Tony Bernardino, said, “Julian is doing very well with everything considering the situation.” But the highlight of Julian’s day was when Sgt. Wes Herman let him sit in and inspect the interior of his police cruiser and turn on the lights and siren.
Finally, no Citrus Heights Holiday Toy Drop-off would be complete without a stop on Sayonara Drive. Previously the ‘sore spot’ of Citrus Heights, Sayonara is now a much safer place for families to live. As the caravan pulled up to the Sayonara Community Center it took only seconds for dozens of children to appear and descend upon and eagerly surround the officers and volunteers handing out the rest of the over 300 stuffed animals donated this year.
This was Police Chief Ron Lawrence’s first Holiday Toy Drop-off. At the end of the day he spoke of how impressed he is with all the hard work of his officers. He commented that “today we make magic and create special moments these kids will remember the rest of their lives… It’s a gift for us as much as it is for them.”
Local Sailor Participates in Pacific Partnership
Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Thomas Williams, from Sacramento, California, assigned to the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, prepares to jump into the water during a rehearsal for a Pacific Partnership 2016 search and rescue drill.
During the drill, aviation rescue swimmers hoisted simulated casualties from the water into an MH-60S helicopter for medical evacuation to hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). The Pacific Partnership search and rescue field training exercise spanned across three locations in Padang and included a water rescue, a field hospital for patient triage and transport, and a mass casualty at a local soccer field.
The day's events were facilitated by Tentara Nasional Indonesia, local first responders and the Pacific Partnership humanitarian assistance and disaster relief team. This is the fifth time Pacific Partnership has visited Indonesia. Partner nations are working side-by-side with local organizations during disaster response training, civil engineering projects, Women, Peace, and Security seminars, medical subject matter expert exchanges and a live field training exercise aimed at improving the capacity of local government, civilian agencies and partner militaries to collectively respond in crisis.
Four Families Displaced by Fire in Multiple Units of Four-plex
Just after 7:00 am on January 7th, Metro Fire crews were dispatched to the 9000 block of Folsom Boulevard for multiple callers reporting a house fire. First arriving crews found heavy fire coming from a four-plex and immediately initiated fire attack. While firefighting operations were occurring in the unit of origin, additional firefighters initiated fire attack in a second involved unit and began searching for trapped residents.
A common attic throughout the four-plex allowed the fire to spread quickly. With a coordinated fire attack, the thirty-five firefighters on scene extinguished the fire, containing it to the attic and two units. Two units sustained major fire damage. The other two had fire damage in the attic, but only smoke damage inside; firefighters were able to salvage all of the personal belongings from these units. Residents from all four units were displaced; Red Cross was requested to assist the ten adults and four children with temporary housing. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Damage is estimated at $250,000; no injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.