Citrus Heights, CA (MPG) - Four local food banks received a large donation of food Tuesday, March 7. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) sent a 52’ semi-truck filled with shelf-stable food ranging from pancake mix to spaghetti sauce, along with dish soap and laundry detergent, to the parking lot of Sunrise Christian Food Ministry at Advent Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights. The LDS Church provides these donations to local organizations in order to give people who are suffering hard times the support they need.

April Jacek, director of the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, wanted other food banks to benefit as well, and three others participated: the Orangevale/Fair Oaks Food Bank, Carmichael Adventist Community Service Food Pantry, and Potters House from North Highlands. Prior to the big rig’s arrival, volunteers from each of the food banks plus LDS volunteers spent hours preparing for its arrival.  They unloaded the truck, dividing up pallets by food categories so that each food bank could choose what they can use. Volunteers then loaded the cases of food into their own food bank vans and trucks.

Along with their hard work, the volunteers took the opportunity to get to know people they might otherwise have never met. “It is heartwarming to see so many people from different groups working together to serve those in need,” said Stacie Giles, Communication Director for the LDS Church in the local area. “Everyone was so glad to help! Our hero was Eugene Ivanov, who drove the forklift donated by Struk Construction. He never stopped from the time the truck arrived until the last bit was loaded onto recipients’ vehicles, saving many hours of work.” 

Directors of the various food banks also enjoyed meeting, some for the first time.  They deepened their connections and found new benefits in collaboration. April said, “I’ll be in touch with each of these directors soon. I’ve got some ideas about how we can help each other!”

Butte County, CA (MPG) - On Friday, March 10^th, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) held a press conference regarding the impending release of water from the Oroville Dam.

Deputy Director of Communications at DWR, Margaret Mohr introduced Ted Craddock, Deputy Director for the State Water Projects Operations (SWP), who spoke to the planned use of the spillway.

Craddock explained that Lake Oroville is “part of the state water project, which is a system that spans the state and provides water to 27 million Californians. An important function of Lake Oroville is it also provides flood protection for the communities downstream of the lake on the Feather River”.

Recent heavy rains and storm runoff have elevated lake levels. At the time of the media briefing, Lake Oroville was at 2.7-million-acre feet of its 3.5 million acre feet capacity, up 1.7 million feet since December 1 of 2022. The elevation of lake waters has risen 180 feet since that date, equating to a total of 840 feet, and water levels then sat at 60 feet below the lake’s maximum water elevation.

After closely monitoring storms and incoming weather patterns, Craddock said that the DWR and SWP teams expect between 20-40,000 cubic feet a second to enter the reservoir depending on the severity of incoming storms.  According to Craddock, flood control operations such as this are performed in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that “up to 830,000 feet of space available on the lake (is) reserved for flood protection.”

Friday, March 10 at noon, the 3,000-foot spillway was put into use for the second time since April of 2019. Utilizing both the spillway and the Hyatt Power Plant, 15,000 cubic feet a minute began to be released from the second largest lake in California. Craddock describes this as a “relatively small release” and expressed that adjustments in the releases may be made as the DWR and SWP Team monitor incoming water volumes. A team of dam safety engineers were also present to monitor the spillway during the initial release of water Friday afternoon.

After its failure, the spillway was rebuilt, beginning in 2017 and ending in 2018. Craddock reaffirms that the structure was “rebuilt to the highest engineering and design standards that are expected for this type of facility with oversight from both Federal and State dam safety regulators and also independent team of experts”. He stated that instrumentation was installed throughout the spillway to monitor pressure, drainage and movement. Federal and State dam safety regulators were on site during the first use in 2019 to ensure the spillway functioned properly, which they found that it did. He wanted the immediate communities affected during the dam crisis of February 2017 too know that they are “very focused on ensuring the safety of this facility.”

Speaking to the significance of the use of the spillway, Craddock said, “After 3 years of drought and low lake elevation, it’s really good to see the lake rising from the standpoint of providing water for the local community and the statewide water users as well.”

The SWP believes that the lake will remain at healthy levels as snowpack melt flows into the reservoir during the spring months.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Now celebrating its platinum anniversary, the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce recently feted more than 80 supporters at a Milagro Center celebration.

President and realtor Izzy DeLancey was among directors raising champagne glasses. “Our Chamber is as important to the community as our community is to the Chamber,” said DeLancey. “Our purpose is that collaboration. It’s notable that representatives of all our elected officials were there for the celebration. It gives us a sense of how important they feel we are to their constituents.”

Formed in 1948 by a handful of merchants, the organization has boosted business and community interests for 75 years.

While no founding members survive, several organizations stand out for more than 30 years of support. Carmichael Water District and Lind Brothers Funeral Home have 44 years and 33 years of membership respectively. Churches, senior homes and service groups boast more than 30 years.

Though the platinum fest is historic, the chamber has even deeper community roots. It morphed from the Carmichael Colony Improvement Club, formed by local settlers in 1913. Legendary farmer Mary Deterding was its first president. Her volunteers read like a local street map: the Van Alstines; the Stanleys; the MacDonnells; the Gibbons; the Boyers and the Clarks. Meetings convened in barns and homes and pioneer needs were addressed.

Getting electricity and telephones lines to the new colony took major effort and the group lobbied the American Canyon Company for reliable irrigation and household water. Road signs were another project (club members evidently had few qualms about naming streets for themselves) and founder Daniel Carmichael was cajoled to supply wood for signs and land for the first school. Through five decades, club efforts brought parks, a library and a post office to the town.

Industry mushroomed after WW II. Leaders – including Improvement Club members – formed a business organization. Their energetic new Chamber of Commerce took over representation for local interests. An early Chamber inspiration was to make Carmichael a destination; for this, directors mooted a Western theme for their main street.

Merchants eagerly embraced the idea: they strutted around town in cowboy hats and holsters. Frontier facades were erected for stores; wooden planking was laid over sidewalks; rodeos and Western dances were staged in parking lots. A 1953 “Western Days” festival brought thousands to downtown Carmichael.

Though it took off with a yee-hah, the Western concept did not lasso enduring support.

These days, a “Frontier Village” strip mall and the Western Feed Store are lonely vestiges of that quirky merchant ambition.

Where the Chamber failed at establishing a cow town destination, the Milagro restaurant complex now promotes Carmichael as a chow town. The eight-year-old culinary center, coincidentally, now houses the Chamber office.

Like any non-profit, the group has had good years and lean years. With almost 250 members and energetic leadership, the Chamber is now coming back from pandemic challenges. High-profile events like the Community Award Gala (March 30) and the Best of Carmichael poll (September) continue to garner local interest. Like their Carmichael Improvement Club ancestor, Chamber members are lobbying for town needs through the Property Business Improvement District (PBID).

‘We’re a changing community, says President Izzy DeLancey. “But Carmichael will always be Carmichael. What makes us stand out is being an unincorporated area – so our people are more involved. We all want a better community. Moving forward, we hope businesses will continue to grow and help Carmichael flourish.”

Learn about the Chamber at www.carmichaelchamber.org or call 916 481 1002.

 

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Koobs Nature Area visitors have solid new seating for bird watching and speaker programs.

Eagle Scout Edward Stach (17) and helpers have built seven wooden benches to accommodate gatherings in a preserve amphitheater.

A six-year Scouting veteran, his efforts crown a faithful association with the Engle Road property that houses Carmichael’s Vietnam War Memorial. Trumpet player Stach has assisted many scout flag presentations. He has performed Taps during Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies since he was 13. “The Nature Area is special to me,” he considers. “I’m glad my project is helpful to it.”

A Scout’s Eagle rank project includes designing, fundraising and organizing helpers. The candidate’s family and fellow Troop 107 members pitched in as the seating area took shape in February. Kelly-Moore (Citrus Heights) store donated paint. Berco Redwood and Home Depot subsidized lumber and other materials.

A junior at John Adams Academy (Roseville), Stach hopes to begin college in a couple of years. “No matter what I end up doing, I’ll always be grateful for Scouting” he says. “It’s helped me plan my future by showing me many skills – including how to be a good person.”