More Than 13,450 Pounds of Trash and Debris Removed by hundreds of Volunteers During Spring Clean-Up
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – More than 400 volunteers removed over 13,450 pounds of trash and debris from the American River Parkway (Parkway) during the American River Parkway Foundation’s (Parkway Foundation) Spring Clean-Up on Saturday, April 23. That’s more than 33 pounds per volunteer.
Spring Clean-Up is the Parkway Foundation’s second largest clean-up of the year and took place at eight locations along the Parkway this year, including: Discovery Park, Northgate Parkway Access, Cal Expo Parkway Access, Northrop Parkway Access, Howe Avenue River Access, Watt Avenue River Access, River Bend Park and the Upper Sunrise Recreation Area. This is the first time the clean-up has been held since 2019.
“We love and appreciate our volunteers. These are families and involved community members that are giving up part of their Saturday to help us conserve the American River Parkway,” said Dianna Poggetto, Parkway Foundation Executive Director. “We would not be able to make the impact we do without their dedication.”
Some of the most interesting items found during the clean-up: The Sacramento Bee newspaper dispenser, a unicycle, a toy gun, a plastic barrel, shopping carts and electric scooters.
In addition to Spring Clean-Up, the Parkway Foundation hosts the Great American River Clean Up. This event takes place along all 23 miles of the Parkway and will be on September 17 this year. These large clean-ups are complemented by smaller group clean-ups the Parkway Foundation hosts year-round to form the Parkway Foundation’s Clean-Up Program. Last year, more than 138,000 pounds of trash were removed by Parkway Foundation volunteers through this program.
More details about Parkway Foundation programs can be found at www.ARPF.org/Programs.
About the American River Parkway Foundation
The American River Parkway Foundation (Parkway Foundation) is the only nonprofit organization focused on conservation of all 23 miles of the American River Parkway (Parkway). Through managing programs like volunteer clean-ups, infrastructure improvements, trail maintenance, fire mitigation and education, the Parkway Foundation leads and inspires the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at www.ARPF.org.
CHP Welcomes New Canine Teams
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced the graduation and deployment of nine new canine teams. After months of intensive training, the CHP certified its newest members during a ceremony at the CHP Academy’s Canine Training Facility.
“These nine teams are joining an already astonishing unit that serves as a vital part of the Department in protecting the public,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The canines have received hundreds of hours of intense training and are ready to serve and support the mission of the CHP.”
The graduates consist of eight Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine teams and one Patrol and Explosives Detection Canine team, all of which meet the guidelines set by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. The newest team members include two Belgian Malinois, two Dutch Shepherds, and five German Shepherds. The CHP now has a total of 53 canine teams deployed throughout the state.
Each canine’s partner, or handler, is an experienced CHP officer with anywhere from three to 15 years of experience. The officers represent the CHP’s eight geographic regions of Northern, Valley, Golden Gate, Central, Southern, Border, Coastal, and Inland Division. Once deployed, the handlers will spend a minimum of eight hours every week training with their canines to ensure the highest level of peak performance by creating scenarios similar to what is experienced out in the field.
The CHP uses its canines to perform a variety of tasks, including detecting human scent, contraband, and explosives. A canine team can improve the safety and effectiveness of officers as well as save time and money. The CHP canines are also used to assist allied agencies in apprehending criminals, detecting explosives or drugs, and in locating at-risk missing persons.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
OAKLAND, CA (MPG) - As wildfire season nears, emergency preparedness becomes even more critical. Good preparation means practicing emergency plans, having go bags packed and ready, keeping extra batteries for flashlights and radios within reach and more.
For those customers with access and functional needs, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) offers discounts on generators and batteries; sponsors a Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program; and partners with 211, a free call to help with local resources and support 24/7.
These programs are designed to help our customers when weather and wildfire risk prompts the company to initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) or to enable Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS).
“In advance of wildfire season, it’s critical that customers who require extra assistance because they are reliant on power for health and safety know there is support available,” said Marlene Santos, a PG&E EVP and the Chief Customer Officer. “Our partnerships with local community organizations mean we can better ensure the right resources get to those customers who need them most.“
Here’s how to get started:
Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program
We continue to partner with community-based organizations to assist customers with medical and independent living needs before, during and after PSPS outages. This includes collaborating with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers’ (CFILC) Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program to support the Access and Functional Needs (AFN) community. The support for customers with medical or independent living needs may include:
Emergency preparedness outreach and education; Promotion of our Medical Baseline Program; Accessible transportation resources; Hotel stays and food stipends; Portable backup batteries
Generators and batteries
This year, we continue to provide portable battery solutions to customers as part of the Portable Battery Program and the CFILC’s Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program.
In 2021, we delivered approximately 6,500 batteries to customers. Combined with the roughly 6,500 batteries we provided in 2020, more than 13,000 batteries were distributed through the Portable Battery Program and the Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program. The batteries were provided to those in the aging and disabled populations who rely on power for medical needs and income-qualified Medical Baseline customers in high fire-threat areas.
For 2022, we’ve removed the low-income requirements for the Portable Battery Program and offer it to Medical Baseline customers who live in High Fire-Threat Districts (HFTDs) or have been impacted by two or more recent PSPS outages. In addition to portable batteries, insulin cooler bags, miniature fridges and extension cords are provided to qualifying customers with medication that requires cold storage.
Additionally, the funding and eligibility for the Generator and Battery Rebate Program, for customers who rely on well water, customers in our Medical Baseline Program and certain essential small businesses, will expand to customers both residing in Tiers 2 or 3 HFTDs and/or who are served by an EPSS circuit. The availability of Backup Power Transfer Meters, which makes it easier and safer to connect a generator, has been expanded to all customers who have compatible portable generators in Tier 2 or 3 HFTDs and/or are served by an EPSS-circuit.
Call 211 for resources 24/7
To support our customers who rely on power for health and safety, PG&E partners with the California Network of 211s to provide help during times when it’s needed the most. 211 is a free, confidential calling and texting service that provides 24/7 connections to local resources and assists with emergency preparedness planning to minimize the hardships that may be caused by wildfire safety outages, like a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
This partnership also provides proactive outreach to help prepare those who rely on electricity for medical needs, individuals who may be disabled, older adults or customers with other medical needs. Resource coordination might include creating an emergency plan; transportation and hotel accommodations; portable backup power; food resources; and other services.
The 211 network utilizes PG&E’s existing resources, as well as resource partnerships specific to 211. 211 provides proactive outreach to all customers and serves as the first point of contact for our AFN community before, during and after a PSPS.
To learn more about 211, customers should call 211, text ‘PSPS’ to 211-211 or visit 211.org.
Music Festival is Back this June
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - The annual Community Band Festival returns to Carmichael Park on June 4 and 5.
The tradition has united hundreds of musicians in a brass and woodwind blow-out for more than two decades. Though 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled by the pandemic, the revived festival is set to kick off a summer season – three months – of musical events. On June 18, Carmichael Park District begins its own 11-concert series at the same location.
June’s first weekend offers 12-hours of non-stop band performances. Invited by the Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association, large volunteer ensembles will join the fray from Northern California and beyond. One group will make the journey from Utah. Thirty members of the Clearfield Community Band will fly in for a Saturday performance. The musicians will combine the Carmichael excursion with a Bay Area visit.
Sacramento-area bands include Roseville, Carmichael, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova players. An anchor ensemble for the event, the Sacramento Symphonic Winds has played every festival since the tradition began.
Music will include marches, swing and pop selections; players will range in age from teens to nonagenarians. Beginning at noon on both Saturday and Sunday, seven bands are on the daily lineup. There is no charge for audience attendance; picnickers and dancers are welcome.
For information, visit www.svsba.net
The event kicks off a summer series that continues with free Carmichael Recreation and Park District concerts from June 18 to the end of August. For more information visit www.carmichaelpark.com
Tres Bien! Hot-Hitting Vincelli-Simard Claims Monday’s TicketSmarter WAC Hitter of the Week Honors
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Riding a streak of five consecutive multi-hit games, junior infielder Martin Vincelli-Simard was named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week on Monday after a stellar showing at the plate helped Sacramento State to a 4-0 week and its first league sweep of the 2022 campaign.
It is the first career weekly award from the conference office for the Boisbriand, Quebec, native and the second offensive honor of the year for a Hornet after Dawsen Bacho collected weekly laurels back on April 18. Freshman teammate Colin Hunter has also earned WAC weekly honors, picking up the first pitcher of the week award of the season back on Feb. 21.
Entering the week batting just .218 on the year, Vincelli-Simard picked up right where he left off in his three-hit game to close out the Grand Canyon series on May 8, finishing with two-or-more hits in each of the Hornets’ contests last week, hitting .563 (9-for-16) with nine total hits, seven runs scored, six extra base hits, and seven RBI to raise his batting average 59 points to .277 on the year.
For the week, Vincelli-Simard slugged 1.188 thanks to four doubles and a pair of home runs, while posting a .579 on-base percentage after also drawing a walk and absorbing a hit by pitch. He also lofted a sacrifice fly to drive in a run — one of six on the week for the Hornets, who entered the four-game stretch leading the NCAA in the category.
Vincelli-Simard opened the week with his second straight three-hit game to tie his career high, finishing 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a home run, and three RBI in an 11-9 midweek win on the road at Fresno State. The three runs batted in matched his season high, while the home run was his first in a month since leaving the yard at New Mexico State.
As Sacramento State opened its final WAC series of the regular season, Vincelli-Simard proceeded to rattle off three-straight two-hit games as the Hornets completed the sweep of Utah Valley, scoring four times and driving in four-runs, including a pair of doubles in Saturday’s 5-2 victory and double and a home run to help his team to a “Senior Day” victory on Sunday.
Since the calendar switched to the month of May, Vincelli-Simard has been the Hornets’ hottest hitter over the last nine games, batting .424 (14-for-33) with nine runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, a home run, and 10 RBI, slugging .879 for the month and adding six walks for a .500 on-base percentage. Defensively, he has been perfect at first base, going errorless in 77 total chances.
Having clinched the No. 2 seed for next week’s WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., Sacramento State closes the 2022 regular season with a three-game non-conference series against Bay Area rival San Jose State. The Hornets host the opener on Thursday (May 19) at 6 p.m. at John Smith Field, with the final two games scheduled for Excite Ballpark in San Jose on Friday (May 20) at 6:05 p.m. and Saturday (May 21) and 4:05 p.m.
River Cats’ Villar wins PCL Player of the Week
25-year-old infielder posts 1.620 OPS in 6-game series split at El Paso (May 9-15)
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) — Sacramento River Cats infielder David Villar was named PCL Player of the Week after his impressive showing at the El Paso Chihuahuas from May 9-15.
The Giants’ 11th round pick out of South Florida in 2018 went 8-for-20 (.400) with nine runs, two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBIs, five walks, and a 1.620 OPS in six games against the Chihuahuas.
Villar ignited the River Cats’ 10-9 comeback victory on May 11 with a fifth-inning grand slam and a go-ahead 10th inning home run. He followed that up with home runs the next two days.
The award is Villar’s first in his debut Triple-A season. The 25-year-old was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star and Team MVP for Double-A Richmond last year.
Villar leads the PCL with 12 home runs and his 36 RBIs are tied for the lead with El Paso infielder Aderlin Rodriguez. He also ranks inside the top-10 in the league with a .426 on-base percentage (sixth), .690 slugging percentage (third), 1.116 OPS (second), 19 walks, (sixth), and 27 runs (third).
This is the first weekly award for a River Cats player in 2022. They totaled five in 2021 with current River Cats outfielder Bryce Johnson (May 4-9) and infielder Jason Vosler (June 28-July 4) being two of the winners.
Fans can catch Villar and the River Cats for a 12-game homestand, starting on Tuesday, May 17 against the reigning PCL Champion Tacoma Rainiers. Tickets are available on rivercats.com.
About the Sacramento River Cats
Sutter Health Park is the West Sacramento home of the 2019 Triple-A Champion Sacramento River Cats, and a proud affiliate of the three-time World Champion San Francisco Giants. Sutter Health Park is consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. Memberships, Mini-Plans, and hospitality rentals may be purchased now for the 2022 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487) or visiting www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Sutter Health Park, visit www.sutterhealthpark.com.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Summer is just around the corner and with the increase in temperatures comes an increase in fire risk.
While the Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks is working to protect the Regional Parks system by reducing combustible fire fuels, they would like to remind residents and park visitors of the steps they can take to prevent fires in our beautiful parks and open spaces.
Visitors to Sacramento County Regional Parks should be aware of the following regulations:
Smoking is only allowed in developed picnic areas, asphalt surfaces, golf courses and levee tops in the American River Parkway; Open flame fires are not allowed and barbecuing is only permitted in designated picnic areas.
“In 2021, we had approximately 170 fires in our Regional Park system,” said Liz Bellas, Director of Regional Parks. “Most of these preventable fires occurred along the American River Parkway. We would like to remind all of our park users that BBQs and other sources of fire are only allowed in designated picnic areas.”
In preparation for this fire season, Rangers are making it a high priority to continue their fire prevention efforts through education and enforcement.
Recently, Rangers have seized well over 50 barbecues and other items used to contain or produce fires, and this number is expected to grow as residents flock to our parks this summer. Please help us protect our valuable and beloved resources by following the rules in our parks. If you see smoke or a smoldering fire, call 9-1-1. All other non-emergency issues can be reported via 3-1-1 or on the park's website, regionalparks.saccounty.gov.