CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael Volunteer of the Year Sharon Ruffner has a brand-new bag. Bags of bags, in fact.

The Kiwanis Club Co-President is spearheading a drive to gather plastic. Her harvest will be traded to Trex, a manufacturer of building materials recycled from plastic. “For each 500 pounds collected in a six-month period, the company donates a composite bench to a non-profit organization,” explains Ruffner. “Kiwanis will put our first bench in the Koobs Nature Area. If we can inspire other groups to follow our example and join the drive, we’ll let them decide where future benches are best used.”

Kiwanians have already stockpiled their first 100 pounds of plastic. “That took us six weeks; so we’re confident we can meet the requirement of 500 pounds in six months,” says their leader.

The indefatigable volunteer is coordinating the drive from her home. Weighed and sorted, the yield goes to the Carmichael Safeway store before shipment to Trex headquarters in Virginia. Any household can support the drive. Plastic must be clean, dry and of stretchable composition. Bubble wrap, cling wrap and plastic mailers are welcome (paper labels must be removed).

Unacceptable items include: frozen food and candy packaging; plastic gloves; beverage rings; bottles and rigid containers.

Bench rewards aside, Ruffner applauds the project’s eco-benefit. “Millions of pounds of plastics are in our landfills and floating on our oceans,” she notes. “It’s exciting to find meaningful use for so many single-use products that have been inflicted on our environment.”

Groups or individuals with plastic to contribute may contact Ruffner at Sharonruffner@yahoo.com

Ruffner is among citizens who will be honored at the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce’s Person of the Year gala on April 1. Other 2022 honorees include: Martial Arts entrepreneur Dave Kovar (Person of the Year); Dentist Gabrielle Rasi (Businesswoman of the Year); Publisher Paul Scholl (Businessman of the Year); Community Service awards go to Scott Young of Carmichael HART and Leonora Lee of Kaiser Permanente. Non-profit of the Year is Carmichael Parks Foundation; SMUD is named Business of the Year.

Anyone may attend the April 1 event at Arden Hills Resort. Tickets are $125 per person. For reservations go to www.carmchamber.com or call (916) 481-1002.

NATOMAS, CA (MPG) - ARCO Arena, Power Balance Pavilion, and Sleep Train Arena are three names that were synonymous with the home of the Sacramento Kings for 28 years.

ARCO Arena officially closed for good Saturday in Natomas, as members of the Kings organization and fans said their final farewells to a building that opened in 1988 and meant so much to the city of Sacramento for so long.

“This is a shining example that in Sacramento there was a time when we were at the top of the basketball world and this is where you had to come to see the ‘Greatest Show on Court,’ so that gives us hope,” said Doug Christie, who played shooting guard in Sacramento from 2000 to 2005. “This building is different than Golden 1 (Center). Golden 1 has things to walk around and see. But here, there was 17,000 people already sitting in their seat. When we came out of that tunnel it was energy, if you didn’t have it, they gave it to you.”

Christie, now an assistant coach with the Kings, Vlade Divac and Brad Miller were the former Kings players in attendance Saturday. Olympic gold medalist Ruthie Bolton made an appearance to represent the Monarchs, the former WNBA team that won a championship for Sacramento in 2005 before disbanding in 2009.

“This was the venue (where) the fans were the soul, and we were the show,” Christie said. “That mix is something that you don’t find. We were white-hot before Miami. We were beautiful basketball before Golden State. The only thing we didn’t do is put a ring on it. I told (Kings’ owner) Vivek (Ranadivé) when we were standing here, ‘It’s gonna happen, it will. And when it does, right on the bottom down there, just put ARCO because that would be so very fitting.’”

Ranadivé, who kept the team from moving out of Sacramento in 2013, and former owner Gregg Lukenbill, who brought the franchise to the 916 in 1985, each spoke Saturday morning about the former home known to many as the “Old Barn.”

“I know this is a bittersweet moment for everyone because there is some amazing memories,” Ranadivé said. “I describe this place as a communal fireplace. The firepit is the arena, the players are the fire, they lit that fire. The fans huddled around that communal fireplace and it’s been an amazing fireplace. So, thanks to all of you for the memories.”

Also in attendance for the farewell were politicians, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby, as well as former Kings coach and broadcaster Jerry Reynolds.

“This is very emotional because there isn’t a Sacramentan who hasn’t been part of this community for decades who doesn’t have incredible memories of experiences here at, I know it’s Sleep Train, ARCO Arena. It’s what it is, ARCO Arena,” Steinberg said. “The memories, even the painful ones, are all good.”

The “Farewell to ARCO Arena” event was open to season ticket holders starting at noon Saturday and to the public from 2-6 P.M. Fans had the opportunity to walk through the old arena, take photos and write farewell messages that will remain on the site. 

The Kings also gave away an abundance of free boxes of team memorabilia like jerseys and signed basketballs that were stored over the years at ARCO, to those who were willing to brave the long line. The event was one last get-together for Kings fans at the place they called home for many years.

It is well documented that Sacramento has struggled for many years on the court, as the current team is 25-48 and close to missing the playoffs for what would be an NBA record 16th consecutive season. However, the Kings’ best years in Sacramento so far were at ARCO, including nine playoff appearances, eight consecutive from 1998 to 2006, and a trip to the 2002 Western Conference Finals. 

In 2013, the arena set a Guinness World Record for loudest indoor sports roar at 126 decibels. 

“I truly appreciate the soul of this building,” Christie said. “I never knew that wood, metal and plastic could make such a sound. But it was a sound that I will never forget.”

Off the court, ARCO hosted concerts, high school and college sports, WWE, MMA, Disney on Ice and so much more.

After fighting for years to keep their team in town, Kings fans were rewarded in 2016 with the Golden 1 Center. Now, the space in Natomas that they once called home will be demolished in the coming months to make way for a new medical center and hospital.

“One of the epic moments of my life was to be able to stand here, and I’ll just repeat what I said, I said, ‘This is your team, and it is here to stay,’" Ranadivé said. “This is a place that has been giving for years and years so I'm really happy that that tradition of giving is going to continue as we open a world-class hospital over here so it’s going to keep giving to the community.

“As bitter as it is, it’s also sweet because we have a beautiful new arena downtown. As great as the past has been, the future is going to be even better.”

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Aftershock Music Festival will once again be returning to Sacramento County’s Discovery Park this October! After shattering attendance records last year, event organizer, Danny Wimmer Presents, has announced another tremendous lineup. 

This year’s festival headliners include Slipknot, KISS, My Chemical Romance and Foo Fighters. Other big names like Rob Zombie, A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Papa Roach and more have also joined the lineup.

“We are so excited to welcome rock fans from all over the country back to Discovery Park this October,” said Liz Bellas, Director of Regional Parks. “We welcome the opportunity to show off some of the amenities and amazing versatility of the Regional Parks system.”  

Last year’s sold-out event set a record with 145,000 attendees and was estimated to have brought in $30 million to the local economy, according to Visit Sacramento. Roughly 75 percent of attendees traveled to Aftershock from outside the region.

“Aftershock’s extraordinary line-up this year - including one of my favorite bands, Foo Fighters - shows just how committed we are to enhancing live music experiences in Sacramento County,” said First District Supervisor, Phil Serna.

Aftershock 2022 will be held the weekend of Oct. 6 – 9. For a complete lineup and to purchase tickets, visit the Aftershock Festival website at aftershockfestival.com/

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter made the transition to fully reopen to the public–doing away with adoption appointments and restricted hours.

Like many businesses, Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter has been closed to the public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The shelter initially closed its doors in March 2020 in response to state-mandated health regulations. While shelter staff continued to provide outstanding care for the shelter animals and animals in the community, the public was not able to access the shelter for services including adoptions. Furthermore, social distancing mandates and essential worker guidelines called for understaffing and loss of volunteers. This resulted in overcrowding of the animal population, which was temporarily resolved by the shelter’s foster program and the implementation of a new adoption by appointment process. 

For the next two years and as mandates began to loosen up, the shelter operated in this capacity but began to host walk-in adoption events on weekends and with rescue partners. These events were very successful and helped animals get out of the shelter and into homes quickly – lessening the shelter population impact and increasing positive outcomes.

“We are very excited and proud to reopen without adoption appointments. It is time to achieve even higher lifesaving results and the feedback from the public has been very positive,” said Bradshaw Animal Shelter Director, Annette Bedsworth. “We welcome everyone to stop in and visit our shelter pets and beautiful facility. Help us continue our lifesaving mission and adopt today!” 

Here is what you should know before you go:

The shelter is open Tuesday-Sunday, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. (excluding holidays); The shelter is located at 3839 Bradshaw Rd, Sacramento, CA 95827; Adoptions are first-come, first-serve. Consider arriving early; You are free to browse the shelter without assistance from staff; Adoption applications and specials are available on the shelter’s website; You can view adoptable animals before you arrive by visiting the adoptable animals webpage; Pet licensing is available in-person, online and via mail; If you cannot adopt, please consider volunteering, fostering or donating. 

To learn more about the Bradshaw Animal Shelter and its lifesaving mission, visit animalcare.saccounty.gov.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A perennial treat for flower lovers, tulips are now in bloom at Carmichael’s Jensen Botanical Gardens. Flowering will peak over the next two weeks.

The display follows February’s host of golden daffodils on the park slope dubbed “daffodil hill.” Azalea, camellia and dogwood flowers reach an April crescendo and rhododendron will join the march in May. By then, roses will be rioting on the park’s southern exposure.

“Spring’s my favorite season,” says Friends of Jensen Garden leader Beverly Scott. “I tell visitors: don’t just look at beds‒look up. Our trees are in flower and you don’t want to miss what’s above you. We have a huge cherry laurel blooming now. It smells divine.”

Though the gardens are a popular spot for the romantically inclined, bouquet plucking is forbidden and in spring, volunteers erect signage to caution: ‘Please Don’t Tiptoe Through the Tulips.’ An old song still inspires silliness, concedes Scott: “Footsteps damage foliage and compact soil. When soil is hard, new plants have a tough time breaking through.”

Scott and 20 volunteers don gloves for monthly workdays. “Even in winter, there’s plenty to do,” says their leader. “We add about 800 new bulbs every December.” Bulb placement aims for kaleidoscopic impact. “If you plant red tulips together, there’s no vivid contrast,” says Scott. “But red next to yellow really pops. We don’t plant in regimented lines – we want a random look. We like our tulips to dance.”

Located near Marshall Avenue, the botanical oasis was first cultivated for one family. Oakland produce buyer Charles Jensen retired to Carmichael after WW II and set about creating a garden of botanic importance. Retaining old oaks, he cleared brambles and trucked in maple, magnolia and dogwood saplings. Jensen’s crowning achievement was a dawn redwood; one of a strain considered extinct until rediscovered in China in the 1940s. Grown from seed, the 90ft tree is thought to be the largest of its species on the West Coast.

After the botanist’s death, citizens raised funds to buy the land from his heirs. Carmichael Park District acquired the garden in the 1970s. Though many original plantings are gone, Jensen’s legacy remains a community gem. Carmichael Parks Foundation funds new planting and improvements.

In 2014, the botanical area was incorporated with CRPD’s Sutter Avenue community gardens. The two adjacent parks now occupy 10 acres, collectively called Sutter-Jensen Community Park.

Anyone may visit Jensen Gardens. The reserve is located at 8520 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael.

 

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - For the first time since 2019, the Carmichael Little League held Opening Day to kick off a new baseball season Saturday at the La Sierra Community Center.

Jason Daffron is in his second year as President of the Carmichael Little League. Daffron, manager of the 50/70 A’s, has been coaching in the league for nine years and has served on the board of directors for six.

“I coach because of my son (Aidan who is 11),” Daffron said. “I love being out here with the kids. It’s not really the wins and losses, it’s more of just having fun, that’s why I’m out here.”

The Carmichael Little League was one day away from holding Opening Day back in 2020 until the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports around the world.

“We rode our bikes to the field everyday thinking about this,” Daffron said about Opening Day.

Justin McGivney is the league’s field coordinator and coaches both his sons, Alonso, 11, and Alejandro, 9. McGivney manages the junior Giants and serves as an assistant coach for the AAA Blue Jays.

“It was hard that very first year during COVID because nobody knew what was going on and they wouldn’t let us come on the field,” McGivney said. “So, we would just come out as dads and just let kids hit balls, but we couldn’t organize with the little league. So that one season off was hard.

“My oldest son, that was his 12-year-old season,” McGivney continued. “There were six kids in that division who were hitting (the baseball) over the fence in practice. So that was the first year those kids were actually hitting home runs and they didn’t get a chance to try it in a game. And then they move up to the bigger field where it’s way harder to do. There’s nothing more fun than being a 12-year-old hitting a home run. So, we lost that season, but other kids lost their last season.”

According to Daffron, this has been the most “normal season” the league has had in three years. In 2021, the league was able to have a season but was unable to do off-the-field gatherings such as a pancake breakfast and opening day festivities.

“Everybody wants to play baseball, everyone wants to be out here,” Daffron said. “You always think about COVID in the back of your mind, but I think a lot of people are a lot more comfortable now and this feels like a normal season.”

Going into this season, the league has the most teams and players they’ve had since 2017 with almost 300 players and 25 teams according to Daffron.

Cole Carpenter, 6, is one of the new players, suited up in his orange and black Giants uniform. Carpenter said batting is his favorite part of baseball and that he wants to play catcher because he’s bad at it and wants to practice. Carpenter was unable to play T-Ball in 2021 so he’s thrilled to be playing this year in the A-Division.

Aside from reuniting with old friends, taking team photos, eating from food trucks and much more, the Carmichael Little League community took time Saturday before the 70^th season began to honor one of their own that they lost suddenly in Feb. 2020.

J’aime Rosales, a mother of three, said her neighbor Dennis Telleen was a big and gruff “throwback” coach to those who knew him best. Telleen demanded the best out of his players and that they worked hard, as long as they were having fun.

To honor Telleen, the AAA field where he spent most of his time coaching at has been renamed, “The Dennis R. Telleen Memorial Field.”

“There are two things you can control: Always having the best attitude, and giving your best effort,” the sign created in Telleen’s memory reads.

Atreo Torres, 11, plays catcher and first base for the Red Sox. Torres said his favorite memory playing little league was when he was on the Cubs playing for Telleen. Torres also said his favorite thing about little league is the opening ceremony and pancake breakfast, so you can be sure that he was excited to have both those events return this year.

Local little leagues are non-profit organizations that are made possible by sponsors.

“It just makes a big difference out here to have a sponsorship,” Daffron said. “Putting new scoreboards or bleachers (in). This is a non-profit, everything goes towards the league. Things are worn out. A lot of our equipment is 20 to 30 to 40 years old. That’s what sponsorship money goes to. Dirt, just keeping the fields up, it’s a lot more work than people realize. Our field coordinator is out here every day. Sponsorships please, we need them.”

For more information on how to become a sponsor, please contact Sponsorship Coordinator Megan Prudler at meganwprudler@gmail.com or (916) 712-1040.

BOISE, ID (MPG) – The Sacramento State men’s basketball team survived and advanced in the Big Sky Tournament once but were unable to repeat the same magic as their season came to an end Thursday.

The Hornets (11-18, 7-15 Big Sky Conference) began the tournament as the No. 8 seed taking on the No. 9 seed University of Idaho (9-22, 6-15). Sac State won a close game Wednesday morning against the Vandals, 57-54.

However, Sac State met its match Thursday afternoon, falling to the No. 1 seed Montana State Bobcats (25-7, 17-4) by a score of 83-61, subsequently ending their season.

The first 14 minutes of action between the Hornets and Vandals was tightly contested and tied at 19. Then Sac State closed the half on a 12-3 run to take a nine-point lead at 31-22 into the locker room.

The Hornets remained in control with a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half, until Idaho made its run with about three minutes left. The Vandals were able to trim their deficit to one with seven seconds remaining, but two free throws from senior forward Bryce Fowler sealed the win for Sac State.

Fowler, who was named to the All-Big Sky second team, scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-19 from the field with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals against the Vandals.

“There’s a little frustration with that. I definitely feel like I’m a first team player, top five player in the league,” Fowler said about being named to the second team. "But that’s kind of out of my control.

“I wouldn’t say that fueled me at all, it definitely frustrated me, but I’m not going to change how I play because someone didn’t think I was a top five player.”

Sac State head coach Brandon Laird felt Fowler was deserving of much more recognition from the conference than he received.

“Certainly, for us, it’s all about Bryce,” Laird said. “I’m going to say this just because he’s my guy. And there’s a lot of really great players in this conference so this is not a diss or disrespect to anybody. But in my opinion, he’s the best player in the conference. He’s the most versatile and the most valuable in terms of the different things he does for us. It’s no secret at this point to anyone else, we’re going to play through Bryce.”

Sophomore forward Cameron Wilbon had a strong performance of his own for the Hornets with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior guard Trevante Anderson was the only player to score in double figures for Idaho as he finished with 11 points.

“I feel like the biggest turning point in our season (was when) we had like a team meeting where the captains Bryce and Will (senior guard William FitzPatrick), they just put it all out there and told the whole team how they felt about everything,” Wilbon said. “The team, we all realized that we had to step it up each in different ways.”

Thursday’s game could not have started any better for Sac State, getting out to an early 8-0 lead. Fowler scored 14 of the Hornets’ first 20 points in the first 10:41 of the game. The senior forward appeared to be well on his way to matching or surpassing his career-high of 39 points that he scored less than a week prior at the University of Montana.

“We just came out with a ton of energy, kind of gave them a little punch in the face, I don’t know if they were truly expecting it,” Fowler said. “We just came out with a really hot start. We were the aggressors early on and that showed.”

Unfortunately for Sac State, Fowler became stifled by Montana State senior forward Abdul Mohamed and would not score again until there was 3:16 remaining and the game was well out of reach. Fowler finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-18 field goal attempts and added seven rebounds.

The Bobcats, who had a first-round bye unlike the Hornets, shook off their jitters and settled in midway through the first half as they took their first lead at 19-18 following a 7-0 run. Montana State led by 11 at halftime, 39-28, and never looked back as they doubled their lead in the second half and ultimately won by 22 at 83-61.

“We kind of got a little fractured as a group when things went wrong,” Fowler said. “We just couldn’t maintain that connectiveness and that spirit we had in the first four to six minutes throughout the whole game.”

Sac State junior guard Zach Chappell followed closely behind Fowler with 19 points and two rebounds. Montana State had five players score in double digits, led by senior guard Xavier Bishop who had 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.

The difference in the game Thursday was bench production, as the Bobcats outscored Sac State 35-7.