SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Those looking to kick up their heels and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day are in luck with special activations at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership is excited to present two interactive and family-friendly activities – a Leprechaun Hunt (March 7-17) and the return of the region’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.). After pausing in 2021, the 24^th annual tradition of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back along with fun traditions that were started during the pandemic. 

To start a spirited hunt in search of lucky-yet-elusive Leprechauns, guests can pick up activity pages at the Old Sacramento Visitor’s Center (1000 Second Street) or download in advance to begin the quest for 10 Leprechauns hidden throughout the historic district. Each lucky Leprechaun will have a corresponding secret word that hunt seekers must fill in on the activity pages to move onto the next hidden Leprechaun to help discover the secret code at the end. Once complete, participants simply email the secret to info@sacramento.com by March 17 to be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win lucky prizes that include gift baskets filled with local goods from Old Sacramento Waterfront retail stores. 

To add to the fun and share the experience with others, hunt participants and visitors are encouraged to capture images, post them on social media and tag @DowntownSac and @OldSac. To download the activity pages or find our more detailed information about the St. Patrick’s Day Hunt, please visit www.oldsacramento.com/event/2022-st-patricks-day-hunt. 

Families, friends, individuals, kids, and the young-at-heart are invited to join hundreds of colorful marchers dressed in green along with Irish and Highland dancers, pipe and drum bands, historic re-enactors, and a variety of cultural organizations at the 24^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade presented by Xfinity stepping off at 1 p.m. from Neasham and Front Streets. With nearly 30 organizations and groups participating, visitors are also encouraged to line the boardwalks of L, Front, J, and 2^nd Streets for the best views of the spirited spectacle. Plus, shoppers will delight during a special Vendor Village that will be set-up at K and Front Streets from noon to 5 p.m.

For those wanting to get an early head start on the fun, music and entertainment starts at noon with performers dancing throughout the district alongside a lineup of local vendors and shops offering “lucky” special.

The 24^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is proudly produced by Downtown Sacramento Partnership and made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors: Xfinity, Audacy and CBS13/CW 31. 

There are plenty of options to get to and park at the Old Sacramento Waterfront, a world-famous, open-air, and walkable district. Guests are encouraged to visit SacPark.org to explore parking options, including the Old Sacramento Garage located at 274 I Street (enter between 2^nd & 3^rd Streets).

Visitors planning to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day festivities at the Old Sacramento Waterfront are encouraged to explore, shop, and dine at the 120+ locally owned businesses, restaurants and retail shops located throughout the historic district. 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter intakes thousands of pets in the community each year.

Most of these pets are reunited with their owners or are able to find loving forever homes to be adopted into. However, some shelter pets have a difficult time finding a normal adoptive home which is where the shelter’s foster and rescue program comes in. The foster and rescue program works with local foster and rescue providers in the community to help shelter pets that need a little extra assistance on the way to their happy ending.

Foster care providers provide temporary care outside of the shelter to animals such as those too young for adoption, needing to recover from an illness or injury, for behavior modification, or just because they need a break from the stresses of shelter life. Rescue group partners are also a huge help as they pull shelter animals who otherwise have a difficult time being adopted due to age, medical condition or the need for behavioral modification that cannot be resolved in a foster home. 

Shelter dog Dora, who arrived as a stray in 2016, was having a difficult time finding a forever home. Fortunately, shelter staff was so impressed by her high-toy drive that they contacted the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF). The NDSDF is an organization based in Santa Paula, California that strengthens disaster response across America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. They have been a long-time rescue partner of the Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter.

“Groups such as NDSDF give dogs that have no chance of placement in a normal pet home an opportunity for a great outcome and a chance to truly thrive in the world,” said Shasta Stratton-Quirk, who works on the shelter’s foster and rescue team. “Because some dogs are not able to be adopted out through normal routes, it is the job of the foster and rescue team to find an outlet where they can reach their true potential. 

Dora’s natural abilities made it clear that the NDSDF made the right choice in bringing her on the team. Six years later, the rescue partner is happy to report Dora is working diligently with the San Diego Fire Department and California Task Force 8 alongside her handler, Joe Zakar, and has truly gone from rescued to rescuer.

To learn more about the shelter’s foster and rescue program or become a foster care provider or rescue partner, visit the fostering & rescue webpage at animalcare.saccounty.gov/HelptheAnimals/Pages/Fostering.aspx

BOISE, ID (MPG) - This isn’t Mark Campbell’s first rebuilding project.

The Hornets’ (14-16, 10-11 Big Sky Conference) first-year head coach has been involved with rebuilding a women’s college basketball program twice before, at Oregon State and then the University of Oregon, eventually leading both teams to the Final Four.

Which is why it should come as no surprise that in Campbell’s first season at Sacramento State, his team improved by 11 games, elevating their win total from three to 14 in just one season. Additionally, 14-16 is the best first year record that Campbell has been a part of in a rebuilding project.

Before Campbell and his staff came to town, the Hornets had not won 14 games in a season for six years. The turnaround of the 2021-22 Sac State women’s basketball team now ranks as the fourth largest in Big Sky history.

RELATED: The resurgence of the Sac State women’s basketball program

Sac State’s impressive run came to an end Monday night in Boise, Idaho as the seventh seeded Hornets were defeated in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament by the tenth seeded Weber State Wildcats (11-19, 7-14) by a final score of 74-64.

The start of the game Monday could not have gone any better if you were rooting for the Hornets, as they got out to an 11-2 lead after four minutes of action. The Wildcats began to chip away at the deficit, but Sac State led by six after one quarter, 20-14. The first period ended up being the only quarter the Hornets won all night.

Weber State edged Sac State in second quarter scoring 13-12 but trailed by five entering the locker room at halftime 32-27.

“In the first half, we shot ourselves in the foot,” Campbell said. “We played incredible defense, made them miss. I think in the first half they had 17 offensive rebounds. If you finish those possessions, the game wouldn’t have been a five-point game at halftime.

“Unfortunately, we played good enough defense in the first half and couldn’t finish the possessions. We gave them hope and gave them life.”

The Hornets extended their lead to seven just over a minute into the second half at 38-31. Then the Wildcats went on an 18-6 run over the final eight plus minutes of the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the fourth period.

Weber State outscored Sac State by 10 in the third quarter, 22-12, which ultimately ended up being the difference in the game. In a high scoring final 10 minutes of action, the Wildcats kept control, outscoring the Hornets 25-20.

“At the end of the day, they scored 47 points in the second half,” Campbell said. “We couldn’t guard them in the second half and that’s kind of been our Achilles heel. How far we went was always going to be dictated on how well we could defend and rebound and tonight we didn’t do it well enough.”

Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Isnelle Natabou got into foul trouble early in the game limiting her impact against Weber State. The sophomore center played 24 minutes, scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 from the field and grabbing six rebounds (three offensive).

“I have struggled with early fouls in the game during (the) whole season and I’m very foul-prone,” Natabou said. “It really helped me when my teammates and coach told me that I have to calm down. Because I know the rules, I know what I should be doing.”

Without Natabou, the Hornets struggled on the boards being outrebounded 38 to 25. 18 of those rebounds came on the offensive glass for the Wildcats, leading to 21 second chance points. In a game they lost by 10, Sac State was outscored by 12 in second chance points.

RELATED: Two Hornets win individual accolades entering postseason

Big Sky Most Valuable Player of the Year Lianna Tillman led all scorers with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-25 field goal attempts and four assists. The Sac State graduate transfer was a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line but missed all seven 3-point tries in her final collegiate appearance.

“For Lianna to have the season that she had, you guys it’s truly remarkable,” Campbell said. “The only player in all of college basketball that had numbers similar to her is Caitlin Clark at Iowa who might be the National Player of the Year.”

Weber State senior guard Aloma Solovi had a team-high 20 points, six assists and two steals. Junior forward Daryn Hickok followed closely behind for the Wildcats with 19 points on 4-of-6 from the field and a stellar 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. By herself, Hickok made one more free throw than the entire Hornets team.

Both teams had four starters score in double figures.

“It’s painful anytime your season comes to an end,” Campbell said. “I’m just incredibly proud of this group and what they accomplished in our staff’s first year. They just laid an incredible foundation that we’ll be able to build upon.”

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Sacramento’s Dreams and Drivers Car Club is among vehicle clubs that are maintaining Carmichael’s repute as car show-central. A staple of Founder’s Day, the July 4^th parade and numerous community fundraisers, hot rods are a regular community crowd-draw.

From deuce coups to VW Beetles, Corvettes and a whole herd of mustangs, rods recently revved along Fair Oaks Boulevard to an informal concours in the Milagro Centre parking lot. More than 230 vehicles were displayed. Enjoying the combination of cars and coffee shops, fans came from all over.

Dreams and Drivers Car Club plans another Milagro Centre meet on Sunday, April 17. Vehicles can be viewed from 9 to 11 am. Admission is free.

For information on shows visit www.dreamsanddrivers.com

 

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael Martial Arts entrepreneur Dave Kovar will be honored as Person of the Year at an April 1 gala. The Chamber of Commerce award recognizes not just business success but Kovar’s zeal to motivate young people toward self-improvement.

His story is one of local legend. The main street block occupied by his business is locally called Kovar’s Corner. “The County once gave me a sign to that effect,” recalls the owner. “Unfortunately, it got stolen.”

Heading one of the nation’s biggest martial arts corporations, Kovar (62) has 13 studios, including eight in Sacramento. Kovar’s Satori Academy instruction also packs a wallop in New York and New Jersey.

One of a clergyman’s three kids, young Dave aspired early to be tough. “With my red hair, I looked more like Danny Partridge than Rocky Balboa,” he laughs. “At 11, I saw a poster of a guy doing a flying side-kick. I immediately started learning karate.” After Sacramento Waldorf School, he graduated to house-painting and borrowed family money to begin a karate school in North Highlands. “With six students, I could barely pay the rent,” he admits. “I sold out after four years. By day, I painted houses. By night, I went to business school and taught karate at other people’s studios.

“One day I found a place for rent in Carmichael. I was covered in freckles and house paint and the landlord asked why I thought karate might succeed in Carmichael. I’d just done a business class paper on how to start a karate school.  I grabbed the assignment from my car and showed it to him. He gave me a one-year lease. The ‘Karate Kid’ movie had just come out. Talk about providence. Kids were suddenly lining up to learn.”

His affinity with students has Kovar schools rated among top children’s instruction resources worldwide. But teaching genius does not always extend to bottom lines. “If I hadn’t brought my brother Tim on board in 1987, I’d still be painting houses,” he reasons. “Tim balanced my weakness. He’s the real reason we succeeded.” (Tim Kovar has retired; current CEO Dave Chamberlain will introduce his boss at the awards banquet). “My CEO does an amazing job leading our company,” notes Kovar.  “I just hope he’ll find something nice to say about me.”

Few careers avoid hiccups. Rebranded “Kovar’s Satori Academy,” his corporation invested big in 2004 and aimed for nation-wide dominance. The move proved over-ambitious. Undaunted, the company licked its wounds, paid off big debts and consolidated its base. Kovar also channeled skills into instructing other martial art teachers. He is now internationally sought as a business and youth motivational speaker.

“Satori is a Japanese term for being at your best in any specific moment,” explains the mentor. “Martial arts is not about being tough. It’s about personal development. It teaches self-control, responsibility and doing what is right. Kicking tail is a just a side effect. I’m totally against fighting‒unless you have to defend yourself‒then I’m totally for it.”

Kovar has been wed 35 years to fellow black-belter Angelina Kovar; the couple has two black-belt karate kids. Their dad has also been a parental figure to many thousands of students. “My studio’s taught one in ten Carmichael kids,” he estimates. “When I speak at school assemblies, teachers always greet me. They tell me how my studio changed – sometimes even saved‒their lives.

“The Person of the Year honor makes me proud but it’s as much for my team as for me. These guys have always stood by me. They’re wise beyond their years. We’re all focusing on making the world a better place by empowering people of all ages to contribute to society.”  

Other 2022 Chamber of Commerce honorees include:

Dentist Gabrielle Rasi (Businesswoman of the Year); Publisher Paul Scholl (Businessman of the Year); Sharon Ruffner (Volunteer 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. Good Day Sacramento anchor Tina Macuha will MC the program.

Anyone may attend the April 1 event at Arden Hills Resort. Tickets are $125 per person and include dinner and no-host bar. Sponsorships are available. A portion of proceeds will benefit Carmichael Parks Foundation. For reservations go to www.carmchamber.com or call (916) 481-1002

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - In 27 years on US soil, Romanian-born Carmen Micsa has hardly let grass grow under her Nikes. She and husband Catalin have raised two kids; she’s gained a Master’s degree in English and established a thriving real estate brokerage. She has personally sold more than 600 houses, built two homes, run 14 marathons and written three books.

“I’d get bored if I only did one thing,” says the 48-year-old. “I believe everyone has many gifts and passions to pursue.”

When she and her electrical engineer husband bought a first home in Carmichael, she was operating a senior residence. Catalin wondered if his capable wife could be a realtor. “I’ll give it a try,” she decided. She hauled their infant Sophia to business meetings. “My clients didn’t mind,” she recalls. “Some even asked me to bring my baby. I had no choice; back then, I didn’t have childcare. Happily, little Sophia just lay in her stroller and slept.

“I found I liked real estate. No two deals were the same and I met all sorts of people. I always gave an honest opinion. If a house wasn’t right for my buyer, I said so. Clients sensed I wasn’t about money; I was there to help them.” Her Fair Oaks Boulevard brokerage, Dynamic Real Estate, now employs 22 agents. The dynamic owner feels her family (Sophia is now 15 and son Alex is 16) is testimony to the American dream. “Carmichael’s my little slice of paradise,” she says. “We’re so grateful for doors that opened for us here. We could never have achieved this life in Europe.”

The health fanatic took up tennis with a vengeance at 30. This activity courted many life questions, so she self-published a Zen approach called ‘Change your Grip on Life through Tennis.’ It’s a steady seller among tennis and fitness-lovers. At 40 she started running. “I ran half a mile and I thought I’d need an ambulance to get home,” she laughs. “In my first year as a runner, I finished the California International Marathon. I’ve since done marathons in Boston, New York, Chicago, London, Utah and Southern California. I’ll do Berlin this September. In shorter events, I choose charity runs where I can give back. Next year, in the Tokyo Marathon, I’ll be helping environmental causes.”

Something else happened along the road: she became a poet. “I noticed amazing things and found myself forming phrases about them in my mind.” she says. “Sometimes I quickly took a photo so I could think about it later.” Micsa’s muse is most creative on American River Parkway. “Ideas flow out of me with the flow of the river,” she considers. “I run and therefore, I write.” This symbiosis was the root of her 2020 publication titled ‘The Poetics of Running.’

Though marathons are long, Micsa favors brief poems and stories. Haiku (a Japanese short poetry form) is a frequent medium. Her ‘Orange Orb’ leaped from an Ancil Hoffman Park sunrise into her 2021 book. “Sliver of sunrise/ the sun paints the still trail/ the jack rabbit leaps.”

In a longer verse called ‘Poetry in Motion’ she describes her jog to creativity: “When I first became a runner/ I discovered dancing words/ that floated freely in my mind/ and filled my soul with serenity. When I first became a poet … all I needed were my running shoes/ to take me outdoors in nature/ where words, images and ideas/ were so easy to capture.” Micsa’s new book “Morsels of Love,” was hatched by the pandemic. “With all the social distancing and our fear of hugging, I felt we all needed love,” she considers. “This book is a gift of love to my readers.”

Learn more about Carmen Micsa’s books at www.runningforrealestate.com