CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Garbage warriors are at war in Central Carmichael. Armed with brooms, bags and grabber tools, a task force sets out weekly to clean public and business areas. “Theoretically, we should not be cleaning outside business properties,” admits activist Becky Starr, “Merchants should do it themselves. But they don’t all keep up with litter on their frontages.”

Led by Starr and fellow volunteer Alison Shepherd, the Carmichael detail rolls up sleeves for 90 minutes each Friday. Civic cleanliness is a shared passion. Starr recalls a Minnesota childhood where littering was taboo. “I became totally irritated by the amount of trash in my Carmichael neighborhood,” says the retired food industry professional. “It seems like many people have lost respect for our planet.

“At first I went out and picked up by myself. I committed to keeping California Avenue clean. I soon realized I could go out every day and fill bag after bag. It was hard to make an impact on my own. When I heard about an organization called Sacramento Picks It Up! on Facebook, I realized there were other people out there like me. I started posting pictures of my garbage collections. Group members cheered me; I soon found local people who wanted to join me.”

Befriended by the Carmichael Improvement District, the volunteers get help from a CID maintenance contractor with bag pickups. If volunteers encounter overwhelming accumulations, district professionals roll in heavier artillery. “Cleanliness is a big part of what we impose on the community,” explains CID executive Rebekah Evans. “Clearing trash is a daily grind and there are limits to what we can do in five days a week. We’re grateful heroes bless the district with their volunteerism.”

Much of the worst garbage comes from homeless camps. “It’s a serious problem,” says Starr. “We can only clear encampments that are evacuated, but the mess is disgusting.” Volunteers glove up and use tongs to bag soiled clothing and food containers. Drug syringes must be sealed in containers. “We provide all our own equipment,” says Starr. “Anyone who volunteers must also be responsible for their own safety.”

In bright safety vests, the volunteers are sometimes mistaken for Sheriff program miscreants. “We laugh about that,” says Starr. “We prefer to be seen as people who benefit the community. The real criminals toss waste out of cars, with no concern for the environment. Beautification is what we’re going for, but I want people to recognize their responsibilities, too. We can all contribute to keeping neighborhoods, creeks and rivers free of human contamination.”

The workers’ toil does not go unnoticed. Supporters include Carmichael Elks, who offer the lodge dumpster for trash bag disposal. Shopkeepers sometimes emerge from stores to thank volunteers. Some motorists shout a drive-by thank you. Pedestrians stop to chat. “Everyone agrees it’s a crime how much trash is in our streets,” notes Starr. “But some seem incredulous that we remove voluntarily; they think it’s the County’s responsibility.

“Our philosophy is this: if not me then who? And if not now, then when? We shouldn’t wait for local government keep up with this issue. We can make a difference ourselves.”

Starr shares credit with ten like-minded men and women and co-leader Alison Shepherd. “Like me, Alison went out on her own to pick up in her Fair Oaks neighborhood,” explains Starr. “We met through Facebook and realized we had equal commitment. We make an effective team. Our other volunteers are also fantastically motivated.”

The group targets a specific area each Friday. Their 90-minute stint yields dozens of trash-filled bags. If work ends far from a dumpster, a County maintenance truck comes to remove the harvest. Litter is nevertheless a never-ending labor. “It’s disheartening to drive by the same place‒days after we’ve cleaned it‒and see new trash there,” concedes Starr. “But we maintain hope that citizens will one day get back to better habits.”

Sacramento Picks It Up! includes about 1300 volunteers and works in conjunction with Sacramento County Regional Parks. Donations are accepted for equipment and expenses. To help, go to Sacramento Picks It Up! on Facebook or email Sacramentopicksitup@gmail.com.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - If you heard the clip-clop of massive hooves lately, you were probably in Carmichael.

The approach of plodding mares on Sutter Avenue heralds Steve and Carolee Smith, tooling their Dutch-built carriage. Granddaughter Kara often joins the procession. Motorists slow. Kids run from homes. At the reins, a champion Carmichael husband and wife driving team savor their progress. “Few vehicles ride this smooth,” grins Steve Smith. “I feel so relaxed, I could fall asleep at the reins. You never have a bad day driving a carriage.”

Indeed, their vintage 1970s vehicles are considered Rolls Royces of contest equipage. The owners are county fair legends: in an Amador competition last year, Steve placed first for a solo men’s obstacle course. Granddaughter Kara Smith got second place in her division.

Carolee Smith, ran over an obstacle and overturned her vehicle. “I was going so good until then,” she laughs. “I guess I got ‘best rollover’ prize. I rolled out, still holding the reins. My horse stood patiently until they unharnessed her. Accidents can happen in this sport. It’s like falling off a horse: you just have to get back up and drive again.”

With forays into Ancil Hoffman Park, the couple has been driving Carmichael roads for almost four decades. In recent years, Carolee notes diminishing patience on back roads. “Cars try and overtake even when we’re passing road works,” she sighs. “Horses can be unpredictable. With their weight and strength, these animals could do as much damage as a car.”

The Smiths’ Percheron grays weigh almost a ton apiece. Stabled on the family’s Marshall Avenue acre, Laurie, Debbie and Sarah munch through thousands of dollars in orchard grass per annum. “If I thought about the cost, I’d wonder why we continue,” says their master. “We have a service that removes a dumpster of manure twice a month. And everything that grows around here is certainly well-fertilized…”

Having schooled themselves to drive, the Smiths polished their techniques with lessons from a top British driver. “When my kids were at Deterding school, I collected them on a horse and cart,” recalls Carolee. “They were sure embarrassed. They complained that no other kids got picked up that way.” Granddaughter Kara is more appreciative. For a high school civic project, she elected to break her grandparents’ three-year old filly to harness and cart. “It’s heartwarming to have Kara carrying on our tradition,” says her grandfather. “She enjoys what we do and she’s winning prizes for it, too.”

Famed for their placid natures, Percherons love nothing better than an 8-mph outing. “Over thousands of years, they’ve been bred to work,” explains Smith. “I can tell they like it. They greet me at the gate with a whinny; they’re excited as you harness them up. They get a happy bounce when they’re pulling a cart. Other than eating, it’s what they like best. The more you work them, the better they feel.” The team got a productive workout when Smith volunteered to mow Sutter-Jensen reserve in 2020. “I found a 100-year old sickle-bar mower at auction in Oregon,” he says.  “I harnessed the team to it, and Laurie and Debbie worked like they’d been mowing all their lives. It was good exercise and fun for them–and for me.”

If Smith is at his most relaxed while driving, such stately progress is not without risk. Glancing at his pretty wife while tooling along Stanley Ave, the champion once rolled his sulky off the road. “We overturned, broke a shaft and Carolee landed on top of me,” he says. “The horse looked up from the ditch, wondering why on earth I’d done that. We jumped on her, rode home and returned with a truck for the cart.”

Indulging no California-stops, Smith’s command of “team whoa” halts his beasts at stop signs. He thanks 18^th century carriage makers who crafted a ‘fifth wheel’ above the front axle to allow 270 degrees of turn. All the same, motorists are reminded–when encountering old-world equipage on narrow lanes‒patience is a virtue.

“Most motorists are pretty considerate of us,” considers Steve Smith. If they aren’t, I have a hand-signal especially for them…”

CAMERON PARK, CA (MPG) – Fire Captain/Paramedic Jonah Winger possesses a specific skill that has served him well during his 27 years in the fire service: patience. In 2011 Winger started the process of requesting funding for a fire training structure for the Cameron Park (Calif.) Fire Department. Finally, after many starts and stops, a new Firefighter training structure is now in place.

“The process took us 10 years to complete, but it’s so worth it,” says Winger, with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Amador-El Dorado Unit out of Cameron Park. “Fire Facilities was patient to continually update us on costs and information as we worked to get the tower approved over the years. They were easy to work with on choosing, designing, and receiving estimates for the structure we desired.

“Having the three-story Firefighter tower readily available has changed everything. Now we can train any day or time at a moment’s notice.”

Preparing for Wildfires

Training is critical for firefighters across the country, but especially in wildfire-prone California. So far in 2021, CAL FIRE has assisted with numerous wildfires, including the explosive 67-day Caldor fire that burned 221,835 acres. CAL FIRE teams are constantly on-call to control all aspects of wildfire suppression in the 1,786 square miles of El Dorado County.

“The Firefighter tower can be used for wildland urban interface structure triage and wildland drill scenarios,” says Winger. “Previously we had to train on local business buildings and at our fire stations. Now we are training daily on a tower more suited for our needs. While wildfires are extensive in our area, we use The Firefighter tower almost exclusively for structural firefighting and rescue training.”

Customized Training

CAL FIRE/Cameron Park Fire Department has already started including other stations in training for multi-company drills. The height and features of The Firefighter allow replication training for one- to three-story scenarios of multi-family residential units, single-family residences, commercial structures and health care facilities. The crews are also training on internal and external staircases, fire protections systems, flat commercial roofs, parapets, attics, FDC, sprinklers and standpipes.

To enhance training experiences, several custom elements were added to The Firefighter for CAL FIRE.

“We chose to add the rappelling anchors, FDC, sprinkler system, burn crib, and roof hatch so we could use the tower for a variety of training scenarios,” says Winger. “Every drill we place certain features ‘in or out’ of play to create a specific atmosphere and training objective.”

Finding the Funds

So, how did CAL FIRE finally get its customized tower? According to Sherry Moranz, Assistant Chief, Central Division Operations for CAL FIRE, the need finally matched up with the funding availability.

“We presented the project concept, the plan, the cost, the justification, and the benefit to the Cameron Park Community Services District Board and to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors,” says Moranz, who is located at the Amador-El Dorado Unit. “We used Development Impact Mitigation Fees to fund this training tower at an estimated cost of $450,000, and a final actual cost of $586,663. This training structure will benefit not just Cameron Park residents, but residents across all of El Dorado County.”

The Wait is Over

Now located adjacent to Fire Station 89 in Cameron Park, The Firefighter is ready for action. Winger believes more than 100 people will train on the structure regularly.

“The tower and burn room annex are ideal for both fire and EMS scenarios,” says Winger. “We anticipate the entire CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit will train here. This includes our personnel, fire interns, fire explores, fire academies, class and other El Dorado County fire cooperators.

“We waited a long 10 years to get this terrific training tower. Now we plan to use it constantly to hone our skills and prepare even harder to serve residents in our area.”

Fire Facilities, Inc. (FFI), an ISFSI corporate sponsor, manufactures a full line of steel fire training structures engineered to withstand real-life firefighting conditions. From mobile units to burn rooms to high-rise towers, FFI training models are available in a multitude of configurations. Our parent company, Trachte Building Systems, is one of the largest and oldest manufacturers of steel self-storage systems in the industry.  For more information, visit www.firefacilities.com or call 800-929-3726.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A giant of the Sacramento music scene died suddenly on New Year’s Day. Trombonist, bandleader, educator and former Carmichael resident Ron Cunha was 65. His death was related to a fall at his home.

As a teacher, Cunha guided scores of college and high school musicians – many now professionals. “His influence on the Sacramento jazz scene was important and widespread,” notes Rio Americano High band director Josh Murray. “He opened doors for generations of musicians.”

The bandleader helped put Carmichael on the map as a jazz venue. His concerts packed the Clubhouse Bar and Grill with fans for more than six years. Playing for tips and pizza, top pro-musicians relished charts that challenged chops and delighted audiences. The leader’s death – plus resurfacing COVID concerns – cancelled the group’s January 4 gig. “One day we had this legendary pillar and an exciting night to anticipate every month,” laments a band supporter. “The next day, it felt like the music died.”

Cunha was born in San Jose and followed the family to Sacramento as a child. One of four siblings who inherited musicality from their father, Joseph, Ron picked up a trombone at elementary school and was a star through his school years.

The teenager nailed the lead in the Kennedy High School “Guys and Dolls” production. “He was a great baritone,” says a musician friend. “Sinatra was his idol. You could count on Ron to do “My Way” on karaoke nights. He brought the house down.”

Sinatra’s hymn to defiance summarized a life-long Cunha trait. “He had an unwavering dedication to his own path,” considers his best friend, Roger Heartsner. “He didn’t judge. He allowed people to be who they were and expected the same back. He was fiercely loyal to what he respected.”

After De Anza Community College (Cupertino), the bone player continued studies at CSU Northridge (Los Angeles) and CSU Sacramento. As a CSUS staffer, Cunha assumed ensemble direction and founded a Winter Jazz Festival that continues to this day. “As a fundraiser, Ron arranged for Steve Allen to play piano with our jazz band,” recalls former CSUS Music Department Chair, Rollin Potter. “He had great connections and knew how to get things done. A year later, we did the same thing with Artie Shaw.”

Cunha’s resume includes teaching spells at Cosumnes River and Northridge Colleges.

He was widely sought for clinics and competition adjudication. “He had a rare mastery of the jazz language and the ability to explain it,” says musician friend Kurt Pearsall. “Kids left his classes clearly understanding their role in jazz.”

Confirms Josh Murray: “Ron was a heck of a director; he had a unique way to communicate with students‒with encouragement and with humor.” (Band buddies experienced more acerbic gig banter. Trumpeter Tony Marvelli defines being the butt of Cunha’s wit as “a huge badge of honor”).

First-call as a trombone sideman, the artist worked Music Circus orchestra pits. Dionne Warwick, Henry Mancini, Natalie Cole, Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck were among stars who engaged his virtuosity. He sailed many voyages with Holland America bands. On land, he played circuses, ice shows, state fairs and theme parks. Marriage claimed his hand only once – and only briefly.

Cunha’s “all-star” jazz ensemble exploded on the Sacramento scene in the ‘90s. “It was a proving ground for musicians,” recalls Josh Murray.  “Ron provided opportunities for players to work with some of the best in the area. We all grew from it.”

He fostered similar excellence in class. Under his direction, Rio Americano High musicians won the Monterey Jazz Festival; his Jesuit group cleaned up contests all over California. “Our school was blessed to have Ron,” considers school president Father John McGarry. “His musicianship and teaching impacted so many lives.”

Ron Cunha’s legacy lies in phenomenal student achievements. For intimates, the legend includes folkloric self-determination. “He didn’t worry about the past,” considers longtime buddy Roger Heartsner. “Ron never looked backward. I believe he faced his final curtain with few regrets.”

Ron Cunha is survived by brothers Dave and Allyn, and sister Leslie. His funeral will be held at George L. Klumpp Chapel of flowers (2691 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento) at 10 am, Saturday January 22.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by the Wadsworth – the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!

Adapted by David Abbinanti
Adapted for the stage by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Eric Price, Sandy Rustin

Directed by Blake Flores

Featuring: Joron Borque, Athena Elizabeth, Vanessa Voetsch, Janet Bailey Kiddie, Lorraine Poston, Mark Joyner, Jason Markiewitz, Aurelio Martinez, Christina Hansen, and Kai Balbuena.

Performance dates are Fridays and Saturdays at 8p.m. January 21, 2022- February 13, 2022, and Sundays at 4:00PM 1/30, 2/6, 2/13 2022.

All tickets are $15 for all ages (no infants please)

For more information or to make a reservation please call the theater at (916) 509-3445. Also see our website at www.theatreintheheights.com for more information and directions to the theater.