I Saw Puppy Kissing Santa Claus
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Clear skies and faux snow blessed the 19th annual tree lighting ceremony in Carmichael Park last week. Leading a community countdown, Park District board chair Joyce Carroll flipped a switch and ignited thousands of fairy lights on the 50 ft park Christmas tree and surrounding illuminations.
Christmas songs were led by the 60-strong River City Concert band from Rancho Cordova. Santa Claus indulged hundreds of children and a few doggies. One of his elves distributed candy canes to kids waiting patiently in line. Believers were further rewarded by free crafting opportunities.
Following a pandemic drive-through version of the tradition in 2020, more than two thousand visitors celebrated the return to more normal festivities. As trees and inflatables glowed, machine-generated snow flurries dotted noses and eyelashes. An avenue of food trucks fed the multitudes.
Christmas decorations may be viewed on the park’s Fair Oaks Boulevard frontage every night until the New Year.
Sponsors included Carmichael Kiwanis Club, Carmichael Chamber of Commerce and Fairytale Land.
Road closures for 38th annual California International Marathon
A mile-by-mile look at Sunday’s CIM schedule
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The 38th annual California International Marathon, organized by the Sacramento Running Association, will run from Folsom to Sacramento on Sunday, Dec. 5 starting at 7 a.m.
Race weekend will begin with the CIM Race Expo, open on Friday, Dec. 3 from noon-7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center. A total of 10,000 runners are expected for Sunday’s California International Marathon and CIM Relay– over 9,000 marathoners and nearly 1,000 relay runners.
Here are the scheduled road closures, mile-by-mile and including major streets, for Sunday’s 26.2-mile race from Folsom to the state Capitol:
MILE - CLOSURE TIME : LOCATION
1 – 5:20 a.m.-7:50 a.m.: Oak Ave.
2 – 5:20-8:05: American River Canyon Dr.
5:20-8:05: Santa Juanita & Oak Ave.
3 – 6:50-8:20: April & Oak Ave.
4 – 6:50-8:30: Beach & Oak Ave.
5 – 6:50-8:45: Wachtel
6 – 6:50-9:00: Fair Oaks Blvd. & Oak Ave.
7 – 6:50-9:15: Woodlake Hills & Fair Oaks Blvd.
6:50-9:30:Greenback Lane
8 – 7:05-9:30: Niessen & Fair Oaks Blvd.
7:05-9:40: Madison Ave.
9 – 7:05-9:50: Dorian & Fair Oaks Blvd.
10 – 7:05-10:00: Main & Fair Oaks Blvd.
7:05-10:05: Sunrise Blvd.
11 – 7:05-10:15: New York Ave. & Fair Oaks Blvd.
12 – 6:20-10:30: Hollister & Fair Oaks Blvd.
13 – 6:20-10:45: California & Fair Oaks Blvd.
6:20-11:00: Manzanita Ave.
14 – 7:30-11:00: Grant & Fair Oaks Blvd.
15 – 7:30-11:15: Kenneth Ave. & Fair Oaks Blvd.
16 – 7:30-11:30: Garfield & Fair Oaks Blvd.
17 – 7:30-11:45: Paloma & Fair Oaks Blvd.
18 – 7:30-12:00: Saverien & Fair Oaks Bvd.
19 – 7:30-12:15: Coronado and Fair Oaks Blvd.
7:30-1:00: Watt Ave.
20 – 7:30- 1:00: Hawthorne & Fair Oaks Blvd.
21 – 7:30-1:00: University & Fair Oaks Blvd.
8:00-1:00: Howe Ave.
22 – 8:00-1:00: Carlson & J Street
23 – 8:00-1:30: Bear Flag & J Street
24 – 8:00-1:45: 33rd & J Street
8:00-1:45: Alhambra Blvd.
8:00-2:00: L Street
25 – 8:00-2:05: 22nd & L Street
7:00-2:10: 15th & L Street
26 – 7:00-2:15: 8th & L Street
Additional road closures and important information listed below.
- The Capitol Mall between 8th St and 9th St will be closed beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, 12/3 until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, 12/5.
- 10th St between N St and L St will be closed beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, 12/3 until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, 12/5.
- 9th St between N St and L St will be closed beginning at 2:00pm on Friday, 12/3 until 5:00pm on Sunday, 12/5.
- 8th St between N St and L St will be closed beginning at noon on Saturday, 12/4 until 5:00pm on Sunday, 12/5
- Folsom-Auburn Road to the north of the start area is closed to through traffic at the intersection of Eureka Road beginning at 3:00 a.m. and reopening at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, 12/5
- Regular traffic will be allowed on the course by the law enforcement personnel reopening the course according to the times in the table above.
A race day spectator guide can be found online at runcim.org.
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
Marathon and Marathon Relay runs from Folsom to State Capitol on Sunday, Dec. 5
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – The 38th annual California International Marathon, organized by the Sacramento Running Association, is set to return on Sunday, Dec. 5 after a year off due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The field of over 9,000 marathon runners and nearly 1,000 CIM Relay runners is expected to fill 7,500 hotel room nights and provide an estimated $10 million economic impact to the Sacramento region.
"We are thrilled to be able to bring back this important civic amenity to Sacramento,” said Scott Abbott, Executive Director of the Sacramento Running Association. “The year off in 2020 amplified the importance that this event plays in the fabric of this community–from philanthropy to tourism to community health to sport and entertainment culture. The 2021 CIM, our 'Comeback Edition', expects to deliver in all of those areas and continue to be a source of pride for our region."
All local COVID-19 health and safety protocols will be followed throughout race weekend, including masking regulations and limited indoor capacities to ensure a safe event for everyone involved. Additionally, all marathon and CIM Relay participants are required to show either proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken with-in 72 hours of race day.
“It has been great to see all the runners out there training for CIM over the past few months,” said Darrell Steinberg, Mayor of Sacramento. “We are not out of this pandemic yet, but as long as we follow science and common sense safety precautions we can come back together in person and celebrate the achievements of all those who have worked so hard to prepare. Good luck to everyone participating on Sunday!”
Spectators are encouraged to line the course running through Folsom, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Carmichael and Sacramento, and are required to follow all local COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including masking when with-in six feet of others.
In addition to the impact on local hotels, restaurants and retailers, the event helps raise over $500,000 for local charities and community organizations through leveraged fundraising and direct giving every year. The CIM’s charity registration entries alone directly fund $50,000 of CIM donations to official race partner charities, including chief beneficiary UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
“UC Davis Children’s Hospital is proud to partner with the Sacramento Running Association and grateful to be the chief beneficiary of the California International Marathon,” said Satyan Lakshminrusimha, chair of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief of UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “Funds raised will benefit the sick and injured children that we care for in our Sacramento community and beyond.”
A CIM spectator guide, race day runner tracking, and live results can be found on runcim.org.
Race Day Sunday Dec, 5
7:00 am - CIM Start - Folsom Dam
11:00 am - CIM Awards Ceremony - Finish Festival Stage
Other Events During Race Week
Friday, December 3, 12:00-7:00 pm - CIM Expo - Sacramento Convention Center
Saturday, December 4, 9:00 am-5:00 pm - CIM Expo - Sacramento Convention Center
Saturday, December 4, 11:45 am - Top Athletes Bib Reveal - CIM Expo
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
SAFE Credit Union Selects Its First Woman President/CEO
FOLSOM, CA (MPG) – SAFE Credit Union announced that Dave Roughton will retire as President and CEO effective December 31, 2022. Roughton will be succeeded by Executive Vice President/Chief Credit Officer Faye Nabhani, who will be the first woman President/CEO in the credit union’s history.
“On behalf of SAFE Credit Union, thank you to Dave Roughton for his vision and leadership to build a strong credit union and position it for success into the future,” said Terrance Tremelling, Chair of the SAFE Credit Union Board of Directors. “SAFE has been fortunate to have Dave at the helm for the past six years. Under his stewardship, SAFE doubled in size from $2.14 billion to over $4.3 billion, and from 192,000 members to more than 240,000. Dave also led a momentous investment in the Greater Sacramento region by partnering with the City of Sacramento to secure the naming rights to the SAFE Credit Union Convention & Performing Arts District.”
Roughton also inaugurated diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at SAFE; expanded technological solutions benefiting the credit union and its members; and deepened the credit union’s influence on the community through expanded philanthropic and advocacy measures. Roughton further strengthened SAFE’s ties to the regional business community through serving as Chair of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. He fostered a workplace culture that led SAFE being named a Best Place to Work in the Sacramento region for four years in a row.
“It has been an immense pleasure serving SAFE Credit Union, our members, and our employees through these amazing years of growth,” Roughton said. “My leadership philosophy centered on the principle of putting people first, always. Faye joins me in supporting SAFE’s mission of delivering financial health for all. Her executive experience, warm leadership style, and clear vision will successfully take SAFE into its next era.”
Faye Nabhani joined SAFE in 2016 as Executive Vice President/Chief Credit Officer, overseeing the credit union’s successful lending programs, including mortgage, auto, credit, and commercial. During her tenure, she oversaw a 52% growth in SAFE’s loan portfolio. She accomplished this remarkable growth with minimal FTE increases by consolidating loan operations around the organization into one team structure. She also implemented technological upgrades to facilitate online loan applications. In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nabhani led efforts that provided more than $250 million in assistance to SAFE members through no- and low-interest emergency loans, forbearance, partial payment programs, waived fees, and the Paycheck Protection Program.
Faye provides organizational leadership, strategic vision, and lending expertise as a key member of SAFE’s Executive Management Team. Faye is also the strategic leader and executive sponsor of SAFE’s core system conversion to Fiserv DNA, which will be completed in April 2022. As part of the leadership transition, Nabhani will become President as of January 1, 2022, and take on the combined President/CEO role on January 1, 2023. She will be the first woman President/CEO in SAFE’s 80-plus-year history.
“I am deeply honored to be the next President/CEO of SAFE Credit Union,” Nabhani said. “SAFE is a strong credit union and key corporate citizen in the region. I look forward to continuing to find new and innovate ways to better serve SAFE’s members. SAFE will always be a partner to our community through philanthropy, corporate engagement, and by providing financial health to our members. Dave has pushed SAFE to new heights and I’m looking forward to guiding it through its next chapter.”
Prior to joining SAFE, Faye worked for KeyPoint Credit Union in Santa Clara, California, for 22 years in a variety of credit operations and management positions, including most recently as their Chief Lending Officer. Faye has served as a member of various boards of directors, including MBL LLC (now CUBG), as an Executive Committee Member of the Credit Union National Association Lending Council, and as a board member of the Folsom Tourism and Economic Development Corporation (2016-2018).
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern California with over $4 billion in assets and over 240,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person services for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. www.safecu.org
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. has certified the results of the September 14, 2021, California Gubernatorial Recall Election.
The results for the question of whether to recall Governor Gavin Newsom are:
Voting Yes ‒ 4,894,473
Voting No ‒ 7,944,092
While the question of recalling Governor Newsom failed, the results for the replacement candidates are required to be tabulated. The results for each candidate may be found https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/statewide-election-results/2021-ca-gov-recall/statement-vote
“Despite the ongoing uncertainties of the pandemic, I am encouraged that millions of Californians were still committed to participating in the California Gubernatorial Recall Election – nearly 3.5 million more than participated in the 2003 recall election,” Secretary Weber said. “As I’ve said before, democracy matters to Californians, and giving them the option to participate early by mail, at secure drop-off locations, or safely in person has clearly reinforced their commitment to making their voices heard.
“I also want to commend the state’s elections officials and poll workers for stepping up to ensure the recall ran so smoothly. The short timeline and the logistics of providing voter information, ensuring access to the election, securing the ballots, and protecting the health and safety of voters were challenging endeavors. Their effectiveness at delivering an accessible, fair, and secure election under these conditions deserves our respect. I am proud to serve with them in the administration of our democracy.”
By-the-Numbers
22,057,154
Total registered voters (as of August 30, 2021), 88.87 percent of eligible voters — a state record.
12,892,578
Total votes cast. This is 3,479,084 more votes than were cast in the last statewide gubernatorial recall election in 2003.
11,733,429
Total vote-by-mail ballots, 91.01 percent of all votes cast.
58.45 %
Turnout percentage of registered voters
United We Shine
12-Day Giving Campaign to Support Local Nonprofits
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - This holiday season, the local United Way is shining a light on its nonprofit partners working to end poverty in the Capital Region. Each day for 12 days starting Nov. 29, United Way’s United We Shine campaign will feature a different nonprofit partner that is working to build equity and end poverty in the region, including a specific need each is facing and how local residents can help. To participate, follow United Way California Capital Region on social media. For more: YourLocalUnitedWay.org/post/United-We-Shine.
“We are proud of the work we do at United Way to bring nonprofits together to work toward equitable systems and reduce poverty so all families in our region can thrive,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “After another difficult year, we can come together this holiday season to generously support the important work being done in our community. Over these 12 days, I hope everyone will join us in supporting as many of our local nonprofits as possible.”
Featured nonprofits include Community Housing Opportunities Corporation, St. Vincent de Paul Sacramento Diocesan Council, Urban Strategies Inc., Computers 4 Kids, Yolo County Children’s Alliance, Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency, Bless Child Community Association, YMCA, Sacramento County Gifts from the Heart, New Morning Youth and Family Services, and Empower Yolo. On Nov. 30, Giving Tuesday, United Way will share more about the work it is doing and how local residents can get involved.
For nearly 100 years, United Way California Capital Region has brought local people together to make community change happen. With a mission to build stronger, healthier and more compassionate communities, the local United Way starts at square one: helping every family succeed so their community can too. Serving Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, the local United Way is working to meet its 20-year commitment to significantly reduce poverty in the region by helping kids excel in school, investing in families, creating meaningful partnerships and organizing to lift impacted families. For more information or to make a donation, visit YourLocalUnitedWay.org.
Fighting Fire with Flight
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - From childhood, Dale Head wanted to be a fireman. His uncle, Herbert Escott, fought fires under Carmichael’s legendary fire chief Danny Donovan. His father (also Dale Head) served Sac City Fire Department. Nine years into his own firefighting career, work-related injuries caused Dale junior’s early retirement.
He’s nevertheless been battling conflagrations for the last 12 years. The Reno-based owner of MindWinder Aviation scrambles when fire bells ring. Flying for the US Forest Service, he carries tactical observers as crew. From 1500 feet above, their reports help coordinate retardant drops from tankers. “We might not be in the thick of it, but flying above fires is not without risks,” says Head. “Helping fight fires is a mission I’m passionate about.”
Also a professional singer, trumpet player and recording artist, Head leads his 17-piece MindWinder Orchestra in gigs all over the nation. His earth and sky careers have similar elements. “When you’re flying a plane, there are rigid rules,” he explains. “Within them, you’re free to make decisions to manage your flight. Playing jazz also has rules. When you know them, there’s no end to choices you can make. You tune an engine like you tune a horn. Two jet-prop engines out of sync are like two trumpets out of tune. When they’re running right, they hum like a horn section in harmony.”
Though the San Juan School District student picked up a trumpet at 11, his real forte was singing. “I sang my heart out riding in the car with my mom,” he recalls. “I did all the Jackson 5 songs. Before my voice changed, I sounded like Marilyn McCoo from the 5th Dimension.” As a pro singer, he supported gigging around Northern California with various retail jobs. Family tradition nevertheless called: at 27, Head began a Sac City Fire Department career.
Back injuries‒exacerbated by kicking in doors‒eventually extinguished that ambition. He and lawyer wife Winnie moved to Grass Valley and got used to the summer-long roar of aerial tankers on firefighting missions. “I was still a firefighter at heart,” Head says. “I missed being around people you could trust your life to. I decided to get into fire aviation.”
Years of flight studies later, Head occupied a SkyWest Airline cockpit as captain. He eventually bought a small aircraft and offered his services to the US Forest Service. In 12 seasons, the pilot has flown thousands of hours enabling observers to pinpoint where fires can be slowed by retardant drops. “Everything we do is geared to helping crews on the ground,” he explains. “They’re ones who put out fires; it’s a brave, exhausting and anonymous calling.
“We’re privileged as a community to have firefighters. We’re free to enjoy our lives knowing we have a trained, passionate force that’s ready to aid us. I’m also in awe of the crews who drop retardant on fires. They work with amazing precision.”
Though the pandemic has curtailed two years of musical enterprises, Captain Head’s 2020/21 fire seasons were hectic. “From June to August this year, I got home one Saturday,” he says. “You’re on duty up to 14 hours a day and it’s grueling. You can be eating lunch when the phone rings‒and you’re off. On the ground or flying above the flames, everyone who fights wildfires is ready for the first rains.
“I have two passions. One to serve my community, the other to entertain. Disciplines of one job help the other‒if you can stay calm fighting a fire, you can keep your cool in the middle of a performance. Pilots think musicians are flaky. Musicians think pilots are square. And here I am in the middle. When I’m flying, I flip a switch and my instruments are part of me. And when I’m singing or playing my horn, I can tell another pretty story.”
Learn about Dale Head’s enterprises at www.MindWinder.net