A Hoot at Effie Yeaw
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - An October 23 “Owl-o-ween” festival is designed to enrapture families at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Great horned owl Echo – a rescued animal ambassador – will star among bat, snake and hawk exhibits.
The open day is a COVID-sensitive version of the center’s annual fall festival. Usually a draw for at least 1500 people, the 2021 event requires pre-registration and will stagger attendance in two time slots: 10 am to 12:30 pm and 12:30 to 3 pm. Numbers will be limited in both sessions. Last year’s restructured festival sold out almost as soon as it was scheduled.
Masks and social distancing are recommended for human participants. Visitors will meet live critter ambassadors and learn about seasonal variations for plants and animals on the American River Parkway. With Halloween whimsey, giant Chinooks (many in death throes in nearby waters) will be reinvented as “Zombie salmon.” Insects are styled creepy-crawlies and bat exhibits are come under the cloak of “creatures of the night.” Vernal Pool educators from Sacramento’s Splash organization will provide a witches’ brew of live newts, frogs and salamanders. Save the Snakes will slither on board with rattlers and other scaley friends. A functioning beehive will feature a queen and her humming minions.
Craft activities will include tule grass doll-making. Native American exhibitors will demonstrate basket-weaving techniques. Though Halloween costumes are encouraged, the event is designated candy-free. Kids will go home with a pumpkin a-piece. Admission is $8 for 4 to11-year-olds; $10 for visitors aged 12 and up. All children must come with an adult.
The Effie Yeaw Nature Center and its 100-acre preserve is located in Ancil Hoffman Park. For information, visit www.sacnaturecenter.net
SSW Selects New Music and Artistic Director
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - After a thorough search for a new Music and Artistic Director for the Sacramento Symphonic Winds, the Board of Directors is proud to announce the selection of Dr. Matthew Morse as the new director of the ensemble.
Based on his resume, paper screening, and effective interview with the search committee, Dr. Morse reputably met the skills, experience, attributes, and education qualifications SSW was looking for in a new director and was selected by the SSW board to conduct the band in a live audition. The results of the formal evaluation survey and ranking by each band member made Dr. Morse the clear choice to become the third director of the Sacramento Symphonic Winds since its inception in 2002 by Dr. Les Lehr.
Dr. Morse comes to SSW with a varied background as a music educator and conductor. His 25 years of experience with United States Army and Military bands include: Commander and Conductor of the 3rd Infantry Division Band, Ft. Stewart, Georgia; the 1st Armored Division Band, Wiesbaden, Germany; and the 282nd Army Band, Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. In addition, Dr. Morse was the Associate Bandmaster and Director of the Jazz Knights, U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, New York, where he also conducted the Ceremonial Band and Concert Band. Dr. Morse also conducted bands at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Texas. He is currently the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Conducting in the School of Music at California State University, Sacramento."
There is no doubt that our former director Tim Smith will be missed by SSW band members. His tenure with the ensemble from 2015 through 2021 resulted in outstanding performances, educational rehearsals, and the development of new friends and colleagues. Tim built upon the tradition of excellence established by his predecessor and founder of SSW, Dr. Les Lehr, and his dedication to the band has been truly appreciated by all!
With any new Music and Artistic Director, some change is inevitable. The entire SSW family looks forward to continued growth and positive development of this proud ensemble as we welcome Dr. Morse to the podium and experience his leadership and vision for SSW’s future.
"We are proud to collaborate with ABC10’s Stand Against Hunger campaign..."
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Wells Fargo is stepping up as the title sponsor for ABC10’s Stand Against Hunger initiative. The decision to become the title sponsor was an easy one for Wells Fargo as it fits directly into their social responsibility commitment to make a positive impact in local communities. This sponsorship will help hundreds of thousands of residents in the greater Sacramento area put food on the table this holiday season.
“With over 700,000 people in need of help from these food banks, we have a responsibility to help our community get the resources they need,” says ABC10 General Manager Risa Omega. “I am excited that Wells Fargo is joining in our effort and helping us provide healthy food for our friends and neighbors in need.”
Running November 1 to November 30, 2021, Stand Against Hunger is ABC10’s holiday initiative to raise awareness about food insecurity and raise funds to help local food banks provide people in need with the meals they deserve. The initiative will support six local food banks in the Sacramento, Foothill and Valley region. Every dollar donated provides five meals for a family.
“Food banks have been doing phenomenal work to meet the increased needs due to COVID-19. Since the pandemic began, food banks are realizing a 30 to 35 percent increase in people served. And, with the holiday season quickly approaching, we know they need more help,” says Kevin Barri, Wells Fargo region bank president. “We are proud to collaborate with ABC10’s Stand Against Hunger campaign and bring much needed awareness not only to the work they do, but to help raise funds so they can continue to provide our neighbors nutritious meals.”
Participating food banks are:
- Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
- Feed El Dorado
- Placer Food Bank
- Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
- Second Harvest Greater Valley
- Yolo County Food Bank
- Yuba-Sutter Food Bank
Viewers and community members can participate by donating online to the food bank of their choice at www.abc10.com/standagainsthunger.
About ABC10
ABC10 is an Emmy-award winning multi-media company that provides news coverage and entertainment programs for residents in a 16-county area reaching across Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto, as well as in Sierra Nevada and foothill communities in California.
We are redefining journalism and content creation through empowering stories, impactful investigations and innovative marketing services. ABC10 is owned by TEGNA, Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), one of the most geographically diverse broadcasters in the U.S., with 49 television stations and two radio stations in 41 markets. For more information, go to www.abc10.com.
ACAI to Host Open Reception for October Artshow
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Hopefully, it will not be dark and stormy nor will the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe be in attendance, but you will find a bit of eerie curiosity at the soul of ACAI’s October exhibit at Allied Ceramics Art Institute (ACAI) Studios & Gallery.
The gallery is honored to showcase the captivating and curious artwork of Maureen Gilli and Phill Evans. If you are familiar with their work, you know you are in for a thrill.
According to Sandee Hancock, Encore Fellow at ACAI, Maureen Gilli, a resident of Citrus Heights “lives with an artful eye, curious and inspired by the world around her. Her pieces reflect her curiosity about the moon, mythology, cultures, and her fascination with owls, ravens, and other birds. Working in paper, collage, wood, and found objects, Maureen creates with a never-ending inquisitiveness and zeal. You will not want to miss her “Parliament of Owls” or her spirited paper sculptures. She and Phill have collaborated on several pieces, including her Moon Goddess.”
Phill Evans, who resides in Fair Oaks is a Northern California art icon, having received national awards in ornamental metals and animated displays along with national and international awards for kinetic public art and sculptural environments.
From delicate and charming figures to gates and furniture, especially chairs, tables, benches, bars, and even a beer brewing wagon, no two pieces are alike.
For over 50 years Evans has been creating an unending supply of sculptures including hundreds of kinetic art sculptures of all sizes, shapes and materials. Simply described, kinetic art is art in motion. Many of Evan’s pieces are set into motion by the wind or a mere touch. His kinetic works, many created from a combination of metal, stone, glass and wood, include water fountains of all sizes, wheels and a small “air force” of airplanes, all of which can be found throughout the country. His perfectly balanced kinetic or oscillating kinetic sculptures will leave you asking, “how does he do that?”
Evans will have pieces available at the show. His website, phillevans.com shows hundreds of pieces also available. His work can be seen at Fire and Rain Gallery in Folsom, California.
Join us at the gallery for an open reception with live music, food, and drinks. Come and meet the local artists and purchase their art.
The show runs through October 23, in person and through October 31, online. ACAI Gallery hours for drop-in visits are Wednesday through Friday 1-4 pm and Saturdays 11-3 pm. Appointments outside these hours can be booked on the ACAI online scheduling link.
ACAI Studios and Gallery is located at 7425 Winding Way, Fair Oaks, CA 95628. Phone (916) 966-2453.
This is a program of Allied Ceramics Arts Institute (ACAI) a 501 (C)(3) non-profit http://www.acaistudios.com
Shooting for Badges
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A few future Annie Leibovitzes might be among Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 3191. The nine and ten year-olds this summer elected to work for digital photography badges.
The art of effective group composition was the subject of the troop’s most recent lesson. After tips from a visiting expert, the young ladies set about using cell phones and tablets to stage their own group portraits. The group has 12 members and is led by troop mom, college English teacher Jenny Hawley. “They pick badge subjects they want to work on,” says Hawley. “For this one, we’re including action, animal and landscape photography and we’ll do some field trips. They’ll also have to learn about editing. At the end of the year, we’ll organize a photo art gallery and invite friends and family to look at the girls’ work. They have a great time at their projects. Several of them say they want to become photographers someday. They always work hard but we try to make projects fun for them.”
Troop 3191 membership is drawn from schools in Carmichael, Fair Oaks and Sacramento. Learn about Girl Scouts of USA at www.girlscouts.org
Driving Miss Dorothy
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A vision in pistachio and emerald turned heads at Carmichael Founders Day. Manufactured in 1953, Dave and Angela Darchuk’s Chevy Bel Air inhabited a garage for most of her life and hit Sacramento last month with only 18,000 miles on her clock.
“She belonged to a little old lady from Klamath Falls” explains new owner Dave Darchuk. “She paid $2700 for the Bel Air in 1953, but I guess she didn’t like to drive. When she died, her kids sold it. We found it in a field with a “For Sale” sign in Oregon six weeks ago. We paid $27,000 and had her trailered home to keep the mileage low. We named her Dot, because her first owner was Dorothy.”
The California State worker and his company director wife Angela are a quarter-century younger than their white-walled treasure. “Our son’s friends looked in her windows and said: “Wow, bench seats,” reports Dave. “They’ve never seen a car with those before.”
While Dot didn’t win trophies, her new owners won hundreds of friends at Founders Day and on the journey from Sacramento’s Pocket area. “There’s nothing like a classic car to put smiles on faces,” observes Angela Darchuk. “People give thumbs up; they yell questions at intersections like – ‘hey, what year is she?’ It’s hard to answer in traffic, when you’re concentrating on the lights and shifting gears. We just do a lot of smiling and waving.”
The couple’s vintage threads also garner attention. “People say they like our costumes,” she says. “We don’t consider our clothes costumes. We dress like this all the time.” The mom of two daily pins her hair in victory rolls; she heads to work in poodle skirts. What do her co-workers call her? “They call me boss,” smiles the 50s fashionista.
Husband Dave sports a pompadour and has a closet full of Desi Arnaz shirts. Says his wife of 22 years: “We love the classic style of 1950’s clothes – everything’s so clean and purposefully put together. I once asked my 17-year-old if we embarrassed him. He just shrugged and said he’d never known us any other way.”
Paint job, emerald visor – even the dashboard’s chrome tissue box‒Miss Dot cuts the ultimate dash of Americana. “Everything about her is authentic to the day she was manufactured,” says Angela. “Even for a classic car, that’s unusual.
“I like that we have records for every servicing she’s had,” explains Angela. “We’ll keep that up – so Dot’s story can continue wherever she goes.”
“I like the bench seats,” grins husband Dave. “So my wife can cuddle up to me wherever we go.”
Fallen Marine Laid to Rest
Exceptionally large public turnout for the procession
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Young families, school children and veterans lined much of Greenback Lane from Sunrise to Fair Oaks Boulevard on Thursday, Sept. 16, many holding U.S. and Marine Corps flags, as they paused to honor and remember fallen Marine Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, who was brought home and laid to rest at the Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary in Fair Oaks.
The Citrus Heights Police Department had encouraged the public to gather at the south end of Greenback Lane at the Sunrise Mall parking lot to show support as the public procession passed. The exceptionally large public turnout for the procession soon slowed traffic along Greenback Lane for more than an hour.
The procession, led by a motorcycle escort of the American Legion Patriot Guard, passed slowly under a large American flag which was arched over Greenback Lane by two Metro Fire ladder trucks, their crews saluting, before then turning into the memorial park.
Sgt. Gee along with 10 additional Marines, one Navy corpsman and one soldier were killed August 26, the result of an enemy attack while supporting evacuation operations outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 169 Afghans were also killed in the bombing, as they struggled to get into the airport and on flights out of the country.
The young Marine’s death hit home in Placer County, where she grew up and graduated from Oakmont High School before enlisting in 2017. Just days before her death, Sgt. Gee was one of several Marines seen cradling and comforting Afghan children prior to their evacuation from the country.
On August 21, Gee posted a photo of herself holding an Afghan child on Instagram. “I love my job,” she wrote.
Gee, a maintenance technician with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was sworn into the Marines less than a year ago and was promoted to sergeant three weeks before the Kabul attack, according to posts on her Instagram account.
A memorial service was later held Saturday, Sept. 18th at Bayside Church Adventure Campus on Stanford Ranch Road in Roseville.