After a long night of late work well into the morning, I was in a deep sleep. The repeating ring of the telephone wakened me. I received an alarming telephone call from a close friend frantically trying to get my attention. She said “just get up and turn on the TV. You won’t believe what is happening”. She was absolutely right.

As I sat there on my white leather couch in my small rental home in Roseville, tuned in as the world was tuned it, to the disaster in New York as it unfolded live for everyone to see. We were all New Yorkers that day.

I had previously lived in Manhattan. After returning to California, I traveled to New York City often to teach classes at The Learning Exchange and spiritual training centers as a part of my ministry. I also met with many clients as a spiritual life coach each visit. Through these visits I became friends with so many great people who lived in The City. I stayed at their homes, got to know their families, learned about their lives, loves, and fears. Many of them worked in the immediate area of the Twin Towers.

As I sat there watching the towers fall along with the rest of the world, I had no idea if any of those friends or members of their families were being crushed under the weight of that destruction. It was a personal anguish and horror felt by millions simultaneously. It was a grief embedded forever. And we as a nation vowed to never forget.

Everything changed for everyone during those hours. Terrorism had come to our shores, and those whom we had charged to protect us failed miserably. We have been paying for their failures ever since.

And for those who paid the ultimate price, giving their lives to save others inside and around the Twin Towers? And for all the First Responders who witnessed the death and destruction at the end of their fingertips and right before their own eyes? What did they get from so many after only 20 years? Many forgot.

Yes, life goes on, but as individuals we do not. Our time is limited. We are here to understand life, liberty, love, and loss. We are here to understand joy and grief. These become the web that builds our evolution, our DNA that we pass on to those who follow us. If we do not teach our emotional history to our children, good and bad, they will suffer repeating our mistakes and the feeling of betrayal from us for not forewarning them.

Enter our current day Neon Nation. Have we lost our way in one generation? Does the “Shiny thing” distract us so easily because it is too hard for us to focus on the truth and explaining it to others as our society crumbles around us?

A few months after 9/11 I traveled back to New York to offer support to any of those friends who needed it. I traveled to the site while the clean-up was still underway. I saw the scorched church and cemetery. There were still many “Missing” flyers posted to walls and lampposts. I saw the many memorials around the site. When I found one memorial that listed all of the names of those lost I read every one of them. I thank God to this day that not one of my friends was on that list.

The history of Ground Zero is complex and still unfolding. The more the years fall away the more important it is that we reveal as much as we can about that fateful morning and all that led up to it.

When someone kills your son or daughter, husband or wife, it doesn’t matter what political party they belong to. It doesn’t matter what religion they belong to. It doesn’t matter their motive. All that matters is your loved one is gone forever. Grief takes over. And no one can ever really fill that void. It never truly heals. You just learn how to manage it in the silent times, alone with your Creator.

All those who lost a loved one during those tragic days only asked one thing from us. Never Ever Forget. 

On this remembrance weekend 20 years later, take a few moments in silence to share the grief and the weight of the losses experienced by so many on September 11, 2001. If only with that simple action, love will prevail.

“I appreciate and thank the Board for the trust and support they have shown me”

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Following a Closed Session Board meeting, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to appoint Interim County Executive Ann Edwards as County Executive. The appointment is effective Sep. 14, 2021.

 Edwards is the first woman appointed to the County Executive position.

“I am pleased to announce that the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Ann Edwards as County Executive,” said Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor Sue Frost. “Ann has proven to be an outstanding Interim County Executive and has provided stability to the organization, improved communication and built trust within and outside of the organization.” 

Edwards’ accomplishments in her seven month tenure as Acting/Interim County Executive include increasing transparency in the budget process, organizing a process for a spending plan to provide assistance to both the County and the community with the American Rescue Plan Act funds and increasing engagement with local government and community-based organizations.

 “I appreciate and thank the Board for the trust and support they have shown me,” said Edwards. “I commit to looking at the County organization in new ways, to pursue a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, increase public transparency and engagement and enrich the County’s organizational culture.” 

 Edwards’ current and upcoming initiatives include the formation of a Public Safety and Justice Agency, increased public engagement in and a new budget process for FY 2022-23 and implementing implicit bias training countywide.

 Edwards has served as Acting County Executive since December 2020 and Interim County Executive since February 2021. Before that, she worked as Sacramento County’s Director of Human Assistance since 2014 and worked as the Director for Social Services for Solano County. Prior to Solano County, she worked for Sacramento County between 1998 and 2013, serving as Chief Deputy County Executive for Countywide Services, Director of Health and Human Services, Director of Mental Health Services, Division Manager for Adult Mental Health and Program Manager for Child and Family Mental Health. 

 Edwards holds a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The community has lost an icon. After a long, hard fought battle with cancer, Citrus Heights Community Marching Band (CHCMB), Founder and Program Director, Kathy Cook passed on August 25, 2021.

“Next to her dedication to her husband of 51 years and fellow Program Director Bill Cook, The Citrus Height’s Community Marching Band was Kathy’s finest achievement,” said Band Director, Kody Tickner.

Kathy and her husband Bill launched the community marching band back in 2005, bringing together musicians of all ages ranging from age 7 to 70. The band is well known for its numerous performances throughout the community and Sacramento region.

While hearts are heavy from the tremendous loss to the community, comfort comes from the great legacy she leaves behind. After a recent band gathering paying tribute to Kathy, Band Director Kody Tickner shared with us:

“It was a momentous occasion as Executive director Bill Cook unveiled the crowning achievement of his 55+ year career in construction; a new home for the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band.”

The new 3400-square-foot facility, located at 8436 Jewel Way, Citrus Heights, will be a permanent home for the organization, donated in full by Bill and Kathy Cook. In their honor, the facility has been named The Bill and Kathy Cook Performing Arts Center. The band will host its first practice on September 13, 2021.

County Supervisor Sue Frost had this to say about the impact Kathy had on others:

“Kathy Cook has always been the kindest soul and an inspirational leader who somehow engaged young and old in the joys of music and life. She will forever be remembered by me as the mother of joyful music in our Citrus Heights Community. She has always been loved by all and will be sorely missed.”

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - A joint investigation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office resulted in a search warrant executed on August 23, 2021, at the Natomas home of Allison Illahi. During the course of the search, officers found a large cache of narcotics, extended magazines, ammunition, evidence of EDD fraud, and a ghost gun. A ghost gun is a gun assembled from non-traceable parts. These guns contain no serial number and are often altered to fire in a fully automatic mode.

The seized narcotics included 1.2 lbs. of methamphetamine, 19.8 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of heroin, 24 grams of cocaine, and approximately 400 oxycodone pills. Officers also located evidence of weapons trafficking including an unregistered firearm, 42 illegal extended magazines, a large amount of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, and other firearm conversion kits.

Additionally, officers found 14 fraudulent EDD cards, a large amount of EDD paperwork, and a notebook with the personal identifying information for more than 30 victims. Law enforcement has determined that the suspect obtained more than $536,000 in fraudulent EDD funds.

The Sacramento District Attorney’s Office charged Allison Illahi with five counts of drugs sales, 40 counts related to EDD fraud, 42 counts of possessing extended magazines, and one count of gun trafficking.

According to District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, “We continue to see staggering amounts of fraudulent EDD activity combined with illegal firearms in our communities.  This dangerous combination undoubtedly has fueled a dramatic increase in violent crime throughout the state. Sacramento’s law enforcement agencies will continue to partner together to investigate EDD fraud and the havoc it brings to our community.”

The Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow will give every guest an excellent view of the performances and ensure that everyone has their own personal space from which to enjoy it

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) -The California Capital Airshow (CCA), which is held annually at Mather Airport, will feature a new event this year: The Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow.

Before the weekend-long aviation festival on September 25 and 26, the 2021 California Capital Airshow will kick off with the Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow on Friday, September 24. For this new event, attendees will park their vehicles in the largest parking lot on Mather Airport’s west cargo ramp for a tailgate party featuring performances by more than 25 military jets. The show is billed as more up close and intimate than the traditional airshow—with three action-packed hours of wild, loud flights by military aircraft from both the United States and Canada.

“Drive-In Airshows were successful across the country last year,” said CCA Director of Operations Angela Terry, “so we thought we would give our attendees the option to enjoy the airshow in a new format! It also gives fans who aren’t quite ready to gather another way to enjoy the Airshow!”

The format of the Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow will give every guest an excellent view of the performances and ensure that everyone has their own personal space from which to enjoy it. This new event will be a very different atmosphere, and it might appeal to more people who want a fast-paced, intense experience.

If the event proves to be popular, it could become a regular feature of the Airshow. “We have never done it before so we look forward to getting feedback from our loyal fans,” said Terry.

Gates will open at 2:00 PM on September 24, with opening ceremonies scheduled to start at 3:30 PM. Only 2,000 tickets are available for this unique event. Tickets are purchased per vehicle, with up to six people included in each ticket.

The ticket covers a parking spot and an area right next to the vehicle for tailgating where guests can set up their chairs. There will be portable restrooms and handwash stations positioned throughout the area, and the restrooms will be cleaned throughout the event. 

No food will be sold on-site, so guests are encouraged to bring food, drinks, and coolers. But grills and BBQs aren’t allowed, due to the presence of jet fuel vapor.

CCA is also partnering with local restaurants—Zak’s Bar & Grill, Tacoa Tacos, Petali, BurgerIM, Straw Hat Pizza, Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, Taqueria La Bonita, and Wing Stop—so guests can order food ahead of time and pick it up on the way to the show.

Tickets are only available for purchase online ahead of the show. For more information about the Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow, visit https://californiacapitalairshow.com/friday-afterburnin-drive-in-airshow/.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County Board of Supervisors last month voted for the five-year-old Carmichael Property and Business Improvement District to continue for a further 10 years.

Started at the instigation of Carmichael Corridor businesses, the PBID is one of 17 similar agencies established throughout the County in recent years. These groups aim to improve day-to-day merchant operations in their districts. The Carmichael fiefdom extends through three miles of Fair Oaks Boulevard and surrounding streets. Property owners are assessed to provide a PBID budget: this will reach $500,000 next year.

“In renewing our entity, we had the opportunity to expand our boundaries,” explains the group’s Executive Director Rachael Taylor. “By January next year, we’ll have a larger footprint, including businesses around Winding Way and on El Camino Avenue. Our increased budget will allow more security, beautification and maintenance services.”

Tenure renewal followed many months of hard campaigning by Taylor and volunteer directors. Under California law, new PBIDs have five years to achieve objectives and gain stakeholder support. “Sixty-six percent of members voted in favor of our renewing and expanding,” reports Taylor. “We felt it was a great result. It indicated property owners like what we’ve done.”

Moving forward, Beautification is a high priority. Hopes for 2022 include improvements to the Fair Oaks/Marconi region, as well as the challenging “Y” intersection of Fair Oaks and Manzanita. PBID Chair Nick Bloise projects a coalition with Carmichael Water District and horticultural experts to establish desert-style greenspaces. Known as xeriscaping, the trend requires minimal maintenance and water. Lawn is replaced by rocks and mulch; plant species are selected to endure without irrigation. “It’s our goal to lead the way in making a beautiful landscape without a need for water,” says Bloise. “We also feel xeriscaping discourages illegal campers.”

During its first five years, PBID effort has focused on weighty community issues. Its budget enables seven-day-per-week mobile security, that counters trespassing and illegal camping. Under PBID aegis, 12,000 cubic feet of trash have been hauled from the corridor. More than 1200 abandoned shopping carts have been returned to businesses.  Taylor and co recently helped the Sheriff identify a graffitist whose persistent scrawling required many thousands of dollars in vandalism repair.

The District last year provided a series of $1000 “micro grants” to help small merchants pivot to survive COVID shutdowns. “We recognize the difficulties people are experiencing in making ends meet during unusual times,” says Taylor. “Next year we’ll have more muscle as a steward organization for the community. We’re here to serve and to make Carmichael a more prosperous place.” 

Carmichael PBID meetings are open to the public via Zoom.  For information, visit www.dsicovercarmichael.com

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – During the month of August Valley Sculpture Artists (VSA) has been partnering with Allied Ceramics Art Institute Studios and Gallery (ACAI) to offer a three-dimension sculpture art show, entitled “Sculptural Diversity” to the community.

On Saturday, August 21, two Herberholz Awards for Sculpture were presented to two locally renowned artists, recognizing their body of work in three-dimensional (3D) art and service to the community. VSA president, Sue Anne Foster presented the awards at a reception with over 100 family, friends and fellow artists in attendance. Phill Evans received the award for 2020, as there were no art shows during that year, and Del Swanson was the 2021 recipient.

Don Herberholz was a prolific sculptor, instructor and author. A professor of Art at Sacramento State University, he created and taught Art for over 50 years. His sculptures can be found at many locations throughout Sacramento County including the Carmichael Library, and Crocker Art Museum. He and his wife Barbara, also a former Sacramento State professor, had resided in both Carmichael and Gold River. She said in a 2007 article in the Sacramento Bee, “He was just born inspired.” Herberholz passed away in 2006 at the age of 83.

In 2004 VSA featured a retrospective of his work and set up an annual award to honor the life and work of this dedicated artist. Herberholz selected the first three recipients. Today former recipients and board members continue this legacy. The Herberholz award “acknowledges exemplary work and celebrates extraordinary contributions to our club or the community,” according to Foster. 

The 2020 award winner, Phill Evans says of his art, “I interpret people, places and things utilizing stone, metal, glass, wood and kinetic energy. Stones and rocks have shape, color and are tablets of geophysical history. Metal’s malleability forms structures with a permanence. Wood has a broad spectrum of utility and beautiful versatility. Kinetics propelled by wind, electrical force or physical contact expands the visual experience and heightens the excitement developing weight and balance solutions.

Del Swanson, the 2021 award recipient was born in Stockton, California and grew up in North Sacramento. He says, “Art has been a passion since early childhood. From wood carving in Boy Scouts to model making and sketching as a young child, it led me to graduate from Art Center College of Design with honors in 1968.  From there it was on to designing cars for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan and working on abstract painting for pleasure.  After having to relocate back to California and starting a business with my wife Carol, I started to use multiple mediums such as oil paint on canvas, foam wrapped with canvas and metal, sometimes mixing them.”

As a collector of Hopi Native American carvings (kachina dolls) Swanson wanted to make his own sculptures out of metal to honor these traditions. His first is Crow Mother and various others are on the way to being finished soon.

The gallery exhibition features more than a dozen artists, showing their 3D pieces in often-surprising combinations of wood, metal, pain, clay, fiber, stone, and bronze.

More and more sculptures are made out of ‘found objects’, and mechanical parts. One young artist in the show, PJ Kennedy, who does not see his art as work, creates his pieces from scrap metal of all sizes and shapes. Many of his pieces in the show are welded from discarded car engine parts. In his YouTube video he challenges his viewer to try it, “just weld two pieces together, then weld another one on it, and someone will call that art.  Anything can be art.”

Sculptural Diversity, showing at the ACAI Studios and Gallery at 7425 Winding Way, Fair Oaks, will conclude on August 30. Hours: Thursday the 26^th and Friday the 27^th 1-4 p.m. and Saturday the 28^th 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The art of Phill Evans and Maureen Gilli will be featured at ACAI in October. For ACAI art show schedule call 916-966-2453. For VSA contact Sue Anne Foster at 916-342-4293. 

Sources: ACAI: acaistudios.com; Phill Evans website: phillevans.com; ACAI Gallery curator Sandee Hancock; VSA president Sue Anne Foster