A Hot Wheels Legends
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Sacramentan Riley Stair's 1970 Pontiac Trans Am won the Saturday, November 14th Hot Wheels Legends Tour finale and it will now be made into a Hot Wheels diecast car to be sold worldwide. Stair competed against 8 other tour stop winners (and a Mobil One Fan Favorite winner, and 4 foreign winners) for the right to have his Pontiac immortalized at Jay Leno's Garage in Burbank, California.
His car was voted the top car by four of the six judges, including Snoop Dogg and Hot Wheels Senior Design Manager, Brian Benedict. It wasn't something that the humble Stair saw happening, but he said excitedly “It feels great!”
“To be honest, I didn’t’ think I would win,” said Stair. “I was reserved to the fact that to get to that point was all that I needed. I'm ecstatic that my nephew is going to be able to play with a copy of the car I built."
Stair got the car bug from his father. “Growing up, I just gravitated to it,” said Stair. “Because of my Dad, I was always around cool older cars.” So why did a 20-something decide to go with an older car? “It was what I knew,” he said. “It’s from a time period when cars were more pure and honest.”
He bought the car in Chico from a Craigslist ad, and it had been sitting, not running for 8-10 years. Challenge accepted, “I picked out the car and started out to build something start to finish, and really pushed myself and my skills. I really tested myself with this car.”
A video of Riley’s Trans Am can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN-US2P1ie0
Moving Ideas
NEW YORK, NY (NAPSI) - If you’ll be decking the halls of a new home this holiday season, you won’t be alone. Every year, one in ten Americans moves to a new place. It can take some careful coordination in the best of times, but during the holidays—and a pandemic—it can be even more of a challenge. One of the most important things you can do is to stay connected to the people and things that matter most to you. For that, you’ll want your Internet, Cable TV and phone up and running, so you can continue to work and learn from home, celebrate in new ways with family and friends, watch all your favorite holiday movies and shop online for presents and festive foods.
Here are hints on how:
1.Take the proper pandemic precautions: Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disinfecting guidelines. While out for move-related errands, be sure to cover your mouth and your nose. Some festive holiday-themed masks are available. Also, wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
2.Stay Connected: A good move, even before you move, is to get in touch with the new home’s local Cable provider through www.smartmove.us and arrange for new Touchless Installs that let you safely connect your tech services yourself. The cable company delivers the equipment with step-by-step activation information so you can set up your system on your own, or with support over the phone, online, through chat functionality or video tutorials. In most cases, no technician needs to come into your house.
3.Keep up with holiday traditions—or create new one just for your new home: Use your new online connection to find delivery services to help stock your pantry and fridge. Your new house will feel more like home if you take time to watch your favorite holiday shows, maintain your exercise program (to feel fit and fight those holiday pounds). Make time to connect with people you care about through group video chats or viewing parties and show off your holiday decorations or virtually ring in the New Year.
Learn More
For further facts and tips, go to www.smartmove.us.
Long-Term Care Planning Made Easy: Find A Plan That’s Right For You
PLANNING A MORE SECURE FUTURE
NEW YORK, NY (NAPSI) -You may already be aware of what long-term care is, whether it’s through personal experience caregiving for a loved one who needs daily assistance, or knowing a family member or friend who requires more support as they age. As you learn more about long term care, consider the possibility that you may need this type of care in the future and start planning for it today.
Did you know that 70% percent1 of Americans older than age 65 will need long term care at some point in their lives? This means personal care and other related services provided on an extended basis to people who need help with everyday activities or supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Because long term care is not typically covered by health or other types of traditional insurance, it’s most often provided at home by adult children, other family members, and friends. Caregiving can be stressful, and often takes a toll on a caregiver’s health and well-being.
For this reason, you may want to research standalone long term care insurance like the coverage that is offered under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Designed specifically for the federal family, the FLTCIP provides insurance coverage that reimburses for long term care in places like a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or at home. Purchasing coverage under the FLTCIP may help to protect your savings and assets as well as remain independent in the event you ever need long term care.
Build a FLTCIP plan
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to long term care insurance, and it’s no secret that planning for your future care can be overwhelming. The FLTCIP’s new Guided Planner was designed to simplify the process of building a FLTCIP plan that’s right for you. When choosing a plan, consider the role your family may play in providing your care, the cost of care where you live or plan to retire, and how your coverage may contribute to your broader financial goals. The Guided Planner will guide you through these key considerations:
•Cost of care: Compare the national average cost of long term care with other locations in the United States. You can choose where you live, or plan to retire.
•Care options: Learn more about different care options, such as home care, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes, as well as the associated costs.
•Inflation protection: Understand the impact of inflation on the cost of care over time and see examples of how the FLTCIP’s inflation protection options can help.
The FLTCIP Guided Planner will help you build a plan based on three benefit choices. These, along with your age, will help you determine your coverage and premium:
•daily benefit amount
•benefit period
•inflation protection
Visit LTCFEDS.com to learn more about the Guided Planner and build a plan that’s right for you.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, insured by John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company, under a group long-term care insurance policy, and administered by Long Term Care Partners, LLC.
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Basics,” https://longtermcare.acl.gov/the-basics/ (accessed August 2020).
Own A Home? You May Be Wealthier Than You Think
MONEY MATTERS
NEW YORK, NY (NAPSI)—The economy has taken its toll on American households over the last year, leaving many homeowners strapped for cash—but you may not have to be among them. Here’s some good news: If you’ve lived in your home for some time or if it has appreciated in value, you may be sitting on substantial wealth in the form of home equity. In fact, The Wall Street Journal found that homeowners with mortgages hold nearly $10 trillion in home equity thanks to a decade of rising home prices.
If meeting financial obligations is straining your cash resources, now is a good time to explore tapping into your home equity. Here are three options, including an innovation that might be right for you:
Home Equity Loans
A home equity loan is one with a fixed interest rate over a fixed term, using your home equity as collateral. Lenders will take a number of factors into consideration including your combined loan-to-value ratio, the appraised value of your home, and your own credit history. Some homeowners like this option because they can accommodate fixed monthly payments and the additional debt burden. However an increasing number of homeowners have found lenders have tightened their criteria and are unable to qualify.
Home Value Investments
A Home Value Investment, also called home equity sharing, is an innovative offering that emerged 4 years ago. Companies, such as Noah, which offer this product provide upfront funding in exchange for a share of your home’s value. Unlike a home equity loan, there are no monthly payments over the period of the investment—typically 10 years. At the end of the term, you buy out the investment by refinancing, selling, or with savings. The amount you owe is based on your home value, whether it has gone up or gone down. Some homeowners like this option because it does not require monthly payments or add more debt to their credit reports. However, Home Value Investments are only available in select places, so you should check your eligibility.
Cash Out Refinancing
When you refinance your mortgage to take cash out of your home, you replace your existing mortgage with a larger mortgage, often at a lower rate. To take advantage of a lower rate, you’ll pay origination fees and likely have higher monthly payments over time. In times of economic uncertainty, if your home declines in value, you could end up with a mortgage that exceeds your home value.
Learn More
For further information on options to access your home equity, visit www.Noah.co.
“Hoop to Feed the Hungry” at Clutch City Academy
ORANGEVALE, CA, (MPG) – Clutch City Academy is excited to announce the 1st annual Hoop to Feed the Hungry youth basketball camps taking place November 23rd & 24th at Casa Roble High School. Athletes grades 4th-12th from the Sacramento region are welcome to attend for free. Clutch City asks that each athlete bring one bag of non-perishable food to be donated to the Orangevale Food Bank, Twin Lakes Food Bank, and Sacramento Food Bank. Space is limited to 50 athletes for each day of camp and we expect spots to fill up very quickly. Pre-registration is required at www.clutchcityacademy.com.
Clutch City Academy plans on making this annual tradition in the Orangevale community with the intention of teaching the next generation of athletes the virtues of thankfulness and gratitude and providing food and financial resources to local food banks to ensure needs are met in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
With this past year being tough on local kids with distance learning and youth sports leagues canceled, Clutch City believes this is an incredible opportunity during their Thanksgiving break to get outside and exercise and learn about having an “Attitude of Gratitude” through every season and finding thankfulness for the blessings in their lives.
Clutch City expects these camps to make a huge impact on the local youth and community and is asking local businesses and organizations to sponsor the local youth attending the camp to cover camps expenses and the remaining proceeds will be donated to the Orangevale Food Bank, Twin Lakes Food Bank, and Sacramento Food Bank. To get involved and make a difference in the next generation of athletes, please email clutchcityacademy@gmail.com for more information on sponsorship opportunities.
Clutch City Academy was co-founded by NBA champion and former Sacramento Kings player, Pete Chilcutt. The goal and purpose of the academy is to promote the mental and physical development of youth in the Greater Sacramento region through the game of basketball, with a mission of empowering the next generation of athletes to develop high character and moral standards, a sense of competitiveness and fair play, an attitude of service towards others, and a deep drive to reach their God-given potential. Clutch City welcomes underprivileged youth to our academy through scholarships, giving them a much-needed and valuable opportunity to learn the game of basketball and compete.
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Board of Supervisors today approved a resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis in Sacramento County.
The resolution, brought forth by District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair Phil Serna, pledges to promote racial equity while shaping policies, appropriating resources, implementing programs, and issuing directives, among other actions.
“Sacramento County is one of the nation’s most diverse communities, and as such, all its citizens should have the opportunity to live their lives free from systemic racism,” said Serna. “Research has demonstrated that racism adversely impacts the physical and mental health of people of color. The resolution we passed today acknowledges Sacramento County’s commitment to face this crisis head-on through fair and just governance and service delivery.”
The resolution committed to ensure the consistent collection, analysis and reporting of demographic, socioeconomic and public health data to measure progress toward eliminating racial inequities; to design, develop and deploy community-based alternatives to prevent trauma and eliminate harm associated with racial inequity; and advocate for local, state and federal policies that improve health and wellness in communities of color and support legislation that advances racial equity.
Additionally, the resolution established the intent of the Board to create, by a separate resolution, a “Sacramento County Racial Equity Policy Cabinet,” that would issue reports to the Board and be responsible for promoting coordination, cooperation and collaboration across County departments and the community to promote racial equity.
Connect this Holiday Season and Help Save Lives, Give Blood, Platelets or COVID Plasma
Three Ways to Connect this Holiday Season and Help Save Lives: Give Blood, Platelets or COVID Plasma
All those who come to give and boost a fragile blood supply will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card by email
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - As the pandemic causes people to skip traveling and change family gatherings during the holidays, there are still three ways to commemorate the giving season and help support patients in need: donate blood, platelets or COVID plasma, also called convalescent plasma. Donating is another way families can come together to share their good health with patients in need, while socially distancing and practicing other safety measures. As a thank you, all those who come to give Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card by email.
Blood Donation is an Essential Activity
The U.S. Surgeon General and Federal Emergency Management Agency have designated blood, platelet and convalescent plasma donation as essential activities during the pandemic. Right now, the need for donations is great as approximately 3,000 Vitalant blood drives in the western division have already been canceled since spring, including those in the Sacramento region due to schools transitioning to virtual learning and businesses in work-from-home situations. Yet the patient need continues.
Emergency Need for Convalescent Plasma Donations
As new coronavirus cases surge across the U.S., the need for antibody-rich convalescent plasma donations from those recovered from COVID-19 has reached emergency levels. Antibodies within convalescent plasma can give an extra boost to patients battling the disease. People from the same household who have recovered from COVID-19 are encouraged to help patients by giving together.
All Donations are Tested for COVID-19 Antibodies
Vitalant tests all blood and platelet donations for COVID-19 antibodies and informs donors of the results—to find potential donors who could give convalescent plasma. In fact, donors whose blood tests positive for antibodies can help a COVID-19 patient with their plasma while their other blood components could help additional patients. Red blood cells help carry oxygen throughout the body and platelets help blood clot. Testing positive for antibodies also puts donors on a unique track to regularly give convalescent plasma to help even more COVID-19 patients.
How to Give
To learn more and schedule an appointment to give, please visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). All eligible donors especially those recovered from COVID-19 or with type O blood—are urged to make an appointment to give in the days and weeks ahead. Vitalant continues to deploy additional precautionary measures to ensure donor, patient and staff safety during the pandemic.
Upcoming Blood Drives -
In addition to its 15 regional donation centers, Vitalant organizes several blood drives every day throughout the Sacramento region including the following - for a complete list, visit vitalant.org
- Woodland Community (Nov 19 and 20, 12PM-6PM, at Woodland Elks Lodge, 500 Bush St.)
- Vitalant Reed Avenue (Nov. 25, 10AM-3PM, 3240 Reed Ave., West Sacramento)
- 98 Rock ‘n’ Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive (Nov 27-29 at Market Square at Arden Fair)
About Vitalant
Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for approximately 1,000 hospitals and their patients across 40 states. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,500 blood and platelet donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.