Metro Fire Dedicates Fire Station 32 in Honor of Fire Captain John de Graaff
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FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - On January 6, 2020, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District leaders and uniformed personnel dedicated Fire Station 32 to honor fallen Fire Captain John de Graaff and twenty-two fallen firefighters. Present on that morning, Fire Chief Todd Harms addressed those gathered stating, “We are here to recognize the sacrifices of fallen firefighters… and to provide a constant memorial of Fire Captain de Graaff’s contribution… the significance of which cannot be minimized.”
De Graaff served for over 30 years as a firefighter throughout his life. Born in Covina, California, on June 6, 1954, de Graaff would go on to volunteer in 1971 as a firefighter in Southern California and later served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Coral Sea in 1974-1976. De Graaff was hired at Fair Oaks Fire Department in 1977, when he was 23 years of age, and promoted to captain in 1985.
Many remembered Fire Captain de Graaff for his dedication at mentoring young trainees fresh from the Academy. Attending Senior Fire Chaplin Kevin Snider said, “As a captain to many recruits, de Graaff loved with all his heart, he was a mentor to many recruits and always made long-lasting relationships.” In a press release, Metro Fire Captain Chris Vestal noted that the department “will always be grateful and will not forget his service”.
One of three surviving sons, Nolan de Graaff, spoke on behalf of the family: “I was fortunate that he applied the same principles that he used at the station at home. As a father, he was stern, effective and taught us to work hard, which gives me immense pride.” He thanked the department for having a positive impact on the life of his father and being a second home to the captain who retired in 2007.
In the presence of his family, a plaque was unveiled to honor the captain who passed away of a cardiac arrest in a Line of Duty Death (LODD) on April 25, 2009, which considers the immense physical and mental toll that the responsibility placed on the individual.
Fire Station 32 was de Graaff’s last assigned fire station. “His legacy lives on in the spirit of those who continue the work,” said Fire Chief Todd Harms.
Source: Sacramento Metropolitan Firefighters
A Book About Living
Lessons About Life, Learned from Death
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - “Universally, people are fearful of death. … Everyone knows the finality of it,” said Chris Meyer. He knows this all too well as the owner of three funeral homes in the Sacramento Region, including Lind Brothers Funeral Home in Carmichael (4221 Manzanita Ave.
While helping people arrange funerals for their loved ones, Meyer said, “Over the years, the stories started repeating themselves. … There’s a pattern, there’s these common themes.” People shared their regrets — both for their lost loved ones and for themselves. These stories of regret are what inspired Meyer to write the book Life in 20 Lessons: What a Funeral Guy Discovered about Life, from Death.
“There have been hundreds of books written on grief, and death, and dying,” said Meyer. His book is different: “It’s not a book about dying; it’s a book about living.”
In the book, he writes that “the funeral home has also given me my greatest gift —perspective. … I have sat with the survivors. I have listened to their stories, their cries, their confessions, their regrets, their wishes. … So, I sat down and memorialized the lessons I learned to make certain you don’t search your whole life only to realize the true meaning of life on your deathbed.”
Meyer said the biggest regret he heard was “time. You can’t get more time.” That’s why many of the lessons in the book encourage people to focus their time and attention on the things that matter most in life: family, friends, laughter, and love.
Meyer explained that one of the most difficult aspects of grief is watching the world go on without your loved one — watching life go on while you struggle to move forward: “The hard part about death is that tomorrow the sun comes up.” And coping with loss is even more difficult if you are also struggling with regret.
“I really believe it was the stories that people were telling me, almost as if they were warning me,” said Meyer. That warning was not to waste time, not to let moments pass you by. Meyer learned the importance of being fully present in everyday life and appreciating the moments you have with those you love.
He writes, “Think of the people who impact your life today and thank them. …Tell them what they have meant to you. I am telling you firsthand. I have seen too many people at graveside services or in eulogies say, ‘I wish I would have told them when they were alive. If only I had one more chance.’”
The dark depths of heart-rending grief would not be possible without a deep and profound love. He writes, “I hope you have felt that inconsolable pain because it means you have truly loved. Like a part of you is missing. Like a pit at the base of your stomach that disables your desire for food or sunlight or movement. And it lasts. Oh, how it lasts. That pain is commensurate with the amount you have loved — extreme pain, extreme love. Congratulations if you have felt that.”
Talking about death everyday while raising three young sons was a surreal experience for Meyer. He was experiencing the vibrance of new life while at the same time helping families face death and say goodbye. These profound moments taught him to be grateful for all the small, precious moments in life that can be so easy to overlook. He writes that he strives to be “a person who is rich in moments with their family. … Family is complicated. But family is everything in this world.”
Meyer also urges us to keep elderly friends and relatives close to us rather than shutting them away: “They need us.” He explained that being around activity and staying engaged with family and friends keeps their minds active and gives them purpose. In the book, he writes, “Hold someone’s hand, look into their eyes, and listen to their story. If there is no story, just hold their hand.”
For more information about the book, visit www.chrismeyerauthor.com.
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - On January 16, 2020 at approximately 6:59 am, The California Highway Patrol (CHP) received a call of a two-vehicle traffic collision on Sutter Avenue west of Fair Oaks Boulevard. While en-route to the scene of the collision, CHP dispatch advised a vehicle was overturned on its side with an unresponsive male driver. CHP officers responded to the collision scene and learned that a 54-year old man out of Carmichael had been driving his 2006 Chevrolet Equinox on Sutter Avenue westbound west of Fair Oaks Boulevard and had collided with a Ford F-150 pickup truck which was parked on the north curb edge of Sutter Avenue. After colliding with the parked F-150, the Equinox overturned onto its left side and remained until emergency personnel arrival. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department (SMFD) responded to the scene of the collision and pronounced the driver dead at 7:18 am. Witnesses remained on scene and the cause of the collision is under investigation.
Any persons who may have witnessed this collision or who can provide any additional information regarding this collision should call Officer Greg Zumstein or Officer A.J. McTaggart at the North Sacramento Area CHP office at (916) 348-2300 by cell phone at (916) 798-0975.
Updating Carmichael and Arden Arcade Communities
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Through the generosity of The Carmichael Times this column serves to provide an update about matters affecting the unincorporated communities of Carmichael and Arden Arcade.
Community Meetings
This month I will be holding a community meeting in Carmichael to discuss the role of the Probation Department and next month in February I will have another meeting in Arden Arcade with a presentation by the Sheriff’s Department.
On Wednesday, January 22, Chief Probation Officer Lee Seale will discuss how his department is a law enforcement partner with respect to making our communities safe. That meeting will be at the Carmichael Park Clubhouse, 5750 Grant Avenue (at Fair Oaks Boulevard) starting at 6 pm. The Probation Department is responsible for the background investigation of offenders and the preparation of social history reports for the Sacramento County Superior Courts. Probation Officers also operate and maintain the County's juvenile Hall; the Youth Detention Facility; and several other facilities and programs for sentenced offenders, including Adult Day Reporting Centers and various collaborative courts like Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Treatment Court. The majority of misdemeanor and felony offenders in Sacramento County are placed on probation as part of their sentence.
Next month on Tuesday, February 4, Captain Todd Henry, commander of the Sheriff’s North Division, will discuss his division’s role. The North Division serves as the local police department for the unincorporated communities of Arden Arcade, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Foothill Farms, and North Highlands. That meeting will be held in the Sacramento Suburban Water District’s Conference Room, 3701 Marconi Avenue, at 6 pm.
More RT Options For Arden Arcade & Carmichael
Regional Transit recently launched SmaRT Ride service to Arden Arcade and Carmichael, which is similar to other ride-share services where customers can use a smartphone app to request a ride that will pick up and drop off passengers wherever they wish to travel within service boundaries.
To utilize this service you need the SmaRT Ride app which is available to download at the App Store and Google Play. All SmaRT Ride customers will need to download the new app in order to request service on your smartphone. For SmaRT Ride customers who don’t have access to a smartphone, you will be able to request rides by calling 916-556-0100.
For more information on the new app, fares and SmaRT Ride service areas, visit sacrt.com.
Become a Grand Juror
Grand Jury service is often referred to as being a "citizen watchdog" of local government with the crucial role of monitoring and reviewing government actions.
The Sacramento County Superior Court is now accepting applications for Grand Jury service for the next Term. To be eligible you must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of Sacramento County, and not currently serving in any elected office.
For more information, call the Office of the Civil Grand Jury at 916-874-7578, or go online to sacgrandjury.org, where you can also download an application.
The application deadline is January 25, 2020.
Susan Peters represents the Third District on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. She can be reached at susanpeters@saccounty.net.
Stepping Out with Stephanie
New Chamber Executive on the Job
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - The book-keeping is detailed, the meetings numerous and the responsibility huge. But Carmichael Chamber of Commerce executive director Stephanie Young is loving her new job. Recruited to replace former CEO Virginia Stone, Young moved into Chamber’s Milagro Centre headquarters at the beginning of the year. Stone will remain as a mentor while the appointee eases into the position.
“My focus right now is on meeting as many Chamber members as possible,” says Young. “We’re also gearing up for our Person of the Year fundraiser (March 20) followed by the Best of Carmichael event (May 29). I’m so grateful to have Virginia’s help with those. So far, our members have been warm and welcoming. I believe they’re excited to see what new ideas I’ll bring to Chamber life.”
Previously an administrative analyst with Carmichael Park District, Young is now a lone Chamber employee. “In my old job, there were lots of staff and a few volunteers to call on,” she says. “Now, it’s just me – and Virginia – and lots of volunteers. But the great thing about volunteers is that they help because they want to, not because they have to.”
There’s no shortage of company out of office, either. The executive job entails daily encounters with business people, agency chiefs, elected officials, community leaders and residents. Sit-down meetings also fill her time. Young sits on the Chamber board and most of its committees. She is a Carmichael Improvement District director; a SMUD Advisory Council volunteer; she also serves a newly-formed co-op of Carmichael organizations called the Community Relations Committee. “My Chamber job is more complex than it seems at first glance,” she explains. “As with any non-profit, the executive must stay on top of detailed accounting. There are months of member events to plan ahead for; even our regular luncheons involve days of preparation. Fortunately, I’m a planner by nature; that comes from so many years in the recreation field. When you organize parades with 10,000 people involved, you prepare for bumps in the road. Back-up plans are always critical.
“The best part of my new job is building relationships with people,” Young considers. “I want to help businesses have a great future in this area. And I want this community – that includes its 52,000 residents – to thrive. Our Chamber mission is to bring businesses and community together. That’s my vision, too.”
To speak with Stephanie Young at the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce, call (916) 481-1002.
Wait a Minute, Mister Postman!
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - 30 or more years of driving without at-fault accidents have earned prestigious awards for 12 Carmichael Post Office carriers. A big, happy extended family of US Postal employees recently celebrated their colleagues’ achievements with an 8 am coffee break and a frosted cake. The drivers, who have served between 30 and 42 years, will have their names added to an elite national list of postal service workers.
Their boss, Sacramento District Manager Jagdeep Grewal, presented the honorees with plaques and Post Office issue “safe driver” winter jackets. “Thirty years in and out of traffic is not an easy job,” she told the Carmichael gathering. “Especially in this computer age where people are so distracted by their cell phones. I encourage other employees to work for this goal.” Among Sacramento region’s fleet of 3500 postal vehicles, said Grewal, up to five accidents are reported every day. “To us, one accident is too many,” she said. “Your safety is very important to us.”
Topping the list of honorees was Frank Cirelli (66). With no thought of retirement, Cirelli has racked up more than 45 years in US Government service, including three years in the military. The award took the former Marine by surprise. “When you’re driving all day, you’ve got to be safe,” he considers. “It’s drummed into us every day by our managers. You can never lose your concentration.” Working a route so close to the American River bike trail, the carrier says he is programmed to be super-alert for cyclists. “They come screaming past you all the time,” he notes. “If I didn’t pay attention, there sure would be accidents.”
Fellow honorees were Patricia Peters (38 years of service); Arthur Blackwell (38 years); Kenny Villanueva (30 years); Erin Williams (30 years); David Huynh (30 years); Jeffrey Griffith (32 years); Randy Rubsam (31 years); Prem Pal (30 years); Brent Bailey (35 years); Julian Barbero (33 years); Joselito Diaz (30 years).
After a 15-minute party, Carmichael's army of postal workers went back to work. The heroic carriers rattled off in their trucks, safely hauling tons of holiday deliveries through rush-hour traffic. Neither snow nor rain – nor frosting of cake – stays these noble couriers.
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – As a new year approaches, all motorists can resolve to celebrate safely. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) would like to remind everyone to buckle up, avoid distractions while behind the wheel, and have a plan in place if you intend to consume alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
For this New Year’s Day Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), the CHP will be deploying all available personnel from 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. The CHP will focus on impaired drivers, but officers will also watch for distracted driving, speeding, and seat belt violations. As always, our officers will be at the service of motorists in need of assistance.
To help keep the roadways safe, the CHP is joining forces with five other Western states with the slogan, “No safe place for impaired drivers,” to crack down on drunk and drugged driving for the coming holiday weekend.
In partnership with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the state patrols of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington will work as a Western States Traffic Safety Coalition to place special emphasis on the enforcement of drug-impaired driving. The states will jointly stress that driving under the influence means drugs as well as alcohol in their educational efforts.
According to data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, during the 2018 New Year’s MEP, which was 102 hours in length, at least 25 people were killed and 270 others were injured in collisions involving impaired drivers on California roadways. In addition, CHP officers made 1,140 arrests for impaired driving during the same period.
“Please make smart choices this holiday season. Driving while impaired can have tragic results,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Whether impaired by alcohol or drugs, the result can lead to arrest, injury, or death. Either way, the impact will be life-altering.”
There is no reason to place yourself behind the wheel while impaired. Have a plan. Public transportation, taxis, ride-sharing, or a designated sober friend or family member are the safe options.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security