Doug Friedman is the New Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach at El Camino High School
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Doug Friedman has a world of basketball knowledge. He was a Star in high school at Thousand Oaks High School in Thousand Oaks, California, all Ventura County and San Fernando Valley first team. Thousand Oaks High’s season during Doug’s Senior Year was the best in the school’s history.
After high school, Doug was one of twenty four players in Southern California to go to China to play the Chinese National teams. He also played on a team that went to Mexico.
Doug attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara and started on their very successful Basketball team. They went to the NAIA Nationals three of the four years that Doug played.
After Doug’s graduation he moved to Sacramento along with his parents. He continued work and received his teacher’s credential. Prior to settling down, Doug was asked to coach a semi professional team in Denmark. He did that for one very cold year.
In Sacramento, Doug has coached with Mark Lee at San Juan, Bill Baxter at El Camino and at Mira Loma. He was named Coach of the Year the year that Mira Loma made the playoffs. Doug then stepped down to spend more time with his young family.
Since then, Doug has coached AAU with the Red Raiders, Upward Sports, the Freshman boys team at Jesuit and the girl’s Jr. Varsity team at El Camino. Everyone is excited to have Doug accepting this position.
See the Annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - On Friday, December 6, Molly's Revenge with guest vocalist Amelia Hogan and the Murray Irish dancers will present Winterdance, an evening of music, song and dance associated with the festive season at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. The performance will include Christmas songs both old and new, all played with a Celtic twist, and something new for our regulars, starting at 7:30 pm.
The core of the Winterdance show is the dynamic Celtic trio called Molly's Revenge. The band recently released their 14th album titled The Lucky Set. This year they will be joined by guest vocalist Amelia Hogan, who sang with the show last year, along with the Murray Irish dancers from Portland. As always, this 14th Annual Celtic Christmas Celebration will capture the traditional spirit of the season and warm the hearts of all who attend.
Molly's Revenge is comprised of a trio of Californians who have dedicated their lives to Celtic music. David Brewer has been playing whistle, bodhran, and four types of bagpipes for over 20 years. He studied in Scotland at the Ceolas Music School in South Uist under the tutelage of some of the best pipers in the world. His authentic and unique style of playing has earned him the reputation of being one of the most accomplished pipers on the West Coast.
John Weed is a classically-trained violinist who switched to playing Irish fiddle about 25 years ago. John lived in Ireland for a time, and taught fiddle workshops at the Flowing Tide International Music School in Doonbeg, County Clare. He attended the Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Dunlewey, County Donegal where he has studied with Ciaran O'Maonaigh and Dermot Mcloughlin. In recent years his fiddling has grown to include American, Quebecois, and Swedish fiddle styles.
Guitarist Stuart Mason has been collecting and performing traditional music for over 40 years. He has appeared on stage from Ireland to China performing Celtic, Nordic, old-time, and his own compositions, which have won awards from the West Coast Songwriters Association. He also leads workshops and classes in traditional music techniques at music festivals and camps.
Guest vocalist Amelia Hogan sings traditional, Irish, Scottish, British, American and contemporary folk music with lilting grace and subtle power. She transports you with a spell into another time and place, where the banshee wails and lovers embrace. Haunting melodies, stirring passion, and evocative storytelling are the hallmarks of Amelia’s music. In her words:
"My story begins with my ancestors in Ireland, Scotland and Britain more than a hundred years ago. Their languages and cultures were threatened by hardship and politics. They left their homes out of desperation, to search for a better future for themselves and their children. They left their families, their friends and all they knew in hopes of finding a home in this new place.
"With them they brought the stories, songs, dances and customs that might sustain them through long voyages, poverty, loneliness, and despair. When they arrived, many immigrants did not find the opportunities they had believed they would in the New World. Indeed, they often found themselves in similar straits to the ones they’d left behind.
"I’ll sing the songs of their old ways, to remind you of where we come from. This is an Irish-American story, a story of hope, survival, and victory. Our Winterdance show reminds all of us of the light and laughter that can be found in the darkest time of year."
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church is located at 2140 Mission Avenue, Carmichael, CA. For more information or to get tickets visit mollysrevenge.com or call (831) 818-5021
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - On Wednesday, November 27, the City of Rancho Cordova and KP International Market are celebrating the grand opening of the region’s largest ice skating rink: the All-America City Ice Rink!
In June 2019, the National Civic League awarded the City of Rancho Cordova with the title All America City 2019; Then BJ Yu, Owner of KP International Market, shared his plans to sponsor an ice rink during the holiday season, the city agreed to help sponsor this holiday landmark which, as a result, was named All-America City Ice Rink.
The All-America City Ice Rink will be a holiday destination this season, offering not only a 4,500 square foot ice rink, but a carnival, concessions, food court, FREE pictures with Santa Claus, holiday light spectacular, as well as character visits from Elsa and Anna, Elf on the Shelf and more.
The City of Rancho Cordova is committed to creating a vibrant and inviting community for its residents and for the visitors from throughout the region. The Ribbon cutting ceremony will be from 8 am – 9 am at KP International Market, 10971 Olson Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The California Trucking Association (CTA) and two California independent owner-operator truck drivers filed an amended complaint with the U.S. Southern District Court seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the employment test set forth in the Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court(Dynamex) decision, which was subsequently codified by the California Legislature in the form of Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5). AB 5, (Lorena Gonzales, D - San Diego), was passed by the California Legislature and signed into law on September 11, 2019, by Governor Gavin Newsom.
“AB 5 threatens the livelihood of more than 70,000 independent truckers,” said CTA’s CEO, Shawn Yadon. “The bill wrongfully restricts their ability to provide services as owner-operators and, therefore, runs afoul of federal law.”
In the suit, plaintiffs argue that the classification test in the Dynamex decision and codified by AB 5 is preempted by the supremacy and commerce clauses in the U.S. Constitution and is in direct conflict with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act (FMCSA) and the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA).
The new test denies a significant segment of the trucking industry the ability to continue operating as independent owner-operators in California, forcing them to abandon $150,000 investments in clean trucks and the right to set their own schedule and become their own boss.
AB 5, rather than addressing the issue of employee misclassification for all California workers, replaced a longstanding multi-factor test for determining independent contractor status with a one-size-fits-all method, consisting of highly restrictive criteria, riddled with carve-outs and exemptions for specific businesses and industries. Under the new test, independent truckers will be forced to work as employees.
“AB 5 has implications that go beyond employment classification in California,” said Robert R. Roginson, an attorney for CTA. “With more than 350,000 independent owner-operators registered in the United States, the new test imposes an impermissible burden on interstate commerce under the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause and infringes upon decades-old congressional intent to prevent states from regulating the rates, routes and services of the trucking industry.”
For decades in California, more than 70,000 predominantly minority-owned truckers have built their businesses as independent owner-operators. These truckers have just recently invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in their vehicles to meet the nation’s strictest air quality laws.
“Independent truckers are typically experienced drivers who have previously worked as employees and have, by choice, struck out on their own. We should not deprive them of that choice. Some of the country’s most successful trucking companies were started by entrepreneurial independent truckers,” Yadon added. “We can protect workers from misclassification without infringing upon independent truckers’ right to make a living in California.”
Students Celebrate Diverse Cultures at Annual Global Expo at Rio Americano
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - The cultures and traditions of more than a dozen countries came alive during the 4th annual Global Expo at Rio Americano (GEAR).
More than 90 students representing different countries shared their diverse traditions with others. The event featured food, art, games and traditional dances from around the world.
“I felt the need to make sure my students didn’t turn their backs on their homeland, their culture, their language and GEAR was born,” said Mirna Jope, Rio Americano teacher and lead organizer of the event.
The event drew more than 2,000 people throughout the day.
Thanksgiving Sunday
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - The month of November ushers in a host of special days – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. What I want to direct your attention to is Thanksgiving Sunday!
Thanksgiving Sunday is the Sunday prior to the national holiday of Thanksgiving. This Sunday ought to be right up there with Christmas Eve and Easter in your family’s plans to attend your church or faith community. I will use Psalm 66 to give you a few reasons why that should be so.
The Psalmist closes his poem with these words of praise and thanksgiving. “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!”
How did this composer come to that frame of mind and heart? Let’s find the reasons in the stanzas prior to this grateful conclusion.
In verse 9 he cites the first reason. “Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.” The psalmist is challenging us to reflect upon the past both distant and recent to see if we can identify the rescuing intervention of supernatural power in our lives. How many miles did you drive in this past year without an accident? Or close calls, that put a lump in your throat, but nothing bad happened? Could those moments be evidence of supernatural intervention? If so, you have a reason to be thankful.
In verses 10-12 the poet writes about testing times; hard times; times of confinement or restriction like imprisonment; times of excessive burden or oppression. He looks back to a very tough season of life “we went through fire and water.” Many Californians know literally what going through fire means with all the recent wildfires. Many Texans and Southern dwellers know what devastating flooding does to individuals and communities. These phrases could also be metaphors for any intense season of suffering.
But the good news comes in these praise worthy words: “But YOU brought us to a place of abundance.” V12b. The season of suffering and destruction is over! Rescue and recovery and restoration has now taken place! Life has returned to a new normal with a new sense of well-being and purpose. What was lost is now replaced with even more than before. It’s time to give thanks!
These are the two reasons the psalmist will “come to the temple” v 13. There with the community of faith this poet will “fulfill the vows my lips promised when I was in trouble.”v14. Many people make promises to God when in the midst of suffering and trouble. Thanksgiving Sunday is a great day to make good on them!
The Psalmist shows up at the temple and gives public testimony of thanksgiving to His God with this universal invitation. V16 “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what HE has done for me.”
Rescue, recovery, restoration demands public testimony. What better time and place to shout out your praise and thanksgiving to your God than with your faith community on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 24th!
Reverend Richard Reimer, Lead Pastor
American River Community Church
3300 Walnut Avenue ® Carmichael, CA
916-483-3465, Facebook.com/ARCConline
Wall of Honor Tributes Recall Community’s Finest
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Carmichael and Fair Oaks stalwarts gathered last weekend to recall fallen heroes of nation and community. The annual “Wall of Honor” ceremony was observed at Patriots Park.
Built in 2008, the reserve’s stone monument is dedicated to 14 local men – from military, police, CHP and fire-fighting forces – who died serving nation or neighborhood during Carmichael Park District’s 57-year existence. The community pays tribute to the heroes each November. From the 1960s through to 2017 – from Vietnam battlefields to California highways – the heroes fell while protecting American values. Space remains on the wall for plaque additions and the park district annually considers nominations.
Last Saturday’s ceremony attendees included bereaved families; elected representatives and park district leaders. Congressman Ami Bera and County Supervisor Susan Peters were among speakers. Dr. Bera said the nation should “pause and consider values that bring us all together.”
Supervisor Peters noted that the 12-year-old park’s landscaping was maturing and its masonry was gathering the patina of age. “This park is more than a recreational gathering spot,” she said. “Patriots Park serves a deeper meaning. The individuals listed on this wall remind us how grateful we are to men and women who wear different uniforms but have a common bond in putting service above self. Regardless of whether they wore a Sheriff’s uniform or that of the Highway Patrol or a branch of the armed services or of fire protection, each was dedicated to the common good. They believed in serving us. It is fitting that we continue to remember each honoree.”
“We recognize the passage of time does not shield you from the emptiness you feel,” Peters told families of the fallen. “We nevertheless hope Patriots Park is a source of comfort and pride in remembering your loved ones. Whatever uniform your loved one wore, we will be forever grateful for their dedication, commitment and service. The community will never forget them.”
Patriots Park monument honors the following heroes:
Deputy Robert French.
Deputy Danny P. Oliver.
CHP Officer Ronald E. Davis.
Army Specialist James E. Schlottman.
Army Leiutenant Robert S. Byrnes.
Airforce Captain Olin E. Gilbert Jnr.
Army Sergeant Larry H. Morford.
Firefighter Dean W. Rhoades.
US Navy pilot Lieutenant J. G. David A Warne.
Marine and firefighter Sergeant Brian E. Dunlap.
Deputies Kevin P. Blount and Joseph M. Kievernagel.
Army Sergeant Ronald L. Coffelt..
Army Specialist Raymond N. Spencer Jnr.
Anyone may visit the Wall of Honor. Patriots Park is located at 6825 Palm Avenue, Fair Oaks. Those who wish to nominate a candidate for inclusion on the monument should contact the Carmichael Park District.