Colorful Service Will Bless Clan Regalia
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - As bagpipes skirl, families will present clan regalia for sanctification at St Michael's Episcopal Church (Carmichael) on November 23. In a pageant that celebrates most things Scottish, Pastors will bless kilts, shawls -- even plaid ties – with a laying on of hands. Sacramento Daughters of Scotia annually hosts the event.
“Kirkin’” (blessing) services for tartans were popular fundraisers for British war efforts during WW II and American Celtic organizations still stage the festivals. Armed Forces and Firefighter representatives last year joined 25 families in presenting tartans for sanctification. “There’s a great hungering in the Scottish community to celebrate our heritage in this way,” says Daughters of Scotia member Kathy Hanson. Hymns and prayers complete the service; an afternoon tea and Highland dancing will follow.
Anyone may attend. A procession of tartans begins at 1 pm at St Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2140 Mission Avenue Carmichael. Collection Donations will benefit the Sacramento Food bank.
Daughters of Scotia membership is open to women of Scottish ancestry, including those married to Scots. For information, visit: www.daughtersofscotia.org
El Camino Center for The Arts Named Best In Real Estate 2019
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - The El Camino Fundamental High School Center for the Arts was named by the Sacramento Business Journal as the top real estate development project (education category) in the Greater Sacramento region.
San Juan Unified was honored along with the project’s design-build contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and architect HGA Architects at an awards breakfast Sept. 20 at McClellan Conference Center.
The Center for the Arts – a 14,000-square-foot, 500-seat theater with a full stage, control center, lobby, and orchestra pit – stood out among other education projects in large part because it was the district’s first design-build project. With design-build, contractors, and architects bid for a construction project as an entity based on qualifications. The design-build method has not historically been utilized by K-12 school districts in California.
“San Juan Unified is a pioneer here, not only in Sacramento County but Northern California,” Frank Camarda, San Juan Unified Assistant Superintendent, told the Business-Journal. “Most other districts have not caught on.”
The design-build benefit for El Camino was that San Juan Unified was able to bring on a team of HGA and McCarthy, both of which have extensive experience designing performing arts spaces with a high emphasis on acoustics and lighting.
“It had to have the highest acoustical sound rating you could get in a high school theater,” Camarda said.
Other real estate projects to be honored by the Sacramento Business Journal include The Bank restaurant (downtown Sacramento), Elk Grove Aquatics Center, Sutter Medical Foundation West Roseville Campus, The Hardin (downtown Sacramento), Bennett’s Kitchen-Bar Market and the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium restoration project among others.
The Center of the Arts was funded by Measure N as El Camino’s high school signature project. Along with the Sacramento Business Journal award, it has also received an Honor Award from the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada and a Construction Management Association of America Design-Build Award.
Having a Harvest Ball
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Fall fun continues as leaves tumble and local churches stage annual Harvest Festivals. Carmichael’s oldest church, Carmichael Presbyterian last week hosted congregant families and visitors at a festival that combined harvest celebrations with Halloween shenanigans. A 12 ft inflatable dinosaur wandered the campus. Petting zoo critters were much-cuddled. Pastor Keith DeVries wore a Superman cape. The youngest of his flock gathered candy from decorated tailgates in a "Trick or Trunk" lane of the parking lot.
American River Community Church offered train rides with Pastor Reimer manning the engine. A “pie-walk” provided take-home desserts as prizes.
Harvest festivals date back through millennium and in many cultures; God-fearing communities annually rejoice in harvests that favor their winter survival. Thanksgiving – commemorating such a celebration by America’s first european settlers – is just weeks away. Gather ye pumpkins while ye may.
The City of Citrus Heights is soliciting bids for the Community Center Audio Visual Equipment Replacement Financing, Purchase, Installation and Training
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - SEALED PROPOSALS shall be received at the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 6360 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, California, until the hour of 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at which time they will be publicly opened and read for the City of Citrus Heights, California Citrus Heights Community Center Audio Visual Equipment Replacement, Financing, Purchase, Installation and Training Project.
The work to be performed consists, in general of replacing existing audio visual equipment within the Citrus Heights Community Center; providing three lease to purchase options as well as training and maintenance for the duration of the lease to purchase period. To be considered responsive, Proposals must be for the entire scope of work as presented in the bid plans and specifications include completed proposal forms, guarantees and supplemental information.
An electronic copy of the specifications, Proposal Documents, Agreement and other Contract Documents is available on the City’s website at no cost. Proposers may also obtain the documents at the office of the General Services Department, City Hall, 6360 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, California, with a nonrefundable charge of $35.00 for pick up and $45.00 for mailing. It is the proposer's responsibility to check the city's website for any updated information at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled proposal opening.
A MANDATORY pre-proposal conference is scheduled to be held on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at the Citrus Heights Community Center located at 6300 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, CA 95621. Proposers must be present at the Pre-Proposal Conference no later than the scheduled start time. A proposer’s FAILURE TO ATTEND the mandatory pre-proposal conference, to arrive after the advertised start time, or to leave the meeting prior to its conclusion shall render any proposal submitted by that proposer to be deemed non-responsive and the proposal shall not be considered for award. Decision by the city on this matter shall be final.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 1770 of the Labor Code of the State of California, the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations has ascertained the general prevailing rate of wages applicable to the work to be done in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 1773 and which is filed in the office of the City Clerk.
The successful bidder shall pay not less than the specified prevailing wage rates to all laborers, workers, and mechanics employed in the performance of the work specified herein. The successful bidder will be required to post a copy of the general prevailing rates per diem wages in a conspicuous place at the job site forthwith upon undertaking the public work called for herein. The successful bidder shall also keep an accurate certified payroll record in accordance with requirement set forth in Labor Code Section 1776 and the Contract Documents.
Each proposal must be accompanied by cash, cashier's check, certified check or Proposal Guarantee Bond made payable to the City of Citrus Heights in the amount of 10% of the total proposal amount, such guaranty to be forfeited should the proposer to whom the contract is awarded fail to enter into the contract within the time period required by the Contract Documents.
No proposal will be accepted unless it is made on a proposal form furnished by the General Services Director and is for the entire work described herein. The Proposal Guarantee bonds for the three acceptable lowest proposers shall be retained until the City Council has accepted the successful proposer. All other Proposal Guarantee Bonds shall be returned to the proposer five (5) working days after proposal opening. The Contract shall be awarded, if an award is made, to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder within sixty (60) calendar days from the date the proposals are publicly opened and declared. If the award is not made within that period, all proposals submitted are deemed rejected by the City Council and all remaining Proposal Guarantee Bonds shall be returned to the proposer. The successful proposer shall apply for and obtain at its costs any permits required for all work, except as otherwise specified in the Contract Documents.
A proposer may propose one or more "equals" or substitutions for products listed in the Contract Documents by manufacturer name, brand or model number, unless the Contract Documents specify that the product is necessary to match others in use. Complete information for products proposed by a proposer as an equal must be submitted to the General Services Director for review, at least ten (10) working days before the time specified for proposal opening in accordance with the Instructions to Proposers contained in the Contract Documents.
Pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22300, proposers may substitute securities for any monies which the city may withhold pursuant to the terms of this Contract to insure performance. Such securities must be furnished on a form acceptable to the city and by a company, acceptable to the city, that is authorized and licensed by the Insurance Commissioner as an “admitted surety insurer” and which maintains at least one officer in California for conducting business. Prior to such approval, the surety shall provide the documentation required by California Civil Code Section 995.660.
The City of Citrus Heights reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or portions thereof, to accept a proposal or portion thereof and to waive any minor informality or irregularity.
The license classification required for this project is a Class C-7 issued by the State of California. The license must be active and in good standing as of the date of receipt of proposal s and must be maintained in good standing throughout the term of the contract. For contracts involving federal funds, the license must be active and in good standing as of the date of the Contract award and must be maintained in good standing throughout the term of the contract.
Each proposer, and any subcontractor listed in a bid proposal pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 4104, must be currently registered with the Department of Industrial Relations and qualified to perform public work consistent with Labor Code section 1725.5, except in limited circumstances as referenced in Labor Code section 1771.1(a).
This project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations. All contractors must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations, as well as with System for Award Management (SAM).
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Wells Fargo recently awarded Society for the Blind in Sacramento a $20,000 grant to provide education, training and assistive devices to 500 Sacramento-area seniors who are blind or have low vision. The funding will support the group’s Senior IMPACT Project that empowers people age 55 and older who have vision loss with alternative non-visual techniques and skills that enable them to perform daily tasks and activities so they can maintain or increase independence.
“With Sacramento’s rapidly growing senior population, requests for our services are higher than ever,” said Shari Roeseler, executive director, Society for the Blind. “Thanks to Wells Fargo’s generous funding, we can provide even more seniors who are blind or have low vision with the support they need to age safely, preserve their independence and connect with their community.”
Society for the Blind is the sole provider of comprehensive rehabilitative services for people who are blind or have low vision throughout 27 counties in northern California. The group’s Senior IMPACT Project includes a monthly eight-day retreat that gives seniors an immersion experience to learn alternative techniques and skills to travel safely, efficiently and independently. They practice alternative techniques and use adapted tools to perform tasks of daily living including cooking, cleaning, shopping, home maintenance, organization, personal finance and more. They learn how to use the latest in assistive technology to operate computers and mobile devices for home, school and work, and they learn Braille. Participants receive individualized attention from instructors and mentors who are blind or low vision, and they have the opportunity to join discussion groups with peers on issues around vision loss and participate in community activities.
For those unable to attend retreats, Society for the Blind sends instructors to their homes to teach skills and offer resources. The project also includes monthly peer support groups for English and Spanish speakers and workshops throughout the year. The project recently expanded services to the Asian community, offering a monthly support group for Asian language speakers.
“As our loved ones age, one of the highest priorities is to ensure they can navigate the world around them with dignity, even if they experience declines in health or mental and physical agility,” said Kären Woodruff, community relations associate manager, Wells Fargo. “Wells Fargo is proud to continue support for Society for the Blind’s Senior IMPACT Project, which provides tools for seniors facing changes in their vision or vision loss, allowing them to remain self-sufficient and independent into their golden years.”
Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Society for the Blind has created innovative ways to empower individuals living with low vision or blindness to discover, develop and achieve their full potential. Society for the Blind has grown from a dedicated group of volunteers to a nationally recognized agency and the only comprehensive rehabilitative teaching center that provides services for a 27-county region of northern California. The nonprofit provides low-vision eye care, life and job skills training, mentorship, and access to tools to maintain independence for more than 5,000 youth, working-age adults and seniors experiencing vision loss each year. For more information or to make a donation, visit SocietyfortheBlind.org.
The Wells Fargo Foundation is the company’s primary philanthropic funding arm. As part of Wells Fargo’s long legacy of investing in community impact, the company has increased its philanthropic giving 25 times over the past 28 years. In 2018, Wells Fargo reached a new milestone of donating $444 million to directly benefit nearly 11,000 nonprofit organizations. To learn more, visit WellsFargo.com.
Tails Wag for Café Doggie Menu
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CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Many eateries accommodate pets at outdoor tables. Taking pooch appreciation a lick further, Carmichael’s Lido Café offers a la carte for canines. Owner Shawna Rivera long ago noted that many customers were empty-nesters who’d replaced their kids with pets. “They brought them to the café and I saw so many puppy-dog eyes looking up longingly at the food.” she recalls. “I got the idea of a doggie menu.”
A two-decade success, menu items are priced between $1 and $2.50. Beef patties, chicken, scrambled eggs and a beef bone have been the extent of Lido Fido fare for years but furry guests don’t demand greater variety. Indeed, a thumping tail equals four doggie Michelin stars.
“Many Saturdays, we have a whole row of customers and dogs enjoying breakfast outside,” says Rivera. “Sometimes they have to wait for a table. They’re all well-behaved. I don’t mind a little barking if a dog sees a good buddy – that’s just being friendly.”
Canine meals are served at ground level on a frisbee and good dogs get to take platters home. Big bowls of slurpable water are included; server gratuities include toothy grins. On weekly visits with airline pilot Cathy Cook, golden-doodle Tory rejoices in scrambled eggs. “She cleans her plate and then drinks her water like a good little person,” approves her mom. Leisurely dining makes no sense to mom’s best friend. Tory’s serving is woofed down before Cook can sniff her veggie omelet.
Canine trainer Carol Kracht runs “Because of Dogs” coaching academy in Carmichael and suggests prep before owner-pet dinner dates. “Visit the restaurant at a quiet time,” she advises. “Get your dog used to lying at your feet for short periods at first. When you go for your meal together, take something to occupy him once he’s eaten. Otherwise he’ll get bored. A chewable bully stick soothes a dog like a child’s pacifier.”
“It might seem like I’m spoiling Tory,” considers Cathy Cook. “But we do everything together, so why not eat out, too? The servers treat her like a regular customer. She gets her water bowl when I get my glass. Her eggs come at the same time as my omelet. When I park outside the restaurant, I see Tory’s big smile. She knows I’ve brought her to the place where we both get to eat.”
Host Shawna Rivera welcomes well-behaved doggie friends to the Lido Café patio at 7907 Fair Oaks Blvd.
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - On October 27, 2019 at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a call from the 5800 block of Angelina Avenue in Carmichael. The caller indicated there was a vehicle that had crashed into a tree at that location and a male was waving a gun around a female. Multiple additional callers stated a male and female were in a verbal altercation and had walked back and forth to a nearby apartment complex.
At approximately 12:40 a.m., deputies arrived on scene and attempted to make contact with a female standing near an apartment. As they approached the female, a male began shooting at the female, striking her. Three (3) deputies fired their weapons at the male suspect, who was struck by the deputies’ gunfire. Fire personnel responded and pronounced the female victim and male suspect deceased at the scene. A gun was recovered from the male suspect.
Detectives believe the suspect and victim are known to each other; however, the nature of the relationship is not known. No motive is known at this time.
The identity of the suspect and the victim in this case will be released by the Sacramento Coroner’s Office after notification has been made to next of kin.
The investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Professional Standards Division, which is standard practice for any officer-involved shooting that occurs in the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction. An independent review of the incident will be conducted by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. The deputies involved in the shooting are 4 year, 21 year and 12 year veterans of the Sheriff’s Office. In accordance with the Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, the deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.