Sep 28, 2020
In Sacramento, COVID-19 restrictions have pounded small businesses, sinking consumer demand and sales revenue. One entrepreneur who knows about that experience is Roshaun Davis, co-owner of Unseen Heroes, an events planning firm in Sacramento he began in 2012 with his wife, Maritza.
Unseen Heroes closed in mid-March after Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed stay-at-home orders that shut down large parts of the state’s $2 trillion economy. Small businesses operating on razor-thin margins still feel the pain.
Sep 27, 2020
Marilyn Best’s life has been full of music and she’s made it her mission, as the longest standing board member of the Sacramento Youth Symphony, to make that true for SYS’ youth musicians as well.
“Music is a wonderful way to share your life,” says the Arden Oaks resident who’s served on the SYS board since 1985. “That’s why I love the idea of having the youth orchestra—I find a lot of joy in working with young people.”
Sep 27, 2020
“Why are Sacramento’s animal shelters overcrowded?” asks Kenn Altine, chief executive director of the Sacramento SPCA. The answer: Pet owners are not spaying and neutering.
Why aren’t they spaying and neutering? “For years, we kept saying people won’t do it. We need to do more education,” Altine says. “Well, people want to do it. People call us every day to do it.”
Sep 27, 2020
Michael Neumann has been thinking about the serenity prayer a lot lately: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Neumann has retired after 40 years as artistic director and conductor of the Premier Orchestra of the Sacramento Youth Symphony, an orchestral youth organization that started in 1956. What began as an ensemble of 55 youth musicians has grown into an award-winning powerhouse of 400 members from all over the region.
Sep 27, 2020
Longtime Carmichael resident Al Striplen has led many lives as an educator, artist and musician, but the common thread among all his interests is his love of learning.
A native of Bakersfield, Striplen studied botany at Humboldt State before moving to Lake County to teach middle and high school sciences and, eventually, mechanical drawing (he says he’s been artistic for as long as he can remember).
Sep 27, 2020
Dr. Carl Shin has made a career of bucking the traditional medical establishment when it comes to pain management.
“After managing chronic pain for 20 years, I’ve discovered that I’m in a field where we do the same things over and over without really getting results. Since outcome and results don’t seem to drive the pain-management business, I sought a better way,” Shin says.
