Inside Carmichael September 2019
By Susan Peters
September 2019
Protecting Our Parkway
Volunteers needed for Great American River Cleanup
Help remove trash and other debris from our scenic parkway during the Great American River Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the American River Parkway Foundation, this annual event helps maintain the natural habitat along the 23-mile stretch of the American River.
In 2018, 1,226 volunteers removed more than 20,000 pounds of trash from 21 sites along the American River, making the parkway safer and more enjoyable, protecting the river ecosystem and improving water quality.
Volunteer check-in sites include Ancil Hoffman Park and William B. Pond Recreation Area. Students can earn community-service credit. To register or for more information, visit arpf.org.
PAVING OUR ROADS
The Sacramento County Department of Transportation continues to be busy with repaving many of our local streets thanks to road-maintenance funding provided by the SB 1 gas tax.
Projects include the intersection of Watt and El Camino; the Arden Manor neighborhood bordered by Morse, Arden, Watt and Hurley; and the area bordered by Morse, Watt, Wemberley and Northrop.
Next year, work is expected to occur on Marconi from Eastern to Walnut; Ashton from Saverien to Wixford; Saverien from American River Drive to Fair Oaks Boulevard; Watt from Cottage to El Camino; California from Oak to Palm; Barberry from Morse to Watt; and Holly from Crocker to Larch.
The gas-tax funds will go a long way in halting the deterioration of the unincorporated area’s roadways. And passage of Proposition 69 in 2018 ensures the gas tax is securely earmarked for transportation and will not be diverted to non-transportation projects.
SACDOT currently estimates a $750 million maintenance backlog, which means the problem must be tackled with an incremental approach. For information on current and future projects paid for by SB 1, as well as the latest on each project’s progress, visit sacdot.com, under Projects & Programs, then Gas Tax At Work. More projects will be added as funding becomes available.
LANE CLOSURES
With all the new paving, there is bound to be traffic obstacles and delays that can make driving frustrating. Sacramento County Department of Transportation can send you electronic updates regarding lane closures for streets and roads located within the unincorporated area.
These notices do not include state highways (Jackson, Highway 50 and I-80) or every county roadway.
For details on current lane closures or to sign up for notices, visit sacdot.com, under Roadways, then Road & Lane Closures.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR HOMELESS
Untreated mental health conditions and substance use can be contributing factors to homelessness. Connecting individuals to mental health services and alcohol/drug treatment can be key to helping resolve homelessness.
Last month, Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services expanded access at emergency homeless shelters for individuals with serious mental illness by providing mental health and drug/alcohol assessments, and connections to services.
Licensed clinical social workers provide in-person office hours at various emergency shelters. These new office hours allow individuals to talk to a clinician when they are ready to seek treatment services. After meeting with a social worker, individuals are given a recommended plan and link to contracted providers for ongoing services or referrals to appropriate resources to meet their needs.
Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services worked with longstanding local emergency shelters to create a schedule of designated office hours at the different shelter locations. This approach brings behavioral health services to the homeless when and where they are ready for help. Having a social worker on-site at shelters provides a consistent in-person response to many who may not otherwise make a call for help.
The in-person clinical screening services are provided at emergency shelters operated by the Salvation Army, Sacramento Self-Help Housing, Next Move, Volunteers of America Housing Services and Wind Youth Services.
NEW CARMICHAEL PARK PLAYGROUND
The Carmichael Recreation and Park District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new and improved playground equipment installed at Carmichael Park.
The impressive climbing apparatus, swings and much more are engineered for fun and safety. The new structure is a step up from the old metal pipe-and-rod “jungle gym” of my youth.
FINAL SUMMER PARK CONCERT
The final performance of the free Concerts in the Park series at Carmichael Park will conclude Sunday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m. with the Kiwanis Swing Band.
Over the years this favorite summer tradition, provided by the Carmichael Recreation and Park District, has brought a variety of entertainment featuring all types of music, including country, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, big band, sounds of the 70s, 80s and 90s, and more.
MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK
Enjoy a free viewing of “The LEGO Movie 2” on Friday, Sept. 27, at Tupelo Park in Foothill Farms. Pre-movie family activities begin at 6 p.m. with the movie starting at sunset.
Food and desserts will be available for purchase from Good Dog. Sponsors for Movie Night in the Park include Sunrise Recreation and Park District, Sacramento County, California American Water and McClellan Park. For more information, visit sunriseparks.com.
MICHELIN STAR IN ARDEN-ARCADE
The Kitchen, the flagship of Selland Family Restaurants, which also owns Ella, OBO’ Italian Table & Bar and Selland’s Market-Café, recently became the first and only Michelin-starred Sacramento-area restaurant. This puts The Kitchen in elite company joining only a few dozen other restaurants in the first-ever statewide California guide.
The famed culinary establishment is located at 2225 Hurley Way in the unincorporated community of Arden-Arcade. Gourmets and self-described foodies say The Kitchen provides a balance between adventure and comfort through new ingredients and innovative dishes.
Guests enjoy the experience and hospitality extended by chef Randall Selland, son Josh Nelson who manages the business side, daughter Tamera Baker who manages the brand and design aspects, and Selland’s wife Nancy Zimmer who acts as the glue for the family-run operation.
The Board of Supervisors recently recognized The Kitchen for this outstanding accomplishment in a special ceremony. To learn more about the restaurant, visit thekitchenrestaurant.com.
GOURMET DINNER IN SUTTER PARK
Experience an enchanting evening in Sutter-Jensen Community Park and Jensen Botanical Garden at a gourmet affair Saturday, Sept. 7.
This must-attend event, sponsored by the Carmichael Parks Foundation, begins at 5 p.m. with a reception featuring appetizers by Carmichael’s finest restaurants followed by a gourmet dinner at 6:30 p.m. and an auction at 7:30 p.m. The evening concludes with a musical soiree until 8:45 p.m.
Dinner in the Park benefits youth scholarships and recreation activities offered through the Carmichael Recreation and Park District. For more information and tickets, visit carmichaelparksfoundation.org.
HIGH-FLYING CAPITAL AIRSHOW
There will be plenty of high-flying excitement Oct. 5–6 when the California Capital Airshow returns to Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova.
Headlining the performances will be the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, a disciplined precision demonstration team consisting of F/A-18 Hornet jets that blaze through the sky flying only inches apart from wingtip to wingtip.
Also on hand will be the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 Viper Demonstration Team and the Patriot Parachute Team, a veteran-led squad that includes former members of the Navy SEAL Team, Navy Leap Frogs and Air Force Wings of Blue.
For more information, visit californiacapitalairshow.com.
VISITING WITH NEIGHBORS
I will host my Community Coffee Meeting in Fair Oaks on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 a.m. with an update on road paving by county transportation director Ron Vicari. The meeting will be held at the Fair Oaks Water District at 10326 Fair Oaks Blvd. near Winding Way. I will also give a brief update on what is going on in Sacramento County.
In addition, I will hold “office hours” from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 6:30 p.m. prior to Movie Night in the Park on Friday, Sept. 27, at Tupelo Park in Foothill Farms. Residents may drop by and talk about items of interest on a first-come basis—no appointment necessary.
Next month, transportation director Vicari will make two encore presentations in Carmichael and Arden-Arcade. The first meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Mission Oaks Community Center in Gibbons Park at 4701 Gibbons Drive. The second will be Thursday, Oct. 17, at Swanston Park Community Center at 2350 Northrop Ave. Both meetings start at 6 p.m.
ARDEN-DIMICK LIBRARY BOOK SALE
The Friends of Arden-Dimick Library will hold a three-day Community Book Sale on Friday, Sept. 6, from noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 8, noon to 3 p.m. On the final day, $6 will buy a bag of books.
There will be plenty of reading material for both adults and children, plus DVDs and CDs. Friends of the Library members will receive a 20-percent discount (not including the Sunday bag sale). Funds from the sale will benefit local library programs.
CARMICHAEL FOUNDER’S DAY
Carmichael will celebrate “Founder’s Day” on Saturday, Sept. 28, honoring the legacy of Daniel Webster Carmichael who established the community in 1909.
The party will naturally be held in Carmichael Park with festivities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fun will include vendor and craft booths, food trucks, live music and a classic car show.
For more information, contact the Carmichael Park and Recreation District at (916) 485-5322 or visit carmichaelpark.com.
FULTON AVENUE CAR CRUISE
Check out more than 300 cars of all makes and models at the 2019 CruiseFest on Fulton Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Car aficionados will enjoy hot wheels and classic cars on display and cruising Fulton Avenue at this free family event, which will also feature live music, vendors, food trucks and a beer garden.
The cruise will benefit the California Automobile Museum. For more information, visit calautomuseum.org.
Susan Peters represents the Third District on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. She can be reached at susanpeters@saccounty.net. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento.