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PRESORTED STD.US POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT 32Rancho Cordova, CA

Volume 3 Issue 10

Serving Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Orangevale & Gold River

Second Edition for May 2008

Nina MayHonoring Teachers

Relay For LifeGet Out & Vote!

A rallying call to the conservative base San Juan Principal honored at Crystal Apple Awards Honorary Mayor of Orangevale tells her story California primary is June 3rd. Let your voice be heard!

Page 2Page 5Page 8Page 16

RT Experiences Record Ridership

Thirty Day Grace PeriodBegins on May 5 forCitrus Heights Motorists

In an effort to reducecollisions and make City streetssafer, Citrus Heights willbegin its new red light photoenforcement program on May5, 2008. Cameras and violationsensors will monitor two of thecity’s highest-risk intersectionapproaches – starting with theintersection(s) of Greenback Lane and San Juan Avenue aswell as Greenback Lane andFountain Square Drive.The program is seen by Cityofficials as an important stepto improve the safety and flowof local traffic. However, bylaw drivers who live, work, ortravel through Citrus Heightsare granted a 30-day graceperiod before actual citationsare issued.“Photo enforcement hasa greater deterrent effect if drivers are aware it’s out there,”said Sergeant Eric Mattke,Program Manager for the newsafety initiative. “It is importantto us that all Citrus Heightsdrivers know we’re using photoenforcement and that they havetime to learn about this newsafety program.”For the first thirty days whenCitrus Heights starts using thered light enforcement camerasonly Warning Notices will beissued. The Notices will explainthat beginning (June 6, 2008),actual Citations will be sentto violators, who will then beresponsible for paying the $381fine listed on the Citation. Itshould be noted that right turnson a red light, without stopping,is also a violation. Driversmust come to a complete stopbehind the limit line to makesure the intersection is clear of traffic and pedestrians, beforecontinuing with the right turn.“Though we are committedto improving the safety of our streets, we want to be asfair as possible with this newprogram,” Chief ChristopherBoyd confirmed. “This is athirtyday grace period, butmotorists should take note thatin 30 days the citations and thefines will be real. An Officercan still stop and issue a citationif they observe the violation.”“Our goal is to make CitrusHeights intersections the safestin Sacramento County. We wantred light running to becomeas socially unacceptable asdrunken driving,” the Chief added. Citrus Heights’ red lightenforcement program will beadministered by Redflex TrafficSystems, Inc., an Arizona-based provider of traffic safetyphoto enforcement. Redflex iscontracted to provide similarsuccessful programs in Arizona,California, Colorado, NorthCarolina, Ohio and Oregon.Redflex Traffic Systems hasoperated traffic safety projectsin North America since 1996.Headquartered in Scottsdale,Arizona it also has offices inCulver City CA., Fort CollinsC.O. and Toledo, O.H., as wellas international operations inAustralia, and the Middle East.The company is part of thepublicly listed Redflex HoldingLtd group - with world-leadingproducts and capabilities in thetraffic management, road safety,defense, transport, security andcommunications industries.In summary, Redflex TrafficSystems:

• manufactures digital traffic

cameras (for red-light, speedand toll-violation enforcement)

• operates photo enforcement

traffic safety programs underoutsourced contracts in U.S.(operating traffic cameras,citation processing andticketing, and court systems)

• operates the longest

established traffic ticketingfacility in the U.S. (Redflex’Central Processing Center inScottsdale Arizona)

• has built the world’s three

most sophisticated automatedCitation Processing systemswith a combined imageprocessing capacity for over4 million traffic imagesannually (for LMT AustraliaLtd, operators of the VictoriaPolice Traffic Camera Office;for the Insurance Commissionof British Columbia’s SpeedManagement Program;and for the QueenslandPolice, Australia).

System Ridership Up 20Percent, Light Rail RidershipUp 43%

With gas prices at an all-time high,the Sacramento Regional TransitDistrict (RT) is experiencing a dramaticsurge in bus and light rail ridership.Overall system ridership has increasedby 20.2 percent, compared to the sameperiod last year.In April 2008, total monthly busridership was 1,429,400 – up 2.5 percentfrom April 2007 (despite a five percentreduction in bus service in January2008). Last month, total monthly lightrail ridership was 1,534,000 – up 43.3percent from April 2007. Light railridership has steadily increased overthe past year and has now surpassedbus ridership – unprecedented sincelight rail service began in 1987. Inaddition, the positive trend has carriedover to usage at RT’s 18 free park-and-ride lots. The park-and-ride lots at theHistoric Folsom, Iron Point, Glennand Meadowview light rail stationsare typically at capacity during theweekday commute.“Rising gas prices and the upcomingclosure of the Interstate 5 ‘boat section’have certainly generated interest inpublic transit,” Mike Wiley, GeneralManager/CEO, stated. “RT riders areputting their money in their pockets,not the gas pump. Now, is the perfecttime to try transit.”For route, schedule and fareinformation, call 916-321-BUSS(2877) or visit www.sacrt.com.

The updated 2008 CaliforniaFamily Economic Self-Sufficiency Standard revealsthat due to rising costs andstagnant wages, many workingfamilies in Sacramento Countyand throughout the state arestruggling to afford their mostbasic needs. An adult with apreschooler and a school-agechild in Sacramento Countymust work more than two full-time minimum wage jobs tomake ends meet.“The California FamilyEconomic Self-SufficiencyStandard addresses the wideninggap between the rich and poorwho struggle to keep pace withrising inflation and increasedcosts for monthly necessitiessuch as medications, gas andfood,” says AssemblymemberJim Beall. “I hope that mycolleagues will consider thiswhen voting for my food stampbill, AB 433, which wouldexpand the number of foodstamp recipients by eliminatingunfair administrative barriersand recognizing the specialeconomic circumstances facingCalifornia’s poor.”As a result of the rising costof living, the Self-SufficiencyStandard for SacramentoCounty has increased by $8,213to $46,061 a year for a familyconsisting of one adult, onepreschooler, and one school-agechild, while the minimum wage

www.AmericanRiverMessenger.com

has increased by only $2,600,leaving families well below whatthey need to make ends meet.Together with stagnant wagesand limited state resources,the rising cost of living haswidened the gap between whatmany working families haveand what they need to survivein Sacramento and around thestate.The minimum wage,calculated at $16,640 a year fora full-time job, leaves workingfamilies well below the thresholdof what they must earn in orderto meet their most basic needs.The Self-SufficiencyStandard is based on the costsfamilies face on a daily basis– housing, food, child care,health care, transportation andother necessary basic costs– and is calculated for 156different family compositions.Moreover, the Self-SufficiencyStandard uses geographicallyspecific data to provide acounty-specific measure of thetrue cost of living for workingfamilies. In contrast, the FederalPoverty Level (FPL), whichis the more commonly-usedmeasure for incom Housing andUrban Development (HUD).Geographically relevant datais used for each county inCalifornia, reflecting localmarket rates for items such ashousing, food, health care, childcare, and transportation.“The Self-SufficiencyStandard is fact-based andcompletely customizable,making it ideal for use bypolicymakers, service providers,advocates, and families alike,”says Jenny Chung of theInsight Center for CommunityEconomic Development, anational research, consulting,and legal organization locatedin Oakland, CA. “This newlyupdated data provides anaccurate tool that legislatorscan use to evaluate existingand future policy decisions,direct service providers canuse to better evaluate theircommunities’ unique needsand secure necessary funding,advocates can use to expresstheir priorities, and families canuse to plan for the future.”Tuesday’s release willfeature the newly updated datafor every county in California.Data will be available online atwww.insightcced.org.Californians For EconomicSecurity (CFES) is a statewide,research-driven coalitiondedicated to ensuring thatCalifornia’s working familiesand retired elders can live withdignity and economic well-being. A statewide steeringcommittee guides the overalldirection of and identifiespolicy priorities—drawn fromthe Self-Sufficiency Standarddata—to help close the gapbetween families’ incomeand the rising cost of living inCalifornia. CFES is part of anational effort organized byWashington, D.C.-based WiderOpportunities for Women(WOW) in 36 states.CFES is a project of theInsight Center for CommunityEconomic Development(formerly NEDLC), a39-year old, nationalresearch, consulting, andlegal organization dedicatedto building economic healthand opportunity in vulnerablecommunities. The InsightCenter’s utilizes a wide arrayof community economicdevelopment strategiesincluding: industry-focusedworkforce development,individual and communityasset building, connecting earlycare and education to economicdevelopment, providinglegal support to California’slegal service programsand community-basedorganizations, and advocatingfor the adoption of the Self-Sufficiency Standard as ameasure of income adequacyand an alternative to the FederalPoverty Level.

For more information on CFES or the Self-Sufficiency Standard, contact Jenny Chung by phone 510.206.3171or 510.251.2600 x124, or email at jchung@insightcced.org.

Citrus Heights Red Light

Enforcement Program Starts

County-Specific Measure Proves as Costs Rise and Wages Stagnate, Families inSacramento Cannot Meet Basic Needs

Working Families Struggleto Make Ends Meet

Page 2

Second Edition for May 2008

“The journey of harmony”isn’t living up to its name.That’s what organizers of the Olympic Games dubbedthe tour of the Olympictorch before realizing thatthe flame would have to besecreted away during itsceremonial meanderings.It was extinguished at leastonce in Paris as pro-Tibetprotesters besieged it, and inSan Francisco it popped upunannounced in unexpectedplaces lest demonstratorscreate an unseemly ruckus.If they have a sense of humor, the gods of publicrelations must be smiling.China celebrated landing the2008 Summer Olympics as aglobal PR coup that would sealits status as an internationallyrespectable power of the firstrank. Instead, China is reapingthe embarrassment that comeswith cracking skulls in Tibetand abetting genocide inSudan as the world’s eyesturn to it as the host of anevent devoted “to promotinga peaceful society concernedwith the preservation of humandignity.”If the games weren’t a defacto seal of approval, thugswouldn’t pant over hostingthem. Hitler worked to keepthe 1936 Olympic Games-- awarded to Berlin in 1931prior to his rise to power -- inGermany. For good reason:historian William Shirersays that turned them into “adazzling propaganda successfor his barbarian regime.”In its eagerness to keep theSummer Games in Seoul in1988, the then-authoritarianstate of South Korea didn’tcrush protesters, thus arguablypaving the way for its eventualpolitical opening.China won’t be so gingerly,but to the extent the gamesbecome the occasion forembarrassment for Beijingrather than glorious self-congratulation, the better.The torch should be harried,and Western leaders shouldstay away from the openingceremonies.All of this is mere symbolism,of course. For China, though,it’s the ceremony and the prettypicture that matter most.President Bush hasn’tdeclared himself aboutthe opening ceremony,understandably. If he says hewon’t go now, he’ll lose anyleverage over the Chinese. Butultimately he can’t go, unlesshe wants to repeat his father’sexperience of rubbing shoulderswith Chinese officialdom freshfrom a crackdown. Bush hastalked about religious freedommore than any other Americanpresident. In the past, he hasn’thesitated to irk China, meetingwith the Dalai Lama in theWhite House.It is the misfortune of Beijingthat it has lost the cachet it oncehad on the left. The countryis associated less with Mao’sLittle Red Book than withcapitalist development andrampant pollution, making itan acceptable target for moralcensure. It helps that Tibet’smost famous representativeis a Buddhist monk and thatthe autonomy of a landlockedCentral Asian region at16,000 feet is a cause safelysequestered from any hint of the American national interest.Tibet will surely get morerestive rather than less asthe August games approach.They are simply too gooda platform for internationalattention (the 1989 TiananmenSquare protests began upon ahigh-profile visit by MikhailGorbachev). China willrespond brutishly and hope itsOlympic stage-managementstill comes off without a hitch.

The Olympics:

BushShouldn’t Go

Editorial

Publisher -

Paul V. Scholl

Publisher’s Statement: It is the intent of the American River Messenger to strive for anobjective point of view in the reporting of newsand events. We consider our Editorial and Opinionpages to be a public forum for our readers. It isunderstood that the opinions expressed on thesepages are those of the authors and cartoonists andare not necessarily the opinions of the publisher orour contributors.The American River Messenger is not responsible for unsolicitedmanuscripts or materials. The entire contents of the American RiverMessenger are copyrighted. Ownership of all advertising created and/orcomposed by the Messenger is with the publishing company and writtenpermission to reproduce the same must be obtained from the publisher.Subscriptions should be mailed to American River Messenger,7405 Greenback Lane, #129, Citrus Heights, CA 95610. Subscriptionrate is $20 per year within Sacramento county, $30 outside Sacramentocounty. The ARM is published twice monthly.Call 916-773-1111 for moreinformation

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“Written by the people for the people”

We are Proud members of these newspaper associations.

By Nina May

www.RWNetwork.net

Conservatives have this uncannyability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and overplay every hand dealtthem. They squandered the ReaganRevolution by parsing and dicingan agenda of positions unobtainablefrom even the most charismatic, ormessianic of candidates. The colorrequired to attain “conservative”credentials on the litmus test appearsin no color wheel known to man.The acceptable candidates in thiscategory are whittled to a pencilpoint that can only scribe the nameof Ronald Reagan.In the hopes that more peoplewould have adopted his manner of principled politics, abandoning themud fight that is covering the nation insludge, conservatives have searcheddiligently for an heir apparent whileconsistently aborting their own. Noone is pure enough, conservativeenough, and principled enough towear that mantel, yet they still holdevery elected official to that standard.And, ironically, the country holds theentire Republican Party to that samestandard while acknowledging thatthe Democrats and their party areincapable of feigning an attempt atsuch lofty heights.Barney Frank is seen as the voiceof all that is virtuous in sexualpreference while Mark Foley is runout of town on a rail for his dalliancesin alternative lifestyles. Senator LarryCraig is tarred and feathered by thegiddy left while claiming the right ishomophobic. Tom Delay is driven outof office by an over zealous partisanprosecutor while CongressmanWilliam Jefferson commandeersgovernment sources to salvage hispersonal items, including the $90,000in his freezer. George Allen can uttera made up word that morphs into aracial slur while the Democrat whofilibustered the Civil Rights Bill getsa pass, once again. I’m not really surewhat happened to Newt Gingrich,but I am sure he didn’t lie under oathor seduce an intern like Bill Clintondid. Bill has had so many sexualimproprieties it would require acertified public accountant to keeptrack of them and somehow he is thevictim and the women are the vilecreatures seduced by that siren of theright wing conspiracy. His wife getsthe mea culpa senate seat in a stateshe has never lived in, and a multi-million dollar house she didn’t spenda dime on . . . and she is the victim,not the women her husband abused.We have watched ClarenceThomas endure a “high techlynching,” seen Condoleezza Ricereduced to caricatures of AuntJamima and seen Michael Steelehave Oreo cookies thrown at him fordaring to leave the liberal plantationand express their own political viewsbased on principal. Alan Keyes wasall but ignored in his bid for presidenteven though his resume, his intellect,his articulate ability and passion fora country he has always loved, shinelike the sun compared to the flickeringcandle of the finalist in AmericanIdol President, Barak Obama. Whyhave all these people been held toan impossible standard by both theleft and the right? Different reasons.The left has identified all thingsRepublican as akin to the anti-Christ .. . not that they acknowledge there isa Christ, but it is an apt analogy. Andthe “right”, once again, can’t seemto get its judgmental act togetherto recognize good people and getbehind them when they are willingto put their lives on the line for thecountry.So what we are seeing on thehorizon is a perfect storm for a groupbound by common philosophy thatis at odds with all the participantsin the 2008 presidential elections. If conservatives would take a momentfrom eating their young, look upfrom the bloodied carcass of fallencomrades they have abandoned in thehunt for perfection, they would see aperfect storm on the horizon.John McCain has somehow,managed to edge out other candidateswho were rejected by conservativesbecause they were not perfect enough. . . or they were too perfect. I can’tseem to get my arms around thefact that Mitt Romney looked tooperfect, had great credentials, goodadministration skills but just wasn’tgood enough. Giuliani was America’sMayor, and granted, Mayor is not aresume topper, but neither is beingthe housewife of a man who cheats onyou and finagles a senate seat in lieuof candies and flowers. Only DuncanHunter had a perfect conservativescore, yet the conservative elitesat around, wringing their handssearching for a candidate with aperfect conservative score. Andeven Mike Huckabee is far moreconservative than John McCain, yet,he and others were rejected in favor of Hillary and Obama.It has been twenty years sinceReagan left office and the only oneswho have accomplished anythinghave been summarily reprimandedand reproached for doing too much,not doing enough, not doing it theright way . . . whatever . . . they havepassed and the movement is a dyingember fanning itself in the hopesof igniting a flame of revolution.This is the perfect storm for such arevolution, if that once powerful groupof leaders would give one final gaspof passion and unify their collectiveefforts to throw down a gauntlet of compromise and ultimate victory.That gauntlet, to the heir apparent inthe Republican Party, John McCain,is very simple and has only two parts.The vice presidential running mateshould be vetted by the conservativewing of the party as acceptable, andhe will magnanimously acknowledgeand agree that if he is elected, he willserve only one term. If conservatives can coalesce behindthose terms, which would be amiracle, then there could possibly behope for the future. If not, Hillary orObama will win . . . depending on whogets the Democratic nomination.And if McCain does not agree,those who feel they are once againbeing railroaded and forced to acceptan unacceptable candidate, shouldnot sit this election out, but vote theirvoice and select a write-in candidatewho should have been chosen asa running mate. One very positiveby-product of losing the generalelection is that the leadership of theRepublican party convenes to elect anew leader as opposed to having oneselected by the sitting president. Thisis the silver lining of a perfect storm.If Hillary is the nominee, she willbe a one-termer with a hostile senateand congress because it will be aknown fact that Barak was cheatedout of the race. She will be a pariahin the media, in the Democratic Party,and in the nation’s eye. She willretaliate with draconian measuresto bring her “subjects” in line and arevolt will occur. If Barak wins, thepopulace will be crying “uncle” intwo years as they struggle to regroupfrom oppressive taxes, regulations,restrictions and government’stightening stronghold of unrestrainedpower. And that huge money-making machine known as “babyboomers,” will begin to slowly grindto a screeching halt as young retireesrealize they would much rather spendthe rest of their lives doing whatthey want, not what the governmentdictates. That young, impressionablegroup of new voters will be expectedto pick up that slack, receivingpaychecks that barely cover expensesand their altruistic nature will turnugly with greed as they realize theyhave nothing to show for giving thegovernment 50% of their hard earnedmoney. They will expect their youngpresident to have the answer and hisresponse will be to tax and spendmore and more. And dismiss the ideathat the Clintons will recede quietlyinto the shadow of the party’s new“it” guy. There will be a division inthe Democratic party that will makepartisan politics seem like a warmmemory of the good old days and itwill perfectly position Republicans towin in two years, if they can figureout what they stand for.If either Hillary or Barak wins itwill be because McCain would notnegotiate with his base and humblyunderstand that winning the electionis impossible without them.McCain agrees to the conditions,reneges on the agreement to not runa second term he will become Bush41, surrounded by moderates whoactually thought he could win withoutthe base, which ironically was thesame reason Dole lost. So McCaincan do what is best for the country orhe will either Bush himself or Dolehimself. And it is between him andthe conservatives in the party if theyhave the courage to press the issue.If they don’t, then they should notcomplain if they are forced to giveallegiance to Hillary or Barak underpenalty of whatever. And if theydon’t, they forever . . . forever . . . losea position as a serious political voicein the destiny of the country. Theperfect storm is brewing and it is upto the conservative base to recognizeit and do something about it.

Nina May is the producer/director of the award-winning documentary, Emancipation Revelation Revolution(www.ERRVideo.com).

Snatching Defeat

from the Jaws of Victory

Second Edition for May 2008

Page

The Sacramento Young Marinesvolunteered to be Metro Fire’sCERT Teams training victims.The children spent their Saturdayhaving fake wounds applied inorder to simulate a disaster for thefinal CERT test.The CERT Program, run by theMetro fire is a training programfor ordinary citizens to learn basicEmergency Rescue. The class,which consisted of 16 men andwomen of all ages, practicedtheir training on the children bysurveying the area, assessing theinjuries and extracting the victimsfrom the disaster area. Onceeveryone was accounted for andtaken to the medical station, TheCERT students then bandaged andwatched after their victims.The Young Marines had a lot of fun with the pretend scenario. Oneboy was to pretend to be a wandererthat escaped from the medicalstation. The CERT Studentsrecognized that he had left almostimmediately. The CERT Studentssent out teams to find where hewandered off just as they weretaught. It is a very good feeling toknow that besides having the MetroFire teams available in case of anemergency, they have trained manycaring citizens to help.To learn more about MetroFire CERT program visit www.smfd.ca.gov/cert.htm or call916-566-4381. The next classbegins October 16, 2008.

by Freddy Groves

When You Buy a Poppy

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row ...”

Our use of the poppy tomemorialize those who’ve losttheir lives in battle had its seedsin Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem,“In Flanders Fields,” in WorldWar I. In 1919 the AmericanLegion Auxiliary started theirpoppy program when peopletook the crepe poppies from theircoffee and doughnut booth inMilwaukee -- and left cash.Today the Auxiliary uses theproceeds of poppy donationsto support veterans and theirfamilies. The poppies themselvesare made by veterans as therapyin “Poppy Shop” rehab centersaround the country, with thematerials provided by theAuxiliary and the veteran earningmoney for every poppy created.The biggest contribution torehabilitation comes with theNational Veterans CreativeArts Program for veterans atDepartment of Veterans Affairsmedical facilities.Once a year the winners of allthe local Creative Arts Festivalsin categories such as applied andfine arts, drama, music and dancehave their artwork exhibited,generally at the VA MedicalCenters, with talent shows forthe music, drama and dancecategories. Winners go on to theNational Creative Arts Festival,sponsored each year by the VA,during a week of celebration.

You’ll see them around onMemorial Day: members of theAmerican Legion Auxiliary orthe VFW at malls or places wherelots of people gather, baskets fullof poppies at hand.If you don’t spot them, callyour local American Legion orVFW and find out where they’regoing to be distributing poppies.Donate big, take a few, and handout the extras. Wear your poppyas a remembrance of the sacrificesthose who have gone before us.

Write to Freddy Groves in care

of King Features Weekly Service,

P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or send e-mail tocolumnreply@gmail.com.

36,000 Tubes of SunblockShipped to the Troops in Iraq!

Metro Fire CERT ProgramGraduates New Class

One Nation United In OneMoment - Over 300 MillionAmericans are Asked to JoinTogether at 3:00 pm, LocalTime, on Memorial Day,for the National Moment ofRemembrance

All citizens are asked to pause intheir Memorial Day activities at 3 pm torespectfully honor the memory of thosewho died in the service of our nation.The idea of the National Momentof Remembrance was formed whenCarmella LaSpada, a long-timeadvocate for America’s fallen, askedschool children, “What does MemorialDay mean to you?” They responded,“It’s the day the pool opened.” Thoseyoung people were not the only oneswho misunderstood Memorial Day.According to a Gallup Poll, only 28%of Americans knew the meaning of Memorial Day. Ms. LaSpada wasdetermined to put “Memorial” back inMemorial Day to ensure those who diedfor our country would never be forgotten.In 2000, Ms. LaSpada inspired Congressto establish the WhiteHouse Commissionon Remembrance.The National Momentof Remembrance wasborn.The President’sMemorial DayProclamation calls onAmericans to observethe National Moment of Remembrance.The Moment will be observed at theInternational Space Station, The Statueof Liberty, the USS New Jersey andthe Empire State Building. Membersof Congress, state and local officialswill observe the National Moment of Remembrance, as will the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral MikeMullen, and members of our military aswell as their families.Major League Baseball games willpause at 3:00 pm, local time, while 200Amtrak trains whistle their participationand The National Memorial DayParade halts for the Moment.Members of Bugles Across Americawill play Taps for the Moment at sitesthroughout our nation.“The Moment is a time to pause,reflect and remember. It is a portion of our commitment to ‘Live HonoringAmerica’s Fallen’ by showing respectfor their sacrificial service. We want ourcitizens to contemplate the ties that bindus together. We want every man, womanand child to say ‘I know why I am freeand I respectfully honor those who diedfor my freedom,’” said Ms. LaSpada,Executive Director of the Commission.One nation united in one moment.CONTACT:

White House Commissionon Remembrance Marjorie Mitchell,202-783-4665 www.remember.gov

SupportOurTroops.Org,CFC#31529, has just shipped36,000 tubes of free sunblock tothe men and women in the U. S.Military serving in Iraq. $139,625worth!Let’s do for those who do for us!“It’s time to show them howmuch we care” said Support OurTroops® Chairman Martin C.Boire.Every case is labeled with“thank-you” signage from the folkshere at home.“They spend their day in thedesert sun. We’re glad to sendsomething to help them with it,”said Boire.About SupportOurTroops.OrgSupport Our Troops® is apatriotic family organization aimedat protecting the well-being of thetroops and their families. TheySupport Us - Let’s Support Them!TCivilian-led, SOT enthusiasticallywelcomes civilians, active-dutyfamilies, veterans, and folksfrom all political parties. JoinSupportOurTroops.Org and showsupport today. We offer simple,easy, everyday methods throughwhich folks can stick up for thosewho stick up for all of us: officiallicense plates, ribbons, magnets,apparel, and accessories, knowingthat it works to benefit the deployedtroops (our neighbors) and theirfamilies. Support Our Troopsis a nation-wide 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with chaptersin 37 states to date. Donations atSupportOurTroops.Org help us dowonderful things like this for thetroops and their families.Where Did It Come From?Nothing but the best for ourtroops! This shipment of sunblock was made possible bythe thoughtfulness of Crabtree &Evelyn, an American retailer of naturally inspired body, face andhome products with stores globally.We encourage everyone whobelieves in the goodness of ourtroops to reward Crabtree & Evelynwith their business.What Else Are We Doing?Chairman Martin C. Boire, said,“we’re the license plate people.We have completed state approvalof Support Our Troops! plates in24 states to date, and have moreunderway. Those plates help usdo good things like this for ourdeployed neighbors. Sign up foryour plate today. You can find outthe status of the effort in your stateat www.SupportOurTroops.org.”CFC (Combined FederalCampaign) Member #31529.Support Our Troops® is anauthorized private civilian nationaland international nonprofit in theCombined Federal Campaign(CFC). Federal employees canhelp Support Our Troops® bydesignating to code 31529.

Put ‘’Memorial’’ Back inMemorial Day

Sacramento Young Marine Getting help from CERT students

Mount Vernon MemorialPark will hold its 41st AnnualMemorial Day Tribute onMonday, May 26th at 11 a.m.This special tribute will honorall veterans both past & presentwho have given us the specialprivileges that we enjoy today.This event is the largestin Sacramento, and includesover 460 large American flags,military color & honor guards,musical salutes by the 59thArmy Band, a flag foldingceremony, the missing soldier’stable, a skydiver, and a jetflyover. Our guest speaker willbe Major General Wm. H. WadeII, Adjutant General, CaliforniaNational Guard.The public is invited to thisfree event. Mount VernonMemorial Park is located at8201 Greenback Lane, inFair Oaks, one block east of Fair Oaks Blvd.For additional information call916-969-1251.

Mount Vernon Memorial Event

The Tenth Annual Memorial DayCeremony will be held Saturday, May24th at the Fair Oaks Cemetery, 7780Olive Street, Fair Oaks, with formalceremonies starting at 10 AM. ViceChairman of the Fair Oaks CemeteryDistrict, Thomas Askins will be theMaster of Ceremonies. The musicalprogram will be provided by the FairOaks Village Singers, Ed Silver,Director, American Veterans Band,conducted by Warren “Bud” Turner,and Bagpiper Dick Marquette.The Fair Oaks Cemetery Districtand the Memorial Day CeremonyCommittee have finalized plans forone of the most popular and inspiringMemorial Day ceremonies in thearea. This year’s theme is to honor“The Last Heroes of World War II.”Ninety-five new names have beenadded to the Veterans Memorial Wall.The cemetery will be decorated withhundreds of flags lining its roadwaysas “The Avenue of Flags.”Covered seating will be availablefor veterans and visitors. Dedicatedseating will be available for veteransof World War II and their wives. TheFair Oaks Historical Society and theOrangevale/Fair Oaks Grange willprovide complementary refreshmentsafter the ceremony.

Fair OaksMemorial DayCeremony