New North Natomas Firestation To Break Ground

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N Magazine Hosts Cover Artist Show Saturday

N magazine cover artist for April, Marianne Bland is looking forward to the event.

N Magazine will host a tribute to all its cover artists 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on April 10 giving Natomas residents a chance to meet those who create the work used on the publication's covers.

The event will be held at the New North Natomas Library, 4660 Via Ingoglia, next to Inderkum High School. The reception will include a buffet, refreshments, wine bar and music.

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Flood Protection Forum Set For Wednesday

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This community forum on flood control will include experts providing updates on the status of flood protection levels and the future of flood insurance rates for Natomas Basin residents.

The team will present an overview of work that the flood control agency has completed and whatremains to be done on the Natomas Levee Improvement Program.

• Jay Punia, P.E. Executive Officer, Central Valley Flood Protection Board
• Bill Busath, Supervising Engineer, City of Sacramento’s Department of Utilities
• COL Thomas Chapman (or designee), US Army Corps of Engineers
• Nathan Dietrich, District Director, Congresswoman Doris Matsui
• Stein Buer, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA)

5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Agency Staff Displays

6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Panelist Presentations

6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Audience Questions and Answers

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For A Good Cause

Mountain Mike's Pizza

North Natomas Little League Fundraiser

4 p.m.-9 p.m.

April 10

2069 Arena Boulevard

419-4434

(Dine-in, Take-out, or Delivery) 

The More We Eat, The More We Raise

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For A Good Cause

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Eye On Natomas: Take Time To Smell The Flowers

LISA SMILEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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Natomas Youth Baseball Pitches New Season

Natomas Youth Baseball will hold its Opening Day Ceremonies at Rio Tierra Junior High School 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. SATURDAY, April 3rd. This is NYBs 51st year in Natomas!

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Tretheway Denies Impact of RT's Service Cuts

ditorial by Keith Sharward 

As of June 20, weekend bus service in Natomas will be reduced dramatically. North Natomas loses all of its weekend bus service and South Natomas loses much of its weekend bus service, despite false assurances from incumbent city councilperson Ray Tretheway. 

This week, in response to a fiscal emergency caused by reductions in state funding, the Sacramento Regional Transit District Board of Directors voted to cut bus and light rail services throughout the region, effective June 20. Tretheway is also on RT's Board of Directors.

According to RT's northwest route map, Natomas currently receives weekday service on Routes 11 (Truxel Road) and 89 (Gateway Oaks), with service 7 days a week on Routes 13 (Northgate), 14 (Norwood), 86 (San Juan - Silver Eagle), and 88 (West El Camino). Based on service reductions described in RT's published summary, bus routes 13 and 14 are losing their weekend service, and bus route 89 is being eliminated altogether.

Routes 13 and 14 were the only routes that included any North Natomas stops (see maps for Route 13 and Route 14), so this has the effect of cutting North Natomas off of weekend service entirely. South Natomas loses its critical Northgate weekend service, although routes 86 and 88 will continue their weekend runs -- at least for now.

Considering where all of the city's low income housing was constructed in the past several years (much of which is concentrated near Del Paso and Truxel Roads) and the economically challenged Northgate corridor, it appears Natomas residents with the least amount of resources were disproportionately impacted by these transit service cuts. These are our neighbors who are more likely to depend on public transit, many of whom have varying work schedules and are more likely to rely on weekend bus service to get to their jobs.

Candidates for the June 8 city council election responded to constituents’ concerns about these service cuts at a debate hosted by the Natomas Community Association Wednesday night, moderated by the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County. 

Angelique Ashby responded with concern that Tretheway did not advocate for Natomas residents with the greatest need. “RT has been cut, and this week we took another huge disproportionate hit,” Ashby said. “I don't understand -- and Ray is on that board.”

Tretheway claimed that the bus service cuts would not have much of an impact on Natomas. "I'll assure you that no [bus] lines in Natomas, South or North, were cut, with one exception, for weekends at all," Tretheway said. "One goes through North Sacramento, ends up to Natomas Marketplace and out, so it's got, the last leg is Natomas. That one was cut on weekends. All the rest I fought to restore. They were on the cutting block a week ago Monday -- every one was restored." 

However, upon carefully reviewing RT route maps, RT's Issue Paper, and the bulletin posted on RT’s home page, the only Natomas route that was restored from the original proposal was Route 13 (Northgate), and that restoration only applies to weekdays, not weekends. All of the other proposed Natomas service reductions were voted into effect, in spite of Tretheway's assurances to the contrary. 

Either Tretheway is quite confused and does not know what he voted for this week in his capacity as an RT Board member, or he is being dishonest to his constituents. Neither is acceptable. 

Residents throughout Natomas are tired of paying for services and not receiving their fair share. Many in North Natomas are sharing the same frustrations of broken promises that residents in South Natomas have been feeling for decades. In just two months, voters will have the opportunity to elect an intelligent and articulate leader who is willing to work together, build partnerships, listen to the community, and advocate for the region – someone who will fight for the people of Natomas and help our region and Sacramento as a whole meet its potential.

Keith Sharward is a Board member and co-founder of Witter Ranch Community Alliance and a member of the Natomas Crime & Safety Leadership Team. He endorses Angelique Ashby in her campaign for Sacramento City Council's District One (Natomas/Downtown).

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Natomas Comes Together To Honor Salvador

PHOTO COURTESY KTXL FOX40.com

Natomas high school students, educators and community leaders joined the family of Salvador Heredia-Arriaga to celebrate a life cut short by tragedy. 

“Salvador accomplished more in a short amount of time than most do their entire life,” his Natomas High football coach Terry Stark said. “Sal was coaching the kids for all the right reasons. He lead by example."

 The entire Natomas High School football team, score keepers and students he tutored were asked by Heredia-Arriaga's family to attend the services held this morning at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento. Councilman Ray Tretheway sponsored two school buses used to transport more than 80 young people to the church where they were seated in a special section with school staff. 

“Never forget Sal. Always honor his memory,” said Leonard Padilla. “We have so few Sals in this world to remember.” 

All football players wore jerseys over their formal clothes to pay tribute to Heredia-Arriaga who both played for Natomas High School and later coached the junior varsity team. Several speakers, including Padilla, addressed the high schoolers directly throughout the eulogy, bringing a number of players to tears. 

“I see it’s a full house. He loved being the center of attention,” brother Richard Heredia-Arriaga said to much laughter. 

Heredia-Arriaga attended Jefferson Elementary, Natomas Charter and Natomas High. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, he came back to Natomas to coach and attend law school. Heredia-Arriaga tutored students in Spanish and subbed often at the high school. 

“How can I be sad when I know how many lives my son touched,” mother Sue Heredia said to the standing-room-only crowd in the 1,200-seat cathedral. 

Natomas Unified School District officials report numerous donations already made to a scholarship fund* created in Heredia-Arriaga's memory. 

*In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Salvador Heredia-Arriaga Memorial Football Scholarship Fund (Natomas High School), c/o Natomas Unified School District, 1901 Arena Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834.

balloonsbycarolyn.com

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For A Good Cause: Swim Laps, Save Lives

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

April 24

California Family Fitness

3880 Innovator Drive

Natomas

Event activities include:

• A swim-a-thon to raise money and save lives with SAFELY OUT™
• $500 prize to the organization that recruits the most swimmers!
• Free 30-day Calfit membership to every swimmer
• Special prize giveaways at the event for swimmers and attendees!
• The "Sports Guy" Celebrity Floatie Challenge
• Master swimmer Bill Romanelli swimming a "10K to raise $10K"

For more info e-mail swimforlife@citizenvoice.org, call 503-3194 or check out the website at www.citizenvoice.org. For everyone that registers to swim in the event, California Family Fitness would like to offer them a free 30-day membership.

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