Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "swimming"

Tahoe Park community steps up for their pool, opens it for summer swimming

2012-07-02T20:42:43Z

Tahoe Park pool didn’t make the list for the Save Mart “Save Our Pools” campaign, so, faced with the possibility of a dry pool during a hot summer, neighborhood leaders joined forces with a city councilman, a county supervisor and the Sierra Health Foundation to plan their own rescue effort – and succeeded.

“The neighborhood just wouldn’t take no for an answer,” City Councilman Kevin McCarty said. “I’m proud of everyone for that.”

While Save Mart grocery stores were working with the city of Sacramento to raise $1 million to save six city pools from closure this spring, a contingent of Tahoe Park volunteers and neighborhood association leaders were diligently stuffing envelopes and knocking on doors to raise the money needed to keep their pool open.

Eric Guerra, president of the Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association, took the lead in the fundraising campaign, which he said was initially only intended to raise enough to keep the kiddie pool open at Tahoe Park.

“The cost of getting the large pool open full time would be over $80,000 and we knew that wasn’t possible,” Guerra said. “But we thought maybe we could do more than just the wading pool.”

Guerra and fellow neighborhood association members Ryan Murphy and Kimberly Pell decided to shoot for a middle ground: $42,000 to open the pool part-time.

Pell, a high school teacher at Jesuit High School, met Sierra Health Foundation CEO Chet Hewitt at a career day at her school and asked if the foundation would be interested in participating in saving Tahoe Park pool. The response was positive: Hewitt said if the community and the council member would raise half of the necessary funds, the foundation would come in with the other half.

McCarty said that, once Sierra Health Foundation was on board with their matching pledge, he reached out to Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna to help the Tahoe Park community raise the rest.

“What speaks volumes about Tahoe Park is that many people gave small amounts,” Guerra said. “Even some people who don’t really use the pool or don’t have kids – they felt bad about not having it open for everyone else.”

In total, donations from community members and nearby businesses came to just under $4,000, Guerra said, and McCarty and Serna together raised another $17,000.

“We are all clear this is not a long term solution,” Guerra said. “By far everyone feels this is a city responsibility, but, still, we understand the city’s fiscal challenges, too.”

The formal ribbon-cutting ceremony in late June was the first time anyone used the pool since 2010, Murphy said, and about 50 people came out to celebrate. The pool has been packed with swimmers since then, he added.

“When I ride by the poole and see it’s clean and people are there and kids are swimming, I think to myself, ‘OK. The effort was worth it,’” Murphy said.

Tahoe Park Pool, 3535 59th St., will be open for recreational swim from 2-6 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Aug. 25.

Tahoe Park joins Glenn Hall and Southside Park in the list of city pools that have been granted a reprieve from summer closure through community efforts.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Glenn Hall Pool neighbors, Q-Balls give big for more swim time this summer

2012-06-27T15:48:06Z

For the third year in a row, budget cuts reduced programs and swim hours at local pools, but donations from generous neighbors – and a local rock ’n roll band – pulled together to give water-lovers in East Sacramento additional splash time at Glenn Hall Pool this summer.

“It’s going to mean a lot to many people to have the pool to splash around in this summer,” Steve Harriman, River Park Neighborhood Association board member said Wednesday. “For some kids in the city, going to a pool is all they have.”

The fundraising campaign will allow the pool to open for recreational swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. on on Fridays and Sundays, June 29 through Aug. 19.

Open recreation swim times are also offered at Doyle Park Pool, Clunie Pool in McKinley Park and the wading pool at Bertha Henschel Park.

According to a press release from City Councilman Steve Cohn’s office, the River Park Neighborhood Association’s fundraising effort, together with a grant from the concert series Pops in the Park and a $1,000 contribution from local rock band Q-Balls will allow residents more than 66 additional hours of swim time this summer.

“I’m really excited about this because the people in River Park have done a lot to make this happen,” Cohn said Wednesday. “They’ve raised money three or four years in a row now, and they are still doing it.”

Cohn said the cost to add a single hour of additional recreation swim time at Glenn Hall Pool is $150, and the group raised a total of $10,000.

Harriman said past fundraising efforts for Glenn Hall Pool have included car washes, bake sales and even a door-to-door flyer distribution campaign to encourage donations.

“People are feeling fundraising fatigue right now,” Harriman said. “The good news is, there are some people who are in a financial position to do something, and they care enough to do so.”

The River Park Neighborhood Association isn’t done yet, Cohn said. The group will continue their fundraising efforts with the hope of adding even more swim hours.

“We have an eight-week schedule now, but the more we collect, the more hours we can add,” Cohn said.

Tax deductible donations to the effort can be made through the city’s Gifts to Share program. For more information, contact Cohn’s CIty Hall office, or the River Park Neighborhood Association on their website.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Southside Park Pool is OPEN! (Photos)

2012-06-17T02:31:36Z

With a bit of fanfare, Catherine O'Brien thanked the people and businesses for making the opening of Southside Park Pool happen.

Among them were Southside Park Neighborhood Assn (SPNA), City Park and Recreation Director Jim Combs, City Councilmember Rob Fong, City Manager John Shirey, YMCA CEO Jay Lowrey and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Jay Hansen.

She said "Thank You" to sponsors Southside Motors, Inc, Thomas Advocacy Group, Inc, Southside Park Co-Housing and Geremia Pools, Inc.

After the thanks and congratulations concluded many took the plunge into the pristine-looking pool.

Here's those in Michael Phelps mode:

To read Melissa Corker's preview of the pool opening - <<<CLICK HERE>>>

Party at the pool: Southside Park Pool opening celebration Friday

2012-06-14T19:01:48Z

Cool blue water will be ready and waiting for swimmers at the Southside Park Pool grand opening party Friday – and one lucky swimmer will win the privilege of taking the first plunge in the pool since 2010.

“The pool has just been filled, so it’ll be nice and cool for everyone,” Southside Park Neighborhood Association member Catherine O’Brien said Thursday.

O’Brien and a group of her neighbors banded together in March to get the Southside Park Pool opened because it was not included in the recent Save Mart Save Our Pools Campaign, which raised $1 million to keep six other city pools open for the summer.

In May, an agreement was reached between the city of Sacramento and the YMCA of Superior California allowing the YMCA to operate the pool from June 16 through Labor Day. The pool will be available for swim lessons, open swim times and event rentals through the summer, according to the YMCA website.

“This is a great example of community partners working toward a common goal that benefits our most important citizens: our kids,” City Councilman Rob Fong said in his district newsletter for June.

The event starts at 6 p.m., and O’Brien said party organizers aren’t sure how many people will attend, but they expect to be hosting a full house – especially with temperatures expected to hit 100 degrees Friday.

“The word has definitely gotten out about the pool party, and we’re ready for it,” O’Brien said.

Tickets to the event are $10 per person at the door, and children under 12 can enter free. Entry includes a raffle ticket to win the privilege of the first plunge – and swimmers will want to be on time for the 6:15 p.m. drawing, O’Brien said.

“It will be hard to make anyone wait to get into the pool, especially the children,” she said.

Proceeds from the pool preview party will help keep the Southside Park Pool open for the summer. Party snacks are being provided by Southside Park neighbors and a no-host after party will be held at Vallejo’s restaurant at Fourth and T streets, O’Brien said.

Registrations for swim lessons at Southside Park Pool are open on the YMCA’s website or by visiting the YMCA at 2021 W St. in Sacramento.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Neighbors, YMCA work on bold plan to reopen Southside Park Pool, but will it work?

2012-05-16T00:34:05Z

Southside Park swimmers should know in the next week whether a bold new plan to reopen the Southside Park Pool succeeds – if it does, it will make for a cool summer for thousands of central city swimmers.

The plan hinges on a new partnership between the city of Sacramento and the Sacramento YMCA where the YMCA will operate the pool and provide staff and maintenance all year.

“If we can accomplish this, the Southside (Park) Pool will be open for business seven days a week,” City Councilman Rob Fong said. “It would be an amazing asset for the community again.”

The new plan includes swim lessons, an aquatics program and open swim times at the pool for families and kids who are out of school on summer break.

Denise Wunibald, a resident of Southside Park since 2001, said she used the Southside Park Pool regularly for lap swimming when it was open, and she misses those opportunities.

“It’s not just for me, though,” Wunibald said. “When I first heard about the pool closing, I started thinking about the neighborhood kids and how much they use the pool.”

Jay Lowden, executive director of the Sacramento YMCA, said the nonprofit organization will operate the pool, staff all programs and maintain the pool systems and water. Major mechanical issues will be cared for by the city.

Although it will be operated as an extension of the local YMCA, Lowden said pool-goers will not have to be members of the YMCA to use the pool.

The costs for the aquatics programs and swim lessons will not change from current YMCA pricing, Lowden said, but there will be an increase in open swim fees from $1 to $2 per person.

If Southside Park Pool reopens, it will be open for more hours, more days of the week and for a longer season than any other pool in the city, according to Southside Park Neighborhood Association member Catherine O’Brien.

“If necessity is the mother of invention, we’ve come to the point where this invention works,” Fong said. “I’ve taken the plan to our city manager, and I’m optimistic that we may be able to go forward.”

The idea was spearheaded by SPNA members when they realized their neighborhood pool wasn’t on the list of pools to be saved by the SaveMart grocery chain’s recent “Save Our Pools” campaign.

O’Brien said Friday that the Southside Park Pool has historically been the fourth most-used pool in the city, but it was left off the list of pools to be kept open because other pools across the city took priority.

The SaveMart campaign raised $1 million to keep six local pools open – the same ones that were open last year, O’Brien noted.

Despite serving more than 15,000 people when it was last open in 2010, Southside Park Pool wasn’t on that list.

O’Brien said she and some of her neighbors banded together as the SaveMart effort was getting under way and started working to get the Southside Park Pool open for this summer.

“We knew that the year before the city talked to the YMCA, and they were interested in partnering, but that discussion didn’t pan out,” O’Brien said.

According to Lowden, the timing of that discussion was too late in the season to be productive, and the idea was scrapped.

O’Brien contacted city Department of Parks and Recreation personnel and contacts at the YMCA in late March to start a new conversation about partnering with the nonprofit organization.

O’Brien, Lowden and Maddy Hoe, head of the aquatics program at the YMCA, worked with Jim Combs, head of the Department of Parks and Recreation, to structure a detailed plan and then presented their idea to Fong and other city officials.

“Our vision for the pool is to have vendors there, and to have umbrellas available for parents watching swim lessons, and possibly solar panels for heating the pool,” O’Brien said. “First, we need to get it reopened.”

Keeping the pool open for the summer will cost approximately $75,000, and the majority of that will be sustained by aquatics program and swim lesson fees.

There is a $25,000 gap in the proposed pool budget, however, and O’Brien and other neighborhood association members said they are working to find ways to close that gap before the plan gets scrapped again.

They are also calling on Fong, the current council representative for the Southside Park area, to work with City Manager John Shirey to find city funding to buoy the project.

Once program details are finalized, the following weeks would be spent hiring and training staff and lifeguards in time to open the pool at the beginning of June, Lowden said.

If the plan is approved, the Southside Park Pool, in Southside Park at Sixth and U streets, would be open at least four hours per day, seven days a week throughout the ~~year~~ summer, O’Brien said.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

NOTE: A correction was made to this article after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and replaced with the correct information.

Trained by Arden Hills, Seven Local Swimmers are Going for the Gold!

2012-05-02T17:10:53Z

Known for incredibly fast, exciting and suspense-filled competitions, a number of local swim athletes have their eye on competing in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials June 25-July 2 in Omaha, Nebraska, in hopes of representing the United States at the upcoming London Olympic Games. In fact, four local swimmers who have trained at Arden Hills are already qualified to attend the USA Swimming Olympic Trials and three others are headed soon to qualifying meets.

The community at large is encouraged to keep watch and cheer on a number of talented local swimmers, including:

Randall Bal -- a graduate of Stanford University in 2003, Bal qualified for the Olympics trials cut a couple of years ago and recently began training with USA Swim Team Head Coach & Director of Aquatics Brian Nabeta at Arden Hills in preparation for competing in the upcoming Olympic Trials in the 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle.
Katie Edwards -- currently a junior at UC Davis, Edwards has trained extensively for a number of years at Arden Hills and the talented athlete is working toward making the Olympic Trials cut in the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in the 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley.
Kevin Ferguson -- currently a senior at UC Santa Barbara, Ferguson qualified for the Olympics trials cut in July 2011 in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke. In addition to other prestigious honors, he was voted as team captain of the UCSB swimming & diving team in 2012. Prior to his impressive college swimming efforts, Ferguson trained extensively year-round for five years at Arden Hills.
Michael Franz -- currently a sophomore attending Texas Christian University, Franz has trained at Arden Hills since he was six years old (and trained year-round since he was 13). A dedicated athlete, Franz is working toward making the Olympic Trials cut in the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in the 400-meter freestyle, the 1500-meter (or one mile) freestyle and the 200-meter freestyle.
Sydney Johansen -- currently attending Boise State University, Johansen is an accomplished swimmer who trained with Coach Nabeta year-round at Arden Hills for more than 10 years. Sydney is working toward making the Olympic Trials cut in the Santa Clara Grand Prix in the 200-meter breaststroke, 100-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley.
Nick Johnson -- during the recent 2012 Columbus Grand Prix competition, Arden Hills swim athlete and University of Southern California (USC) sophomore Nick Johnson successfully made his 400-meter free Olympic trials cut that took place March 9-11 in Columbus, Ohio.
Daniel Smith -- a graduate of UC Berkeley and currently training with Cal Aquatics, Smith qualified at the U.S. Long Course Nationals in August 2010 in the 100-meter backstroke. A graduate of Jesuit High School, Smith trained extensively at Arden Hills for approximately 10 years before being awarded a coveted swim scholarship to UC Berkeley. In addition, he was selected to the Pac-10 All Academic First Team in 2011. Smith looks forward to competing in the upcoming Olympic Trials in the 100-meter backstroke.

For the three swimmers hoping to qualify, the Santa Clara International Grand Prix takes place May 31-June 3 at the George F. Haines International Swim Center in Santa Clara, California.

Open to all swimmers with athletes being placed according to skill level, Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa has a year-round USA Swim Team that is recognized by USA Swimming as a Silver Medal team, one that is classified in the top two percent of all teams in the United States. First opened in 1954, Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa has trained an amazing number of world champion swimmers. In fact, athletes that have trained at Arden Hills have collectively set more than 200 world and American records, earned 31 Olympic medals, 21 gold, seven of which were won by legendary swimmer Mark Spitz.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento region including Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

Ask the County Law Librarian: Space for Our Pool

2012-03-22T18:22:45Z

Q: I wanted to find out how close to our property line we can place a pool or spa. We live in East Sacramento, Sacramento County. I would appreciate any help you could give me. Thank you for your time, Noreen

A: There are a number of state laws, regulations, and local ordinances affecting pools, but the ones regulating distance from property lines appear to be set by the local city or county. Since you are in the city of Sacramento, the City Code applies.

This code provides that “no swimming pool or similar pool shall be located within a distance less than or equal to the depth of the deepest excavation for such pool from any property line, building or structure (one to one slope).” Sacramento City Code 15.64.030 (Limitation on location of pool). The pool may be located closer if the pool’s design is specifically calculated tailored to support the possible additional load (weight or pressure from the construction).

There are also general requirements for setbacks (space left between structures and the boundaries of your property), including specific requirements for pools set out in Sacramento City code 17.80.060 (Other accessory structures and uses). These requirements vary depending on the layout of the property and its neighbors, so it is not something that is easy to answer.

So unfortunately it sounds like there is no cut-and-dried answer to your question. You will probably need to consult your contractor or structural engineer to determine the minimum clearance.

For more information, visit the City of Sacramento Community Development Department’s website or give them a call at 916-264-5011. The Department has a handout on Requirements for Pool Construction that may also be helpful.

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Arden Hills Athlete & USC Swimmer Nick Johnson Makes the Olympic Trials Cut in the 2012 Columbus Grand Prix

2012-03-14T20:27:10Z

During the recent 2012 Columbus Grand Prix competition -- the fourth stop on the 2011-2012 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series -- Arden Hills swim athlete and University of Southern California (USC) sophomore Nick Johnson successfully made his 400-meter free Olympic trials cut on Saturday, March 10. The 2012 Columbus Grand Prix took place March 9-11 in Columbus, Ohio.

Trained by Arden Hills USA Swim Team Head Coach & Director of Aquatics Brian Nabeta since 2005, the talented Jesuit High School alumni had previously achieved a number of prestigious swimming accomplishments that include the following: High School Swimming All American, USA National Junior Team 2010, USA National Team to Barcelona, Spain in 2010, USA Junior National Finalist and USA Swimming Academic All American.

“It is incredibly exciting and satisfying to watch Nick compete so well at this level,” explained Coach Nabeta. “I’m thrilled he is now reaping the rewards of years of training, hard-work and dedication. I look forward to watching him continue to reach his potential, the sky’s the limit for this talented young athlete.”

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

Arden Hills Swim Coach Chris Oshiro Named “Coach of the Year”!

2012-02-16T20:32:03Z

Arden Hills Head Age Group Swim Coach Chris Oshiro was recently named as “Coach of the Year” by Sierra Nevada Swimming for 2010-2011. Oshiro has worked for Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa since 2005 and this is the second time he has been honored with this prestigious award (he was also recognized in 2008-2009). Oshiro was officially presented with the reputable “Coach of the Year” award at a banquet held in January at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

With time standards overseen by USA Swimming and Sierra Nevada Swimming, the coveted award is based on speed performance of the young athletes he trains. In fact, swimmers in his groups attained the greatest number of AAAA and AAA times for their respective age groups as compared to swimmers from competing teams. Oshiro currently coaches approximately 50 young athletes in the Senior Group (grades 9-12) and the Pre-Senior Group (grades 7-8) who train year-round at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

Above and beyond hard work and year-round dedication, Oshiro credits his success to focusing on and reinforcing proper swimming techniques -- starting at the basic level -- that provide a foundation for young swimmers to swim as efficiently and, ultimately, as fast as possible. Oshiro goes on to recognize the efforts of his outstanding Arden Hills coaching staff who work diligently to train, guide and motivate young athletes as they strive to accomplish their goals.

Open to all swimmers with athletes being placed according to skill level, Arden Hills has a year-round USA Swim Team that is recognized by USA Swimming as a Silver Medal team, one that is classified in the top two percent of all teams in the United States. First opened in 1954, Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa has trained an amazing number of world champion swimmers. In fact, athletes that have trained at Arden Hills have collectively set more than 200 world and American records, earned 31 Olympic medals, 21 gold, seven of which were won by legendary swimmer Mark Spitz.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa.

Polar Bear Plunge

2012-01-09T03:41:32Z

It’s a chilly January morning. Shivering, swimsuit-clad bodies surround Clunie Pool waiting for the countdown of the Polar Bear Plunge. In unison, the swimmers leap into the bracing 48-degree water. Like a comic film being rewound, they just as quickly leap back onto the pool deck. Most lasted a full three seconds before returning to the warmth of their towels and hot coffee.

What manner of motivation brought these hardy souls to the first annual Polar Bear Plunge sponsored by the City of Sacramento?

For most, it was a chance to support city pools. All proceeds of the event go towards keeping the pools open in the summer. Lesley Henriquez encouraged her daughter Gracie to take the plunge because “she’s on the swim team and we want to help the fabulous pools.”

Josh Lurie-Terrell had similar motivation but had to bribe his friends to do it with an offer of a dim sum lunch afterwards.

Grietje Reuter and Sharon Nelson also wanted to support a good cause and were willing to dive into frigid water for it because, “We are apparently not very bright,” they said.

Polar swimmers had their choice of pool entry methods. They could jump in from the side, dive off the board or enter via tube slides. Some were so energized that they tried all three methods. For others, once was enough.

Lifeguard Margaret Freiwald was hoping that she wouldn’t have to go into the icy water noting, “I want to keep my fingers and toes.”

She was given special instructions to watch swimmers for hypothermia symptoms, something she doesn’t see much of in the summer.

Aquatic Supervisor Terri Matal organized the January 7th Polar Bear Plunge and said that similar events are traditional around the New Year to support good causes and to “give people an opportunity to challenge themselves.” This year’s Sacramento event attracted nearly 100 people who contributed at least five dollars each to support community pool operations.

Donations can still be made through the non-profit Gifts to Share program at www.giftstoshare.org and specifying that you want your contribution to go towards city pools.

East Sacramento’s Bertha Henschel Wading Pool Braces for a $22,000 Bill: Volunteers Needed to Help

2011-07-29T15:53:08Z

Laura Barrett and a dedicated band of volunteers kept the Bertha Henschel Wading Pool open this summer, but now they are faced with a mountain to climb.

“We raised money for the past two years to help support the pool and keep it open. Now the need is much more extreme. We are bracing for a possible contribution of $22,000 to keep the pool running next year,” says Barrett, coordinator of The Friends of Bertha Henschel Park.

All city resources are dwindling and more and more neighbors and community members are relied on to keep services running, especially in our parks. For Bertha Henschel the news is grim.

“At this point the City Parks and Recreation department is saying that there will be no funding for next summer," says Barrett.

The group is considering trying to find sponsors to fund the pool through advertising. This would mean banners and other forms of advertising at the pool site. Hopes are high that East Sacramento businesses will help out.

But such efforts don’t happen by themselves. “Our basic need is to have volunteers sign up to assist with fundraising efforts,” says Barrett.

The group also welcomes donations. “We have an account through the city's Gifts to Share program. This program allows neighbors to make tax-deductible donations, which would be directed to Bertha Henschel Wading Pool.

Send your tax-deductible donation to:

Gifts to Share, Inc.
915 I Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(Tax ID # 94-29285546)

Please write “Bertha Henschel” in the memo line.

Or donate on-line www.giftstoshare.org by clicking on their “Donate Now” link and then designating Bertha Henschel Pool in the “Program Designation” tab.

To volunteer to help contact Friends of Bertha Henschel at BerthaHenschel@gmail.com

After almost dying of Lyme disease, Sacramentan heads to World Triathlon Championships

2010-09-06T01:00:04Z

Four years after she almost died from Lyme disease, Pamela O’Kane is one of three Sacramento women competing for Team USA at the World Triathlon Championships this week in Budapest, Hungary.

It’s the second year in a row she’s qualified for Team USA. The 49-year-old lecturer from CSU Sacramento hopes there will be many more such adventures to come.

It’s a far cry from how things looked in the spring of 2006. With her kids grown, a job she liked, and a love of athletic pursuits like running, swimming, and biking, she should have been on top of the world. Instead, she started experiencing weird symptoms her doctors couldn’t explain.

She lost weight and muscle mass. She developed facial pain, jaw problems, difficulty speaking. Then trouble walking, twitching in her face, tingling in her arms and legs. Her doctors variously thought it might be multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, or ALS. They could do nothing to help and her condition continued to deteriorate. By early December, there was doubt she’d live to see Christmas.

Then, O'Kane developed an ear infection and was given antibiotics. The medicine cleared up more than her ear problem. Suddenly, her whole body felt better. Within a week, she took part in a 5K race. (“Didn’t do very well,” she said. “But I crossed the finish line.”)

Although her physical progress didn’t last, the incident provided an important clue. Her mother and sister researched on the internet. What medical condition mimics diseases such as MS and ALS, and can be affected by antibiotics? The answer they stumbled upon: Lyme disease.

In early 2007, O'Kane saw a Lyme specialist in the bay area, who began treating her not only for Lyme, but for several additional tick-borne diseases. It was not an easy road. There were episodes of muscle seizures, speech difficulties, and generally feeling horrible. There were ups and downs in finding the right medications--some would help for a while, and then seem to lose their effectiveness. She spent time in a hospital, and then needed to re-learn how to walk.

It was during this time she knew she needed a goal to focus on, something to keep her going through the difficult days. One day, she decided to start training to climb Half Dome, the rocky peak in Yosemite National Park. She kept that image in her mind, as she worked through the hard, hard times of Lyme treatment. In August 2008, she accomplished that goal.

She kept training. In 2008, O’Kane completed her first-ever half-ironman race. In 2009, she climbed Half Dome again, and also competed with Team USA in the Aquathon event in Australia. (“It was the first time I’d ever had a passport. The first time I’d ever left this country.”)

This week, she’s in Budapest, Hungary, once again with Team USA, to compete in the ITU Triathlon World Championships. Her category is Women age 45-49. She’ll do the Aquathon (a run/swim/run event) and the Sprint/Triathlon (swim/bike/run).

(Two other Sacramento woman have qualified for Team USA in different age brackets, O’Kane’s sister, Denise DeTrano, and her friend and training partner, Janet Trippet, a teacher at St. Francis High School.)

It would be tempting to assume that O’Kane's health problems are behind her. Surprisingly, that’s not true. While Lyme treatment helped immensely, she still must cope with residual neurological difficulties.

“I make involuntary moaning sounds while I’m running--can’t help it,“ she says. “And I often have lots of shaking and trembling. I get strange looks from the other athletes. But you know what? That’s their problem, not mine.”

O’Kane has a message for other Lyme patients: “You can fight this disease. It’s hard, but you can do it.”

O’Kane will compete in Budapest on Sept. 8th & 11th, and then do some sightseeing with her traveling companions. (“None of this put-off-until-tomorrow stuff anymore. I want to travel now!") She'll return in time to take part in the Sacramento Lymewalk & Picnic on Sept. 25. (11 a.m., McKinley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd.)

The Sacramento event is part of the 2010 CALDA Lymewalks, six events throughout the state in September and October. Sponsored by the California Lyme Disease Association, the walks are meant to raise awareness of the disease while raising money for Lyme research. For more information about how to participate, go to www.lymedisease.org.

Let the games begin!

2010-07-19T03:36:32Z

Community was the name of the game at the South Sacramento games on Saturday. Residents played a variety of games, all focused on building cooperation without competition.

We made the games so that nobody’s a winner and nobody’s a loser,” volunteer Charles Chenauot said.

The games included capture the flag, don’t spill the beans and Simon Says, but with a twist. Simon and Simone used the same concept as Simon Says, but without winners or losers. Instead, when Simon told a player she was out, she could join Simone’s game and keep playing.

“We have a lot of community games where people can come together and play without having to be competitive,” volunteer Staphonya Cabrellin said.

The games kicked off a 10-year initiative called Sacramento Building Healthy Communities. Its aim is healthier lives for South Sacramento residents through preventive care, opportunities for children, and addressing the physical, social and economic challenges of the community. South Sacramento ranks as one of the lowest in per capita income of residents in 51 Sacramento County ZIP codes. The area faces issues ranging from unavailability of healthy food to lack of health care to violence.

The games were held at George Sim Park and the community center there, which won’t be open to residents the rest of the year. Budget cuts left Saturday as the only day that the entire park, including the community center and the pool, will be open. Noting the waste of a valuable resource, volunteer Liz Sterba said it’s time to stop relying on the government to fix neighborhood problems and start relying on each other.

“I think that the budget is making it very obvious that we cannot rely on our government to do everything for us, and we shouldn’t,” she said. “We should help each other and we should build each other up and build a strong network of neighbors.”

The games were organized toward that end. After two hours of games in the shade, people were treated to food and entertainment that showcased the area’s diverse cultures. The cuisine ranged from Chinese to Mexican, with a focus on delicious, healthy options.

As the performances went on the crowd thinned, trading the warmth of the community center for the cool of the pool. But the show still went on. Women from the Asian Community Center performed traditional Polynesian dances. The spoken word that concluded the entertainment showcased young poets speaking about their rough upbringing in South Sacramento, including a group of slam poets from Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS), dedicated to helping young writers find their voice and share it with the community.

The youth were involved in planning the day and helped get the word out to neighbors. Many volunteers were teenagers trying to make the best of their summer vacations.

“I didn’t have anything to do this summer,” Chenauot said. “I wanted to do something that was fun and would actually have a positive outcome instead of doing something like staying at home playing video games.”

Cabrellin agreed. “I think it’s very important to get the youth out, recruit more youth to these events and get them active in their community.”

Patrick Kennedy, a member of the Sacramento City School board and chairman of the task force for healthy foods in schools, handed out free green bean seeds for people to grow at home.

“I think if we can get it bigger every year we can start taking this whole healthy atmosphere to our homes, to our neighborhoods, especially South Sacramento, I think the city would be a better place,” he said.

Sterba said she expects more community get-togethers to result from the initiative.

“The plan is to really do a lot of maybe not large-scale events, but smaller-scale events throughout the different neighborhoods represented,” she said. “We really want to bring this larger set of neighborhoods together and create some unity and synergy.”

Thank you for your service, Wounded Warriors

2010-05-17T20:33:49Z

150 soldiers were introduced to sports designed specifically for individuals with disabilities, illnesses and injuries recently during a Thank You For Your Service event at the River Cats Independence Field.

Brave soldiers who sustained disabilities while serving this nation and are now working to return to active duty or transition to civilian life will be introduced to sports and recreational opportunities specifically designed for individuals with disabilities.

It featured demonstrations and hands-on experience of U.S.Paralympics-sanctioned sports, including Basketball, Cycling, Swimming, Javelin, Shot-put, wheelchair softball, rock climbing and Discus.

Mark Wellman of Truckee brought his adaptive climbing wall to introduce Warriors to rock climbing. Wellman is a nationally acclaimed author, filmmaker and motivational speaker. Despite being paralyzed in a mountain climbing accident, Mark has inspired millions to meet their problems head-on and reach for their full potential. A two-time Paralympian and former Yosemite Park Ranger, Mark's NO LIMITS philosophy encourages individuals to adventure into new horizons; to go beyond the seeming unreachable. He and his crew work with vets across western USA.

Wellman has scaled Yosemite’s’ granite monoliths, including El Capitan and Half Dome and served for several years as a park ranger, after sustaining a spinal cord injury.

This gentleman used one arm only to reach the top of the wall.

The bell is rung at the top.

Participants in this event were from Washington state, Oregon and California. Thank you for your Service was hosted by the City of Sacramento Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Access Leisure, Paralympic Sport Sacramento Club and the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit California.

For more info, please visit: www.accessleisuresac.org

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

The river is best enjoyed with a life vest

2009-06-15T19:44:31Z

The summer edition of the Sacramento Fire Department's Community Newsletter discusses the dangers of swimming in the river.

It mentions that the river bottoms can be uneven and have steep drop-offs and the currents are strong, so a life vest should be worn at all times.

Under the City and County of Sacramento ordinances, it is against the law for a child under the age of 13 to enter public waters without a life vest. Parents or guardians who do not put life vests on their children can be fined up to $500 and cited for a misdemeanor.

If you don't have a life vest on hand, there are plenty of places to borrow one.

The following fire stations have life vests for the public to borrow:

FIRE STATION 5 (731 Broadway)
FIRE STATION 8 (5990 H Street)
FIRE STATION 11 (785 Florin Rd)
FIRE STATION 15 (1591 Newborough Dr)
FIRE STATION 60 (3301 Julliard Dr)

For more information, visit sacfire.org,

The danger of carbon monoxide around boats

2009-05-23T15:00:05Z

Can you imagine sitting at a stop light with the top down, beautiful sunshine pouring in and having 100 cars exhaust pipes pointed directly at you only a few feet away? Seem a little dangerous, it would be. This is exactly the result you get in and around an idling boat. Boats do not have catalytic converters and therefore deadly levels of carbon monoxide (CO) from the boat engine are sent out via the boats exhaust. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that cannot be seen. CO is extremely harmful to humans because it limits the ability of blood to carry oxygen. Boat manufacturers have kept the issue quiet despite paying out settlements in wrongful death lawsuits. California has adopted a law requiring new boats to have catalytic converters beginning 2010 however; this law does not require the thousands of older boats currently on the water be retrofitted. Boat manufacturers do not put CO detectors on boats because they would activate frequently and would alarm the public to these dangers. See www.skiboatdeaths.com