Beyonce was rescued by The Grace Foundation of Northern California, a nonprofit organization that rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of animals each year, (both large and small), that would otherwise be euthanized. These animals are paired with disadvantaged and special needs children and youth in a variety of therapeutic, educational and leadership programs.

Beyonce was not breathing when she was born and had to be resuscitated. Her size so small that she fit into a spoon. Now just 4 weeks later little Beyonce has weighed in at almost 7 ounces, a far cry from her birth weight of just under 1 ounce. While her weight is still only a fraction of what a normal puppy of her breed would weigh at this age (Beyonce’s brothers and sisters are weighing in at over 1 pound 10 ounces), it is a positive indication that the world’s tiniest puppy will be able to live a full and complete life.

Folsom veterinarian, Dr Jennifer Sweet DVM checks BeyoncePhoto: Lisa Van Dyke, eddogphotography.com

Beyonce (named for the song “I am a survivor” by R & B singer Beyonce) become an overnight superstar when her amazing story of survival went viral in late March. This tiny survivor has captivated the world, being featured on hundreds of media outlets in dozens of countries. At two weeks of age Beyonce was crowned “The world’s smallest puppy” by the world record academy. (Guinness does not have a category for smallest puppy).

Sadly, more than 3 million dogs and cats in America will not be as lucky as Beyonce and her family and will be euthanized this year simply because there is not enough homes for these pets,” says Grace Foundation of Northern California’s founder and executive Director Beth DeCaprio.

“This problem is 100% correctable if people would spay and neuter their pets and adopt from rescues and shelters instead of buying purebred dogs. Beyonce has given us a platform to bring this senseless loss of life to the attention of the world,” adds Beth.

In just two short weeks Beyonce has been able to bring to light the plight of rescue animals and has become an ambassador for homeless and shelter dogs and cats all over the world, “In my life I haven’t been able to get a message across about rescue animals like this tiny 6 ounce puppy has been able to, says Grace Foundation of Northern California’s founder and executive Director Beth DeCaprio.

For that reason The Grace Foundation has decided to make Beyonce’s job as ambassador more permanent representing Grace and rescue animals everywhere. To date Grace has received thousands of phone calls and over 500 applications for Beyonce. In a letter that was posted on The Grace Foundation’s website and Facebook page, The Grace Foundation stated, “after much consideration, we have decided that Beyonce will not be going up for adoption. We feel that it would be wrong to adopt her out to be loved by just one family when there is an entire country in love with her and a cause that needs her help and support”.)

Michael Hutchinson a supporter of The Grace Foundation summarized the reason that Beyonce has made such an impact on the world. “At a time when despair and suffering occupies our TV screens and newspapers. It is a nice to have a story that renews our faith in the amazing capacity of all creatures to give hope to others. Little Beyoncé is proof that the ability to change the world is not determined by size.As she has proven, all it takes is an ounce of heart and determination to make a difference”.

The Beyonce, “I’m a Survivor” fund has been established at Grace to support last chance rescue animals. To learn more visit www.thegracefoundationofnorcal.org.

Background: Since The Grace Foundation’s founding in 2004, The Grace Foundation has been dedicated to saving the lives of horses and other animals. Grace provides critical care and rehabilitation for abused and neglected horses, livestock, dogs, and cats.

Many of these animals are then utilized for equine-assisted learning and therapeutic programs for youth and children. Since its inception, The Grace Foundation has helped thousands of kids who are at-risk or have suffered from abuse and neglect themselves.

Grace also offers programs for people of all ages that are struggling with autism and other physical and emotional challenges, as well as a variety of youth leadership programs and life science classes.

See Also: Beyonce, The Tiniest Puppy, Takes First Steps At Four Weeks

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is opening its much anticipated Folsom store at Natoma & Blue Ravine.

If you are in the neighborhood you are invited to attend the kickoff event for the store’s five day grand opening celebration.

A good local neighbor, Fresh & Easy is presenting a donation to Twin Lakes Food Bank. Local elected officials and members of the local business community are expected to attend the store’s ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The neighborhood Fresh & Easy stores are smaller than the typical supermarket, but at around 10,000 square feet, they are big enough to give customers a fast, easy shopping experience.  The company is opening stores throughout Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, and has already secured sites in Northern California.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market today received the Platinum-Level Store Certification Award from the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership for green refrigeration technology at the Folsom Store, the second store in California, and one of only four grocery stores in the nation, to achieve these challenging standards.

A typical U.S. supermarket uses around 3,500 pounds of refrigerant. The Folsom Fresh & Easy store uses just 70 pounds – a 98 percent reduction that earned it GreenChill’s highest award.

“Environmental responsibility is part of our DNA. We’ve made a commitment to invest in sustainable technologies from the start. Using new natural refrigerants puts Fresh & Easy on the forefront of sustainability in our industry and ultimately makes these emerging technologies more cost effective for everyone.”
- Steve Hagen, Director of procurement and engineering, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Fresh & Easy says their stores use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket, which helps the environment and saves customers money. LED lighting in external signs and freezer cases, customer recycling in every store and advanced refrigeration and freezer units all cut back on energy usage. The company also recycles or reuses all of its display packaging. Most of that packaging goes back through its distribution center.

Fresh & Easy says customers don’t have to compromise on what they eat and feed their families.  The Fresh & Easy own-brand products contain no added trans fats, no artificial colors or flavors and only use preservatives when absolutely necessary.  In addition to fresh, high-quality prepared meals and produce, Fresh & Easy offers favorite national brand products and household items, at budget prices.

The Grand Opening Celebration is March 14, 2012, at 9:45am, at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, 25000 Blue Ravine Rd., Suite 101, in Folsom.

When officers arrived they found a Nissan Sentra and a Toyota Camry blocking the roadway. Paramedics transported four people at the scene, the driver of the Nissan, the driver of the Camry, and two Camry passengers.

The Nissan had been traveling eastbound on Iron Point Road in the westbound traffic lanes. In the 1100 block of Iron Point Road, the two vehicles collided head-on likely at the posted 45 mph speed limit.

The driver of the Sentra was identified as Karen Ann Benedict (32) of El Dorado Hills. She was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in serious injuries, but was released from custody to be treated for the injuries she sustained in the collision.

The family from the Camry are being treated at area hospitals for serious injuries. No information related to the victims will be made available.

Folsom Police say the results of the complete investigation will be forwarded to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office with criminal charge recommendations.

It was just after lunchtime, a few minutes before the homeowner’s nanny arrived. The nanny entered the residence and hear a noise. Thinking it was the owner, she called out, but there was no response. Then the homeowner arrived, and the nanny told him what happened. As he started to check the house, he realized there had been a burglary, and he and the nanny encountered Heitmeyer. Heitmeyer fled from the house, out through the rear sliding door at the rear of the house.

Not content with breaking into one house and narrowly escaping, Heitmeyer tried to break into another house, possibly in an effort to avoid the police.

It wasn’t Heitmeyer’s lucky day, because that home was occupied, and the homeowner chased him.

Police officers eventually captured Heitmeyer, and their investigation tied him to the burglary incident. He was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on one count of burglary, and one count of attempted burglary. Bail was set at $130,000.

“What’s truly amazing about animation art’, says Calande “is that it was not created with the intention to survive. The art needed to last only long enough to be photographed beneath the camera. The finished cartoon was considered the real work of art. Lucky for us, 60 plus years later, old stashes of vintage animation art are still being discovered intact.”

Production art from the Warner Studios is particularly special because a tremendous amount of the original production artwork was destroyed. After decades of making cartoons the Warner Brothers warehouse was becoming overcrowded with production art and the studio wanted to make more effective use of the space. This was back in the late 1960’s when it was thought that the production artwork from these cartoons had little or no value. Consequently, the works were destroyed. According to Calande, another reason the originals were destroyed is that “the warehouse contained so much paper and early animation cells (which were made from a very flammable nitrocellulose) that the insurance company told the Warner Brothers Studio to get rid of the clutter or face dramatically raised insurance rates.” This was indeed a tragic loss of original artwork. The art that exists today comes from the actual animators, the ink painters, or were items gifted to studio visitors or VIPs.

Collector Eric Calande has spent the better part of the last 20 years scouring the ends of the earth looking for what survives. His efforts have enabled him to amass one of the most significant collections of vintage animation art from the Warner Brothers Golden Era of Animation. Through public showings, Calande continues to share his passion for the art and the animation process while exploring the intriguing history of how the art and characters came to be. Collections of animation art such as this are becoming more valuable in light of modern computer generated cartoons that are not made meticulously by hand. Don’t miss this opportunity to see this collection of unique, original art in this special exhibit at the Gallery at 48 Natoma.

The adjacent Community Gallery at 48 Natoma will showcase “Crazy for Cartoons”. This work from the children’s classes at the Art Center at 48 Natoma will be on display until May 4, 2012.

The opening reception for both exhibits will be held on Friday, March 16, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The exhibits are free and open to the public and art is available for purchase. Hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm with additional hours, Thursday nights 6:00-8:00pm. Group and free school tours can be arranged by appointment. To request additional gallery information, or to schedule a tour, contact the gallery coordinator, Cindy Abraham, (916)355-7285, or cabraham@folsom.ca.us

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Wells Fargo and a grant from Target.

(Looney Tunes, and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.)

When officers and fire personnel arrived on scene, they found five people with varying degrees of injuries, though none were considered critical.

The Folsom Lake Bowl is a bowling alley, bar, and casino located at 511 East Bidwell Street in Folsom. The patio of the business is an extension of the bar area and is commonly used by patrons to smoke tobacco.

Tera Lee Nicholson (41) of Folsom was arrested at the scene. She was booked into the Sacramento County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Major Injury (23153 CVC).

The nature of the patrons’ injuries were not disclosed.

Zoo staff would use the funds for a makeover of the Zoo’s log cabin classroom.

“We’re asking residents and Zoo lovers to text LIFE76 to 62345 once each day through Jan. 20,” says Zoo Manager Jocelyn Smeltzer.  “Spread the word to your friends, co-workers, classmates and family through email, texting, blogging, Facebook, Twitter and Yelp!”

The IKEA Life Improvement Challenge gives IKEA co-workers an opportunity to improve the lives of others through the planning, proposal and execution of a community project.  Every IKEA store receives a $10,000 allowance for a community project.

“Co-workers from the IKEA store in West Sacramento submitted a proposal to makeover the zoo’s log cabin classroom, and to provide new, interactive signage on Zoo Sanctuary pathways,” said Smeltzer.  “We’re excited that our project is one of three selected to complete to win the $10,000 prize.  Now we need the community to support the Zoo by voting.”

The log cabin makeover would enhance the ability to educate children and would include a kitchenette and much needed storage.  The new interpretive signage would include hand-sculpted, colorful ceramic imprints of the animals.

Visit the Friends of the Folsom Zoo.

Kapneck has a great business knowledge and background and would be able to direct small business in new ways of marketing their products and creating new economic opportunities.

One item in the “Kapneck Business Formula” that has proven itself, is to set up a network with other related companies that will expand each other`s business.

It`s clear that Kapneck believes small business is the foundation of a growing economy and if his complete formula is implemented it will also create jobs, as he has demonstrated.

More about Kapneck
Kapneck lived in Washington D.C. and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School. He attended George Washington University, was elected to the Maryland State Convention, and was appointed special advisor on Higher Education to the Governor’s office. He was appointed by Governor Marvin Mandel to open Maryland’s first overseas office in Brussels, Belgium as the State’s Trade Ambassador. He assisted the Federal Government in “Invest in the USA”.

”Kapneck, for the past thirty plus years, has brought a multitude of jobs into Maryland and USA and when he is not overseas he works without remuneration to help the citizens of Maryland find jobs with companies he brings into the State.” – Maryland State officials

The man, 50 year-old James Saporito, had set up camp under a Sutter Street business. He was banging on the floor and yelling at customers from underneath the building.

At 11:30 am, the business owner called the Folsom Police Department for help.

Folsom police officers arrived a short time later, and asked Saporito to come out. He told the police he had propane, gasoline, and dynamite. Later, he said he also has firearms.

Saporito eventually surrendered to police around an hour and a half later, just after 1:00 pm., when a Sacramento Sheriff’s Department K-9 team made their way underneath the building.

Police then investigated the area under the building, and found there was no damage. Neither police nor Saporito, were injured.

Police said they found an empty propane cooker amongst Saporito’s belongings, but he didn’t have the means to carry out his threats.

Police charged Saporito with making terroristic threats and booked him into the Sacramento County Jail.

“I am looking forward to continuing to serve Folsom in a slightly different capacity and to working toward a healthy and prosperous year in Folsom,” said Howell.

Howell was elected to the Folsom City Council in 1998 and served as vice mayor in 2002 and 2006. A 26-year Folsom resident, she also served on the Planning Commission from 1994 to 1998.

She is a past chair and a current City representative on the Sacramento Transportation Authority. She also chairs the Folsom-Sacramento-El Dorado County Rail JPA, is a member of the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District Board, the Sacramento Area Sewer District Board, Folsom Lake College Foundation Board, and is an active member of the Folsom Rotary Annes.

Howell has represented the City Council on the Folsom Library Foundation, the Sacramento Groundwater Authority, the Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA and the Regional Water Authority.

A civil engineer with a degree from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Howell is president of Atlantic Consultants, Inc., a firm specializing in civil and corrosion engineering.

Miklos has served on the Folsom City Council since 1994, including eight terms as mayor and three previous terms as vice mayor.

He is a director and former chair of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and president of the Association of California Cities Aligned with Public Safety. He has also served as chair of the Local Agency Formation Commission, the Sacramento Transportation Authority, the Folsom El Dorado County JPA and the Elk Grove/El Dorado County Connector JPA.

Vice Mayor Miklos is a licensed California Real Estate Broker who started Bentley Mortgage and Real Estate Services in Folsom in 1987. He is a retired paramedic/firefighter.