While other students are scrambling to finish their Senior Projects, Otto Ducey will be at ease, since he finished his Senior Project in late July, before his senior year even began, by raising funds for the Sacramento Police Department K9 Unit.

“Our goal was to raise $998, to purchase two cooling units and a fan for the dogs,” Ducey said. “We ended up with $1,032.”

Money was raised by selling “Bandit’s Buddies” bracelets and local businesses Dude, Where’s My Yogurt and Subway (both in the Promenade Shopping Center) gave a portion of proceeds from one night to the fund. In addition, many friends and neighbors made cash donations.

Bandit is a four-year-old German Shepherd who was shot in the line of duty in March of this year. He returned to work a month later and served, with his partner Officer Gary Dahl, as Grand Marshal in the Pocket neighborhood’s 4th of July parade.

“Of course, we will always accept donations,” Dahl said. “We’ll be getting two more K9 officers in September, and possibly a third. That third officer will need a vest. And the vests don’t last forever. After about five years the Kevlar doesn’t protect you like it should, so new vests have to be purchased.”

“I’m really grateful that so many people contributed, and that businesses like ‘Subway’ and ‘Dude, Where’s My Yogurt?’ were able to take part in such a great experience that will benefit the dogs who serve everyday in the police force,” Ducey said. “I would also like to give a special thanks to my friends, neighbors, and family, and of course to Kathi Windheim, who came up with the idea and helped me the whole way.”

For more information, or to donate, visit www.spdk9.org.

The annual Fourth of July Spirit of the Pocket Parade, the largest parade event in the Pocket-Greenhaven area, is preparing for another magnificent patriotic celebration and is looking to the community for volunteers and floats. The parade, which is being held on July 3 this year, is a popular community-produced visual spectacle.

“We are looking for people to step forward with floats,” said Linda Pohl, parade committee chair. “Our main thing is to make this great visual presentation, so we would like a lot of floats.”

Held Saturday, July 3, the parade begins promptly at 10 a.m. at the former site of Lisbon Elementary School, 7775 S. Land Park Dr., and travels down Windbridge, ending at Garcia Bend Park.

Volunteers are needed to support the efforts (and the fun) of the 16th annual Fourth of July Spirit of the Pocket Parade. To volunteer in positions ranging from pre-parade phone calls, blocking streets (while sitting in a comfortable chair), parade marshals and helping with the after-parade activities at Garcia Bend, e-mail linda@valcomnews.com.

For more information on volunteering at the parade, contact Pohl at The Pocket News at 429- 9901 or e-mail linda@valcomnews.com.

Parade float entry forms can be picked up at The Pocket News office, 2709 Riverside Blvd., and Pocket Custom Framing, 7485 Rush River Dr., suite 715. Forms can also be downloaded online at www.valcomnews.com. Completed entries can be dropped off at these locations or emailed to linda@valcomnews.com. All pre-registered parade entrants will be part of the parade judging. Entries will be judged against others in their group type.

Preparations are already underway to make the parade bigger and better than ever before.

“We have the Friends of the Library doing something great – they seem to do a great float every year,” said Pohl. “In addition to booths after the parade, we will have a carnival put on by the Friends of the Library and the School of Engineering and it will have games and activities and there will also be a demonstration by the Sacramento Police K-9 Unit.”

A special addition to the event is Sacramento Police K-9 officer Bandit and his handler Officer Gary Dahl as grand marshals of the parade. Bandit was wounded in March during the apprehension of a suspect; he has since fully recovered and is back on duty. TV personalities Nick Toma, from Channel 31, and Angel Cardenas, from Channel 10, will serve as parade MCs, announcing the floats and the parade participants as they pass.

 

Garcia Bend Boat Ramp closed

Due to the path of the parade, the boat ramp at Garcia Bend Park in the Pocket area will close from 10 p.m. Friday, July 2, until 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 3 for Independence Day festivities.

 

Parade entry forms

Fourth of July Spirit of the Pocket Parade float entry forms can be downloaded bly clicking here. Download a parade waiver form here.