The Hopkinton High School girls basketball was tested by Milford in the championship game of Sunday’s Mary Korbey Invitational Tournament before pulling out a 41-33 win. The Hillers, who routed Medford in Saturday’s first round, take a 5-0 record into the new year.

Sofiah Wightman Kraus, who was named tourney MVP, gets to the basket. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Julia Chatten assesses her options while dribbling the ball. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Elena Valis keeps here eye on the basket while shooting a long jumper. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Murphy Chatten Guerette makes a pass. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Gabby Simulis looks for an opening. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Teagan Resteghini, who was named to the all-tournament team, lines up a free throw. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Abbie Rabinovich looks to convert a layup. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

Coach Mike Greco watches the action. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

The Hillers celebrate with the trophy. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

The team poses for a photo with the trophy. PHOTO/JEN DADAGIAN

The Webster City Street Department will be picking up Christmas trees on Monday, weather permitting.

Trees should be placed at the nearest street corner prior to 7 a.m. on Monday as only one trip will be made through the city.

Please remove all stands and decorations and place these trees so they will not obstruct sight distance and not blow into the street to create a traffic hazard.

Bagged trees or trees with a stand will not be picked up.

Stockton students are making an impact in their community by participating in a police program that gives them opportunities to do community outreach and learn the ins and outs of what it takes to work in law enforcement.

From getting an athletic scholarship to joining the military to becoming police officers, the Stockton Unified School District Police Explorers’ mentors are helping students accomplish their dreams.

“It’s definitely an outlet,” Officer Anthony Tacardon said. “Coming up, growing up in Stockton, there’s not much to do. I mean, you can go around and hang around at the mall, but for how long does that get boring and a safe place…yeah, this place (Explorers) you just come in, you enjoy yourself, you learn, you not only build connections with people that you meet here, you build connections outside of it with the community engagement. And that’s one of the best things. You get to speak with people in your community besides being at home, stuck, locked up in your room.”

That’s where the Stockton Unified School District Police Explorers come in. CBS Sacramento was given access to a day-in-the-life of what a Stockton Police Explorer goes through and how they help in the community.

“Some kids have sports, some kids have clubs, but we have this,” explorer and sophomore Kylah Cadman said.

Since its inception in 2013-14, Captain Roberto Marquez said it’s the largest Explorer program in San Joaquin County. The program and its mentors are making an impact with students, like Officer Anthony Tacardon, who is an explorer alumnus.

“When I graduated, that was the best feeling,” Officer Tacardon said. “All the hard work I had put in, in the Explorer program that ultimately helped me better prepare for the Academy, graduating and getting to see my mentor.”

Officer Tacardon’s mentor through the academy and the program was Captain Marquez.

“I didn’t have anyone to teach me this stuff as I was growing up in south Stockton, and I know there are some other kids here that don’t have that type of upbringing, but having this program here, it allows us to be our role models for our youth,” Captain Marquez said.

That includes the 24 explorer cadets who are in the program now, who learn life skills, are given real-world police training, are able to learn from sworn officers and non-sworn staff, and volunteer at community events.

Heriberto Garcia graduated from high school and is an Explorer. Ever since he was a kid, he’s dreamed of becoming a police officer. He said before this program, he was shy, and now, he was leading his comrades in the roll call excellently and his peers wouldn’t even know he used to be shy.

“Some students, they be like, ‘Oh, there’s nothing to do in high school or like there’s nothing to do in Stockton, right?'” Garcia said. “But, when you engage to a program like this, most likely weekend, we’ll have a community service that we have to go and we will attend because we like what we do in this program. So, it’s nothing that they force us to do but it’s something that we like to do.”

Cadman said this program has helped her grow as a person and she enjoys being able to help people to better their community.

“I like the social aspect of our program, in that we get to help the community, we get to help fellow students and it’s just really nice to get to know people and to help out however we can,” Cadman said.

Freshman Madalyn Westervelt was inspired by her big brother, who was also a part of the program.

“It really helped me with my confidence, public speaking, my socializing skills…,” Westervelt said. “That was a really big part of me, going to the high school that I was going to and it just helped me succeed a lot with making friends and being able to introducing myself without being like stuttering or being uncomfortable around other people. It’s just a very big focus for me, like it helped a lot.”

Even for students who aren’t necessarily interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, this program also gives students the opportunity to learn crucial life skills that are crucial and transferable to any career they dream of pursuing.

“The discipline that we learn from them, the leadership skills, the responsibility, it’s all taught all of us to become greater in our own personas,” Maritza Matias-Pablo, a junior and explorer, said.

Captain Marquez is proud of these explorers, including knowing how the community gets to see the positive work they do.

“I think a program like this makes them realize that it’s a person that makes themselves and it’s not where they came or where they grew up or people around them,” Captain Marquez said. “It’s the actual person and what’s inside of you. If you want to be positive, if you want to be a good leader, a good role model for other students, you can do that.”

The camaraderie, communication, and connection to mentors, peers after school, and throughout the community have led these explorers to some healthy competition, winning multiple awards conducting mock real-life scenarios. They have around 30 trophies they’ve won at competitions against other explorer teams throughout California, where police officers give out the scores. 

They’re looking to add more trophies, along with more explorers. If you or your kids are interested, you can stop by their police station at 640 N San Joaquin St. in Stockton on Thursdays from 6-8 pm, where you can shadow what their classes are like and learn more.

Las Vegas Golden Knights to host autographs, photos with Deryk Engelland, and mascot on Jan. 4

By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER 

Youth hockey players will have the opportunity to learn to play, or sharpen their skills in the game starting Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Marty Pavelich Ice Rink in Big Sky. The Las Vegas Golden Knights team, on their 10th season in the National Hockey League, will lead a five-week clinic, teaching players from ages 4-11 how to play hockey each Sunday from Jan. 4 to Feb. 1. The Golden Knights will also hold a free clinic for players aged 9-13 on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 11 a.m.

For both clinics, players need prior skating experience. Those who registered for the paid clinic for ages 4-11 will receive a full set of complimentary hockey equipment shipped to them ahead of the first session. Participants in the free clinic should bring full gear to use. 

Steven Reid, recreation manager for Big Sky Community Organization, the nonprofit that operates and maintains the ice rink, estimates that between 20 and 25 kids are registered for both the five-week session and the free clinic. Families pay $275 for the five-week session with new hockey gear included, which is subsidized by the NHL to keep costs low for participants.

“You know, anyone who’s been around the sport of hockey knows that hockey gear is not cheap,” Reid said. “And to get that much brand new hockey gear out to these kids, that’s huge and hopefully will get them interested in playing the sport.”

Reid is glad to see families signed up for the five week session. 

“The fact that we have 20 to 25 kids signed up for that alone means that’s a potential 20 new hockey players in our community right there and the hope is that they feed into the local youth hockey program and continue to grow there with those coaches,” Reid said. The local youth hockey program is organized by the Montana 64’s Hockey Association, which recently formed as a nonprofit.

Sheri Hudspeth, director of youth programs and fan development with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, reached out to BSCO with the hopes of scheduling the youth clinic in Big Sky to engage younger kids in the sport and reach further audiences for the Golden Knights. From there, BSCO and the Golden Knights sorted out use of facilities and local involvement. 

Outside of youth learning, the clinic will also train coaches on how to teach hockey, with local community members Cassie Dietz, Keelan Grupe, Brandon Maki and Jack Murray participating in coaching the clinics, learning practice plans and leading kids throughout the five-week session.  

BSCO hopes this clinic can become an annual tradition with the Golden Knights. 

“My hope is to not only bring new kids into the sport of hockey, but get some adults interested in coaching and being good role models in that sport for the kids,” Reid said. 

From 9-10 a.m. on Jan. 4, Deryk Engelland, a former ice hockey defenseman for the Golden Knights will be at the rink to meet fans and give autographs. Chance, the team’s mascot will also be there as well as Hudspeth, who has more than 30 years in playing and coaching hockey. Reid said Sunday’s events will be a fun atmosphere for families and participants.

Tacoma’s
signature winter arts event returns with illuminated installations, interactive
displays, and neighborhood-based light art spanning downtown and Hilltop. The
trail draws thousands of visitors nightly and encourages self-guided
exploration throughout the city. Installations are spread across multiple
districts, making it one of the region’s largest winter events.

Downtown & Hilltop Tacoma