Your neighbors

Step classes are Kerri Schultz's specialty at Get Fit Fitness Center, but Friday's 7 p.m. session was a special occasion for her and the group of women she calls "my angels." At that exact time and date two years ago, Kerri received the bone marrow transplant that saved her life. The perfect marrow match came from a man in Germany she'd never met. That will change next month when she and her family visit Germany and she thanks donor Carsten Fiedler in person. Read more »

Saying goodbye to a couple who have made every minute count during their time in Rancho Murieta, and learning how to treat the flag of the United States from an aspiring Eagle scout. Read about your neighbors here. Read more »

Summerfest, the volunteer group that produces the annual carnival at Stonehouse Park, is offering local high school graduates the opportunity to win two $2,500 scholarships. Read more »

Dinger supplied a bit of star power to opening day.

Photo gallery: 62 photos of the parade, the kids and the ceremonies

Cosumnes River Little League and Cosumnes River Girls Softball League celebrated the start of a new season on a flawless Saturday at Stonehouse Park with Sacramento River Cats mascot Dinger on hand to greet the teams. Little League President Chrisy Cramer and Softball League President Dave Kessler began the ceremony by crediting the Rancho Murieta Association Maintenance Department for the sparkling fields, thanking the league's 25 sponsors, introducing teams with names ranging from the classic (Giants, Athletics) to the colorful (Bone Crushing Ballerinas, Diamond Divas), and honoring the 2012 all-star teams. Read more »

Neighbor Steve DeMello shares this shot from the other morning at sunrise.  He writes, "Miss Hannah wonders what adventure awaits her today."

It's a family event when a Murietan becomes the Sacramento chief of police, we say goodbye to longtime employees at the bank and the Country Club, and a grandmother and grandson share a birthday celebration. Catch up with your neighbors here. Read more »

Here's a Valentine card from Rancho Murieta, taken by neighbor Steve DeMello. "It took all morning to get these two to cooperate," he writes.

Murietan Sam Somers Jr. will become Sacramento's next police chief, sacbee.com reports this morning.  He replaces outgoing chief Rick Braziel, who is retiring. Somers is known locally for his work in youth sports and to add lights to Stonehouse Park in 2010.  (His dad, Sam Sr., serves on the Rancho Murieta Association board.) Sacbee says Somers has been with the Sacramento Police Department for 28 years.  Here's the sacbee story.

Want to help a Girl Scout set up a study room for kids in the community?  Or would you like to race a car in a Pinewood Derby fundraiser?  Maybe you'd like to take part in planning decisions that affect Rancho Murieta?  Here’s how. Read more »

Here's a video look at 2012's best holiday decorations, as chosen by the Rancho Murieta Association. (Click the arrow to start the show.)  Happy holidays from RM.com!