The State of City
Nov 20, 2015 12:00AM ● By Annika Darling
On July 1st, 2003, after more than 20 years of advocacy, Rancho Cordova officially became a “city”: the 478th in the state of California. With every passing year the city of Rancho Cordova blossoms a little more.
A huge part of the reason the community chose to incorporate, was they wanted to maintain a high quality of life for its residents and improve the city’s identity—making it possible for positive growth, to forge ahead, and to continue to make Rancho Cordova an amazing place to live.
The city’s success and thriving nature has never been more apparent than in this year’s annual State of the City address at Rancho Cordova City Hall, where Mayor Robert McGarvey delivered a speech of resounding approbation.
To begin the ceremony the Color Guard marched the aisle, setting the tone and preparing the room for the annual address. Following the Color Guard the room was filled with angelic voices, resonating from the students of Cordova High School Choir. The choir graced attendees with many beautiful numbers, proving the talent of Cordova’s youth.
The event’s host, the Cordova Community Council, has been pivotal in organizing a number of inspiring and festive events throughout the year. This they represented well with a slide-show reflecting the variety of events that took place throughout the city in 2015…thus far.
The compilation of the slide-show exhibited the city’s diverse culture through a variety of artistic events; highlighting organizations such as the Historical Society, the River City Concert Band, and Civic Light Orchestra.
The Kids Day in the Park was also nostalgically presented in photographs, as was the Fourth of July celebration (how could anyone forget that spectacular event) and the International Festival, which was full of dancing and fun; there didn’t seem to be one photo in this series that lacked smiling faces.
One of the most memorable events of the year reflected in the slide-show was the 10th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, where for the first time in this area the legacy and heritage of the 100th/442nd regimental combat team and Nisei veterans were honored; making this a very memorable and historical day for all the attendees and everyone involved.
Mayor McGarvey’s speech was filled with warmth as he reminisced on not only the happenings of the past year experienced by the community at large, but personally and by his family. He embraced the room intimately in this way, with the perspective that the community was one big family, was his family. His love for the community was apparent, and he said, “Rancho Cordova has the nicest, warmest people you’ll meet anywhere.”
Mayor McGarvey recently attended his last full City Council meeting as Mayor of Rancho Cordova. On Dec.7th, David Sander will be sworn in as the 2016 Mayor, and Donald Terry will be sworn in as Vice Mayor. However, Mayor McGarvey did announce, “to stop all the rumors,” that you will see him on the ballot again.
After the mayor’s address everyone moved to the lobby for pie; in true Rancho Cordova warm, welcoming fashion every single person got a piece of the pie. The pie was provided by Bel Air of Gold River.
Overall, the impression the State of the City gave, was that this is a city on the rise. That with every day it gathers momentum, and with their positive, warm-hearted and involved community, there is nothing this city cannot achieve.
