This piece was awarded a 2024 Inside Publisher’s Award in the California State Fair Fine Arts Competition. Lynda Briggs lives in Pleasanton and her paintings can be found in government offices, businesses and private collections, nationally and internationally. “My paintings are born from a place of free spirit, celebrating life and positive energy. Much of my work is influenced by my passion for hiking. Being surrounded by nature cultivates an emotional connection that sparks my creativity and curiosity for free-flowing, harmonious design.” Shown: “Parliament of Owls,” acrylic on canvas, 48 inches by 35 inches. This piece is for sale at $4,380. Visit lyndabriggs.com.
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• A good estate plan gives your loved ones something to be truly thankful for.
• The right trust will keep your assets from being gobbled up in probate court.
• Planning with an experienced lawyer can prevent fowl play.
• Doing things right can also keep you from rolling over in your gravy.
All kidding aside, the Thanksgiving season can be a great time to talk about your plans. When you are ready for peace of mind, please call me or visit www.wyattlegal.com. I’d be glad to help.
Tailor Made
STEVE BENSON DRESSED THE CITY FOR SUCCESS
Steve Benson, one of Sacramento’s finest and most beloved men’s clothing store owners, died in September from complications of the motor neuron disorder ALS, or Lou Gehrigs’s disease. He was 76.
By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk
Steve founded S. Benson & Co. fine men’s clothing in 1995. The East Sac shop was a high-end boutique with exceptional style and inventory.
Treasured for his old-school service, Steve was expert at custom-fitting clients or helping choose ready-to-wear apparel. Fathers and sons became generational clients.
A year after the shop opened, Steve decided to advertise with an upstart local newspaper, Inside Sacramento.
As a new publisher, I considered him the perfect small business owner who might benefit from a 100% community publication.
S. Benson & Co. advertised for nearly two decades. Steve was featured in our book “Inside Sacramento: The Most Interesting Places in America’s Farmto-Fork Capital,” published in 2016.
His exquisite taste and understanding of men’s clothing were formed early.
“Our mother was very fashion conscious, always wanted us to present
ourselves as nicely dressed,” Mark Benson, Steve’s younger brother, says. “Steve listened. It resonated with him. She planted a seed, and he grew it. As a child he was a master of color, and he always put together superb outfit combinations.”
Steve graduated from Burbank High School and received a fine arts degree at UC Davis. His retail career began at Weinstock’s department store. He soon joined Irwin Clothing Co., the city’s premier men’s store in those days, where he worked for more than 20 years.
At Irwin, he learned the trade and established himself as clothier to many of the city’s most influential people.
“Steve came to work with my father when he was 18 years old. I was 3 years old at the time,” says Richard Weintraub, whose father Irwin founded the store in 1960. “Steve would have dinner with my family six nights a week and would often babysit me and my sisters.
“Steve approached life in a meticulous way and made certain to instill these behavioral attributes in me. I count him as the most generous, thoughtful and principled person I have ever met.”
Steve lived in Land Park with Susan, his wife of 47 years, and son Alex. Running S. Benson & Co. was a family affair.
“Being married to a small business owner required patience and understanding as Steve built his business and client base,” Susan says. “Steve worked long hours, often without a day off.”
Alex recalls, “At the holidays the store became more family-oriented as we helped wrap gifts and deliver purchases to customers. It wasn’t a common job like other kids' parents had growing up. But I never had to worry about my clothes growing up.”
Steve served on the board of the Sacramento Children’s Home, supported his son’s activities at
Steve Benson
Embrace your well power.
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When it comes to your health, more sleep, more steps and fewer sweets are smart choices. And when you’re comparing health plan options this Open Enrollment, considering one that includes Dignity Health is another smart choice. You’ll have the benefit of access to award-winning doctors, with your choice of how to see them—from virtual visits to one-stop medical complexes offering primary and specialty care, labs and imaging. All backed by the largest hospital system in the region with nationally recognized programs for heart, stroke, cancer care and other specialties.
Learn more about the Dignity Health difference and the plans we accept at DignityHealth.org/OpenEnrollment.
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Christian Brothers High and enjoyed local theater.
My friend Lisa Schmidt and I sometimes brought Steve lunch in the store. We caught up on family news and neighborhood gossip.
Steve understood people and knew how to connect. He told me, “I think I understand you. You put incredible energy into the betterment of our community and experience a high degree of social interaction in the process. But you also need adequate down time alone to recharge your batteries.”
I’ve never forgotten those words. They were 100% accurate and prompted me to work on finding balance. What a gift Steve gave me! He made people feel valued. He took time to know them, get a sense of their lives and what they enjoyed.
Steve’s death marks the end of an era, the passing of an extraordinary small business owner who realized his
dream of working for himself in service to clients and community.
Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Readers ask how they can contribute to Inside Sacramento. Here’s how. Consider a paid supporting membership starting at $19.95 a year. Use the QR code and help support our mission to deliver local news. Sign up for our weekly newsletter at insidesacramento.com.
PENDING
Hire a Pro for These 4 Home Projects
When it comes to home repairs and renovations, doing it yourself can be tempting, but it’s not always the right move. Repairs done incorrectly can be costly.
Here are 4 projects that should almost always be done by a professional.
Electrical Work: Unless you’re a licensed electrician, you probably shouldn’t be doing electrical work yourself. You could injure yourself or compromise your home’s entire electrical system.
Plumbing: Small drips or leaks might seem innocuous enough, but larger problems could behind them. Fixed properly wards off issues like mold and water damage.
Structural Projects: It’s not advisable to do structural repairs on your own. Done incorrectly, can jeopardize the stability of your home.
Older Home Repairs: Older homes have systems and materials that may not be in use anymore. They can also have more extensive damage. Hiring an experienced Pro can save you time and money.
If you need recommendations for home repair professionals — or if you’re interested in buying a new home that ts your needs — reach out for help.
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Featured Property of the Month:
Celebrating Vic’s Ice Cream are (sitting from left)
Nellie Cuccia, Jim Relles, Anthony Plescia and Cathy O'Donoghue, (standing from left) Anita Lake, Tony Plescia and Frank Plescia.
Photo by Aniko Kiezel
Sweet Memories Memories
LAND PARK LANDMARK CELEBRATES 77 YEARS
If you have a sweet tooth, you know Vic’s Ice Cream on Riverside Boulevard in Land Park. Vic’s was founded in 1947 by World War II veterans Vic Zito and Ashley Rutledge.
Seventy-seven years later, Vic’s is still slinging scoops—but maybe not for long. The Rutledge family is selling the business.
In September, Arbëresh of Sacramento, a cultural club that promotes the heritage of the Albanianspeaking Arbëresh people of Sicily and southern Italy (Zito was one) hosted a gathering to honor Vic’s legacy and reminisce about the shop.
Attending were regular patrons and former employees, including Walter Fox, Craig Fong, Frank Plescia and Bob Sertich, who worked together at Vic’s in the 1970s.
“All in all, it was a great afternoon remembering Vic Zito and Ash Rutledge and their iconic neighborhood ice cream parlor.”
ADULT LITERACY
because I have more confidence in myself.”
The library also celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Career Online High School program. In the past year, 40 adults completed their studies and earned high school diplomas. Since 2014, the program has helped 290 graduates prepare for the workforce.
For information, visit saclibrary.org.
L JL
The Sacramento Public Library’s Adult Literacy program celebrates 40 years of free literacy tutoring for adults, helping more than 5,000 learners.
JBy Jessica Laskey Out & About
“The camaraderie among Vic’s employees was very strong—my brother maintains close friendships with several of his Vic’s ex-colleagues to this day,” says Plescia’s older brother Anthony, who serves as president of Arbëresh of Sacramento and helped organize the gathering.
“I started with the literacy program five years ago,” adult learner Patricia Davis says. “My goal was to read my mail, read a newspaper and read books. I didn’t even know how to use a computer, but I know now.
“The literacy program helped and encouraged me to get my high school diploma. My goals have changed
EXPLORE MIDTOWN
The Midtown Association has launched Explore Midtown Pass, a digital passport that allows users to access deals and discounts at more than 20 Midtown bars, restaurants and eateries through Nov. 30.
Every check-in or coupon redemption earns points for the chance to win
prizes such as gift cards, Kings tickets, B Street Theatre tickets, a staycation and more. Winners are randomly drawn at the end of the promotion and notified via text and email.
To download the pass, visit exploremidtown.org/pass.
CITIZEN APP
It’s easy to stay safe in Sacramento thanks to the Citizen app, which provides free, real-time safety alerts to area residents.
“We compile critical public-safety incidents involving anything from police activity, fires, missing persons and pets to earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires,” says Juliana Pignataro, Citizen’s director of distribution.
“Citizen empowers individuals to contribute to a shared safety net where everyone plays a part in preventing or mitigating crime, terror and disasters.”
Citizen launched in Sacramento in September adding to its roster of more than 40 cities nationwide. Download Citizen wherever you get apps.
CALLING DREAMERS
The Downtown Sacramento Foundation has selected 10 business concepts to move forward in its 12th annual Calling All Dreamers business incubator program.
The cohort will go through business development boot camp over the next few months for the chance to win cash prizes if they complete the program and open a Downtown storefront.
The cohort includes Vietnamese coffee café Cà Phê Diêm, Coffland Craft Butchery, cookie business Half Baked Goodness, improv and sketch comedy theater Haus of Comedy, Ethiopian beverage company Honey Nights, Jinx Soda, Nacho House, specialty teas and coffees Pittador Brews, women’s clothing boutique Style For It, and collaborative small-business venue Transformative Spaces.
For information, visit callingalldreamers.org.
CLAY WORKSHOPS
East Sac’s clayARTstudio 814 is offering two six-session ceramics
“Bat
TILE
STONE
SOLID SURFACE
workshops that bring animal spirits to life through sculpting.
Attendees will learn ceramic handbuilding techniques to construct animal figures under the guidance of studio owner and ceramicist Marsha Schindler. Materials and tools will be provided.
Animal Spirits Figure Sculpture Workshops begin Nov. 5. Classes are available in morning and evening. Attendees must be at least 18 and able to lift 25 pounds. To sign up, visit clayartstudio814.com.
BAT EXHIBIT
“Bat HabiTAT” is on display at City Hall’s Robert T. Matsui Gallery through Dec. 13.
Curated by Emerging Curators Fellow Bridgètt Rex through the Office of Arts and Culture, the exhibit uses original artwork to highlight the essential role bats play in healthy ecosystems.
The pieces were created by 10 tattoo artists and one origami artist from Northern California who took inspiration from live bat observations with the Yolo Basin Foundation.
“Bats represent a peaceful dark and moodiness,” artist Shaina Hernandez says. “It was important to me that the bats be portrayed as innocent. So often they are depicted as scary or verminous.”
The gallery is at 915 I St. and open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NEW STADIUM
Sacramento State plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium to replace Hornet Stadium, erected in 1969.
The new 25,000-seat facility, designed by architecture firm Populous, will host football, soccer and rugby, as
well as visiting sports competitions, concerts, convocations and more.
“With this new facility, we will not only continue our tradition of hosting national and international sporting events, but also create opportunities for faculty and students to engage in large-scale academic and cultural programming, offering a space for learning, celebration and communitybuilding,” says Carolyn Gibbs, chair of the Sacramento State Faculty Senate.
To donate to the project, visit sacstate.me/stadium.
DIDION LIBRARY
Sacramento City College has renamed its library the Joan Didion Learning Resource Center, thanks to a gift from the Didion family and Sacramento Historical Society.
A permanent exhibit on the author’s life is open in the building lobby. Students designed the exhibit with help from the California State Railroad Museum and professor of design and digital media Robyn Waxman.
Displays include books, photographs and artwork donated by family members and Sacramento Historical Society. “The exhibit was truly a team effort,” says Vicky Austin, Sac City College regional director of philanthropy.
The resource center is at 3835 Freeport Blvd. and open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
HabiTAT” is on display at City Hall.
Café Bernardo is one of many businesses participating in Explore Midtown Pass.
Song In Her Heart
MASTER SINGERS
PRESIDENT CELEBRATES CHOIR’S DIVERSITY
By Jessica Laskey
Laura Lofgren can’t stop lending her voice to the Sacramento Master Singers. As the group opens its 41st season, Lofgren sings alto and serves as board president.
Her relationship with the nonprofit choir dates from 1990, when Lofgren and husband John auditioned to sing. One year later, they joined the board, Laura as choral liaison and secretary, John as vice president.
“It’s not just a choir, it’s more like an extended family,” says Lofgren, who spent 37 years in education before retiring from the Twin Rivers Unified School District in June. “We all truly care for each other.”
Sacramento Master Singers incorporated in 1983 but operated under various names, including Camellia Concert Chorale. Ralph Hughes, one of the original 14 singers, continues as artistic director and conductor.
“I really appreciate working with Ralph,” Lofgren says. “He’s given us opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten in any other local choir. We’ve gotten to sing with Maria Guinand, Oscar Escalada, Moses Hogan, Alice Parker and so many other people.
“We’ve collaborated with other local arts groups, like Celebration Arts. We even went to Scotland and worked with Sir James MacMillan. Ralph is able to coordinate all these things, which has made for an amazing experience.”
The experiences are part of the group’s mission to expose singers and audience members to a variety of music, “from Gregorian chant to 21st century music and everything in between,” Lofgren says.
Over the decades, the group has performed in multiple venues—often churches—locally and around the world.
For the past several years, the annual holiday concert, “A Master Singers Christmas,” stages at three sites—First United Methodist on J Street, Fremont Presbyterian in East Sac and Harris Center at Folsom Lake College.
“We take a lot of notes to coordinate where to stand, who’s singing and where to go during the concert,” Lofgren says of shifting locations for the holiday concert. “All those nuances don’t just come naturally.”
Expert coordination is part of the professionalism required by the singers, who have performed in Hawaii, Seattle, South Carolina, Scotland, Vancouver, Venezuela and Eastern Europe.
The 41st season opens Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. with a children’s holiday concert, “Jingle All the Way.” The main holiday concert, “A Master Singers Christmas,” follows Dec. 14, 15, 22 and 23.
Spring brings “Romantasy! Songs of Romance and Fantasy,” March 15 and 16, with pieces such as Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer’s “Old Black Magic” and “Fantasy” as sung by Earth, Wind & Fire.
The local season ends May 17 and 18 with “Where the Light Begins,” featuring Jake Runestad’s “Becoming the Ocean.” A fitting metaphor as the singers prepare for a summer tour of England, Wales and Ireland.
“Thank you for letting me brag about Sacramento Master Singers,” Lofgren says. “It’s something very important to me and has been a huge part of our life.”
For information, visit mastersingers.org.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail. com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Giving Back: Volunteer Profile
Laura Lofgren
Photo by Linda Smolek
T2 For Flood Safety
JOHNS, MAVIGLIO HAVE THEIR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT
he American River Flood Control District has worked to prevent levee failure for almost a century. The district maintains 40 miles of levees along the American River and protects residents in East Sacramento, Sierra Oaks and nearby neighborhoods from floods.
District staffers mow levee slopes to reduce fire danger. They repair encroachments and respond to levee weak spots during storms. It’s essential work. An assessment on your property taxes pays the bills.
Many local levees have become encampments for unhoused people who impede maintenance. Campers damage levees with trenches for tent platforms and stairways cut into the slope.
These encroachments cause erosion and create the potential for catastrophic levee failure.
Given its responsibilities, the flood district needs trustees who understand flood risk and can ensure fees stay affordable. Repairing damage done by homeless encampments is expensive.
Voters get to elect American River flood district trustees. This month, two positions are open.
It’s a “down ballot” election, with many residents unaware of the candidates. But the outcome matters.
Our neighborhoods need board members who support the flood district’s mission—levee integrity and flood prevention.
During my two terms on City Council, I worked closely with the flood district. Two candidates stand out.
Steve Johns has been an American River flood district trustee for seven years. He lives in River Park, where high-water erosion nearly caused a levee disaster in 1997.
By Jeff Harris City Realist
Johns saw the river almost overtop the levee. River Park and East Sac were at risk. He understands the flood district’s mission and is determined to support it.
Steve Maviglio has done many tours of regional levees and has seen encroachments by campers. Maviglio understands the importance of levee maintenance and the need to wisely spend taxpayer dollars while keeping neighborhoods safe from floods.
Two opponents, Tamika L’Ecluse and Rae Vander Werf, are flood district trustees seeking re-election.
Unfortunately, they have misplaced priorities.
Three years ago, as chair of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, I led the effort to remove homeless campers from the Commerce Circle area near Costco.
Damage done to levees around Commerce Circle was rampant and dangerous to residents, local businesses and people living in tents.
I went to the American River flood district board and complained the agency wasn’t repairing levee damage caused by campers.
L’Ecluse and Vander Werf had a different opinion—one that surprised me.
They said the needs of homeless people were their main concern. Flood safety came second.
They are wrong. Homelessness and levee integrity are separate issues. Flood safety is paramount—the flood district’s only reason for existing. Homelessness on streets and parkways is the responsibility of the City Council and Board of Supervisors, not flood district trustees.
L’Ecluse and Vander Werf brought their political concerns to a board that has no authority to manage those political problems. They failed in their duties as board members.
As you review your November ballot, look for the names Steve Johns (Division 4) and Steve Maviglio (Division 5).
A vote for them for American River Flood Control District trustee is a vote for candidates who have their priorities straight.
Jeff Harris represented District 3 on City Council from 2014 to 2022. He can be reached at cadence@mycci. net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Volunteers clean up homeless camp near American River levee.
Road Hog
HERE’S
HOW OUR CITIES BECAME PARKING LOTS
Robert Caro’s legendary book, “The Power Broker,” turned 50 this year and holds up remarkably well. The 4-pound tome about the notorious New York urban planner Robert Moses stared down from my bookshelf about half that long before I finally hauled it out and read it.
It takes commitment to open a 1,286-page book, which was even longer before Caro’s editor, Robert Gottlieb, trimmed 350,000 words. But it’s still a riveting read, now in its 74th printing and new digital version.
With concern in Sacramento over the dangers faced by pedestrians and bicyclists on local roads, this is a good time to read about a planner who championed the automobile.
Despite never holding elected office, Moses simultaneously held 12 appointed positions connected with
G D GD
By Gary Delsohn Building
parks, transportation and planning. He had no rival when it came to his impact on a large American city. Because of his unscrupulous use of power, mayors and governors bowed to Moses, not the other way around.
If Moses bowed to anything, it was the car.
Like a lot of city planners in his era—he reigned from the 1920s to the 1960s—Robert Moses loved projects that made life easier for cars and the roads they fill.
Interestingly, Caro’s book includes no mention of Jane Jacobs, the activist urban critic and legend in her own right who battled Moses over highways and pedestrian mobility.
Caro’s original manuscript included a chapter on battles between Jacobs and Moses, but those pages were cut. Jacobs had plenty to say about Moses elsewhere, including a letter to her mother quoted in the 2009 book “Wrestling With Moses,” which covers their conflicts.
“Well, we always knew Moses was an awful man, doing awful things, but even so this book is a shocking revelation,” Jacobs wrote to her mother about “The Power Broker.” “He was much worse than we had even imagined. I am beginning to think he was not quite sane. The things he did—
the corruption, the brutality, the sheer seizure and misuse of power—make Watergate seem rather tame.”
Moses’ approach to urban planning was replicated in many cities, Sacramento included. Building Interstate 5 to wall off the central city from the river is straight from the Moses playbook: Cars first, then everything else.
Separating Oak Park from the city with Highways 50 and 99 is another example of the Moses mentality.
Whether or not Moses was an evil genius, “The Power Broker” is a book for everyone who cares about cities and political power. Historian Sam Tanenhaus explains why in a New York Times piece.
“Its durability resembles that of Moses’ own prodigious creation, the redrawn arterial map of greater metropolitan New York,” Tanenhaus writes. “More than a dozen giant roadways girdling the city; seven bridges, their towers as tall as 70-story buildings; luxury high-rises, with color-splashed terraces and finials, placed at a remove from mile after mile of drab housing projects: prisons for the poor, especially the nonwhite poor, whom Moses did not want mixing—not on playgrounds and certainly not in swimming pools—with white people.”
What Tanenhaus doesn’t say is that by some estimates, Moses’ projects displaced more than a halfmillion people in the name of car access, vehicle convenience and urban progress.
Moses’ imperious style and ability to exercise and hold power seem anachronistic today. For all our political dysfunction, we are more Democratic now than during the 40 years Moses held sway in America’s largest city.
It’s hard to imagine anyone having a similar impact today. Just as it’s hard to imagine city planners in Sacramento worshiping the automobile now that we have so many examples of the damage they do to the urban landscape.
If you want a page-turning history lesson on urban America, it’s hard to beat “The Power Broker.” The book continues to captivate and enlighten readers with all the mistakes and missed opportunities it chronicles, 50 years after its debut.
Gary Delsohn can be reached at gdelsohn@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n
Road work on Highway 50.
Photo by Linda Smolek
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HE KNEW WHERE TO LOOK FOR HOME DESIGN EXPERTISE
Curtis Popp is a residential interior architectural designer. Over two decades, he established a reputation as a talented, creative and sought-after home design consultant.
Along the way, he found a side project, his family’s unconventional tri-level Land Park residence.
Popp grew up in Land Park. He and wife Sue, a nurse, were raising their two children there in a small, traditional house on Perkins Way.
But the interior designer couldn’t stop thinking about the nearby trilevel.
“One day, in the middle of the Great Recession, I saw a For Sale sign spring
By Cecily Hastings
Open House
Photography by Aniko Kiezel
Curtis Popp with Fritz the family dog
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up on it,” Popp says. “The timing wasn’t good. And it took several visits to get Sue interested because the house at that time looked nothing like it does today.”
He adds, “I always thought this was an interesting house because it was different than anything else.”
Popp describes the home’s original condition as from another era. Shag carpets, lower-level ceilings barely 7 feet tall, covered with even lower soffits. The goal was to update yet preserve.
Today, the front entry offers two paths, one to the upper living room, the other down to a media and game room. The kitchen and dining area are on the lower level.
The living room level includes a bedroom and bath. Another half level includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Popp added a staircase to connect everything from the kitchen. Most of the other work involved improving the natural light.
“Most significantly, we changed out the location and size of many of the windows and doors, which opened up the light inside,” he says.
Improvements to the 2,900-square-foot home happened in three phases. First came the downstairs, with a new kitchen, dining area and living space, and new windows.
Next, they renovated the backyard, adding a pool, hot tub, patio and outdoor cooking areas. The design is stylish with boxy shrubs as dividers, expansive grass and a black granite fountain. Classic midcentury modern patio furniture completes the design.
The last phase began when a neighbor’s redwood tree crashed into the master bedroom on New Year’s Eve 2022.
“Our dog Fritz was on the bed, and Sue and I were standing and sitting in the room. It was just awful. Gratefully, we all survived without a scrape,” Popp says. “But the entire room was wiped out in an instant.”
The couple took the opportunity to turn an extra bedroom (they were empty nesters) into a full-size master bathroom suite. “We had a small bathroom previously and this gave us a chance to create a really spacious bathroom,” Popp says.
“I encourage my clients to consider remodeling in phases over time. It spreads the costs out so you can build things with quality. But the key is to make a longterm plan for what you ultimately want the home to be.”
How does the design professional work out decisions when a client is also his wife?
“Sue has a great eye and participates in the decorating aspects, but she’s grown to trust me completely on the space planning and interior design decisions,” Popp says. “The hardest part with this house was when she first saw it. She pushed back until I could help her understand the possibilities.”
The couple listed the home on the register of historic places. It was built in 1934 and called the Welch House. Its styles are Art Moderne and International.
Popp often allowed the house to inform his design decisions. “I took much of the modern design details of the era it was built and enhanced them,” he says.
One example are the round vertical wooden stairway poles.
“I used that design detail in other places where we changed levels with stairs,” he says. “My philosophy is to find the best part of the architecture and interior architecture and exploit that. And then let’s find things that aren’t working and eliminate those things. The key is to find the essence of the original design intention.”
To recommend a home or garden, contact cecily@ insidepublications.com. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
K ids’ Stuf f Kids’ Stuff
AT SCIENCE MUSEUM, YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE THE FOCUS
The SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity is busy with field trips, learning labs, planetarium shows and other activities to inspire students toward careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Last school year, 24,000 students visited the museum. Executive Director Andrea A. Durham expects more this year. In its mission to build interest in science, Durham says serving as role models is the most important work for museum staff.
“Students don’t pick careers they don’t have any exposure to,” she says. “So, when you ask a 4-year-old what
they want to be, there’s a reason they say a policeman or a firefighter or a teacher, because those are they careers they see in their life.”
Museum staff are knowledgeable about science and discuss their careers with students. Guest speakers visit on weekends to describe science-related work. For example, take wastewater.
“We have a partnership with Sac Sewer to describe the filtration process, while talking about chemistry and careers,” Durham says.
Speakers can inspire middle- and high-schoolers who might take a science elective or think about careers.
Teachers planning field trips have a choice of programs. Some students explore exhibits. Others view exhibits and attend a learning lab. Some see a planetarium show. Others participate in daylong activities.
Programs are geared to grades and curriculums spelled out in the Next Generation Standards for Public Schools, adopted by the State Board of Education.
By Rebecca Kuzins Meet Your Neighbor
Field trip prices range from $330 to $825 for up to 35 students and 10
chaperones. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.
Exhibits offer hands-on, interactive opportunities so students learn by immersing themselves in subjects on display. In June, the museum opened “Health Connection,” an exhibit by UC Davis Health, with content in English and Spanish on various health-related topics.
Other exhibits include “Water Challenge,” focusing on how water systems can adjust to serve a growing population during water scarcity.
“Powering Change” describes the effects of climate change and the need for sustainable power.
Learning labs provide instruction on subjects such as “Incredible Insects” for kindergarteners and first-graders, and “Cellular Adventures” for older kids.
The Multiverse Theater presents shows on astronomy.
Girl Scouts visit on weekends to view exhibits, watch a Multiverse Theater show and engage in activities to earn badges in Space Science or Robots.
Design Lab Maker Workshops, twohour programs offered on Saturdays for fifth- through eighth-grade children and their parents, provide what Durham describes as “very hands-on experiences using very real tools.”
For example, “How to Build a Turbine” enables children to use Computer Aided Design software to design a turbine. There are soldering irons, laser cutters, 3-D printers and other tools.
These workshops “emphasize self-directed learning,” Durham says. Children select what they want to learn about, have some control over it and choose fun activities.
Multigenerational learning is another feature. “We’re getting more and more lonely, so here people are engaged, talking to each other,” Durham says. “All of a sudden, they’re having an experience that’s memorable.”
Durham became executive director in May 2023, bringing almost 30 years of science museum administration experience. She worked at the Museum of Science in Boston, Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the St. Louis Science Center.
At the Museum of Science and Curiosity, she promotes a welcoming environment.
“A lot of people are nervous, unsure or intimidated by science,” she says. “Science museums can have great learning experiences and be accessible to everybody and provide great multigenerational experiences. Science museums really engage all ages together.”
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity is at 400 Jibboom St. off Interstate 5. For information, call or (916) 674-5000 or visit visitmosac.org.
Rebecca Kuzins can be reached at kuzins63@att.net. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Design Minded
Photos by Aniko Kiezel
IEXCLUSIVE GIFT, HANDCRAFT SHOP ARRIVES IN FAIR OAKS
t’s not often a high-end retail store moves from the Bay Area to the Sacramento area. But the village of Fair Oaks is the new home to Terrestra, a destination for handcrafted home accessories.
After establishing locations in San Francisco and Mill Valley, Terrestra cofounders Amy Satran and Ray Kristof decided to downsize and move their gallery closer to the Sacramento home they purchased six years ago.
Satran and Kristof are a tech couple with backgrounds in multi-media. They met decades ago at Apple and started
CBy Cecily Hastings Meet Your Neighbor
Terrestra in 2003. Today they consider themselves semi-retired in Fair Oaks Village while overseeing the gallery.
“Amy and I have always been collectors, and I grew up in France and enjoyed it from an early age,” Kristof says.
He adds, “Fair Oaks Village has become a standout destination for Sacramento residents, providing a charming, walkable main street with superb restaurants and diverse retail stores. When this large space became available last fall, we knew it was the perfect location for Terrestra.”
Terrestra specializes in handcrafted design objects for home and tabletop, elegant gifts and personal accessories. The store emphasizes simple, modern forms and bold colors.
“Many of the designers and artists we represent have been in our stores since we first opened in 2003,” Kristof says.
The shop features international brands such as Chilewich table
and floor coverings, Simon Pearce glassware and pottery, Sugahara barware from Japan, Jars ceramics of Provence, France, and the nation’s largest selection of Mywalit fine leather goods from Lucca, Italy.
“We supplement these global design brands with a curated collection of handcrafted works from celebrated American artists, including the wood studios of John Harden, the fine art glass of Orbix Hot Glass, ceramics from Sunset Canyon Pottery, and a rotating roster of American jewelry designers,” Kristof says.
The owners work with fair trade artisan groups in Central and South America and Africa whose bold,
modern designs add a vibrant color dimension to the store.
“We’ve been called ‘a museum store without a museum,’ due to its collection of modern design-centric gifts and accessories,” Kristof says. “Every day our customers tell us they are thrilled that we moved here in Sacramento.”
Terrestra is at 10127 Fair Oaks Blvd. Visit terrestra.com for hours and online gallery.
Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
THE OWNERS WORK WITH FAIR TRADE ARTISAN GROUPS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA WHOSE BOLD, MODERN DESIGNS ADD A VIBRANT COLOR DIMENSION TO THE STORE.
Quality, Functionality,
Sustainability
Belton King Power Sofa
Martta XL Full Reversible Chaise
Monika Cot Chair
Service Call
BY HOWARD SCHMIDT
Having spent the past year on the Sacramento County Grand Jury, I can confirm Superior Court Judge Steven Gevercer is right when he says the grand jury exists “to make government accountable.”
Being a juror carries the responsibility to investigate local government. The aim is to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and promote accountability and transparency.
Interested in becoming a grand juror? Online applications open Nov. 20 and run through December. There’s a formal interview process, which I’ll discuss in a minute.
GRAND JURY SEEKS MEMBERS FOR 2025-26
Unlike cases presented in a courtroom, grand jurors review and investigate the performance of county, city and local governing entities. The jury issues reports and recommends changes to improve local government.
Recent grand jury reports focused on the failure to provide adequate special education by a local school district, mismanagement and dysfunction on a local special district board, and privacy violations by law enforcement.
Workloads can range up to 35 hours per week. Jurors receive a stipend plus mileage reimbursement. Each member serves on three committees ranging from health and human services to education, criminal justice,
administration and environmental protection.
Investigations can be opened by the jury or suggested by citizens. The jury can respond to complaints of alleged mistreatment by officials and suspicion of misconduct.
“The opportunity to help our local government serve the people in a more effective way doesn’t come around that often,” Foreperson Beth Tenpas says. “If you care about education, mental health services, water quality, election integrity, etc., grand jury service might be for you.”
As for the selection process, the new jury will have 19 members who start in July 2025. New members are selected from online applicants by
random draw. Another 11 are chosen as alternates.
Current or former jurors interview each potential juror. From there, the pool is narrowed and vetted by a judicial panel.
The work is demanding and challenging. But serving your community as a grand juror is something you’ll never forget.
To apply or review grand jury reports, visit sacgrandjury.org.
Howard Schmidt served on the 202324 Sacramento Grand Jury. He can be reached at howardschmidt218@aol.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
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Fish Fight
ARMY CORPS WORK PUTS THREATENED SPECIES AT RISK
The green sturgeon is an ancient creature. This “river dinosaur” dates back 220 million years. Today he thrives in local waterways.
The southern green sturgeon spawns in a small segment of the Sacramento River and uses the lower American River for juvenile rearing.
Despite the green sturgeon’s resiliency, the species is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The American River is also home to steelhead trout and four chinook salmon runs—winter, spring, fall and late fall. The winter salmon run is endangered under the species act. The
By Cathryn Rakich Animals & Their Allies
spring salmon run and steelhead are threatened.
High water temperatures, habitat destruction, loss of streamside trees, dredged rivers, insufficient freshwater flow, contaminants and barriers that impede migration contribute to the declines.
Which is why community groups such as American River Trees question the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers erosioncontrol work along the lower American River.
The project, known as Contract 3B, targets several miles from the Howe Avenue bridge to east of Watt Avenue as part of the Corps’ flood-protection strategy.
While spawning is limited in the Contract 3B river stretch, “we see all four runs, as well as steelhead and green sturgeon, using the lower American River as rearing habitat for juveniles,” says Lyla Pirkola, natural resource management specialist with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Nearly 700 trees, including about 60 heritage oaks, are scheduled for removal.
Tree canopies cool the river, critical for spawning and rearing chinook, steelhead and green sturgeon. “When they take the trees away from the edge of the river, that allows the river to heat up,” says Pete Spaulding with American River Trees. “The temperature is critical to the health of the embryos.”
Pirkola, who consults with the Army Corps on projects, including Contract 3B, confirms the importance of tree canopy. “There are absolutely water quality effects associated with having vegetation, and particularly overhanging vegetation, removed,” she says.
Tree roots and branches in the water offer the young fish protection from predators and places to feed. Insects falling from riverside plants provide food.
Chinook, steelhead and sturgeon need cool, flowing water to thrive. They need clean gravel to create underwater nests (called redds) to spawn. “They need a mixture of different size rocks and pebbles so they can work their
way into nooks and crannies and be protected,” Spaulding says.
The Army Corps’ design includes installing riprap (human-placed rock and rubble to protect shorelines) along the riverbank to prevent erosion. The Corps says the submerged riprap, filled in with cobble, will provide protection for fingerlings.
Spaulding disagrees. “Big rocks that are angular shaped do not afford the same protection for embryos and fingerlings,” he says.
When newborns begin to feed on their own, they will move out of the gravel environment and forage in the riparian areas. “What the Army Corps is removing are rearing habitat and vegetated areas,” Pirkola says.
To mitigate the loss of vegetation, the Army Corps will install “planting benches” along the river’s edge. Woody debris and root balls are designed to provide immediate protection for fish until the planting benches are established.
Spaulding notes erosion at planting benches added during previous Army Corps work at Sacramento State
For more information, you can meet with me or attend one of my Kaiser Permanente Medicare Health Plans seminars. Please call:
GracyHernandez
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916-281-8548 mykpagent.org/gracyh
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You must reside in the Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plan service area in which you enroll. For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call TTY 711. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. 393 E. Walnut St. Pasadena, CA 91188-8514
Please recycle. 446781680 CA February 2020
Y0043_N00015450_C
and Campus Commons is already exposing riprap, potentially preventing vegetation from fully returning.
“There are going to be some issues,” Pirkola says. “But because they are replanting on site, the idea is that at some point in the future the shade will be regained.” She points out the Army Corps has long-term management plans to ensure the sites are successful.
But plantings take years to return. Heritage oaks take generations. “The buried riprap will prevent larger, deeper-rooted trees from ever growing again,” says Bill Brattain, a civil engineer and consultant who lives along the river parkway.
To avoid impacting the chinook and steelhead, the Army Corps says it will only allow construction outside regular spawning and migration periods.
But four seasonal chinook runs mean migrating, spawning and rearing are almost continuous. “With all four of the runs existing, it’s impossible to avoid every life stage of every run,” Pirkola says. “There is some life stage of some run at all times in the system.”
She adds there are work windows to avoid the two salmon runs listed as endangered and threatened. During in-water work, the Army Corps is required to minimize negative impacts
on water quality, such as using plastic barriers to manage sediment stirred up by heavy machinery that impacts “the fishes’ ability to see, forage, hunt and breathe,” Pirkola says.
But some threats are unavoidable. For example, as bottom-feeders green sturgeon feed on clams and mussels. While the juveniles are “hanging out and feeding as they grow and get ready to move to the ocean … there could be impacts on their prey availability,” Pirkola adds.
Salmon, steelhead and sturgeon have survived in West Coast waters for millions of years, enduring industry, agriculture, mining, forestry and urban development.
Now they face new challenges in the lower American River.
UPDATE: The Army Corps has announced that, due to extensive public and agency comments, erosion-control work along the lower American River will not begin in 2025, as originally planned. The earliest will be 2026.
Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
but locals can come to us and learn how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. That is empowering and Oak Park deserves that.”
Pratt saw potential at 3500 Broadway, a former tire shop, because it was far enough from box stores and bigger nurseries, and wouldn’t compete with her former employer, Talini’s Nursery & Garden Center in East Sacramento.
“The nursery was built from nothing but a plant nerd’s dream, some cash savings, a coffee-stained edition of the ‘Nolo Small Business Start-Up Kit,’ and the moxie of a newly divorced, middleaged woman,” she says.
Pratt sensed something amiss when negotiating her last lease. Her request for extended years was turned down. She was offered a two-year lease. Nothing was directly communicated about the upcoming development. Currently, she’s on a month-to-month “spit and a handshake” agreement.
Pratt offered to buy the property but was denied. She doesn’t blame her landlord, the architect and developer Ron Vrilakas. Instead, she says he was always supportive and “very receptive” to her plan to open the nursery.
Growing, Growing, Gone
OAK PARK NURSERY LOSES LEASE, SEEKS NEW HOME
Agreen, leafy dot on the Oak Park map is destined for the compost pile. The Plant Foundry Nursery & Store at 3500 Broadway lost its lease. The parcel will be developed into a three-story infill of retail and housing.
Nursery owner Angela Pratt was heartbroken when the lease was not renewed, a turn of events that thrust her into a spin cycle of “what to do?” Ideally, she would prefer to buy a
property and reopen the nursery nearby.
“I shed a few tears in my car on the way home from the meeting,” Pratt says. “I felt personally rejected, and really sad for all involved. I know it is just business, but for me it is also nineplus years of building relationships with our wonderful customers, growers, vendors, advertisers and crew. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I am sensitive and I am passionate.”
The setback inspired her to assess the future and begin anew. Negotiations, delays and red tape of city codes are exhausting, but she hopes to remain in the Oaks Park area.
“We haven’t slowed our roll one bit, and our customers are counting on us to continue what has become tradition for them,” Pratt says.
The nursery serves Oak Park, Tahoe Park, Land Park, Curtis Park, Elmhurst, Arden, Midtown, Downtown “and beyond,” Pratt says.
It’s an oasis among dunes of concrete and glass. The nursery is a neighborhood destination to sip coffee and observe butterflies and hummingbirds. Dog friendly, too.
Even when her lease was not renewed, Pratt says Vrilakas offered her nursery as a main retail anchor for his new development. She declined because the nursery would have lost its only safe loading zone for delivery trucks and customers. She also had concerns about reduced parking impacts.
“Ever since Fixins (Kevin Johnson’s soul food restaurant) came in, parking has been more of a challenge,” Pratt says. “I also did not know what my rent would be. In the long run, property ownership will be much better for me financially and creatively.”
For now, Pratt is waiting and hoping. She has dreams of a hybrid nursery with a coffee trailer or kiosk and covered space for music, talks and classes.
We wish her well.
By Dan Vierria Garden Jabber
Meantime, her Broadway Triangle nursery will be fully stocked through the holidays. Bare-root fruit trees, roses and other January arrivals have been ordered. Her best-case scenario is to stay open until March.
Tables and shelves are stocked with plants and products not always found at other nurseries. Certified-organic plants and products mingle with California native and water-efficient plants, gifts, cards, tools and books.
“I am proud that I was able to bring a neighborhood nursery to Oak Park, a neighborhood which for many years had been referred to as a ‘food desert,’” Pratt says. “We may not sell produce,
Dan Vierria is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener for Sacramento County. He can be reached at masterg29@gmail.com. For answers to gardening questions, contact UCCE Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338, email mgsacramento@ucanr.edu or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Angela Pratt Photo by Linda Smolek
8th Grade Infomation Night
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HCommand Performance
eaded to the airport to drop off my wife Becky, a question popped into my head.
“Why did God have to make his Ten Commandments so negative?” I asked.
“Pardon me?” she replied.
My non sequiturs confuse many people. Becky usually plays along.
“When we were raising kids, you taught me to use affirming directions rather than negative ones,” I said. “For example, you suggested I not say, ‘Don’t run,’ but instead say, ‘Please walk.’”
Becky seemed pleased I remembered her advice. Then I rephrased my original question. I said, “God should have been more affirming with his commandments.”
By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters
“You think you can do better?” she asked.
“Maybe. I’ll write a positive list and ask my readers what they think.”
With Becky gone for a week, I had time to work on the list. The goal was a new Ten Commandments, short and easy for all faiths to understand and follow.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
In my version, God would say, “I’m the only one.” The declaration worked well in “Winnie the Pooh,” when Tigger says, “The wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one.”
“You shall make no idols.”
A more optimistic rewrite for God’s idea to discourage theological adultery might be, “Stay focused on Me.”
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
That’s an easy paraphrase: “I’m God, not Santa.” The original intent wasn’t to forbid swearing but to dissuade folks who vainly used God’s name to force him to grant their whims.
“Keep the Sabbath day holy.”
The original is positively worded. But I think God would be OK to add, “Find holiness in all your days.”
PASTOR’S REWRITE JOB MAY NOT IMPROVE THE ORIGINAL
“Honor your father and your mother.”
That’s sufficiently upbeat. No need to add, “And pay for your parents’ cruise.”
“You shall not murder.”
I prefer, “Make life matter.” Respect each life as if it were all lives. And respect all life as if it were one life.
“You shall not commit adultery.”
I’d go with the Shania Twain song, “Dance With the One That Brought You.” I can almost hear God humming along with the lyrics, “Don’t let the green grass fool you. Don’t let the moon get to you. Dance with the one that brought you and you can’t go wrong.”
“You shall not steal.”
A better approach might be, “Give with all your heart to those in need.”
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
This one’s about telling the truth, so how about, “Find truth and nurture it.” And share it with the powerful and the powerless.
“You shall not covet.”
Here the positive alternative might be, “Yearn for all things that will help others.” Or desire only that which helps your partner, family, neighbor and world.
I emailed Becky my Ten Commandments column outline. She didn’t respond until I picked her up at the airport.
“How was your flight?” I asked.
“Good,” she said, “but I’m not sure that column is going to fly with your readers.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked. She smiled and answered, “As usual, when you are quoting me, you often break the ‘false witness’ commandment.”
I said, “I prefer the more positive way to describe those quotes: Creative attribution.”
Becky had the final word. It was negative.
“I’m really not sure I should be leaving you alone again.”
Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. Burkes is available for public speaking at civic organizations, places of worship, veterans groups and more. For details and fees, visit thechaplain.net. n
Say Cheese
GOATS RARE AROUND HERE, BUT THESE KIDS DELIVER
Sacramento is a locavore’s blessing. Within 40 miles of the city, farmers produce diverse fruits and vegetables, bountiful olive groves and vineyards. Ranchers raise world-class beef, lamb, poultry and pork.
But one important food category is elusive: a local cheesemaker.
When I searched for a nearby dairy that produces its own cheese, I found just two: Jollity Farm Goat Dairy in El Dorado County’s Garden Valley and Spenker Family Farm in Lodi. Both make goat cheese from animals raised on their farms.
G M GM
By Gabrielle Myers
by Aniko Kiezel Farm
I headed to Lodi and asked Sarah Spenker Pratt about the lack of local cheese artisans. She explained regulations and barriers to production might reduce a dairy farmer’s willingness to make their own cheeses.
Thankfully, Spenker Family Farm offers many goat cheeses. Sarah’s mother Bettyann, a dynamic wine and cheesemaker, also teaches cheesemaking courses.
Bettyann Spenker makes traditional chevre. From there, she infuses local lemon and thyme, herbs de Provence, or roasted garlic and dill.
Bettyann developed a petite Syrahinfused cheese made with wine that she and husband Chuck produce from their vineyard. A “sweet pea” cheese, similar to a brie with white mold exterior and creamy exterior, was in production when I visited.
The family’s dessert cheese line combines local blueberries or peaches with goatmilk. Varieties include an
aged gouda-like goat cheese and aged Diablo Sunset, a State Fair Gold Medal winner. The creamy Diablo tang left me wanting to eat the whole chunk.
Spenker is a “full transparency farm in that everything is always visible” in the cheesemaking process, Sarah says. The whole farm is on display, including spaces where 48 milk-producing goats live and Bettyann’s cheese production area.
For those of us weary of big agriculture, it’s refreshing to see each step in the cheesemaking process. Visitors can pet the goats and learn their names and personalities.
Bettyann and Chuck founded Spenker Winery in 1994, but the 60-acre vineyard has been in the family since Chuck’s great grandfather purchased the land in 1904. For decades, the Spenker family grew the famed Lodi zinfandel and sold grapes to winemakers.
Bettyann taught chemistry at Lodi High, and her expertise enabled her to improve the farm’s winemaking process. Sarah says her mom is “the brains behind the products.”
Sarah and sister Kate grew up on the farm and helped with cultivation and winemaking. After college, the women returned to help the business expand.
Spenker grows and bottles mostly zinfandel and petite sirah and produces chardonnay and moscato with local grapes. Kate, a painter and artist, makes the labels.
Bettyann started raising goats as a hobby and began cheesemaking in 2019. “Agritourism allows us to educate the public, makes the farm financially sustainable, and is the most fun way to keep the family goats,” Sarah says. She calls the goats “tourism ambassadors.” Tasting room manager Alexandra Williams says, “Every employee also has their favorite goat.”
Photography
To Fork
Sarah Spenker Pratt
Some Spenker customers enjoy a goat sponsorship program, where they commit to donating one dollar a day to help the family feed and care for goats. Sponsors name baby goats when they arrive each spring.
In addition to Bettyann’s cheesemaking courses, agritourism opportunities include goat yoga, painting with goats and “goodnight goats,” where children and families spend 30 minutes putting the goats to sleep by reading them a bedtime story and cuddling.
Spenker earned the Lodi Rules Certified Green Label, which highlights seven sustainability categories. The family’s commitment to their goats, vines and customers shines through.
Spenker Family Farm is open Friday through Monday. For cheese and wine information, visit spenkerwinery.com.
Gabrielle Myers can be reached at gabriellemyers11@gmail.com. Her latest book of poetry, “Break Self: Feed,” is available for $20.99 from fishinglinepress.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Bettyann Spenker
Miguel Gomez
INSIDE OUT
Community Events
PHOTOS
BY
SUSAN MAXWELL SKINNER
Carmichael Parks Foundation recently staged its “Dinner in the Park” fundraiser in Sutter-Jensen Community Park. The event funds improvements to Carmichael Recreation and Park District’s 13 reserves.
1. Monica Klepic (center) is the high bidder on a fused-glass coffee table by Soda Springs artist Nancy Oudegeest. Parks Foundation Director Joel Levine and Dr. Kawanaa Carter admire the acquisition.
2. Jazz guitarist Henry Robinett (center) entertains. Fans include former Supervisor Susan Peters (left) and KFBK anchor Kitty O’Neal. Bass player is Ben Knopf and drummer is Cameron Womack.
more than $60,000.
3. Enjoying dinner are (clockwise from left) Mark Benson, Vera Vaccaro, Cleo and Ron Greenwood, Chuck Shumate, Jack and Mancy Harrison, and Wendy Benson.
4. Nearly 400 guests sit down to a sunset banquet.
5. Sheryl Stewart (left) and Deanna Regalado cozy up to a scarecrow in Jensen Botanical Garden.
6. Carmichael Parks Foundation directors celebrate raising
Home Cooked
CURTIS PARK KITCHEN MAKES MEALS BETTER THAN GOOD
G
SBy Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider
Hidden in plain sight, a tiny kitchen sits on a busy Curtis Park street. Called Good Things to Eat, the storefront produces amazing scratch-cooked meals.
It’s not exactly a restaurant, but mother-daughter team Delcy and Elinor Steffy create delightful, satisfying meals. I want more of it.
Let me set the stage. Picture a hot October night on Franklin Boulevard.
There’s a line out the door at Gunther’s Ice Cream. Flavor of the month is pumpkin.
Locals crisscross the street rushing to a yoga session or AA meeting. The smell of pizza flows from Hop Gardens, a quiet spot that sells some of the best pizza in town. It’s Tuesday, two pizzas for $30. The place hums.
My destination is a storefront one block down from the hubbub. Delcy
Steffy has worked here for the last two years.
“When this space came available, I knew it was just what I wanted,” she tells me. “For what we wanted to do, being in a diverse neighborhood where people were willing to try things, it made total sense.”
What she and daughter Elinor want to do is cook nourishing, soulful, real food. Her vision was to make her kitchen an alternative to meal kits
Armenian vegetarian and meatball stews
people ship to their homes. She could take the local, seasonal bounty of food and provide successful meal setups for the neighborhood.
Things salad and wanted their food hot and ready to go.
Good Things to Eat is not a restaurant in the traditional sense.
What happened instead? Customers entered her wonderfully chaotic kitchen
Yes, you can eat there. There’s one table on the sidewalk with a couple of
chairs. But the kitchen is designed for diners to pick up meals and go home.
In Steffy’s kitchen, spices spill from racks, pots bubble on the stove and smells set your senses on alert. The kitchen reminds some of their nana or nona, their abuelita or yaya, baachan or halmoni.
Happy family vibes come from this kitchen, along with joyous pandemonium.
This night, I walk into Good Things and Delcy greets me with flour-dusted cheeks, as if from central casting. Flour on her cheeks!
The food is spectacular. Beef and Guinness pie. Strawberry and hazelnut salad. Chocolate chip cookies for good measure.
Some nights, you might find Moroccan chicken or Armenian kabob. Or American heartland staples or Polish comfort food. Weekend quiches are fantastic.
“Listen, I’m not into fusion,” Delcy says. “I don’t go for mashups or remixes. I prefer respectful covers.”
She means it. Her recipes are as likely to be from a friend’s grandmother’s cookbook as from her own travels. Everything is inspired by the seasons.
“We’re at the Oak Park farmers market frequently,” she says. “Not just serving food but picking up our ingredients for the next few days.”
You can taste the freshness in the cooking. You can taste the season.
“If you need some help over the holidays, give me a call,” she says. “My catering calendar this time of year can fill up fast.”
Good Things to Eat is at 2995 Franklin Blvd.; (916) 389-7900; goodthingssac.com.
Greg Sabin can be reached at saceats@gmail.com. Previous reviews can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Salmon cakes with kale lime rice and smashed sweet potatoes
Chocolate cake
Photos by Linda Smolek
Mike Brown
Photo by Aniko Kiezel
All The Marbles
KINGS OPEN SEASON WITH CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS
Anew basketball season beckons and something bizarre is happening at Golden 1 Center. The Kings believe now is the time to win an NBA championship. I began to follow the Kings for a living in 1984. They were based in
For the next 40 years, I never saw the Kings march into a new season with a win-it-all attitude. Until now.
Never mind those grand ambitions to qualify for the playoffs. The Kings want the ring.
That’s the best explanation I can figure for the offseason acquisition of DeMar DeRozan, an All-Star swingman and one of the league’s best shooters. The Kings plucked DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls in a complex trade involving the San Antonio Spurs.
The Kings gave up forward Harrison Barnes, reserve guard Chris Duarte and three draft picks. No remarkable moves there.
Here’s the part where the Kings detached themselves from logic. With DeRozan on board, the Kings gain a 35-year-old with a $24 million annual salary whose peak is long past.
The DeRozan trade is the sort of move an NBA team makes after it loses a championship. DeRozan the final addition to a near-perfect creation.
The Kings are not that team. They haven’t been competitive among the NBA’s best for a quarter-century. They need multiple pieces, especially on defense.
But that’s not how management apparently sees things. The only explanation for the DeRozan acquisition is the Kings are gunning for the NBA Finals.
DeRozan provides offensive depth and versatility. He joins guard De’Aaron Fox and center Domantas Sabonis for baskets galore, assuming they can share the ball.
The trio should feast on bad and mediocre opponents.
But it’s hard to imagine good teams being overwhelmed by the DeMar, De’Aaron and Domantas combo. The new lineup paints a productive picture, but coherence seems overlooked, along with reliable defenders.
By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority
Like most NBA swaps, the deal has potential and consequences. But that’s not what makes it bizarre.
the Kings as they shed the degradation of perennial draft lottery bums.
Last season, the Kings failed to reach the playoffs when they collapsed against the New Orleans Pelicans. Then Oklahoma City swept the Pelicans into oblivion. And Dallas erased the Clippers and Oklahoma City.
Such is life in the waiting room. Despite his shooting talents, DeRozan is a playoff bust. He led the Toronto Raptors to the Eastern Conference finals of 2016 but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2016 run was his magnum opus. Toronto traded him the next year.
But enough about history. Let’s celebrate the Kings for acting like a franchise ready to chase an NBA title.
Local sports fans live in a world of dreams and possibility, always poised for glory, believing management knows its business, makes smart moves and sees treasures others miss. The DeRozan trade inspires a burst of fantasies.
FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS, I NEVER SAW THE KINGS MARCH INTO A NEW SEASON WITH A WIN-IT-ALL ATTITUDE. UNTIL NOW.
NEVER MIND THOSE GRAND AMBITIONS TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAYOFFS. THE KINGS WANT THE RING.
Under coach Mike Brown, the Kings have entered that vague NBA waiting room where teams sit stranded for years, eager to transport themselves into conference and league championships, only to watch someone else grab the invitation.
When I think of the waiting room, I picture the Los Angeles Clippers. Their fate—good but never great— summarizes the frustration that awaits
Back in the NBA waiting room, the Clippers have the opposite problem. Clippers fans are conditioned to believe nothing is possible. They have a new $2 billion arena, but no hope of watching the NBA Finals there. That’s why the Clippers are the perfect team to measure against the Kings. They are brother orphans, both removed from upstate New York (Rochester and Buffalo), grown to maturity in California. The Clippers have never reached the NBA Finals. Kings last won a title in 1951. If DeRozan, Fox and Sabonis miss the ring this time, there’s always next year. The waiting room has no clock.
R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
Kansas City. My newspaper sent me to Missouri to see what the fuss was about.
2.
3. Tanya, Mercy and Tyler Lammerding at Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California.
4. Lauri Massey and Eva Gonzales on Camino de Santiago in Galicia, Spain.
5. Olivia Enos at Muckross Farms in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
6. Livi Eichman, Emma Shirin and Grace Mastagni at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.
READERS
NEAR & FAR
1. Brad and Kyle Fujii; Lynn and Dennis Sunahara; Edwin Abe; Miiko and Glenn Fujii; Darren, Kimi, Landon and Riley Sunahara; Kennedy Wilson; and Amy, Ryan, Dylan and Brayden Sunaharaat at a foot bath at the Hotel Keisui in Omachi, Japan.
2302 AMERICAN RIVER DR $515,000 2901 EL PRADO WAY $525,000
Adventure Art
CERAMIC ARTIST FINDS INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE
JL JL
By Jessica Laskey
For an artist, inspiration comes from anywhere. With ceramic artist Peter VandenBerge, anywhere equals a lifetime of adventure.
“Adventure can take any form,” says VandenBerge, born in the Netherlands in 1935. “It can be in the studio making art, it can be in Indonesia in the rice fields riding the big, horned buffalo. Everything is an amazing adventure.
Those are the kinds of things you can remember and that come out in your work.”
VandenBerge’s work earned global appreciation over his 70-plus-year career. He’s known for large ceramic busts featuring elongated features reminiscent of Easter Island heads— one of VandenBerge’s many influences.
The artist partly credits his imaginative way of seeing the world to
time spent in Indonesia as a child. His father worked as a geologist for a Dutch oil company and brought the family to Sumatra and Java.
The budding artist encountered exotic animals and art forms, including Indonesian shadow puppets. The images became a huge influence for VandenBerge.
His childhood was far from idyllic. When the Japanese invaded Indonesia
Open Studio
Peter VandenBerge
Photo by Linda Smolek
during World War II, VandenBerge and his family spent three years in concentration camps being “terribly mishandled.”
But art created a bright spot. At a camp in Adek, the precocious VandenBerge asked a Japanese soldier for a pencil and paper. The soldier complied. Soon VandenBerge was drawing constantly, as “there was nothing else to do.”
The experience intensified his interest in art and led to a full-circle moment decades later. In 2006, the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in Japan sought one of VandenBerge’s sculptures. The museum invited him and his daughter, Camille, also a sculptor, to spend a month in Japan working and giving talks.
“I thought, this is what art is about, interacting with each other and making it a worthwhile experience,” VandenBerge says. “It was very satisfying.”
VandenBerge’s journey to international prominence started at Sacramento State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and studied with Ruth Rippon. A chance encounter with sculptor Robert Arneson led VandenBerge to complete a master’s degree at UC Davis.
He shared space at UCD’s TB-9 ceramics studio with students who would also have major art careers, such as David Gilhooly, Chris Unterseher and Margaret Dodd.
“TB-9 was a great place to be,” VandenBerge says. “Everybody was interested in what everybody else is doing. We had great interactions and shared ideas.”
VandenBerge soon realized “to earn a living just being an artist was not an easy proposition,” especially while supporting wife Marilyn and children Camille and Christian.
He began teaching at San Francisco State, where he “met good artists who all had an influence on me.”
Ruth Rippon alerted VandenBerge of a job at Sac State. He taught there for more than 30 years, retiring in 2003. Along the way, he taught at other colleges, including State University of New York, College of Ceramics at Alfred University and University of Washington.
As an exhibiting artist, VandenBerge’s work is collected by Crocker Art Museum, San Francisco MOMA, Smithsonian Institute, Oakland Art Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, Shigioki Museum and many more.
Today he’s busy with smaller sculptures that might become larger pieces. Much of that work happens in his home studio in East Sac, where he has lived for more than 50 years, or at daughter Camille’s art compound in Arden.
He still finds inspiration everywhere.
“You can walk down the street and find all kinds of things—things you tend to overlook,” he says. “Like the white parking lines that have been driven over so much. The paint is lifted off and you can see images in there if you let your imagination go. You can make a whole story. I’m always thinking, how do I make something more interesting?”
For information, visit petervandenberge.com.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at
InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
TO DO
THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
By Jessica Laskey Calendar Editor
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Michael Pink’s Dracula
Sacramento Ballet Nov. 1–3
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (1301 L St.); sacballet.org
Tickets: $34–$127
Kick off the season with this mesmerizing production and captivating choreography. Not suitable for children younger than age 7.
Ari, Awadagin and Tchaikovsky
Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m.
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (1301 L St.); sacphilopera.org
Tickets: $35–$115
Pianist Awadagin Pratt performs Jessie Montgomery’s “Rounds” and selections from Daniel Catan’s opera “Florencia,” and Principal Conductor Ari Pelto leads the orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.”
What the Constitution Means to Me
B Street Theatre
Through Nov. 10
2700 Capitol Ave.; bstreettheatre.org
Tickets: $28 students, seniors and military; $40 general
Protagonist Heidi reflects on constitutional debate competitions she won as a teenager and the impact they had on her as an American citizen.
When We Were Colored, A Mother’s Story
Guild Theater
Nov. 8–24
2828 35th St., eventbrite.com
Tickets: $23–$30
Follow a middleclass black family that moves from the deep south to Sacramento in the early 1950s.
Broadway and television actor Francois Battiste leads the cast.
Veterans Day with Hey Day Quintet
Twin Lotus Thai
Sunday, Nov. 10, 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
8345 Folsom Blvd.; twinlotusthai.com
Clarinetist Del Gomes, vocalist Susan Skinner and the Hey Day band honor veterans with a tribute to licorice-stick legends Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Pete Fountain.
This exhibit of digitally manipulated color photographs is based on all things chrome, particularly automobiles.
Frames of Mind: The Ramer Photography Collection
Crocker Art Museum
Nov. 10–May 4, 2025
216 O St.; crockerart.org
A recent gift of 68 photographs from Davis couple Dr. Barry and Lois Ramer explores shared experiences that connect people across different cultures, regions and time periods.
Small Works
PBS KVIE Gallery
Through Dec. 13
2030 W. El Camino Ave.; kvie.org/events/kviegallery
Check out treasures by artists
Patricia Altschul, Patris, Polly LaPorte and others.
Enjoy portraiture by Thomas, colorful abstracts by Tazio, and steel and cast bronze sculpture by Kuksht.
A New Spin on Vinyl Twisted Track Gallery
Nov. 1–Dec. 1
First Friday Reception Nov. 1, 6–9 p.m.
Second Saturday Reception Nov. 9, 5–9 p.m. 1730 12th St.; (916) 639-0436 or (916) 769-2700
This annual show, honoring Tower Records founder Russ Solomon, features artwork in a variety of mediums that incorporate records.
Don’t mind if I do
University Library Gallery
Through Nov. 27
Sacramento State (6000 J St.); csus.edu/ university-galleries
Reimagine art, disability and the gallery experience through this interactive exhibition. Also on display are Esther Marie Hall’s drawings, paintings and textile work exploring freedom in “Our Time Will Come.”
View from the Hill & Playtime Axis Gallery
Nov. 1–Dec. 1
Second Saturday Reception Nov. 9, 5–8 p.m. 625 S St ; axisgallery.org
“View from the Hill” features seven artists in the later stages of their creative journeys. “Playtime” presents a new series of works by Peter Foucault.
“Tones of Fall” at Bufferlands.
“Bovine” by Donald Satterlee at ARTHOUSE.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Fall Craft Fair
Mission Oaks Recreation and Parks District
Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Gibbons Community Center (4701 Gibbons Drive); morpd.com
More than 60 local vendors offer handmade jewelry, home décor, candles and more at this free event.
Explore pet-related booths, savor treats and meet adoptable pets at this free festival. Adoption fees waived from noon to 5 p.m.
Art to Wear & More Show and Sale
Sacramento Center for the Textile Arts
November 9 & 10, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fashion Show daily, 10 a.m.
Shepard Garden and Arts Center (3330 McKinley Blvd.); sactextilearts.org
Find handcrafted items from wearable art pieces to everyday adornment. Proceeds benefit SCTA scholarship fund.
Fall Book Sale
Sacramento SPCA
Nov. 5–9, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
6201 Florin Perkins Road; sspca.org
Peruse a wide variety of books, board games and puzzles. Proceeds support SSPCA’s life-saving work.
“The Poet and the Silk Girl” Book Talk California Museum
Saturday, Nov. 9, 1–3 p.m. 1020 O St.; californiamuseum.org
Tickets: $5
Author Satsuki Ina discusses her new memoir about her family’s incarceration during World War II.
Gather and Give for Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California
Thursday, Nov. 7, 6–9 p.m.
Aerospace Museum of California (3200 Freedom Drive, McClellan Park); girlscoutshcc.org
Tickets: $150–$300
Enjoy food and drink, and participate in the Cookie Grab for a chance to win prizes. Proceeds benefit Girl Scouts.
Tones
of Fall Bufferlands
Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.–Noon
Sacramento Area Sewer District, Elk Grove; sacsewer.com/bufferlands
Enjoy the sights and sounds of fall on a biologist-led tour of riparian forests and wetlands. Admission is free. Advanced registration required. Email Chris Conrad at conradc@sacsewer. com.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
“Apples and Oranges” by Patricia Altschul at PBS KVIE Art Gallery.
briefly
Baller known for speed?
Bro’s kin
Garment that may say “When I said ‘I do’ I didn’t mean the dishes”
Baller known for hitting the books?
“Schitt’s Creek”
Flea, e.g.
Prefix for
Kill it, at a drag show
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