Inside Land Park-Grid Aug 2020 by Inside Publications

AUGUST 2020

LAND PARK/GRID

KATHY DANA

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • SOUTH LAND PARK • THE GRID • OAK PARK Our Other Editions Serve: East Sacramento • Arden/Carmichael • Pocket

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THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES, NEWS & OPINION IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

2381 Knight Way - $369,000 CHARMING HOLLYWOOD PARK. 2 bed 1 bath plus family room and kitchen, granite counters. Dual pane windows, ceiling fans. Large backyard. TIM COLLOM 916-247-8048 DRE-01304855 KIM SQUAGLIA 916-205-2681 DRE-01887890

2744 – 21st Street - $499,000 CURTIS PARK CRAFTSMAN. Adorable 2 bed 2 bath with beautiful updated kitchen with quartz countertops and darling nook with built-n seating. Bonus room and bocce court ALEXIS JONES 916715-0237 DRE-01881268

PENDING

1248 – 13th Avenue - $899,000 ON THE LAND PARK PANHANDLE. 3 bed 2 bath, family room and dining room walls of glass overlooking backyard oasis with cabo deck and pool. Updated kitchen and baths SHEILA VAN NOY 916-505-5395 DRE-00924678

4051 Warren Avenue - $599,000 SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE. Spectacular big backyard. 3 bed 1½ bath home full of updates. Hardwood ﬂoors, dual pane windows, new hot water tank. Excellent location JAMIE RICH 916-612-4000 DRE-01870143

PENDING

4641 Hillview Way - $899,000 IN THE HILLS OF SOUTH LAND PARK. Spacious 3 or 4 bed 2½ bath homes sits on a .32 acre lot with pool. Kitchen island, mini bar, Viking appliances. Finished basement. AMANDA ZIMMERMAN 916-834-6711 DRE-02072145

906 E Street - $799,000 IMPRESSIVE DOWNTOWN 4-PLEX. Built in the ‘Roaring 20’s’ still gorgeous standing tall. Each unit is a 1 bed 1 bath; this will make a great addition to your portfolio. LISA McCAULEY 916-601-5474 DRE-00933026

PENDING

5417 Virginia Way - $529,000 HOLLYWOOD PARK 4 BED COTTAGE. 2 baths, remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters. Plantation shutters. Lush manicured landscaping STEPHANIE GALLAGHER 916-342-2288 DRE-01705253

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2368 Hooke Way - $415,000 DARLING HOLLYWOOD PARK. 2 bed 1 bath with updated kitchen, bathroom, dual pane windows, newer roof and HVAC. Amazing backyard with vegetable gardens and patios JAMIE RICH 916-612-4000 DRE-01870143

Land Park (916) 454-5753 DRE#00707598 Sierra Oaks (916) 484-2030 DRE #01103090

916.612.4000 | JamieRich.net LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • MIDTOWN EAST SACRAMENTO • HOLLYWOOD PARK

BRE No. 01870143

IN G

1291 8th Avenue, Land Park | Listed at $899,000

4015 Warren Avenue, South Land Park | Listed at $599,000

2368 Hooke Way, Hollywood Park | Listed at $415,000

COVID19 has created an interesting time in residential real estate. With families spending more time at home, some have realized they may need more space, may want a pool, or want to change neighborhoods completely. It’s been a pleasure helping my clients sell homes and get them into a place that may be more condusive to the challenges of working from home, setting up room for eLearning or getting a bigger backyard for family BBQ’s. All three of these homes sold the Àrst weekend on the market with multiple offers that ended up in highly competitive negotiations, ultimately going into contract for over the list price. Although there is uncertainty in the world as we navigate through the pandemic, the real estate market in our neighborhoods has been heating up.

Jamie Rich P.S. If you’d like to talk about making a move or about the real estate market in general, I’m always happy to hear from you and chat!

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EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A BET TER PL ACE. AUGUST 2020

AUGUST 2020

EAST SAC

SUZANNE MURRAY

ARDEN

AUGUST 2020

LAND PARK/GRID

POCKET

PATRICIA PRENDERGAST

CAROL JONG

SUZANNE MURRAY

LESLIE MCCARRON

KATHY DANA

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

ARDEN • ARCADE • SIERRA OAKS • WILHAGGIN • DEL PASO MANOR • CARMICHAEL

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • SOUTH LAND PARK • THE GRID • OAK PARK

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

Our Other Editions Serve: Land Park/Grid • Arden/Carmichael • Pocket

Our Other Editions Serve: East Sacramento • Land Park/Grid • Pocket VISIT OUR WEBSITE: INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM 3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

Our Other Editions Serve: East Sacramento • Arden/Carmichael • Pocket

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM 3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

Our Other Editions Serve: East Sacramento • Land Park/Grid • Arden/Carmichael

THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES, NEWS & OPINION IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM 3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: NSIDE ACRAMENTO.COM 3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES, NEWS & OPINION IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

COVER ARTIST

3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only)

info@insidepublications.com PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings

KATHY DANA As an artist Kathy Dana is committed to revealing the positive energy in all things. She has exhibited in solo and group shows, and is also the recipient of an international award from Southwest Art magazine. Shown: “Passin' Through,” acrylic on canvas, 36 inches by 48 inches. This piece is for sale at $4,500 and was featured in Dana’s solo show "Road Trip" at Sparrow Gallery last month. Visit kathydanaart.com. To purchase, contact kathy@kathydana.com.

EDITOR Cathryn Rakich editor@insidepublications.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel @anikophotos AD COORDINATION Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Sue Pane Sue@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Daniel Nardinelli, Lauren Stenvick daniel@insidepublications.com

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AUGUST 2020 VOL. 23 • ISSUE 7 6 8 16 18 20 22 24 26 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48

Publisher's Desk Out & About City Beat I Can't Breathe Reform, Not Defund Brave New World Voices Heard Open House Off The Streets Giving Back Spirit Matters Building Our Future Garden Jabber Farm To Fork Meet Your Neighbor Sports Authority Open Studio Restaurant Insider

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Reboot, Rethink

CRISES BRING TIME FOR INTROSPECTION AND GROWTH

n the past five months, two lifechanging events rocked the world. COVID-19 brought serious health challenges and is still taking far too many lives. The virus exposed our vulnerabilities, from hospital capacities to assisted-living safety protocols. Also exposed were the slender margins of our economic system. Then came the horrendous murder of George Floyd and the mobilization of the Black Lives Matter movement. Millions peacefully protested against racial injustice in our city, state and nation.

CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

These generational events have produced incredible displays of togetherness. The challenges have led many of us to re-examine our personal, business and civic lives. Our publishing business has been upended. The many small business advertisers who support bringing you Inside Sacramento each month are still reeling from closures. Many are gone forever. Our publishing model is unique. We don’t have a top-down editorial management structure that defines traditional news organizations. We don’t have reporters and photographers waiting for stories to break. Instead, our model relies on 100 percent local and original content. The stories you read in Inside “bubble up” from the community. Our freelance writers are independent. A small editorial team, working from home, manages the content. Our writers are chosen based upon their local expertise and ability to

write meaningfully about what they know best. This includes folks who specialize in arts, community and volunteer activities, development and neighborhood planning, transportation, food, gardening and local politics. They typically follow their own leads and develop their own stories. This approach provides a place for local voices and opinions unheard elsewhere. In an endless news cycle, our approach is different. It might be described as “slow news.” Since we rarely “break” news, our content involves unique stories built over time and presented with insight, analysis and—when appropriate—opinion. For example, I have received resoundingly positive responses from our focus on Sacramento’s homeless crisis. In May 2019, I wrote a column called “Is Sacramento Dying?” It laid out the utter failure of leaders in Seattle to prevent large numbers of people from living on the streets and wreaking havoc on the city’s neighborhoods. The column

drew comparisons between Seattle and our city. The response was so overwhelming that I vowed to present a different voice on the homeless problem each month until it is solved in Sacramento. (A longterm project for sure!) Our approach was designed to help local citizens and elected officials better understand the root causes of homelessness—addiction, mental illness and family breakdown. We try to present perspectives not often heard. We want to expose policies that don’t work and even make things worse. COVID-19 has added another layer to the crisis. This month, we feature an article on the process of converting the Hotel Berry into a homeless shelter. The protests to end racism inspired us to expand our freelance network and introduce new writers. This month, we are announcing a new program to recruit community journalists, especially writers of color who bring knowledge of neighborhoods

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traditionally overlooked by media. Our effort is modeled on the Oakland and Sacramento Voices programs created by the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Look for details inside this edition. In recent months, Black Lives Matter organizers have advocated the idea of “defunding the police.” Since policing is primarily a local function, we want to provide a diversity of voices on the wisdom or folly of this idea. In researching this issue, I found many African American voices that oppose defunding on the grounds that the absence of police would hurt minority communities. There are many ways to reform and improve police departments. We will examine them in months ahead. Social media and cable news never stop. Sadly, they often amplify the most angry, strident and politically divisive voices and ideas. Many people have come to rely on politicized commentators to tell them how to think. This has created a deep political divide in our country, fracturing civil discourse and threatening free speech, cultural tolerance and diversity. A friend recently noted that since we are all individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, our opinions should not be seen as right or

wrong—but rather like the multiple facets of a diamond. America’s Founders knew free speech and the exchange of opinions was the best way to test ideas and make policy. Our community is suffering from a polarizing public health crisis, an equity and social justice crisis and an economic crisis. We want to use Inside Sacramento to encourage our readers to engage in conversation and debate. Progress won’t come from bullying and censorship. Progress requires listening, thinking, debating and trying to find common ground.

SUPPORT INSIDE Please sign up for our Inside Sacramento weekly newsletter, with even more local news than we deliver in print. And consider an Inside membership, staring at $19.95 a year. Visit insidesacramento.com/shop. And TAKE THE 100% LOCAL PLEDGE! Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidesacramento.com. Previous columns can be read and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram: @insidesacramento.com. n

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Boards For

Change BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT RAISES FUNDS FOR YOUTH IN VULNERABLE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS

Boards For Change connects local artists with boarded-up businesses in Sacramento to support Black Lives Matter and create a community beautiﬁcation project.

ekter Juice Bar owner Kimberly Prince, ABC10 sports reporter Lina Washington and artist Shannan O’Rourke have launched Boards For Change, an artistic initiative to cover the plywood boards in business windows in Midtown and Downtown with imagery by local artists. Following demonstrations sparked by the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Prince was contemplating the boards in Nekter’s window. She thought the plywood would make a great canvas for artwork supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Washington and O’Rourke got involved, and now dozens of businesses are hiring local artists of color to paint their boards with inspiring images and messages of hope. Artists include Noelle Tavares, Paris Draper and renowned performance painter David Garibaldi. Washington created a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $2,000 to donate to local Black youth organizations. But as of late-July, the page had reached nearly $14,000, with a new goal of $20,000.

JL By Jessica Laskey Out & About

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“In less than two weeks, Boards For Change exploded from being a little idea among friends to a movement gaining national attention,” Washington says. “It’s all thanks to our friends and community members in Sacramento and beyond that we will be able to make a difference through monetary donations to local Black youth organizations in Sacramento.” Once the boards are removed, the women plan to auction off the artwork to raise even more money for organizations helping youth in vulnerable Sacramento neighborhoods. Boards For Change is partnering with Sacramento Republic FC to display 20 to 30 of the completed boards in the empty seats at Papa Murphy’s Park (where the USL team plays) prior to the online auction. The auction will include the boards, as well as custom cleats donated by Sac Republic players and customized wearable art pieces. To donate or for more information, find “Boards For Change - Sacramento” on gofundme.com and follow @ BoardsForChange on Instagram.

WATER FOR HOMELESS In June, Bonney Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air partnered with Markstein Beverage Co. to deliver 92,000 bottles of water to Sacramento Loaves & Fishes to help people experiencing homelessness during the hot summer months.

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Bonney delivers bottled water to Sacramento Loaves & Fishes. “We hope our donation can create a ripple effect and encourage other businesses in our community to support homeless shelters from Auburn to Modesto,” says Michelle McCauley, Bonney’s vice president of marketing. According to Loaves & Fishes, the average person sleeping outside must walk nearly 1.5 miles to find potable water. The nonprofit distributes more than 200 gallons of water and up to 600 pounds of ice on a regular summer day at one local site alone.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS The Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town rely on daily visitors to make up a big part of their budgets. Both closed due to COVID-19 in early March and finally reopened in late June. “A dedicated team of animal care and veterinary staff continued to provide daily care to each (of 500 animals), while other staff members worked from home, were furloughed or were even ultimately laid off due to the pandemic,” says Lesley Kirrene, the zoo’s director of institutional advancement and

marketing. “The organization missed out on roughly $1 million of revenue for each 30 days of closure.” Both parks turned to virtual offerings to keep their audiences engaged. The zoo started a twice-weekly Facebook Live series and weekly email newsletter. Fairytale Town “turbocharged our social media offerings so every day there was a story time or an activity or an animal introduction—and families loved it,” says Fairytale Town Executive Director Kevin Smith-Fagan. To reopen safely, both parks have implemented an online reservation system to manage park capacity, as well as touchless transactions, frequent cleaning of high-touch areas, handsanitizing stations and face masks for all staff and visitors. With changes in place, these two beloved attractions are ready to welcome the community back. “With the cancellation of so many children’s activities, the need for Fairytale Town magic has never been higher,” says Smith-Fagan. For more information, visit saczoo.org and fairytaletown.org.

Fairytale Town is back open with online reservations and safety protocols.

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Here for you, no matter what the future holds. In these uncertain times, Sacramento real estate remains strong. There are excellent opportunities for sellers and buyers in East Sac, Land Park and Midtown. If you are considering a move, let’s talk.

Dave Kirrene Realtor

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The Sacramento Jewish Food Faire returns with traditional favorites, such as marble rye bread.

JEWISH FOOD FAIRE The Sacramento Jewish Food Faire is returning this year with “traditional food for nontraditional times.” Order online by Aug. 20 to pick up Aug. 30 at Congregation Beth Shalom in Carmichael. Food offerings will include deli favorites such as corned beef and pastrami sandwiches; an Israeli assortment of vegan dishes; homemade options like matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage, kugels and blintzes; specialty treats including breads, cookies and cakes; and more—all prepared with sanitary protections in place. On pickup day, a volunteer will deliver your order to your car. Please wear a mask. To order, visit cbshalom. org/form/food_faire_orders.html.

VIRTUAL GIRL SCOUTS In response to COVID-19, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California launched virtual programming for K-12 girls. Since April, more than 3,700 girls have engaged in the programs. The online platform features a wide range of activities and topics, such as coding, self-defense, novel writing, civic engagement and even virtual at-home campouts. The first drew more than 1,600 girls from eight states. The organization also offers daily YouTube Live events at youtube.com/ girlscoutshcc and interactive webinars. Some activities are for Girl Scouts only, but many are open everyone. “We want every girl to have the opportunity to participate,” says Dr. Linda Farley, CEO of GSHCC. “We know that now more than ever, girls need support and a sisterhood to help

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

them through this time of extreme uncertainty.” For more information, visit gshccvirtual.org.

PLATINUM TRAIN STATION Amtrak’s historic Sacramento Valley Station at 4th and I streets recently received the highest sustainability rating for a building: LEED Platinum. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a series of four ratings given by the U.S. Green Building Council based on a building’s energy efficiency and how little it affects the environment. “Sacramento strives to be a leader with its sustainable practices and policies,” says Greg Taylor, Sacramento Valley Station project manager. “This award sets a high mark for us because it’s the first city-owned building to receive such high certification.” The City Public Works facility has been undergoing renovations since 2012 to improve the space while maintaining its historic setting—the station opened in 1926 under the ownership of the Southern Pacific Railroad and was taken over by the city in 2006. Renovations have increased the former Superfund site’s energy performance, water efficiency and reuse of materials.

kids can’t meet in person this year, they’re still doing something special. Camp Nefesh director Lexi Nicodemus reports that during July she and fellow high school students (who would normally have served as camp counselors) offered Camp Nefesh @ Home, which included interactive Zoom activities such as scavenger hunts, yoga, trivia, virtual museum tours and camp games. Nicodemus and her team also filled backpacks for each camper with educational items and fun things like slime, Slinkys and Legos. Each backpack was then hand-delivered inside a “family box” that contained even more items to encourage group activities, like jump ropes, whiteboards, construction paper and string. “We provide a safe, fun space to play and meet new friends for these kids who have been forced to leave their homes and start a new life here,” Nicodemus says. For more information, visit campnefesh.com.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT The Sacramento Financial Empowerment Center is now open providing free professional one-on-one financial counseling and coaching to local residents. FEC is a joint program of the city of Sacramento and national nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. Three full-time professionally trained counselors are available to help individuals and families with low and moderate incomes manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, build credit and access banking products. Request the service by calling (916) 808-4927 or emailing fec@cityofsacramento.org. All

appointments are currently by phone or video chat. For more information, visit cityofsacramento.org/ financialempowerment.

HOUSING FOR HOMELESS The city is taking its commitment to mitigate homelessness seriously with three new projects nearing completion in different parts of the city. In South Sacramento, east of the Pannell Community Center on Meadowview Road, a new navigation center managed by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency now boasts two large structures built by Otto Construction that will house 100 women experiencing homelessness. Access is by referral only. Following the COVID-19 outbreak in March, Sacramento city and county officials approved a plan called Project Roomkey to open hundreds of beds in motels, trailers and existing shelters to help the at-risk population. In North Sacramento, 24 Tuff Shed-style cabins have been erected next to the Saint Paul Church of God in Christ for use as temporary homes for transitional-age youth experiencing homelessness. The site, known as the Emergency Bridge Housing at Grove Avenue, will be managed by SHRA and the city, and operated by First Step Communities. Clients at the Grove meet regularly with case managers to stabilize their lives and transition into permanent housing. For more information, visit homeless. cityofsacramento.org.

FIREHOUSE WINE In honor of its 60th anniversary, The Firehouse Restaurant has released a limited-edition 2017 cabernet sauvignon

CAMP NEFESH Camp Nefesh is the free summer day camp for refugee children founded by local teen Lucy Beckett in 2018 in partnership with Congregation B’nai Israel, Opening Doors and Elk Grove Unified School District. Even though

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California now offers virtual programming for K-12 girls.

Camp Nefesh director Lexi Nicodemus (second from left) and founder Lucy Beckett (third from left) join other volunteers to assemble “family boxes.” that was made in Napa Valley exclusively for the iconic Sacramento restaurant by wine director/sommelier Mario Ortiz and manager/sommelier Dan Hatch under the direction of the Harvego family. Guests can purchase a bottle along with two Riedel glasses embossed with a celebratory 60th anniversary logo for $150 while supplies last. The Firehouse has also introduced a Wine Club. Membership costs $199 when you sign up and includes two bottles of hand-selected wine, wine pickup receptions, special pricing on the full wine list, a discount on the five-course Chef's Tasting Menu and free valet parking. If you can’t visit in person, The Firehouse has launched an online Wine Shop with selections from The Firehouse’s award-winning cellar and curbside pickup. For more information, visit firehouseoldsac.com.

ARDEN WAY APARTMENTS District 2 City Councilmember Allen Warren and Community HousingWorks recently announced that the Arden Way Apartments infill development project is underway. The project includes a sustainable, transit-orientated community of 128 new apartment homes located next to the Royal Oaks Light Rail Station, as well as pedestrian and bike access improvements along Arden Way. Demolition is underway and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall. The project is estimated to take 19 months to complete.

“This new apartment community will not only provide new apartment homes for 120 working families, but (will) also be a catalyst for other development and revitalization at this walkable and transit-rich neighborhood that we are thrilled to be part of,” says Mary Jane Jagodzinski, senior vice president of CHW. For more information, visit chworks.org/coming-soon.

FRONT STREET GRANT The city’s Front Street Animal Shelter recently received a $200,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to help continue its mission of providing medical treatment and adoption services to more than 10,000 animals a year. The shelter sang Petco’s praises in a Facebook post, saying, “This means so much to our shelter, and will make such a tremendous impact in helping us save lives.” Petco has supported Front Street for years through its grant program, which funds transportation, staff, supplies and costs associated with preparing animals for adoption, including spay/neuter surgeries, microchips, vaccinations and ID tags. Front Street’s Pet Pantry, which provides free dog and cat food to those struggling to feed their animals, is now open every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Face masks and social distancing are required. For more information, visit frontstreetshelter.org.

what it was like to live through COVID-19 in Sacramento. “We want to make sure this program focuses on Sacramento’s point of view,” center manager Marcia Eymann says. “It is the community’s reactions and thoughts that makes it personalized.” The center is accepting digital photos, videos and audio recordings detailing

how this time has affected you and what you’ve done to cope, adapt and survive. To submit, complete the online form at centerforsacramentohistory.org.

3 TO GET READY Archival Gallery in East Sacramento will present an exhibition of work by

COVID-19 STORIES The Center for Sacramento History is seeking personal stories and artifacts to help future generations understand

The Firehouse Restaurant has released a limited-edition 2017 cabernet sauvignon to celebrate 60 years in business.

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Maureen Hood, Sean Royal and Maria Winkler from Aug. 5–29. Architectural studies from Hood and assemblage and paintings from Royal will be shown alongside new collaborative pieces the duo have created in collage and sculpture. Winkler will present “Feathered Friends,” colored pencil drawings of regional birds based on photos by Linda Hall. There will not be a public Second Saturday reception; however, visitors are welcome during regular business hours and must wear masks at all times. For more information, visit archivalgallery.com.

international bestselling author Karen Rose will speak Tuesday, Aug. 18. The series launched in May with Secretary Madeleine Albright, followed by Good Morning America anchor Adrienne Bankert in June, and retired Navy Seal and dog handler Will Chesney in July. Rose, author of 20 novels, will discuss the second novel in her Sacramento series, “Say No More.” Advanced registration is required. The events are free. Signed books can be purchased through Face in a Book (getyourfaceinabook.com) at 4359 Town Center Blvd. in El Dorado Hills. For more information, visit saclibrary.org.

MADE IN SACRAMENTO

HANDMADE MASKS Atrium, a Sacramento nonprofit, has brought together a team of talented people to create locally made masks that ship anywhere with same-day delivery in Sacramento. Funds raised from the sale of the masks will help cover lost income for local artisans and others, and buy supplies to make free masks for those in need. The online marketplace has thousands of masks in various unique styles, colors and shapes. Inventory is updated every day as new items come in and will expand to include eco-friendly locally made items over the summer. To start shopping, visit shop.atrium916. com. Also, Folsom Mask Makers, a rapidly growing group of local volunteers, has created more than 32,000 DIY face masks since mid-March for more than 100 Sacramento-area organizations, including hospitals, dentists, care homes, schools and emergency service agencies. The volunteers hail from all over Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado counties, and many are health care providers. More volunteers are needed— especially those who can sew—to meet the rising need, as are donations of materials like 100-percent cotton fabric, elastic and vinyl. For more information, visit the Folsom Mask Makers Facebook page.

SOCIALLY DISTANT THEATER Now through Sept. 5, California Stage at 25th and R streets is offering “Social Distance Theater,” performances of theater, music, poetry and art in its open-air courtyard with safe-distance seating.

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“Net Sheds,” a collage by Maureen Hood, is on display at Archival Gallery.

Producing artistic director Ray Tatar encourages visitors to “have a spiritually resuscitative time for those of us getting COVID stir-crazy.” Coproducers are California Stage, Actors Theater of Sacramento, Resurrection Theater, Teatro Espejo, Short Center Repertory, Third Age Onstage, Sacramento Poetry Center, Sacramento Playwrights, Sacramento Storytellers and Shelley Burns Music. Sign up for the mailing list to receive weekly alerts and purchase tickets ($15 or under). For more information, visit calstage.org.

STILL SINGING The Sacramento Master Singers are keeping the music alive online with a virtual rendition of the heartfelt song “100 Years” by songwriter and performer John Ondrasik (better known as Five for Fighting). The performance is now available on the Master Singers website and the group’s YouTube page. Arranged by Ryan James, the piece features choir members singing remotely, conducted by Ralph Hughes and accompanied by Heidi Van Regenmorter on piano. Subscribe to the Sacramento Master Singers YouTube channel so you don’t

miss future digital performances. For more information, visit mastersingers. org.

VIRTUAL HARVEST DAY In lieu of the in-person annual festival, the Master Gardeners of Sacramento County are hosting a special online Harvest Day 2020 on Saturday, Aug. 1, with more than 30 how-to video mini-presentations. Topics will include solving the mystery behind that less-than-perfect tomato, ways to attract helpful butterflies and bees, and how to sharpen gardening tools. Speakers will be Karrie Reid, environmental horticulture adviser, and Ed Laivo, fruit tree and edible landscaping specialist. Video topics will include composting, herbs, fruit orchards, vineyards and water-efficient landscapes. Also tune in for a live Q&A from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information and to access videos, visit sacmg.ucanr.edu.

AUTHORS UNCOVERED The Sacramento Public Library is hosting Authors Uncovered, a series of free author events livestreamed on Crowdcast. Award-winning and

Collaborative dance company Capital Dance Project has postponed its annual summer performance until next year. But in its stead, the company has launched the CDP Digital Series: Made in Sacramento. The short film series will present 11 new creations choreographed and performed by CDP artists in collaboration with filmmaker Brandon Manning and local artists and musicians. The free online films will be released bi-monthly on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting Aug. 26, with a special viewing event planned Oct. 2. To donate or for more information, visit capitaldanceproject.org. 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 the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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People Power

KATIE VALENZUELA’S READY. IS THE CITY COUNCIL?

atie Valenzuela won’t join the City Council until December. But she is already learning how she won’t fit in. Steve Hansen, the two-term councilmember Valenzuela defeated in March, won’t speak to her. Other members smile and offer congratulations, but the words carry little weight. At first, this bothered Valenzuela. “I was pretty depressed when the pandemic started,” she says. Sheltered in her Boulevard Park home with her two rescue terriers, socially distanced from work and friends, months from being sworn into office, Valenzuela felt disconnected from the motivations that propelled her run for office. Then she reconnected. Residents from Midtown and Land Park began to call and tell her their problems. They described their hopes for her, their eagerness for change at City Hall. “When I began to hear how passionate people were even when we were locked down, I thought, what a beautiful thing!” she says. The protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police gave Valenzuela more motivation. She conducted Zoom meetings and surveyed residents about local police practices and priorities. She wondered about accountability for the proposed $157 million

RG By R.E. Graswich City Beat

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Sacramento Police Department budget—a $10 million increase over last year and $37 million more than SPD received in 2018. She wondered how cops became the city’s first responders to homeless complaints. “It’s frustrating to sit here,” she says. “I’m forced to figure it out without any resources. But that’s OK. I’m getting all these calls and people really do want to figure out what’s the role of the police, what they should be doing and who are the best people to go out and do it. We’ve lost sight of those best practices.” The long gap between her March election and December arrival at City Hall has allowed Valenzuela to confirm her non-conformity. While councilmembers often come from smaller elected or appointed jobs—insider paths like school board or commissions—Valenzuela is an outsider. She lacks municipal inoculations. She has no desire to join the club. With her background in state-level environmental organizing, she would rather interact directly with voters than with real estate developers who roam hallways at City Hall. “I’ve already seen some interesting things,” Valenzuela says. “I made a decision not to take donations from law enforcement unions, not to take developers’ money. People wigged out over that. But the reason people give you money is they are trying to influence you. I have a responsibility to hear everyone out, but I won’t be influenced by them.” Mayor Darrell Steinberg and City Council members supported Hansen over Valenzuela. Some at City Hall worry she will be too radical and shatter the council facade that promotes a paternalistic leadership style directed by a wise and benevolent mayor.

Katie Valenzuela Photo by Aniko Kiezel

VALENZUELA BELIEVES PUBLIC VIEWPOINTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD CITY GOVERNANCE. COMMUNITY VOICES MUST BE HEARD. SHE SEES HERSELF NOT AS A LEADER BUT AS A LISTENER AND FACILITATOR.

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www.retireesupport.com | facebook.com/MennelInsuranceSolutions Valenzuela laughs at the prospect of being a City Council outcast. She may be radical by traditional standards, but she’s also clever. She turned 34 in January and is more politically sophisticated than her council colleagues may know. She’s an agent of change—determined to introduce a youthful, grassroots-activist perspective to City Hall. “I know people are saying, ‘She’s too far left. She can’t get the votes. She’s the crazy person in the corner who never gets anything done,’” Valenzuela says. “I want to be accountable. This is all about giving people a pathway to have their voices heard. Sacramento people are ready to exert their power.” She noticed how the Measure U Community Advisory Committee was shut down from February to June. The excuse was COVID-19. But during that same time the City Council met and budgeted $90 million in Measure U tax money—half of it for police—with minimal public consideration. Valenzuela believes public viewpoints are essential for good city governance. Community voices must be heard. She sees herself not as a leader but as a listener and facilitator.

“I love to go out and do block parties and have neighborhood meetings where we decide on action plans, not just talk,” she says. “In four years, maybe I won’t be able to raise money and this will be a one-shot deal on the City Council. But it will be a glorious four years.” R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be read and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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Mark Meeks Photo by Aniko Kiezel

I Can’t Breathe

REAL CHANGE? IT’S ALL UP TO US

BY MARK MEEKS

t was in March when I saw the Facebook meme, “I would like to exercise the 90-day return provision on the Year 2020.” As more than one person has observed, 2020 has proven to be the conflated sum of cataclysmic elements from the 1918 flu pandemic, the financial crisis of 1929 and the social seismicity of 1968. On May 25, the recorded killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police with his repeated plea of “I can’t breathe” set off a cascade of outrage, anger, reflection, introspection and demand for change with an intensity not seen before. Apparently, either as a result of choice or benign ignorance, many people, until they witnessed Floyd’s murder, were not aware of a virus more insidious and dangerous than COVID-19.

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My six-plus decades of life have been lived in California. And while my African American experience is not comparable to the injustices of my parents and generations before, my story is all too familiar: a life filled with micro- and macro-aggressions, physical and verbal assaults, opportunities and promotions denied. Indeed, breathing can be and has been a challenge. I believe we have arrived at an inflection point of opportunity. Who we are now and who we will become is in our collective hands. We are the change we desire. As with someone with cancer, treatment will be uncomfortable and difficult. But ignoring its presence will lead to certain death. As a semi-retired civil engineer and present pastor at City Church of Sacramento in North Oak Park, I’ve had more than a few conversations of

outrage and a desire to be part of real change. The question often asked is, “What can or should I do?” It has taken more than 400 years of injustice to arrive at this nadir. Achieving this level of (as the youth say) woke-ness is just a beginning. Real, substantive, systemic change demands understanding and perseverance. If you want to be part of real change: first, expand your circle of friends, including developing relationships with people who don’t look like you and aren’t already neighbors or part of your social circles; second, listen (at least) twice as much as you speak, listen with the goal of understanding; third, engage with agencies that actively support and work toward racial and restorative justice. What’s often referred to as the Negro National goes, in part:

Lift ev’ry voice and sing ’Til earth and heaven ring Ring with the harmonies of Liberty Let our rejoicing rise High as the list’ning skies Let it resound loud as the rolling sea Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us Facing the rising sun of our new day begun Let us march on ’til victory is won Change, real change, is possible. However, it’s not guaranteed. And it’s not a default choice. You are the change. I am the change. We are the change. Mark Meeks is pastor of City Church of Sacramento in North Oak Park. He can be reached at mark@ citychurchsac.org. n

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Reform,

Not Defund POLICING MUST CHANGE—HERE’S HOW

BY ALLEN WARREN

frican American communities believe policing is prone to abuse. They distrust police. All too often, African Americans put all police in one box labeled, “The police are generally bad for Black people.” However, not all officers are bad. Good officers get painted with the same brush as bad officers.

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The opinions African Americans hold about police are generally based on firsthand and perceived experiences. These opinions continue because members of the African American community often know little about the individuals who police them, about the police department or about law enforcement procedures. In many cases, African Americans cannot distinguish one officer from another. A recent survey of 100 African Americans in Sacramento revealed that only four people knew the names of five or more officers. The current system of policing has many problems. But two issues stand in the way of fair policing. One problem is officers who take a good, honest and balanced approach to policing are not given credit for their excellent behavior. The second problem is officers who have complaints filed against them are allowed to continuing working with little or no consequence. Sometimes, they get promoted.

One way to create a more harmonious relationship between police and the community is through increased transparency and accountability. Transparency and accountability allow the community to evaluate officers and provide information about police performance. This approach provides methods to give positive or negative feedback about officers. The feedback could be useful in determining who should stay on the force, who should be promoted and who should leave. Transparency and accountability can be quickly established. Practices are common in the private sector— as common as a sign with a phone number that says, “How’s my driving?” The time is right for us to reflect on how law enforcement should evolve. Many state and national proposals are in progress, including elimination of qualified immunity for officers. Other proposals, such as “Defund the Police,” seek to reallocate funding

from local police to other civic departments. The Sacramento Police Department should remain intact. However, city funds should be allocated to agencies that help address mental health, domestic violence, human assistance and homelessness. While recognizing the need to adequately fund police, the city must ensure the police budget is appropriate to sustain its operations. The goal is to create a more harmonious relationship between law enforcement and the community through transparency and accountability. To achieve this goal, I proposed three city ordinance amendments:

STANDARD BUSINESS CARDS Transparency and accountability can be quickly established when residents know who is policing them. To this goal, the city should require every police officer to provide a

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This amendment would mandate the creation of a website to identify police officers by Sacramento Police Service Areas or City Council districts. The website should include a biography and photo for each officer. These small bios will make it easier for residents to know, understand and connect with police.

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MANDATORY SUSPENSION FOR SHOOTING UNARMED AND NON-THREATENING PERSONS This amendment would provide for mandatory unpaid suspension for officers who shoot unarmed and nonthreating persons. The intent of the suspension is to discourage the use of force, to end the unnecessary killing of unarmed individuals and prevent officers from shooting individuals in the back. If transparency, accountability and good community relations are genuinely desired, these are positive and efficient steps in that direction.

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business card to individuals who are stopped for any reason. The business card would contain the officer’s name, badge number and an 800 phone number with a statement that says, “How’s my policing?” Additionally, the statement and phone number should be posted on police vehicles. Caller information should be automatically recorded and stored with the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission and Sacramento Police.

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y high school history teacher came to class one day and said, “Unlearn what you have learned.” That was all he said for the day. We made fun of him for weeks. Little did I know those words would stick with me for 50 years. Implicit bias, sexism and systemic racism are real. They are not genetic conditions. Kids come into this world unfettered by petty jealousies, greed and anger. These behavioral traits are taught through history books, storytelling, actions, words and body language. I have never met an adult who didn’t harbor some bias. It takes a lot of work to get rid of it. It’s way past time to unlearn what we have learned. Frankly, racism hasn’t changed since the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement. We just see it more on YouTube. The protests this summer, sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a peace officer, are founded in anger and grief and recognition that in our country, freedom is not equally dispensed. There is not equal opportunity for all. But Sacramento is moving in a better direction. We are diversifying our city staff. We are determined to reflect the diversity of our city. The Sacramento Police Department is 42 percent diverse (meaning non-white males). Our recruitment through academy graduates is 69 percent diverse. The changes are not immediate, but they will make a difference. We are making investments in our youth and underserved neighborhoods—not

Brave New World OLD WAYS WON’T WORK AS CITY MOVES AHEAD

Photo by LaReine Pia

BY JEFF HARRIS

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

In 2021, the Sacramento Police Department will consume about 26 percent of our general fund—13 percent of the total budget. The SPD budget is $157 million. Since the Great Recession, we have pared back our police. In 2009, we lost neighborhood POP officers, vice and gang teams, and motorcycle traffic and parole intervention teams. We reduced responses to burglaries. Until the last contract, SPD officers received as much as 23 percent less than nearby comparable agencies (today they are just below average). We have 1.35 officers per 1,000 residents, with a higher than average crime workload. Photo by LaReine Pia People often call me to ask why the police don’t respond to burglaries or other violations. at the rate some people call for, but with substantial effort in the face of a The answer: In the last decade, we pandemic and looming budget deficits. substantially defunded SPD. We have built back somewhat and added My city webpage contains a list of officers. Much of what they do is programs we have funded. respond to homeless calls. Is that the There is an outcry to defund the best task for peace officers? No. police. Obviously, protecting our The City Council wants to move citizens is the city’s primary duty. We social service responses to a new are obligated to honor contracts that delivery method. I am working with have been negotiated with the police WellSpace Health to do behavioral union. These contracts were settled health and methamphetamine before the pandemic, when Measure response in an entirely different way. U sales taxes brought in better-thanprojected revenues. We were on track Changes are coming this year. The protests were mostly peaceful, to issue a housing bond to get more but a small number of people workforce housing built to alleviate assaulted police and looted businesses. rental rate hikes. We had lots of investments planned SPD showed restraint when pelted with insults, rocks, bricks and for youth and neighborhoods. The projectile fireworks. Officers sustained virus disrupted them. Sales taxes injuries. The City Council brought plummeted, but our costs have not in the National Guard and placed a changed. Core services must be curfew to help restore safety. maintained. In these tense moments, most The good news is that we have protestors and cops did a good job. $89 million in federal CARES Act The result? The City Council heard money to stem some pain. These the outcry. We will continue to make dollars will aid our businesses and workers. They will go toward projects change as rapidly as possible given our current economic predicament. to jumpstart our economy, with a focus on underserved communities. The City Council is making decisions to fund these efforts. As we recover from COVID-19 and sales taxes rebound, money will flow to Measure U projects.

Jeff Harris is city councilmember for District 3 and vice mayor of Sacramento. He can be reached at jsharris@cityofsacramento.org. n

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Voices Heard

INSIDE LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY NEWS INITIATIVE

nside Sacramento is looking for a few good community journalists. But not just from any community. We are interested in writers from neighborhoods that historically don’t get much attention from traditional media—unless the news is bad. We want to see Sacramento’s underserved communities from a different, deeper, more personal perspective. This means we want stories by and about people who really know the neighborhoods. A little background: My list of serious journalistic accomplishments could fill a tweet, but one moment stands tall: the day Dori Maynard hired me to work for the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Dori was Bob Maynard’s daughter. Bob and his wife Nancy founded the Institute for Journalism Education, which was renamed in his honor after his death in 1993. The Maynard Institute is a big deal in the news world. It’s the oldest organization dedicated to diversifying American newsrooms. Diversity meant everything to the Maynard family. Bob Maynard was the first African American publisher of a major daily newspaper, the Oakland Tribune. When Maynard took over the Tribune in 1979, he looked around the newsroom and

RG By R.E. Graswich

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Maynard Institute Sacramento Voices 2016. Front row, left to right: Marianna Sousa, Christina Martinez, Audreyell Anderson, Kalaisha Totty, Ricardo Lopez Jr. Back row, left to right: Martin Reynolds (co-Executive Director Maynard Institute), R.E. Graswich, Sunshine Pruett, Courtny Thomas.

noticed the people there didn’t look much like the community they served. He set out to improve that. Dori continued the Maynard Institute’s work until her death in 2015. Dori hired me in 2014 to run Sacramento Voices, a news and feature website created by people who grew up or lived in underserved neighborhoods. Oak Park, Fruitridge, Valley Hi and Meadowview were well represented. The program produced some wonderful work. But after two years, our funding from The California Endowment ran out. We closed. Today, Inside Sacramento Publisher Cecily Hastings wants

to rekindle the spirit of Sac Voices. Motivated by the social upheaval that followed the killing of George Floyd, she wants to open Inside’s website, InsideSacramento.com, and printed pages to stories by community journalists with personal connections to neighborhoods typically overlooked by local media. “Inside has always been a community publication,” she says. “We celebrate Sacramento’s beautifully diverse neighborhoods. It’s time for us to expand our coverage within those neighborhoods, to find issues and people who don’t get their stories told.”

Nobody can tell those stories better than people who grew up there or live there. If you are a writer with a community story to tell—maybe about an amazing neighbor, a legacy business or an injustice—please let me know. I’ll work with you and help you get published at Inside. Together, we’ll produce stories that look like Sacramento—a perfect way to continue the mission of Bob, Nancy and Dori Maynard. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. n

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Vacation at Home CARMICHAEL COUPLE CREATE THEIR OWN HIDDEN OASIS

n 8-foot high, multi-paneled glass door off the dining room folds back, opening the home to a secluded backyard patio. At the opposite end of the vast room, a large kitchen window overlooks the front yard’s lush garden landscape. When the panoramic patio door and kitchen window are fully open—no intrusive screens involved—the effect is like standing in a serene oasis with a cross breeze that may bring in a dragonfly or two. “When designing the house, I told our architect, ‘I want to bring the outside in,’” homeowner Helen Wheeler says. Helen and her husband Frank purchased the property in rural Carmichael in 2013 to be closer to their two sons and their families. “The house was in shambles, but it was the perfect location,” Frank says. “We bought the house thinking we would remodel it.” It turned out to be a complete tear down.

CR By Cathryn Rakich Photography by Aniko Kiezel OPEN HOUSE Pat

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

From demolishing the old home, built in 1950, to securing the permits to moving in, the project took two and half years. “Everything is new,” says Frank, who acted as contractor and retired from the family’s equipment-supply business three years ago. Working with architect Raymond Burriss of RBDS Inc. in Rocklin, and Nar Bustamante and Ashlee Richardson with Nar Design Group in East Sacramento, the Wheelers created a modern, vibrant living space with bright, light-filled rooms. The end result is a 2,800-squarefoot abode with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a powder room on a half-acre lot, just steps away from Ancil Hoffman Park. Construction so close to nature brought its own set of issues, such as when a fawn fell into an open trench in the backyard. “The trenches were for gas lines, so they were really deep,” Frank says. “The mama deer was frantic,” Helen says. Knowing they shouldn’t touch the baby, the Wheelers called animal control. “The guy came and pulled the deer out, and then walked him around to the back corner,” Frank adds. “When the mama saw the baby, she perked up. Mama jumped and baby jumped and off they went.” Aside from a tranquil landscape that still welcomes wildlife, must-haves for the new home were clean lines, simple finishes and ultra-high ceilings to showcase the

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couple’s art collection. “That was the whole premise for the house,” Frank says. “We’ve always loved art, so there’s a lot of big walls and a lot of space for art.” The floors are wide-plank European French Oak. The exterior paint is “Caviar” black by Sherman Williams. “That was really scary,” Helen notes. But Bustamante convinced the homeowners to give it a try. “He said, ‘Look at the bark on the trees, look how the house will blend in.’” “At night, when we turn everything off, you can’t even see the house,” Frank adds. “It’s just black. It disappears.” Another unconventional exterior touch is the sleek roof and fascia of Corten steel, designed to rust

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

after several years of exposure to the elements. “The steel weathers beautifully,” Frank says. On the interior, a striking glassenclosed entryway leads into a 10-foothigh corridor, also painted in “Caviar” black to provide a visual distinction between the living room to the left and expansive dining room/kitchen to the right. Both rooms feature dramatic walls and sloped ceilings that reach from 11 feet to 17 feet. Island and kitchen cabinets by Poggenpohl are polar-white lacquer with a matt finish. Additional white ash cabinets house a 7-foot stainlesssteel sink, complete with two faucets, “which seemed so extreme,” Helen says. “But Nar said, ‘Don’t think of it as a sink, think of it as a workstation,’ with cutting boards, strainers, bowls you can insert.” A second 4-foot sink resides in the island. The countertops are Dekton, a strong ultra-compact surface of glass, porcelain and quartz, by Cosentino. Appliances are Miele, including two dishwashers. A wall of Poggenpohl cabinets camouflages the refrigerator and houses a built-in coffee/espresso machine. The kitchen’s accent walls and range hood, as well as the fireplace wall in the living room, are Venetian plaster by Melvin Starr Plastering based in Orangevale. Venetian plaster, a blend of lime plaster, marble dust and color pigments, is an ancient technique that imitates natural stone surfaces. “It’s troweled on in four or five different layers,” Frank explains. “Mel is an artist.” Bustamante designed a contemporary bar, complete with a 135-bottle wine fridge, just off the kitchen, in a black motif with wood accents. The ultramodern master bathroom, with various shades of soothing grey with bronze undertones, is “probably

my favorite,” Helen says. “I wanted a spa bathroom.” A freestanding soaking tub with a chrome faucet backs up to a hard-troweled concrete shower enclosure with a corner cutout for additional light and architectural interest. Countertops are Dekton in a suede finish. The dramatic powder room features a black pedestal vessel sink, rough-edged walnut countertop and amber-colored crystal light pendants. The wall is covered with sheets of oxidized copper hand-painted by Helen and her sister, then gridded with a walnut trim. Back outside, the Wheelers reinvented the crumbling swimming pool, uniquely situated in the front yard, a location Helen initially hated. But with the elevated lot, the pool is set so high and back, “you can’t even tell

there’s a pool” from the street, Frank says. The couple removed overgrown brush and vegetation, but left a grove of mature olive trees. A new garden shed/ pottery studio is where the duo, artists themselves, will create ceramic works of art. “We did everything we could to have a space we would be happy in for a long time,” Frank says. Helen adds, “Every day I wake up and feel like I’m in a vacation home. I love it.” To recommend a home or garden for Open House, contact Cathryn Rakich at crakich@surewest.net. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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HOW MOTELS BECOME HOMES FOR HOMELESS

BY MATT LEVIN

alvador Bradford takes pride in keeping his studio apartment tidy. His converted hotel room has around 250 square feet for a bathroom, stove and mini-fridge. There is space for the trappings of a home: a shelf of Star Wars and Star Trek DVDs, and a small shrine to Jesus Christ, to whom Bradford credits his past five years of sobriety. He lives at the former Hotel Berry in Downtown and says his twin mattress sure beats the past two years sleeping on the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento. “It was horrible. I was dying, slowly but surely,” Bradford, 64, says. “People (were) having sex in the alleyways, people (were) shooting up crystal meth.” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to make a permanent dent in California’s homelessness crisis—more than 150,000 unhoused individuals, including more than 100,000 sleeping outside—would create hundreds of properties like the Hotel Berry, an 80-year-old motel transformed into

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

Hotel Berry resident Salvador Bradford jokes with supportive services manager Bruni Rocha in one of the common spaces. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters. 104 supportive housing units for the formerly homeless. Newsom wants to spend $600 million in federal emergency dollars to expand Project Roomkey, a joint state and federal program that has leased more than 15,700 hotel rooms for homeless Californians deemed especially susceptible to the coronavirus. Roughly 9,600 rooms were occupied in June. Phase Two of the project is buying as many hotels or motels as possible for permanent homeless housing by the end of the year. That’s when the $600 million must be spent or returned to the feds.

California has never tried buying so many properties to house its homeless population in such a short period of time. It won’t be easy. Here’s how motels are typically converted to more permanent homeless housing:

STEP 1: BUY THE HOTEL Cost: $100,000–$175,000 per room, but varies across the state. Time: Two to three months of negotiations, not including escrow. Land isn’t cheap in California, especially in coastal regions where the homeless are disproportionately located.

Data provided by the California Hotel & Lodging Association, a hospitality industry advocacy group, indicate hotels that could be targeted by the state—budget chains like Motel 6 with 150 units or less—fetch more than $100,000 per unit in Los Angeles County. A 40-room Travel Plaza in Compton sold for $4.5 million last year. Costs are steeper in the Bay Area. Low-income housing developers caution that prices vary from region to region and according to the quality of motel. Extended-stay hotels that come pre-furnished with kitchenettes will be more expensive than deteriorating single-room-occupancy

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law office of brian d.wyatt ,PC motels, which may be cheaper upfront but require more rehab or outright demolition to turn into supportive housing. Newsom is tentatively budgeting $100,000 to $150,000 per unit. The governor hopes a glut of hotel owners, pummeled by the pandemic-induced collapse of tourism, will gladly exit the industry. That, combined with a recession-induced dip in commercial real estate prices, could mean a rare bargain.

STEP 2: GET APPROVAL FROM THE CITY Cost: Hard to quantify, but the quicker the cheaper. Time: One to two years, but much faster if Newsom gets his way. Why does it take so long? Because nobody wants to pay $10 million for a motel the city won’t let you turn into housing. Homeless housing developers must shepherd projects through a series of regulatory steps that need the sign-off of city planning departments

and sometimes city councils. One uniquely essential step for most motel conversions: getting the city to change the zoning on a motel from “commercial” to “residential” use. Newsom can’t afford an 18-month escrow while local governments review plans. It has six months to buy $600 million in real estate before the money disappears. To speed up the regulatory process, Newsom proposes to take away much of the power cities have to shape the look of a converted motel. Several cities have lodged or threatened legal action.

STEP 3: CONSTRUCTION Cost: Less than $10 million, but will vary according to type of homeless housing. Timing: Six to 12 months, depending on the type. Research suggests permanent supportive housing is the gold standard for preventing the chronically homeless from returning to the streets. But it requires a good deal of construction work.

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Individual rooms must be retrofitted to accommodate stoves, sinks, mini-refrigerators and a microwave; electrical and plumbing systems for older buildings often must be updated to current code; sound-attenuating insulation might be required to prevent neighbors from disturbing one another. Per state law, nearly all housing projects using public subsidies must pay union-level wages. The “supportive” element requires a good chunk of real estate to accommodate multiple offices for case managers, and rooms for group counseling and other activities.

STEP 4: RUNNING THE BUILDING Cost: $10,000 per unit per year (but varies). Timing: Ongoing. Bruni Rocha is part of the support staff that keeps the Hotel Berry running: a building manager responsible for upkeep and repairs; a night clerk to provide security; a supportive services staffer to run

3406 American River Drive Suite B Sacramento, CA 95864 916-273-9040

cooking classes and other life skills programs; janitorial staff to keep common spaces clean and functioning; and her, the supportive services manager. That doesn’t include the case manager from a separate nonprofit that makes sure about a dozen residents keep up with their mental health appointments, or the social worker from Veterans Affairs who checks up on the vets in the Berry. “You can’t just put somebody that was formerly homeless in a building and expect them to have all the life skills that they need,” Rocha says. “They’re used to being on the streets.” The cost of operating permanent supportive housing, or even less intensive supportive housing, adds up quickly and does not go away. Matt Levin is data and housing reporter for CalMatters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture that made this story available to Inside Sacramento. He can be reached at matt@calmatters.org. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

Sacramento’s Fairy Godmother Barbara Arnold Photo by Linda Smolek

EYE DOCTOR SETS HER SIGHTS ON PHILANTHROPY

JL By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Proﬁle

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

iving back has been the Air Force as a flight surgeon, Arnold driving force of Dr. Barbara decided to open a medical practice in Arnold’s life. The celebrated Sacramento in 1981. She specifically ophthalmologist has generously donated chose to locate her office in the south her time, money and wisdom for area to serve the Southeast Asian and decades—which she believes is the key Pacific Islander immigrant population. to a life well lived. “I wanted to go where I was needed “If you do big things young enough the most,” Arnold says. “There were in life, you get to see the ripple effect as fewer physicians in that ZIP code (at you get older,” says Arnold, who lives in the time) and I’m a big believer that one Curtis Park, but also has an art studio should be able to get medical care close off Scribner Road along the Sacramento to where one lives.” River, where she paints the natural Arnold still runs a very successful beauty out her window. “That’s why I ophthalmology practice, which means encourage younger people to participate she’s constantly conscious of using her (in philanthropy). Do it within your resources to support others. vibrant lifetime to witness what your When she started attending Fairytale giving has done.” Town with her two grandchildren 10 Arnold has a lot to witness. As a years ago, she noticed that the beloved philanthropist, she’s been a longtime play park could use some TLC—so she supporter of the American Medical donated $100,000 to help the park make Association Foundation, Crocker Art capital improvements and renovate the Museum—where she teaches watercolor Children’s Theater. She’s also one of the classes to the visually impaired in lead contributors to Fairytale Town’s collaboration with the Society for “Timeless Tales” campaign to fund a the Blind— half-acre expansion, Sacramento which includes Public Library the addition of a “If you share with Foundation, play-based literacy your community, then Salvation Army, center. Fairytale River City Town’s director you get to experience Food Bank and emeritus Kathy the joy of seeing how WEAVE, to name Fleming rightly calls a few. Arnold their “fairy you’ve helped.” As a volunteer, godmother.” Arnold has served It’s not surprising as a volunteer that Arnold has faculty member at the UC Davis Eye been recognized with various awards Clinic for the past 38 years. She’s also for her contributions to her community, a clinical professor in the school’s including the California Medical Department of Ophthalmology and has Association’s first Compassionate made significant financial contributions Service Award in 2015, Association of to the department’s Eye Research Fund. Fundraising Professionals California She’s a 25-year member of the Rotary Capital Chapter’s Outstanding Club of Sacramento, which awarded her Philanthropist award in 2019, and this its inaugural Jean Runyon Community year’s University of Colorado School of Service Award last November. And she Medicine Medical Alumni Association’s donates a piece of art to the KVIE Art Silver and Gold Award for Excellence Auction each year—she won Best in in Humanitarianism, Citizenship and Show her first time out in 2016—and Professionalism. to the Crocker Art Museum’s annual But Arnold isn’t in it for the praise— “Big Names, Small Art” fundraising she’s in it to pay it forward. exhibition. “I want to be a role model to As a kid growing up in Nebraska, incentivize others to give,” Arnold says. Arnold learned that giving back can take “If you share with your community, many forms. then you get to experience the joy of “We lived frugally, but I always seeing how you’ve helped.” saw my parents volunteering,” Arnold For more information on Fairytale says. “When you grow up in a small Town’s “Timeless Tales” campaign, visit community, you see that time is a very fairytaletown.org/support/timeless-tales. valuable resource and that the gift of Jessica Laskey can be reached at that time is important.” jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous After earning her medical degree from profi les can be found and shared at the the University of Colorado—she was the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow first woman accepted into the school’s us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: ophthalmology training program— @insidesacramento. n and serving four years with the U.S.

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Listen to the Stories NOW IS THE TIME TO INITIATE REAL CONVERSATIONS

n 2011, I was at the annual National Guard Chaplain Conference in Washington, D.C., when I was sidetracked into a personal conference with a colleague. The morning session began with all the usual inspirational speeches from our higher-ups. Just before our lunch break, Chaplain Lawrence Witherspoon of Riverside, Calif., stood to make an announcement. “The African American chaplains will be taking our lunch together in a side room,” he said. “I promise we will enjoy good collegial fellowship and networking.” I whispered to the chaplains seated around me. “That doesn’t seem right. Chaplains are supposed to be about unity and love. Separate lunches encourage cliquish racial divides.”

NB By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

“If you feel that way, Norris,” challenged a chaplain at my roundtable, “go talk to Witherspoon.” “I can’t do that,” I said as my face flushed red. “Why is that, chaplain?” another asked in a daring tone. “Just go and have a real conversation.” It was true. I should have been able to talk to Witherspoon. After all, we’d co-led several military marriage conferences, teaching couples to have real conversations. Later the next day, I found Witherspoon and asked if he had time to have an awkward conversation. He gave a directional nod toward a few secluded chairs. I can’t recall my words verbatim, but I essentially began by admitting how likely it was that I’d say them wrong. “It’s OK,” he said. “I was a bit put off by your call for a separate meeting of Black chaplains,” I confessed. “What part was uncomfortable for you?” he asked from a script we taught in the marriage class. When I told him that I thought the meeting went against the unifying spirit of chaplains, he tossed what seemed like a random question. “Do you know how hard it’s been for African American chaplains to get promoted?” “Not really,” I answered. I only knew that we worked in an up-or-out system, meaning that if an officer was passed

over for promotion it was tantamount to being fired. “We’ve lost some good chaplains,” he said. “How is that possible?” I asked. “Promotion boards haven’t used photos for years. They can’t see your color, so you should be judged only by your performance reports.” He glanced around the room before adding, “Yes, but sometimes those performance reports are written by racist supervisors.” “Chaplains—racist?” I asked, my naivety in full exposure. For the next several minutes, he explained that there were chaplains in the conference halls known to use the N-word. But maybe worse, he gave examples of chaplains who were skillful in the subtleties of racism. “The Air Force Chaplain Corps is small and can be cliquish” he said. “Our Black chaplains need the extra mentorship that—for now—can only be found among each other.” I knew Witherspoon to be a straight talker. I’d never heard anything but truthful integrity from him. While his truth saddened me, I would have never heard it if Witherspoon hadn’t trusted me to hear his story. More importantly, his courage laid the groundwork for me to hear more about race relations. There has never been a better time in this nation to listen to the stories being offered by communities of color,

whether through books, friends or the media. So instead of expressing frustration on social media toward Black Lives Matter or Antifa, I challenge you to tune in. Listen to the painful narrative being shared by the Black community. As you listen, express gratitude for hearing their message, but don’t expect people of color to be responsible for educating you. Above all, don’t offer excuses or try to fix it. Acknowledge their truth, but don’t expect their viewpoint to represent their race any more than you exemplify yours. There is a great conversational guide from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation at healourcommunities.org. The guide will help you listen to stories and initiate discussions. I also recommend reading “White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo. Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter 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

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1630 ARDEN BLUFFS LN 3977 APPLE BLOSSOM WAY 4740 HIXON CIR 7011 SUTTER AVE 6350 SAMOA WAY 4027 ALEX LN 4768 OAK TWIG WAY 4951 SUDBURY WAY 7255 GUNDERSON WAY 4440 STONEY WAY 3810 HORTON LN 7020 GRANT AVE 5300 MUSTANG WAY 4731 TALUS WAY 4726 ELI CT 6016 HELVA LN 4661 HIXON CIR 3336 GARFIELD AVE 2404 VIA CAMINO AVE 5451 EARNELL ST 6503 LINCOLN AVE 7131 STELLA LN 3501 BROADMOOR WAY 5936 MALEVILLE AVE 4608 LUE LN 4376 VIRGUSELL CIR 5517 WHITFIELD WAY 2171 GLANCY CT 4800 DONOVAN DR 3030 SCENIC HEIGHTS WAY 6515 TEMPLETON DR 5723 IVYTOWN LN 4761 ROBERTSON AVE 2506 LOS FELIZ WAY 4432 ROLLINGROCK WAY 4737 HIXON CIR 2078 SANTA LUCIA WAY 5956 MALEVILLE AVE 3953 CONTINENTAL WAY 4741 BELLUE ST 4710 HARDCASTLE LN 4230 WAYMAR CT 1238 GARY WAY 5308 ADELAIDE WAY 5175 BOYD DR 5955 ELLERSLEE DR 2241 GUNN RD 2505 EL VITA WAY 4220 MELISA CT 3500 LYNNMAR WAY 3221 MISSION AVE 4938 KIPLING DR 4174 SCRANTON CIR 1625 KINGSFORD DR 5513 COLONEL RD 4450 BELA WAY 3701 MACKENZIE LN 5406 RAIMER WAY 2425 GUNN RD 4721 OLIVE OAK WAY 6031 CHERRELYN WAY 6521 MILES LN 4816 SAINT LYNN LN 6644 STANLEY AVE 4005 FAIRWOOD WAY 1208 GENESEE CT 5164 PATTI JO DR 4117 NORTHGREEN CT 6518 MARKLEY WAY 7008 TRABERT CT

95815

1904 HELENA AVE 450 LAS PALMAS AVE

$700,000 $367,000 $435,000 $1,025,000 $435,000 $293,000 $405,000 $1,411,000 $460,000 $460,000 $370,000 $950,000 $550,000 $430,000 $295,000 $325,000 $525,000 $305,000 $225,000 $331,000 $795,000 $212,000 $420,000 $264,500 $450,000 $481,900 $425,000 $900,000 $400,000 $1,100,000 $310,000 $247,000 $399,900 $520,000 $497,000 $536,500 $487,000 $422,675 $395,000 $550,000 $450,000 $532,000 $649,000 $525,000 $475,000 $335,000 $570,000 $450,000 $405,000 $700,000 $599,000 $660,000 $286,000 $906,520 $414,000 $500,000 $605,500 $650,000 $390,000 $442,300 $415,000 $382,500 $387,000 $725,000 $393,000 $600,000 $419,070 $345,000 $389,000 $530,000

$212,000 $308,000

2704 DEL PASO BLVD 916 LAS PALMAS AVE 677 ARCADE BLVD 1440 ARCADE BLVD 1675 GLENROSE AVE 55 BAY DR 3216 PALMER ST 2230 FORREST ST 570 LAMPASAS AVE 3108 CLAY ST 2198 FAIRFIELD ST 945 ALAMOS AVE 2157 CAMBRIDGE ST 2933 ALBATROSS WAY 1231 SONOMA AVE 2760 CROSBY WAY 147 SOUTHGATE RD

95816

1857 - 39TH ST 641 - 34TH ST 2704 T ST 422 ALHAMBRA BLVD 620 - 24TH ST 3348 S ST 2402 I ST 1508 - 24TH ST 3335 SERRA WAY 1233 - 34TH ST 2619 I ST 416 - 26TH ST 516 - 26TH ST 1148 - 37TH S 649 - 33RD ST

95817

3436 TRIO LN 3274 - 6TH AVE 3143 - 4TH AVE 3449 - 35TH ST 2132 - 36TH ST 3316 - 42ND ST 2633 - 57TH ST 2937 SAN JOSE WAY 4149 SANTA ROSA AVE 3524 SANTA CRUZ WAY 5232 U ST

95818

2673 - 5TH AVE 1291 - 8TH AVE 3225 FRANKLIN BLVD 2124 WELLER WAY 1741 BIDWELL WAY 2415 - 26TH ST 635 JONES WAY 1077 - 6TH AVE 2106 BIDWELL WAY 2755 - 14TH ST 1141 MARKHAM WAY 2953 FRANKLIN BLVD 2628 - 16TH ST 2736 MARTY WAY 2127 - 12TH ST 2991 - 26TH ST 401 TAILOFF LN 824 - 9TH AVE 2736 PORTOLA WAY 2700 - 17TH ST

95819 4814 M ST 5248 J ST

$260,000 $239,500 $270,000 $245,000 $255,000 $323,000 $360,000 $292,000 $235,000 $310,000 $401,500 $236,000 $394,000 $259,000 $248,000 $260,000 $514,000

$601,500 $1,615,000 $410,000 $537,000 $525,000 $594,990 $697,000 $505,000 $426,500 $580,000 $590,000 $660,000 $545,000 $650,000 $1,085,000

$440,000 $400,000 $621,000 $376,000 $525,000 $390,000 $432,000 $385,000 $262,500 $325,000 $500,000

$750,000 $910,000 $419,900 $550,000 $741,000 $435,000 $487,000 $610,000 $600,000 $1,107,500 $665,000 $560,000 $425,000 $725,000 $429,970 $475,000 $459,800 $705,000 $885,000 $630,000

147 SAN ANTONIO WAY 725 - 42ND ST 1300 - 40TH ST 4138 MCKINLEY BLVD 3822 BREUNER AVE 4350 MODDISON AVE 5843 O ST 4504 H ST 1732 BERKELEY WAY 1725 - 40TH ST 5315 D ST 1300 - 62ND ST 1108 - 56TH ST 121 - 51ST ST 1122 JANEY WAY 400 - 46TH ST 5205 C ST 45 SANDBURG DR 515 - 40TH ST 5412 D ST 1357 - 54TH ST

95821

2905 LACY LN 3903 WHITNEY AVE 2825 GREENWOOD AVE 4230 DAYBREAK LN 3425 MAUREEN DR 3319 KENTFIELD DR 4500 WOODSON AVE 2217 FRANCO LN 3313 NORTHWOOD RD 2341 TAMARACK WAY 4451 PASADENA AVE 3654 EDISON AVE 3810 THORNWOOD DR 3532 BECERRA WAY 4130 DE PAUL CT 3671 WEST WAY 3101 POPE AVE 4119 BERESFORD WAY 3720 EDISON AVE 3004 TAMALPAIS WAY 4609 RAVENWOOD AVE 2858 SANTA PAULA CT 3218 BROOKWOOD RD 4434 PARK GREEN CT 4130 EXA CT 3708 HUFF WAY 4364 BRIARWOOD DR 4619 BRIARWOOD DR 3211 FIELDCREST DR 3612 MULHOLLAND WAY 2541 FULTON SQUARE LN 3717 HUFF WAY 3437 TOLEDO WAY 3636 MULHOLLAND WAY 3704 ARDMORE RD 4518 RUTGERS WAY 3930 WOODPOINTE CIR 2936 LETA LN 2660 DANUBE DR 4125 NORRIS AVE 2559 CHARLOTTE LN 3012 FAIRWAYS CT 3641 W COUNTRY CLUB LN 3608 POPE AVE 3429 SOLARI WAY 3212 TOBARI CT 2780 POPE AVE

95822 $542,750 $581,750

7382 STRATFORD ST 7541 EDDYLEE WAY

$680,000 $618,000 $1,600,000 $685,000 $550,000 $785,000 $485,000 $445,000 $650,000 $505,500 $600,000 $469,000 $550,000 $537,000 $546,500 $645,000 $610,000 $649,000 $490,000 $573,000 $459,000

$655,000 $256,000 $680,000 $305,000 $320,000 $449,000 $410,000 $276,000 $570,000 $430,000 $500,000 $321,000 $385,000 $290,000 $525,000 $351,500 $530,000 $440,000 $350,000 $436,000 $500,000 $189,500 $395,000 $500,000 $525,000 $420,000 $590,000 $539,000 $700,000 $420,000 $140,000 $345,000 $335,000 $450,100 $350,000 $355,000 $450,000 $482,000 $325,000 $435,000 $366,400 $366,000 $275,000 $365,000 $470,000 $475,000 $385,000

$309,000 $294,000

2500 - 51ST AVE 1121 - 35TH AVE 2604 ENCINAL AVE 5724 DORSET WAY 2228 - 63RD AVE 7517 WAINSCOTT WAY 4601 LAND PARK DR 1455 - 65TH AVE 4641 - 22ND ST 4824 LAND PARK DR 1427 CARROUSEL LN 1618 WENTWORTH AVE 2112 - 16TH AVE 7308 STOCKDALE ST 7045 WILSHIRE CIR 1221 - 35TH AVE 7401 TISDALE WAY 4109 CANBY WAY 6920 - 21ST ST 1434 OREGON DR 7073 HOGAN DR 2118 - 23RD AVE 4650 CRESTWOOD WAY 2299 - 67TH AVE 4140 MULBERRY LN 5800 HOLSTEIN WAY 7511 AMHERST ST 4837 CRESTWOOD WAY 7332 AMHERST ST 2328 HOOKE WAY 1539 WAKEFIELD WAY 2131 AMANDA WAY 7714 ADDISON WAY 1321 - 40TH AVE 1431 HOPKINS ST 5310 HARTE WAY 2167 - 56TH AVE 2601 CASA LINDA DR

95825

$378,000 $440,000 $325,000 $521,000 $315,000 $328,000 $680,000 $335,000 $425,000 $782,500 $620,000 $425,000 $320,000 $325,000 $410,000 $500,000 $345,000 $585,000 $380,000 $589,000 $337,000 $493,000 $755,000 $301,000 $575,000 $700,000 $315,000 $785,000 $309,000 $410,000 $370,000 $285,000 $402,000 $585,000 $283,000 $435,000 $217,000 $202,000

1203 VANDERBILT WAY 969 FULTON AVE 1130 VANDERBILT WAY 2021 EDWIN WAY 2279 UNIVERSITY AVE 548 WOODSIDE OAKS 2464 LARKSPUR LN 792 WOODSIDE LANE EAST 27 ADELPHI CT 1019 DORNAJO WAY 3105 PENNLAND WAY 892 WOODSIDE LN 2290 WOODSIDE LN 306 ELMHURST CIR 1433 GANNON DR 708 WOODSIDE LANE EAST #1 780 WOODSIDE LANE EAST #3 2142 UNIVERSITY PARK DR 731 WOODSIDE LANE EAST 2881 ANDERSON WAY 2232 LANDON LN 2418 BRENTWOOD RD 1749 RICHMOND ST 344 RIO DEL ORO LN 414 RIO DEL ORO LN 2548 VILLA TERRACE LN 810 DUNBARTON CIR 2000 WOODSTOCK WAY 2100 CARLOTTA DR 1327 GANNON DR 2543 EXETER SQUARE LN

$385,000 $187,500 $375,000 $275,000 $508,000 $179,000 $191,500 $235,000 $382,000 $140,000 $349,000 $177,000 $250,000 $574,000 $310,000 $178,000 $170,000 $445,000 $135,000 $438,400 $465,000 $402,000 $485,000 $425,000 $380,000 $580,000 $431,000 $350,000 $352,500 $365,000 $345,000

95831

$460,000

1109 ROUNDTREE CT 27 VIERRA CT 693 CLIPPER WAY 7465 POCKET RD 7707 RIVER LANDING DR 1411 LOS PADRES WAY 15 PAISAN CT 1247 NORFOLK WAY 1 VELARDE CT 6813 GLORIA DR 7570 NADIA WAY 7927 COLLINS ISLE LN 6121 S LAND PARK DR 6390 GRANGERS DAIRY DR 7504 POCKET RD 14 LOOKOUT CT 6971 - 13TH ST 18 BASIL CT 548 SHAW RIVER WAY 6460 HAVENSIDE DR 413 ROUNDTREE CT 6815 HARMON DR 6541 DRIFTWOOD ST 7005 GLORIA DR 11 PARKSHORE CIR 7316 FLOWERWOOD WAY 136 FORTADO CIR 7659 KAVOORAS DR 6 MORNINGSUN CT 6725 SWENSON WAY 6700 BREAKWATER WAY 480 WINDWARD WAY 6390 - 13TH ST 6685 GLORIA DR 505 LITTLE RIVER WAY 1 BRIDGETENDER CT 6985 GLORIA DR 6750 TRUDY WAY 915 PARK RANCH WAY 22 SEASIDE CT 1 DE SART CT

95864

$212,500 $542,500 $540,000 $790,000 $735,000 $468,000 $393,050 $795,000 $540,000 $470,000 $527,000 $469,000 $670,000 $700,000 $520,000 $782,500 $639,900 $406,000 $501,500 $758,000 $215,000 $485,000 $518,000 $400,000 $575,000 $500,000 $529,000 $335,000 $535,000 $559,000 $650,000 $305,000 $531,000 $390,000 $415,000 $849,800 $385,000 $576,500 $375,000 $396,000 $335,000

3416 WELLINGTON DR 4041 AMERICAN RIVER DRIVE 3575 BODEGA CT 640 MORRIS WAY 1712 DEVONSHIRE RD 1025 JONAS AVE 4148 CRONDALL DR 3409 MAYFAIR DR 1420 RUSHDEN DR 1104 HAMPTON RD 3337 AMERICAN RIVER DR 781 CORONADO BLVD 4128 STOWE WAY 3821 SAN YSIDRO WAY 1850 MAPLE GLEN RD 3205 MAYFAIR DR 217 HATHAWAY CT 3436 BARRINGTON RD 860 WATT AVE 114 HARBER CT 2045 MERCURY WAY 3705 DUBAC WAY 4332 VALMONTE DR 4640 MORPHEUS LN 3406 CLEMENS WAY 1810 MAPLE GLEN RD 3719 ESPERANZA DR 4229 BURRELL WAY 1153 WATT AVE 1105 SINGINGWOOD RD 748 SANTA RITA WAY 2912 LATHAM DR

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DOWN , NOT OUT CORE NEEDS RESILIENCE IN A TOUGH YEAR

Photos by Linda Smolek

Michael Ault Photo by Linda Smolek

GD By Gary Delsohn Building Our Future

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

ichael Ault, executive director of Sacramento’s Downtown Partnership, has been working to put more life into the city’s core for 25 years. He has experienced his share of economic gyrations. California’s past budget crises, “Furlough Fridays” for state workers, the national housing crash that sparked the last recession and other big setbacks were painful, but largely overcome. So for the even-tempered advocate, last January’s “State of Downtown 2020”

event at the Hyatt Regency was reason to celebrate. Following a spirited 20-minute talk showcasing progress on waterfront development, six hotels, a couple thousand residential units, the railyards, Major League Soccer, the DOCO district and more, Ault ended the annual update with a slick 90-second marketing video. Sure, there were still problems that included the city’s growing homeless population, but the video featured

happy people shopping, cheering at Kings games, enjoying concerts, rallies and festivals. Sacramento was relishing its hard-earned and enviable run of good fortune. Then it stopped. All at once. With the all-consuming public health crisis and several nights of damage that distracted attention from large, peaceful protests against police brutality and racism, the oxygen leaked out of the city’s core. “When news comes that state employees have flexibility to potentially work at home through the end of the calendar year, and a lot of the big vertical high-rise buildings don’t see themselves at 80 percent capacity until the fall, that’s a challenge to us and it’s a challenge to the customer base,” Ault says. We still don’t know the impact from the shutdowns. Some restaurants and small businesses have closed and will not come back. Large public gatherings, so integral to a successful Downtown, are not on anyone’s horizon, although the weekly farmers market has returned to Capitol Mall, at least for now. Big losses are still being counted, made worse when Downtown began a gradual reopening in June, only to retract when the virus spiked. On the plus side, several hotel projects are still moving forward. A Major League Soccer team and stadium in the railyards remain on track, but the stadium has been delayed a year to 2023 due to the coronavirus. The Kaiser medical complex that will help anchor the former industrial site is also on track. Ground was broken in late June on an anticipated mixed-use project at 10th and J streets. The Convention Center expansion is well underway and proceeding. “You could argue that was fortunate timing,” Ault says. “There probably wouldn’t have been a lot of conventions had it been open, so using this down time has been a good thing.” Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s ambitious vision for the Old Sacramento waterfront is bound to slow. No one knows how much smaller the Downtown workforce that drives so much of the city’s economy will be. “There are some questions about what that workforce will look like in the future,” Ault says. “The transition that people had of working at home several months—will some of that continue long term? How do offices space themselves out? Hopefully, we’ll have a vaccine that allows us to return.”

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Sacramento was relishing its hard-earned and enviable run of good fortune. Then it stopped. All at once. But Ault knows Downtown’s recovery will not happen by itself. As Emilie Cameron, the partnership’s communications director notes, “It’s going to take significant resources to keep some of these businesses going. A lot of these businesses are going into significant debt right now to keep their doors open and to make sure they are still here when we get back to, quote unquote, normal.” As difficult as it has been for Ault, Cameron and the Downtown Partnership’s 50 employees to watch the core suffer, the personal despair they see among small business owners is more painful. “This has been my life, the work that we do down here, and we take the work very personally,” Ault says. “We know many of these businesses. We know their families. We know their owners. Seeing the impacts of what may very well be the inability for some of these folks to come back fully and kind of catch this next wave is genuine and we’re concerned about it.

“Are we taking this hard, personally? Yeah, absolutely we are. We’ve said many times to the staff—this is really our time. This organization was created back in the (Mayor) Joe Serna days of being an organization whose sole focus was to drive the Downtown agenda, to be a location for economic development, for investment, where the region’s best food and entertainment and social opportunities are. “You look at what clearly has been a step backwards for us, but we’re still optimistic about the future.” Optimism, hard work, creativity and commitment have been hallmarks of the Downtown Partnership and Ault’s leadership. All that and some luck and patience will be needed to get the city’s core back on track. Gary Delsohn can be reached at gdelsohn@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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HOME GARDEN DELIVERS FOR RESTAURANTEUR

Randy Paragary

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ocking onto a snail with laserguidance precision, Randy Paragary delivers a lightning strike on the gluttonous gastropod. “He died during the journey,” he says. With apologies to escargot, snails would be wise to steer clear of this backyard vegetable garden.

DV By Dan Vierria Garden Jabber

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

Paragary, his wife Stacy and executive chef-business partner Kurt Spataro have kept Sacramentans well fed and entertained for decades. While retaining his local dining and entertainment venues, Paragary has evolved his interests in recent years to include Midtown’s new Fort Sutter Hotel and (drumroll, please) his backyard tomatoes and other edibles. Preparing for the grand opening of the 105-room boutique hotel this fall and navigating an interrupted dining scene because of COVID-19, Paragary has found comfort and satisfaction tending herbs, fruit trees and veggies at his Sierra Oaks home. A recent backyard renewal project transformed space behind the couple’s garage from a children’s play area to a

small farm. Gone are college-age son Sam’s old swing set and slide, replaced by nine redwood raised vegetable beds designed by Stacy. A composter in the corner decomposes the garden’s organic matter. The spacious yard is dotted with fruit trees where the family harvests blood oranges, lemons, limes, apples, grapefruit, figs, avocados and olives. On this warm summer morning, Paragary surveys the beds of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuces, onions, herbs and other tasty goodies. The snail is the morning’s lone casualty. A few rogue weeds earn an “I’ll-dealwith-you-later” glare. Prior to this ambitious home garden project, Randy’s only handson gardening was an occasional lone tomato plant or basil in a pot. Once the raised beds were built and planted, everything changed. Now, he introduces his precious tomatoes like a proud papa. “This one is ‘Big Beef,’ this one ‘German Pink’ and over here, ‘Rainbow,’” he says, double-checking each label. He grows about two dozen heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties. Many are cherry tomato types. “We love produce from the beds. Eating fresh is the main thing, but there’s too much production for our personal use,” he says. The abundance of fresh produce necessitates bagging and delivering the excess to Paragary’s restaurant kitchens. “The chefs appreciate the enhanced produce and it’s right-out-of-the-garden fresh and fun to grow. I get a great deal of satisfaction seeing people enjoy it.” Mint from a raised bed might find its way onto his breakfast of berries and yogurt, and later into a mojito at the restaurant bar. His homegrown Italian flat-leaf parsley has enhanced the sliced mushroom salad. Basil has crowned Margherita pizza. A slab of his tomato, plucked that very morning, has brought an acidic bite to the grilled salmon BLT at Café Bernardo. “One of our servers might inform the table, ‘By the way, the tomatoes are from Randy’s backyard,’” he says.

Paragary shuttles bags of produce from the home garden to his restaurant kitchens a couple times a week. Tomatoes and basil are daily hauls during most of the summer. Fresh, local produce has long been featured at Paragary’s restaurants, decades before the farm-to-fork movement. He was greatly influenced by Los Angeles chef Wolfgang Puck and Alice Waters, owner of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse. Waters and Puck pioneered California cuisine, the marriage of locally grown and raised ingredients, sustainability and presentation. After visits to the restaurants of Waters and Puck, Paragary had Sacramento’s first brick wood-fired pizza oven built at Paragary’s Bar & Oven in the early 1980s. Later, a kitchen was added. He scoured small farms in Yolo and Sacramento counties for the freshest produce. In the early 1990s, he and Spataro planned and oversaw a vegetable and herb garden in an open field adjacent to Paragary’s Bar & Oven at 28th and N streets. Today, the site, once dubbed “Paragary’s Herban Garden,” is a parking garage. His home garage now serves as the seed-launching area where lettuce and tomato seeds germinate by a sunny window. Paragary has become acquainted with pushing a wheelbarrow, pruning, weeding and repairing irrigation systems. But he admits he has much to learn. “I’m still not good with beets and carrots,” he laments about the root vegetable learning curve. “Except potatoes. I can grow potatoes.” Dan Vierria is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener for Sacramento County and former Home & Garden writer for The Sacramento Bee. He can be reached at masterg29@gmail. com. For answers to gardening questions, contact the UCCE Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338, email mgsacramento@ucanr.edu or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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Growing Up in the Garden

FAMILIES TURN TO THEIR OWN BACKYARDS FOR HEALTHY LIFE LESSONS

Shani Drake with her children Desean and Jenevieve Photo by Linda Smolek

wo children gently plant strawberry seeds in a bed of soft earth while their mother waters the persimmon tree nearby. It is therapeutic, restorative, peaceful. During these uncertain times, many families have turned to their own backyards to create a haven of fruits and veggies while gaining healthy life lessons and skills. In the backyard of their ArdenArcade home, Shani Drake and her two children, 5-year-old Jenevieve and 12-year-old Desean, have created a vibrant plot of earth teeming with Mexicola avocados, fava beans, strawberries, elderberries, rosemary, sorrel and purple potatoes. “Desean is one of our biggest inspirations,” Shani says. “He has food allergies so we like making fresh foods not from packages.” Desean agrees. “My mom makes good recipes,” he says. “Like watermelon berry mint salad with Peruvian cherries.” Shani was recently featured in a YouTube documentary called “Sacramento Garden Tour: Shani’s Urban Food Forest” in which she explains growing up in South Sacramento without access to unprocessed, unpackaged foods. “People are lacking in nutrition,” Shani says. “So what we do here is incorporate a lot of people who come to watch us garden for our own family.” By inviting neighbors to stroll through their garden and take samples of plants, Shani hopes to inspire a healthy lifestyle throughout the neighborhood. Although their garden has been growing since before the pandemic, Shani says her family made some changes to their eating habits to

TMO By Tessa Marguerite Outland Farm-to-Fork

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

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3405 Broadway and visit our new location at 1731 L St. minimize trips to the grocery store. “No meat Mondays” and entire meals made with ingredients from the garden are now common practices at the Drake home. Jenevieve likes foraging on hikes for blackberries and edible flowers, collecting seeds and planting them in healthy, rich soil. Desean contributes to the garden by carrying compost in a wheelbarrow and sifting out the rocks. Desean also built a pond in the garden as a water source for the pumpkins and corn. Shani volunteers at the Oak Park Art Garden and aspires to one day teach classes in Sacramento on how to garden and provide for your own family. Lee and D’Angelo Farrand live in Carmichael with their three children, 16-year-old Anée, 3-year-old Serenity and 1-year-old Malia. Growing up, Lee recalls berry bushes in the backyard that were eventually strangled by weeds. Years later, she became a wife and mother, bought her childhood home and transformed that once neglected backyard space into a place of growth (and more berries). To eliminate the weeds, Lee blocked the obtrusive plants’ intake of sunlight by covering the ground with blankets for two months. This method takes longer than chemical solutions, but is effective and natural. Using a shovel, she then chopped up the weeds and top layer of dirt across the 8-by-35 square-foot area. She installed a

Raindrip Automatic Watering System with the help of her boss and father via FaceTime. After a visit to Green Acres Nursery & Supply and farmers markets, and watching social media tutorials, soil was fertilized and seeds were planted. “I knew that I wanted to have tomatillos,” Lee says. “We’re suckers for those in my house.” The Farrand garden is also rich with artichokes, eggplants, three different melon varieties, zucchinis, banana peppers, ancho chilies, jalapenos, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, blackberries, strawberries and more. Serenity runs barefoot in the garden every day to look for ripe strawberries. She watches her mom and helps pull weeds. “Her version of helping,” Lee laughs. During the first weeks of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, Lee says she was concerned for her family. D’Angelo was laid off from work. Malia is immunocompromised, so it was even more of a risk to go out in public, such as to a grocery store, during the pandemic. “We just started all going outside in the backyard,” Lee says. Together, they built a playground to keep the kids occupied while Lee gardens. Lee talks to her children about the progression of growth and the importance of knowing where and how their food is grown. “The food from the grocery store tastes nothing like fresh fruit, fresh vegetables,” Lee says.

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“I want to be in control of what my family eats and I like to have the option to know that my food comes from the backyard.” Gabrielle and Curt Menn have three children and live in Fair Oaks. Gabrielle’s farm-to-fork journey was strongly influenced by her youngest son, Tyler, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. Gabrielle says before they had a garden it was a struggle to get Tyler to eat anything. Now 15 years old, Tyler happily eats eggs—in a “huge variety of different colors and shapes”—from chickens he helped raise and vegetables from the garden. Gabrielle grew up on a farm in Napa surrounded by open air, horses and her family’s garden. “Corn, tomatoes, zucchini, you name it we grew it,” she says. “I always wanted to be able to do that for our kids.” Now, with a greenhouse and garden shaded by a pecan tree on a quarter acre of land, she is doing just that. The Menn garden produces dwarf citrus, peppers, sugar snap peas, radishes, carrots, broccoli and artichokes. Tyler likes peeling and juicing grapefruits and harvesting kale seeds from dried pods. While he wouldn’t describe himself as a “farm

person,” he likes going outside to gather fresh fruits and veggies off the vine to eat. “It makes me feel good to pick my own strawberries,” Tyler says. For those who cannot grow a garden of their own, there are several Sacramento nonprofits, such as the Food Literacy Center and Slow Food Sacramento, that advocate for kids’ health and education. They have continued their exceptional services to the community throughout the pandemic. Some families are also finding relief through federally funded programs like CalFresh’s Double Up Food Bucks, which provides double the dollar amount when consumers purchase California-grown produce from select farmers markets. For more information, go to foodliteracycenter.org and slowfoodsacramento.org. Tessa Marguerite Outland can be reached at tessa.m.outland@gmail. com. Our Inside Sacramento Restaurant Guide and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

Stopping the EAST SAC RESIDENT SHARES MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS

Stigma

Kim Frisella with her therapy dog Hazel. Photo by Aniko Kiezel

therapist once told Kim Frisella that if you stay in bed, you know what the results will be. But if you get up, you at least allow for the opportunity of change. Frisella has had days when just making it from the bed to the couch is a major accomplishment. But she’s not hiding anymore. She’s telling her story to help others see that recovery is possible as a speaker for Stop Stigma Sacramento, a project overseen by the Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services. Stop Stigma is designed to promote mental health, and reduce stigma and discrimination,

JL By Jessica Laskey Meet Your Neighbor

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

as part of Sacramento County’s Mental Health Services Act. Elmhurst resident Frisella was first hospitalized in 2012. At the time, she was working in a collections call center for the state, she had a loving husband and two kids, ages 5 and 6. Everything seemed fine. But she’d also been experiencing symptoms of severe depression and PTSD—flashbacks of childhood trauma that made her numb, which led to self-harm to make herself feel … something. Like most people, Frisella was frightened when she first went into the hospital. She wondered what people were going to think of her—what she was going to think of herself. But once she took a look around, she realized she was surrounded by people just like her— people who were hurting, struggling, confused. People who needed help. “When I got out of the hospital, I didn’t hide it,” Frisella says. “I said, ‘This is me. This is a part of me.’ By doing that, I found support, empathy and authenticity in myself.” Frisella eventually went on medical disability from her job, which left her

time to get back to her first love— working outdoors with animals. (She studied parks and recreation in college.) She says that volunteering with the Wildlife Care Association has been “a lifesaver,” as has connecting with those who are also in recovery through Stop Stigma Sacramento. When a friend told her about the organization’s Speakers Bureau—which sends speakers into the community to share personal stories about living with mental illness, promote positive attitudes, and share messages of wellness, hope and recovery—Frisella says she felt compelled to join. “So many people are stigmatized and don’t have support, so I felt like I had to speak up and let people know that the psychiatric hospital is a resource in the community, not a scary place,” she says. “I wanted to step out and tell people that it’s okay to go there. I would never have known had I not gone through it.” Frisella says that the network she’s created through the Speakers Bureau has been particularly important during this unprecedented time of isolation. Because isolation is often a trigger for

those with depression, Frisella says it’s all the more important to reach out—to a friend, family member, coworker or one of the many resources listed on Stop Stigma’s website. “Making that first call or text is a really important first step,” Frisella says. “Reach out to somebody and just say ‘I’m having a hard time.’ If somebody you know is struggling, know that you don’t have to fix them or solve anything—just be willing to sit with them. It’s surprising how much being able to open up helps. “I’ve found nothing but support since I stopped worrying about being seen as weak and sharing my story. Getting help is worth it.” For more information, visit stopstigmasacramento.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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HISTORIC CITY ICE RINK READY FOR COMEBACK

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

ummertime in Sacramento and the streets sizzle. After months of coronavirus and social upheaval, my thoughts naturally turn to sports. Specifically, ice skating. Imagine the joy of heading to Del Paso Boulevard and cooling off with a few spins around the frozen pond at Iceland. But skating is impossible at Iceland. The ice is gone. The rink surface is covered with blue plastic tarps and wooden planks. It’s hard to freeze ice when the temperature is 98 degrees and the building has no roof. The Iceland roof disappeared in 2010, when an arson fire destroyed most of the iconic sports palace built by Bill

RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

Kerth in 1940. Before the fire, Iceland was a skating hall down on its luck. It had fallen far from its mid-century pinnacle. Now Iceland is ready for its comeback. The City Council approved $1.3 million for a new roof as part of the Enhancing Neighborhood Services program. The coronavirus slowed the project, but Iceland’s roof should rise in 2021. Once restored, Iceland will be a premier destination for children, families, date nights and hockey players. I hope there’s a way to honor a young man who spent his final hours enjoying Iceland—a teenager whose death still resonates a half-century later. On a rainy Sunday, Dec. 3, 1972, Ray Brewer, a 15-year-old African American, and two teenage friends, Adrian Richardson and Larry Ward, were headed home after watching skaters at Iceland. As they walked toward Arden Way, they saw two men in white coats. One man had a shotgun. They shouted at the boys. Frightened, Ray, Adrian and Larry ran back toward Iceland. The men were Sam Somers and Dean LaChapelle, undercover police officers.

They were among several cops assigned to Del Paso after eight neighborhood robberies. Here’s how the gears fell into horrific alignment: A bartender on Del Paso phones police. He’s just seen several men who might be robbers. Somers spots Ray, Adrian and Larry, three innocent kids coming from Iceland. The boys have picked up sticks to deal with dogs along the Sacramento Northern railroad tracks. The boys match the robbers’ description. Or near enough. Male. Black. Hearing the shouts and seeing the shotguns, the boys are panicked. As the teens run near Edgewater Road, one block from Iceland, Somers aims his revolver at Ray and fires three times. Two bullets miss. One slug ricochets off the pavement and hits Ray in the leg.

LaChapelle levels his shotgun and fires once. A pellet hits Ray in the back. Adrian throws Ray over his shoulder and tries to carry his friend away. He doesn’t get far. With Ray dying from the shotgun wound, his companions are handcuffed and beaten by police. Furious residents march on City Hall. They demand reforms and accountability. The county grand jury indicts Somers for involuntary manslaughter. The state appellate court blocks the indictment and rules the shooting accidental, a tragic case of mistaken identity. Time passes. People forget. Four decades later, Somers’ son becomes Sacramento police chief. Iceland tumbles into obscurity. Bill Kerth’s family sells the rink in 1977. The buyer, unable to attract crowds, finds Iceland a terrible investment. He returns it to the Kerths after four years.

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Need a Hand? Art For Growth & Development

Terrie Kerth, Bill’s daughter, runs Iceland today as a charity. Sometimes magic flows from bad things. Days after the 2010 fire, people began to remember how much they loved Iceland. They realized the important role the rink played in local recreational life. More than 400 volunteers helped clear the charred roof to get the rink open. Now Iceland follows an abbreviated schedule, open under gray skies November to February. Iceland doesn’t pull in much money. Tax returns show $125,014 in ticket sales and $30,389 in gifts and donations in 2018. Rental skates were donated by Berkeley Iceland when it closed in 2012. But Terrie Kerth says the restored rink will be beautiful.

“The roof and exterior will look exactly as they did in 1940,” she says. “The facilities will be updated, but keeping the original look is critical.” City Councilmember Allan Warren engineered the city’s contribution. He tells me “it’s an important project,” but that’s an understatement. Iceland is part of Sacramento’s history. And history should never be forgotten. Information on Iceland can be found at skatesacramento.com. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Making Art Matter

Dennis Wilson Photos by Linda Smolek

OIL PAINTER TAKES WORK FROM HOBBY TO CAREER

here are three things that have happened to Dennis Wilson in the past few years that have changed the trajectory of his art career. “Winning awards in the 2015 and 2016 KVIE Art Auctions, meeting (fellow painter) Bob Miller and joining an art critique group changed things,” Wilson says in the kitchen of his Rosemont home, where dozens of his striking oil paintings share wall space with family photos. “Meeting people and making contacts are key for me.”

JL By Jessica Laskey Open Studio

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

Considering the 78-year-old’s endearing affability, it’s no surprise that once people meet him and see his extraordinary paintings— depicting everything from celebrities and buildings to furniture and farmscapes—they want to work with him in whatever way they can. That’s what happened when Wilson landed a booth next to celebrated local watercolorist and adman Bob Miller at a pop-up art show hosted by Dunnigan Realtors. “Bob is the sweetest person,” says Wilson, who hails from Compton but has called Santa Cruz, Monterey and now Sacramento home. “He invited me to lunch with a bunch of other artists who meet at OneSpeed Pizza regularly and now I’m part of that community.” Community has always been big for Wilson, both personally and professionally. After attending college and serving as an officer in

the Airforce during Vietnam, Wilson decided to go to graduate school and earn a teaching credential. Since he’d already been painting as a hobby, he figured he would teach art. When the only position open at the time was for a special education teacher, Wilson took it—and taught for the next 34 years. Wilson continued to paint in his free time and even entered a few contests. He won $100 at a competition held at a Fresno shopping mall, as well as various awards in shows for the Central California Art League, Santa Cruz Art League and Society of Western Artists. But his life took an unexpectedly familial turn when he met and married Janet in 1996, bringing her three school-age children into the mix. “With a bunch of little wild ones running around, I figured I probably shouldn’t have expensive art supplies sitting out,” Wilson laughs.

He happily took a break from painting for the next 15 years as the kids grew up, but recently returned to his calling after retiring and moving with Janet to Sacramento, where he now has a whole room to himself to make art every day. He joined the Sacramento Fine Arts Center and Northern California Arts, and began entering juried art shows, which is when the recognition started rolling in. In 2015, Wilson won first place in contemporary painting at the KVIE Art Auction, followed by an award of merit in the 2016 California State Fair’s Fine Art Competition. He also won a juror’s award at the 2016 KVIE Art Auction (doled out by nationally recognized muralist Esteban Villa), which convinced Wilson that perhaps his art was “good enough to take things further.” Other artists also took note of Wilson’s abundant ability to paint

things that “strike me, stop me in my tracks and make me record them,” and he was soon invited into an art critique group with the likes of prominent artists Steve Memering and Sandy Delehanty. “Critique is invaluable,” Wilson says. “Everyone understands it’s not personal, and it’s amazing to have such good eyes looking at your work from a fresh perspective.” Last April, Wilson was given his first solo show at The Brickhouse Gallery in Oak Park, which featured approximately 38 paintings that range in subject matter from portraits to landscapes to slightly surreal images of figures juxtaposed against sharply defined architectural elements. But no matter what he’s painting, Wilson knows that there’s really only one reason he’s doing it.

“When I paint, the information and knowledge that’s in my brain just comes forth,” he says. “Words can never accurately describe what I’m doing—I think they actually diminish it. They can’t capture the feeling behind a painting. Ultimately, I don’t put anything out there I don’t like. I have to be inspired.” For more information, visit denniswilsonfineart.com. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Food for the

Soul OAK PARK RESTAURANT BRINGS COMFORT WHEN ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEEDED

Photos by Linda Smolek

GS By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

ILP/GRID AUG n 20

s I write this, Sacramento County has just reordered all indoor dining to shutter. The brief window of opportunity to visit a restaurant has closed after restaurant owners were put in a literally impossible situation of making diners feel safe, and still have their restaurants be the convivial gathering places they were pre-COVID. Too many of us expected bar and restaurant owners to enforce rules they were just coming to terms with and fully understanding.

Store is open!

Curbside pickup available. School summer reading books available.

Crawford’s Books New | Used | Trade 5301 Freeport Blvd. #200 916.731.8001 crawfordbooks.net jcrawfordbks@comcast.net Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 6pm But, thankfully, for those of us who cannot cook water without burning it, or those of us who cook competently but enjoy a restaurant meal now and again, or even those that cherish the opportunity to cook for our loved ones and yet equally admire the skill and talent that go into a truly professionally prepared dinner, we still have takeout. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to grab takeout from Fixins Soul Kitchen, Oak Park’s excellent new soul food spot. The restaurant, which opened last year, is the product of an ownership group, including former Mayor Kevin Johnson. Johnson is not without his detractors. If you wish to read about his work as mayor, or issues with charter schools, or claims against him of sexual misconduct, you can find the material. I, however, make the choice to focus on the food at Fixins, for no matter who is involved up front, the folks in the kitchen deserve accolades for putting out some of the finest food I’ve had this year. First, a quick primer. There’s often a conflation of soul food and Southern food. And while the two definitely overlap, there’s certain boundaries to be drawn.

Author Vanessa Hayford puts it this way: “Soul food takes its origins mostly from Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama, a collection of states commonly referred to as the Deep South. During the Transatlantic Slave Trade, enslaved African people were given meager food rations that were low in quality and nutritional value…This food genre, now associated with comfort and decadence, was born out of struggle and survival.” The soul food staples we’ve come to know—hush puppies, greens, oxtails, turkey wings, gravy and the rest—came with the Black American cooks who migrated north and west from the south throughout the U.S. over the last 150 years. And, as Hayford puts it, this food once born out of struggle, now signifies comfort. In fact, it more than signifies. It truly is comfort food. The fried chicken is terrific, the mac and cheese spot on, the candied yams indulgent and the gumbo on point. There is, however, one standout dish that deserves its own writeup. Heck, it deserves its own restaurant: the fried catfish. I know, I know, there are some of you (Mom) who say you don’t like catfish. Well, you haven’t had this catfish. A single order comes with a sizable filet, bigger than the plate it’s served on (or,

during the pandemic, the box it comes in). The crust, oh lord the crust, is a shatteringly crispy cornmeal concoction that sticks to the fish in the most pleasant manner. We’ve all had fried food where the majority of the crust winds up falling off, haven’t we? This ain’t that. Seasoned with a bit of heat and a good dose of spice blend, the crust tenderly envelops that ugly, bottomdwelling fish like a mother cradling a newborn. The unbelievably moist and flaky flesh of that monstrous mudsucker could not be more delicate, more beautiful, more expertly handled than if it had been raised by hand in a Michelin star restaurant by a young apprentice, fresh faced from the French countryside. All hyperbole aside, it is, without question, the best fried catfish I’ve ever had. It comes close to being the best fried fish of any type I’ve ever had. It’s truly spectacular. It stands up to a hefty dash of Crystal hot sauce and equally stands on its own. It’s large enough to share and delicious enough to covet. It’s a special dish made by a special kitchen. In these days where comfort, more than ever, is sought, where we do not know what the future holds from day to day, and where we must focus on

coming together as a people, there’s no substitute for soul food. And, if you haven’t seen your neighbors at Fixins yet for a taste, you might just owe yourself a trip. Fixins Soul Kitchen is at 3428 3rd Ave., Oak Park; (916) 999-7685; fixinssoulkitchen.com. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. Our Inside Sacramento Restaurant Guide and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

ALL HYPERBOLE ASIDE, IT IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE BEST FRIED CATFISH I’VE EVER HAD.

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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