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SOUTH LAND PARK 3 bedroom 2 bath home with gigantic yard. Original re¿nished solid oak Àoors. Gorgeous quality remodeled kitchen with beautiful cabinets, granite counter tops and appliances. Dual pane windows and slider. Shutters throughout. Roof, gutters and water heater in 2017. Huge RV parking with metal awning at this amazing property Sundance spa. $439,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555
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LIVE ON LAKE GREENHAVEN Amazing opportunity to live on the water in a 1 story home! Views and sunsets are incredible. Feel like you are on vacation every day! Master bedroom with lake view and access. Separate living and family rooms. Living/dining room with full wall of glass overlooking the lake. Sandy beach and boat dock $593,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555
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SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE This home has ‘pizzaz’! 4 bedrooms 2½ baths, you’ll feel your heart skip a beat when the front door swings open and your senses feast on a blend of stylish contemporary and mid-century tradition. You’ll be awestruck by the walls of glass, angular rooms, and a voluminous library that doubles as a quick getaway or an entertainer’s dream. $650,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 916-505-5395
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OWNER PRIDE SHOWS THROUGHOUT This quality home is in amazing condition. Brand new master bathroom remodel. Great Àoor plan with separate living and family rooms. 3 bedrooms 2 baths. Upgrades include interior and exterior paint, shutters, recessed lights, ¿xtures, Bosch gas cooktop, stainless steel sink, and tile Àoors and counter tops. Wonderful large yard! $399,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555
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HEART OF HOLLYWOOD PARK This gem of a home has everything you need and want. Step inside to enjoy the inviting living room ¿replace, complete with beautiful hardwood Àoors and plenty of natural light. Entertain in your large, updated kitchen with granite counters, dining bar, Travertine Àoors, double ovens and relaxed dining space. Large family room, wood burning ¿replace! $399,000 KELLIE SWAYNE 916-206-1458
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SPACIOUS 4 BEDROOM HOME Charming 4 bedroom 2 bath home in Golf Course Terrace! Remodeled kitchen with quartz stone, baths, Àoors, paint, lights, and appliances. Past updates include heat and air, water heater, windows, sliders, blinds, ceiling fans and main electrical panel. Living room with ¿replace and cozy family room. Large yard for relaxing and entertaining! $260,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555
for current home listings, please visit:
DUNNIGANREALTORS.COM 916.484.2030 916.454.5753 Dunnigan is a different kind of Realtor.
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ADORABLE HOLLYWOOD PARK You will love the classic features paired with modern amenities: wood Àoors, spacious living room with cozy ¿replace, formal dining room, and updated kitchen with tile counters, remodeled bathroom, and neat loft upstairs could make for a 3rd bedroom or the perfect home of¿ce! Enclosed rear sun room area and large sunny backyard with pergola. $324,900 ERIN STUMPF 916-342-1372
pending
BRENTWOOD VILLAGE Wonderful original family home. Enjoy the large family room featuring brick ¿replace, beamed ceiling and new carpet. Light and airy living room has nice ¿replace and bookshelves. Dining room has a pass through to the kitchen. Pretty hardwood Àoors throughout most of the house. Backyard potential! $285,000 PAULA SWAYNE 916-425-9715
sold
GOLF COURSE TERRACE First time on the market in over 50 years! Come see this well loved Golf Course Terrace Home. Excellently maintained 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath with newer roof and carpeting covering original hardwood Àoors. Covered patio and well maintained landscape front and rear. Enjoy a bounty of wonderful oranges this winter! Welcome Home! $249,900 LES LOCKREM 916-835-0383
PENDING PENDING Pocket Contemporary!
Incredible Opportunity! (Co-Listed with Jenny Smith) $604,900
Welcome Home! $370,000
Tranquil Retreat! (Co-Listed with Jenny Smith) $454,500
Preserved and Stunning MCM! $619,000
Charming Pocket Contemporary! $512,500
Happy Holidays!
916.203.9690 ReneeCatricala.com CalBRE# 01077144
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COVER ARTIST Frank Damiano Damiano earned an MFA from the University of California, Davis in 1987. Damiano’s work has always had an emblematic side. In his collages and paintings, objects are presented rather as one finds them displayed in traditional heraldry. He is represented by John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis.
3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only)
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info@insidepublications.com EDITOR Marybeth Bizjak mbbizjak@aol.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel AD COORDINATOR Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Sue Pane sue@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Jim Hastings, Daniel Nardinelli, Lauren Hastings
916-443-5087 EDITORIAL POLICY Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Inside Publications. Inside Publications is delivered for free to more than 75,000 households in Sacramento. Printing and distribution costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. We spotlight selected advertisers, but all other stories are determined solely by our editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising. No portion may be reproduced mechanically or electronically without written permission of the publisher. All ad designs & editorial—©
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DECEMBER 17 VOL. 4 • ISSUE 11 6 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 30 34 36 40 44
Publisher's Desk Pocket Life Inside City Hall Pocket Beat Reducing Homelessness Giving Back Building Our Future Sports Authority Garden Jabber Home Insight Inside Downtown Spirit Matters To Do Artist Spotlight Restaurant Insider
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Public Art is Alive and Well SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN ARTS COMMISSION CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
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rior to starting our first publication 22 years ago, my husband and I became deeply involved in the neighborhood association we helped create. The lessons learned about local politics and land-use decisions were integral to the type of coverage our publications brought to our community. Just over six years ago, another civic experience dramatically shaped our coverage. In 2011, County Supervisor Susan Peters appointed me to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. During my six-year term, I learned not only about the farreaching work of the commission, but also the arts community in general. This year, SMAC is celebrating its 40-year anniversary, so I want to share both the history and current work of the commission. SMAC was established in 1977— under Mayor Phil Isenberg—by city and county ordinances as a public agency devoted to supporting, promoting and advancing arts in the region. It is jointly funded by both the city and county. The commission provides funding to local artists and arts groups, and promotes the arts through marketing, outreach and education initiatives.
CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk
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Gerald Walberg’s Indo Arch sculpture, located the corner of 4th and K streets, was the first piece of public art commissioned in 1977. Walberg is an internationally renowned sculptor living in Sacramento. SMAC also provides resources to support and increase regional arts education activities. SMAC is guided by 11 commissioners, five appointed by the city council, five appointed by the county board of supervisors and one appointed by the current commissioners. SMAC also has a small staff led by Jonathon Glus, director of cultural and creative economy. When I was appointed to the commission, I assumed incorrectly that the only thing it did was select
and administer public art. A decade earlier, I served as a community member on a selection panel for public art that now appears on the water tower on Alhambra Boulevard in East Sacramento. Sacramento’s nationally renowned Art in Public Places program was also established in 1977 to expand visual artwork in public spaces. Sacramento’s most iconic public art pieces—including the giant red rabbit at the Sacramento International Airport and the Jeff Koons’ sculpture at the Golden 1 Center—get most
of the media and public attention. But the APP collection now includes more than 650 artworks, of which more than 60 percent are by local and regional artists. APP is managed through SMAC, and funded by 2 percent of eligible city and county capital-improvement project budgets that are set aside for the commission, purchase and installation of artworks. For the past couple of years, I chaired the public art committee, which oversees and approves projects and artist selections. For all but smaller budget
projects, a panel is assembled of community members, artists and project representatives to select artists for specific projects and review their plans with the entire commission for approval. In the early decades, public art was restricted to paintings, sculptures and murals. But in recent years, it has grown to take a much broader approach that includes functional or utilitarian urban components, such as benches, bike racks, tree protectors and flooring elements. While public art is easily the most visible to the community, SMAC also does significantly more. The commission’s arts education program provides access to, and engagement in, learning experiences for regional residents of all ages. Arts and cultural organizations are also offered grant opportunities to encourage their growth and to broaden their contributions to the community. Earlier this year, the commission established a community task force on cultural equity to ensure that the policies and procedures of SMAC lead to grant awards that reflect the rich diversity of our community.
My appreciation for the breadth of the local arts community was significantly enhanced by my six years on the commission. SMAC’s gallery program also provides visual art experiences in public locations, including the gallery in the lobby of City Hall and at the SMUD headquarters. These free public exhibitions showcase the artistic and cultural resources of the region. This month, if you are traveling, you may be lucky enough to hear
the Holiday Music Series that brings high-quality, diverse performances to the airport. In recent years, Supervisor Peters also presented holiday music performances at shopping centers in the county. In addition, SMAC administers the Sacramento Poet Laureate Program designed to bring the spoken word to our community through the power of poetry. I believe one of the most impactful programs that SMAC manages is the Sacramento365.com website. The site features comprehensive listings of music, theater and dance performances, museum and gallery exhibitions, film screenings, poetry readings, cultural festivals, kids' activities and much more, showcasing all things artistic that Sacramento has to offer. When I joined the commission in 2011, the arts community was still reeling from the recession. Donations were down, and arts and cultural organizations were on life support. Funding for the commission is based upon apportion of the city’s hotel tax. As city budgets were slashed, funding for the commission was severely cut, as were funds for staff, programs and grants. In recent years, a good portion of the budget has been restored. As a commissioner, I was asked to attend monthly public meetings and arts events in the community. I have always loved the arts, but frankly my appreciation for the breadth of the local arts community was significantly enhanced by my six years on the commission. In addition, our business developed a program to sponsor the cost of advertising for a number of arts organizations. My goal during my tenure was to bring as much attention to the local arts community as we could through our publications’ coverage. When I stepped off the commission in August, I felt confident that I succeeded in fulfilling that goal. And we look forward to continuing—and further expanding—our coverage well into the future. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n
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Legends of the Arts Awards As part of Sacramento Metropolitian Arts Commission’s 40th anniversary celebration a special awards program to honor those who have made major contributions to the arts over the past four decades. The celebration was held in October at the lovely East Sacramento home and studio of internationally renowned artist Gerald Walburg. Walberg’s studio was selected because his Indo Arch sculpture was the first piece of public art commissioned in 1977. Not pictured is former SMAC commissioner Susan Willoughby who presented her award to ceramicist and arts educator Ruth Rippon.
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Arts philanthropist and artist Marcy Friedman presented her award to Shelly Willis for her public art contribution and arts advocacy.
Arts philanthropist Joyce Raley Teel presented her award to Ron Cunningham, artistic director of the Sacramento Ballet.
Former county supervisor and arts advocate Muriel Johnson presented her award to Donald Kendrick of the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra.
Arts advocate Dennis Mangers presented his award to Estella Sanchez, the founder of Sol Collective.
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Theater actor and producer James Wheatley of Celebration Arts presented his award to Shonna McDaniel, founder of the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum and Arts Education Program. Daphne Burgess accepted the award for McDaniel.
Arts philanthropist and former mayor R. Burnett Miller and Mimi Miller presented their award to Bob Stanley, Sacramento’s ďŹ rst poet laureate.
SMAC commissioner Steve Winlock was emcee of the Legends event. Former county supervisor and arts advocate Sandy Smoley presented her award to John Crowe for his work in arts philanthropy.
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Indoor Boot Camp Now Open FVT OFFERS PERSONAL TRAINING BY FORMER PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER
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on’t wait until the new year to jumpstart your personal fitness. The PocketGreenhaven community now has its first indoor “boot camp” in the Promenade Shopping Center. FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training is owned by lead personal trainer, Forest Vance, a former University of California, Davis, and professional football player. He operates another FVT Boot Camp at the corner of X and 16th streets. The grand opening for the PocketGreenhaven FVT took place in mid-October, with representatives from Vice Mayor Rick Jennings office helping with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. To introduce people to FVT’s fitness program, Vance is offering a 14-day “Test Drive” for $99, which includes a meal-planning guide, body measurements and six workout sessions. Fitness sessions are 45 minutes each and offered at 6 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 8 a.m. on Saturday. Although “boot campers” are typically 30 to 55 years old, Vance plans to offer “Functional Fitness” classes geared toward people 60 years and older. Vance played pro football with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. As an offensive-line player, he weighed 310 pounds. Vance said he was
CM By Corky Mau Pocket Life
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Details will be provided in a future Pocket Life column. FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training is at 7485 Rush River Drive and 1530 X Street. For more information, call (916) 273-9366 or email forest@forestvancetraining.com.
PROJECT WARM WISHES Meals on Wheels by ACC continues its Project Warm Wishes, seeking public and corporate donations of winter clothing, blankets and related accessories for homebound seniors. In 2016, approximately 750 seniors received a warm gift for the holidays. With the help of residents in the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood and throughout Sacramento County, Meals on Wheels hopes the 2017 collection drive will surpass last year’s effort. Meals on Wheels is at 7375 Park City Drive. To donate to Project Warm Wishes, contact Michelle Bustamante at (916) 444-9533.
Forest Vance is the owner of a new indoor boot camp. strong and fit for playing football, but he would not have been able to run a couple miles without being wiped out. After implementing a healthy diet and fitness regiment, he lost 70 pounds in seven months and discovered he had a knack for training others to raise their fitness levels. His overall philosophy is to help each person achieve “functional fitness” as it relates to executing real-life movements, such as lifting, pushing and pulling, and becoming stronger to execute everyday activities. Vance has been featured in national newspapers, radio, television and other
media, and is the creator/author of numerous books and DVDs. More than 15,000 people in 43 countries have purchased his home-workout videos. Vance holds a master’s degree in human movement and personaltraining certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine and National Academy of Sports Medicine. In January 2018, Vance plans to hold a six-mile “studio to studio” (Land Park to Pocket-Greenhaven) run/walk to benefit local charities.
JFK WINTER CONCERT Music students at John F. Kennedy High School will hold their annual Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. in the school’s Performing Arts Auditorium. This musical event, under the direction of Jeremy Hammond, will feature the jazz band, orchestra and choir. The school recently began its band competition season against high schools in Loomis, Stockton, Pleasanton and Lodi. To view a performance, visit YouTube’s “2017 JFK Marching Band Fall Concert Phantom.” The JFK Music Boosters is still accepting corporate and individual
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donations to help band students travel to Washington, D.C., for the 2018 National Memorial Day Parade. Donations are accepted through PayPal at jfkennedyband.com. JFK is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. John F. Kennedy High School is at 6715 Gloria Drive. For more information, call (916) 395-5090 or email Cindy Kazee at secretary@ jfkennedyband.com.
WINTER WONDERLAND CRAFT SHOW Matsuyama Elementary School will hold its Winter Wonderland Craft Show on Friday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. Find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for friends and family. A variety of baked goods also will be available for purchase. Matsuyama Elementary School is at 7680 Windbridge Drive. For more information, call (916) 395-4650.
DANDELION ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW The Sacramento Senator Lions Club will hold its fifth annual DandeLion Arts and Crafts Show on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sacramento Buddhist Church. Proceeds will support a variety of local community projects. Admission and parking are free. The Sacramento Buddhist Church is at 2401 Riverside Blvd. For more information, email senatorlionsevents@gmail.com.
ELKS LODGE NEW YEAR’S EVE Spend New Year’s Eve at the Sacramento Elks Lodge #6. The price of $55 per person includes dinner, dancing, party favors, a balloon drop and champagne at midnight. The Latin Touch band and Latin Motion DJ will provide dancing music. Purchase tickets early because the party is expected to sell out. The Elks Lodge is at 6446 Riverside Blvd. For more information, call (916) 422-6666.
Exercise Your Mind the Way You Exercise Your Body Meet the Cognitive Therapeutics Method™, a mental exercise program for the brain! As an award winning leading provider of in-home care for seniors, Home Care Assistance - Sacramento is proud to introduce our latest innovation in senior care: The Cognitive Therapeutics Method™! This program is designed to promote long term brain health through fun yet effective activities, which are performed one-on- one within the home. Call today to learn more about the Cognitive Therapeutics Method™ and to set up your free consultation!
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IDENTITY THEFT MONTH
AT THE LIBRARY
In recognition of National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, two special workshops will be held at Asian Community Center (ACC) Senior Services. “Victims Rights and Services” will take place Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. Join the Victims of Crime Resource Center team to learn about your rights under the California Constitution. Attendees will receive critical information about free services available to victims of crime in California. “Identity Theft” will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 2:30 p.m. Attend this workshop to learn how to protect your personal information, identify ID theft and clear up theft problems. ACC Senior Services is at 7334 Park City Drive. Classes are free, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Anna Su at (916) 393-9026, ext. 330, or email classes@ accsv.org.
Looking for a way to boost schoolage children’s reading skills? Join Marvin, the Wonder Corgi, for “Read to a Dog,” on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library. Kids are invited to bring their own books or borrow one from the library, and practice reading out loud to a registered therapy dog. The Artists' and Crafters' Group will gather Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the library. All artists and crafters are invited. The Robbie Waters PocketGreenhaven Library is at 7335 Gloria Drive.
SOROPTIMIST FUNDRAISER Soroptimist International of Sacramento will hold its annual See’s Candy fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Dec. 1 to Dec. 24 inside Loehmann's Plaza at 523 Munroe St.
“Inside Sacramento: The most interesting neighborhood places in America’s farm-to-fork capital” also will be for sale to benefit the nonprofit service club that has a 93-year history of supporting at-risk women and girls in Sacramento. For more information, visit soroptimistsacramento.com.
WINTER FAIRE FUN Celebrate the wonder of the season at Camellia Waldorf School's 29th Annual Winter Faire on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy puppet shows, candle dipping, gingerbread-house making, food and drink, artisan vendors, a children's store for young shoppers and the "Camellia's Got Talent" showcase. Camilla Waldorf School is at 7450 Pocket Road. Admission to the faire is free. For more information, call (916) 427-5022, email frontdesk@ camellliawaldorf.org or visit www. camelliawaldorf.org. Corky Mau can be reached at corky. sue50@gmail.com. n
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Housing and Homelessness A MARSHALL PLAN FOR SOLVING SACRAMENTO’S TWINNED CRISES
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n 1973, fresh out of high school, I spent six months working for Sacramento-based Woodmore Homes, which built and sold starter homes for the munificent sum of $19,500 each. Woodmore typically built dozens of houses at a time, from start to finish, in under a month. I was a 17-year-old making $1.75 an hour, but even I was conscious enough to marvel at the vivid sight of progress. I used to drive by a few weeks after completion to see the eager young families—with breadwinners making not much more than I was—moving their belongings into the very corporeal embodiment of the American Dream: a home of their own.
CP By Craig Powell Inside City Hall
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What happened to those days? That’s the one question that is never asked by our state and local politicians, who were recently falling over each other to enact so-called “solutions” to our twinned crises of escalating housing costs and rapidly increasing homelessness. But how can they offer coherent solutions when they’ve never bothered to assess how we got ourselves into our current crises? In the 1970s, California home prices were typically about 20 percent higher than they were for homes in the rest of the country. Today, California’s new home prices are 250 percent higher than the rest of the country. Obviously, we’re doing something very wrong. The American Dream of owning a home is dying for most Californians, particularly young families, despite historically low mortgage interest rates. We’re seeing increasing outmigration of young families and those at the lower end of the income
spectrum. They’re fleeing California’s high costs of housing, rising gasoline prices, double-digit annual hikes in utility rates and escalating taxes of every imaginable type. And if the current burden of local taxes wasn’t enough, Mayor Darrell Steinberg assures us that more taxhike measures are coming: an effort to double the Measure U “temporary” half-cent sales tax increase, a city housing tax, a city housing bond, a city schools arts and music tax, a repeat effort to double the countywide half-cent Measure A sales tax, and further double-digit annual hikes in city water, sewer and storm-drainage rates. Viewed in isolation, tax-hike measures can appear reasonable and digestible, often expressed by proponents as costing each taxpayer “no more than just one Starbucks Mocha Grande a week.” But the cumulative effect of multiple tax hikes, coupled with escalating housing costs, is beginning to hollow out
(and drive out) the middle class and devastate the working poor, pitching increasing numbers of the “housing insecure” into actual homelessness. The working poor aren’t big buyers of Starbucks Mocha Grandes. The economy may be humming along for those with the resources to insulate themselves from the increasing burdens. But for middleclass and working-class families, and the poor, the California Dream is morphing into a nightmare of steadily eroding living standards, dashed hopes and, in extreme cases, the quiet terror of homelessness. And the current economic recovery hasn’t done much to restore household incomes: Median real household incomes in Sacramento County remain 10 percent below what they were in 2000—a dismal state nine years into our current expansion, particularly with local economists predicting that Sacramento may end up in a recession in 2019.
Recent hikes in the minimum wage are also likely playing a role in the falling incomes and living standards of the working poor by pricing out unskilled workers from the bottom rungs of the job market, excluding them from jobs they used to hold.
LINK BETWEEN HOUSING AND HOMELESS CRISES Before I started studying homelessness, I thought homeless people were, in very large part, comprised of folks afflicted with drug and alcohol addictions, those with serious mental health issues and societal nonconformists who simply preferred to live outdoors (with considerable crossover among categories), plus a small few struck by incredibly bad luck (i.e., medical crises, spousal abuse, family disintegration). I didn’t believe that large numbers were homeless as a result of declining economic fortunes (i.e., job losses, unaffordable or unavailable housing). While my initial view of the homeless population in Sacramento may have been accurate several years ago, I no longer believe it’s an accurate depiction of homeless people in Sacramento today. Make no mistake, the addicted and the mentally ill still comprise a major portion of the homeless population, but in recent years it has become increasingly apparent that the rapid run-up in the number of homeless people is attributable to something different. The big rise in “newly” homeless people increasingly consists of those who could and should be legitimately considered “economic refugees,” an often brittle population of people who have dropped off the bottom rung of the housing ladder due to declining living standards, declining real incomes, increasing nonhousing costs of living, rising housing costs, limited housing availability, job loss, limited job skills, limited coping skills, absence of a family safety net, poor decision-making skills and poor money management. This is a population that has been most
severely impacted by the housing crisis. I reached this conclusion by comparing changes in the homeless populations in cities with recent, rapid run-ups in housing costs with changes in the homeless populations in cities that have experienced much more moderate increases in housing costs. For the most part, cities that have had the biggest spikes in housing costs are also experiencing rapid growth in homeless populations. Now, correlation does not necessarily mean causation. It’s possible that the same cities that have mismanaged and distorted their housing markets are also providing more generous than average levels of homeless services, which may be acting as an attractant to the mobile, nonnative portion of the homeless population, which most studies put at around 30 percent of the total. Major cities along the West Coast (including Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego) share both traits: They’ve experienced a much higher than average run-up in housing costs, while they have also dramatically increased their spending on homeless services. So it’s possible that the major increases in the homeless populations in those cities are made up of both a large new contingent of economic refugees and a large number of transient homeless people drawn by the superior homeless service levels offered by such cities. In any case, a real solution to the housing crisis will likely help staunch the flow of economic refugees to Sacramento’s streets, alleys and parks.
CAUSES OF CURRENT HOUSING AND HOMELESS CRISES It’s not terribly difficult to figure out the causes of our current housing mess if you’re willing to look for them. We just need to examine what changes have occurred in California’s housing market in recent decades compared to housing markets in the rest of the country. Building homes is a business with certain major cost components,
including land costs, government fees or “exactions,” and the actual cost of construction. Let’s take a quick look at them in turn.
ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY OF BUILDABLE LAND IS DRIVING UP LAND COSTS Land costs are determined by scarcity: how much land is available on which builders can build homes. California has adopted perhaps the most stringent environmental land-use regulations in the country. Laws greatly discourage what are called greenfield developments, meaning traditional suburban-type subdivisions built on the undeveloped perimeters of urban areas, which is where the great majority of California homes have been built in the past 60-plus years. State law instead seeks to limit growth to infill development in existing urban areas, particularly favoring “transit-oriented developments.” The problem is that infill lots cost considerably more than open suburban land, and the costs of constructing houses on infill lots is much higher. Local governments are required to adopt general plans and zoning laws that must comply with the strict land-use directions of the state, which creates an artificial scarcity of buildable land and, consequently, drives up builder land costs. Most states have nowhere close to the strict land-use controls that California imposes. As a consequence, builders in most states are free to develop and build homes in suburban subdivisions on land that’s dramatically cheaper than buildable land in California.
LAW DRIVES UP HOUSING CONSTRUCTION COSTS Construction costs are also higher in California than elsewhere, primarily due to higher skilledlabor costs and higher costs of most building materials, which reflect the impact of higher taxes, gasoline costs, utility rates, etc. Gov. Jerry
Brown recently signed into law a bill that requires the payment of the “prevailing wage” on all housing projects that receive government financing. The prevailing-wage rate is always the union wage rate, which can be twice as much as the market rate for nonunionized skilled labor. The bill was part of a package of legislation that was intended to increase construction of new housing in California. The California Legislature required the prevailing-wage mandate on such projects under pressure from unions, even though such a mandate guarantees that fewer homes will be built as a consequence of the costly mandate.
REAL COST DRIVERS: LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEES Few realize the magnitude of the heavy fees local governments impose on new house and apartment construction. In Sacramento County, total impact fees can run from $45,000 to $90,000 per house. East of the Rockies, impact fees are largely unknown. (In Texas, a builder pays only a modest fee of a few hundred dollars to obtain a building permit.) Such heavy fees are likely the most significant factor in driving up the cost of new housing and making it unaffordable for all but the most affluent. With few eligible buyers able to purchase at such high prices, the volume and pace of new housing construction falters. Result: a constricted housing supply and spiking housing costs. Why are housing impact fees so high in California? Because it’s very easy for cities to raise revenues by loading up new housing with exorbitant fees. Housing fees can be approved by a vote of a city council. Local tax hikes, by comparison, require voter approval.
A MARSHALL PLAN Instead of slashing impact fees on new housing or reducing land TO page 15
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The Time Has Come HOMEOWNERS ALONG THE LEVEE RECEIVE A PIVOTAL LETTER
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he letters went out from City Hall this past autumn, signed by Councilmember Rick Jennings after review by the city attorney’s office. They were diplomatic and straightforward. Mailed to property owners whose houses back up along the Sacramento River levee from the Pocket Canal Parkway to Arabella Way, the letters describe how public access will come to the levee. This is not a tentative opening round for negotiations. Rather, the letters make it clear that after four decades of false starts and broken promises, the city has finally decided to get serious about transforming the levee top into a firstclass pedestrian and bicycle pathway, complete with asphalt, striping and signage. Political support at City Hall is unanimous. Funds are budgeted. The days are over when local politicians ducked the question of levee access or wilted every time a levee property owner warned about armies of trespassers, peeping Toms and burglars. “We are having meetings with the property owners and showing them renderings of the project,” says Dennis Rogers, chief of staff for Jennings. “We want to make this
RG By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat
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Fisherman Richard comes from Ranhco Cordova to launch his boat from Garcia Bend Park. process as open and easy for them as possible.” Since taking office three years ago, Jennings has become the little engine behind the city’s long-standing dream to create a parkway along the Sacramento River, from Freeport to Downtown. Jennings and his staff have spent countless hours working on the access problem. But from a historical perspective, their efforts are a relative blink. The promise of an accessible river parkway began soon after 1959, when the city annexed 4½ square miles of farmland and clay-pit brickyards known as Pocket. By the mid-1960s, with subdivisions sprouting in North
Pocket and construction soon to begin on the nearby section of Interstate 5, the City Council was promoting “adequate public access and use” of the river levee parkway. Between 1965 and 1975, more than 10,000 people moved into Pocket and Greenhaven. Those new residents were generally younger and better educated than residents elsewhere in the city, according to the city’s Pocket Area General Plan, published in 1979. Pocket home prices averaged $45,000 in the late 1970s. Property values would triple within the next decade. The city wanted to engineer the perfect suburban community in Pocket and Greenhaven, filled with diverse housing, easily accessible
parks, schools and commercial centers. Beltways and bikeways were essential—none more important than the River Parkway, which would allow residents to walk or cycle the Pocket’s circumference along the levee. But the dream was short-circuited, until now. Essentially, the city was bullied by a handful of Pocket homeowners—residents with political savvy and the right connections. The original parkway opponents are dead or moved away long ago. But their legacy of denying public access has endured. The original homeowners were armed with property deeds that showed their lot lines running
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SACRAMENTOCHORAL.COM beneath the levee and into the Sacramento River. They claimed they “owned” the levee. The claim was ridiculous— thousands of property lines along California’s coast and waterways show similar expanses. Easements secured by the state a century ago and public-access rights demolish the levee “ownership” claim. But property owners quietly asked state flood authorities to issue permits for private fences across the levee. The fences shut off public access and created private playgrounds atop the levee. The state issued fence permits without public discussion. The city did nothing. Eight fences remain. They will soon be removed as the state prepares for levee-improvement construction. And finally, the city has grown a backbone. Jennings doesn’t want to fight with the current property owners. His letter explains how the city will hire assessors to measure the public area behind each property owner’s home and establish a fair price for recreational access.
The alternative would be to simply revoke the fence permits and open the levee to public use. State and city officials fear pulling the fence permits would invite lawsuits by property owners. Legal experts believe the homeowners would lose—the state’s easements are ironclad, and there’s abundant evidence to demonstrate public recreational activity like fishing going back decades. But Jennings and his City Hall friends want to avoid legal battles. They hope the property owners recognize the time has come to open the river parkway to the public, consistent with planning documents drawn by the city in the 1960s. Some property owners will get nice paydays, averaging around $40,000. And if they refuse to settle up, they can expect litigation from the city, which will prevent them from selling their homes anytime soon. “We believe it will all work out,” Rogers says. It’s about time. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n
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FROM page 13 costs by easing California’s stringent environmental land-use controls, the Legislature and Gov. Brown have placed on the November 2018 ballot a $4 billion housing bond, with the proceeds to be used to build lowincome and subsidized housing. The biggest problem with such a plan is that the government wastes gobs of money paying way too much to build each housing unit ($600,000 per apartment in the case of Sacramento’s pending Twin Rivers housing project), now aggravated by a new prevailing wage requirement. Even Jerry Brown has said that government-subsidized housing is too expensive to build, exclaiming that there isn’t enough money in California to build our way out of our current crisis with government funding. Yet that’s the principal solution he and the Legislature have come up with. And Mayor Steinberg plans to place a city housing bond on the ballot next year to be funded by a new parcel tax.
The smart solution is for governments in our region to join together to adopt the equivalent of an emergency Marshall Plan that would place a moratorium on all impact and other fees currently imposed on the development and construction of new houses, condominiums and apartments. As part of the plan, local leaders should temporarily suspend all climate-based local land-use restrictions on the construction of new housing to the extent permitted under state law, restoring a sensible balance between our region’s dire need for new housing and the governor’s climate-control priorities. I’ll discuss such a plan in further detail next month. If you’d like to offer your suggestions or input, I’d appreciate hearing from you. Craig Powell is a retired attorney, businessman, community activist and president of Eye on Sacramento, a civic watchdog and policy group. He can be reached at craig@ eyeonsacramento.org or (916) 7183030. n
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Reducing Homelessness THE COUNTY TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH BY PHIL SERNA AND PATRICK KENNEDY
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ore than two years ago, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors challenged itself and the county agencies we govern. That’s when board members began making regular and increasingly passionate overtures from the dais. We said things like “What we’re doing is not enough to reduce homelessness” and “We need to do things differently to effect the outcomes we all want.” These statements stemmed from all five of us seeing what our constituents did every day: the person talking to himself in Cesar Chavez Plaza, the huddled figure asleep in a storefront alcove, the growing tent complexes along the American River Parkway. This prompted us to develop a comprehensive and deliberate approach to ameliorate homelessness, the likes of which is unparalleled during our tenure. The following summary explains Sacramento County’s calculated and intensive work in this regard and reflects current measures to reduce homelessness. It is by no means exhaustive, and it denotes only recent developments to augment many
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well-established and effective county programs in place for years.
FAMILY CRISIS RESPONSE AND SHELTERS This initiative will shelter more families dealing with complex health and behavioral health obstacles, and services will be deployed to rapidly rehouse families into permanent and stable living conditions. Entry into family emergency shelters will be simplified by way of a new electronic bed-reservation system managed by the county’s Department of Human Assistance, and DHA bureaus will serve as entry points to the broader crisis-response system, thereby exposing clients to interim supportive services. This initiative is expected to shelter approximately 268 families each year, and transitional housing opportunities will be expanded for an additional 25 families annually.
PRESERVE MATHER COMMUNITY CAMPUS Facing the loss of significant federal funding for more than 200 residential units serving individuals and families in Volunteers of America’s residential and
employment programs, this initiative identifies replacement funding, including new county General Fund support, to continue operations at Mather Community Campus, one of the region’s most successful models offering comprehensive assistance to formerly homeless individuals. With this funding, MCC will transition residents to stable employment and permanent housing in an environment supportive of drug and alcohol recovery.
FULL-SERVICE REHOUSING SHELTER To reach people experiencing homelessness who are difficult to engage in traditional shelter environments, the county will open innovative low-barrier, full-service sites complete with rehousing, and addiction and mental health services. This approach will serve up to 300 individuals each year and welcome people with pets, partners and possessions—the most common reasons given for refusing help. This first-of-its-kind program is intended as a structured “point of entry” to the county’s broader Homeless Continuum of Care, where people can
stabilize and participate in their own recovery and pursue self-sufficiency.
FLEXIBLE PROGRAM The county is implementing a new Flexible Supportive Rehousing Program that will provide adaptive rehousing and stabilization services to people experiencing long-term homelessness and who frequently utilize expensive county and local hospital services (e.g., emergency rooms and/or jail), but who could, with appropriate assistance, stabilize in permanent supportive housing. FSRP will rehouse up to 250 individual and family households in the first year of implementation and provide ongoing services and rental assistance to ensure long-term housing access.
PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOURCES This past spring, the Board of Supervisors (acting as the Sacramento County housing authority) directed the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency to initiate a process that will increase public-
TO page 19
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Hands-On Help VOLUNTEER ROLLS UP HER SLEEVES FOR THE COMMUNITY
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f Gayle Kono could pick the one thing that distinguishes the Sacramento Senator Lions Club from other service organizations, it would be the group’s hands-on approach to volunteerism. “We’re considered ‘the workers,’” says Kono, president of the local chapter. “Whatever needs to be done, we’ll roll up our sleeves and do it. Fundraisers are nice. It’s nice to have money to give back to the community. But our main focus is service projects.” The Sacramento Senator Lions Club has two signature service projects: building and maintaining the Japanese Garden at Fairytale Town and sponsoring and maintaining the Sacramento Zoo’s Sensory Garden. The chapter also sponsors the Sacramento ZooMobile, which visits schools in areas where students might not be able to afford to go to the zoo on their own, as well as the Kindle Project, in which students at Sierra Enterprise Elementary School participate in a reading contest for a chance to win one of six Kindle readers. “For every book a child reads, they enter to win a Kindle,” the South Land Park resident explains. “A child who might not be a big reader can still win, so it encourages kids who maybe aren’t the best readers to read.”
JL By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Profile
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serves on the board of the Sacramento Buddhist Women’s Association. She encourages anyone interested in volunteering to figure out what kind of club best fits their goals.
“I always tell people they should visit different clubs to see where they feel most comfortable.” “I always tell people they should visit different clubs to see where they feel most comfortable,” Kono says, adding that there are 54 service clubs in her district alone. “Come and volunteer at a service project and see if it’s something you’re interested in. And if you have an interest in a particular cause, the Lions Club can help you organize a service project and provide manpower. There’s strength in numbers.”
Gayle Kono Kono says the group’s primary mission has evolved over time to focus on children. “I really feel that if you’re going to put your efforts into anything, the best place to see results is in helping kids,” Kono says. “If you can get to them early and put them on the right track, you won’t have to deal with
other issues down the line. I’ve been the recipient of many acts of kindness throughout my life, especially as a child. Those little gestures that show a kid that someone cares can make them persevere.” Kono also volunteers for the Buddhist Church of Sacramento (where she plays the organ), and she
The Sacramento Senator Lions Club will hold its DandeLion Arts and Crafts Show on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, 2401 Riverside Blvd. The club meets on the first Thursday of every month at Aviator’s Restaurant at Sacramento Executive Airport, 6151 Freeport Blvd. For more information, go to sacramentosenatorlions.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n
FROM page 16
THIS APPROACH WILL housing resources. This initiative hinges on expanding the applicability of a “voucher” system for people suffering homelessness and includes: • A limited-preference allocation of 150 “turnover vouchers” annually. • Up to 375 project-based vouchers over three years to support new or existing permanent supportive housing, including conversion of “problem property” motels. • 75 Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers authorized to shelter homeless veterans over three years. • 50 vouchers over three years to help current supportive housing tenants progress to affordable housing, and that serve new families in need of intensive services. • 100 vouchers for homeless youth participating in a new federal grant called P3. Altogether, the reprioritized voucher system under the sole discretionary control of the Board of Supervisors aims to permanently house 1,050 formerly homeless individuals and families over the next three years.
WHOLE PERSON CARE The Board of Supervisors has been carefully considering the city of Sacramento’s request for assistance to implement a federal grant program called Whole Person Care. The program offers significant funding to enhance navigation, case management and outreach efforts that direct homeless individuals, and those at risk of becoming homeless, to mental health and other services as well as housing resources. The grant, however, does not fund actual service delivery or expand the availability of housing. Following careful analysis, including many appropriate inquiries from supervisors, the board acted on Nov. 7 to apply $44 million in Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) funds to provide vital services that will complement WPC grant objectives and those of the county’s other
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initiatives. Moreover, the board acted to improve upon the grant’s purpose and intent by thoughtfully identifying millions in Proposition 63 funds to continue helping homeless individuals past the grant’s three-year lifespan, a very significant development that underscores Sacramento County’s long-term commitment. Over the coming weeks, Sacramento County will refine an associated implementation plan that, while moving swiftly in its development, will strive to include input from stakeholders and the public. It is expected that this partnership with the city of Sacramento will help thousands of homeless people to stabilize their mental health condition, initiate recovery from drug and alcohol abuse, and secure much-needed housing. Like many others, we agree that homelessness is the most complex and nuance-laden humanitarian and local public policy challenge we face. Regardless of how much some may believe it is intractable, we as county supervisors and especially as native Sacramentans refuse to be defeatist or accept the status quo. Instead, we will continue redoubling our efforts and pursue productive partnerships to affect the change we all want. All of our constituents, including those suffering homelessness, deserve nothing less.
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Phil Serna and Patrick Kennedy serve on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, representing Districts 1 and 2, respectively. They can be reached at supervisorserna@saccounty.net and supervisorkennedy@saccounty.net. n
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Old Sac, New Plan NEW IDEA WOULD FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE WATERFRONT
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hat Old Sacramento isn’t the newest, hippest destination in town is old news. Local publications printed articles about Old Sacramento’s dysfunction as early as 1973. There are plenty of opinions about the district, but most Sacramentans would probably agree that Old Sac hasn’t lived up to its potential. Which is why Richard Rich, the city’s riverfront project manager, gave a presentation before the City Council in June. His topic: How can we revitalize Sacramento’s riverfront, specifically in Old Sacramento? “It’s not hard to find ideas,” said Rich, citing decades of city plans. “My job was pretty much to go through them and pull out the great ideas and present them back to council.” Noting that Mayor Darrell Steinberg has made the riverfront a focus of his administration, “we have a once-in-along-time opportunity right now,” Rich said. The question is this: How can we make ours a 21st-century riverfront? Rich proposed focusing on family attractions, improving building façades, expanding barges for music events, creating new riverfront terraces and bike paths, extending the promenade to Miller Park, adding water taxis, even creating a Sacramento monument. But, Rich conceded, the dots must connect first. Old Sacramento is divided into three groups of owners: state, city and private. “While those groups try to work together, they have different missions, and that creates gaps,” Rich said. The goal is “to get those major groups working toward a single vision and operating style to give a better rendition of the story of Old Sacramento.” Another problem, or a symptom of it, is a retail-and-office vacancy rate that is two-and-a-half times the regional average,
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By Jordan Venema Building Our Future
Grateful for 50 New Friends Properties Sold in 2017 7715 Pocket Road 3250 Gulf Island St 1555 38th Ave 1701 11th Ave 12 Roma Ct 1257 56th Avenue 6608 Serra Bella Ct 420 Ashore Way 5310 Gilgunn Way 6418 Driftwood St 5137 Greenberry Dr 6605 Candellaria Ct 1026 P St 8042 Linda Isle Ln 9924 Prairie Dunes Way 3190 Swallows Nest Dr 150 Eastbrook Way
1711 Wentworth Ave 2022 BC Aly 1244 Woodside Glen Way 6700 Benham Way 6717 13th St 614 Rivercrest Dr 301 Bombay Cir 4900 Crestwood Way 7623 Bridgeview Dr 1231 Teneighth Way 9373 Amen Way 1118 Fay Cir 1285 Grand River Dr 5400 Jade Creek Way 503 Roundtree Ct 899 Lake Front Dr 86 Lido Cir
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and sales per square foot that are less than half the regional average. Rich said that lack of signage and place making, especially at the I Street entrance to Old Sac, contributes to the lack of visitors. He cited a 2011 study by Visit Sacramento showing that 11 percent of business travelers to other cities go to those cities’ waterfronts. In Sacramento, only 1 percent of business travelers go to the riverfront. Rich believes the solution lies in Old Sacramento’s history and stories. “We don’t tell them well enough,” he said. “Exactly right,” agreed Shawn Turner, the tour manager at Sacramento History Museum. “There is nothing, on your own anyway, that tells you what this is,” he said, gesturing to Old Sacramento’s historic buildings. Deciding what stories to tell—and how to tell them—remains on the table. Meanwhile, the city is already moving forward in other areas. Renovation of the Front Street Embarcadero is nearing completion.
“The new Embarcadero will give us a theater, if you will,” said Rich. “We’ve added lights and power so that we can actually stage events along it. Before, you really couldn’t use it but for strolling, and even that was a huge maintenance issue.” The city also recently reacquired the old public market between Old Sac and the waterfront. “We’d like to refurbish the building, clean and open it up, and make a series of retail spaces, like a ‘Made in Sacramento’ market, with food, wine, handmade goods,” said Rich. “It could open soon because the amount of work that has to be done can be done in a couple months.” “Therein may lie the solution,” Rich continued. “Instead of focusing on Old Sacramento just as a historic district, we evolve the focus to historic entertainment and include activities and entertainment for people to do. The market has changed dramatically, and by the market I mean us.” This isn’t a knock against candy shops and novelty T-shirts, but while districts like Midtown, R Street Corridor and Downtown are evolving
with new venues, restaurants and bars, Old Sacramento remains, well, old. In particular, Old Sac fails to create spaces that could appeal to families and children. “Other than the Railroad Museum,” said Rich, “we have nothing on the other end [of Old Sac] to draw people through the district to get them to the waterfront.” Rich proposes the city transform Waterfront Park, the underused space adjacent to the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, “into a fun area for kids, in a presentation that fits within the theme of Old Sacramento.” The city has gone so far as to consider a Ferris wheel. Said Rich, “It’s something that I’m not seriously proposing, but everybody else that I talk to loves it.” Ferris wheel or no Ferris wheel, Rich said, “Once Old Sacramento gets relevant again, people’s reaction will be: Duh, what took it so long?” Jordan Venema can be reached at jordan.venema@gmail.com. n
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Friday Night Lights FOR THIS REPORTER, COVERING HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEVER GETS OLD
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acramento is filled with athletes who hide in plain sight. They walk among us, but their greatness is not obvious. Their greatness belongs to the past. For many Sacramento athletes, greatness came and went in high school. They were among the elite: star players on the football or basketball team; winners of multiple varsity letters; the fastest, strongest, tallest people on campus. Few of these athletes extended their success into college. Fewer still made a living from sports. For the vast majority, high school was the high point. Joe Davidson is one person who never forgets our faded high school stars. For three decades, he has chronicled local high school sports for The Sacramento Bee, writing about them with rare and genuine insight more typically reserved for professional sports. “For a lot of athletes, the coverage they get in high school is the most attention they will ever get,” Davidson says. “It’s a big deal for them, and I take a lot of pride in doing it right.” High school sports are more than final scores and team rankings. For Davidson, games are cultural phenomena, places where
RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority
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Joe Davidson communities affirm their pride, legacy and uniqueness. He strives to celebrate the triumphs of inner-city schools such as Burbank, McClatchy, Sacramento and Grant. He describes strategies that propel suburban schools to success, places like Folsom, Del Oro, Granite Bay and Elk Grove. “Sacramento is very lucky because we aren’t dominated by a few elite private schools, which is what you see in the Bay Area and Los Angeles,” he says. “Here, our public schools have great, extremely competitive programs.” The people who run those programs know Davidson and recognize his
influence. With almost 25,000 Twitter followers, he is one of the most popular media figures in Sacramento. When he decides which games he’ll cover, his presence becomes a big deal. Coaches open their locker rooms to Davidson and his photographer an hour before game time, allowing the production of internet minidocumentaries. Not long ago, a new administrator from a local school district was upset that Davidson had too much unrestricted access. The administrator told Davidson he would have to clear all interviews with district staff before arriving at campus.
The writer responded, Really? In that case, he would no longer cover any school from that district in any sport. The administrator’s boss—the district superintendent—quickly intervened and told the staff to let Davidson be Davidson. Attending high school games is the highlight of his week. It’s been that way since 1988 when Davidson covered his first event for the newspaper, an all-star softball game. Given his writing, interviewing and reporting talents, his managers have tried to nudge him toward more celebrated assignments.
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He was offered the Kings beat, and he covered the NBA from 2002 to 2006. Those were interesting years for the Kings, but he asked to be sent back to high schools. “I’ll cover a few Kings game each year, like the season opener, but it’s just the same old thing,� he says. “When you go to a high school game, it’s like going to a festival. Families are there, parents are cooking hot dogs, kids are on dates, alumni and people from the neighborhood are in the stands. There’s nothing like it, and for $7 a ticket, it’s the greatest value around.� None of which suggests Davidson doesn’t see problems with high school sports. He has followed up stories about the dangers of football concussions and fights in the stands. Most troubling from his perspective are overzealous parents. “Football is safe if kids are coached right and taught the right way to play,� he says. “And fights often involve people who have no connection with the school. What I worry most about is something
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that’s been going on forever: parents who try to shop their kids around to different schools. They lie about where they live. When they get caught, kids have to forfeit games. It’s terrible.� He notes only about 2 percent of high school athletes win college scholarships—and those fortunate few are generally so gifted and obvious that it hardly matters where they attend high school. And for the 98 percent who don’t receive scholarships, there’s Davidson. He recently covered a game in the foothills and stopped at a local tavern after finishing his work. He was playing pool when the bartender said his drinks were free—paid for by a grateful old athlete. “The guy came over and said he knew me from when he played football in high school,� Davidson says. “I’d written a story about his team, and he’d never forgotten it. This job has its perks.� R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n
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Weed Warriors DOING HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT WITH GARDEN INVADERS
AC By Anita Clevenger Garden Jabber
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Leslie Hurlburt
I
t’s not hard to pull a weed, although there is a technique. Grasp it close to the soil, wiggle to loosen its roots and gently pull. With the right conditions, the roots will
come out readily. But it’s not always that easy. When the roots are tough or the soil is hard, the weed may break off and leave the roots to grow again. You can try moistening the soil
to make the job easier. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to break out your arsenal of weed weapons. There are many weeding tools on the market. Many of them are shorthandled. Leslie Hurlburt, manager of the Hamilton Square garden in Sacramento’s Historic City Cemetery on Broadway, is interested in trying the CobraHead, which he calls “the hottest gardening tool of 2017.” It has a hook topped by a curved blade sharpened on both sides, great for piercing the soil and lifting out the weed, roots and all. Many of my UC Master Gardener friends wield Japanese weeding knives known as hori-hori, which they strap to their side in a holster, ready to annihilate a seedling tree or any other weed that wants to put up a fight. It has a formidable blade that is sharp on both sides, one serrated, one straight. It will slice through just about any soil, slip next to taproots to lift them out, and saw off roots or stems. Another good tool for popping out dandelions and other weeds with deep taproots looks like a screwdriver with a fishtail end. A flat-edged hand hoe is good for dragging just beneath the surface to slice off young plants that haven’t yet developed deep roots. This tool works especially well when weeding decomposed-granite paths. Long-handled weeding tools make it possible to work without getting down to weed level. “I like to stay off my knees as much as possible,” Hurlburt says. Many gardeners, including me, are advocates of hula hoes, which you can shuffle back and forth an inch or so deep, slicing off shallowly rooted weeds. Hula hoes can neatly remove weeds from larger areas and can also work in tight spots. Traditional hoes are swung into the air and chopped into the ground, which takes more effort and stirs up weeds and roots. I prefer to leave soil as undisturbed as possible. Chopping up the ground stirs up seeds and distributes bits of the roots of persistent weeds such as bindweed, nutsedge and Bermuda grass, causing them to multiply. Herbicides can kill weeds outright but may damage other plants, soil organisms and beneficial insects in the process. Use them sparingly and
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carefully. If you can control weeds with hand-to-hand combat, do so. Better yet, prevent weeds as much as possible by applying a thick layer of mulch and controlling your growing conditions. Planting densely will shade the soil and discourage weeds from growing. Nutsedge thrives in wet areas. Generally, if you have a nutsedge infestation, you are watering too much or may even have an irrigation leak. Seeds are where weed problems begin. You can’t stop them from blowing into your garden, but you can make sure that you deadhead or remove your own weeds before they go to seed. Weed seeds can lay dormant in the soil for years, waiting for the right conditions. They can survive in most compost piles, so it’s best to throw out any weeds that you pull unless you are absolutely certain they don’t have seeds. If you can’t resist getting down on the ground to weed, try using some sort of cushion. Kneeling pads are cheap enough to buy two or three, which is useful if you tend to move around while working. You can sit on
them, too. Knee pads move with you, although I find that they cut off my circulation and make my knees sweat. My garden overalls have built-in knee pads and allow a bit of air movement. Some garden benches are designed for either kneeling or sitting and have long handles that help a stiff gardener get up and down. You don’t have to spend a penny for a gardening seat, however. Many gardeners simply turn over a bucket and plunk down. Even good gardens have weeds. Good gardeners work to keep them under control, removing weeds as soon as they emerge and digging out roots thoroughly. With the right equipment and conditions, you can win the weed battles, although the war against them never ends.
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Holiday Delight A NEUTRAL HOME GETS A FESTIVE MAKEOVER
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tephanie and Todd Mirell had two children and wanted another. Unfortunately, their East Sac house wasn’t big enough for five people, so they began hunting for a larger home. “We were looking for a house with four bedrooms upstairs so we could all be together,” Mirell says. “But it was just too hard to find.” As luck would have it, Caramazza Construction was remodeling a twobedroom, one-bath bungalow a few streets away from where the Mirells lived, adding 2,100 square feet to the
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existing 1,100-square-foot structure. The couple began taking notice of the house when it was about halfway done. “It was still too raw to tell if we would like it or not,” says Stephanie. But they kept tabs on the project and eventually decided it was the right home for them. Today, the revamped structure is perfect for the family, which now has three children, and it blends nicely into the neighborhood. New floors and windows were installed throughout the house. The
tiny galley kitchen was opened up and is a sleek, contemporary family space with granite countertops, a glass-tile backsplash and a nifty built-in bar that Mirell uses as a buffet area when
JF By Julie Foster Home Insight
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NEUTRAL COLORS CREATE A SOOTHING ATMOSPHERE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN BE OVERWHELMED WITH THE PERSONAL EFFECTS OF THREE ACTIVE CHILDREN. entertaining guests. The living and dining rooms remained mostly intact, and the living room’s original fireplace and built-in bookcases were retained. Mirell prefers a neutral color palette for both interior finishes and accessories. Neutral colors, she says, create a soothing atmosphere in an environment that can be overwhelmed with the personal effects of three active children. “I needed to have clean, uncluttered colors,” she says. This holiday season, that neutral color palette will get shaken up when the house is featured on the Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour. The theme of this year’s tour is “The Nutcracker." "The Nutcracker”—perfect for the Mirell family, since one of the daughters will be in Sacramento Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” this year. Designer Elizabeth Lake figures she will put in about 300 hours decorating the couple’s home for the tour. “I am going to follow the Nutcracker storyline as you go through the house,” she explains.
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THERE ARE PLENTY OF COZY SPOTS WHERE SHE CAN LINGER AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS.
The living room will be decorated for a Christmas party like the one that opens the ballet, with a tree and custom-made stockings on the fireplace mantel. Traditional colors of red, green and gold will provide the background for plenty of fresh greens. Lake hopes to track down candle-shaped lights for the tree. “I want it to feel like it was a long time ago when you walk in,” she says. The dining room will be decorated in rich jewel tones in homage to the battle scene between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker Prince. The kitchen and family room will nod to the ballet’s Land of Sweets scene, with a palette of pinks and silvery touches. A pink tutu will encircle the kitchen counter, and a flocked Christmas tree will adorn the family room. “It will be light and elegant without being too cute,” says Lake.
Lake had access to anything in Sacramento Ballet’s warehouse that won’t be used on stage during the dress rehearsal, which coincides with the tour. “The Nutcracker theme of the Sacred Heart Home Tour marries the two biggest holiday traditions in Sacramento,” Lake says. “People see ideas on the tour that inspire them to do something special for the holidays in their own home.” The 44th annual Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour takes place Friday, Dec. 1; Saturday, Dec. 2; and Sunday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 on the days of the tour. For tickets and more information, go to sacredhearthometour.com. If you know of a home you think should be featured in Inside Publications, contact Julie Foster at foster.julie91@yahoo.com. n
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Tackling Disease
LOCAL DOCTOR WANTS TO PREVENT ILLNESSES BEFORE THEY START
SC By Scot Crocker Inside Downtown
Ernie Bodai
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acramento doctor Ernie Bodai has a new mission. Twenty years ago, Bodai came up with the revolutionary idea for a breast cancer research stamp. It was the first U.S. postage stamp to sell for more than face value. Proceeds went—and still go—to breast cancer research. Since 1998, more than 1 billion stamps have been sold, raising more than $86 million for research. Bodai’s efforts to get the stamp
approved required a monumental lobbying effort, with Bodai making many trips to Washington and meeting with elected representatives, government officials and the White House. Now, Bodai is on a new crusade: promoting a healthy lifestyle to prevent disease and illness. In the process, he is challenging big, powerful forces, including the medical community, the pharmaceutical industry and the U.S. health care system. “There are industries that don’t want to change,” he explains. “A bunch of misinformation is consistently being pushed out to the public from government, the food industry and pharmaceutical companies. It has to change.”
Bodai targets poor diet, which results in inflammation, as a main cause of avoidable disease. According to Bodai, more than 80 percent of chronic conditions could be avoided through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Killers like cardiovascular disease and cancer account for more than half of U.S. deaths. He finds it unacceptable that these diseases are rampant in the world’s wealthiest country, which
spends more per capita on health care than any other advanced country. Bodai, who founded Kaiser’s Breast Cancer Survivor Institute, was the lead author of a 2017 study on “lifestyle medicine.” Now, he is speaking around the world on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. He tells audiences that if we don’t change our views on health, there will be a “growing health crisis, escalating health care costs and a decline in life expectancy that will only continue.” He sees unhealthy eating, sedentary habits, stress and drug overuse as the main causes of diseases that cause pain, suffering, disability and death. “Our lifestyles are now fueled by technology, so we sit; we are sedentary,” Bodai says. “It’s leading to obesity, unhealthy eating and other problems. We need to exercise.” Bodai targets poor diet, which results in inflammation, as a main cause of avoidable disease. “For the unhealthy, their lives are in a state a constant inflammation,” he says. “This inflammation has been implicated as a factor in nearly all chronic diseases. The chemicals in processed foods are considered a foreign body by our immune system, and there’s growing evidence that what happens in our gut impacts our entire body.” Bodai believes the public is being brainwashed about processed foods. “The labels on processed foods are garbage,” he says. “We need to move to a plant-based diet, no processed foods and only low-fat dairy.” Bodai also says no to meat. Animals are given drugs and consume foods that contain chemicals, antibiotics
and hormones that cause harm to the body. As a cancer doctor, he’s seen how hormones—such as too much estrogen—fuel cancer in women. He believes dietary changes would have untold health benefits. According to Bodai, there’s a direct correlation between inflammation and obesity, which can lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various cancers. With diabetes on the rise, so is the number of drugs to treat the disease. But Bodai says drugs aren’t the answer to diabetes. Exercise and weight reduction, combined with healthful eating, can prevent the disease. Another study shows that consumption of animal products is also a contributor to diabetes. “There are a lot of problems associated with prescription medications,” says Bodai. “Americans are taking a lot of these drugs. We don’t know how these medicines react to each other in our body.” According to a Mayo Clinic study, 70 percent of Americans take at least
one prescription medication, and 20 percent take five or more medications. Prescription drug use among Americans has steadily increased over the past 10 years. Bodai is encouraged by research that shows a healthy lifestyle can prevent chronic illness and disease. But he faces resistance and apathy from powerful forces: the health care system, food producers, Big Pharma, the media and a public that hasn’t yet embraced prevention over treatment. “It’s scary,” he says. “It’s going to take a dedicated mindset to change things, to change our lifestyles. For far too long, patients have experienced chronic illnesses because our health system has not taken a proactive role in promoting healthy eating and active living. We are running out of time to reduce a destructive trend.” Scot Crocker can be reached at scot@crockercrocker.com. n
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READERS NEAR & FAR 1. Kelsey and Brian Grow at their wedding at Tunnels Beach on the North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii 2. Mick and Nancy Tooley, Barbara Stabenau, Harry and Gina Viani, Sam Statler, Wayne Hokom, Daryl Statler, Bill Dunphy, Ann Hokom, Micki Dunphy, Mary and Jim Farrell, and Richardo Varvara cruised on the Seabourn Quest from Montreal, Canada to Boston 3. Jack Hsu at Rano Raraku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) 4. Cheryl and Dave Freeman at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM 5. Ray and Jan McNally at Porto Jofre on the Cuiaba River in the Northern Pantanal, Moto Grosso, Brazil 6. Linnea and Lucas Gerkovich in South Lake Tahoe 7. Celine Pai at San Cristรณbal Hill in Santiago, Chile
Take a picture with Inside Publications and e-mail a high-resolution copy to travel@insidepublications.com. Due to volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee all photos will be printed or posted. Find more photos on Instagram: InsidePublications
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THEATRE GUIDE A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Sacramento Theatre Company Thru December 24 1419 H St, Sac 443-6722 Returning after a five-year hiatus, this adaptation of the classic Dickens novel is by local artists Richard Hellesen and David de Berry and stars Matt K. Miller reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge. The Christmas tale traverses Scrooge’s greed-filled past, his regrettable present void of forgiveness, and his fated future if he doesn’t change his avaricious ways.
KINGS OF AMERICA
Sacramento Theatre Company Thru December 10 1419 H St, Sac 443-6722 Sactheatre.org Through the recurring dreams of a struggling teenage boy named Noah — dreams which happen to be populated exclusively by former presidents — this timely new play explores presidential figures of American history, their flaws, and the legacies they have left behind. But, for Noah, these episodes might be more than just fantasy; they could be a means for forgiveness and personal healing.
A MOVING DAY
B Street Theatre Thru December 24 2711 B St, Sac 443-5300 BstreetTheatre.org Every building has a history. Every building has a secret. When one man is forced to move out of his family home, he must confront the history and secrets buried in the building. With the help of a moving company and a mysterious companion, our hero sifts through the mystery of the past and reconciles with his future in this funny warm story for the holidays.
MACY’S THEATRE OF LIGHTS
Downtown Sacramento Partnership at Old Sacramento Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve OldSacramento.com 970-5226 Clement Clarke Moore’s classic Christmas poem will come to spectacular life from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve on the balconies of Old Sacramento at K Street and Front. This year’s show will premiere the night before Thanksgiving with the grand lighting of the Umpqua Bank Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. The event will include the premiere performance of this year’s Theatre of Lights at 6:15 p.m. The production is a live dramatization of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a special appearance by Jack Frost, and the lighting of the 60-foot Christmas tree by St. Nick himself.
SILENT SKY
Big Idea Theatre Thru December 16 1616 Del Paso Blvd, Sac 960-3036 BigIdeaTheatre.org When Henrietta Leavitt is offered a position at the prestigious Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she leaves her rural Massachusetts home to pursue her passion for astronomy. Upon arriving, however, she learns that she won’t have access to the telescope but instead will be working with photographic plates, cataloging the stars with her fellow female “computers.” Undaunted, she dedicates her spare time to exploring her own ideas — juggling work, family and burgeoning love on the way to making a groundbreaking discovery. This true story of the celebrated astronomer explores female solidarity in a maledominated world, challenging conventional ideas of one’s place in the world and the universe.
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MISSD BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY Capital Stage December 6 – December 30 2215 J St, Sac 995-5464 Capstage.org
This instant holiday classic continues the story of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and has delighted audiences since its premiere in 2016. Miss Bennet will be directed by Capital Stage Co-Founder Peter Mohrmann and is a special production in addition to the 2017/18 season.
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Pardon Us EUROPEAN SOLUTIONS TO COMMON ANNOYANCES
O
ccasionally a reader suggests that I offer a religious view on the division that entangles our nation. My response is that often our best spirituality can be found by unpacking its practical components. To that end, I made some observations during my recent extended stay in Europe that might help defuse some of our national disagreements. For instance, road rage might be checked if we practiced the European method of passing other cars only while they are in the slow lane. Doing this means you aren’t whizzing by someone on their visually restricted passenger side. Also, does a slow or uncertain driver ever befuddle you? Maybe he’s a new driver. It’d be great if we adopted the Irish practice of labeling the back window of student drivers
NB By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters
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with a large red “L” for learning, and newly licensed drivers with a large “N.” Best of all, Europe employs traffic cameras to identify traffic offenders and sends citations by mail. Adopt this practice and police won’t be making dangerous traffic stops.
We detest any perceived intrusion into our personal space. Driving isn’t the only thing that enrages Americans. We detest any perceived intrusion into our personal space. Not so in Europe. If you brush a passerby, you needn’t utter so much as a “pardon me.” In fact, during the two years I was stationed in Turkey with my family, I was only once asked for a pardon. A man profusely apologized when he bounced a cigarette butt he intended for the street off my son.
Personal space in Europe is defined as any unoccupied space. If there is an open sidewalk space, no matter what its size, you’re entitled to it. We were in a nearly empty theater when a couple took the seats next to us. No worry. However, restaurants place a high regard on personal space. They encourage you to occupy your table long past your last bite of dessert. Signal them when you’re ready for a check and your bill will exactly total the menu price because all prices include tax. Meanwhile, in the United States, the battle lines are drawn over the most personal of spaces: the toilet. Much animosity is expressed over who should enter restrooms marked “men” or “women.” Some argue for a traditional gender distinction based on safety. Others make a case for inclusivity based on self-identity. No matter what bathroom you choose in Europe, you’ll find an attendant who’ll likely collect 75 cents for use of the toilets. At first, I was annoyed by the practice, but now I’m impressed with how the attendants keep the bathrooms clean, stocked and safe.
Some bathrooms are labeled “toilet” or “W.C.” (for water closet). The British call it a loo. While German men desperately hunt for the crude sign “pissoir,” Belgian men look for relief in the public-square urinal behind a half partition. Many restrooms maximize space through the use of a foyer where both sexes share the wash sinks. But whatever a toilet is called or however it’s used, Europeans make gender agreements a moot point with floor-to-ceiling toilet stalls. Better still, some places simply have two or three unmarked toilet rooms. No fuss, no muss. No one questions who you are or how you accomplish your business. These down-to-earth solutions are simple methods to employ before anger erupts. They are the practical side of Jesus’ teachings; what we call the Golden Rule. The modern translation is this: Here is a simple rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Recently retired chaplain Norris Burkes is a syndicated columnist, national speaker and book author. He can be reached at comment@ thechaplain.net. n
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It's "Nutcracker" time! Sacramento Ballet dancer Maggie Rupp as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
jL By Jessica Laskey
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“The Nutcracker” Sacramento Ballet Dec. 9–23 Community Center Theater, 1301 L St. • sacballet.org Ron Cunningham’s crown jewel of holiday entertainment returns for its 30th year. Select performances will feature live music by the Sacramento Philharmonic Opera & Orchestra.
Bel Tempo Handbell Choir will ring in the holidays.
Stop by the Camellia Waldorf Winter Faire for some festive family fun.
Sugar Plum Fairy Tea
“Dancing Through December”
Sacramento Ballet Saturday, Dec. 16, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Sacramento Children’s Chorus Sunday, Dec. 3, 4 p.m.
1400 L Street, Room 202 • sacballet.org Join the Sugar Plum Fairy on a magical journey to the Land of Sweets for a whimsical tea party for all ages. Mingle with beloved characters from “The Nutcracker” while enjoying a high tea sponsored by Ettore’s Bakery.
Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4600 Winding Way • sacramentochildrenschorus.org Get ready to tap your toes as four choirs get the whole family in the holiday spirit.
Winter Faire Camellia Waldorf School Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 7450 Pocket Road • camelliawaldorf.org Start the holidays right with a day of crafts, food, shopping and entertainment that includes storytelling, puppet shows, a gallery of student work and live music. The Children’s Store is stocked with treasures designed to fit a child’s budget.
“Jingle All the Way!” Sacramento Master Singers Saturday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St. • mastersingers.org Don’t miss this 45-minute special performance of holiday songs for children and their families.
“Christmas Angels” and “The Nutcracker” Sacramento Civic Ballet Saturday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. The Center at Twenty-Three Hundred, 2300 Sierra Blvd. • deanedancecenter.com Sacramento Civic Ballet, along with Crockett-Deane Apprentice Company and Deane Dance Center, will present two Christmas ballets.
Holiday Magic Sacramento Zoo Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 3930 W. Land Park Drive • saczoo.org Watch the animals receive special treats and listen as zoo staffers share facts and answer your questions. Members receive 25 percent off at the Zoofari Market; visitors can donate to Loaves & Fishes’ holiday drive and receive $1 off admission. Don’t forget to wear your PJs to the zoo’s free-admission Pajama Party day on Sunday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Celebrate the magic of the season at Fairytale Town's Winter Wonderland.
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Sacramento Zoo is throwing a pajama party.
“Wells Fargo Home for the Holidays” Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra Saturday, Dec. 9, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St. • sacramentochoral.com Join the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra and guests Sacramento Children’s Chorus, narrator Matt Hanscom, puppets by Green Valley Theatre Company and the Vibrance Barbershop Quartet under director Alexander Grambow and conductor Donald Kendrick.
“Kings of America” Sacramento Theatre Company Through Dec. 10 Pollock Stage, 1419 H St. • sactheatre.org Don’t miss the world premiere of a play by local playwright Sean Patrick Nill. The timely production explores the flaws and legacies of American leadership through the recurring dreams of a struggling teenage boy. "Ground Swell" by Kathy Dana and Donald Satterlee can be seen at Beatnik Studios.
“The Sound of Music” Holiday Event Crocker Art Museum Thursday, Dec. 28, 1:30 and 6 p.m. 216 O St. • crockerart.org The Crocker’s screening of this beloved movie returns for its sixth and final year with costume contests, door prizes, yodeling, singing and lots of laughs.
“Winter Wonderland” Fairytale Town Saturday, Dec. 9 and 16; Sunday, Dec. 10 and 17, 1–7 p.m. 3901 Land Park Dr. • fairytaletown.org Celebrate the holiday season in Dr. Seuss’ Whoville with festive décor, dazzling lights and Grinch-themed hands-on activities. Don’t miss the snowfall nightly at 7 p.m.
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Holiday Craft Fair Sierra 2 Center Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 2791 24th St. • sierra2.org Shop for jewelry, soaps, candles, fiber arts, winter wear, wooden home and kitchen accessories, furniture, succulent arrangements, planters and more. All proceeds benefit Sierra 2 Senior Center.
“Intersection” Beatnik Studios Dec. 1–Jan. 25 (Opening reception Friday, Dec. 1, 6–9 p.m.) 723 S St. • beatnik-studios.com Artists and longtime friends Kathy Dana and Donald Satterlee collaborate on several stunning works of acrylic on photography and showcase new individual works. Still gift shopping? Check out Beatnik’s Handmade Holidays craft fair on Saturday, Dec. 16, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
“A Master Singers Christmas” Sacramento Master Singers Sunday, Dec. 10, 3 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N St.
Saturday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St. • mastersingers.org From a meditative candlelight processional to exuberant spirituals, this concert delivers the beauty and joy of the season.
Holiday Art Sale Gregory Kondos Gallery Dec. 6–9 Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd. • scc.losrios.edu Shop for one-of-a-kind artwork created by students and professionals at this annual art show.
Sacramento Theatre Company Stages world premier of Kings of America.
“A Joyful Noise” Sacramento Symphonic Winds Sunday, Dec. 10, 2:30 p.m. Crowne Plaza Sacramento Northeast, 5321 Date Ave. • sacwinds.org The 60-piece adult symphonic band conducted by Timothy M. Smith will perform Timothy Mahr’s "Fantasia in G," Alfred Reed’s setting of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” Frank Ticheli’s “Joy Revisited” and more.
“Ring We Now of Christmas” Bel Tempo Handbell Choir Sunday, Dec. 17, 4 p.m. Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3235 Pope Ave. • northminsteronline.org Enjoy an afternoon of handbell music, violin, marimba, English horn and a variety of percussion instruments. Proceeds benefit Family Promise of Sacramento, which provides a safe and secure haven for displaced families. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n
Sacramento Civic Ballet presents two Christmas ballets. Photo courtesy of Linda Yun.
Join Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra for "Wells Fargo Home for the Holiday."
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Annik Gunther
An Artist at Last SHE GAVE UP ART, THEN LATER TURNED TO PAINTING FOR SOLACE
JL By Jessica Laskey Artist Spotlight
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A
nnik Gunter’s motto is “When you have a lemon, you squeeze it on caviar.” This gustatory phrase is appropriate not only because Gunter used to own a restaurant, but also because it’s gotten the artist through some pretty
tough times. Let’s start at the beginning. In her last year of high school in La Rochelle, France, one of Gunter’s teachers encouraged her to apply to art school, but her father told her there was no way a daughter of his
was going to be an artist. Gunter pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics instead. Looking for a way to leave Europe with her two young children, Gunter got a grant to study linguistics at UC Berkeley. Her studies into the
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to focus on her marriage and career. She sold it to Trong Nguyen, a former student and creator of La Bou. While she misses the restaurant and still cooks occasionally, Gunter really misses the classroom. She retired from Sac State after suffering a stroke and mild aphasia, which made lecturing difficult. Gunter says she got one very good thing out of it: her rediscovered love of art. “When I had the stroke, I saw all these psychedelic colors,” Gunter recalls. “I wanted to capture these colors, so painting became a necessity.” That necessity increased when Gunter’s disabled son passed away in 2015. After deciding she’d “better do something to soothe me,” she began studying with painter Gary Pruner and pastel artist Reif Erickson. She eventually joined Sacramento Fine Arts Center, where she now serves as the vice president of Northern California Arts, which promotes the visual arts.
“NCA has about 160 members with various skills in watercolor, pastel, acrylic, oil, fiber and textures,” Gunter says. “I’m responsible for selecting the artists for the 2018 program and organizing their demonstrations and workshops.” Gunter is wildly inspired by her work with SFAC—and it shows. The walls of her house off American River Drive are filled with vibrant landscapes in watercolor and soft pastel. But there’s a new love in her life: PanPastel, which are professional-quality colors in a cakelike pan format. “I’ve discovered the treasure of the world,” she says as she runs her fingers lovingly over the pans of brilliant color. Who needs caviar when you’ve got pastels? Sacramento Fine Arts Center is at 5330 Gibbons Drive. For more information, go to sacfinearts.org. n
VISIT
medieval evolution of the vowel “e” in French led her to UC Davis and, eventually, to a 38-year-long career teaching ancient and French civilization at Sacramento State University. “I loved my job,” Gunter says. “Absolutely loved it.” Early in her teaching career, Gunter was looking for a way to supplement her income to take care of her two sons, one of whom was disabled. She decided to open a French restaurant in an old A&W stand on Munroe Street, near Fair Oaks Boulevard. “I thought people would get a kick out of it,” she says. “You go to A&W and get a gourmet French meal.” At first, her restaurant was open only for lunch, since Gunter cooked everything from scratch by herself. When she realized that the wait list for reservations was getting impossibly long, she brought in help, and the restaurant flourished for years. While scrambling to cater her own wedding, however, she started to think about selling the restaurant
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INSIDE’S
Willie’s Burgers
Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
110 K St. • (916) 573-3897
1215 19th St. • (916) 441-6022
L D $ Great burgers and more • williesburgers.com
L D $$$ Full Bar Modern American cuisine in an upscale historic setting
R STREET Café Bernardo 1431 R St. • (916) 930-9191 B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Casual California cuisine with counter service • cafebernardo.com
Fish Face Poke Bar 1104 R St. Suite 100 • (916) 706-6605 L D $$ Beer/Sake Humble Hawaiian poke breaks free • fishfacepokebar.com
DOWNTOWN Cafeteria 15L 1116 15th St. • (916) 492-1960 L D $$ Full Bar Classic American lunch counter with a millennial vibe • cafeteria15l.com
Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters 400 P St. • (916) 400-4204 Small-batch coffees brewed from beans harvested within the past 12 months • chocolatefishcoffee.com
de Vere’s Irish Pub 1521 L St. • (916) 231-9947 L D $$ Full Bar Family-run authentic Irish pub with a classic menu to match • deverespub.com
Downtown & Vine 1200 K St. #8 • (916) 228-4518 L D $$ Educational tasting experience of wines by the taste, flight or glass with tapas and small plates • downtownandvine.com
Ella Dining Room & Bar 1131 K St. • (916) 443-3772 L D $$$ Full Bar Modern American cuisine served family-style in a chic, upscale space • elladiningroomandbar.com
Esquire Grill 1213 K St. • (916) 448-8900 L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Outdoor Dining Upscale American fare served in an elegant setting • paragarys.com • esquiregrill.com
Firestone Public House 1132 16th St. • (916) 446-0888 L D $$ Full Bar Sports bar with a classical American menu • firestonepublichouse.com
Ma Jong’s Asian Diner 1431 L St. • (916) 442-7555
Iron Horse Tavern
L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Cuisine from Japan, Thailand, China ad Vietnam. • majongs.com
1800 15th St. • (916) 448-4488
806 L St. • (916) 442-7092 L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Chinese favorites in an elegant setting • fatsrestaurants.com
Revolution Wines 2831 S St. • (916) 444-7711
Skool
1601 16th St. • (916) 452-7594
2319 K St. • (916) 737-5767
L D $$-$$$ Wine/Beer Seasonal menu using the best local ingredients • magpiecafe.com
L D $$ Beer/Sake Inventive Japansese-inspired seafood dishes • skoolonkstreet.com
1415 L St. • (916) 440-8888
Shoki Ramen House
Suzie Burger
L D $$-$$ Full Bar Celebration of the region’s rich history and bountiful terrain • hockfarm.com
1201 R St. • (916) 441-0011
Hock Farm Craft & Provision
2005 11th St. • (916) 382-9722 L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Timeless traditional Southern cuisine, counter service • weheartfriedchicken.com
2820 P St. • (916) 455-3500
L D $$ Beer/Wine Japanese fine dining using the best local ingredients • shokiramenhouse.com
L D $ Beer/Wine Classic burgers, cheesesteaks, shakes, chili dogs, and other tasty treats • suzieburger. com
THE HANDLE
Tapa The World
The Rind
2115 J St. • (916) 442-4353
South
L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Cheese-centric menu paired with select wine and beer • therindsacramento.com
L D $-$$ Wine/Beer/Sangria Spanish/world cuisine in a casual authentic atmosphere, live flamenco music • tapathewworld.com
1001 Front St. • (916) 446-6768
Zocolo
Thai Basil
L D $$-$$$ Full Bar American cuisine served in a casual historic Old Sac location • fatsrestaurants.com
1801 Capitol Ave. • (916) 441-0303
1801 L St. #40 • (916) 441-7463
OLD SAC Fat City Bar & Cafe
Rio City Cafe
L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Patio Regional Mexican cuisine served in an authentic artistic setting • zocolosacramento.com
1110 Front St. • (916) 442-8226 L D $$ Full Bar Bistro favorites with a distinctively Sacramento feeling in a riverfront setting • riocitycafe.com
MIDTOWN Biba Ristorante 2801 Capitol Ave. • (916) 455-2422
The Firehouse Restaurant 1112 Second St. • (916) 442-4772 L D $$$ Full Bar Global and California cuisine in an upscale historic Old Sac setting • firehouseoldsac.com
1022 Second St. • (916) 441-2211 L D $$ Full Bar American bistro favorites with a modern twist in a casual Old Sac setting • ten22oldsac.com
20 Years Experience
POC DEC n 17
L D $$ Full Bar Fabulous Outdoor Patio.,California cuisine with a French touch • paragarys.com
Magpie Cafe
Living Trust Consultation
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1401 28th St. • (916) 457-5737
B L D $$$ Full Bar Simple, seasonal, soulful • grangesacramento.com
FREE Initial
Wills•Trusts•Probate & Special Needs Trusts
Paragary’s
926 J St. • (916) 492-4450
Grange Restaurant & Bar
from my family to yours
Attorney at Law
L D $$ Full Bar All things local contribute to a sophisticated urban menu • theredrabbit.net
L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Urban winery and tasting room with a creative menu using local sources • revolution-wines.com
Happy Holidays
Mark J. Lamb
2718 J St. • (916) 706-2275
L D $-$$ Full Bar Gastro-pub cuisine in a stylish industrial setting • ironhorsetavern.net
Ten22
Frank Fat’s
The Red Rabbit
Call 485-2593 2725 Riverside Blvd., Ste. 800
Lambtrust.com
L D $$$ Full Bar Upscale Northern Italian cuisine served a la carte • biba-restaurant.com
Café Bernardo 2726 Capitol Ave. • (916) 443-1180 B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Casual California cuisine with counter service • cafebernardo.com
Centro Cocina Mexicana 2730 J St. • (916) 442-2552 L D $$ Full Bar Patio Regional Mexican cooking served in a casual atmosphere • paragarys.com • centrococina.com
Easy on I 1725 I St. • (916) 469-9574 L D $-$$ Full Bar American eats, including BBQ, local brews & weekend brunch • easyoni.com
Federalist Public House 2009 N St. • (916) 661-6134 L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Wood-fired pizzas in an inventive urban alley setting • federalistpublichouse.com
Hot Italian 1627 16th St. • (916) 444-3000 L D $$ Full Bar Authentic hand-crafted pizzas with inventive ingredients, gelato • hotitalian.net
2431 J St. • (916) 442-7690 L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Patio Housemade curries among their authentic Thai specialties • thaibasilrestaurant.com
The Waterboy 2000 Capitol Ave. • (916) 498-9891 L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Patio Fine South of France and Northern Italian cuisine in a chic neighborhood setting • waterboyrestaurant.com
OAK PARK La Venadita 3501 Third Ave. • (916) 400-4676 L D $$ Full Bar Authentic Mexican cuisine with simple tasty menu in a colorful historic setting • lavenaditasac.com
Oak Park Brewing Company 3514 Broadway • (916) 660-2723 L D $$ Full Bar Award-winning beers and a creative pub-style menu in an historic setting • opbrewco.com
Vibe Health Bar 3515 Broadway • (916) 382-9723 B L D $-$$ Clean, lean & healthy snacks. Acai bowls are speciality. Kombucha on tap • vibehealthbar.com n
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A poke bowl from Delilah's Market Cafe.
Freeport Treats TWO NEW UNIQUE FOOD SPOTS ON FREEPORT BOULEVARD OFFER THE GOODS
F
reeport Boulevard is a wellworn stretch of road. Talk to longtime area residents and they’ll tell stories of the old airport, Ford’s Hamburgers, Sacramento City
GS By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider
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College and a host of other important landmarks that were, or still are, part of the Freeport landscape. As the years have moved on, the landscape has changed somewhat. At the south end of the boulevard, the regional airport became Executive Airport, the local college became the city JC and the new high school (McClatchy) became the old high school. Food, too, has changed along Freeport. Where once there were steakhouses and tiki bars, there
now sit Korean barbecue joints and karaoke lounges. But with new tastes come new flavors, and two new food spots on Freeport stand out as refreshing, unique and delicious.
DELILAH’S MARKET CAFE The Hawaiian dish of poke (pronounced poke-ay) comes from, like so many other great dishes, humble origins. Combining chunks of raw fish, hearty sauces and generous heaps of fresh herbs and veggies, poke
was originally seen as fishermen’s grub. Like the San Francisco creation of cioppino, it involves the trimmings and leftover bits of fish, mixed with strong flavors and served with a hearty starch. (For cioppino, it’s SF sourdough; for poke, it’s rice.) In the past few years, poke has seen a huge upswing in popularity and notoriety. Throughout the West Coast, poke shops are poking up everywhere from San Diego to Vancouver. Hawaiian flavors and dining places are seeing a strong
push, whether it’s loco moco (hamburger patty and gravy over rice) at nearly every new restaurant with a hip flair, or Hawaiian-plate lunch spots popping up in strip malls. What makes Delilah’s Market Cafe a treat is that it combines the fresh flavors of the islands with the decadent and the divey. When you first arrive in the sparse environs of Delilah’s, you’re faced with a decentsized cold case filled with at least half a dozen types of seafood. Ahi, octopus, salmon and more line the shelves. At the counter, you can choose from a grab-and-go selection of musubi, perhaps the greatest Hawaiian culinary creation of the 20th century. For those unfamiliar with it, musubi is a ball of sushi rice topped with a slice of grilled spam, all wrapped with a slender ribbon of seaweed. This might not sound like your cup of tea, but you have to try it. It’s the low-budget indulgent treat
you didn’t know you loved. Delilah’s dresses up its musubi with optional bits of jalapeno, barbecued eel and other odds and ends, should you want a few more flavors. A menu of made-to-order grilledcheese sandwiches is also available at the counter. The sandwiches feature seafood-focused combos, such as lobster with Swiss and cheddar, and salmon with cream cheese. They’re panini-style pressed sandwiches that blend surprising tastes and go far in disproving the old rule that seafood and cheese shouldn’t be served together. To top off the Hawaiian immersion, you can also pick up a Dole whip. The icy, sweet pineapple treat brings up thoughts of palm trees, sea breezes and maybe Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, depending on your age. No matter what your demographic, the bright, bold flavors of Delilah’s
genuine recreation of a Honolulu food counter are going to please.
8 FAHRENHEIT It’s a bold move to open an ice cream shop between Sacramento’s two most iconic ice creameries: Vic’s and Gunther’s. But the folks at 8 Fahrenheit have a different story to tell. Instead of old family recipes and slow-churned creamy treats, 8F goes for a new style of frozen treat: “rolled” ice cream. Sometimes referred to as Thai ice cream, it relies upon a unique style of freezing cream right in front of the customer. The server starts with an ultra-cold metal plate (presumably at 8 degrees). She pours flavored milk and cream over a few add-ins, like brownies or Oreos, and then starts chopping up the add-ins and
spreading out the cream into a thin layer. After a few passes over the supercool surface, the cream freezes into a thin sheet, which the server scrapes off with a spatula to create frozen rolls. The six or so rolls are wedged into a cup and topped off with garnishes like toasted marshmallows and cookies. It’s a totally novel and ultimately delicious experience. For the kids, and your inner child, grabbing a treat at 8F is a delight. Delilah’s Market Cafe is at 4400 Freeport Blvd.; (916) 382-4266; makefish.com. 8 Fahrenheit is at 4400 Freeport Blvd.; (916) 455-1633; 8ficecream.com. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregorysabin@yahoo.com. n
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Art Preview GALLERY ART SHOWS IN DECEMBER
The work of California artist Sharon L. Barnes is showing at the newly opened CK Art Gallery. Shown above: “De’tente” by Barnes, acrylic and gesso on industrial roofing paper. 2500 J St.; ckart-gallery.com
“Big Show of Small Treasures” showcases intimately scaled works of art at Sparrow Gallery and various art venues around the city. Through Dec. 31. Shown above: “Box Girl” by Linda Nunes, encaustic. 1021 R St.; sparrowgallerysacramento.com
Archival Gallery presents selected works By Jian Wang and “Hometown” paintings by Earl Boley through Jan. 27. Shown above: an oil painting by Boley. 3223 Folsom Blvd.; archivalgallery.com
“Intersection” is a two-person show at Beatnik Gallery featuring Kathy Dana and Donald Satterlee collaborations, along with a showing of new individual works. Show runs through Jan. 25. Shown above: “Rolling Stones” by Dana and Satterlee, acrylic on photograph. 723 S St.; beatnik-studios.com
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