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Happy Holidays Happy New Year Dunnigan, Realtors Land Park Family owned since 1968 and looking forward to another year. Helping families Ànd home in 2022 and beyond.

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Happy Holidays FROM CATRICALA REAL ESTATE!

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TERRI BIANCO Terri Bianco migrated to art from a career as a curriculum designer, trainer and coach. “Once I applied my creativity to making art,” she says, “the world opened up to me in ways that are both stunning and humbling.” Her goal is to continue to cultivate creativity in herself and others. Shown: “Waiting on the Post,” 14 inches by 18 inches, acrylic. She can be reached at terri@terribianco. com or Instagram: @terrri2Art.

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Dr. Chris Price

HEALING THYSELF A DOCTOR’S NOVEL WAY TO DISCUSS ELDER CARE

first met Christopher Price 25 years ago when he became our family doctor. He was straight out of medical school, and I recall him making the case for a family practice. Here’s what I recall: When one physician treats all members of a

CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

POC DEC n 21

family, the doctor can interact with the family more frequently. In the process, the physician sees people when they are healthy, not just sick. This idea made sense to my husband and me. At one point, Dr. Price saw me, Jim, our children and my elderly mother. It worked out for everyone, and I had the opportunity to get to know our doctor. One thing that always struck me was his ability to ask meaningful questions and truly listen to the answers. He never rushed. Years ago, when I was overwhelmed by the stress of caring for an elderly

neighbor who had no family, Price shared a lovely story about his elderly neighbor and how he helped out. Sadly, our health plans changed a few years ago. We had to find new doctors. When I heard Price had written a novel about dementia caregiving, I wasn’t surprised. I knew he wanted to help others, drawing on his experience treating and observing Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their caregivers. Based on those experiences and his own thoughts about end-of-life care, hospice and supportive care, and how they affect patients and caregivers, Price wrote “Allison’s Gambit.” He says

the book’s primary mission is to explore these shared, difficult experiences and provide better care for our loved ones in the future. The novel was published in October. “Allison’s Gambit” follows Allison Raney as she deals with existential questions that arise after caring for her mother throughout her decline from Alzheimer’s. Concerned she will succumb to the same fate—putting her family through the experiences she had as a caregiver— Allison decides to take up a terrible habit: smoking. The decision shapes the novel’s foundation.

Ready, Set, Peel! ˘ XȲʦʦɔȦȉ gȉɫʁɏ ਩ ȉɣȉ ɔˑȉɴȉɷɔू g$ g It is that time of year where we can cozy ʹʜ ȉʰ ɏʁɴȲे ΤȲʟȲ ɔʦ ɴʁʟȲ ʰɔɴȲ Ʌʁʟ Ʌȉɴɔɫ˘ू more time for preparing and savoring ȬȲɫɔȦɔʁʹʦ ɴȲȉɫʦू ȉɷȬ ɴʁʟȲ ʰɔɴȲ Ʌʁʟ ɆȲʰʰɔɷɆ ʁʹʟ ɅȉȦɔȉɫ ʟȲɣʹˑȲɷȉʰɔʁɷ ʁɷ ɣʹʦʰ before the new year! ʜʁʜʹɫȉʟ ʰʟȲȉʰɴȲɷʰ to get your skin ȲˑȲɷȲȬ ʁʹʰू Ɇɫʁ˒ɔɷɆू ȉɷȬ ʟȲȉȬ˘ Ʌʁʟ ࢿࢽࢿࢿ ɔʦ ȉ ȦɏȲɴɔȦȉɫ ʜȲȲɫे ÂɏɔɫȲ ʰɏȲʟȲ ȉʟȲ ʦʁ ɴȉɷ˘ ʜȲȲɫʦ ʰʁ ȦɏʁʁʦȲ Ʌʟʁɴ ɏȲʟȲ ɔʦ ȉ ɆʹɔȬȲ ʰʁ ɏȲɫʜ ˘ʁʹ ʰɏɔɷɦ ʰɏʟʁʹɆɏ ˒ɏɔȦɏ ʜȲȲɫ ɴȉ˘ ȥȲ ɣʹʦʰ ʟɔɆɏʰ Ʌʁʟ ˘ʁʹे ʦ ȉɫ˒ȉ˘ʦू ʜɫȲȉʦȲ Ɇʁ ʦȲȲ ˘ʁʹʟ ɫʁȦȉɫ ɅʟɔȲɷȬɫ˘ ȬȲʟɴȉʰʁɫʁɆɔʦʰ ʰʁ make the right decision for your skin. Superficial Peels ɴʁʦʰɫ˘ ɏȲɫʜ ˒ɔʰɏ Ȳ˗ɅʁɫɔȉʰɔɷɆ ȉɷ˘ ȦɫʁηȲȬ ʜʁʟȲʦू ɔɴʜʟʁˑɔɷɆȲ ȉȦɷȲू ȲˑȲɷɔɷɆ ʜɔɆɴȲɷʰȉʰɔʁɷू ȉɷȬ ȉȬȬʟȲʦʦɔɷɆ ζȉɦ˘ ʦɦɔɷे ʁɴȲ Ȳ˗ȉɴʜɫȲʦ ʁɅ ʦʹʜȲʟεȦɔȉɫ ʜȲȲɫʦ ɔɷȦɫʹȬȲ Ɇɫ˘ȦʁɫɔȦ ȉȦɔȬ ʁʟ ʦȉɫɔȦ˘ɫɔȦ ȉȦɔȬ

ʜȲȲɫʦे ȲʰʰɔɷɆ ʹʜ ˒ȲȲɦɫ˘ ʜȲȲɫʦ Ȧȉɷ ȥȲ ȉ great way to keep the skin maintained. ΤȲʟȲ ɔʦ ɫɔʰʰɫȲ Ȭʁ˒ɷʰɔɴȲ ȥʹʰ ʰɏȲʟȲ Ȧȉɷ ȥȲ ʦʁɴȲ ʦȦȉɫɔɷɆ ȉɷȬ ʜȲȲɫɔɷɆ Ʌʁʟ ȉ ȦʁʹʜɫȲ Ȭȉ˘ʦ ȉδȲʟ ʰɏȲ ʰʟȲȉʰɴȲɷʰे ÂɏɔɫȲ ʰɏȲʦȲ ʜȲȲɫʦ Ȧȉɷ ȥȲ ʹʦȲȬ ʦȉɅȲɫ˘ ɔɷ ȉɫɫ ʦɦɔɷ ʰ˘ʜȲʦू ɔʰ ɔʦ ȥȲʦʰ ʰʁ ʦʰʁʜ ʰɏȲ ʹʦȲ ʁɅ ȉɷ˘ ʰʁʜɔȦȉɫ ʟȲʰɔɷʁɔȬʦू ɫɔɦȲ ʟȲʰɔɷʁɫू ʦȲˑȲʟȉɫ Ȭȉ˘ʦ ʜʟɔʁʟ ʰʁ ɆȲʰʰɔɷɆ ȉ ʜȲȲɫे Medium Peels Medium peeɫʦ Ɇʁ ɴʁʟȲ ȬȲȲʜɫ˘ ɔɷʰʁ ʰɏȲ ʦɦɔɷ ʰʁ ʰɏȲ ɫȲˑȲɫ ʁɅ ʰɏȲ ȬȲʟɴɔʦ ȉɷȬ Ȧȉɷ ɏȲɫʜ ˒ɔʰɏ ȦʁʟʟȲȦʰɔɷɆ ˒ʟɔɷɦɫȲʦू ʹɷȲˑȲɷ Ȧʁɫʁʟू ȉɷȬ ʦʹʜȲʟεȦɔȉɫ ȉȦɷȲ ʦȦȉʟʦे ʁɴȲ Ȳ˗ȉɴʜɫȲʦ ʁɅ ɴȲȬɔʹɴ ʜȲȲɫʦ ɔɷȦɫʹȬȲ XȲʦʦɷȲʟউʦ ʜȲȲɫʦू ʁʟ ɴʁȬɔεȲȬ XȲʦʦɷȲʟউʦ ʦʹȦɏ ȉʦ ʰɏȲ ÁJ ȲȲɫ ʁʟ ʰɏȲ ÁJ ʟȲȦɔʦɔʁɷ ɫʹʦ ʜȲȲɫे ΤȲʟȲ ɔʦ ɴʁʟȲ ʦȦȉɫɔɷɆ ȉɷȬ ʜȲȲɫɔɷɆ ȉδȲʟ ȉ ɴȲȬɔʹɴ ʜȲȲɫ ȥʹʰ ʰɏȲ ʟȲȦʁˑȲʟ˘ ɔʦ Ʌȉɔʟɫ˘ ̍ʹɔȦɦ ˒ɔʰɏɔɷ ʦȲˑȲʟȉɫ Ȭȉ˘ʦे ΤȲ˘ Ȧȉɷ ȥȲ ʹʦȲȬ ʦȉɅȲɫ˘ ɔɷ ȉɫɫ ʦɦɔɷ ʰ˘ʜȲʦे Diving Deep ΤȲ ɏȲȉɫʰɏ ȉɷȬ ȉʜʜȲȉʟȉɷȦȲ ʁɅ ˘ʁʹʟ ʦɦɔɷू ɏʁ˒ȲˑȲʟू ʰʟȉɷʦȦȲɷȬʦ ʰɏȲ ȬȲʜʰɏ ʁɅ ˘ʁʹʟ ʦɦɔɷे Jʰ ɔʦ ʟȲɫȉʰȲȬ ʰʁ ɷʹʰʟɔʰɔʁɷू ȬɔɆȲʦʰɔʁɷू

ʦɫȲȲʜू ʜɏ˘ʦɔȦȉɫ ȉȦʰɔˑɔʰ˘ू ȉɷȬ Ȳɴʁʰɔʁɷȉɫ ˒ȲɫɫȥȲɔɷɆे <ʁʟ ʰɏɔʦ ʟȲȉʦʁɷू ȉȦɏɔȲˑɔɷɆ ȉɷȬ ɴȉɔɷʰȉɔɷɔɷɆ ȉ ʟȉȬɔȉɷʰ ȦʁɴʜɫȲ˗ɔʁɷ ʟȲ̍ʹɔʟȲʦ ȉ ɏʁɫɔʦʰɔȦ ȉʜʜʟʁȉȦɏे <ʁʟ Ȳ˗ȉɴʜɫȲू ʰɏȲʟȲ ȉʟȲ ʦʹʜʜɫȲɴȲɷʰʦ ɫɔɦȲ ɫॼɏɔʦʰɔȬɔɷȲ ʰɏȉʰ Ȧȉɷ ɔɴʜʟʁˑȲ ˘ʁʹʟ ʦɦɔɷউʦ ȥȉʟʟɔȲʟ ɅʹɷȦʰɔʁɷ ȉɷȬ ɏȲɫʜ ɴȉɔɷʰȉɔɷ ɔʰʦ ɏ˘Ȭʟȉʰɔʁɷू ȉɷȬ ʰɏȲʟȲ ɔʦ ʟȲʦȲȉʟȦɏ ʰʁ ʦʹηȲʦʰ ʰɏȉʰ Ȳ˗ȲʟȦɔʦȲ Ȧȉɷ ȥȲ ɏȲɫʜɅʹɫ ɔɷ ɴȉɔɷʰȉɔɷɔɷɆ ʰɏȲ ɏȲȉɫʰɏ ʁɅ ʁʹʟ ʦɦɔɷ ȉʦ ˒Ȳ ȉɆȲे ÂʁʟɦɔɷɆ ˒ɔʰɏ ȉɷ ɔɷʰȲɆʟȉʰɔˑȲ ɏȲȉɫʰɏ ȦȉʟȲ ʜʟȉȦʰɔʰɔʁɷȲʟ Ȧȉɷ ɴȉɦȲ Ʌʁʟ ȉ ˒ʁɷȬȲʟɅʹɫ ȉȬȬɔʰɔʁɷ ʰʁ ˘ʁʹʟ ʦɦɔɷ ȦȉʟȲ ʰȲȉɴे gʁʦʰ ɔɴʜʁʟʰȉɷʰɫ˘ू ˘ʁʹʟ ʦʁȦɔȉɫ ȦʁɷɷȲȦʰɔʁɷʦ ȉɷȬ ʦʁʹʟȦȲʦ ʁɅ ɴȲȉɷɔɷɆू ɫʁˑȲू ȉɷȬ ɣʁ˘ ʁΦȲʟ ʰɏȲ ȥȲʦʰ ɔɷʦɔȬȲॼʁʹʰ Ɇɫʁ˒ ʰɏȲʟȲ ɔʦे ÂȲ ʟȲȦʁɴɴȲɷȬ ʰʹɷɔɷɆ ɔɷʰʁ ʰɏɔʦ ȉɷȬ ˘ʁʹʟ ʁˑȲʟȉɫɫ ɏȲȉɫʰɏ ȉʦ ɴʹȦɏ ȉʦ ʜʁʦʦɔȥɫȲ ȬʹʟɔɷɆ ʰɏɔʦ ʁʜʜʁʟʰʹɷȲ ʰɔɴȲ Ʌʁʟ ȦɏȲɴɔȦȉɫ ʜȲȲɫʦ ȉɷȬ ɅȉȦɔȉɫ ʟȲɣʹˑȲɷȉʰɔʁɷॄ

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With “Allison’s Gambit,” Price hopes to open discussions around Alzheimer’s treatment, end-of-life care options, and the emotional and physical toll of caregiving. “Exploring this philosophy through writing helped me explore my own thoughts about dying,” Price says. “And oddly, this led to a recognition that I wanted to start living differently as a result. When I got to the end of the book, I recognized that I had a great deal of sympathy and understanding for Allison. I realized that no matter what is going to happen to me in the end, I wanted to live my life differently now.” I can relate. After being rear-ended in a collision two years ago, my husband suffered a concussion that triggered dementia. It has slowly worsened. Every month brings new challenges. He’s manageable for me to care for because he’s sweet, grateful and loving. And he still wants very much to be helpful, to care for himself and enjoy life. But his short-term memory is fleeting. He cannot follow directions or manage his time and daily activities without help. Dementia takes many forms. My husband’s condition affects his ability to process spoken words. Hearing aids help, but he misses about every one out

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of five words. Our miscommunications are exhausting! In the book, Allison says, “What I had not expected was the mental aspect. I didn’t really understand what it is like to watch someone’s mind regress. Not just anyone’s mind, but the mind of the person whom you have the most love for in the world.” I feel fortunate because of Jim’s good nature. But we don’t know what tomorrow holds. One thing for sure is Jim has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to live when his mind is gone, or if he ever mistreats his loved ones. At times “Allison’s Gambit” made me anxious. But in the end, it brought a sense of peace. And it reminded me to be grateful for the amazing physician Christopher Price had been for our family. Dr. Chris Price is a family physician at Price Family Practice on Scripps Drive. For information, see Dr. Price’s website at chrispriceauthor.com. “Allison’s Gambit” is available at most local and online bookstores. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

‘ALLISON’S GAMBIT’ Following is an excerpt from “Allison’s Gambit” by Dr. Chris Price: Have you ever thought about how you want to die? Few people do. And before modern medicine, it didn't matter; people would often succumb to the first severe illness that they contracted. The twentieth century, however, ushered in something new for mankind—the ability to postpone death by relying on antibiotics, surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy, and other modern medical treatments that empower the individual to make a choice: fight and postpone death or die. All too often, people choose to fight without seriously considering the alternative. Social norms tend to push our loved ones to continue painful, exhausting, nauseating treatments that deeply erode the quality at the end of their lives. While some additional time may be gained, how should it be balanced against the quality of life? After all, eventually everyone dies. I suggest that a new philosophy must be developed. Under what circumstances should a person say that they are prepared to die when modern medicine might prolong the span of their life? How should quality of life be factored into this existential decision? In this novel, I explore this question through the eyes of the caregiver. As death is inevitable, the decision often becomes "When should I stop fighting?" Caring for her mother with dementia, Allison must decide for everyone when her mother's life is no longer worth living. Hopefully this book provokes us to consider fundamental questions about quality of life and death, both for ourselves and for our loved ones. Under what circumstances should the decision be made to stop fighting and to die? And by extension, would making the decision to die force us to pursue more purposefully our ultimate goal—to live a full and meaningful life? n

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Beautiful Discovery Dinorah Klinger Photo by Aniko Kiezel

MARIACHI WOMEN GET NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

was thrilled when my talented musician friend, Dinorah Klingler, was invited to perform on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” How did this happen? During Hispanic Heritage Month, Channel 3 reporter Leticia Ordaz interviewed Klingler. The segment caught the attention of Clarkson’s production team. Soon, Klingler and her all-women musical group, Mariachi Bonitas, were flying to Los Angeles to tape the show. The episode aired in October on the daytime TV program. “The journey from Sacramento to Universal Studios moved quickly,”

CM By Corky Mau Pocket Life

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Klingler says. “They requested videos of my solo performances and those of Mariachi Bonitas. Clarkson’s team arranged transportation, lodging and meals. A special treat was having my son in the studio audience. Since he drove our outfits and instruments down to Los Angeles, Kelly invited him to watch the taping.” The group performed a special song Klingler wrote for Mariachi Bonitas. It’s their opening tune at every performance. The song is performed in Spanish, so Clarkson read an English translation to the audience. She was excited to see women break the glass ceiling in a traditional, male-dominated musical genre. After Klingler explained the cultural importance of mariachi, Clarkson gave a huge compliment: “Dinorah, I could listen to your sultry voice all day long. I’ll see you at the Grammy Awards!” “What an incredible experience. As a bonus, we met the amazing Rod Stewart and Jamie Lee Curtis,” Klingler says. The experience left Klingler on a high. A year ago, she was performing

free outdoor concerts for Pocket neighbors in the pandemic. Now she’s booked solid. She rolls into 2022 with two dinner-dance shows at the Masonic Temple in February. Next comes her annual Mariachi Festival de Sacramento in March. Bookings at Naggiar Vineyards in Grass

Valley and DOCO’s Polanco Cantina are underway. Mariachi Bonitas will audition for the reality TV show “America’s Got Talent” in March. Klingler is celebrating 35 years in the music business, a journey that has taken her around the world. To learn more about Dinorah, visit dinorahmusic.com.

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POCKET CANAL HOLIDAY LIGHTS A literal bright spot in our community for the holidays is the Pocket Canal Parkway. Volunteers can help hang this year’s lights Saturday, Dec. 11, at 9 a.m. “Many volunteers are needed, and I couldn’t do this without the help of Will Cannady,” District Seven Parks Commissioner Devin Lavelle says. If you want to volunteer, email Cannady at pocketlightsvolunteers@gmail.com. The lighting ceremony takes place at Portuguese Park on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 4:30–5:30 p.m., weather permitting. Donations from the community and support from City Councilmember Rick Jennings bring more lights to the canal each year. Donations are always appreciated. To help, visit lights.devinlavelle.com. Under “Please select,” choose District Seven Canal Holiday Lights. As Lavelle says, “Let’s light the entire length of the canal this year!”

HOLIDAY SOCCER SKILLS CLINIC Greenhaven Soccer Club holds its annual Holiday Soccer Skills Clinic on Friday, Dec. 3. Proceeds benefit the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and Kennedy High School Women’s Soccer Team. The clinic runs from 6–7:30 p.m. at Kennedy Stadium. Kids 4 to 13 are welcome. For more information, visit greenhavensoccer.com/registration/ holiday-clinic.

HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE Greenhaven Soccer Club is busy this season. The group partners with Councilmember Rick Jennings and

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the Pocket Greenhaven Community Association to host a toy drive Saturday, Dec. 4. The work benefits Outside the Walls, a nonprofit organization helping at-risk families. The drive-through event will be held in the parking lot of the School of Engineering and Sciences from 2–4 p.m. Toys should be new and unwrapped. Last year, more than 1,155 toys were donated. This year’s goal is 1,500. For more information, email Beth Koster or Robin Ohara at theghsc@gmail.com.

Happy Holidays F RO M

SINCE 1926

T R A D I T I O N S FO R T H E F U T U R E

PARTY TIME

LYON VILLAGE 2580 Fair Oaks Blvd. Ste 30. Sacramento 916.487.7853

Looking for a convenient place to ring in the New Year? Look no further than Elk’s Lodge No 6. The club hosts a prime rib dinner and dance Friday, Dec. 31. Contact the lodge at (916) 422-6666 for tickets. Corky Mau can be reached at corky. sue50@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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No Photos, Please CAMERAS EVERYWHERE, BUT WE’RE SO SHY

Like others, photographer Aniko Kiezel prefers to be behind the camera.

eople in Pocket are becoming shy. I don’t know the reason for this, but I know it’s happening because part of my job is to ask people to pose for photographs. About half say no. It wasn’t always this way. When I started writing for Inside eight years ago, my success rate with asking people to pose was close to 90 percent. I would interview someone for a story and explain that our photographer would call for a quick photo session. People were generally agreeable. The published photos were always flattering. Things began to change two or three years ago. I would interview someone, mention the photo session, and encounter hesitation. Eventually the person would come to the point and say they preferred not to be photographed. I would ask why, anticipating a story about an abusive ex-spouse or vengeful

RG By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

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creditors. But the reasons were never so obvious or explicit. Instead, they involved a vague fear of attracting unwanted attention. Some time ago, I interviewed a woman named Cassandra Fong who loved the Sacramento River Parkway and wanted to make sure the fences that blocked access to the levee were torn down. She was concerned that a few property owners near the levee might sneak up and rebuild their illegal fences. She wanted volunteers to walk the levee and make sure the fences never returned. “Perhaps we need to set up a committee or group of people who will continue to police the area so that these people don’t start building new privately owned encroachments,” she said. Great idea, I thought, and told Cassandra our photographer would soon be in touch. Cassandra hesitated. She said, “I feel our world is so unsafe. I am a single senior who lives alone, and am just not willing to take any chances with the lunatics out there, and there are many even in this socalled nice neighborhood of Pocket and Greenhaven.”

Soon after my story about Cassandra’s citizen patrol idea was published—without her photo, of course—I learned Cassie had died from natural causes. Her demise made me think about life’s tenuous grip and how we worry about the wrong things. I wish Cassandra had posed for that picture. More recently, Inside’s editor received a note from a reader asking us to feature his home in our Open House spread. The guy’s place sounded interesting. We asked one of our favorite writers to check it out. When the writer told the homeowner about our need for photographs—Open House is pointless without pictures— the guy demanded to know what sort of photos we wanted. He said he would rather supply his own pictures. And he wanted to review the story before it was published. The writer told him those demands were impossible. For one thing, Inside only publishes professional photos with Open House. And letting someone preview an article about themselves or their house is a great way to have a big argument. When the writer explained all this, the owner got angry and accused the writer of being a thief more interested

in casing the joint than writing about it. He threatened to call the police. Needless to say, we found another Open House. But the magazine continued to receive emails from the rejected homeowner, asking for a second chance, saying he was misunderstood, claiming the rules about photos and story previews were never explained. Moving forward, he said our photographer could take any pictures she wanted. None of that mattered. The window on his Open House was nailed shut. The whole mess could have been avoided if the guy had let the writer and photographer do their jobs. But as Cassandra Fong suggested, something’s changed. Cameras are everywhere, but people are afraid of photos. They worry about lunatics. Years ago, I would try to talk reluctant people into letting us take their photos. Not any more. Now I just say I understand, even if I really don’t. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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Educator Lonny Villalobos reads to his children.

Make A Difference VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP KIDS READ

elp local kids learn to read at grade level by volunteering for United Way California Capital Region’s Students & Tutors Achieving Reading Success program. STARS pairs volunteers and

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students through sixth grade for online literacy tutoring. Tutors and students work through a variety of games, books and lessons provided in an online portal to build vocabulary, fluency and comprehension skills. “We know that if kids aren’t reading at grade level by fourth grade, they will have a hard time keeping up across multiple subjects for years to come,” says Amber Lovett with United Way California Capital Region. “Our STARS volunteers make a world of difference in a child’s life by giving just one hour a week,” she adds. “Our tutors not only help them read, they act

as positive role models that improve children’s overall confidence in school.” No prior tutoring experience is needed. Volunteers must commit to at least one hour each week split into two 30-minute sessions for three months. Volunteers are especially needed between 3–5 p.m. For more information or to sign up, visit yourlocalunitedway. org/stars.

NEW UNITED WAY CEO Dr. Dawnté Early has been named president/CEO of United Way California Capital Region on the eve of the local chapter’s centennial.

“I am excited to lead this amazing organization of passionate regional leaders committed to reducing poverty and investing in the education of our most vulnerable community members,” Early says. “As we near the 100th anniversary, I look forward to growing our partnerships to help the region emerge from the pandemic with an even sharper focus on increasing economic security and reducing disparities.” West Sacramento resident Early previously served as chief of research and evaluation for the Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission. She also was a West

Sacramento city councilmember and served on the city’s Aging Commission. “Dr. Early is a proven advocate who is committed to our square-one approach of working to end poverty by tackling difficult issues that impact children and families,” says United Way Board Member Carolyn Mullins. “She has dedicated her life’s work to addressing issues that impact people from low-income and historically marginalized communities. We are proud to bring her on board.”

LITTLE ITALY The Sacramento City Council recently adopted a resolution to recognize part of East Sacramento as the historic Little Italy district. For much of the late 1900s, the area bounded by 48th Street to 59th Street and J Street to Folsom Boulevard was home to many Italian families and businesses, including Corti Brothers grocery store, Pietro Talini’s Nursery, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the former Español Italian Restaurant and many more. The East Portal Bocce Club at East Portal Park is now home to 65 league teams. Five years ago, a group of citizens led by William Cerruti, director of the Italian Cultural Society, and Fabrizio Sasso, executive director at the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, approached District 3 City Councilmember Jeff Harris to commemorate the Italian history in the area. “It was time to claim that heritage and recognize it,” Cerruti said at a recent City Council meeting when the resolution was adopted. “Italian roots run deep in the history of the city of Sacramento from the

Gold Rush days forward,” Harris said at the meeting. The resolution will “acknowledge a cultural contribution to the foundation of Sacramento over 100 years.”

Dr. Dawnté Early is president/CEO of United Way California Capital Region.

SYMPHONIC WINDS The winds of change are blowing at Sacramento Symphonic Winds. After five seasons as music and artistic director, Tim Smith is retiring from the organization. Smith will continue to serve as a music adjudicator, guest conductor and clinician for local, state and regional music ensembles, and share his knowledge as a music educator. SSW has selected Dr. Matthew Morse as Smith’s successor. Morse has a varied background as a music educator and conductor, including 25 years of experience with the United States Army and other military bands. He is currently the director of bands and assistant professor of conducting in the School of Music at Sacramento State.

SENIOR FITNESS PARK A new outdoor fitness space for older adults is now open at the Oak Park Community Center. The new fitness park—a partnership among the city of Sacramento, AARP and FitLot Outdoor Fitness Parks—contains 11 independent exercise machines on a rubberized surface. The park is one of 53 across the country created by AARP and national nonprofit FitLot, and will be managed by the city’s Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment department. It’s funded by an AARP grant that also

includes no-cost programming for three years. The park is open to the public during regular hours except during programmed classes. Free classes include low-impact workouts and walking groups. For information and class schedules, visit fitlot.org/parks/ sacramento or call (916) 808-6151.

MCGEORGE GIFT Dr. Matthew Morse is the new music and artistic director for Sacramento Symphonic Winds.

The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law has received a historic gift of $30 million for the school’s advocacy center and scholarships dedicated to firstgeneration students and students of color. Trial lawyer and 1988 alumnus Robert T. Eglet and his wife, legal negotiator Tracy A. Eglet, have committed to a $25 million gift to the School of Law, which will then receive an additional $5 million in matching funds from the university’s Powell Match program. In addition to $5 million to support the school’s advocacy center and $20 million for scholarships for firstgeneration students and students of

color, the gift creates three endowed faculty chairs for the newly renamed Eglet Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. The gift also includes a fund to cover competition fees and travel costs for every qualified team member of McGeorge’s mock trial, moot court, negotiations and other competition teams. The gift is the third largest ever given to a California law school and the second largest in the 170-year history of McGeorge. “My wife and I both strongly believe that it is important to give back when you can,” Robert Eglet says. “We are excited that we have the ability to help students who would not otherwise be able to afford law school.”

THE WELL AT SAC STATE The WELL, Sacramento State’s recreation and health facility, recently underwent a $34 million expansion and renovation, and has reopened to serve Sac State’s 31,500 students. The expansion added 18,000 square feet for fitness and recreation, and another 11,000 for student health

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City Councilmember Jeff Harris cuts the ribbon on the new McKinley Water Vault. Photo by Carlos Eliason.

services, bringing The WELL’s footprint to more than 260,000 square feet. Improvements include additional fitness studios, a dedicated spin studio and lounge, an additional 750 individual lockers, group counseling rooms and offices, an expanded healthy cooking demonstration kitchen, expanded athletic training facility, expanded and renovated urgent-care facility, and additional showers, restrooms and dressing rooms. Accessibility and inclusion were also considered, resulting in wider doorways, larger benches, door-automation features and elimination of barriers on all pathways. “The expansion project is the product of listening to our members and taking their feedback to heart,” says Bill Olmsted, The WELL executive director. “It definitely was worth the time and resources to make this project happen. There is no better investment than the health and well-being of our students.”

Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School program. American River College was granted $283,000 per year for the next four years to fund improvements to the college’s infant toddler program, including increased staff to allow for younger children (starting at 6 months of age), teacher training, Early Childhood Education student training, and advancement and family workshops. Cosumnes River College was granted $150,000 a year for the next four years to fund development of the college’s family resource and engagement center. Sacramento City College was granted $224,000, which is renewable each year for five years. The grant will help fund comprehensive services for students with children under the age of 2 starting in spring 2022.

LOS RIOS GRANTS

Now that construction is complete on the McKinley Water Vault, visitors to McKinley Park can enjoy new amenities, as well as peace of mind. The 6-million-gallon storage vault for storm water and wastewater was installed under McKinley Park to reduce flooding in the neighborhood.

Three Los Rios Community College District schools—American River College, Cosumnes River College and Sacramento City College—have been awarded multi-year federal grants to support child care and family services on campus as part of the Department of

POC DEC n 21

MCKINLEY PARK AMENITIES

New amenities in the historic park include a multi-use field, horseshoe pits, a volleyball area, jogging paths, restrooms, picnic areas, BBQ pits, benches, shade structures, landscaping and 60 new trees. Construction on the vault project began in 2019 and cost approximately $25 million.

PARTY FOR CHANGE The Saint John’s Program for Real Change annual fundraiser, Party for Change, recently raised a recordbreaking $1 million to support formerly homeless women and children. “I am so grateful to the incredible group of people who made this event possible and to the Sacramento community for its continued support of Saint John’s,” CEO Julie Hirota says. The black-tie gala’s more than 650 attendees enjoyed performances by Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre, led by Artistic Director Jacob Gutierrez Montoya, as well as Sabrina, a classically trained opera singer and current resident of Saint John’s. Funds raised will help house and provide comprehensive supportive services for more than 66 women and children for one year. For more information, visit saintjohnsprogram. org.

MEGA-EVENT COVID PROTOCOLS The California Department of Public Health recently updated its COVID-19 safety guidelines involving mega-events to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours for events with 1,000 or more attendees. Many regional arts organizations are also adopting these protocols regardless of audience size. “The priority must be to protect the community and provide assurances that our guests will be safe while enjoying all that local arts have to offer,” says Liv Moe, board president of the Sacramento Alliance for Regional Arts, a group of artists and 65 arts organizations throughout the region. “While the majority of Sacramento’s cultural venues don’t produce megaevents of this size, we believe that voluntarily adopting such safety measures is another critical step to limiting the spread of the virus,” Moe says. Organizations that have adopted mega-event protocols include Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center, Golden 1 Center, Memorial Auditorium, Celebration Arts, Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento Ballet, Images Theater Company, Sacramento Theatre Company, Capital Stage, NorCal School of the Arts, The Sofia and Sierra 2.

Thankful for 58 Great Friends Properties Sold in 2021 1390 Palomar Circle 2719 Land Park Drive 7216 Willow Wind Court 1454 Kitchner Road 10030 Blossom Ridge Drive 3824 Riviera Lane 86 Northlite Circle 7117 Gladwin Way 2509 Montgomery Way 80 Cavalcade Circle 1148 8th Avenue 5530 Birdview Way 3112 Gennaker Way 7430 Myrtle Vista Avenue 1225 35th Street 468 Pimentel Way 616 Q Street 3353 11th Street 2901 Tree Swallow Circle 7359 Perera Circle

A new outdoor ﬁtness space is open at Oak Park Community Center. Photo courtesy of Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment.

NEW EV CHARGERS The city of Sacramento has launched six new curbside high-powered chargers for electric vehicles at 14th and E streets, and 22nd and J streets. The charging stations are a partnership between the city and EVgo, an electric vehicle charging station operator. “As we move toward a more sustainable future and shift away from fossil fuels as a city, we must remain focused on ensuring everyone has access to new technologies,” City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela says. Depending on the vehicle, customers can expect to charge their cars up to 80% in 45 minutes to an hour. Each charging station serves all EV models and both locations will be equipped with integrated Tesla connectors. “These community charging stations will make it easier for people who cannot access charging at home to choose electric vehicles, including folks like me who live in a multifamily building,” Valenzuela added. The charging stations also feature vinyl art wraps produced by local artists Melissa Uroff and Yoly Petra Stoeve. For more information, visit cityofsacramento.org/public-works/ electric-vehicle-initiatives/curbsidecharging or call (916) 808-1859.

FAMILY STORYTIME The Sacramento Public Library is hosting weekly in-person Outdoor Family Storytime events at parks

throughout the region. The live 30-minute program includes songs, rhymes and stories designed for infants to children age 6. Siblings and caregivers are also welcome. “Storytimes are a fun way for the entire family to encourage early learning and help build the foundation for pre-reading skills,” says the library’s Early Learning and Development Manager Donna Zick. Outdoor Family Storytimes are scheduled at Brock Park, Carmichael Park, Elk Grove Regional Park, Howe Community Park, Kunsting Family Park, Robla Community Park and Woody Hampton Park. Weekly events will also take place in the green spaces adjacent to local libraries, including Belle Cooledge Library, Colonial Heights Library, Fair Oaks Library, McKinley Library and Rio Linda Library. For more information, visit saclibrary.org/outdoorstorytime.

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outreach director who facilitates monthly group workshops on leadership development and goal setting for the program. “I could not be more honored or excited to work with this cohort of artists.” Ten high school students have been paired with artist mentors and personal coaches to further develop their artistic skills, explore career paths and work toward showcasing their work. This year’s student/mentor pairings are Luis Dias, a senior at Luther Burbank High School, with digital artist

and cartoonist Kriss Dempsey; Jocelyn Elizarraras, a junior at Met Sacramento High School, with Ana Maria Perales, a company member with Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre; Laila Gaeta, a junior at the Met, with mixed-media artist and photographer Melissa Uroff; Ian Nagel, a junior at the Met, with Lauren Wolf, an artist and scenic painter; Jocelyn Sagastume, a junior at West Campus High School, with cartoonist and graphic novelist Eben Burgoon; Vivian Pahos, a junior at CK McClatchy High School, with

ARTISTIC MENTORS CLARA recently announced the newest participants in its Catalyst program, a nine-month professional apprenticeship, in partnership with Sacramento City Unified School District. The program helps emerging artists in their late teens define their professional and educational paths by being paired with professional artists. “There is an energy of determination, support and hope for our future that is palpable amongst the young artists,” says Emili Danz, CLARA’s education

Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre performs at Party For Change.

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Graduates of Women’s Empowerment’s Banking Academy celebrate their graduation. Franceska Gamez, a muralist and sculptor; Israel Tellez, a senior at West Campus High School, with writer and artist Eben Burgoon; Angel White, a senior at KCIA, with visual artist, writer and activist Delgreta Brown; and Emma Archer, Monica BarajasZamora and Mone De La Cruz, seniors at CK McClatchy (Archer) and the Met (Barajas-Zamora and De La Cruz), who are forming a musical trio and will work with folk/jazz fusion band Dear Darling.

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WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT Women’s Empowerment recently received a $20,000 grant from Arata Brothers Trust to continue its programming to provide job readiness and empowerment skills, child care and support services to women breaking the cycle of homelessness and their children. Eighty-two percent of Women’s Empowerment graduates secure a job or enroll in school. Despite the housing crisis, 75% regain a safe home for themselves and their children. Now in its 20th year, the organization has graduated 1,719 women and their 3,842 children. “For the trustees of the Arata Brothers Trust, 2020 and 2021 revealed the most nimble and effective nonprofits in the Sacramento region,” says Matson Sewell, co-trustee of Arata Brothers Trust. “Women’s Empowerment led the way in this landscape, continuing to deliver highly impactful programs to such an under-resourced population, adapting to public health requirements for both mothers and children, and moving forward despite the new challenges.”

The Children’s Garden pathway at Elk Grove Community Garden & Learning Center is the result of a past Saul Wiseman Grant. the supply of food for the hungry and create places of beauty in our neighborhoods. Educators are dedicated to making gardening experiences available in schools and public places through hands-on curriculum and job skills training. Past grant recipients include a butterfly garden at Garden Valley School in Natomas, new compost centers at Midtown Community Gardens with ReSoil Sacramento, a Children’s Garden pathway at the Elk Grove Community Garden & Learning Center and new raised beds in the vegetable garden at Aldar Academy. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2022. For more information or to apply, visit sacramentoperennialplantclub.org/ grants.

GARDEN GRANTS The Sacramento Perennial Plant Club’s annual Saul Wiseman Grants are now open for applications from nonprofits, community groups and schools within Sacramento County for projects that promote gardening and horticultural activities with an emphasis on education, service and community enhancement. The Saul Wiseman Grants focus on activities that provide greater access to healthy soil and open spaces, increase

STOP POACHING Deer poaching around Effie Yeaw Nature Center and Ancil Hoffman Park has become a serious problem, reports longtime American River Natural History Association member Tim McGinn. Between mid-October and late January, poachers target big bucks for their antlers.

McGinn is working with law enforcement at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to address the problem. A public awareness team has been formed to educate the community on how to help stop poaching. Poaching takes place during the night hours by individuals using cross-bows and night-vision optics. The public can assist by recognizing suspicious activities day or night. If you see suspicious activity, record vehicle license numbers, write down descriptions of what you saw and take photos with your phone. Do not confront poachers. Report this information by calling the CalTip line at (888) 334-CALTIP, available 24 hours a day seven days a week, or text 847411. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Season’s Greetings! East Sacramento homes brighten the neighborhood each year with colorful lights and festive decorations. Happy Holidays from everyone at Inside Sacramento!

PHOTOS BY LINDA SMOLEK

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C’mon, Get Happy R

Rekhi Singh

JL By Jessica Laskey Meet Your Neighbor

SAC STATE ALUM ENDOWS CHAIR FOR STUDY OF HAPPINESS

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ekhi Singh’s motto is simple: “Happy people are more successful.” Singh is on a mission to help everyone find wellbeing through happiness. He has founded programs and centers around the world to study the science of happiness—including one at his alma mater, Sacramento State. “Whatever you do unhappily, you can do it better if done happily,” says Singh, a native of India who moved to Singapore at age 30 and then to Sacramento in 1987 to earn his MBA. “Happy people are more successful than the other way around. A meaningful life is where you feel connected and help others.” Singh began his career in information technology, earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur. He wanted to start a business, so he moved to California to obtain a graduate degree at Sac State. He completed leadership programs at UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School, and founded R Systems, a publicly traded global technology and analytics services company that has enjoyed enormous success. His faith called him to do more. “The Sikh Holy Book talks about Anand, which means joys, and Bismad, which means awe,” Singh says. “Positive psychology and the science of happiness are just that.” Singh decided the best way to spread these values was to build educational programs and institutions dedicated to the science of happiness. He founded the Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness at IIT Kharagpur in 2017. Two years later, he funded the first endowed professorship at Sac State, the Rekhi Singh Endowed Professor in Happiness, housed in the Department of Psychology. “I looked back at my life and I figured out that my schools where I had studied had played a big role,” Singh says. “I was grateful and that’s my way of giving back.”

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The study of happiness at Sac State includes coursework, academic research, lectures and workshops built around the concept of incorporating happiness and wellbeing into daily life. In announcing the endowment, Singh said, “Learning about happiness can help students not only cope with stress, but also to succeed at Sacramento State and throughout their lives.” He emphasized a focus on “practicing gratitude, mindfulness, forgiveness, self-compassion and more.” Singh sponsored three more centers similar to the one at Kharagpur. He plans to open a total of 10 by next year under the Rekhi Foundation for Happiness, a nonprofit trust founded with his wife, Harpreet Rekhi, in 2016. Goals include working for the betterment of women and girls. Though he’s not in it for accolades, Singh has received significant recognition. In May, he was appointed international adviser of the Gross National Happiness Centre for the Kingdom of Bhutan. He advises the organization on collaborations to further happiness and wellbeing. “Bhutan is the birthplace of gross national happiness, an alternative to

the gross domestic product,” Singh said when his appointment was announced. “The world still has a lot to learn from this small kingdom.” In August, he was awarded the 2021 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service at Sac State in recognition of his positive impact on the local community and beyond. The award brought his journey full circle. “Sac State’s business program gave me an insight into how to help businesses recover from a loss position,” Singh says. “That is what I did in my first job. After that, I was able to start my own business, which is prospering. I could not have done that if I had not been exposed to the business program at Sac State.” He’s happy to help fellow Sacramento residents reach their full potential. For more information, visit csus.edu, rekhifoundation.com and rsystems.com. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @

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We Give Up CITY THROWS IN TOWEL ON LOWER X STREET

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

he sights on lower X Street did it for me. Coming off the freeway, I saw wrecked cars and busted campers and people standing around, a pitiful procession pinned against the gutter like a forlorn carnival that took a wrong turn. Somebody stuck two orange traffic cones partway into the street, warning motorists to steer clear. Lower X Street, home to warehouses and body shops, never delivered a welcoming hug to visitors who enter the city from river’s edge. Now it arrives with a punch in the face.

RG By R.E. Graswich City Beat

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The people and dogs and vehicles and furniture and junk along lower X Street are not squatters surrounded by the detritus of homelessness and calamity. Strictly speaking, these people aren’t unsheltered. Their vehicles, with coaxing and a blast of Gumout, will run. The furniture and junk belong to someone. Despite its appearance as a makeshift, decrepit urban campsite, the scene on lower X Street is officially sanctioned. The broken vehicles and a tent city under the freeway along X Street are blessed by the City Council and supported by public dollars. The city claims the mess is temporary, but it will thrive until a remedy for homelessness is discovered. Which might be awhile. I understand all that—how the city designated certain locations for tent communities, how various streets were identified as appropriate places for people to live in vehicles without getting tickets and towed. What I didn’t understand, not until I wandered around lower X Street, was what those blocks truly represent.

They stand for the city’s capitulation—a white flag of surrender waved before thousands of homeless people who drifted into Sacramento over the past decade. We give up, the city is saying. You win. These streets are yours. Mayor Darrell Steinberg and his City Council colleagues present lower X Street as a humanistic and thoughtfully reasoned response to the reality that there aren’t enough homes in Sacramento for everybody who wants one—especially free homes, the kind sought by homeless people. The city’s surrender doesn’t stop with the housing crunch. No, the housing crunch is a fine excuse for city officials to dismiss any serious steps to restore unsheltered people and help them gain self-respect and become productive citizens. Lower X Street is the city’s acceptance that some homeless people aren’t interested in jobs, accountability or rehabilitation, that they demand the freedom to wander while accepting free services. They may wish to sleep outside in a tent.

And they will not abide burdensome rules that come with emergency housing at shelters or motels or rehab programs. To which an exhausted city says: We accept your terms. The city will deny this. The mayor will say I have unfairly characterized his grand plan to find locations in eight City Council districts to accommodate the complex and diverse needs of homeless people. He will have a point. Calling out the city’s surrender is probably unfair, because the mayor’s plan is grand and ambitious and more comprehensive than anything the city has ever tried. But it’s still capitulation. It’s an admission that despite having spent millions of public dollars on services and schemes that only made things worse, the city has given up on X Street. By sanctioning tent communities and turning a blind eye to people living in junk vehicles, the city confesses to the failure of previous strategies. TO PAGE 25

Nailing Down

Hope Denise McCoy Photo by Linda Smolek

hen Denise Rochelle McCoy dons a pink hard hat in March to participate in the annual Women Build event for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, it will bring back memories. McCoy wore a hard hat to build her own Habitat house in 2015, when she took the leap into homeownership. “I was renting a one-bedroom apartment in a challenging neighborhood where there was a lot of violence after losing my job,” McCoy says. “I thought, am I ever going to get out of this? It took three years of research, cleaning up my credit and saving money for a down payment, but I finally purchased my current property through Habitat for Humanity in 2015.” Over the last 36 years, nonprofit Habitat for Humanity has helped thousands of local people in underserved neighborhoods build and repair homes. Last year, Habitat served more than 3,500 individuals in Sacramento and Yolo counties through home builds, repairs and community projects. One project was Women Build, a monthlong event that recruits and empowers women of all ages, backgrounds and industries to help Habitat build and repair affordable homes. “They don’t just hand you a house,” says McCoy, a real estate agent and senior property manager at HomeRiver Group who’s been in the property management business since age 18. “It took me 15 months to put in my 500 sweat equity hours. Even my eldest daughter, who turned 16 toward the end of the building process, helped out.” McCoy is part of a long tradition of women helping women. Habitat for Humanity International started Women Build in 2003. Participants raise funds and provide volunteer muscle. Over the past 18 years, Women Build engaged 138,000 women volunteers worldwide who helped build, renovate or repair more than 5,325 homes. Over the past decade, the local Women Build event brought together more than 1,300 women who donated more than 10,000 volunteer hours. The March event is expected to be the biggest Women Build yet. Participants will pledge at least $250 to fund new home construction for low-income families, repair projects for seniors and veterans, and community and playhouse build projects to support Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program. “I’ve gotten quite a few girlfriends interested in coming with me this spring—I’m excited to have my own little crew,” says McCoy, who produces the weekly “Dee McCoy Radio Show” in her spare time through Access Sacramento and is developing a property management app through her company, Property Management Queen. “You run into amazing people at the job sites,” she says. “It’s a great way for women to collaborate and network for a cause that’s bigger than any of us. It feels really good inside to help someone else realize a dream they’ve had for God knows how many years.” It’s a dream McCoy is proud to have realized. “On Day One of construction for my house, we were digging in the soil to set rebar for the foundation and I saved some of the soil in an empty water bottle,” she says. “I often visit that little bottle in my closet and grab it and hug it as a constant reminder of what I did to realize my dream of homeownership. It was so worth it.” For information about Women Build 2022, visit habitatgreatersac.org/ womenbuild.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CLIENT PAYS IT FORWARD THROUGH WOMEN BUILD

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: insidesacramento.com. n

JL By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Proﬁle

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Leave No Trace LOCAL NATURALIST IS ON MISSION TO CLEAN UP SACRAMENTO

Allyson Seconds

he always wanted to be a “nature person.” But owning her own business and playing and singing in bands around town kept Allyson Seconds too busy for life in the great outdoors. Until she adopted her first dog, Lulu—and everything changed. “I

CR By Cathryn Rakich Animals & Their Allies

POC DEC n 21

go to the river easily 300 out of 365 days a year,” says the fitness trainer, singer, musician, photographer, avid hiker and certified naturalist. Between 2006 and 2010, Seconds and her border collie/lab mix made daily treks to Sutter’s Landing Park, a 167-acre recreation area along the American River Parkway. “Those were the pristine days at Sutter’s Landing,” says Seconds, who discovered the area years before it was home to a dog park, skate park and basketball courts. “That was before a lot of people started going there. It wasn’t trashy. It was just beautiful.”

Seconds spotted coyotes, deer and other wildlife. “But it has suffered from all the same reasons any area would with more traffic,” she says. “There were no homeless camps. It was just people going to the river and not respecting it.” Soon after, she rescued her second dog, Hank, a lab/pit bull mix abandoned at Sutter’s Landing. But Lulu and Hank were not people-pups. As human interactions increased, Seconds searched for a more remote area to explore with her canine companions. “That’s how I found Woodlake,” she says.

Woodlake is a stretch of meadow grass, wildflowers and towering oaks along the American River Parkway behind REI and Costco off Exposition Boulevard. “There were hardly any living souls out there back then. It was the American River Parkway untouched.” A self-described “nature nerd,” Seconds made Woodlake her second home, hiking and swimming the area every day with her dogs. In addition to native brush and decades-old oaks, an open meadow turns lush green in the spring with wild radish and flowering trees. “Woodlake was gorgeous,” she says, until around 2014 when Seconds started noticing more and more homeless camps. In one area adjacent to the meadow, under a giant canopying fig tree, campers carved out living spaces deep into a “homeless maze of trash.” She met a camper named Mike— she called him the “Mayor of the Meadow.” He was respected. He was honest. “He had a good relationship with almost everyone out there,” she says. With dog rescue on her mind, she turned to Mike. “He was my gateway to the camps. He promised I would never be harmed. It was a whole different culture.” Seconds recalls three litters of puppies. The first was a family of pit bulls owned by a camper who lived in the “homeless maze.” Mike led Seconds through the twists and turns of trash and gnarled fig branches to reach the puppies. The camper didn’t want money. He just wanted Seconds to find the young canines good homes. Rescue of the next litter, shepherd/ rottweiler mixes, fell through when the area flooded and the camper moved on, eventually giving the puppies away. Seconds raised $600 in exchange for the third litter—also pit bulls. “The guy was punching his puppies because they were making noise,” she says. “I hated paying him, but I decided we needed to get those puppies out of there.” Seconds stopped visiting her beloved Woodlake in 2017 when the area became increasingly occupied and garbage ridden. “It was like

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WE’RE LOOKING FOR INTERESTING HOMES TO FEATURE Inside Sacramento is looking for creative homes to feature in upcoming editions of Open House. Send recommendations to Cathryn Rakich at editor@insidepublications.com. mourning the loss of a friend,” she says. Hank and Lulu also required her hospice care before passing away. But trash was still on her mind. Seconds lives in North Oak Park with her husband and two new dogs. She co-owns Sacramento Fitness Collective on North D Street. Her commute takes her past 33rd and X streets, two blocks from Alhambra and Broadway. “There is quite a trash situation right around there,” she says. “The corner is just overrun with folks camping, and piles and piles of trash that go out to the street.” When she arrives at her warehouse gym, “there’s more blight. I go from trash to trash.” In addition to the local garbage she encounters, Seconds began taking note of the trash found on backpacking trips to the coast and Sierras. “I started becoming quite a nut about the concept ‘leave no trace.’ But we’re leaving our trace everywhere.” So she created Sacramento Picks It Up! Seconds launched a Facebook group—now more than 700

members—and organized crews to perform “trash and tackle pickups.” They clear local waterways of discarded fishing line and lures, and rescue injured wildlife. Now, Sacramento Picks It Up! is a hub for people to join or create a pickup event, or post a photo of trash collected on a walk. “Because every tiny bit counts,” says Seconds, who calls herself a “guerrilla garbage getter.” “Everybody has the power,” she says. “You start to see trash everywhere you go. But instead of walking by it, we pick it up.” Sacramento Picks It Up! teams with Save the American River Association for cleanup days. To volunteer, visit sarariverwatch.org or join Sacramento Picks It Up! on Facebook. Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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There’s nothing new about homeless people demanding tent cities and the freedom to anchor their wrecks on city streets. They have wanted such accommodations for decades. But the city has always said no, absolutely not—a bright red line drawn against tents and vehicle blight on public property. Prohibitions against tent towns and people living in cars were the city’s final façade of control, a last stand by earnest leaders who prided themselves on civic pride, community service and socio-equality. The homeless crisis tore the façade away. It forced the City Council to admit the streets belong to whoever wants them. When Steinberg ran for mayor in 2016, he promised to solve the homeless problem. He gave himself two years. Oh, well. Nobody’s perfect. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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A Real Race? SHERIFF’S ELECTION MAY BREAK FORMAT

sheriff’s election is often an exercise in maintaining the status quo. Many times, the retiring incumbent picks a favored replacement, and the endorsement is enough to win the race. Once in office, the sheriff typically wins several re-elections and stays on the job until he chooses to depart on his own terms. Scott Jones was elected sheriff in 2010, the handpicked replacement for John McGinness. Recently Jones posted on social media, “I have decided NOT to seek re-election as Sheriff of Sacramento County next year, and instead retire after what will be over 33

HS By Howard Schmidt Inside The County

POC DEC n 21

years with the Sheriff’s Office, including 12 years as Sheriff!” Jones has been a prominent figure— he leads the largest law enforcement agency in the region—and controversial. He criticized President Barak Obama on illegal aliens when an undocumented drug dealer murdered Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Det. Michael Davis in 2014. Jones lost a run for Congress against incumbent Rep. Ami Bera in 2016. He argued in 2018 with the county inspector general after his deputies shot a civilian. In 2020, Jones called for the National Guard to be mobilized after the jail and other county facilities Downtown were vandalized while under the watch of Sacramento Police. That same year, Jones used social media to build opposition to efforts by the Board of Supervisors to “defund” law enforcement. Jones has also been an innovator. He created the Homeless Outreach Team to deal with transient problems and homeless camps in unincorporated areas. He developed the Intelligence Led Policing model for patrol deployment,

and supported body cameras for deputies. Now that Jones is stepping down, voters will choose his successor. What impact will Jones have? The 2010 election was close. Jones had the McGinness endorsement, but another previous sheriff, Lou Blanas, supported Jim Cooper, a sheriff’s captain. Jones squeezed out a narrow victory by about 3,000 votes. Jones faced no opposition in 2014 and prevailed in 2018, despite being assailed by progressives. A similar push by progressives was made against incumbent District Attorney Anne Marie Shubert, who also won. Now Jones has a chance to impact the 2022 sheriff’s race. He has endorsed Chief Deputy Jim Barnes, but a battle is forming with a familiar name—Jim Cooper. Now a state assemblymember representing South Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt and Lodi, Cooper has an active campaign committee for sheriff. His account had $503,528 this summer, compared to $101,834 for Barnes. When Cooper formed his campaign committee, he admitted he has a big

decision to make—either run for sheriff or his Assembly seat. He can’t run for both. Cooper said he was “only weighing my options and considering what is best for my family, the people of the Ninth Assembly District, and for the citizens of Sacramento County.” Meantime, Barnes is campaigning hard, with Jones helping out. Law enforcement groups want Cooper to stay in the Legislature. As a Democrat and former deputy, he has credibility as a public safety advocate to counter anti-law enforcement groups. If Cooper decides to run for sheriff, a two-person contest with Barnes would be decided in June. If other candidates enter the primary, a November runoff would happen if nobody wins in June by 50.1 percent. The filing period opens Feb. 14 and closes March 11. Howard Schmidt has worked on the federal, state and local levels of government, including 16 years for Sacramento County. He can be reached at howardschmidt218@aol.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Strategy Shift WEATHER CALAMITIES MAKE GARDENERS GROW

Angela Pratt Photo by Linda Smolek

razy weather and alarming environmental catastrophes suggest Sacramento gardeners may want to rethink old school strategies and practices. What worked a few years ago does not necessarily guarantee success today. Gardeners and plants have been forced to deal with smoke and ash from wildfires, unusually hot stretches of summer heat, milder winters and strict water conservation because of persistent drought. Not yet

DV By Dan Vierria Garden Jabber

POC DEC n 21

apocalyptical threats, but reason to tweak things in your favor. “I have noticed increased heat and drought in my garden for several years and have tried to bend with it,” says Debbie Flower, a retired horticulture professor who lives in Fair Oaks. “Because I am stingy with water, I have lost a few plants and watched others defoliate in the hottest part of summer.” She is trying to accept a “different aesthetic in the landscape,” one that includes “less green in July and August.” Flower introduced some desert species to her garden, including palo verde, mesquite and desert willow. “One thing you can do is wisely choose plants,” Flower says. “Pay close attention to the recommended water needs and plant them together with plants of similar water needs. Also apply a thick layer of mulch, 4 inches minimum. And visit the garden

regularly, daily if possible. Examine your plants from afar and up close.” The National Weather Service in Sacramento reported two records when the official rainfall year ended Oct. 1. A scant 6.61 inches of rainfall was recorded during the year at the Executive Airport climate station (average is around 18 inches). Downtown’s climate station logged 195 consecutive days without measurable rainfall (the dry spell ended at 212 days). Alarming reservoir water levels and water district conservation efforts emphasize the need for frugality. Nurseries such as The Plant Foundry in Oak Park emphasize plants that adapt to less water. “We have always had strong water-wise leanings when it comes to plants,” says owner Angela Pratt. “Our landscape plant offerings skew drought-tolerant. We’ve expanded native plants in general. We still sell

fruit trees, vegetables and herbs that require regular water because growing your own food comes with other environmental benefits.” Wildfire ash is noticeable on cars, but we may not see it on plants. I wash off landscape foliage weekly when the air is fouled with smoke and ash. A quick spray makes water usage acceptable to maintain plant health. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, essential for life. “The extra particulate matter in the air from wildfire smoke increases dirt on plants, making wildfire season an especially good time to hose off plants,” Flower says. “Washing the foliage removes dirt, dust and insect excrement (commonly called honeydew) from leaves and branches. The resulting increase in light getting to leaf cells increases the plant’s ability to make food, or photosynthesis.” TO PAGE 31

Ticket to Read

HONDURAS BECKONS WITH LOVE AND BOOKS

e’ve watched news stories of Honduran families making the treacherous journey toward our southern border. So today, I have only two questions. First question: What makes those families take such a risk? Why do they trek thousands of miles through harsh weather, rough terrain and threats of violence? Why do they risk arrest or even worse—rape, robbery, human trafficking or being separated from their children? Here’s what I know: Public schools in Honduras are overcrowded, underfunded and poorly staffed. Children without the needed resources find school difficult and often drop out. That’s why my daughter, Sara Brakhane, who lives in Honduras,

NB By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

started Chispa Project, referencing the Spanish word for “spark.” Hondurans use “chispa” to describe people with spark or drive. Chispa Project has a simple mission: Sponsor children’s libraries and equip them with quality books in Spanish, working with Honduran community leaders and educators. Sara is executive director of Chispa and I’m on the board of directors. In the 60 schools where Chispa is underway, the program builds alliances with communities to design, fund and manage local libraries. Community members volunteer in the library project and raise a symbolic portion of the funds that ensure sustainability and local ownership. Chispa, like the Honduran people it serves, wants to see children educated and grow up so they can remain united with their families and have choices about their future. The program wants to see Honduran children dream their own American-like dreams. Of the many Hondurans I’ve met, most don’t want to leave their homes. They don’t want to come to our country. They don’t want our welfare dollars or our jobs. They want their own nation and their own communities. They want

a way to provide opportunities for their children in Honduras. Now for the second question: Would you consider joining me and 25 other volunteers for a week in Honduras while we start three new libraries? Come fly with me. It will be fun, I promise. It’s only a three-hour flight from Houston and we never leave the Central time zone. The day after we arrive, we will begin to decorate new libraries to make children proud of their schools. We will paint the walls with colorful murals, assemble bookshelves, and stock and catalog an entire library. Imagine us working together, rolling two coats of white paint on crumbling walls. The paint provides a bright pallet for murals intended to inspire future readers. Children will surround us, chattering with the English words they know. Their smiles will go for hours as they read the picture books we bring along. The days are sometimes hot and long, but not to worry. I reward my volunteers with ice-cream cones from a street vendor. I know some of you are asking a question: Is it dangerous?

That’s a risk you will have to assess on your own, but I can tell you I have brought and safely returned several octogenarians in past years. And I can tell you I’m comfortable with my daughter, her husband and their 1-yearold baby living in Honduras. Now is the time to sign up for one of our two volunteer trips for 2022. The first journey is May 15–22. The second runs June 19–26. I know you have more questions, so check out our website at chispaproject. org/volunteertrip. Read the details, fill out the forms and watch the five-minute video. Email me if you have questions. And if you can’t fly with us, will you consider a donation to help us establish these libraries? Whoops. I guess I promised only two questions. Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. Burkes is available for public speaking at civic organizations, places of worship, veterans groups and more. For details and fees, visit thechaplain.net. n

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Your Cheating Heart POLS ARE HONEST COMPARED TO ATHLETES

t’s getting tough to hold an election without someone claiming the results are rigged or crooked or somehow fixed. But there’s an easy way for Sacramento citizens to tell whether elections are less than honest. Keep an eye on the athletes. In our modern culture, no collection of humans knows more about cheating than athletes. Name a sport and you’ll find a cheater. If county and state election officials start to hire athletes—or former

RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

POC DEC n 21

athletes or coaches or trainers—and put them anywhere near the polling, counting and certification process, look out. Where athletes go, cheating follows. I’m not saying all athletes are cheaters. They aren’t. Many take pride in their ability to train hard and succeed on merit and talent and sweat. But plenty of athletes believe they can’t succeed without cheating—if only because their opponents gain advantages by cheating. Once cheating starts, it spreads like a virus. People cheat to stay competitive. Paradoxically, the best athletes are often the best cheaters. They know how to get away with it. Even the most upstanding athlete can get trapped in the vortex. People cheat at golf, ignoring the game’s tradition of self-incrimination. Tennis, which evolved as a leisure activity for ladies and gentlemen, is filled with cheaters. Here’s one example:

Tennis players are not supposed to receive advice from coaches during matches (women get one tutorial per set). The rules dissolve in a flash of elaborately choreographed coaching signals from the sidelines at every tournament. Cheating covers the full spectrum. A high school football player who injects steroids to enhance his weight-lifting regimen is a cheater. So is the NBA player who grabs an opponent’s jersey or flops without contact. Steroids, grabbing and diving have one common denominator: They are against the rules. Sometimes, cheating is impossible to detect without a confession. A racehorse trainer who uses Lasix water pills to control bleeding in a filly’s lungs is playing by the rules. But if the medicine is dispensed merely to help the horse urinate more and run faster

or mask other drugs or hide an injury, the trainer is cheating. Some sports are worse than others. If strength and endurance are keys to success, it’s inevitable that athletes will cheat, typically with performanceenhancing drugs. Cyclists have a terrible reputation for cheating. They worked hard to earn it. The world’s premier cycling event—the Tour de France—has been a laboratory for cheats since it began in 1903. Early cheaters took trains and cars, skipping long sections of the racecourse. Riders poisoned foes by spiking their drinks. To propel long climbs through the Alps, cyclists relied on cocaine, chloroform and morphine. Into the 1950s, Tour officials approved of doping as long as riders carried their own drugs. Lance Armstrong is the king of bicycle dopers, but even the king must salute Femke Van den Driessche, a

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successful cyclocross cyclist whose performance in the 2016 World Championships was assisted by a motor concealed in her bike. Cheating isn’t a matter of a few rotten apples. Entire teams cheat—let’s never forgive the Houston Astros for stealing signals en route to the 2017 World Series title. Coaches are coconspirators. Athletes whose bodies and performances are enhanced by drugs are easy to recognize by coaches. Pitchers who doctor baseballs are obvious. Everyone plays dumb, even high school coaches. I’ve been writing about sports for 50 years, and have found just one group of athletes who try hard not to cheat. These are rugby players. From the start, rugby established a culture of fortitude and toughness with no tolerance for excuses. Cheating is always a sign of weakness, so rugby players do their best to avoid it. Which doesn’t mean rugby players are immune from cheating. They are especially clever about violating the offside law. But compared to everything else, rugby is an honest game. If you get a chance this winter, please check out Sacramento State, UC Davis or local high school rugby teams. It’s quite a game.

Politicians are rarely seen as paragons of honesty and integrity. But they are saints compared to many athletes, at least when it comes to cheating their way to victory. If an Olympic star ever becomes responsible for Sacramento County elections or gets sworn in as California secretary of state, demand a recount. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

Adopt an orphan who will steal your heart.

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FROM PAGE 28 If you wash plants, do it early in the day to allow foliage to dry before nightfall. Once water is on a leaf for more than six hours, fungal and bacterial diseases can infect plants. As climates change, we benefit from a longer growing season. Remember when planting tomatoes was reserved for late April or early May? Spring weather has accommodated earlier planting times the past few years. The weather has been warmer earlier in the growing year, but it’s still wise to expect an annoying hailstorm or a few colder days early on. “We are lucky to already have a very long growing season, but I see no reason not to start earlier!” Flower says. “The calendar should not dictate when we plant. If the soil is warm enough, the plants will do well. Plant warm season annuals after a week of low night temperatures of 50 degrees or higher. Be prepared to protect plants from a late frost.” Sacramento summers have been blast-furnace hot, and problems with plant and fruit sun damage are escalating. “We sell Coolaroo shade sails as an inexpensive way to create instant shade,” Pratt says.

Some sort of summer shade once was a choice. Now it’s a necessity for plants and gardeners. Dan Vierria is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener for Sacramento County. He can be reached at masterg29@ gmail.com. For answers to gardening questions, contact the UCCE Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338, email mgsacramento@ucanr.edu or visit sacgm.ucanr.edu. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

W Washing the foliage removes dirt, dust and insect excrement from leaves and branches. The resulting increase in light getting to leaf cells increases the plant’s ability to make food, or photosynthesis.

„

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Never Too Cheesy YES, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN RICOTTA

Kim Mack Photo by Linda Smolek

TMO By Tessa Marguerite Outland Farm-to-Fork

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ill havarti, mozzarella with homegrown basil and fresh warm ricotta. What do these cheeses have in common? Kim Mack, the Cheese Queen, makes them all. Since beginning her cheese-making venture almost four years ago, Mack has experimented with about 40 different types of hard and soft cheeses. Mack was born in Sacramento and works as a contracts analyst for the county Department of Human

Assistance. She’s always been interested in culinary arts. Several years ago, Mack started an online baking business. It soon led to cheese. “My cannoli became very, very popular,” she says. “But ricotta at grocery stores is not the quality that you need for cannoli, not for my cannoli anyway.” She describes ordinary store-bought ricotta as grainy, wet and unpleasant on the palette. Mack found some high-quality ricotta at a specialty grocery store, but it was

too pricey for the amount she needed— about $30 in cheese per batch of cannoli. So she found a recipe online and tried to make her own. Shock and surprise followed. It was easy to make. And it tasted good. “That was three and a half years ago and we’ve been off to the races ever since,” Mack says. Mack began offering cheese-making classes from her home about three years ago. She saw a huge increase in interest for her online classes in 2020. Over the past year, she has taught more than 200 online students how to make cheese. Mack begins by introducing students to equipment, talking about milk, and how to press and age the cheese. Since there is much waiting in cheese making, she prepares the cheese first and does a demo class with the students. When she started making cheese, Mack felt alone. “There were some very simple, basic things in cheese making that I couldn’t find the answer to,” she says. The Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op offered some classes Mack tried, but she struggled to find a cheese community. She created a Facebook group for all those other cheesy folks out there, which helped make connections. “I try really hard not to lose that focus so I can teach at the introductory level,” Mack says. “I don’t want to ever forget that simple stuff.” Mack teaches classes on baking, sausage making, canning, pickling, gardening and “putting it all together.” For a pizza class, students learn to make mozzarella, ricotta, crust and sauces, all from scratch. “One of the things I really pride myself on is that to become a home cheesemaker, you don’t need to have a bunch of special equipment,” she says. “You don’t need to spend a lot of money. You probably have a lot of things at home that you can adapt for home cheese making.” Mack’s next plan is to open a store called Valley Cheese with her business TO PAGE 34

Song Bird HEALTH CRISIS LETS

SINGER FIND HER VOICE

arol Manson is a singer who soars. Her clear, joyful voice and playful musicianship suggests she’s been singing jazz her whole life. The truth is, she almost never became a singer. Growing up in Berkeley, Manson played violin and piano, and sang in her high school choir. But music fell by the wayside when she went to college, earned a master’s degree in social work, got married and began a career in state service. She spent years as a foster youth advocate and eventually received a governor’s appointment. A health challenge in 2004 made her reconsider everything. “I started having hypertension episodes,” says Manson, a Natomas resident. “No matter what they gave me, my blood pressure wouldn’t go down. I had never been so silent and scared in my entire life. I took seven months off work, but when I went back, I still wasn’t fully well. I didn’t TO PAGE 34

Carol Manson Mural by Maren Conrad Photo by Linda Smolek

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partner Joe Bento. Bento owns Valley Milk Simply Bottled, which sells raw milk in the Central Valley. Valley Cheese would be a dedicated space to make and sell cheese, and a new home for classes. Mack’s intent is to start with four raw milk artisanal cheeses: Topo, butterkase, buffalo blue and flamin’ cheddar. Topo is a smooth, textured cheese with a buttery finish. It’s traditionally made in Azores Islands. Butterkase is a mellow, semi-soft German cheese. The other two, buffalo blue and flamin’ cheddar, will be a stilton cheese with heat and a spicy cheddar. Is this cheese talk making you melt? Maybe a nutty Dunlop or warm gruyere from one of Mack’s classes will satisfy those cravings. If all goes according to plan, gourmet cheese and cheesemaking classes will be available at Valley Cheese in January. Mack’s recipes and classes can be found at scratchmadelife.com.

have that fire in the belly. I was operating mentally and spiritually in a different dimension. I started to wonder, ‘Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing?’” Manson had the chance to answer those questions when she learned she was eligible for early retirement. She took the opportunity—that’s when her next chapter began. Not fully recovered and unsure how to fill her days, Manson joined her church choir. She sat in the back row, convinced she couldn’t sing. It didn’t take long for her beautiful voice to get noticed. She was asked to sing for a Saturday service and never looked back. “At the service, the minister asked the new choir members to stand up,” Manson says. “At that moment, the clouds parted and the sun came through the window in the roof of the church. I believe in metaphysical stuff, but this was too much.” Manson decided music was where the light guided her, so she tried to absorb as much music as she could. Soon, her blood pressure began

Tessa Marguerite Outland can be reached at tessa.m.outland@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

POC DEC n 21

to decrease. After four months of singing, her doctor asked how she was improving her condition. The answer was obvious: “I had been choking on my voice and didn’t know it.” Manson pulled out her lesson books from childhood and enrolled in music classes at Sacramento City College. She hired a vocal coach and expanded her repertoire from gospel and inspirational music to jazz. She began to perform regularly with her own group, the Blue Skies Band, and the Sacramento Jazz Coop. She recorded four CDs. She’s now on the SJC board, taking on the role of vice president, and has since been named the group’s chief operating officer. “People really need music for healing,” Manson says. “It’s good to have the collective wisdom from the SJC board and membership to support live music and educate the public about maintaining the sustainability of traditional jazz.” Now that in-person events are taking place again, Manson and the Blue Skies Band will be performing at her annual holiday concert Friday,

Dec. 10, at Brickhouse Gallery in Oak Park. She also stays busy with her other passion project, Simon Sudz, a socially conscious handmade soap company named after her late cocker spaniel. Proceeds from soap sales go to causes such as the Breast Cancer Research Fund (Manson is a survivor) and the musicians and arrangers with whom Manson collaborates. “I’m a living example that it’s never too late,” Manson says. “I said yes to the universe even though I questioned it, but I was mature enough to know how to get myself together. I don’t care where you are in life, you can create what it is you want.” For more information, visit carolmanson.com, simonsudz.com and sacramentojazzcoop.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

Emery, Teressa and Tony Estigoy

Good Neighbors FRIENDS MADE THIS D STREET REMODEL WORK

ony and Teressa Estigoy live with their daughter Emery in an adorable D Street remodel. It took serendipity to turn the tiny home into a showplace.

ZS By Zack Sherzad Photography by Aniko Kiezel OPEN HOUSE

“We really wanted that open-thedoor wow factor,” Tony says. “This is a 1,000-square-foot home. How do you make it look bigger without having to blow out walls? You open it up as much as you can.” When you walk through the extrawide front door (complete with original brass details), your eyes are drawn past the kitchen and living areas to panoramic doors leading to the backyard. The wall of plate glass cooperates with a skylight in the kitchen to give

the house a sense of size, depth and openness. The chandelier above the dining table was chosen for its thin, practically transparent visual footprint, and doesn’t interfere with the long view from front door to backyard. Teressa, an Air Force veteran, bought the house in 2012 so she could be near her parents, who live next door. The 1940s house stayed mostly original until Teressa met Tony in 2019. “Teressa was a single mom, so it was a kid’s house. Bookcases everywhere, toys and stuff,” Tony says. “It was three

months before she even let me in the backyard.” “Actually, it was four,” Teressa says. Tony, who sells real estate at Sotheby’s International Realty, started fixing up the backyard, but the couple wasn’t sure what to do with the house. Then Teressa’s longtime D Street friends Cris Weber and Mollie Lyon invited them to a Christmas party. Weber and Lyon, of design team Flax + Stone, had remodeled their own home. Tony and Teressa were

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so impressed they decided to have the neighbors do their remodel too. Some might say it’s a bad idea to do business with friends, but when it works, it really works. When Tony and Teressa felt overwhelmed, their faith in Weber and Lyon carried the day. “We were moving through this whole process of trying to figure out what kind of flooring we want, what color scheme we want,” Tony says. “Around the third month in we said, ‘Mollie, we trust you!’” “Which is a designer’s dream,” Lyon says. “We gave them options and they were saying, ‘We like all of them, pick your favorite.’ Really open dialogue. Where I pushed on suggestions, they took them, and when they weren’t interested we moved on. Every decision was easy and solid.” Weber and Lyon’s biggest challenge was marrying two conflicting styles. “Teressa is farmhouse modern, and Tony is straight modern—like bachelor pad, clean lines, industrial,” Lyon says. “So how could we make this feel like a comfortable place for Tony to move into, but a family space overall? We had to find where we could do super high-end luxury things, and where we could make a cozy place for everyone to gather.” Take the fireplace. The original was a traditional redand-white. “It looked like Santa was going to come down,” Weber says. “But Mollie found this exquisite tile that was a compilation of stone and wood. It gives it a warm feel, but looks modern as well.”

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Though Tony has sold real estate for years, he admits the remodeling process taught him to look at houses differently— as a canvas rather than a monument. “A lot of times you’ll walk into a home and think, it doesn’t have this, it doesn’t have this, it doesn’t have this,” Tony says. “Now I say, wait—this is what it can be. Come over to my home, see what is possible. It gives my clients the visual.” Weber and Lyon say it’s been rewarding to remodel another D Street home. “The block, we’re like family,” Lyon says. “We do pumpkin carvings, cookie decorating, Easter egg dying. We did a D Street dinner one year. Great neighborhood, great sense of community. “A remodel is a remodel, but seeing this family come together made it all the sweeter. That’s why we call this the ‘Happily Ever After Home.’” For information on Flax + Stone, visit flaxandstone.com. To recommend a home or garden for Open House, contact Inside Sacramento at editor@insidepublications.com. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Crowd Pleaser CARMICHAEL BISTRO BRINGS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER

Photo by Alina Tyulu

GS By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

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n 2010, Matt and Yvette Woolston opened a new restaurant in Carmichael. A follow-up to their much-lauded North Sacramento spot, The Supper Club, this new enterprise was more of a neighborhood joint, with a focus on wine, pizza and scratch cooking. More than a decade later, Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro still attracts local diners looking for an upscale but unfussy evening of quality eats. On a recent visit, my wife and I ran into good friends, the Au family of Carmichael. They were leaving as we were coming in. They gushed about the meal they just finished. “You’ve got to have the ribs,” Dr. William Au, a retired neurologist, told me. “You can’t miss with the crab cakes,” his wife Yvonne said. “Lobster ravioli,” offered son Justin, sharing a confidence between conspirators. Another son—Brandon—nodded in agreement as if to endorse them all. “Oh, and this Argentinian red,” said Dr. Au, pointing to the half-case he held under one arm. “It’s the best. Take some home with you!”

This lovely meeting reminded me how much I appreciate chance encounters with old friends. Our pandemic lifestyles cut down on unplanned re-connections. Seeing the Au family summed up everything Matteo’s is about. From the variety of dishes to the neighborhood vibe and focus on interesting quality wines, Matteo’s brings skill and passion together to create delightful memories and beautiful food. The offerings skew toward modern American comfort food with an Italian twist. Most nights, the specials list is nearly as long as the regular menu. The wine list is long enough to take much of the night to read it. Matt (Matteo) Woolston doesn’t think small, even with a neighborhood restaurant. Dr. Au’s recommendation of ribs was spot-on. The St. Louis-style baby back ribs were lacquered with an incredible smoky-sweet barbecue sauce. The ribs, tender yet firm, came with a side of perfect hand-cut fries and a simple but marvelous pile of slaw. My wife is a tough critic on coleslaw. There wasn’t a shred of cabbage left on the plate. I couldn’t pass on one of my favorite dishes, beef stroganoff. Woolston goes

Photo by Alina Tyulu

with porcini-crusted sliced filet mignon and wild mushrooms over fettuccine. The gorgeous cream and Madeira sauce is so glossy you can see your reflection. A busy and effective pizza oven turns out pies rustic and modern. And although pizza is in the name of the place it’s only a small part of the menu. Steer toward the “Stu,” a pie loaded with prosciutto, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, mozzarella, fontina and arugula. On top of lunch and dinner and a Saturday brunch featuring an eggtopped “Rise & Shine” pizza, the other focus of Matteo’s is wine. A well-stocked and bustling wine shop features wines from all over the planet at prices across the affordability range. Savvy wine lovers can find single bottles, cases and everything in between. The shop features an ongoing series of winemaker dinners and tastings that may introduce you to new wines. You

can trust Woolston’s cooking to bring out every element of a wine’s profile. Like all great neighborhood eateries, there’s something for everyone, even kids. Mac and cheese, simple pizzas and a darned good cheeseburger are available every night. So, whether you’re looking for an upscale date night, an evening of wine exploration or just a quality family meal, you will get what you need at Matteo’s. And you might even run into old friends. Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro is at 5132 Arden Way at Fair Oaks Blvd.; (916) 779-0727; pizzamatteo.com. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. Previous reviews can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink at Ali Yousseﬁ Square Photo courtesy of Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus presents KSGMC 202.1FM: Holiday Hits with A Splash of Sass!

TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

JL By Jessica Laskey

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KSGMC 202.1FM: Holiday Hits with A Splash of Sass! Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus Dec. 10, 11 & 14, 8 p.m. Dec. 12, 3 p.m. Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ, 2700 L St. • sacgaymenschorus.org This family-friendly show features traditional seasonal favorites, showstoppers from prior years and a few new surprises from the 105-voice chorus led by new Artistic Director Christian Bohm. Tickets are $30 general admission, $15 students, $45 VIP seating. Audience members are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Holiday Home Tour Sacred Heart Parish School Dec. 3, 12:30–6 p.m. Dec. 4, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Dec. 5, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 856 39th St. • sacredhearthometour.com In lieu of the regular self-guided tour of East Sacramento homes, Sacred Heart is hosting a holiday boutique and café at the school with a champagne bar in the evenings and live music on Saturday. Entrance is free. All proceeds support student education and tuition assistance.

Bright Lights, Garden Delights

Dinosaur Safari at Sacramento Zoo

UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County Mondays, Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 5–8 p.m. Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd. • sacmg.ucanr.edu Enjoy a colorful light display in the center’s extraordinary water-efficient landscape gardens. Admission is free, but canned food donations are encouraged. Fair Oaks Preschool students are caroling in the gardens from 5–5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13.

The Nutcracker Sacramento Ballet Dec. 11–23 SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, 1301 L St. • sacballet.org Ballet is back! This beloved holiday ballet features classic sets by legendary designer Alain Vaes and new choreography from three nationally recognized Sac Ballet alumni (Nicole Haskins, Julia Feldman and Colby Damon) under the guidance of new Artistic and Executive Director Anthony Krutzkamp. Half of the performances will be accompanied by live music from the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera with Andrew Grams conducting. Tickets start at $35.

Rally4Kids Toy Drive Shriners Hospitals for Children Sunday, Dec. 5, 7–9 a.m. Niello Volkswagen, 2701 Arden Way • facebook.com — search Rally4Kids Toy Drive Bring one or more new unwrapped toys to Niello Volkswagen. Niello is serving breakfast at 7 a.m., then cars will depart at 9 a.m. to deliver the toys to Sacramento’s Shriners Hospitals for Children, where you can enjoy coffee, refreshments, a silent auction/raffle and get a tour of the hospital.

Annual Tree Lighting Carmichael Recreation and Park District Thursday, Dec. 2, 5–8 p.m. Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Ave. • carmichaelpark.com Kick off the holidays at this annual tree lighting sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael with live music, food trucks, arts and crafts, and more. Santa will be available for visits and photos at no cost, but please donate one canned good per child to benefit the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services holiday food drive.

A Master Singers Christmas Sacramento Master Singers Saturday, Dec. 11, 3 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N St. Friday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m. Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3235 Pope Ave. Sunday, Dec. 19, 3 p.m. Fremont Presbyterian Church, 5770 Carlson Drive • mastersingers.org This fun-filled, 80-minute holiday program features audience favorites and brand-new renditions of timeless carols, including Ivo Antognini’s “Puer Natus Est Nobis,” Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Nova,” Molly Ijames’ “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and Pentatonix’s “Mary Did You Know?” Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for students.

Dinosaur Safari Sacramento Zoo Through April 17, 2022 3930 W. Land Park Drive • saczoo.org This exciting exhibit—65 million years in the making—features more than 20 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, including a 40-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex. Dinosaur Safari is included with the price of zoo admission and is free for members. "Floral Happiness" by Carol Hawkins in Ars Gratia Artis

Holiday Show of Hands Crafts Fair Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School Friday, Dec. 3, 4–9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. 9–5 p.m. 5701 Locust Ave. • facebook.com/holidayshowofhands Saint John’s annual arts and crafts holiday sale features custom work by more than 150 artists, as well as a beauty boutique, antiques and collectibles, a silent auction and new Gourmet Pavilion. Friday admission is $10 from 4–5 p.m. and $5 from 5–9 p.m. Saturday admission is free. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours required.

A Vintage Holiday Archival Gallery Dec. 2–30 Saturday, Dec. 11, Reception, 5–8 p.m. 3223 Folsom Blvd. • archivalgallery.com This yearend holiday group show features new works from Naomi Bautista, Kip Bridges, Richard Feese, Davy Fiveash, Maureen Hood, Mariellen Layne, Erin Martinelli, Linda Nunes, Corey Okada, Linda Paris, Kellie Raines, Maria Winkler and others. The gallery window features a vintage light-up Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and snowmen. Masks are required.

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Kaori Higashiyama and Richard Smith perform in The Nutcracker Photo by Keith Sutter

Small Treasures Show & Sale Elk Grove Fine Arts Center Through Dec. 31 Saturday, Dec. 4, Reception, 4–7 p.m. 9683 Elk Grove Florin Road • elkgroveﬁneartscenter.org Catch the final weeks of this show and sale, plus a gift boutique. Each participating artist has created a unique themed series of five 5x7 wooden panels that can be purchased individually or in groups. Proceeds support gallery events, art classes for all ages and abilities, and educational outreach programs. Masks are required.

Holiday Traditions Sacramento Children’s Chorus Sunday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 7869 Kingswood Drive • sacramentochildrenschorus.org Enjoy multicultural holiday songs, including John Rutter's "Angel's Carol," Nigerian Christmas carol "Betelehemu," traditional Hebrew song "S’vivon," the musical Frozen’s "Do You Want To Build a Snowman?" and more. Admission is a suggested $10 donation. Masks are required.

Krampus Kon SacYard Community Tap House Saturday, Dec. 4, 1–7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, 1–6 p.m. 1725 33rd St. • sacyard.beer Celebrate the ancient German legend of Krampus, St. Nick’s creepy sidekick. This free event includes an appearance by Krampus, as well as festive craft beers and wines, local artisan vendors and live music. All ages are welcome. Holiday attire is encouraged. Bring a new unwrapped toy for the Mustard Seed School toy drive.

End of the World Art Sale at E Street Gallery

Ars Gratia Artis Sacramento Fine Arts Center Through Dec. 5 Friday, Dec. 5, Reception & Drawing, 2–5 p.m. 5330 Gibbons Drive • sacﬁnearts.org/aga2021 At this annual fundraiser, every ticketholder is guaranteed one piece of original art donated by local artists. Tickets are drawn at random and each holder selects a piece of art (either in person or via Zoom). Tickets are $100. View available art online or at the gallery during regular hours. Proceeds support SFAC programs and facility improvements. Masks are required.

Christmas & Holiday Concert with Kenny Washington Sacramento Jazz Coop Monday, Dec. 6, 7–9 p.m. Dante Event Center, 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd. • sacramentojazzcoop.org SJC brings Grammy Award-winning Bay Area jazz vocalist Kenny Washington and the Kenny Washington Quartet to its Jazz at Dante series for some soulful festive jazz. Tickets are $30.

End of the World Art Sale E Street Gallery Dec. 4, 5, 12 & 18, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 11, 4–8 p.m. 1115 E St. • e-street-gallery.business.site To support local artists and remind people that art inspires and lifts spirits, the gallery presents an art sale with ceramics, small paintings, leather items, pillows and more. Proof of vaccine and masks are required. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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INSIDE CROSSWORD Delivered to Your Inbox Each Week!

ACROSS 1 Encyclopedic range of knowledge? 5 Speed for some game highlights 10 Treasure hunter’s need 13 Igneous rock source 14 Herculean work 15 Destiny 16 *Tag sale task 18 “Now it’s clear” 19 Must 20 Hollywood statuette 21 “Snowden” org. 24 The end of the English language? 25 *Misplace 27 *Supporting 29 Fully processed 30 Ancient Greek instrument 31 Kama ___ 32 *Swap 37 Makes sopping wet 38 Hertz alternative 41 Soldiers’ sets with utensils 45 *Flushed 47 *Bathroom surface 48 On a winning streak 49 Sch. near Washington Square Park 50 “Mission Impossible” protagonist Hunt 4/6

51 Streaming platform for peterparkTV 54 Long journey 55 “Stop pretending!” ... or a hint to answering each starred clue 59 Identify 60 Al ___ (not too soft) 61 Younger sister of Bart 62 Wonder-full feeling 63 Determined to do 64 Melt, like a candle DOWN 1 German peak 2 Paving supply 3 Egg cells 4 Braff who co-hosts “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” 5 Thin portion 6 Spiked, as punch 7 Sad notice in the paper, brieﬂy 8 Stonehenge structures 9 NPR’s URL ending 10 Costumed ﬁgure at a game 11 “Relax, soldier!” 12 Took a long, hard look 15 Clenched hands

17 Tea brand with a London Fog Latte ﬂavor 20 Where to see sea stars 21 Org. for Lions and Bears 22 Put into words 23 Parcel unit? 26 Taj Mahal site 28 Stereotypical cowboy’s nickname 29 Avoids a punch, perhaps 31 Sugar maple, for New York 33 Invite over the threshold 34 Tightly wind 35 Wander (about) 36 ___ Rachel Wood of “Westworld” 39 Frigid

40 Nickname that drops “art” 41 Sicilian peak, for short 42 Have a meal without cooking? 43 Crafty plan 44 What’s being risked 45 Far from fresh 46 Carve in granite 48 Aware of, slangily 52 “This ___ take long!” 53 Grasped 55 Deg. for one working on ﬁllings 56 Word after “in the” or “on the” 57 Long-running forensic series 58 Keg part

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From Our Homes to Yours... Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season! SOLD! 6277 Riverside Blvd – Lake Greenhaven!

SOLD! Sacramento 95823

9520 Lady Slipper Place – Elk Grove!

$975,000

Honey Stop The Car! Beautiful home w/cul-de-sac locale in desirable Elk Grove neighborhood. 4bd 4ba w/full bath & private office downstairs, formal dining, huge bonus rm and 3-car garage. 4090 sf per county. Granite countertops. New interior paint & flooring. Entertaining made easy in this wellmanicured backyard w/Sparkling Pool & Outdoor Kitchen. Close to shops, restaurants & Top-rated Elk Grove schools.

Preston Collier

Let’s Feature Your Home Next!

“Bernadette is a very knowledgeable REALTOR and is patient and absolutely amazing to work with. She knows the area well and kept us informed throughout the process. She is always proactive and quick to answer our questions. I highly recommend working with her to sell your home.” Kam and Amy, Sellers

Bernadette Chiang REALTOR / DRE #01923176

Thinking of Listing? Let’s Talk!

Elegant single story 3bd 3ba Great Rm plan of 2569 sf on 0.26 ac lot, per county. Home designed for entertaining w/spacious rooms throughout, a stunning great room with amazing woodwork, large patio w/built-in BBQ & yard area with a straight-on water view & your own boat dock! 3-car garage w/cabinets, work area & pull-down ladder for attic access. Lovingly maintained by original owners! $900,000

Nick LaPlaca

Broker Associate / GRI

Professional Interior Designer

Graduate of REALTOR Institute

(916) 261-2888 cell (916) 381-2888 landline

Masters Club

%HUQDGHWWH&KLDQJ#JPDLO FRP %HUQDGHWWH&KLDQJ#JPDLO FRP

(916) 764-7500 Cell

(916) 825-0960 Cell

Wanting to Sell? Should you paint? Update fixtures? Remove carpet? Sell AS-IS ?

Wondering what to do to prepare your home for the best results? For a FREE Consultation call or text (916) 616-6600

Martha Macias REALTOR

Masters Club, Life Member

(916) 616-6600 Cell DRE #01263611

UCLA, UCD, CSUS - Degrees in Business Administration, Accounting & Psychology. Celebrating 20 Years in Real Estate!

Presidential Member

Nick@NickLaPlaca.com

Preston@PrestonCollier.com DRE #01455440

%URNHU $VVRFLDWH

Also, Fluent in Cantonese

DRE #00842218

What can a Seniors Real Estate Specialist ...do for you? SRES designees have unparalleled training and experience in seniors real estate

Whether already retired, or planning for the future, downsizing, or searching for your ideal home... Taking time to understand your unique needs, and creating a customized plan to accommodate those needs, buying or selling... I’ll guide you through the complex real estate process, addressing financial, physical and lifestyle transitions, so you can move with confidence.

Charlie Sleep

Broker Associate / GRI, e-Pro

Seniors RE Specialist

Many thanks... for your business and referrals throughout these many years! Looking forward to personally serving your Real Estate needs in 2022 and for many years to come... Mary

Mary Jew Lee Broker Associate

GREEN Designation

(916) 425-3749 Cell

(916) 385-1010 Cell

Mary@mjlee.com

Charlie@GoCallCharlie.com DRE #01438069

DRE #00866853

We’re Your Neighbor • Located on Lake Greenhaven Deemed Essential Services and Here To Serve! An independently owned and operated member of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Inside Pocket December 2021

Articles inside

Open House

Restaurant Insider

Farm To Fork

Sports Authority

Out & About

City Beat

Garden Jabber

Inside The County

Meet Your Neighbor

Giving Back

Pocket Beat

Spirit Matters