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PARK PLACE SOUTH HALFPLEX Sparkling, well maintained single story 2 bedroom 2 bath home. Granite kitchen counter tops, backsplash, and scratch resistant sink! New tile entry, newer central heat & air, inside laundry room. Bonus hobby/ of¿ce room. Slip into backyard paradise with pebble tech pool and two soothing waterfalls! HOA covers the roof, exterior paint, front yard! $330,000 CONNIE LANDSBERG 916-761-0411

SPECTACULAR GREEENHAVEN Quality Lee Basford built home close to the Sacramento River. 3 bedroom 2½ bath with tile roof in 2016, newer paint, re¿nished hardwood Àoors and updated kitchen! Beautiful pool and yard. Newer front and backyard landscaping/hardscape and fence. Charming outbuilding bar. Heat/air updated. Immaculate! Wow! $495,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555

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FANTASTIC REMODELED HOME Fall in Love at ¿rst sight with this completely remodeled mid-century ranch home located in South Land Park Hills. 3 bedrooms 3 baths, close to renovated Bel Air shopping center, gym and more! Move-in ready featuring new kitchen with Samsung appliances, quartz counter tops and maple shaker-style cabinets, hickory hardwood Àoors and ceramic tile! $549,000 LES LOCKREM 916-835-0383

SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE LOVE at ¿rst sight when you enter this SUNNY mid-century ranch home. It’s located in fantastic South Land Park Terrace. There are loads of updates including hardwood Àoors and all new appliances in the kitchen, 2 updated bathrooms, re¿nished hardwood Àoors, pretty molding, newer roof, dual pane windows and a deep backyard. $449,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 916-505-5395

sold

‘PIZZAZ’ S Land Park Terrace 4 bedrooms 2½ baths, you’ll feel your heart skip a beat when the front door swings open and your senses feast on a blend of stylish contemporary and mid-century tradition. You’ll be awestruck by the walls of glass, angular rooms, and a voluminous library that doubles as a quick getaway or an entertainer’s dream. $655,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 916-505-5395

MAGNIGICENT LOS LAGOS ESTATE Spectacular home and yard! Unsurpassed attention to detail. Yard features cascading pool, spa, outdoor kitchen and ¿replace, just breathtaking. Lime stone hardscape, tiered decks and dual curved staircases. 2 master suites, maid’s quarter with separate entrance, game/pool table room, huge family room, coffered ceilings, bar,wine storage, 5-car garage! $1,745,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555

DUNNIGANREALTORS.COM 916.484.2030 916.454.5753 Dunnigan is a different kind of Realtor.

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SOUTH LAND PARK 3 bedroom 2 bath home with gigantic yard. Original re¿nished solid oak Àoors. Gorgeous quality remodeled kitchen with beautiful cabinets, granite counter tops and appliances. Dual pane windows and slider. Shutters throughout. Roof, gutters and water heater in 2017. Huge RV parking with metal awning at this amazing property Sundance spa. $439,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555

sold

for current home listings, please visit:

SOUTH LAND PARK HILLS Wonderfully maintained 4 bedroom 2½ bath single story home in the hills of South Land Park. Conveniently located within an easy walk of Alice Birney School. Dual paned windows, hard wood Àoors, living room ¿replace and whole house fan! A spacious 1781 sf with inside laundry, covered patio and easy care yard. $410,000 MONA GEREGEN 916-247-9555

BRENTWOOD VILLAGE Wonderful original family home. Enjoy the large family room featuring brick ¿replace, beamed ceiling and new carpet. Light and airy living room has nice ¿replace and bookshelves. Dining room has a pass through to the kitchen. Pretty hardwood Àoors throughout most of the house. Backyard potential! $310,000 PAULA SWAYNE 916-425-9715

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EAST SACRAMENTO McKINLEY PARK RIVER PARK ELMHURST TAHOE PARK CAMPUS COMMONS

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

COVER ARTIST Laurie Winthers Winthers is a painter based in both Sacramento and Monterey. Locally she is represented by Eliot Fouts Gallery.

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

info@insidepublications.com EDITOR Marybeth Bizjak mbbizjak@aol.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel AD COORDINATOR Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Sue Pane sue@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Jim Hastings, Daniel Nardinelli, Lauren Hastings

916-443-5087 EDITORIAL POLICY Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Inside Publications. Inside Publications is delivered for free to more than 75,000 households in Sacramento. Printing and distribution costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. We spotlight selected advertisers, but all other stories are determined solely by our editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising. No portion may be reproduced mechanically or electronically without written permission of the publisher. All ad designs & editorial—©

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JANUARY 18 VOL. 4 • ISSUE 12 7 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 30 34 36 40 42

Publisher's Desk Pocket Life Inside City Hall Pocket Beat Meet Your Neighbor Giving Back Building Our Future Sports Authority Garden Jabber Home Insight A Holistic Approach Spirit Matters To Do Artist Spotlight Restaurant Insider

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The best things in life never miss a beat. Learn hands-only CPR and more at our heart health event. All lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts depend on the beating of your heart. But each year, over 350,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, often at home where loved ones have a chance to provide aid. So this Februaryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;American Heart Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;come learn how two simple steps can turn your hands into lifesavers. At our uplifting heart health event, you will: t &OKPZ IFBMUIZ BOE EFMJDJPVT GPPE t 4FF B EFNPOTUSBUJPO BOE QSBDUJDF IBOET POMZ $13 DIFTU DPNQSFTTJPOT t )FBS GSPN EPDUPST BOE DBSEJBD FYQFSUT BCPVU IPX UP LFFQ ZPV BOE ZPVS MPWFE ones heart healthy Join us and find life-saving inspiration. To register or learn more, visit DignityHealth.org/HeartShaped.

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Saturday, February 3 9 to 11 a.m. Sacramento Hilton 2200 Harvard Street Sacramento Thursday, February 8 6 to 8 p.m. &M .BDFSP $PVOUSZ $MVC 44571 Clubhouse Drive Davis

Lifelong Learning SAC STATE’S RENAISSANCE SOCIETY PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY

ur entire society benefits when older adults stay engaged and fulfilled. And with the baby-boom generation pumping an increasing number of folks into retirement, keeping their lives vital and meaningful presents a real challenge. “When people first retire, most often they want to travel and spend time with family and grandchildren,” says Bob Taylor, an 81-year-old East Sac resident who has been TO page 8

John Walker, Doris Keller and Bob Taylor

Byy Cecilyy Hastings g Publisher’s Desk

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Happy Next Year! Properties Sold in 2017 1244 Woodside Glen 6700 Benham Way 6717 13th St 614 Rivercrest Dr 301 Bombay Cir 4900 Crestwood Way 7623 Bridgeview Dr 1231 Teneighth Way 9373 Amen Way 1118 Fay Cir 1285 Grand River Dr 5400 Jade Creek Way 503 Roundtree Ct 899 Lake Front Dr 86 Lido Cir 2901 Tree Swallow Cir 816 Wild Berry Loop 4726 Crestwood Way 3240 6th Ave

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FROM page 7 active in the Renaissance Society at Sacramento State University for 15 years. “But over time, folks usually discover that these activities alone aren’t enough to keep their minds engaged.” Thirty-two years ago, a handful of seniors approached Sac State’s thenpresident, Don Gerth, about creating an organization to keep retired folks learning and growing. “He was well aware that there was a growing thirst for meaningful existence in retirement,” said Doris Keller, the group’s current president. The organization was based upon an annual membership model. It has developed tremendously over the three decades. It started with a dozen members in 1986 and grew to more than 2,100 this year. The program has two basic aspects. The first is Friday seminars that run on the traditional 12-week fall- and spring-semester schedules. The other provides partnerships with some university departments

and programs, which includes volunteering opportunities for members. Each member pays dues of $80 annually, along with $20 for a parking pass. Each semester, members select from dozens of seminar options. The subject matter is diverse, including history, reading, sports, travel, crafts, music, current events and more. The Friday schedule includes a morning session, lunch on campus and an afternoon seminar. Later in the afternoon, the classes convene in a forum setting to hear from a guest speaker. Seminars range from as few as 12 students to more than 50. A few classes are offered on Saturdays, and there are single-session symposiums held off-campus in residential and community centers. “Classes are held in unused classrooms on campus, and most take advantage of the school’s ‘smart’ classrooms, utilizing the latest in audiovisual technology,” says Keller. Most seminar leaders are volunteers from within the organization. “We have members who have an interest in a subject, do their research and then present a course syllabus to the group’s seminar committee for approval,” Keller says. “Once a year, we have a leadership course for our members to learn how to put together and present a seminar.” “We were also the first learningin-retirement program to adopt the Bill Gates-inspired Big History education project,” says Taylor. Over the past two years, 800 members have taken the Big History course, which explores the nearly 14 billion years of human evolution. “Our primary goal has been to provide a lively educational environment for our members,” says John Walker, the group’s former president. “But our commitment to Sac State is also to offer support and expand the number of partnerships we’ve established with the university’s education units.” “Each year, several thousand volunteer hours are provided

to the university by the group’s members,” says Taylor. In the past year, 123 members provided nearly 900 volunteer hours of service to the Department of Gerontology. Volunteers helped students in their elder mentor, assessment, chronic disease and physical therapy evaluation programs. Classical-music seminar participants also help provide support to the university’s School of Music. Over the past nine years, members have contributed more than $10,000 in scholarships to university music programs. “We also provided 184 usher volunteer hours for six university theater and dance department productions,” Keller says. “Over the past two years, our members have supplied more than 700 hours of volunteer time to these programs.” “In the past year, we also expanded our priority scholarship program to outstanding Sac State students,” says Taylor. “Since 1993, our organization has provided $143,000 to 76 deserving students, including six new $3,000 scholarships awarded last May.” Taylor says members of the Renaissance Society used to consider themselves “guests” on the campus. “But recently, Sac State president Robert Nelsen told us we are no longer guests. Instead, we have proven to be a vital and active part of campus life. “The desire to keep learning is key for our members,” Taylor continues. “We want to find out what is happening both here and around the world. People are thirsty to find a meaningful existence in retirement, and we have found a great way to help them find it.” To join the Renaissance Society, go to csus.edu/org/rensoc, email rensoc@csus.edu or call (916) 2787834. An orientation session for the spring semester will be held Friday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m. Seminar listings are available on the website. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n

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Marching on Washington JFK BAND NEEDS TO RAISE $225,000 FOR TRIP TO D.C.

he John F. Kennedy Marching Band & Color Guard will represent the state of California as the state’s sole representative in the 2018 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., on May 28. The trip is expected to cost about $225,000, including airfare, lodging and meals. Band members and their families are raising funds so every band student can travel to D.C. The band’s Music Boosters club is also looking for corporate sponsors and individual donations. The school’s director of music, Jeremy Hammond, leads the marching band and oversees the largest class—more than 150 students—at John F. Kennedy High School. He relies heavily on the band’s three student drum majors to coordinate student performances. Senior drum major Peter Fuller plans to attend college in Oregon next year. But his immediate goal is to get his fellow students ready for Sacramento’s MLK Day March on Jan. 15 and the National Memorial Day Parade. Music has been part of Fuller’s life for a long time. “I’ve played the flute and bass clarinet since the fourth grade and attended many music and band camps,” he says. “I really love that I can help my fellow band

CM By Corky Mau Pocket Life

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JFK High School band members Billy Hernandez, Peter Fuller and Calvin Elliott. members better their musical skills and be the best person they can be.” The last time JFK students traveled to the nation’s capital, Fuller’s aunt was a member of the school’s marching band. Junior Calvin Elliott is one of two assistant drum majors. During concert season, he plays the French horn. When the band performs on the field or in parades, he and fellow assistant drum major Grace Hibbs help Fuller with rehearsals and performance readiness. Outside of band, Elliott is on the JFK swim team and wants to study engineering in college. “I’m really looking forward to hanging out

with my friends in D.C. and making new memories with them,” he says. During the next school year, he is likely to serve as the marching band’s senior drum major. Billy T. Hernandez has been part of a school band since he was in the fourth grade. A senior, he plays tenor drums and occasionally writes cadences for the drum line. In addition to band, he runs cross-country on JFK’s track team. In 2013, Hernandez earned his Eagle Scout badge by organizing a book drive to benefit foster children. He loves reading and wanted to share his love of reading with children who don’t have access to books. While his

initial goal was to collect 90 books, he collected more than 1,000 books to distribute to Sacramento Children’s Home. This will be his first visit to Washington, D.C. To sponsor the trip or make a donation, contact Music Boosters board president Emily Bacchini at president@jfkennedyband.com.

RUN OR WALK FOR THE ANIMALS The Studio-to-Studio Run/Walk, sponsored by Forest Vance Training, will be held Saturday, Jan. 6. It’s a benefit for Sacramento SPCA.

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The event starts at 9 a.m. at Forest Vance’s Land Park location (1530 X St.) and ends at the Pocket/ Greenhaven studio (7465 Rush River Drive). The distance between the studios is approximately 6.7 miles. For more information, contact Forest Vance at (916) 273-9366 or forest@forestvancetraining.com.

CHILI CONTEST AT THE ELKS LODGE Elks Lodge #6 will hold its annual Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, Jan. 28. The event starts at 4 p.m. with a tasting of the chili entries. Dinner (a baked potato bar with all the trimmings) will be served at 6 p.m. Contest winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m. There is a $5 entry fee for the contest. Dinner is $10 per person and is limited to 100 people. For more information, contact Gina D’Arcangelo at (916) 601-8745 or ginadarcangelo@aol.com. The lodge is at 6446 Riverside Blvd.

BUY SUBURU, HELP THE HOMELESS Subaru of America is running a year-end sales event to benefit Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to homebound seniors. If you buy or lease a new Suburu during the Share the Love Event, which ends Jan. 2, the auto company will donate $250 to Meals on Wheels. For more information, go to subaru.com.

MEET WITH JENNINGS Youth always save 50%!

City Councilmember Rick Jennings will hold District 7 office hours on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 6 p.m., in the Community Room at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library. This monthly event allows constituents to discuss community concerns with Jennings and his staff. The library is at 7335 Gloria Drive.

BECOME A GRAND JUROR The Sacramento County Superior Court is now accepting applications for grand jury service for the 2018-19 term. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of Sacramento County and not currently serving in any elected office. Applicants must be prepared to devote at least 25 to 35 hours a week to grand jury service. The grand jury investigates district, city and county governments and officials, reviews complaints from citizens and issues criminal indictments. The application deadline is Jan. 26. For more information about serving on the grand jury, go to sacgrandjury.org or call (916) 8747559.

Circa Carnival of Animals SUN, JAN 28 • 3PM

“A delightful and unique experience for children (and their grown ups).” —Australian Stage on Circa

Circa’s fanciful production features creatures who tumble, fly, leap and spin their way through the wondrous worlds of the animal kingdom, whisking audiences away on a thrilling circus escapade. Youth tickets start at $12.50

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra David Robertson, MUSIC DIRECTOR Augustin Hadelich, VIOLIN

WED, JAN 17 • 8PM David Robertson joins orchestra on his farewell tour as its music director. The program includes Shostakovich’s First Symphony and Britten’s haunting Violin Concerto.

Lara Downes Anniversaries for Lenny SAT, JAN 20 • 8PM Pianist Lara Downes performs a special concert in commemoration of the 2018 Leonard Bernstein centennial, playing songs from her most recent recording project.

Corky Mau can be reached at corky. sue50@gmail.com. n

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Epic Fail

n Dec. 6, officials with the Sacramento Transportation Authority, the agency that divvies up $120 million each year in Measure A transportation sales taxes, dropped a bombshell at an STA board meeting. For the past decade and a half, the board has been spending Measure A tax revenues on local transportation projects based not on actual tax revenues but on tax-revenue projections, which

CP By Craig Powell Inside City Hall

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overestimated revenues by more than $1 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a B. During much of that time, the board’s spending decisions also failed to take into account potentially hundreds of millions of dollars of STA debt-service payments on bonds the authority has been issuing to accelerate the construction of local transportation projects. In other words, the board has been spending Measure A taxes blindly, oblivious to the fact that tax revenues were falling far short of projections and that debt-service payments were eating into its cash flow. The revenue projections that are at the heart of the fiscal nightmare were apparently prepared by STA consultants before the onset of the Great Recession and were never

$1 BILLION OF MEASURE A REVENUES ARE ‘MISSING’

updated. For 15 long years, staffers never bothered to compare actual revenues to projected revenues. Consequently, what started out as relatively small differences between actual and presumed revenues in the early years telescoped into a huge gap over the 35-year duration of the Measure A tax. This wouldn’t have mattered much if the board had been making spending and borrowing decisions based on STA’s actual revenues. But the board has been spending and borrowing based almost entirely on increasingly bogus revenue projections, which has led to massive overspending. That fundamental error, coupled with STA’s longstanding practice of accelerating the construction of transportation

projects by borrowing heavily against future Measure A revenues, has put STA into a fiscal vice that will likely choke off funding for most future transportation projects in Sacramento County while starving local governments of the Measure A monies they’ve been counting on for road maintenance. If that weren’t bad enough, the financing vehicle that the board has been using to accelerate transportation projects—nonamortizing, interest-only bonds—has been substantially increasing its interest costs, further slamming STA’s cash flows. STA collects two types of Measure A taxes: the one-half-percent sales tax (its primary source) and a transportation “mitigation” fee that it

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Insurance Accepted! collects from builders and developers. At STA’s December board meeting, interim executive director Norm Hom explained that revenue projections have been assuming that Measure A sales-tax revenues would grow at an average annual rate of 5 percent over its 35-year existence. But according to Hom, Measure A’s actual sales-tax revenues have averaged 3.3 percent growth. Mitigation-fee revenue was projected to grow at an annual rate of 8.59 percent but actually grew at an average rate of 3 percent. This wouldn’t have been a problem had STA periodically compared its projected results to its actual results and adjusted accordingly, as any sane business enterprise or government agency would do. According to STA officials, it will take them “most of next year” to unravel the mess and get a full handle on the extent of the authority’s overspending and the planned projects that likely will be ditched because of it.

EYE ON SACRAMENTO’S WARNINGS Last year, Sacramento County voters narrowly rejected Measure B, which would have doubled the onehalf-percent Measure A sales tax. I chaired the Don’t Double the Tax, No on Measure B campaign committee. In the run-up to the November 2016 vote, Eye on Sacramento (the civic watchdog group I head) issued a report on Measure A spending and its implications for Measure B. While we had no idea at the time that the STA board and staff were relying on false, badly out-of-date revenue projections in their spending and borrowing decisions, we did know about and reported on STA’s overspending and wasteful borrowing practices. In our summary of findings, we warned that “STA is engaged in an alarmingly rapid escalation of credit-fueled spending on capital projects, with its outstanding bond debt increasing from $180 million in 2009 to an expected level of over $450 million in 2017—a 243 percent anticipated increase in debt.”

We also commented on the likely fallout from STA’s borrowing spree: “This rapid escalation in STA’s bond service payments is also increasingly diverting Measure A funds away from surface road maintenance road programs and Regional Transit’s operations and maintenance … The diversion of Measure A funds to pay interest on STA bond debt is projected to divert over $350 million of Measure A taxes from spending on surface road maintenance, RT’s transit operations and capital expenditures on both roads and transit over the next 23 years.” We were alarmed that STA’s use of interest-only bonds was an indicator of deeper problems, writing, “The use of interest-only bonds is a ‘red flag’ that the issuing entity is borrowing more money than it is capable of paying back on standard commercial terms (i.e., through fully amortizing standard muni bonds). Otherwise, the issuing entity would use standard bonds to avoid the higher interest costs that interest-only bonds entail.” The cumulative effect of these irresponsible STA practices led us to

implore Sacramento County leaders to take action. “We urge Sacramento County to retain an independent financial adviser to assess the sustainability of the current pace of STA’s capital spending, its portfolio of outstanding bonds, and its borrowing practices, and to recommend prudent changes in STA’s borrowing practices and in the pace of its future capital spending,” we wrote. Local government leaders ignored the report’s recommendations. A longtime STA board member, Folsom City Councilmember Kerri Howell, dismissed the report and was quoted as saying it was “full of errors.”

UNACCOUNTABILITY OF JOINT POWERS AUTHORITIES The STA is one of hundreds of special districts in Sacramento County. It is organized as a joint powers authority, which is the government equivalent of a joint venture between private parties. TO page 15

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Parkway Heroes THEY FOUGHT FOR PUBLIC ACCESS—AND WON

ow that victory is within reach in the four-decade-long battle to open public access to the Sacramento River Parkway levee, it’s time to honor two neighbors who made it happen. Sadly, neither Gary Buzzini nor Dan Gorfain will be here to see the parkway finished. They died five days apart in November, just before Thanksgiving. Their passing erases two of the most passionate, original and relentless advocates for an accessible river parkway. Both saw civic value in the levee-top asphalt path from Freeport and Pocket to Downtown. And both worked hard to make it happen. Readers of this column will know Buzzini. He was a regular presence in these pages, forever agitating against anyone who would block public access to the levee, always making his case logically and with a smile. A retired fire chief with Cal Fire, Buzzini, 75, loved to ride his bike, paddle his kayak or simply hike the trails and waterways around Sacramento. He ignited Inside Publications’ campaign for levee access when he discovered homeowners on Chicory Bend and Riverview courts had illegally built fences on public property in hopes of keeping neighbors away from the levee.

RG By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

POC JAN n 18

Gary Buzzini He brought his complaints to City Hall and got nowhere. But eventually, his outrage helped drive the publicaccess movement in the Pocket. Gorfain, 75, took a different approach to the same problem. He preferred to work behind the scenes, to build coalitions and make rigorous policy arguments. Both Gorfain and Buzzini pressed for remedies to benefit the whole community—not just special interests or a handful of homeowners. The community always came first with those guys. And they followed rules. They didn’t search for loopholes or leverage points. They didn’t abuse friendships or connections. They pushed forward and rarely got discouraged. After fighting for access for decades, they knew 2017 was a breakthrough year—the City Council finally joined the fight.

Dan Gorfain Gorfain was one of the early members of a group led by former mayor Anne Rudin to lobby for a greenway along both sides of the Sacramento River. He spent his career with the State Lands Commission and understood river-access issues from an expert’s perspective. The fact that a professional like Gorfain and a respected former mayor such as Rudin would need several decades to make progress on levee access shows the influence of the forces lined up against them. Those decades demonstrate the patience and fortitude of citizens like Gorfain and Buzzini. Rudin’s group was originally called Friends of the Sacramento River Greenway. They met in a backroom at Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria on South Land Park Drive. They talked over political strategies and legal complexities, the most

formidable being claims of levee ownership made by property owners along the river. Private little kingdoms sprouted behind the gates. Some property owners made threats to anyone who dared to circumvent the barricades. The atmosphere along the parkway was dark and mean-spirited. When Rick Jennings was elected to the City Council in 2014, the Friends began to believe they had a new voice who appreciated the benefits of river access—the timeless, unique community benefits provided by the river. Jennings announced his support. He helped shift the political momentum away from the privatelevee mentality. City Hall overcame its fear over public access. Today, full access to the levee is in progress. The fences will be removed as plans

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sleepdesign.com get underway for levee repairs. The fences will not return. In a November tribute as Gorfain struggled with cancer, Jennings led the City Council in a resolution and unanimous vote to name part of the Sacramento River Parkway in Gorfainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is not a more passionate advocate, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one more committed and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one more crucial to the success we are having in moving this project along,â&#x20AC;? Jennings said. Councilmember Jay Schenirer said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are people who are just good people and have good hearts and do the right things for the right reasons.â&#x20AC;? Gorfain was too sick to attend the council meeting, but a crowd filled the hall to cheer the resolution and council vote. There were people from the arts community who celebrated his service on the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. There were people from the Jewish community who honored his contributions to Congregation

Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nai Israel. And there were the Friends of the Sacramento River. Now, the Dan Gorfain Trail runs along the levee from Bill Conlin Park to Garcia Bend. Gary Buzziniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death was sudden and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow time for tributes. But he deserves a similar honor. The river trail is yours to enjoy. Gary Buzzini and Dan Gorfain made it possible. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

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The constituent members that make up a JPA are the local governments that agree to act jointly with one another on some project or function. Each participating government appoints representatives to the JPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government board, usually elected officials of the constituent members. The problem is that our local elected officials serve on way too many JPAs, boards, commissions, etc., to be able to provide effective fiduciary oversight over any of them. Sacramento councilmembers typically serve on close to 20 of them. County supervisors can serve on as many as 30. With elected officials spread so thin, the staffers who run a JPA on a daily basis end up operating with zero effective oversight. If weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky, the JPA managers will be excellent. But too often, unsupervised JPA managers turn out to be outof-control JPA managers. STA is a textbook case of the problem. Additionally, very few elected officials are experts in municipal finance, municipal bonds or complex construction projects. What theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good at is getting elected (and reelected) and setting broad policy goals. The solution is fairly obvious: Elected officials need to clear off of JPA boards like STA and Regional Transit and appoint in their place proven business leaders and agency administrators who have extensive hands-on experience in running and overseeing large, complex organizations, as well as the time to serve as true fiduciary overseers.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear that STA staffers cannot and should not be entrusted with the job of unraveling their own mess. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imperative that a forensic audit be conducted as soon as possible by an independent party. Given the gravity of the problem and the stakes each constituent member of the STA has in the outcome of the review, no member government of the STA should be put in charge of auditing its books. For example, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve uncovered a problem with STAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handling of its

development mitigation fees revenue. Under Measure A, STA is supposed to hand over such fees ($32 million since 2009) to the local jurisdiction in which such development takes place. But because STA doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother to track where its mitigation fees come from, it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been complying with the law. The city of Sacramento appears to be the local government most prejudiced by STAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure to obey the law. To eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors should submit a request to the state controller that his office audit STA and issue a public report, including recommendations for changes in STA governance and policies. EOS is filing a complaint this month with the Sacramento County Grand Jury asking it to investigate the matter. At the end of the day, the most prudent action may be to dissolve the STA and for Sacramento County to assume STAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role of distributing Measure A revenues. That way an elected bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Board of Supervisorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;would be directly accountable for the functions performed by STA. That would also get STA out of the business of issuing bonds, which has been the source of much of its troubles. Local governments can decide for themselves whether they want to spend their allotment of Measure A taxes on a pay-as-you-go basis or borrow against their future allotment of Measure A cash, risking a repeat of STAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disastrous experience. Until these problems are fully resolved, Sacramento voters would have to be crazy to approve any hike in the countywide transportation sales tax that ends up in the hands of STA. To read Eye on Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report on Measures A and B, go to eyeonsacramento.org. For a list of Sacramento Transportation Authority members, along with their contact information, go to sacta.org. Craig Powell is a retired attorney, businessman, community activist and president of Eye on Sacramento, a civic watchdog and policy group. He can be reached at craig@eyeonsacramento.org or (916) 718-3030. n

POC n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Helping the

Forgotten SHE WANTS TO BUILD A HOSPICE FOR DYING HOMELESS PEOPLE

arlene von FriederichsFitzwater was no stranger to the repercussions of a cancer diagnosisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;nor to the feeling of isolation that comes along with it. But when she met Anna, a homeless woman who had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, she realized that the sense of isolation dug even more deeply into terminally ill people who had no home or family. So von Friederichs-Fitzwater created Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House, a hospice house for terminally ill people who are homeless. She named it after her grandson Joshua, who died while homeless in 2014. When she first entered the professional workforce, von

FL Marlene von Friederichs-Fitzwater is the creator of Joshua's House.

POC JAN n 18

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UArt Sacramento 2601 J Street 916-443-5721 UniversityArt.com Friederichs-Fitzwater worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and then as a publicist for Walt Disney Studios before starting her own publishing company. She was then approached by Westminster College to develop a course on writing articles for magazines. But with only a bachelor’s degree, she knew that teaching would mean going back to school. She applied to the University of Nebraska Omaha, thinking that she would continue studying journalism and mass media. “In my first semester, I had what I thought was a routine doctor’s appointment and discovered I had advanced cervical cancer,” she says. It was the late 1970s, and she was a single mother of four sons. “The nurses and doctors started pulling away,” she recalls. “It became a very isolating experience. I thought, why is that? These people are trained. They know people die. They should be comfortable if that is the prognosis. As a reporter, it fascinated me. I made a deal that if I survived, not only would I do something to give back to

other cancer patients, but I would find out what the problem was.” When her health improved, she followed through with that promise. She studied health communications, focusing her graduate work on how doctors communicate with dying patients. She went on to earn a doctorate. “I wanted to teach medical students how to do better at communicating with patients,” says von FriederichsFitzwater, “particularly when they were seriously or terminally ill.” In 1985, she went to teach at Sacramento State University, where she helped develop a new minor in health communications. During her 20 years as a professor at Sac State, she also served as a volunteer clinical faculty member at UC Davis School of Medicine. After she retired from Sac State in 2005, she went to work at UC Davis to develop an outreach research education program for the Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Here was a chance to fulfill my other promise to give back to cancer patients,” she says. “I was

really trying to help cancer patients get through that journey and have support so they didn’t feel isolated like I had.” She spent the next 10 years developing patient education and cancer support programs, including a cancer peer navigator program that trains survivors to be cancer coaches for newly diagnosed patients. This is when she met Anna and became aware of the needs of homeless individuals facing terminal illnesses. “If you were homeless and diagnosed with cancer, you might be able to get treatment, but they had no option but to discharge you back on the street,” says von FriederichsFitzwater. “That just stunned me.” This realization came at the same time her grandson lost his life on the streets at the age of 34. She knew she needed to focus on finding a solution. “That’s Joshua’s House,” she explains. Von Friederichs-Fitzwater and her advisory board drew up a floor plan and held a kickoff fundraiser in 2016. She hopes to raise $1 million and to

“PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN DIE WITH LOVE AND DIGNITY AND RESPECT IS IMPORTANT.” open Joshua’s House with 10 beds on the Loaves & Fishes campus. In addition to housing and hospice care, von Friederichs-Fitzwater also wants Joshua’s House to provide art and music therapy programs. “One of the issues the homeless have is that being homeless makes them feel invisible. Their greatest fear is dying on the street and just being forgotten,” von Friederichs-Fitzwater says. “Providing a place where they can die with love and dignity and respect is important. But also through art therapy and writing, they may be able to leave something for others to learn about them and their lives.” For more information about Joshua’s House, go to thehcri.org. n

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Yoga for All SHE FINDS PEACE TEACHING YOGA AT SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND

Samantha Adams teaches yoga at Society for the Blind.

JL By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Proﬁle

POC JAN n 18

amantha Adams doesn’t give up. The Gold River resident was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa—a genetic disorder that causes loss of vision—at age 12, was declared legally blind at 19, and from age 40 on has been “mostly a total,” as she puts it, which means she can only perceive light. “I instinctively knew all along tthat my vision was off,” Adams ssays. “The condition starts with n no night vision—I’d never seen sstars. I was always tripping o over the vacuum and the dog. I couldn’t catch a ball in the o outfield. At 14, I stopped riding m my bike because I was hitting p parked cars.” But that didn’t stop her ffrom moving from Canada to C California, working as a defense llawyer and prosecutor, or ccompleting 200 hours of training tto become a volunteer yoga iinstructor. For most of her youth, Adams cconsidered herself “someone who jjust couldn’t see very well.” She g got through high school using llarge-print books that she would h hide from her classmates. When h her vision was reassessed after a year as an exchange student iin Brazil, she could see less than 1 10 degrees peripherally—“like llooking though an empty pen ccanister,” she says. She was cclassified as legally blind. As an a attorney, she adapted as she w went, reading with magnifiers o or memorizing text that her ccomputer read aloud to repeat in ccourt. But after meeting her husband a at guide school in San Rafael in 2 2003 and moving to Sacramento, A Adams suddenly found herself in h her toughest situation yet. “We had a blended family, which is nothing like the Brady Bunch,” Adams says with a laugh. “Nobody told me what to expect. It was chaos.” Luckily for Adams, she walked into her local gym on a whim one day in 2005 and “fumbled my way” through a yoga class. As difficult as it was to keep

pace with a teacher doing moves she’d never heard of, much less seen demonstrated, Adams felt something shift within her. “Yoga is what grounded me and got me through,” she says. “It brought me much-needed peace.” The manager of Adams’ club gave her three hours of private lessons so she could learn the technique. In one-on-one sessions with an instructor, Adams “got hooked” on yoga. When she found out three years ago that the same instructor was offering teacher training, Adams decided to take another leap of faith and joined the teaching program in fall 2015. After completing her training, Adams decided she should do something with her newly earned skills and called Society for the Blind to see if they were in need of some yoga. Adams has volunteered her time to teach hours of classes to staff members and clients who find the practice as freeing as Adams. “Half of the society is instructional,” says Adams, which includes classes in Braille, technology, life skills and mobility to help clients re-enter the workforce. “The other half is the Senior Impact Program. There’s ever-increasing blindness in the senior population, and the society helps them adapt to that loss of vision instead of isolating themselves.” Adams’ oldest student is a 101-year-old woman she met at a senior retreat. Clients in their 80s and 90s benefit from her chair yoga classes, a scaled-back version of the practice that anyone can do at home. “The hardest part of teaching as a blind person is you don’t know if your students will know how to listen,” says Adams, who hopes to teach at fitness facilities in the future. “But knowing how much I want to share my practice with others keeps me going.” For more information on the Society for the Blind, go to societyfortheblind.org. n

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A Win for the Arts O

WITH GRANTS, THE CITY PUTS ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS

Local artist Eben Burgoon received a Creative Economy microgrant.

n Nov. 6, the city of Sacramento announced the recipients of its Creative Economy Pilot Project, awarding grants worth between $5,000 and $25,000 to 57 art, food and tech-related projects, an investment the city hopes will generate economic development in Sacramento neighborhoods. Speaking outside Oak Park’s Brickhouse Gallery to an audience of mostly artists and grantees, Mayor Darrell Steinberg conceded that “the arts have been traditionally underfunded.” He then gave a number that shed some light on how important an economic driver the arts can be. “Art and culture in Sacramento led to $167 million of economic activity in 2015,” he said. Steinberg called the grantees “the present and future of this city.” Steinberg’s comments were well received by an audience that reflected Sacramento’s diversity. That diversity was also reflected in the panelists who awarded the grants. “We felt it was necessary that our panelists represent the

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POC JAN n 18

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With his grant, Eben Burgoon will host comic-book workshops at local schools. depth and breadth and diversity of the community and the nature of the applications,” said Maya Wallace, one of the nine volunteer panelists—six mayoral appointees and three city employees. Each panelist spent between 60 and 80 hours poring over more than 500 grant proposals. Then they broke into groups of three, rating each proposal on a 1-to-5 scale. They were looking for projects with “community placemaking potential and the potential of economic development,” said Wallace. “Also, doing things that had never been done before was important, and opportunities for economic development in underserved areas.” The Creative Economy Pilot Project was designed for the city to continue a relationship with grantees. “It’s more like a contract,” Wallace said, “so that we could keep investing in something to grow. It enables [the city] to continue to have dialogue with the grantees and make stipulations in the contracts about what the projects will be and where they will be.” The project exhibits the city’s commitment to the arts. But reading

between the lines of its funding reveals an even more significant shift on the city’s behalf. The City Council unanimously approved $500,000 for the Creative Economy Pilot Project in January 2017, only weeks into Steinberg’s term. The money came from the city’s $10 million Innovation and Growth Fund, which was approved by the council in 2016 under Mayor Kevin Johnson, with the explicit intent to lure tech companies to Sacramento. While the word “tech” was mentioned in the description of the Creative Economy Pilot Project, the parameters were widened to include experimental arts and food initiatives. So while $500,000 might seem like a drop in the city’s overall budget, it represents a subtle shift to funding the arts—a shift that means the difference between what is possible and impossible for many artists. “It’s really big deal,” said Herine Thoroughly, 21, a promoter of allages concerts through Peach House Presents. For Thoroughly, the $5,000 microgrant she received more than doubled Peach House’s 2016 budget.

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The city’s gesture “shows that artists are important,” said Thoroughly, adding that the grant money will go back into the community, “and in places where it’s not always put.” What was Thoroughly’s first reaction to the news that Peach House had received $5,000? “Honestly, that I’m going to make my rent and be able to pay people what they deserve.” It’s obvious how even a $5,000 grant can make a difference for small nonprofits like Peach House Presents. But it is also true for larger, long-established nonprofits like Sacramento’s Fairytale Town. These grants will make it possible to expand projects like Sacramento Adventure Playground, a free-form outdoor play space built by Fairytale Town at Maple Neighborhood Center in South Sacramento. Steve Caudle, the play manager at Adventure Playground, described it as “kids playing in a junkyard—true free play.” Recipient of a $25,000 grant, the relatively unknown Sacramento Adventure Playground will now bring

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pop-up events to local libraries, “so kids can play unencumbered,” said Caudle. Without the grant, he added, “this would not have happened. We’re working hard to keep Adventure Playground up and running, but the $25,000, although wonderful, is not continuous.” Not yet anyway, but the city has verbally committed to continuing the Creative Economy grant program, especially since only 12 percent of applicants received funding this round. “I hope the city continues it,” said Wallace. “Mayor Steinberg says he wants to do it again, but he will need the council’s approval, and I think we need to demonstrate the value to the council in order to do it again. I think we could see a year where we don’t see a bump in funding, but we’ll see what we learn.” For a list of grantees, go to cityofsac.forms.fm/creative-economy. Jordan Venema can be reached at jordan.venema@gmail.com. n

POC n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

A Winning Wager HARNESS RACING IS A GOOD BET AT CAL EXPO

Chris Schick

RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

POC JAN n 18

arl is a middle-aged man wearing sweats, Converse high-tops and a baby-blue por porkpie hat. He’s watching a TV mo monitor, and he’s not happy. Wi With a low, gravelly voice, he sta starts to beg. “Please don’t, please don’t, pl please don’t,” he says. He repeats the words again an and again, maybe a dozen ti times before he goes silent. E Earl is pleading with Battle o of Midway, a 3-year-old colt, a and Flavien Prat, a French jo jockey. Horse and rider pay no a attention from their parallel u universe. While Earl begs, Battle o of Midway and Prat gallop jjust north of San Diego at a racetrack called Del Mar. Earl is seated along the windows at the Cal Expo satellite wag wagering center, a two-story betting parlor with more than 100 TV screens connected to racetracks around the world: Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Churchill Downs, tracks in Korea and Australia and beyond. For people who enjoy horses and gambling, there’s no better place to spend an afternoon or evening than the Cal Expo wagering center. The facility is bright and clean and lively. It draws a special kind of audience, people who like the action and atmosphere of the racetrack. The crowd is several hundred strong and overwhelmingly male. It’s a gambling crowd that doesn’t mind working hard for success.

Horseplayers are the hardestworking gamblers on the planet. They are patient. They don’t idly predict the future; they discern it from objective facts. Horseplayers interpret track conditions, speed ratings, jockey changes, bloodlines, distances and a dozen other components— chunks of evidence reduced to tiny print in the Daily Racing Form, a $10 newspaper as complex and indecipherable as Vedic Sanskrit. Compared to the intricacies of horse betting, some mindless, passive types of gambling—say, slot machines—have no place at Cal Expo. But that’s a problem. Many racetracks beyond California have found that a terrific way to boost attendance and revenue is to deploy slots that attract people dumber or lazier than horseplayers. Unfortunately, slot machines are illegal at California tracks, thanks to an agreement among the governor, Legislature and tribal casinos. The tribes pay the state for slot-machine monopolies. “The inability to have slot machines has a huge negative impact on racing in California, whether you’re talking about quarter horses at Los Alamitos, harness at Cal Expo or even the Thoroughbreds at Golden Gate Fields and the Southern California tracks,” says Chris Schick, who runs the harness program at Cal Expo. Harness racing, which has been a Sacramento tradition for nearly 50 years, brings another

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dimension to the satellite wagering center. It allows bettors to move into the third dimension, to smell the action and focus on something real, not just a TV screen. There are about 400 harness horses stabled at Cal Expo. They bunk along the backstretch, in refurbished stalls where winter passes comfortably. Most come from Minnesota and Canada, which means the coldest Sacramento January night is more toasty than what they would face back home. They runâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or, more accurately, pace and trotâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;each Friday and Saturday night from late October to early May. For sports fans, harness races are an extraordinary bargain. Parking at Cal Expo is free. Track admission is free. The satellite center normally charges $4 at the door during the day, but the turnstiles spin freely after 4:30 p.m. All harness people ask is

â&#x20AC;&#x153;RUNNING TWO DAYS A WEEK, WE STILL RANK FIFTH IN WAGERING OUT OF 55 HARNESS TRACKS."

that fans take the money they save on parking and entry fees and use it to gamble. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a strong market in Sacramento,â&#x20AC;? Schick says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Running two days a week, we still rank fifth in wagering out of 55 harness tracks. But in terms of purses paid to the horsemen, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 45th. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because they have slots at tracks east of the Mississippi, which generate purse money.â&#x20AC;? California tracks are blocked from slot-machine revenue, but they still have hopes for other forms of gambling, like sports betting and internet poker. New wagering options would require legislation. Tribal casinos would complain, but Cal Expo would thrive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been our dream,â&#x20AC;? Schick says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If a little something would happen, it would be a game changer.â&#x20AC;? Without other forms of wagering, the satellite center and racetrack are the preserve of that rarest of sports fan: the horseplayer. People like Earl, who stands up, tosses down his Daily Racing Form and heads for the exit after Battle of Midway steals the $1 million Las Vegas Breedersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. Battle of Midway pays $30.40 to win on a $2 bet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought he was too cheap to win,â&#x20AC;? Earl says. And thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always another race. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

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Take Control HOW TO OVERCOME OVERGROWTH IN YOUR GARDEN

hen is a plant or garden overgrown? Before we throw ourselves into a January frenzy of pruning and winter cleanup, we should think about what that term really means. Is there an objective definition that says that a plant has grown too big for its own good? Certainly, if you can’t walk down a path, things have gotten out of hand. But how big and densely should plants be allowed to grow?

AC By Anita Clevenger Garden Jabber

POC JAN n 18

Stephen Scanniello, a renowned pruning expert who is curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden in the New York Botanical Garden, deals with this question constantly in the public and private gardens he manages. “Overgrown is in the eye of the beholder,” he says. “It really is a personal choice.” What is your aesthetic? Do you prefer a romantic garden, with large plants overlapping, or bare ground between each plant? It’s up to you. Only occasionally is a plant too big for its own health. Generally, the problem is that it doesn’t perform as you like. Plants need to fit into the space allotted for them, bloom or bear fruit as you wish, and look the way that you want. Scanniello, like most plant experts, is a proponent of putting the right plant into the right place, where it “can do its thing.” You

need to learn about the mature size that a plant will achieve and consider that Sacramento’s mild climate may make it grow bigger than the label indicates. Plan ahead when you plant. Sometimes, however, despite your best efforts, a plant is too big for its spot. Try to find a better location or take control and give it “tough love.” Says Scanniello, “Sometimes you need to be firm with the pruner.” While rose pruning is his specialty, he uses pruning techniques that every gardener should know: thinning out growth to encourage air circulation and to allow sunlight to reach a plant’s interior, and heading back branches to encourage branching. When Scanniello begins work on a rose, the first thing that he does is “clear out the congestion.” A plant that is densely growing in the center looks bulky. “A plant that is

thinned out looks better,” he says. He advocates leaving enough space between branches so that you can put your hand through easily. He also thins any climbing rose that grows on a structure. “It should decorate the fence or trellis, not overwhelm it.” He cuts back cane tips to encourage flowering growth all over the plant. Many people believe that all roses should be annually pruned knee-high or lower, despite guidance by “The New Sunset Western Garden Book” to prune conservatively, removing no more than one fourth to one third of the previous year’s growth. Scanniello specializes in heritage roses, which often grow to majestic sizes. For maximum display and a rose’s health, you should not prune too hard. Scanniello has found that “too much pruning can shorten a plant’s life. Sometimes it’s best to be left alone.”

Sahil Sethi, DMD Comprehensive, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry “I believe that the real gift of dentistry is the opportunity to serve my patients through a partnership, giving them options to maintain their oral health in comfort and aesthetic beauty for life."

A good place to ﬁnd great dentists. • Children & Adults • Cosmetic Dentistry

Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 1900 K STREET Although constant whacking may not be good, sometimes you can rejuvenate a plant by cutting out selected old, unproductive branches to encourage new, vigorous ones to grow. With roses and many other woody plants, it’s best to do that in stages over several years. You can take a more drastic approach on plants such as spirea, hydrangea, hypericum and lilac, cutting them to the ground so that they totally regenerate with new growth. Since some plants have already set their spring flowering buds, or only bloom on last year’s wood, you may need to wait until after they bloom unless you are willing to sacrifice this year’s display. Gardens themselves can become overgrown. Every year, I find that some plants in my garden are being crowded out by overly exuberant neighbors. I clear out space for them or move them to a better spot, making hollow promises to keep better track of them next season. If you aren’t sure what to do with your plants, arm yourself first with knowledge and think about what you want to achieve. There are great

resources online about pruning, and Sunset magazine’s pruning books are clear and specific. You can also attend pruning workshops. On Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Stephen Scanniello will teach rose pruning in the Historic Rose Garden in the Sacramento Historic Cemetery at 1000 Broadway. The morning session focuses on climbing roses, and the afternoon on other types of heritage roses. On Saturday, Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, Sacramento County Master Gardeners will teach how to prune “just about anything,” including fruit and landscape trees, berries and grapes. Then, arm yourself with pruners and take control. Anita Clevenger is a lifetime Sacramento County UC Master Gardener and curator of the Historic Rose Garden. For answers to gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338 or go to sacmg.ucanr.edu. Details about Stephen Scanniello’s workshops are at cemeteryrose.org. n

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Staying Put INSTEAD OF MOVING, THIS COUPLE REMODELED

hen Jeff and Deanna Johnston purchased their East Sacramento home five years ago, they thought it was perfect. Built in 1914, it’s an eclectic, stylish mix of Craftsman, American Foursquare and Prairie style. But over time and with daily use, they began contemplating making a few changes. The kitchen felt isolated from the rest of the 2,150-square-foot house. The laundry room was on the first floor; they preferred one on the second floor. Getting to the basement

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required navigating a clunky external featured in the book “Images of outdoor staircase. America: East Sacramento.” While They vacillated, thinking it might the house was being built, the Mellors be prudent to move rather than lived in a shack in the backyard. remodel. “It was going to be a lot There, Rose Mellor was born. She of money to sink into a house that lived in the family home for 91 years, is over 100 years old,” says Jeff. from 1911 to 2002. The shack still But after weighing their stands, now serving as options, they decided to Deanna’s home office. stay, recognizing that it Once they decided to would be difficult to find stay, the Johnstons began another house with the poring over magazines same look and feel. and attending open By Julie Foster Built by the Mellor houses for remodeling Home Insight family, the house is ideas. Their first project

was revamping the living room fireplace. “It was one big wall of unattractive used brick that had been added sometime over the years,” Jeff says. The insert was old, and there wasn’t a mantel. They sanded down the bricks and applied drywall, tile and a granite hearth. Jeff designed the new mantel and surround. “The goal was to make it look authentic but also make it somewhat modern looking,” he explains. Later, with a recommendation from Deanna’s parents, they enlisted the help of William E. Carter Company,

THE COUPLE ENTERTAINS FREQUENTLY, AND THE NEW KITCHEN REFLECTS THEIR PASSION.

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BUILT BY THE MELLOR FAMILY IN 1914, THE HOUSE IS FEATURED IN THE BOOK “IMAGES OF AMERICA: EAST SACRAMENTO.”

a local design/build firm. Jeff and Deanna planned on staying in the house during construction but soon changed their minds. “Once they started tearing into the plaster, it was so dusty,” says Deanna. “We had a 2-year-old. It was just too much.” Construction took nine months and involved adding 300 square feet to the back of the house. Though the kitchen was the main focus of the project,

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numerous upgrades were added as the project progressed. The couple eliminated the outdoor staircase to the basement and installed a trap door in the kitchen floor. They added a water filtration system, replaced the upstairs flooring and put the laundry room on the second floor, using repurposed cabinets from the kitchen. They also added a spacious walkin closet in the master bedroom and

gave the master bathroom a partial makeover. “Our big thing was we wanted double sinks in here,” says Jeff. The couple entertains frequently, and the new kitchen reflects their passion. A large pantry keeps staples stashed out of sight. Two sinks and under-counter lighting make meal prep a snap. A microwave is tucked discreetly under the counter in its own cabinet. The stellar lineup of appliances includes a Wolf range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a nifty Miele steam/ convection oven that produces magazine-perfect meals. “I am still figuring out how to use all the settings,” Jeff says. A creative at heart, Jeff had plenty of input on the remodel. “I have a technical job and love to implement creative ideas,” he says.

The backyard also received a major facelift. The patio was enlarged, and there’s an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue, refrigerator and sink. A new metal arbor defines the space and offers a respite from Sacramento’s summer heat. “It looks natural and is shady all summer long,” says Jeff. Guests now easily navigate between the house and backyard for food, drinks and conversation. “You just open the doors and it turns into one great big outdoor space,” he explains. Jeff and Deanna are happy with their decision to stay put. “We love the neighbors and the neighborhood,” says Jeff. “There is not one thing I would change.” If you know of a home you think should be featured in Inside Publications, contact Cathryn Rakich at crakich@surewest.net. n

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A Holistic Approach NEW PROGRAM WANTS TO TARGET ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY

hen Sacramentans think of their city, they think of farmers markets, farmto-fork restaurants or the American River Bike Trail. Perhaps one of the last things people think of is the lifelong effect poverty can have on local schoolchildren. As president and CEO of United Way California Capital Region, Stephanie Bray is looking to bring about change through the new Square One Project. “We believe that you can end poverty starting in schools,” says Bray. “Education is the one thing that can determine whether or not you live in poverty. The more education you have, the less likely it is that you’re going to be poor.” According to Bray, it isn’t enough to simply graduate from high school. Instead, she stresses the importance of making sure students are prepared to take the next step toward higher education or a sustainable career after high school in order to overcome the cycle of poverty. This idea is the basis of the Square One Project, which aims to support students from kindergarten through high school graduation. The project has four goals: keep kids in school, keep them on track with grade-level

FL By Faith Lewis Meet Your Neighbor

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milestones, set high expectations and create a strong support system. Bray worked with the family court system as a case manager for children who were placed outside of their homes, so she is no stranger to the lasting impact a less-than-ideal childhood can have on a child. Paired with her extensive experience in fundraising, this knowledge helps guide the work she does with United Way California Capital Region, which serves more than 2.1 million people throughout Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado and Amador counties. With a focus on Title I schools (those with a large percentage of the student body coming from lowincome families), the Square One Project aims to connect resources and providers with those who need it most. United Way serves as a middleman of sorts, identifying areas of need and seeking out organizations that can help. “The Square One Project grew out of a relationship that we had been building with the Robla School District and through work that we have been doing regionally,” says Bray. Previously, United Way California Capital Region partnered with nonprofit organizations to make improvements in three areas: education, financial stability and health. “What we found was that in many cases, we were working with the same children and families even though we were siloed in these three areas,” she says. “So we thought, instead of doing it that way, why don’t we put children and families in the center and then wrap those services around them?”

Stephanie Bray

Within each of the four areas the Square One Project focuses on, United Way tries to address the crux of the problem, rather than the symptoms of it. For example, there can be many reasons a child doesn’t go to school, from health issues to hunger. If you don’t first address those underlying factors, says Bray, it doesn’t matter how many resources you pour into correcting the effects of poor attendance. Through Square One, steps are being taken to combat some of these issues, such as serving meals in after-school programs and providing literacy support. Bray admits that Square One, only in its first year, has a lot of growing

to do in order to accomplish its goals for the next two decades and beyond. She hopes to soon expand the program from the Robla School District to other school districts. But for now, she recognizes that it is important to build trust with the community she is serving. “Because we don’t provide direct services, we’re not really visible,” says Bray. “We know that we have to build trust. People need to know who we are and why we’re there.” For more information about United Way Capital Region’s Square One Project, go to yourlocalunitedway.org. n

Art Preview GALLERY ART SHOWS IN JANUARY

“(WAL)PAPER” is a solo show of paintings by Tyson Anthony Roberts. It runs Jan. 5 to 31 at WAL Public Market Gallery. 1104 R St.

Sparrow Gallery presents “Moments in Time,” featuring works of mixed-media artist Kerri Warner, from Jan. 10 to Feb. 2. Shown above: “Tea Time,” a mixedmedia collage. 1021 R St.; sparrowgallerysacramento.com

The 13th edition of “Animal House,” an exhibit of animal-themed art, runs Jan. 3 to 28 at Sacramento Fine Arts Center. The show includes paintings, drawings, photography and sculpture selected from hundreds of works submitted from across the country. Shown above: “Hollywood Star” by Sandy Lindblad. 5330 Gibbons Drive; sacﬁnearts.org

ARTHOUSE on R presents “Invocation,” featuring the works of interdisciplinary artist Steph Rue, from Jan.12 to Feb. 6. The show is a series of drawings and books exploring contemplative prayer practices in the Christian tradition. Shown above: “Invocations 9.” 1021 R St.; arthouseonr.com

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Not Too Shabby Chalk Paint Classes Home Accessories Sale

The Most Anticipated Show of the Year

Not Too Shabby has been the go-to store in Historic Folsom for painted furniture, home decor and gifts since 2005. Now attendees of the Home & Landscape Expo will enjoy attending one of their free workshops held during the Expo to learn some fun and creative ways to work with the popular Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Line. New this year will be a retail boutique area of beautiful home accessories at incredible savings.

KOHLER® Bold Experience Tour The Plumbery Luxury Kitchen and Bath Showroom will host the Kohler Bold Experience Tour at this year’s Home & Landscape Expo! This interactive trailer, located just inside the main gates of Cal Expo, offers a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experience with a selection of Kohler showering and toilet products.

how S g i B e Th o! p x E l a C t a

January 26 - 28, 2018 • Cal Expo, Sacramento Friday 12 pm – 7pm • Saturday 10 am – 6 pm • Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

www.HomeandLandscapeExpo.com FOR SHOW SPECIALS AND COMPLETE DETAILS Enjoy over 1,000 exhibits! Whether you are planning to build, remodel, repair or redecorate, you’ll ﬁnd the largest gathering of professionals to help you with your home project.

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LANDSCAPE SHOWCASE Featured Designers ł CreativeScapes Landscape Design and Construction ł Under Juniper Landscape & Development ł The Paver Company

Gary Brown Enterprises, producers of the Northern California Home & Landscape Expo, has developed a reputation for not only having the best 'home show' but also the most landscaping for gardening enthusiasts to enjoy! This year’s Landscape Design Competition will feature current trends in the landscape. Area designers have submitted designs and only a select few are invited to participate (featured above). Be sure to spend some time admiring the elaborate displays and see who the 2018 winner is! Landscape Competition Sponsored by:

Outdoor Living Workshops from top speakers include: EDUCATIONAL • INFORMATIVE • ENTERTAINING Creating Low Maintenance & Sustainable Landscapes with Roberta Walker • New Design Trends with Michael Glassman • Designing Your Outdoor Living Space, Katherine Kawaguchi, NKBA • Edible Landscaping, Japanese Maple Care, Outdoor Lighting Design and much more!

Professionals You Can Trust…

Two $10,000 Giveaways:

Attendees to the Northern California Home & Landscape Expo can visit the largest gathering of NARI members and view the "Wall of Possibilities" featuring pictures of award winning projects. Not only will the 2017 Contractor of the Year Award winners be showcased, but there will be additional before and after photos of stunning projects available for viewing.

DAILY FRONT DOOR GIVEAWAY

A DOOR A DAY GIVEAWAY! STANDARD INSTALLATION INCLUDED!*

At NKBA’s booth in the Pavilion, they will showcase the Award Winning projects for the 2018 Design Competition. You will find loads of creative ideas along with a directory of industry experts, home and garden giveaways and you will be able to sign up for a ‘Designer Hour’. The

nst, NARI D. Loesch Co

Guchi Interiors, NKBA

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Teachable Moment A PASTOR LEARNS WHAT TO PRAY FOR

ome years ago, I was sitting in my chaplain’s office at the VA hospital in Sacramento when a local pastor stopped by to introduce himself. “I’m Brother So-and-So,” he said, giving me a hand-pumping shake. “I’m spirit-filled.” If you are unfamiliar with church language, “spirit-filled” is a term broadly used by charismatic Christians. Loosely speaking, this adjective describes a higher step beyond “born-again.” Truthfully, I have lots of wonderful charismatic friends. And most of them will tell you that if a person demonstrates the traits of “spiritfilled,” there’s no need to self-identify.

NB By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

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Suffice it to say, I wished Mr. Brother-Pastor had kept walking down the hall. But instead, the tall, broad and aging man sat down and proceeded to recite his resume. He talked about the prison ministry he ran and boasted of the meals he delivered to the homeless. He buzzed about the radio preaching he did in Fresno and the television ministry he ran in Bakersfield. In between each story, he paused to wait for my “amen,” but alas, I offered only a polite nod. He talked so long and so fast, I was having trouble hearing the spirit. He added endless details about the many years he served as a pastor and the hospital visits he did. He confessed that he pitied me because “we both know government chaplains can’t talk about God as freely as a pastor.” And somewhere in the midst of his pontification, he told me he was praying that God would make him “teachable.” If he noticed my smirk when he spoke the word “teachable,”

he didn’t say. Instead, he abruptly assumed a kneeling position and told me he was going to pray for me. That’s when I decided to answer his prayer and offer him a teachable moment. “Wait just a minute,” I said, motioning him off his knees. “How do you know what to pray for?” “Huh?” he responded. I asked him this because he seemed to be offering his prayer not so much as a gift but as a way to establish his authority. Pastor Pray4U seemed ready to thank God for blessing me by his visit. I continued. “Well, a few minutes ago you mentioned you were praying God would make you teachable, so let me share something with you.” He gave me a glassy stare, as clueless as a calf lookin’ at a new gate. “When I visit patients, I always ask them how I can pray for them. I ask them what they want me to pray for. Would you like to know what you can pray for me?”

With that, he leaned back in his chair and spread his hands open on his lap. “You’re right, chaplain,” he said. “What should I pray?” I asked him to pray for my new supervisor, and then asked that he pray for God to comfort the families of the two hospital employees who’d unexpectedly died the previous week. He shook his head, unsure what to say. However, he eventually prayed, just not in the tone I’d expected. In the face of real needs, his prayer became much less pretentious, his tone much more humble and contrite. But most of all, his personal prayer was also answered. This “spiritfilled” pastor had become much more “teachable.” Recently retired chaplain Norris Burkes is a syndicated columnist, national speaker and book author. He can be reached at comment@ thechaplain.net. n

INSIDE’S

Willie’s Burgers

Mulvaney’s Building & Loan

110 K St. • (916) 573-3897

1215 19th St. • (916) 441-6022

L D $ Great burgers and more • williesburgers.com

L D $$$ Full Bar Modern American cuisine in an upscale historic setting

R STREET

The Red Rabbit

Café Bernardo

2718 J St. • (916) 706-2275

1431 R St. • (916) 930-9191 B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Casual California cuisine with counter service • cafebernardo.com

Paragary’s

Fish Face Poke Bar

1401 28th St. • (916) 457-5737

1104 R St. Suite 100 • (916) 706-6605 L D $$ Beer/Sake Humble Hawaiian poke breaks free • ﬁshfacepokebar.com

DOWNTOWN Cafeteria 15L 1116 15th St. • (916) 492-1960 L D $$ Full Bar Classic American lunch counter with a millennial vibe • cafeteria15l.com

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters 400 P St. • (916) 400-4204 Small-batch coffees brewed from beans harvested within the past 12 months • chocolateﬁshcoffee.com

de Vere’s Irish Pub 1521 L St. • (916) 231-9947 L D $$ Full Bar Family-run authentic Irish pub with a classic menu to match • deverespub.com

Downtown & Vine 1200 K St. #8 • (916) 228-4518 L D $$ Educational tasting experience of wines by the taste, ﬂight or glass with tapas and small plates • downtownandvine.com

Ella Dining Room & Bar 1131 K St. • (916) 443-3772 L D $$$ Full Bar Modern American cuisine served family-style in a chic, upscale space • elladiningroomandbar.com

Esquire Grill 1213 K St. • (916) 448-8900 L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Outdoor Dining Upscale American fare served in an elegant setting • paragarys.com • esquiregrill.com

Firestone Public House 1132 16th St. • (916) 446-0888 L D $$ Full Bar Sports bar with a classical American menu • ﬁrestonepublichouse.com

Ma Jong’s Asian Diner 1431 L St. • (916) 442-7555

Iron Horse Tavern

L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Cuisine from Japan, Thailand, China ad Vietnam. • majongs.com

1800 15th St. • (916) 448-4488

806 L St. • (916) 442-7092 L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Chinese favorites in an elegant setting • fatsrestaurants.com

Magpie Cafe

Skool

B L D $$$ Full Bar Simple, seasonal, soulful • grangesacramento.com

1601 16th St. • (916) 452-7594

2319 K St. • (916) 737-5767

L D $$-$$$ Wine/Beer Seasonal menu using the best local ingredients • magpiecafe.com

L D $$ Beer/Sake Inventive Japansese-inspired seafood dishes • skoolonkstreet.com

1415 L St. • (916) 440-8888

Shoki Ramen House

Suzie Burger

L D $$-$$ Full Bar Celebration of the region’s rich history and bountiful terrain • hockfarm.com

1201 R St. • (916) 441-0011

Hock Farm Craft & Provision

2820 P St. • (916) 455-3500

L D $$ Beer/Wine Japanese ﬁne dining using the best local ingredients • shokiramenhouse.com

L D $ Beer/Wine Classic burgers, cheesesteaks, shakes, chili dogs, and other tasty treats • suzieburger. com

THE HANDLE

Tapa The World

The Rind

2115 J St. • (916) 442-4353

South 2005 11th St. • (916) 382-9722 L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Timeless traditional Southern cuisine, counter service • weheartfriedchicken.com

L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Cheese-centric menu paired with select wine and beer • therindsacramento.com

L D $-$$ Wine/Beer/Sangria Spanish/world cuisine in a casual authentic atmosphere, live ﬂamenco music • tapathewworld.com

1001 Front St. • (916) 446-6768

Zocolo

Thai Basil

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar American cuisine served in a casual historic Old Sac location • fatsrestaurants.com

1801 Capitol Ave. • (916) 441-0303

1801 L St. #40 • (916) 441-7463

OLD SAC Fat City Bar & Cafe

Rio City Cafe

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Patio Regional Mexican cuisine served in an authentic artistic setting • zocolosacramento.com

1110 Front St. • (916) 442-8226 L D $$ Full Bar Bistro favorites with a distinctively Sacramento feeling in a riverfront setting • riocitycafe.com

The Firehouse Restaurant 1112 Second St. • (916) 442-4772 L D $$$ Full Bar Global and California cuisine in an upscale historic Old Sac setting • ﬁrehouseoldsac.com

L D $$ Full Bar American bistro favorites with a modern twist in a casual Old Sac setting • ten22oldsac.com

Call 485-2593 2725 Riverside Blvd., Ste. 800

Lambtrust.com

L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Patio Housemade curries among their authentic Thai specialties • thaibasilrestaurant.com

2000 Capitol Ave. • (916) 498-9891

Biba Ristorante L D $$$ Full Bar Upscale Northern Italian cuisine served a la carte • biba-restaurant.com

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Patio Fine South of France and Northern Italian cuisine in a chic neighborhood setting • waterboyrestaurant.com

OAK PARK

Café Bernardo 2726 Capitol Ave. • (916) 443-1180 B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Casual California cuisine with counter service • cafebernardo.com

1022 Second St. • (916) 441-2211

2431 J St. • (916) 442-7690

The Waterboy

MIDTOWN 2801 Capitol Ave. • (916) 455-2422

Living Trust Consultation

Wills•Trusts•Probate & Special Needs Trusts

2831 S St. • (916) 444-7711

926 J St. • (916) 492-4450

Grange Restaurant & Bar

FREE Initial

Attorney at Law

Revolution Wines L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Urban winery and tasting room with a creative menu using local sources • revolution-wines.com

FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS, HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Mark J. Lamb

L D $$ Full Bar Fabulous Outdoor Patio.,California cuisine with a French touch • paragarys.com

L D $-$$ Full Bar Gastro-pub cuisine in a stylish industrial setting • ironhorsetavern.net

Ten22

Frank Fat’s

L D $$ Full Bar All things local contribute to a sophisticated urban menu • theredrabbit.net

Centro Cocina Mexicana 2730 J St. • (916) 442-2552 L D $$ Full Bar Patio Regional Mexican cooking served in a casual atmosphere • paragarys.com • centrococina.com

Easy on I

La Venadita 3501 Third Ave. • (916) 400-4676 L D $$ Full Bar Authentic Mexican cuisine with simple tasty menu in a colorful historic setting • lavenaditasac.com

Oak Park Brewing Company 3514 Broadway • (916) 660-2723 L D $$ Full Bar Award-winning beers and a creative pub-style menu in an historic setting • opbrewco.com

Vibe Health Bar

1725 I St. • (916) 469-9574 L D $-$$ Full Bar American eats, including BBQ, local brews & weekend brunch • easyoni.com

3515 Broadway • (916) 382-9723 B L D $-$$ Clean, lean & healthy snacks. Acai bowls are speciality. Kombucha on tap • vibehealthbar.com n

Federalist Public House 2009 N St. • (916) 661-6134 L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Wood-ﬁred pizzas in an inventive urban alley setting • federalistpublichouse.com

Hot Italian 1627 16th St. • (916) 444-3000 L D $$ Full Bar Authentic hand-crafted pizzas with inventive ingredients, gelato • hotitalian.net

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TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

“Drag Dinner: A Night of Drag and Comedy” LoLGBT Sunday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m. Punch Line Sacramento, 2100 Arden Way • punchlinesac.com Get ready for some outrageous laughs as LoLGBT presents a night of comedy and drag hosted by local drag comedian Suzette Veneti. Local comics John Ross and Jason Bargert will share the stage with East Bay comedian Chelsea Bearce and celebrated drag queens Apple Adams, Mercury Rising, Mae Heffiman and more. Come in drag for a chance to win a prize, enjoy a themed menu and stay afterward for priceless photo-ops.

Mercury Rising willl perform at Punch Line on Jan. 28.

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jL By Jessica Laskey

“E. Charlton Fortune: The Colorful Spirit” Crocker Art Museum Jan. 28–April 22 216 O St. • crockerart.org This new exhibition features plein-air landscapes from California artist E. Charlton Fortune (1885–1969), who came of age during a time when women began to redefine their roles in society.

“Little Stones” National Council of Jewish Women Sacramento Sunday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m. Kashenberg Ostrow Hayward Library and Cultural Center 2300 Sierra Blvd. • ncjwsac.org The award-winning documentary film “Little Stones”— directed and produced by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Sophia Kruz—follows Brazilian graffiti artist Panmela Castro, Senegalese rap singer Sister Fa, Indian dance therapist Sohini Chakraborty and fashion designer Anna Taylor as they use their art to combat violence against women.

Author Mark Noce will be at The Avid Reader this month.

Author Mark Noce in Conversation The Avid Reader Saturday, Jan. 13, 5 p.m. 1945 Broadway • avidreaderonbroadway.com The author of historical fiction novel “Between Two Fires” returns to Sacramento to discuss his recently released sequel, “Dark Winds Rising.”

Don't miss award-winning “The Nether” at the Capital Stage.

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The documentary "Little Stones" will play at the Kashenberg Ostrow Hayward Library and Cultural Center. Photo courtesy of Sophia Kru.

VAPA Gala

Classical Concert: TriMusica

C.K. McClatchy High School Saturday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum Sunday, Jan. 14, 3 p.m.

3066 Freeport Blvd. • ckmvapa.org Celebrate the opening of C.K. McClatchy High School’s new 800-seat, state-of-the-art theater and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) wing at this black-tie event featuring food and drink (no alcohol), performances, art shows, a silent auction and commemorative swag.

216 O St. • crockerart.org Clarinetist Sandra McPherson, cellist Susan Lamb Cook and pianist John Cozza will perform classical music from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring works by Mozart, Brahms and Russian-born Swiss composer Paul Juon.

James Baker on Autosomal DNA Genealogical Association of Sacramento Wednesday, Jan. 17, 12:15 p.m. Belle Cooledge Library, 5600 South Land Park Drive • gensac.org The GAS monthly meeting will feature speaker James Baker, who will explain autosomal DNA. It is, as he describes it, “so good, you can hardly believe it.” The meeting is free and open to the public.

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“The Nether” Capital Stage Jan. 24–Feb. 25 2215 J St. • capstage.org This award-winning new play by American playwright Jennifer Haley is a sci-fi crime drama set in the near future.

L EL

Y IL

S RE

U TA

(ALL

JANUARY)

LUNCH,DINNER,

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS AND TRADITIONAL CAVIAR SERVICE F E AT U R I N G L O C A L C AV I A R

Harpsichordist and organist Nancy Metzger will perform at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Organ & Harpsichord Recital

1131 K STREET DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO 916.443.3772 WWW.ELLA DINING ROOM AND BAR.COM

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Sunday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m. 1430 J St. • stpaulssacramento.org Listen in as Nancy Metzger, St. Paul’s music director, plays a handmade copy of a historic Flemish instrument. The pipe organ at St. Paul’s is one of the oldest on the West Coast. A donation of $10 is suggested. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n PRESENTED BY:

January 12 - 21, 2018

3 courses for $35 California artist E. Charlton Fortune will be on exhibit at Crocker Art Museum.

Menus at GoDowntownSac.com/DineDowntown POC n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Heavy Metal Man SCULPTOR TACKLES A PROJECT CLOSE TO HOME BY DANIEL BARNES ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

or a man famed for his work with heavy metal, Joe Scarpa doesn’t much look or act like a rock star. Out of his home workshop and driveway in Land Park, the thoughtful, soft-spoken Scarpa has produced some of the most recognizable, beloved and ostentatiously enormous public sculptures in and near the Sacramento area, including the alien spaceship in Southside Park, the giant dog collars at BarkleyVille Dog Park at Feather River Park in Stockton and the “Authors of Our Own Destiny” triptych at North Natomas Library. Scarpa works with all types of materials, but he is best known for his metal sculptures, the product of an early interest in armor and blacksmithing. “Armor making was the height of art and technology in the pre-Renaissance,” says Scarpa from his workshop, a covered area teeming with tools, including some

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of his own design. “The way they manipulated metal was beyond what anyone else was doing.” A giant hunk of repurposed metal sits at the heart of Scarpa’s most famous work, the Airstream trailer turned alien spacecraft placed next to the playground in Southside Park, a piece known as “Port of Call: Earth.” “I think that’s a pretty good window into who I am, combining a little bit of found object, a little bit of humor,” says Scarpa, who considers it his signature work. “Port of Call: Earth” is filled with Easter egg details, from the neon lights that simulate the rocket engines to the miniature aliens crawling all over the craft. There were moving pieces before vandals defaced the sculpture, but it remains a masterwork of oversized whimsy. “It’s just so big and outrageous,” says Scarpa’s friend and mentor, artist Tony Natsoulas. “He could have done a halfway job, and he went all the

way. It’s pretty fabulous, especially before it got vandalized.” Intentional “vandalization” is the central concept behind another notable Scarpa installation, the “Authors of Our Own Destiny” triptych at North Natomas Library. The two key pieces of the triptych sit on Del Paso Boulevard: an enormous open book and a detached metal eye scanning the pages from above. Scarpa conceived a dynamic interactive element for the piece, permitting anyone to repaint the pages at any time. “If you’re driving by that every day, if it was something static, you would see it once and never look at it again,” says Scarpa. “But making it a public graffiti wall, now you see something different.” It took a while for the public to catch on, and two weeks after installation, the pages remained blank. Scarpa brought in a friend to spray-paint some designs, and panicked library officials called

him with the “bad” news. “I told them, ‘That’s exactly what it’s for. Everybody should be tagging it.’” While Scarpa customarily works for competitive commissions, his latest work is a labor of love. Leonardo da Vinci Middle School in Hollywood Park, the alma mater for both of his children, needed a new security fence, and the school was familiar to Scarpa from his volunteer work. “I love the school, so I really wanted to do something nice for them,” says Scarpa. “They gave me free rein to do whatever I wanted.” Scarpa designed the security fence to reflect the school’s model of integrated thematic instruction, dividing it into three themed panels (science and technology; the tree of life; and art and architecture) attached to a giant gate filled with da Vinci’s drawings. “There are so many pieces in that fence, so many designs, you won’t see everything the first time,” says Scarpa.

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insidesacbook.com As for his own education, Scarpa entered the art world without any formal training. “He’s a very wellread person, which is sometimes unusual for artists, and he comes from a science background,” says Natsoulas. “He knows a lot more than just the regular art stuff.” Scarpa worked as an environmental chemist

during the Superfund boom of the 1980s, but the industry had dried up by the late 1990s. By then, Scarpa had made enough connections to quit his day job, and the rest is art history. Although Scarpa doesn’t have any major pieces under construction at the moment, he is always working on something, either assisting another

The "Port of Call: Earth" sculpture hovers near Southside Park playground.

artist or stretching his own limits. In one corner of his workshop sits a halffinished personal project, a giant clock decked with colorful kitchen timers, and in another sit broken shards of ceramic, the products of a failed experiment. More than anything, Scarpa credits his family for his success.

“It’s hard to be a successful artist without the support of someone else,” says Scarpa, who raised the kids and pursued his art while his wife worked during the day. “You need the support of friends and family, no matter what level you’re at.” To see examples of Joe Scarpa’s work, go to jscarpa.com. n

"Authors of Our Own Destiny" is at the North Natomas Library.

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Family Style AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE, EVANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KITCHEN STILL SATISFIES

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he term “family restaurant” does not come with many positive connotations. When I hear the term, I think of national chains that do more reheating than cooking. I think of places that serve conspicuously inexpensive steaks, consider chopped iceberg lettuce a salad and have a signature sauce that is invariably one ingredient away from Thousand Island dressing. I don’t disparage these places, mind you. They have their place on the dining scene. They’re cheap, accessible and nearly always open. They’re safe bets for the pickiest eater in your family, and they’ll usually serve you more food than you can eat at one sitting. But when I hear a restaurant with a long and considerable reputation referred to as a family restaurant, it gives me pause. Am I being too judgmental? Should I widen my expectations of what a family restaurant can be? Or is the description just not applicable? When it comes to Evan’s Kitchen and Catering, the answer might be “yes” to all three questions. The restaurant, opened in 2004 by local chef Evan Elsberry, sets new standards for what a family restaurant can be. Located in a nondescript storefront in East Sacramento’s 57th Street Antique Mall, it looks simple from the outside, but the food is delivered with skill, care and a touch of panache. The most popular items on the menu are familiar American dishes without pretension. They’re served on plain white dishes alongside sturdy, simple flatware. The napkins are cloth. Let’s start with breakfast. If you like anything smothered in gravy, get it. The gravy is made from scratch and undeniably bad for your health. Unlike most short-order places that

“craft” their gravy from a powdered mix, Evan’s Kitchen serves layered, fennel-rich sausage gravy that you’ll remember. Or grab a stack of pancakes with real maple syrup. No fake stuff here. Want something a little different? Try Lauren’s Southwestern Benny, a pumped-up eggs Benedict featuring corncakes, roasted pasilla chile and chipotle hollandaise. Each house-made component is a spot-on execution. There’s no doubt that the folks in the kitchen know what they’re doing and care enough to do it. For lunch, there are no surprises. Sandwiches, burgers and salads dominate the menu. But each offering is, again, much better than you expect. A grilled seafood salad with prawns, scallops and salmon for $14.75 is not only a good value but a lovely lunch. A burger topped with a bucket-load of fried onion strings is probably big enough for two. The steak sandwich and prime rib sandwich both belong in the pantheon of local steak sandos. Evan’s offerings stand toe to toe with those of local favorites Jamie’s Broadway Grille and Club Pheasant. In fact, these restaurants share more than just a good sandwich; they feel like they’re cut from the same cloth.

INSIDE PUBLICATIONS The dinner menu spans three pages and includes more choices than you can comfortably get your head around. But the midweek prime rib special has to be the best dining bargain in town. For $19.99, you get soup or salad to start, a petite slice of prime rib with sides of indulgent sour cream mashed potatoes and vegetables, and dessert. Each element of the meal is skillfully handled and satisfyingly old-fashioned. If prime rib isn’t your style, then a host of pasta dishes, including impressive seafood pasta, might work for you. Or if you skipped breakfast and don’t plan on eating again this year, the chicken-fried steak smothered in gravy might be right up your alley. Rare finds like Italian pot roast and prosciutto-wrapped scallops also

hit the mark. As with all the entrees, portions are hearty and won’t leave you wanting. If you somehow have room, desserts are also simple and excellent. Evan’s Kitchen puts out some of the best apple pie this side of Apple Hill. And lastly, if you happen to be at Evan’s on Friday, the weekly clam chowder is one of the best in town and shouldn’t be missed. Whether you call it a family restaurant or not, whether you’re looking for something upscale or down-home, Evan’s will hit you in the right spot: the stomach. Evan’s Kitchen and Catering is at 855 57th St.; (916) 452-3896; chefevan.com. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. n

GS By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

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