Inside Pocket January 2024 by Inside Publications

8 2 S

YEARS

JANUARY 2024

POCKET

BILL CHAMBERS POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES Our Other Editions Serve: East Sacramento • Land Park/Grid • Arden/Carmichael

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780 Parkhaven Way - $575,000 UPDATED GREENHAVEN SINGLE STORY HOME. 3 bed 2 bath with many renovations this year. Beautiful kitchen has white shaker cabinets, quartz counters, marble backsplash. MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555 DRE-01270375

PENDING

6243 Fordham Way - $679,000 STATELY RANCH STYLE HOME IN SOUTH LAND PARK HILLS 3 bed, 2 bath. Open floor plan with mixed plank wood floors, double sided fireplace, built-ins. Covered patio, private yard STEPH BAKER 916-775-3447 DRE-01402254

PENDING

1413 – 11th Avenue - $1,600,000 ICONIC LAND PARK HOME ELEGANCE QUALITY. 4 bed 3 bath. Open entry, hardwood ﬂoors upstairs and down, spacious living room with marble ﬁreplace. Backyard pool and much more! PAULA SWAYNE 916-425-9715 DRE-01188158

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1461 Birchwood Lane - $995,000 SOUTH LAND PARK ESTATES CORNER 4 bed 2½ bath single story home conveniently located near William Land Park. Updated kitchen with ofﬁce area. Slate patios and pool CONNIE LANDSBERG 916-761-0411 DRE-00850625

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6966 Bobolink Way - $475,000 SPECTACULAR GREENHAVEN POCKET HALFPLEX 2 bed 2½ bath. Each bedroom has its own bath. Updated kitchen with newer cabinets and quartz counters. Spa. CONNIE LANDSBERG 916-761-0411 DRE-00850625

SOLD

70 Las Positas Circle - $760,000 QUALITY POCKET AREA HOME WITH POOL. 3 bed, 2½ bath with wood beam ceilings, kitchen with granite counters. Lovely yard with pool, waterfall, gazebo and covered patio MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555 DRE-01270375

SOLD

1118 Teneighth Way - $685,000 CUTE COTTAGE QUAINT LAND PARK STREET 2 bed 1 bath open and airy with pictures windows facing front and back. Original wood ﬂoors and tile bath. Covered patio LISA McCAULEY 916-601-5474 DRE-00933026

PENDING

2000 - 8th Avenue - $1,250,000 FRANK WILLIAMS BUILT HOME IN COLLEGE MANOR 3 bed 3 bath, marble ﬁreplace and Frech doors leading to private yard and pool. Remodeled kitchen opens to family room and yard. PAULA SWAYNE 916-425-9715 DRE-01188158

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EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A BET TER PL ACE. 28 S

YEARS

JANUARY 2024

EAST SAC

YEARS

JANUARY 2024

ARDEN

YEARS

JANUARY 2024

LAND PARK/GRID

YEARS

JANUARY 2024

POCKET

PATRICIA PRENDERGAST LAURIE CURRAN - CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR

WHITNEY LOFRANO

JUDITH JOHNSON - CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR

BILL CHAMBERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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

INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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

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3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

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COVER ARTIST

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

info@insidepublications.com PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings EDITOR Cathryn Rakich editor@insidepublications.com

BILL CHAMBERS Bill Chambers grew up in Sacramento and earned a BFA at California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, where he studied graphic art. He later earned his MA in fine art from UC Davis. Chambers has spent most of his life teaching art to upperlevel students, as well as incarcerated youth for the California Youth Authority, but has always remained a working and exhibiting artist. Currently, his interest is Sacramento’s ports and waterways. Shown: “Cruising by Freeport,” oil on canvas, 27 inches by 42 inches. This piece is for sale at $3,000. Visit efgallery.com.

PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel @anikophotos AD COORDINATION Michele Mazzera DISTRIBUTION Info@insidepublications.com or visit insidesacramento.com ACCOUNTING Daniel Nardinelli, COO, daniel@insidepublications.com

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JANUARY 2024 VOL. 10 • ISSUE 12

EDITORIAL POLICY Commentary reﬂects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reﬂect those of Inside Sacramento. Inside Sacramento is delivered for free to more than 80,000 households in Sacramento. Printing and distribution costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. Inside Sacramento welcomes readers’ comments. Letters to the Editor should be submitted via email to editor@insidepublications.com. Please include name, address and phone number. Letters may be published as space permits and edited for brevity. No portion may be reproduced mechanically or electronically without written permission of the publisher. All ad designs & editorial—©

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Pocket Beat Pocket Life City Realist Out & About Downtown Renaissance Giving Back City Beat Open House Spirit Matters Sports Authority Animals & Their Allies Farm To Fork Building Our Future Garden Jabber Open Studio To Do Restaurant Insider

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In Good Hands CITY’S RIVER BIKE TRAIL ROLLS TOWARD REALITY

ake comfort in watching the city’s levee bike path experts work a room. Assurance flows from their understated confidence, never brash, always sincere. To hear them speak is to realize the Sacramento River Parkway bike trail is on schedule to arrive in 2026. Momentum is tangible. City engineer Megan Johnson and engineering consultant Matt Salveson lead the bike trail team. They bring decades of professional experience. They understand the challenges and embrace the rewards. Their calm, patient recitation of data, dates and facts soothes like therapy. For contrast, listen to the handful of property owners near the levee who want to kill the bike trail. Voices raised, words rushed, sentences jumbled in anger, they veer toward incoherence. They describe doomsday scenarios they claim will threaten the levee once it becomes a joyful place for cyclists and pedestrians. They warn of lunatics and criminals stalking the parkway. They describe motorcycle gangs, rampaging youth, everything but wild horses. What they really mean is they are scared. They fear an equity pathway that brings people from Meadowview and Pocket, Little Pocket and Land Park into their private riverfront world—a place that never truly existed outside their elitist fantasies.

RG By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

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Johnson and Salveson acknowledge the fear and have answers. The city is designing a safety plan to protect the levee trail, making it one of most secure places in town. Cameras will cover parkway entrances. Access hours and parking restrictions near the levee will be enforced, enhanced by robust streetlights. A civilian bike patrol to supplement park rangers and police is anticipated. As ironic expressions go, it’s tough to beat the safety concerns invented by property owners near the levee. To secure themselves, the homesteaders decided to build fences decades ago. They sunk posts into the levee. Gates and fences caused erosion, captured debris and slowed responses by emergency and maintenance crews. In other words, levee fences and the people who built them created serious safety threats to the flood control system. Today they complain about safety—not yours, but theirs. Their solution? More fences. For reasons that aren’t clear, officials at the Central Valley Flood Protection Board suddenly became sympathetic to the claim that fences somehow serve the public. Former Butte County Supervisor Jane Dolan leads the flood board. She’s never explained why she likes fences. Last spring, flood board Executive Officer Chris Lief signed five authorizations for temporary fences to block the levee in Pocket. His authorizations were issued in secret. They apparently break state law. The authorizations fall far outside the flood board’s maintenance mission. Those fences need to come down. The bike trail will eliminate the danger caused by levee fences. The paved trail, running from Zacharias Park south to Garcia Bend Park, will give emergency and maintenance crews

City engineer Megan Johnson addresses Central Valley Flood Protection Board in May 2023. smooth levee access year around. No locks and gates. No mud. Johnson and Salveson, lead engineers on the bike trail, articulate the challenges ahead. Environmental reports are wrapping up, along with preliminary engineering. Acquisition of final easements and permits starts this month. Around 70 property owners near the levee will cause trouble. They can’t stop the bike trail. But they will try. Watch them challenge the environmental clearances—a weary game played by NIMBY residents. Watch them force the city to secure easements through eminent domain. Watch them build more hostility between themselves and residents in Meadowview and Pocket. Eventually, everything will be fine. Salveson, who lectures Sacramento State engineering students and works for local engineering firm Wood

Rodgers, says the biggest job involves permits. The city needs clearances from the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Water Resources and flood board. The bike trail permit process will consume this year and part of 2025. It’s dense, technical work. Not long ago, flood board executive Lief told me his decision to authorize temporary levee fences wouldn’t impact the city’s levee bike trail. I didn’t understand. I couldn’t imagine a bike trail with fences across it. Now I’m inspired by the city’s confidence. It’s time to show how cooperation serves everyone. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

For all that’s ahead of you, put back pain behind you. Your spine isn’t just the physical center of your body. It’s also central to almost every move you make: walking, lifting, even lying down to rest. So when an unhealthy spine causes back or neck pain, it can impact your life in profound ways, compromising your productivity, fitness—even your mental outlook. But you don’t have to settle for a life defined by chronic pain. You can trust our experts at the Dignity Health Neurological Institute of Northern California to properly diagnose and treat your spine condition so you can regain a more fulfilling life. For the sake of all you have to look forward to, visit DignityHealth.org/SacramentoSpine and put back and neck pain in your past.

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THE TRAP’S SET 1910 photo of The Trap

Mariah Luckenbill Photo by Aniko Kiezel

AN ORIGINAL LANDMARK GETS NEW LEASE ON LIFE ome people in their early 20s are trying to figure out their career path. Not Mariah Lukenbill. As a teen, she helped manage Burr’s Fountain, the East Sacramento ice cream shop. She dreamed of owning a coffee house. After earning a degree in business entrepreneurship at California State University Monterey Bay, she went on a shopping spree. Not for clothing or shoes, but for a business. Her older brother entered the search. He raised his family in the Pocket and heard The Trap, the iconic dive bar, was for sale. “The most recent owners were the Crudo family. I put in an offer,” says Mariah, 23. It was accepted.

CM By Corky Mau Pocket Life

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Over the past year and a half, she learned how to operate the business. Lukenbill loves tending bar. Her goal is to learn every customer’s name. “This place really has the ‘Cheers, where everyone knows your name’ vibe. I won’t make any drastic changes to the place. Only needed improvements. I want to maintain that dive bar atmosphere.” While I met with Lukenbill, her father Gregg worked on the outdoor patio cover. Many know him as the original local owner of the Kings. He learned the construction trade from his father and enjoys his role as “construction foreman” for his daughter. The sagging, uneven bar floor is gone, replaced by solid footing. The bathroom has been updated. A commercial beer tap system has been installed. The Trap is one of the oldest businesses in town. It’s one of the last original buildings constructed by Pocket’s Portuguese settlers. It was registered as a historic structure in 2009.

The Trap opened in 1861. Called Ingleside Inn, it was a grocery and bar. The original site was a few blocks north of Riverside Boulevard and 43rd Avenue. In 1912, Anna Silveira Pimentel took over. She wanted to help her son, Tony Pimentel, get established. They renamed it Pimentel’s Ingleside Café. Locals shortened that to Pimentel’s saloon. Tony was 19 and too young to tend bar. He managed the grocery side while his brother-in-law poured drinks. They served ice-cold beer, including products from Buffalo Brewing at 21st and Q streets. Pimentel built a separate door for the grocery store, so women didn’t have to walk through the bar. In the 1920s, Pimentel moved the building to its current location on Riverside. The Pimentel home was next door. From old photographs, the home sat between Brookside School and The Trap. Tony and his wife bought acreage in Pocket, became involved in farming, and sold the bar in 1930. Legend says The Trap was a popular hangout for Land Park postal carriers

in the 1970s. Many locals celebrated 21st birthdays there. It was common to see customers in business suits enjoying a beer alongside bikers. I think Tony Pimentel would be pleased with Lukenbill’s plans to restore The Trap to a modern version of the original. It’s a small bar with a big welcoming spirit. If you’ve never visited The Trap, stop by for a cold beer and billiards. Check the old photographs showing The Trap in earlier days. Specials include karaoke Tuesday nights and alternating Saturdays, trivia Sunday nights, food trucks Wednesdays through Sundays. Show up in Kings attire when the team is on TV and get reduced drink prices. The Trap is at 6125 Riverside Blvd. Corky Mau can be reached at corky. sue50@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Transit Triumph RT BOARD TURNS PROBLEMS INTO SOLUTIONS

irasol Village is a mixed-income redevelopment housing project in the River District along Richards Boulevard. It’s a project I worked on and supported for all eight years of my City Council term. Like most projects that use public funding, this one was a challenge. It required numerous

JH By Jeff Harris City Realist

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grants to reach the finish line. I applaud the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency for its tenacity in obtaining grants over the last 10 years. The project is largely complete. Residents are moving in. But there’s a problem. The neighborhood has limited mobility options. Only one bus line serves the isolated area with minimal connections. In 2018, a multi-million dollar Transforming Climate Communities grant was awarded by the state Strategic Growth Council. The money was to substantially fund a new light rail station named Dos Rios. The station would enhance transit options for Mirasol residents. It was a nice vision and seemed obtainable. The station would take three years to build. I supported the light rail project.

Regional Transit got to work on designs. The cost estimate was $23 million. After the pandemic, the cost leaped to $43 million. The site is toxic and requires remediation. Tracks need to be straightened and relocated. During construction, Blue Line riders would travel by bus around the construction site at great expense and inconvenience. The project became difficult and expensive. Due to cost overruns and delays, the Strategic Growth grant money is in jeopardy. The solution? Quickly find more grant money to build the station. Or create a substitute project that meets mobility goals for Mirasol Village and satisfies climate requirements for the grant. City Council member Katie Valenzuela and state Sen. Angelique Ashby called a meeting with RT staff

and several elected officials to discuss the funding gap. The two politicians attempted to place the entire burden on RT. Valenzuela and Ashby wanted the transit agency to absorb the $20 million shortfall at the expense of other priority projects. Mayor Darrell Steinberg entered the fray, though the city offered no financial contribution to help solve the shortfall. Thankfully, the RT board took action to save the project and grant. Members voted to accept an alternative project to revamp bus routes 33 and 11, eventually incorporating zero-emission buses, to address transit needs of Mirasol Village within months, not years. Residents will get convenient access to the Blue and Green light rail lines and schools in Natomas. The RT board told staff to pursue more grant funding for a Dos Rios station buildout. It’s a great plan. Post-pandemic RT ridership has rebounded to 90% for buses, but only 60% for light rail. Buses are flexible and adaptable. Light rail is fixed and serves limited corridors. Adding a new and expensive light rail station with low ridership is not good for RT and its budget. Transit funds are sorely needed for operations, repairs and acquisition of newer vehicles, just to keep the system running. It’s easy to suspect Valenzuela is politically motivated. She’s in a tough race for re-election. I’m sure she would like to claim she “saved” the Dos Rios station even though she doesn’t represent the River District. There are times to pursue a project. And there are times when you must be practical and create alternatives. Mobility options for River District residents is the real issue. The alternative adopted by RT is a winner for everyone. Except a politician or two. Jeff Harris represented District 3 on City Council from 2014 to 2022. He can be reached at cadence@mycci. net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Battalion Chief David Lauchner

INSIDE

OUT Heroes Cup 2023 PHOTOS BY AUBREY JOHNSSON

Sacramento Republic FC recently hosted local firefighters and law enforcement personnel for a friendly soccer game to benefit Firefighters Burn Institute. The event was organized by Sacramento City Fire Battalion Chief Dave Lauchner. Sacramento Metro Fire Department won the match up.

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Tyler and Jessica Wichmann with daughter Betty Photo by Aniko Kiezel

Sacramento’s Newest Gallery ECLECTIC RETAIL STORE TRANSITIONS ITS OFFERINGS

ou know Timeless Thrills on J Street for its eclectic mix of apparel, homewares, accessories, publications and events. It’s now the city’s newest gallery space. December marked the opening of the first exhibition, “Battle Royale,” as part of owners Jessica and Tyler Wichmann’s efforts to transition the store into a gallery.

JL By Jessica Laskey Out & About

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“Over our eight-year span in a professional retail setting, we have hosted multiple galleries, art shows, pop-up shops, live music, book releases and even a ping-pong league,” Tyler says. “This transition to an official gallery was natural. It was the organic evolution our brick-and-mortar always seemed to have coming.” The Wichmanns plan to host 10 to 12 exhibitions a year that feature the melding of fine art and tattooing. “Battle Royale,” which runs through Jan. 6, features paintings, ceramics and mixed media works by renowned tattoo artists. The couple will continue to host exhibitions for photographers and creatives in the world of print media as an outgrowth of the Newsstand, the section of the store that carries 74 varieties of zines, books, CDs, prints, magazines and more.

Timeless Thrills is at 3714 J St. For information, visit timelessthrills.com.

POINT-IN-TIME Sacramento Steps Forward is looking for hundreds of volunteers to capture a snapshot census of people experiencing homelessness in the Sacramento region. Sacramento’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count, part of a nationwide effort, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 24, and Thursday, Jan. 25. The event provides a comprehensive estimate of the number of individuals and families living outdoors and in places not intended for human habitation (vehicles, streets, parks) on a single night. The data helps community leaders better understand homelessness,

design more effective policies and programs, and measure progress toward reducing and ending homelessness. More than 500 volunteers participated in the 2022 Point-in-Time Count, which found an estimated 9,278 individuals experienced homelessness on a single night. To register as a volunteer, go to sacramento24. pointintime.info.

SIERRA 2 LEADER The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association and Sierra 2 Center for the Arts & Community have a new executive director. Terri Shettle, their leader for 14 years, stepped down at the end of 2023. The new hire, Kent Anderson, is a nonprofit leader with more than 25

years of experience. He served most recently as executive director of Effie Yeaw Nature Center. “Sierra 2 is an incredible community amenity, and I am excited to join a dedicated and accomplished team of staff, volunteers and board members who are truly devoted to their neighborhood and larger community,” Anderson says. He hopes to grow community classes and workshops, keep SCNA at the forefront of public engagement, and enhance and maintain the 100-year-old Sierra School campus, where SCNA and Sierra 2 are headquartered. For information, visit sierra2.org.

LAVENDER LIBRARY The Lavender Library recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Founded in 1997 by local community members as the Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange, the nonprofit serves as a research and information institution for Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ community. The library houses books and magazines, media and archival materials, and hosts book clubs, support groups, open mic nights, craft markets and other community events with the goal of being “a sanctuary to the LGBTQ+ community and their histories.”

Kent Anderson is the new executive director of Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association and Sierra 2 Center for the Arts & Community.

The Lavender Library at 1414 21st St. Learn more at lavendarlibrary.com. In related news, the city’s Historic Preservation team was awarded $40,000 from the California Office of Historic Preservation with matching funds from the city to help protect and preserve LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento. The project will identify significant people, places and events of the LGBTQ+ community and conduct a survey of the Lavender Heights neighborhood to determine if a potential historic district exists. Visit cityofsacramento.org and search for “LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project.”

Let’s plan your 2024 move!

SOLD 7796 Oak Bay Circle $1,035,000

GARDEN GUIDE The Master Gardeners of Sacramento County’s “2024 Gardening Guide & Calendar” is available. The guide highlights California native plants each month with accompanying photos and information on creating a habitat garden and planting to attract pollinators, birds and beneficial insects. Also included is a seasonal guide to vegetable gardening. The calendar/guide is $12 plus postage. Proceeds support the group’s community projects. Buy online or find local retail locations at sacmg.ucanr. edu.

SOLD

356 Country River Way $950,000

6330 N Point Way $962,000

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ENVIRONMENT AWARD River City Waterway Alliance has been recognized with a Volunteer Group Award by the Environmental Council of Sacramento. RCWA, an all-volunteer group, removed about a million pounds of trash and debris from area waterways last year. The alliance partners with government agencies to improve cleanup and prevention strategies. “It’s a way I feel I can make a visible, tangible difference,” says Kathleen Ford, who co-founded RCWA with David Ingram, Mark Baker and Lisa Sanchez. “It’s a great and easy way for citizens to get involved and know they’ve made an impact. Plus, we have great camaraderie and we’re outside enjoying the river.” To get involved, visit the group on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or email rivercitywaterwayalliance@ gmail.com.

PUBLIC WATER MEETINGS The Carmichael Water District and Sacramento Suburban Water District are exploring combining the

two local water authorities to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, increase water-supply reliability and enhance customer service. The public is invited to learn about those plans. The first meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the CWD boardroom at 7837 Fair Oaks Blvd. For information, call (916) 4832452 or email mail@carmichaelwd.org. The second meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the SSWD boardroom at 3701 Marconi Ave. For information, call (916) 972-7171 or email feedback@sswd.org. The meetings will include a brief presentation and opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts with CWD and SSWD technical experts, managers and board members. Visit carmichaelwd.org and sswd.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Downtown Renaissance MAYORAL CANDIDATES DISCUSS CENTRAL CORE’S FUTURE

Flojaune Cofer

Inside Sacramento plans to sponsor a mayoral debate in February at a date to be determined. Requests to schedule the debate at Sacramento State or the SMUD campus were denied without explanation. See our February editions for details.

Second of Three Parts

nside Sacramento interviewed the four candidates for mayor in the March 5 primary election—Flojaune Cofer, Steve Hansen, Kevin McCarty and Dr. Richard Pan. The top two finishers will advance to a runoff in November if no candidate receives at least 50.1% of the March vote. The election is nonpartisan. Cofer is policy director for Public Health Advocates, a nonprofit that promotes community health care. This is her first run for public office. Hansen is a managing partner for Lighthouse Public Affairs, a corporate consulting firm. He served as a City Council member for eight years. McCarty is a five-term state assemblymember and former City Council member, where he served 10 years. Pan, a pediatrician, is a former state senator and assemblymember, serving two terms in each house. This is his first campaign for city office.

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Steve Hansen

Interviews were edited for clarity and length. Do you support a daytime camping ban as suggested by City Council members Rick Jennings and Eric Guerra? Cofer: No. I do not support any camping bans. They are costly and will only help disappear people, not solve any problems or move us closer to real solutions. Hansen: Yes. We must be compassionate, but we must also be firm in keeping our streets safe. This is the number one issue in the city, and this proposal was borne out of the sheer frustration by residents and neighborhoods who feel that there has been no progress on the worst impacts of tent encampments—drug dealing, assaults, stealing and mess. We must make sure our laws are effectively enforced, but we must also ensure that services are offered in these camps to help people get off the streets and improve their lives. McCarty: Yes. We can’t allow urban camping in Sacramento—whether it’s during the daytime hours or nighttime hours. I supported Measure O and its promise to unequivocally prohibit street camping and aggressively open

Kevin McCarty

more appropriate safe ground and emergency shelter locations. Pan: It is my understanding that no specific language has been drafted or details of the ordinance discussed. We will not comment on the ordinance until language is drafted. With that being said, I support enforcement of existing city ordinances, and making sure that the public has access to community spaces including sidewalks, parks, schools, and other public infrastructure. Should the city police budget be cut and sworn positions reduced? Cofer: There are lots of calls that don’t require a police officer. Let’s look at what keeps our community safe. We went two years with no youth homicides. And we did that because of funding for violence prevention. We need to do more than just policing to keep us safe, so I want to look at public safety. That may involve some reductions so we can invest in other places. Funding public safety is different than just funding emergency response. Hansen: No. I believe we need to reduce response times and we need to increase neighborhood safety. We need to look at rebuilding the sworn officer ranks. We’re staffed below the

Richard Pan

Great Recession right now. And that is unfortunate. We can’t enforce traffic. We lack staff. We have mandatory overtime. Understaffing leads to mistakes. McCarty: No. We don’t have the luxury of cutting the police budget. We can always be smarter and how we focus on public safety and law enforcement, but I don’t support reducing the police budget. Pan: No. We don’t have enough officers to do the job. We have too many vacancies. We have one of the lowest ratios of police officers to population of any city in California. We need enough officers to do the job. Should the city prohibit gas line service to homes and businesses? Cofer: Yes and no. We have a lot of people who are currently relying on gas. I don't want the city to make it impossible for people to continue to live with gas appliances and service. But I do think we should be moving towards electrification. Hansen: There are two parts to that. One is the state is moving towards prioritizing electric buildings and creating a lot of incentives to develop those communities. If you’re an existing business or an existing structure, we don’t need to force anything right

now. Our region needs the reliance of a strong utility district. But if you’re an existing business or home, we don’t want to force a transition that you can’t afford or is unfair. We need to give people time. McCarty: Yes. I support the greening of our economy. For economical and for environmental reasons, electrification is better for our environment, air quality and climate change. Focusing on incentives to make those changes and doing it for new home construction is the better route to go. Pan: This certainly is not my top priority. Obviously, climate change is something we need to deal with. But my top priority is trying to address public safety and homelessness. I don’t think the city should be putting money into extending gas lines. But if there’s an existing gas line, and someone wants to hook it up to open a restaurant, I’m fine with that. Are general fund priorities— public safety, youth, parks—the right priorities? Cofer: Since when do we have general fund priorities? We have not set priorities as a city in many years. You say the priorities are public safety, youth and parks. I would say homelessness needs to be in there. It’s a little different than public safety. Housing insecurity and affordability, those aren’t the same things as public safety. Housing insecurity is one of our top issues. Climate change is one of our priorities. And community safety is one of our priorities. Hansen: Absolutely, yes. Cities were founded for the common safety, health and welfare of their people. That’s our job: police, fire, parks, making sure that streets are safe. That’s what the general fund is for. McCarty: I’m very familiar with the city budget, having been a councilmember for 10 years. Roughly 80% of the discretionary general fund budget goes to police and fire, after you pay taxes and debt service and so forth. Parks come next. The mantra for the city is keep our communities clean and safe. I like that the city now has a dedicated funding stream from cannabis to fund more youth programs. Public safety is the overwhelmingly largest piece of that and that’s what the community wants. Pan: Our top priorities should be public safety and the homeless issue. They’re related but not identical. Our top priority needs to be public safety and addressing homelessness.

Will you generally support and continue the policies of Mayor Steinberg? Cofer: It depends on what policies. Some things have been done well, but I’m running because there are some things that we could do differently. I would like to see us have 24-hour response to homelessness and mental health crises. I would like to see us have a tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Those haven’t been supported by the City Council. I want us to identify where people can be so we’re not criminalizing people for being poor and unhoused. I’m not in favor of compelling people into services. We haven’t even offered them services for them to reject. Now we’re going to force people into services? That feels very unAmerican. I’m deeply in support of the Department of Community Response and feel it hasn’t gotten the support it needs from the community. I’m a collaborative person and want to hear from people I don’t agree with. Hansen: That’s an amorphous question. There might be some things that I don’t continue and there might be some things that I continue, but we have to all work together to figure out how to keep the city as a vibrant place to live that’s clean and safe but also fiscally responsible. We have significant headwinds. We’re continuing to create new jobs and businesses for revenue and not just raise taxes. The mayor has a very strong role but has to work with the council because you need five votes to get anything done. I’m not going to go from one idea to another every day or week or month. We’re going to lay out a plan where I work with the community to make sure they get buyin. We’re not going to try to do 1,000 things. We’re going to do a very narrow set of things really well. McCarty: I respect Mayor Steinberg and the work that he’s done for the city. We have a lot of common priorities, but I want to move the city forward and address things we haven’t been able to tackle, such as homelessness and housing. Pan: No. I’m going to bring more focus to the City Council. Just recently the council had a prioritization session. The city manager begged them, can you please prioritize your priorities? Our top priority should be addressing public safety and homelessness. I’m not saying we don’t do anything else, but when I’m elected there will be no question what the mayor’s priorities are.

Will you support a mayoral commission with the goal of Downtown renaissance? Cofer: Yes, I love the idea of a Downtown renaissance. I would love to start there and then move to other areas that could benefit from attention and planning. One of my priorities is getting more people involved in making decisions, and taking advantage of our boards, committees and commissions. I’m in favor of an LGBTQ commission. I would love to have some of the regions in our city have commissions so they could come up with some proposals that make an impact. Hansen: Yes. It’s incredibly important to make sure the city is focused on our major revenue generating area: Downtown. The central city isn’t just a playground for people to come and go from. It’s the greatest producer of revenue for our city. If we allow it to fall apart, if we don’t have a plan for the next economy, then the city will likely go bankrupt. Some kind of Marshall Plan for the central city is essential. Investors across the country will make a decision on this region based on the central city’s look, feel and quality of life. It determines our city’s financial health, our psychological health and our morale. McCarty: Yes. City governments can’t do everything. We can’t control interest rates, can’t control labor costs, don’t control the cost of food and materials, steel and wood. But we can control whether to incentivize outside dining, the music scene, tourism. We can celebrate our Downtown and look for ways to evolve. I absolutely support the idea. Pan: Yes. We have many neighborhoods, but Downtown is the core. The homeless and public safety issues prevent us from making progress and revitalizing Downtown or other neighborhoods. With 40,000 state employees being permanently furloughed, that created a vacuum. How do you get them back? They need to feel safe coming back. I would strongly encourage them to come back, including city employees. What are your plans for Downtown revitalization? Cofer: I haven’t focused on Downtown specifically. What I’m looking at is the entire city. What we need to do is think about the things that are good in Sacramento that we can build on. We’re not a diet version of the Bay Area or a knock off version of Southern California. I don’t want us

to become Silicon Valley light. I want us to take advantage of what’s unique here. We have this new convention center. Instead of trying to get big conventions that we don’t have hotel space to support, what if we did more in the arts? Like an international DJ festival, make it our own thing, for people here, instead of trying to compete with somebody else who already has it. Hansen: As the former councilmember for Downtown, we need to position the city center for a broad-based revival in partnership with small businesses, property owners and community stakeholders. We need to ensure Downtown is clean, safe, and that we build new housing and hotel rooms to support our businesses and the visitor economy. This will be an all-hands-on-deck effort to reposition Downtown to capitalize on the success of the Golden 1 Center and diversify the post-pandemic economy away from reliance on office workers. McCarty: Our Downtown core has changed dramatically post pandemic, especially with our state workforce. We need to think outside of the box to activate our urban core. One strategy is adaptive reuse. My law to turn underutilized state buildings into housing is already paying dividends. To help our Downtown retail and restaurants thrive, we need to do more of this, as well as deliver safety enhancements. Pan: We need to restore order to public spaces. Our sidewalks need to be accessible. Our parks. Businesses need to know it’s safe for their workers and customers. We’re not going to have people come Downtown if they don’t think it’s safe. We have to acknowledge they’re not all going to come back, so we need to look at where we redirect future development. We need more housing overall, because when people move in, they support local businesses. We’ve been reliant on state workers, but the largest private employer is health care. I’m a doctor. I probably know more about the health care industry than anyone else running. I’ll be out there trying to get more jobs into the city, including Downtown. We have to look at getting the state to pay its fair share, because the state doesn’t pay property taxes on any of its buildings, and businesses end up having to subsidize city services. Please submit reader comments to Cecily Hastings at publisher@ insidepublications.com. n

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Better To Give

John Frisch Photo by Linda Smolek

DEDICATED COMMUNITY MEMBER MAKES CHARITY A FUN WAY OF LIFE

JL By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Proﬁle

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f there’s any legacy I’d like to leave in my nonprofit life, it would be that I showed up, I did the work and made it as fun as possible,” John Frisch says. “I always tried to bring positive energy and humor to these organizations so it wouldn’t seem like work. People are working hard enough. Making it fun is the key.”

Frisch speaks from experience. He’s been a member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board for 27 years. He served as past chair and oversaw the organization’s successful $7.4 million capital campaign. He’s brought his fundraising prowess to the Rotary Club of Sacramento, Sutter Hospitals Foundation, Active 20-

30 Club of Sacramento, Fairytale Town, United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Los Rios Community College Foundation and veterans foundation Battlefields 2 Ballfields. “The very best part of all these activities is being able to help people and spend time around people who are like-minded and want to help the community and give back,” Frisch says. “Some people find (camaraderie) at the golf club or the office, but I found it in community service groups.” Though Frisch’s generosity is legendary, it wasn’t automatic. Growing up in Clovis, his family didn’t have the means to donate anywhere other than church. His serious volunteer work began when he was newly married. “Volunteering and giving money are learned behaviors,” he says. “I don’t think anybody’s born wanting to give money away and spend a lot of time with nonprofits. It’s learned ideally through people you admire and aspire to be like. “My former father-in-law, Bill Baird, is the one that got me involved in volunteer groups when my first wife and I moved back to Sacramento in 1978. He was a wonderful man and certainly my first role model in community service. He pushed me in this direction, and it took.” Thanks to Frisch’s career in sales, he’s comfortable asking for money. He’s won numerous accolades for nonprofit service, including the first Trainor Fairbrook Humanitarian of the Year award in 1995 (he also received the award in 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2015), The Salvation Army’s 2007 Humanitarian Award, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year in 2005 and Sacramentan of the Year in 2013. He doesn’t volunteer for any praise. He enjoys the time he spends on nonprofit boards. “A huge part of volunteer enjoyment is surrounding yourself with people you really enjoy spending time with,” the Arden Park resident says. “Every board I’m part of fits that description. I look forward to meetings because they’re my friends.” He gets no argument from fellow board members. “He is larger than life and one of a kind,” says Jim Eldridge, The Salvation Army Sacramento Advisory Board chair. “His laughter and love for life are contagious.”

For information, visit sacramento. salvationarmy.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

VISIT

Frisch’s knowledge and passion also inspire. “When John helped recruit me onto The Salvation Army board two years ago, he was the one board member who could best articulate what the organization was about and how a community board member could add value,” says Cecily Hastings, Inside Sacramento publisher. “He always set a very high bar to the board of what was needed to best help the organization address our city’s most serious issues.” Though Frisch is retiring from The Salvation Army board and winding down his sales career to spend more time traveling in his motorhome, he plans to remain a volunteer and donor. “John and The Salvation Army were made for each other,” Eldridge says. “The Salvation Army is known for ‘Doing the most good.’ And no one does more good than John.”

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Paper Chase DISTRICT ATTORNEY WANTS TO SEE CITY’S SECRETS

eople file lawsuits for money, publicity or vengeance. District Attorney Thien Ho is different. He wants documents. Ho’s lawsuit against city officials over negligent management of homelessness brought relief to residents and outrage from Mayor

RG By R.E. Graswich City Beat

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Darrell Steinberg. A key target of Ho’s litigation was overlooked: pretrial discovery. Ho wants the city to enforce local ordinances and state laws and clean up the streets. To understand why the city failed, he needs to see private emails, text messages and memos that guided city officials to their acceptance of tent camps and drug markets. The city wants the suit dismissed. Ho knows the value of storytelling. A champion prosecutor, he’s good at standing before a jury and weaving tales of nefarious behavior. He’s so skilled he rarely reads from notes. But to build a story, he needs proof. Ho is preparing criminal complaints against the city’s toxic

dump homeless camp on Colfax Street. But his first lawsuit against the city is a civil matter. For now, the district attorney doesn’t even want monetary damages. Ho’s initial goal is pretrial discovery and exposure of backroom deals that may involve the mayor and councilmembers, city attorney and city manager. Ho wants to know how the city established a hands-off approach to crimes committed by unhoused people. City Hall fears the district attorney. City officials are fighting to keep their secrets away from the courtroom and public. Their objections must fail. In lawsuits, document discovery is an essential pathway to truth.

The city may claim its incriminating documents are protected from prying eyes by attorney-client privilege. That won’t stop Ho. Knowing Ho, he’s already far ahead of the city. Attorney-client privilege is not sacrosanct. It’s easily pierced when misapplied for dishonest purposes. Given the dismal record of City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood, smart money is on Ho. With Steinberg at quarterback, the city always plays from behind. There may be nothing much to see. It’s possible the city destroyed incriminating emails and texts. Or perhaps the material never existed. Perhaps the city’s decision to grant

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INSIDE SACRAMENTO unhoused people immunity from prosecution was devised verbally without details written down. Secret meetings or serial discussions by more than four City Council members (or their staff) violate California’s open-meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act. Despite this obstacle, criminal meetings at City Hall aren’t difficult to imagine. At some level, written directives about local homeless camp immunity must exist. Police and code enforcement personnel don’t function on whispered instructions passed down the line. They need policies, memos, orders. The city’s excuses are not secret. City officials respond to public complaints about homelessness by saying, “There’s nothing we can do.” When asked why, they misstate a federal appellate court decision called Martin v. Boise, which established protocols for moving unhoused people off public property. “Moving people with no place for them to go just shuffles them from one part of the city to another,” Steinberg says. He ignores legal options for clearing camps. City authorities say citing or arresting homeless people for minor crimes is pointless. Homeless people don’t pay fines or make court appearances. The city’s solution? Suspend enforcement and watch the homeless population balloon from 2,700 seven years ago to 10,000. I don’t know what Ho will dig up, but he’s on the right track. The city’s eagerness to stop him proves the district attorney is making the right people nervous.

The harder City Hall fights to prevent disclosure of its documents the louder residents must scream for transparency. The city should welcome public examination of its backroom discussions and deliberations about homelessness. What’s there to hide? Decisions made by the mayor and City Council, in public or private, inevitably impact one constituency: city residents. For nearly a decade, people in Sacramento watched their sidewalks and parks get fouled by tents, junk, human waste and needles. Residents endured threats and crime. They learned from police and code enforcement nothing can be done. Somewhere there’s a paper trail. And a district attorney determined to follow it.

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Perfect Pairing NEW HOUSE CREATES SPACE FOR WORKING COUPLE

ike many couples who get together later in life, Scott Thacker and Keeman Wong had geographical challenges. When they met four years ago, Thacker lived in San Francisco, Wong in Sacramento’s Elmhurst neighborhood. Thacker founded a software development company in Walnut Creek, but mostly worked remote. Wong also worked remote, from his 1,500-square-foot house. When they moved in together, the couple struggled with privacy during business phone calls in the small Elmhurst home. They weren’t looking for new quarters, but something had to give. Soon enough, Thacker fell in love with Sacramento and was ready to sell his Bay Area condo.

CH By Cecily Hastings Open House

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Scott Thacker and Keeman Wong

Three years ago, on a neighborhood walk, the couple came across one of the last homes available in the new Sutter Park neighborhood of East Sac. It was a 3,000-square-foot twostory with Mediterranean influences, including stucco, arched windows, a port cochere and clay tile roof. The upstairs center hall extended through a glass door to a small porch over the covered entryway.

“On the spot I decided this would be perfect for Keeman and me,” Thacker says. “It was the most impulsive thing I ever did in my life. But it was the very best decision for us.” The home was already built on spec up to the point of drywall. Finishes were selected and on order. Supply chain issues with pandemic lockdowns meant no changes. Gratefully, the design theme was neutral.

Neutrality was the perfect background for a couple with a lifetime of interesting furniture, rugs and objects individually collected. Both men traveled extensively. Their design senses were fairly aligned. Wong’s family is native Hong Kong Chinese. Thacker spent years in Hong Kong for his business career. This established a common aesthetic as they pulled together the best of each

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of their possessions for their new Sutter Park abode. “After we closed, we extensively repainted all the rooms. And enhanced the decorative lighting, door jambs and crown molding,” Thacker says. “Additionally, we built bookcases and cabinetry in the family room.” While the background is classically neutral, the collections of vibrant ethnic rugs quickly establish a tone of excitement and international sensibility when you enter the center hall.

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The first floor’s two bedrooms are now a library and home office. The living room runs across the back of the house, joined by dining space for eight with an open kitchen and generous island. Upstairs features three bedrooms, one used as an office, another as guest room. The master suite spans the back of the home. Warm apricot colors augment a Persian rug. A large seating area is perfect for relaxation overlooking the treetops.

While the four bathrooms share the same white cabinetry, each is painted a subtle, unique shade. “I give all the creative credit for this home to Scott,” Wong says. “We wanted to do an interior design that reflected both of our histories. Scott masterfully created a sort of British Colonial vibe out of a mish mash of our furnishings and art. Some new things were added to make it ours as a couple.” The couple loves their new neighborhood near Sacramento State, shops and restaurants. They also like

the fact that Sutter Park has all new residents. “It makes a neighborhood where neighbors are quick to get to know one another,” Thacker says. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. To recommend a home or garden, email cecily@insidepublications. com. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Road Warrior THIS PREACHER’S CIRCUIT RUNS FOR MANY MILES

nside Sacramento readers might be surprised to learn I write this column every week for syndication in 35 newspapers across the country. I’ve been doing it for 22 years. My favorite part is connecting with readers through personal visits, speaking tours, letters and emails. Over the past year, I’ve visited a half-dozen places where I employ my Phil Donahue schtick. With permission of my host, I begin a pre-show routine, roaming the room with a microphone, asking guests if they have questions.

NB By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

While I think I’ve shared my entire life in this column, I still get questions. As we start a new year, please indulge me as I answer a couple. To start, you probably assume that I live in Sacramento (actually, home is Auburn). But some readers of the weekly column are surprised to learn I live in California. I’ve stretched my Baptist roots while visiting Florida churches of various denominations on Melbourne’s Space Coast. I’ve crossed the state to speak in Lakeland and Fort Myers. College audiences make me nervous because I’m well past average college age. But I’ve delivered seasoned inspiration at campuses in Missouri, Virginia, South Carolina and even Riverside. Between speaking gigs in western New York, I’ve explored Watkins Glen, the Finger Lakes and waterfalls of Letchworth. The pine trees of Mountain Home, Arkansas, reminded me most of Auburn.

In all these places, readers ask about the aftermath of our downsizing in 2017, when we sold our Elk Grove home to live internationally. Yes, we had a great time in Belgium, England and Canada. The three months we spent sharing my daughter Sara’s apartment in Honduras marked the longest period we spent with her since her college days. Perhaps it was that stint that made us return and settle in the foothills. Who knew Sara’s spare bedroom could double as an intervention crash pad for our midlife crisis? I’m often asked about Honduras, where Sara founded Chispa Project to establish children’s libraries in communities where none existed. It started off with just a motorcycle and a backpack of books. Since then, Chispa has distributed more than 57,000 books. The program continues to operate at the grassroots level with support from Hondurans

and international volunteers. Thank you, readers who have sent hundreds of donations over the years and those who joined us on trips to install libraries. With the Honduran school year starting in February, Chispa will return to several older libraries to make sure they are maintained. This is no small feat, and the program can always use financial help. For information, visit chispaproject.org. Finally, if you’re wondering how to get my weekly syndicated column, please sign up at thechaplain.net/ newsletter. Any more questions? Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. Burkes is available for public speaking at civic organizations, places of worship, veterans groups and more. For details and fees, visit thechaplain.net. n

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Riverside Baths, circa 1935.

Community Shame HOW LAND PARK POOL BROUGHT OUT THE WORST

enerations of families loved Land Park Plunge and Riverside Baths. They celebrated the pool’s opening every April, rode bikes, walked or took the No. 2 bus down Riverside Boulevard. They splashed in “artesian” waters on summer days. They swam on moonlit nights. Admission was 25 cents, kids a dime. Then Land Park Plunge and its diving boards, patios and dressing rooms disappeared, dropped from conversations, expunged from

RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

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memories, an embarrassment best forgotten. Today nothing memorializes the significance of a once-grand community sports and recreation center. Let’s pretend this never happened. But it did happen. There was a problem with Land Park Plunge and Riverside Baths. The park was proudly, openly segregated. Black families were turned away. You can’t swim here. If there was a more prominent and beloved racist Sacramento public facility, I’m unaware of it. Racist policies didn’t stop Land Park Plunge and Riverside Baths from a half-century of success. Neighbors knew the rules and accepted them until July 1955, when the pool abruptly closed, citing maintenance problems. The owners never hid their bigotry. They boasted about it. Capitalized on it. Throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, the pool published newspaper ads saying, “We reserve right of admission” and “Exclusive! Some

not admitted” and “Whom to admit reserved.” Racial codes were enforced from 1909, when Riverside Baths opened. In 1921, Lillian Kana, 13, was barred after attendants decided she was Black. Lillian was Hawaiian. Didn’t matter. Pool manager Walter Dyreborg explained: “The fact is that we must maintain a high standard of trade in our baths and so must exclude all of a dark race. Of course, by law we cannot refuse admittance to anyone because of color, but we can say to the Chinese, Japanese, Hindu or Negro when they apply for admission that it will cost them $100 to swim in the baths. Public spirit is back of us in this respect.” Dyreborg was right about public support. Bigotry prevailed for another 30 years. Restrictions at Land Park Plunge and Riverside Baths gave white families an excuse to patronize a racist business because the owners were honest, important men. They announced their policy up front. They claimed their freedom to select their customers, a proprietor’s “right of admission.” A 14-year-old girl named Hazel Jackson broke the barriers at Land Park Plunge. Young Hazel showed Sacramento how the “right of admission” belonged to her, not racist pool owners and neighbors.

On May 23, 1952, Hazel’s class from California Junior High School traveled 10 blocks from campus to the plunge for a picnic. Pool employees stopped Hazel. She was Black. No Black people allowed. Hazel’s grandmother, Hattie Jackson, contacted Nathaniel Colley, the city’s lone African American lawyer. Colley filed a $10,000 damage suit against the pool three weeks later. On July 15, Judge J.O. Moncur approved a $250 settlement for Hazel, plus attorney’s fees. The deal applied only to Hazel, not other victims of discrimination. But anyone who knew Colley realized he would sue every time the pool denied entry to a Black person. Hazel shattered generations of Land Park racism. The Riverside pool was more than a sports and recreation facility. It was a community center, created as a public benefit corporation. Prominent citizens financed the pool and policies. Among them were John T. Greene, a lawyer who built grand homes along H Street, and real estate millionaire David Wasserman. The indoor Riverside Baths were torn down in 1937, replaced by a 121-foot outdoor pool. The name was changed to Land Park Plunge in 1947. Ownership shifted but always included local boldfaced names. There was baseball historian Vince Stanich,

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Wills•Trusts•Probate & Special Needs Trusts saloonkeeper Wayne Casey and Sam Gordon, founder of Sam’s Hoff Brau. All are dead, their racial opinions buried with them. Hazel Jackson wasn’t prominent. Her bravery is forgotten. Hazel went to McClatchy High School, moved to Philadelphia and became a key punch operator. At age 31, she committed suicide.

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Lambtrust.com Sam Gordon sold the pool property in 1958 to Congregation B’nai Israel. Price was $65,000. History not included. R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Great horned owl trapped in SacRT public art.

Death Trap LIGHT RAIL PUBLIC ART CATCHES AND KILLS BIRDS

CR By Cathryn Rakich Animals & Their Allies

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he call came into the Wildlife Care Association in early September. A great horned owl was caught in a metal art structure at the Franklin Light Rail Station near Consumnes River College. The large bird of prey had been trapped for at least 24 hours. Chris Lay, a Wildlife Care volunteer with eight years of experience, was first to respond. “He was alive, but there was no way to get him out,” she says. The artwork, created by Petaluma sculptor David Best, is a towering archway fabricated from 1-inchthick rusted steel. The structure stands approximately 20 feet tall and straddles the main walkway to the station platform. Intricately cut decorative scrolls weave from the bottom up and leave wide openings at the top. Easy for birds to enter. Impossible to exit. “Birds can’t fly straight up,” Lay says. “By the time they get to the bottom of the structure, they’re going to be whacking their wings and knocking themselves out. They’re stuck.” Numerous other birds, including pigeons, were also found dead, one on top of the other. With no escape, they died by injury, starvation, dehydration. “The birds are there long enough that they decompose,” Lay says. “They are covered in ants. It’s nasty.” Lay called wildlife rescuer Ben Nuckolls. With no means of reaching the owl, Lay called 911. Within 10 minutes, the Sacramento Fire Department was on the scene, cutting through the steel bars and bending the metal back so Nuckolls could extract the bird. The great horned owl was malnourished with a broken wing and injuries to his legs—too severe to treat. He was euthanized. “He could have broken his wing coming down flapping and then trying to get out,” Lay says. The bird of prey may have been chasing a pigeon into the artwork. The archway was installed in 2015 as a joint project between Regional Transit and the Metropolitan Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program. According to SacRT, the

artwork is intended to enhance the aesthetics of the light rail station. It’s unfortunate that pigeons also perch at the top of the structure and blanket the walkway below with excrement. David Best erected two similar structures, one for Petaluma’s public arts program, another for a winery in Santa Rosa. Both have archways, intricate scroll work and wide openings. “To my knowledge this was the first time we were notified about an issue with this sculpture,” says Devra Selenis, SacRT vice president of communications. The legs of the arch are about 20 feet apart, approximately 6 feet on each side from the walkway. “It’s not someplace somebody would look unless they were just standing there and heard the noise,” Lay says. “They might not even hear the noise with trains coming and going.” An easy fix would be to stretch wire mesh across the top of the structure. Yet, SacRT has been slow to respond. Almost four months after Wildlife Care reported the problem, modifications to the structure were still not made. “There are steps we must take before any final modifications can take place,” Selenis says. “Since it’s commissioned artwork and publicly funded through an arts in public spaces program, SacRT can’t just modify the structure without working with the artist first.” Best met with SacRT on Nov. 14— 63 days after Wildlife Care notified Regional Transit of the entrapment problem. “The artist does not live in Sacramento, so it took a little time to meet with him on site,” Selenis says. Inside Sacramento reached out to Best for comment. The board president of the artist’s nonprofit foundation responded, “Don’t hold your breath.” According to Selenis, “The artist and his team are actively working on a solution/proposal.” In the meantime, more birds are dying. Subsequent visits to the light rail station by Wildlife Care volunteers found more birds— including a kestrel, a small bird of prey—dead at the bottom of the arch.

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“The way it is now, there’s always going to be dead birds in there,” Lay says. “They should have been out there to fix it a long time ago.”

Public art by David Best at Franklin Light Rail Station.

Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

BY SHELDON YEE Does your life need a revelation? At home or across the nation? As you grab for a tissue Open up an issue Your monthly flow, Inside Publication. Inspired by local writers To lift spirits higher and higher Bringing people together Regardless of weather Darkest days can end up brighter. Reaching out always to readers Introducing business community leaders Decreasing the miles While fostering smiles Better than coolers or heaters. Way to become more mobile Here as well as global Making Sacramento a home. So its people aren’t alone. Concept both simple and noble. Showcasing visual art Is feature that sets it apart Never meeting resistance Only gentle persistence Its messages reflecting the heart. Need a break from toil and labors? Maybe meet some of your neighbors? “To-Do” page is here Making it abundantly clear For passive or over-achieving enablers. Yes, your world can take flight Anytime day or night For one-stop reviews And the latest in news Even the news-stand price is right.

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Waste Not THEY PICK OVERLOOKED FRUIT TO FEED THE HUNGRY Tessa and Matthew Ampersand

oming from the colder mid-Atlantic region, I was amazed by the valley’s ability to produce citrus and other exotic fruits, such as pomegranate and persimmon. Then I saw juicy tomatoes smashed near highway exits, lemons and oranges moldy underneath their trees, plums dyeing sidewalks purple. So much abundance, so much waste. Matthew Ampersand and partner Tessa D’Arcangelew Ampersand experienced the same shock when they arrived in town and noticed food rotting in plain sight.

GM By Gabrielle Myers Photography by Aniko Kiezel Farm To Fork

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They decided to do something about the broken cycles of nourishment. They founded the nonprofit Find Out Farms, along with Community Fruit, Community Compost and Pollinator Gardenworks. “We live in South Oak Park, which is historically underserved,” Matthew says. “A lot of our neighbors are walking to the grocery store, and it’s a pretty long walk from where we are. We also, simultaneously in our neighborhood, on our street, saw fruit falling.” Community Fruit harvests, gathers and distributes fruit that would otherwise go to waste. If residents are physically unable to harvest fruit from their trees, Community Fruit steps in, picks the fruit and gives any surplus to women and children at Wellspring Women’s Center and other local residents via the Neighbor Program. The Neighbor Program distributes grocery boxes through a free food program at Shakur House in Oak Park and to a housing complex in North Highlands. Oranges, lemons, grapefruit and other fruit not taken get sent to River City Food Bank in Midtown.

“Tell everyone you see who has fruit falling from trees around town that you know there’s a better way and that fruit could go to the one in four people who are hungry in Sacramento County,” Matthew says. Community Compost tries to compost food and yard waste without contamination from residues found in synthetic chemical compounds—so-called “forever chemicals” due to their inability to be broken down by our bodies and environment. Matthew believes municipal compost is often contaminated with these chemicals after people throw pizza boxes and other coated cardboard containers in food and yard waste bins. Such

chemicals can become compost for gardens and end up in streams and waterways. With Community Compost, Matthew controls what goes into the pile. He ensures what comes out as usable compost is 100% clean and free of chemicals. Matthew picks up a significant amount of food waste from Wellspring, composts it and spreads the results around fruit and vegetable gardens. Find Out Farms is an educational space where residents learn about native plants, composting and how to tend fruits and veggies. Topics include support for bumble bees, how salmon spawn and how local bats live. The farm in South Oak Park is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday to distribute free seeds, sell native plants, and answer gardening and landscaping questions. To continue its educational programs in the winter, the farm needs help building an awning and weather-protected area. The Ampersands support their nonprofit work through donations and via their Pollinator Gardenworks consulting business. Tessa, a certified landscape designer, and Matthew, a California native plant certified landscaper, help clients create eco- and pollinator-friendly gardens. When I asked Matthew why he does this challenging and exhausting work, he says, “I’m incredibly selfish. If you do good work, then you get to feel good about it. I’m just a pleasure-seeker, a joy-seeker. I want to do good work so that I can feel happy all the time.” For information, visit findoutfarms.com or stop by on Saturday morning. Gabrielle Myers can be reached at gabriellemyers11@gmail.com. Her latest book of poetry, “Too Many Seeds,” can be ordered from fishinglinepress.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Fighter’s Return HEATHER FARGO CONTINUES HER BATTLE FOR OPEN SPACE

Heather Fargo Photo by Linda Smolek

ormer Mayor Heather Fargo is at it again. The environmental and community activist became known by her battles against sprawl and shoddy development in Natomas, where she’s lived for decades. These days, four decades after those fights, Fargo and her allies meet with community groups, elected officials, city and county staff, and others to push back against what they see as more damaging development in the Natomas Basin north of Downtown. If you live in East Sac, Land Park or Pocket and wonder why you should care about development near Sacramento International Airport, Fargo will tell

GD By Gary Delsohn Building Our Future

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you about climate change and the need to develop infill properties rather than paving more farmland and habitat. “To me it’s worth the fight,” says Fargo, who served three terms on City Council before being elected mayor in 2000. “I know we might not win. But I am frustrated at the lack of information and communication to the public. Part of my effort has been to educate the public and the community of Natomas about what is at risk.” Her concern involves a development proposal called the Airport South Industrial Project, 475 acres of farmland that NorthPoint Development and Angelo Tsakopoulos’ AKT Investments want to annex into the city. The partnership wants to build more than 6 million square feet of warehouse and other “light industrial” development, some of which would reach the residential neighborhood of West Lake. Being in the city would provide access to improved water and sewage services, among other benefits. The property is south of the airport and NorthPoint’s Metro Air Park,

which has a huge Amazon distribution center and other large warehouses. Airport South sits in the unincorporated county, just outside the Sacramento County Urban Services Boundary, beyond which development is not supposed to occur. About 120 acres exist within the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan that Fargo worked on to preserve farmland and open space. Fargo learned about the new proposal after noticing it on a City Council consent calendar typically reserved for items that don’t merit public discussion. When she protested to city staff that an annexation of that size and impact belonged on the discussion agenda, she says it was removed altogether and forwarded to the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission, the agency with authority to change city and county boundaries. Cheryle Hodge, a principal planner for the city who oversees proposals that affect boundaries, says the project was taken off the agenda because city planners and LAFCo are jointly

overseeing an environmental impact review. She expects it to be completed next spring or summer. If the proposal goes forward, there will be public hearings. “Right now, we are taking an objective position on the project,” she says. “There is a process underway where it will be vetted and evaluated.” She notes the project would create up to 5,000 new jobs and bring millions of dollars of tax revenue into the city. Nick Avdis, a lawyer representing AKT, respects Fargo’s position but thinks she’s wrong about the impact. “This is going to be a huge economic driver for the city, which is facing structural deficits in the tens of millions of dollars. Rather than being a detriment, this is something the city has wanted.” Fargo worries about the message that will be sent if the project is approved. “I think this is part of a bigger play,” she says. “That if they are able to get this project through and complete the interchange out there that they need, it would open the door to more

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development. It would also send a bad message from the city to the county that this kind of development out there is OK.” Fargo has many allies, including the Environmental Council of Sacramento, Sierra Club, Sacramento Audubon Society, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk, Save the American River Association and Habitat 2020. Fargo’s PowerPoint presentation lists proposals for residential and industrial development on more than 8,000 nearby acres, stretching to Sutter County. It would double the population and traffic in the Natomas Basin, she says. Rob Burness, a former county planner instrumental in drafting the growth boundary, volunteers alongside Fargo. He says, “There has been a frenzy of these kinds of freeway-centric warehouse projects to accommodate what’s anticipated to be the continued growth in the online shopping business.” He adds, “Sacramento has long been a developer-run or speculator-run town, and it really troubles me that we’re constantly fighting the expansion of the urban area when we really need to be focusing on urban growth that is highdensity and closer in.”

Fargo agrees. When I ask why she’s still fighting after all these years, despite being slowed by multiple sclerosis since 1995, she admits stubbornness is part of it. “But more than anything, I am frustrated because we don’t appear to have a champion on the City Council these days who will raise these issues. And with climate change, I think they are more important than ever.” Gary Delsohn can be reached at gdelsohn@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Adopt an orphan who will steal your heart.

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Smart Starts HOW NOT TO KILL YOUR GARDEN’S CHANCES y dishwasher threatens a work stoppage. I have a repair warranty. If I lose my phone, I have insurance. If my car is crushed, I have coverage. I’m not aware of any warranty or insurance that covers and reimburses everyday plant calamities. When pricey trees, shrubs or perennials die or create havoc, you pay to remove and replace the problem plants. Ouch. Trouble, accompanied by cost, can sometimes be avoided. Start the new year with an awareness of brewing disasters. My personal experiences and the cries of others who ask for help may be of assistance. Fair warnings only work if heeded, but the best way to sidestep impending doom is to share and learn.

DV By Dan Vierria Garden Jabber

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Walking in my neighborhood I see things I cannot unsee. Sacramento is a tree-loving city. Subjecting young trees to staking and tying for years is not showing love. If a young tree has a sizeable root system when planted, it will not need handholding. The reason young trees may be staked at all is to ensure an anemic root ball is allowed time to grow large enough to anchor the top growth and prevent toppling on windy days. One year is usually long enough, then remove the supports so the tree can bend in the wind and strengthen its trunk. A tree that has been staked and tied for several years is a weak tree and prone to a short life. Material used to attach the tree to stakes should be wide and flexible, allowing the trunk to sway on windy days. If ties are left on too long and are too tight, the trunk is susceptible to girdling damage. Avoid bad landscape trees, like fruitless mulberry, willows, liquidambar, silver maples, coast redwoods and eucalyptus. These trees and others may be suitable away from structures on an acre or more, but can be a nightmare on smaller, urban lots. Some bad trees are water hogs. Others send out aggressive root

systems that lift and crack driveways, sidewalks, even home foundations. Roots can crack underground irrigation pipes, sewer and water lines. Limb drop and excessive debris are other shortcomings of bad urban trees. If you already have mature trees that are poor choices, consider replacing them with recommended trees. Visit the Sacramento Tree Foundation at sactree.org for a list of recommended trees. Before buying expensive perennials and shrubs this spring, address two planting site factors that determine life or death for newcomers—soil and sunlight. Nutrient-rich soil and adequate sunlight significantly improve chances of survival. A full-sun perennial will not thrive in a shady location. Read the nursery labels and ask questions at the nursery. The UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Sacramento County website at sacmg.ucanr.edu has a section on garden soil, plus just about every other gardening topic of interest or need. Soil testing and amending soil before planting is always a good idea. A $30 perennial in poor soil is not a happy marriage. When the nursery label says the height of the perennial or shrub will be

3 feet and the growth width will be 5 feet, add a foot to each. Sacramento’s growing conditions are prone to exceeding advertised results. And to ensure new plants survive our blazing summers, irrigate “waterefficient” and “drought-tolerant” plants regularly the first year. These tough plants will be drought tolerant once the root systems develop. Ignore their water needs the first year and you likely will toss a dead plant in the green waste bin or compost pile. My hope is that you relax and smell the orange blossoms and not get overburdened with worry and cost. Enjoy the new gardening year! Dan Vierria is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener for Sacramento County. He can be reached at masterg29@gmail.com. For answers to gardening questions, contact the UCCE Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338, email mgsacramento@ucanr. edu or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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ACROSS 1 Easy comparison? 4 Congress passes them 8 “Out, out, out!” 14 South China or Mediterranean 15 Sound rebound 16 Trick-taking card game 17 According to 18 36-Down’s place of humble beginnings? 20 Total bargain 22 Steeped beverage 23 Sunrise direction 24 Knight who wields the Force 25 Massage deeply 28 Having to rise, for 36-Down? 33 Points at a dartboard 34 401(k) alternative 35 On the other side of 38 Cpl. or sgt. 39 Crumple (up) 41 Brit’s toilet 42 Set aside, as time 44 Small, to many a hiphop artist 45 Grad 46 Cleans up a cut on 36-Down? 3/6

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13 Throw, in modern slang 19 Waterproof covering 21 Appends 26 Prophet 27 Scottish lake 28 Halftime marchers 29 ___ Creed (set of Christian beliefs) 30 Bobby of hockey fame 31 Bad service? 32 Sought more information 36 Loaf whose popularity spiked in 2020 37 Not every 39 Rung of a ladder

40 Med. research agency 43 Considering everything 45 “Top Gun” pilots 47 Big rig 48 Consumes soup rudely 51 Dear ___ (advice column) 52 Soft cheese named for a French region 53 Sleigh jingler 55 Ancient Peruvian 56 Soon, in poetry 58 Canceled, at NASA 60 Cube to roll 61 Got hitched 62 CPR expert

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For The Love Of Art ARTIST MANIPULATES MATERIALS TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW

Shirley Hazlett Photo by Linda Smolek

JL By Jessica Laskey Open Studio

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hirley Hazlett’s excitement is palpable. As she leads me around her studio in a building off Sutterville Road, she explains her artmaking process. Drip, pour, lift, roll, curl, glue. She runs her hands over her paintings and points out areas of interest. Clearly, Hazlett loves making art. “Making art is an interaction with myself, the media and the substrate,” she says. “It’s about setting parameters but never being able to predict what’s going to happen.” The Bay Area native began her art love affair early on when she saved up her allowance to buy a Brownie Starflash camera at age 7 and appointed herself family photographer. As a teen, she moved to textiles. She was enamored of buttonhole silk thread, which is perhaps why she was drawn to the material as an adult. She pioneered a new substrate material made of silk adhered to plastic while acquiring a master’s degree at San Francisco Art Institute. “Silk has a masculine and feminine duality,” she says, rubbing a strip between her fingers. “I love the excitement and the challenge of working with typical materials in atypical ways.”

Though Hazlett is an accomplished watercolorist, she was inspired to experiment with translucent silk organza—a common wedding dress material—and acrylic paint during her studies. She developed a labor-intensive process of gluing silk on top of plastic, a process that can take up to two weeks to complete. The skill became the basis of much of her current work, including her 2023 series “Embrace.” Pieces from the series are hung around her white-walled studio as part of her participation in Sac Open Studios. The paintings are large, colorful, emotive works that feature paint poured and dripped in layers to form circles—circles that, to Hazlett, represent our need to come together and “be whole again.” “There’s a lot of chaos in the world and I sense it now more than ever,” says Hazlett, who lives near her studio in Land Park. “These abstract forms are calming to me and hopefully to others.” Another part of Hazlett’s calming routine emerged during the pandemic. She took up the Appalachian dulcimer, a stringed instrument related to the zither. “I have no idea why it popped into my head,” Hazlett says. “I thought, what can I do that’s new

and different? And I thought of the dulcimer. I started looking for online lessons and found Dusty Thorburn, an amazing player and teacher who actually only lives about a mile away.” Hazlett is always up for a challenge. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Sacramento State, and a Ph.D. from University of Oregon, plus her master’s. She’s taught at Sac State, served as an art judge for various state and county fairs, and was a longtime board member of the Creative Arts League of Sacramento. She has exhibited all over the state, plus British Columbia and Oregon. Her work graced the walls of the Crocker Art Museum, Axis Gallery, ARTHOUSE on R, Shimo Center for the Arts and Sacramento Temporary Contemporary, among others.

Her work is also installed around the city. Hazlett primarily sells through art consultants, who often want to place her peaceful pieces in medical buildings. As for what’s next, Hazlett smiles and shrugs. “I’m curious myself,” she says. “I like to work very experimentally, so my art continues to evolve and change. I like the element of surprise. I give myself a set of limitations—the size of the paper, which pigments I use—and then I have to be very open to whatever develops.” For information, visit shirleyhazlett.com. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

HER WORK IS ALSO INSTALLED AROUND THE CITY. HAZLETT PRIMARILY SELLS THROUGH ART CONSULTANTS, WHO OFTEN WANT TO PLACE HER PEACEFUL PIECES IN MEDICAL BUILDINGS.

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“Ladies Who Launch 1” by Whitney Lofrano at Twisted Track Gallery.

TO DO

THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS By Jessica Laskey Calendar Editor

ART Just Add Water: Whitney Lofrano Twisted Track Gallery Jan. 5–28 First Friday reception Jan. 5, 6–10 p.m. Second Saturday reception Jan. 13, 5–8 p.m. 1730 12th St.; (916) 639-0436 This solo show features work in acrylic on canvas and copper, and oil on wood inspired by Lofrano’s recent trips to Japan and the Faroe Islands. Vintage Glass, China & Pottery Sale International Depression Glass Club Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Scottish Rite Center (6151 H St.); idgc.org Tickets: $6 ($5 if you mention Inside Sacramento); 2-for-1 on Sunday

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Peruse and buy vintage and midcentury glass, china, pottery, jewelry, linens, lamps, kitchenware, silver and more. BIG Art 2nd Saturday Show The Art Studios Saturday, Jan. 13, 4–8 p.m. 1727 I St.; theartstudiossacramento.com Join the studios’ 16 resident artists for a show of big canvases, big paper watercolors and hefty sculptures. Sculpture Garden Archival Gallery Jan. 9–27 Second Saturday reception Jan. 13, 5–8 p.m. 3223 Folsom Blvd.; archivalgallery.com Feast your eyes on freestanding sculptures by Gary Dinnen, Cynthia Hipkiss, Lee Kavaljian, Will Peterson, Eric Wyss and more.

Social Sculptures: Peter Foucault Axis Gallery Jan. 6–28 Second Saturday reception Jan. 13, 5–8 p.m. 625 S St.; axisgallery.org Engage with Foucault’s social practice projects that utilize mobile structures to directly engage audiences. Participants can share ideas about issues that impact their lives. Divergence Elk Grove Fine Arts Center Jan. 6–25 First Saturday reception Jan. 6, 4–7 p.m. 9020 Elk Grove Blvd.; elkgroveﬁneartscenter.org This group show features work by Yoshio Taylor, Jon Lowe and Frank Mendoza in painting, sculpture and mixed media.

Sense of Nature: LeeAnn Brook John Natsoulas Gallery Through Jan. 6 521 1st St., Davis; natsoulas.com Experience art and nature through large-format contemporary landscapes by painter and designer LeeAnn Brook.

LIVE EVENTS Balkan/Slavic Folk Songs & Dances Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble Saturday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. CLARA Auditorium (1425 24th St.); zadosings.org Tickets: $10–$25 Enjoy a dance party with music from the Balkans and beyond featuring Bulgarian master artists Tzvetanka, Tanya and Ivan Varimezovi.

Handel’s “Messiah" Capella Antiqua Choir, Baroque Orchestra & Cathedral Choir Saturday, Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m. Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (1017 11th St.); cathedralsacramento.org Tickets: $20 general, $10 student Listen to the beloved Christmas portion of the “Messiah" in a beautiful cathedral setting. 25th Annual MLK Celebration Sacramento MLK Committee Saturday, Jan. 27, 5–10 p.m. Sacramento State University Ballroom (6000 J St.); mlkcelebrationsacramento.org Tickets: $65–$100 Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with dinner, speakers and the 2024 Robert T. Matsui Community Service Award presented to Larry Lee, owner and publisher of The Sacramento Observer. Monster Jam Golden 1 Center Jan. 26–28 500 David J. Stern Walk; golden1center.com Tickets: $15–$150 Experience adrenaline-charged motorsports featuring world champion athletes and their 12,000-pound monster trucks in competitions of speed and skill.

OUTDOOR Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink Downtown Sacramento Partnership Through Jan. 15 7th and K streets; godowntownsac.com Tickets: $15 general, $8 children 6 and younger Sacramento’s annual outdoor ice rink is open 2–9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays (weather permitting). January Open Garden UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County Saturday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.–noon Fair Oaks Horticulture Center (11549 Fair Oaks Blvd.); sacmg.ucanr.edu Listen to mini-talks; visit demonstration garden areas; learn about keeping pests away, pruning, planting trees and berries, making your own compost; and more. The 2024 Gardening Guide & Calendar is available for $12. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Jan Ja Jan n 19 19 - Jan Ja Jan Jan. a 28 an. 228, 88,, 202 2024 20 024 02 244 Sacramento Theatre Company 1419 H Street, Sacramento

Family Fun! %R[ 2൶FH 3KRQH %R % %R[ %R[ 2൶FH 3KRQH [[ 2൶FH 3KRQH 2 FHH 3KRQH 2൶ KRQH QH info@sactheatre.org )ROORZ XV RQ ,QVWDJUDP ) OO )R O RZ XV RQ ,QVWD W JUDP )% IRU 7LFNHW 6SHFLDOV VDFWKHDWUHFR WDJUDP )% % IRU 7LFNHW 6SHFLDOV VDFWKHDWUHFR Diisney’s Disn Disney’s ey’ ey ey’ ey’s y The The Th h Little Littl Lit tle Mermaid Mermaid Merm maid d JR., JR , adapted ada d p pted ted ted d fro from Disney’s from fr Disney D ney y’ss Broadway Bro road adway ay y producti p prod pro production ro roduct ucti ucti uc tio on n and and d tthe he h em motion otion otio ti n picture pictur cture t e (fea (fe feat fea eaturi tur tu uring the the he enormously enorm n no ousl sly ly popular popula po pular pula l r Academy A a Ac ade adem d my Award-winning dem de A Aw wardardd winn winning win nning ng g music mu musi m usi sic si ic and and delightfully an deli de ligh igh igh ig ghtf tfu tful fully ly charming c ch harm harming rm ming ing book bo b boo ook ok k and an nd d lyrics). lyrics) lyr y ic ics ics) cs)). (featuring Based Christian most beloved Base Ba Bas Base ed on on one ne of Hans Han nss Ch Chr h isti ist is stian st ttiia an n Andersen’s Ander nde n dersen’ d sen s mo sen’s sen’ ostt b elov elo l ve lov ed d stories, sstto tories, tori ories ori o es, s, Disney’s Disney’ D Dis Disn isn ney ey’s e y’s y y’’ss The Th T h Little he Littl Lit ittl it ttle tle Mermaid tl Merm M Mer erm id d JR. JR is JR is an an HQFKDQW HQFK KDQW DQWL W QJ WLQJ O WL QJ OORRN QJ RR RRN RN N DW W N WW WWKH V KH V H VVDFUL¹FHV H DFU DFUL FUL¹F ¹FHV FHVV ZH ZH DOO ZH DOO OO PDNH DN NH IRU IRU ORY OR RY YH DQ H DQG H G DF G D D DFFHSW D DF FFHSW FHS DQ DQF QFH FH HQFKDQWLQJ ORRN DW WKH VDFUL¹FHV ZH DOO PDNH IRU ORYH DQG DFFHSWDQFH

SPEAKERS 2024 Impact Awards National Council of Jewish Women Sacramento Sunday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Milagro Event Center (6241 Fair Oaks Blvd.); ncjwsac.org Tickets: $75 Enjoy brunch honoring Liz Igra, founder of the Central Valley Holocaust Education Network; Lisa Culp, executive director of Women’s Empowerment; and Nilda Valmores, executive director of My Sister’s House. Southern States Research Genealogical Association of Sacramento Wednesday, Jan. 17, noon Belle Cooledge Library (5600 S. Land Park Drive); gensac.org Learn tips and tricks for genealogical research in the southern states with speaker Kathryn Marshall, Ph.D.

Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink at 7th and K streets. Photo courtesy of Downtown Sacramento.

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Photos by Linda Smolek

Perfectly Rustic ENJOY LOCAL SEASONAL CUISINE IN CASUAL SETTING

ld heads” are basketball fans who go way back. They’re eager to reminisce about Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Not mere nostalgists, they’re up on the

GS By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

POC JAN n 24

current scene as well. Magpie Café is old head central for the farm-to-fork crowd in Midtown. Owners Janel Inouye and Ed Roehr bring history with them. Roehr worked in Midtown eateries before Midtown was cool. Inouye has been in the restaurant business for decades. Their passion for fresh, local ingredients and seasonal cuisine predates the slow food peak. Their farm-to-fork credentials go back before the city slapped the logo on the Pocket water tower. In 2005, the crew at Magpie understood the joy of being in the heart

of a bountiful agricultural region. Pairing quality ingredients with an experienced chef produces good results. In 2010, Inouye and Roehr went from running a catering business to operating a small café on the R Street corridor. Magpie quickly became one of the buzziest spots in a buzzy neighborhood. “We were only set up to be a catering kitchen,” Inouye tells me. “We had no fryer, no flat top. We were OK being a small café, but our customers wanted us to be a restaurant.” Nine years ago, the pair opened at 16th and P streets. The vibe is

industrial artist loft meets new American chic. “I think of it as rustic,” Inouye says. The space allows Inouye and Roehr to focus on the menu. Service is evening only, six nights a week. “We are a one-menu restaurant,” Inouye says. “We’re expanding our small plates and shareable plates so diners can grab a snack and a drink before a show or meet some friends and spend some time without filling up on a three-course dinner.” Like the atmosphere, the food is rustic. Handmade pastas, crispy fried pork belly, fried delicata squash rings,

mussels and fries, all arrive without pretension. This version of rustic is modern, with sharp corners and bold flavors. But a focus on simple ingredients and preparation underlies every choice. “There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to have great food in a casual atmosphere,” Inouye says. “This is not just local seasonal cooking. This is Sacramento local seasonal cooking.” Inouye’s passion comes through when she speaks. It’s undeniable in the food. A fall and winter special of thick strozzapreti pasta with duck and squash might be my favorite dish of the season. Rich with a brown butter that coats the duck and roasted squash, it’s a plate that warrants devouring. A casually conceived small special, grilled toast with quince jelly and crispy duck skin, creates a thoroughly intense and, yes, rustic bite. It reminds me of duck liver mousse on toast points eaten off white china atop a white tablecloth, but it’s humble and beautiful and served on a metaltopped bar while a friendly bartender pours me a glass of Perch Wine’s barbera. Sitting at the bar, soaking up the food and scene, I catch the eye of more than one diner I’ve known for years as part of Midtown’s food scene. We’re old heads. The room draws us in. I mention this to Inouye. “Well, we want to be in the comfort zone for lots of demographics. Young or old, we want to share this slice of Sacramento with

everyone. It’s authentically who we are.” Magpie Café is at 1601 16th Street; magpiecafe.com; (916) 452-7594. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. Previous reviews can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

THIS VERSION OF RUSTIC IS MODERN, WITH SHARP CORNERS AND BOLD FLAVORS. BUT A FOCUS ON SIMPLE INGREDIENTS AND PREPARATION UNDERLIES EVERY CHOICE.

POC n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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