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Russell Reich has been creating visual images for more than 30 years. As a Woodland resident, he completed the requirements for his AA degree from American River College in 1986, studying under the active and ambitious artist Gary Pruner. Reich retired in 2020 from UC Davis Extension as a graphic artist and continues to contribute his talents within his community, Shown: “Four Tops,” watercolor on paper, 18 inches by 22 inches. This piece is available at $1,200. Visit russreich.com.

By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

Paint The Town

ARTISTS LOCAL AND AFAR MAKE CITY MURALS UNIQUE

David Sobon has overseen the creation of more than 200 local murals with Wide Open Walls, a nonprofit art organization he founded in 2017. His new passion is creating murals for local schools in underserved neighborhoods.

Murals bring social, cultural and economic benefits. They build a sense of community and offer accessibility to art and creative expression without the cost barriers of museums and galleries.

“Outdoor murals have a proven track record to be a fairly inexpensive way to enhance the image of cities,” Sobon says.

Our city’s murals have been featured in widespread media. The cover of Parade magazine recognized one as best in the state.

“We’ve had the privilege of working with more than 200 artists,” Sobon says. “We value and support artists,

providing opportunities for both experienced and emerging talents to showcase their work.

“Notably, we have provided more than 30 artists—some without prior mural experience—with the chance to paint their first mural in public, all while ensuring fair compensation. Many of these artists have continued to build on this opportunity, supplementing or making a living through mural painting.

“This commitment to empowering artists underscores our dedication to fostering creativity and growth within the community.”

I’ve admired Sobon’s vision and energy since we met while serving on the city arts commission.

Sobon raises funds for Wide Open Walls from individuals, institutions and grants. His organization provides project management, insurance, storage, festival logistics and business expenses. It helps cover artist fees, supplies and equipment.

Sobon partners with property owners to select locations where landlords may fund mural art. Sponsors fund the festivals or murals if a property owner can’t fund themselves.

Typically, a call goes out for artists to apply for specific projects. “We have a waiting list of more than 200 artists that want to participate,” Sobon says.

Wide Open Walls selects the best proposals and curates the imagery. Neighborhood location, diversity and type of business are considered.

Muralists are local and from out of town. Local artists predominate, but Sobon notes, “We are also proud to include world-renowned muralists, whose technical prowess and popularity only enhance our city’s cultural

David Sobon

Artwork by Adrian Malko

Photos by Aniko Kiezel

landscape. Their willingness to collaborate with local artists has been a boon, offering invaluable learning opportunities and raising the bar for artistic excellence in our community.”

Enthusiasm among local artists for international talent is palpable. “Most view it not as competition, but as a unique chance to learn, grow and be inspired,” Sobon says.

Some local artists prefer only homegrown talent. They say compensation is inadequate given the time involved, especially for artists without extensive mural experience.

Growing pains are not surprising. Sacramento is becoming one of the world’s premier cities for outdoor art, thanks to the blend of local and

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international talent under Wide Open Walls.

“We have dedicated seven years to actively engaging with Sacramento’s muralist community, using gallery shows, social media, word of mouth and an open application process to ensure our outreach is comprehensive,” Sobon says.

While some festivals don’t compensate mural artists beyond expenses and supplies, Wide Open Walls always pays stipends and benefits.

“We lead the way with some of the most generous stipends available, making a clear distinction in our commitment to valuing artistic contributions,” Sobon says.

The artist fee or stipend may not cover all of an artist’s time. But rewards go beyond an hourly wage. Exposure can be huge. All murals are identified by their artist. As artists add murals to portfolios, they hone skills.

“Our festival platform is about giving their artwork visibility and a chance to be critiqued and enjoyed for years to come,” Sobon says. “It’s an entry-level steppingstone, providing exposure beyond what’s typically achievable through galleries or local fairs.

“While we recognize that it’s impossible to please everyone, we pledge to continually strive to improve and address any concerns raised.”

Wide Open Walls’ mission includes painting murals in schools. The

Uplifting Schools program collaborates with Sacramento City Unified.

“We are investing in our local schools and have painted more than 200 murals in the district in the last year,” Sobon says. “A very diverse group of artists both locally and nationally are painting them using imagery from historical and popular figures, landscapes and geometric designs. We are also featuring a great collection of street art, including messaging for the students.

“We hope to expand this program in all the school districts in Sacramento County, one school at a time.”

Readers ask how they can contribute to Inside Sacramento. Here’s how: Consider a paid supporting membership starting at $19.95 a year. Use the QR code and help support our mission to deliver local news. Sign up for our weekly newsletter at insidesacramento.com.

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Tahoe Elementary School

us that the construction fencing will be coming down.”

Inside Pitch

FLOOD BOARD FRETS OVER PRIVATE INTERESTS, NOT PUBLIC F

Residents near the Sacramento River who want to block public access have a big advantage over the 500,000 or so people who will benefit from a new levee bike trail.

The residents have a good lawyer.

One attorney working for property owners shouldn’t matter. After all, the rest of us are represented by the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, a state agency whose mission is to serve public interests.

But that’s not how it works.

Documents obtained under the California Public Records Act tell a more complex story. For the past three years, a lawyer hired by property owners near the levee built a relationship with flood board officials. The public wasn’t invited.

RGBy R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

The lawyer’s work paid off last year when flood board executive officer Chris Lief authorized several temporary fences to prohibit levee access in Pocket.

Lief’s covert authorizations appear to break state laws that require public hearings on new levee fences. There were no public hearings, no votes by the flood board.

The quest for levee fences was an uphill battle for property owners and their lawyer, Brian Manning. The flood board’s position for more than a decade was no new levee fences, period.

Board President Bill Edgar publicly said the era of private levee fences was over. New fence requests were routinely rejected.

Flood board general counsel Jit Dua advised riverfront property owners if they had concerns about trespassing near the levee, they should call police.

The prospect of fences received another blow in 2020, when Mitra Emami, a flood expert from the Department of Water Resources, said levee fences presented safety hazards. They caused erosion, captured debris in high water, and impeded flood inspections and maintenance.

The message: Fences contribute to levee failure.

But Manning was tenacious. He corresponded with Sarah Backus, a staff attorney for the flood board.

Manning and Backus exchanged at least 61 emails between March and November 2021, one email every four days. Plus, two private meetings and an unknown number of phone calls.

Most of the correspondence was cordial. An exception came when Backus explained the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controlled the fate of fences within the $1.8 billion levee repair project. The Corps removed old levee fences in Pocket.

Manning responded, “This shirking of responsibilities and backtracking does not inspire trust as the process moves forward.”

Manning tried to convince the flood board to use Corps construction fences to keep the public away from the levee. Manning wrote, “We remain hopeful that we, collectively, can convince the Corps to keep fences and gates up.”

Backus checked with Corps officials. “I am sorry,” she told Manning, “but despite our best efforts, which included calls and meetings at different levels of USACE hierarchy, USACE has advised

Manning raised the prospect of a lawsuit in September 2021. He wrote, “I believe failure to secure the levee will amount to a taking. Having a plan in place now to secure this segment of levee is the easiest way to avoid litigation.”

The “taking” refers to inverse condemnation. That’s where the government allegedly damages private property without compensation. The state owns the levee. But about 70 property owners hold easements they claim prohibit public access.

Facts don’t favor the property owners. They refused to sell so-called “recreational” easements to the city. They accepted compensation money when the Corps removed their old fences.

The city plans to acquire easements through eminent domain and finish the levee bike path next year.

Manning never gives up. He proposed having the flood board’s new executive officer unilaterally authorize temporary fences. Flood officials said no. By law, the executive can’t authorize fences.

Then dynamics shifted. Bill Edgar retired as board president. Backus retired. Last April, Lief became the flood agency’s new executive officer.

Weeks later, Lief covertly authorized new fences for Manning’s clients. Public interests weren’t discussed. Manning didn’t respond to interview requests. Lief says temporary fences are “minor alterations,” thus legal.

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.

A Pocket levee fence illegally running into the Sacramento River this spring.

Cheung-Sang Chik

Flying High

TLOVE KEEPS AIRPORT RESTAURANT ALOFT

he power of community support gave Aviators restaurant and catering a new lease on life.

Last November, the county’s Department of Airports was considering another dining option to replace Aviators at Executive Airport. The county circulated a survey for public feedback.

C M CM

By Corky Mau Pocket Life

Cheung-Sang Chik has owned Aviators for 25 years. He was told his lease would end Jan. 31. The county offered a month-to-month deal while seeking bids for other dining options.

Chik said no thanks. “I can’t operate my restaurant month-to-month,” he says. “People call ahead to book holiday and private parties. That wouldn’t be fair to my customers.”

More than a dozen organizations, including Pocket/Greenhaven Rotary Club, Sacramento Senator Lions Club and a group of retired pilots, meet regularly at Aviators. Kids love dining there while watching airplanes.

The décor is nostalgic. Comfort food, beer and wine are delicious and

affordable. Model planes hang from the ceiling, adding to the ambiance.

When Aviators’ plight was broadcast on local TV, community members rallied and formed the Save Aviators Committee. The mission: Keep the restaurant right where it belongs. Committee spokesperson Bill Wong says many people volunteered.

Pilots Greg Popejoy and Gill Wright enlisted support from other aviators. Liv Moe, a longtime customer, launched a Change.org petition that yielded close to 4,400 signatures.

Pocket resident Lorna Fong coordinated the campaign. “My family and friends have frequented Aviators for years,” she says. “Chik is sole owner

and head cook. His small business needed our help to work with county officials.”

More than 1,300 postcards landed at the office of county Supervisor Patrick Kennedy. Over 3,500 surveys were submitted, with 85% seeking no changes to Aviators. In March, the county suspended plans to seek another vendor. “It was evident the community had no appetite to change the current situation,” Kennedy says.

CINCO DE MAYO

Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Elks Lodge No. 6

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

celebrates the occasion Saturday, May 4, with a dinner dance from 5–11 p.m. Entertainment includes Mayan Latin Roots, Mariachi Los Gallos and Yemaya Dance Group. Tickets are $40. Call (916) 422-6666 for information.

HOLY FESTA PARADE

Since 1914, the Holy Festa parade has traveled Pocket streets around Portuguese Hall and St. Maria Church. This year, it takes place Sunday, May 19, around 11:45 a.m.

MEALS ON WHEELS

There are many ways to help Meals on Wheels on May 2, the Big Day of Giving.

Have breakfast at Café Latte— donate $100 and get a free meal. Or donate $25 and get a free muffin or coffee.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., drive through the Meals on Wheels parking lot and drop off paper for shredding. It’s $10 per box. The office is at 7375 Park City Drive.

Brick House Restaurant in Elk Grove is also helping out. For a

donation of $25 or more, enjoy an appetizer buffet from 3–6 p.m.

CLASSIC CARS

Friday classic car shows return to Device Brewery at Promenade Center. Cars are on display May 3 and 17 from 4–8 p.m. Listen to oldies music while browsing vintage hot rods, classic trucks, muscle cars and lowriders. For information, contact Ben Valencia at (916) 698-7507.

TRUCKS ’N SUCH

In partnership with SactoMoFo, City Council Member Rick Jennings brings “Food Truck Mania” back to Garcia Bend Park. The events are every third Friday from 5–8 p.m. Stop by Friday, May 17, for food and family fun.

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

July

July

July

College Campaign

TRI COUNTIES BANK SUPPORTS STUDENT AMBASSADORS

Tri Counties Bank President/CEO Rick Smith presents $50,000 check to Foundation for California Community Colleges President/CEO Keetha Mills to support Student Ambassador Program.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Tri Counties Bank has launched a fundraising campaign to support the Student Ambassador Program in partnership with the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

The bank made a $50,000 contribution and will hold fundraising events and volunteer activities throughout the year to fund the ambassador program, which trains students in peer-to-peer outreach. Ambassadors connect fellow students to food, housing and other resources to reduce the stigma of getting help.

A 2023 survey by the Community College League of California found two-thirds of California community

college students struggle with food and/ or housing insecurity and roughly one in four faces homelessness.

“As a single parent who had to balance education with childcare responsibilities, I’ve seen firsthand how access to food and housing resources can transform lives,” says Yuriko Curiel, Student Ambassador Program coordinator.

Tri Counties Bank’s 50th anniversary initiative encourages donations through the bank’s mobile and online banking platforms, and at area branches. The bank provides financial education training to student ambassadors and other community college students.

For information, visit tricountiesbank.com/50.

GOLF FUNDRAISER

Better Life Foundation will hold its 10th annual Sunday on the Green benefit May 5 at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Carmichael.

Tuscano, director of stem cell and bone marrow transplants at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center—and hero of Nicki Heupel, Better Life Foundation’s founder.

Toscano treated Heupel’s husband Loel, who had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which prompted the Heupels to start Better Life Foundation.

“The Better Life Foundation sees itself as ‘seed investors’ for Dr. Tuscano and his team,” Heupel says. “Our funding enables them to do important preliminary research for new therapies right here in Sacramento.

“The discoveries from this research can in turn result in funding from larger national grants, which allows them to continue their research for non-toxic cancer cures.”

Following the golf tournament, participants will enjoy a patio party with food, wine, live music, a raffle, live and silent auctions, and more.

The nonprofit’s 2024 fundraising goal is $500,000. For information, visit sunday-on-the-green.eventlify.com and betterlifefoundation-ca.org.

PARK CONCERTS

The Carmichael Recreation and Park District summer music series is moving into spring and autumn for the comfort of audiences and performers.

Concerts in the Park takes place Saturdays in May and June, and Fridays in September at Carmichael Park.

“It’s not safe for people to spend extended periods of time in outdoor activities in high temperatures,” Recreation Services Manager Alaina Lofthus says. “We’re concerned not just for the audience, but also for the musicians.”

“Spring Saturdays” feature Dyana and The Cherry Kings on May 4, Keep on Truckin’ on May 11, Maya Latin Tribute Band on May 18, LockedN-Loaded on May 25, AKA Live on June 8 and Wasted Space on June 15. Spring concerts are 5:30–7:30 p.m.

For “Fall Fridays” concerts, visit carmichaelpark.com/concerts-in-thepark.

POETRY BOOK

Gabrielle Myers, Inside Sacramento’s Farm To Fork columnist, has released a new book of poetry, “Break Self: Feed.”

Myers describes the book as a meditation “on eroticism and relationships with searing language play.”

“Break Self: Feed” was a finalist for the Catamaran Poetry Prize for West Coast Poets in 2020. Buy the book at finishinglinepress.com/product/breakself-feed-by-gabrielle-myers.

MILK MEETUP

Mothers’ Milk Bank invites lactating mothers to join a Milk Meetup on Friday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McKinley Park.

Donated breast milk is critically important for infants born prematurely before their mother’s milk has developed, babies who face specific health challenges, and those adopted or born through surrogacy.

Eligible milk donors include lactating mothers who produce more milk than their baby needs, who have lost a child postpartum and need help transitioning from lactation, and who wish to support equal access to breast milk.

Potential donors are screened per internationally recognized guidelines. Donated milk is pooled, pasteurized and tested before distribution to hospitals and families.

In 2023, more than 2,000 Mothers’ Milk Bank donors provided 1.64 million ounces of milk to babies across the country. The nonprofit hopes to enlist 5,000 new donors this year.

Start the screening process and learn more at the Milk Meetup. For information, visit mothersmilk.org.

By Jessica Laskey Out & About

Proceeds from the 18-hole shotgun tournament will fund the blood cancer research programs of Dr. Joseph

CITY HALL ART

A new art exhibit, “When I Can,” is on display at the Robert T. Matsui

Gallery inside City Hall at 915 I St. from May 10 through Aug. 30.

“The exhibition aims to celebrate the creative endeavors of individuals who persist in their artistic pursuits while juggling various responsibilities, whether within or outside the traditional workplace,” exhibit curator Bridgètt Rex says.

“When they can, artists continue to create while balancing work and life responsibilities.”

Rex is the city’s 2024 Emerging Curators Fellow. The yearlong Emerging Curators Fellowship, administered by the Office of Arts and Culture, provides guidance and funding for one fellow each year to curate and present two exhibitions under the guidance of a curatorial mentor. This year’s mentor is Faith McKinnie.

ALL ABOARD

The California State Railroad Museum and its foundation have launched their weekend excursion train

rides on the Sacramento Southern Railroad.

Train rides take guests on a 6-mile, 50-minute roundtrip excursion along the Sacramento River levee aboard a historic locomotive. No. 402, the museum’s oldest operating diesel electric locomotive, built in 1939, returns this season.

Train rides depart weekends at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Regular enclosed coach seating is $18 for adults and $10 for youth. First-class is $28 for adults and $20 for youth. Children 5 and younger ride free.

First-class sells out early, so purchase tickets in advance. For information, visit californiarailroad. museum.

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

Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner

Photo courtesy of Kelly B. Huston

Mayoral Mayhem

OUT OF HIS LANE, STEINBERG BRINGS DISRUPTION TO CITY HALL

You’d think he’d learn.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg recently brought a resolution to City Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in the HamasIsraeli war. The outcome? Mayhem at City Hall.

Public comment on the resolution included 79 speakers and showcased disparate points of view. The meeting halted when shouting and belligerence boiled over. Police cleared the chambers and arrested 12 protestors. Cops broke up a crowd blocking the garage at City Hall.

Steinberg spent a lot of time negotiating with local Palestinian and Jewish groups to craft his resolution, a wholly symbolic document. Perhaps he thought his mediation skills would stand as a testament to his leadership.

All he did was expose the deep divide in local opinions about a

complex, traumatic international conflict. The outcome was easy to predict.

The larger question is, are City Council meetings the appropriate venue to debate foreign wars?

As Councilmember Lisa Kaplan points out, there’s no provision in the city charter or council rules that addresses council actions on global affairs.

“I fundamentally do not believe that it is within the purview of the City Council to weigh in on international issues,” she says.

Kaplan voted no on Steinberg’s resolution after asking colleagues to abstain. In essence, she wanted to boycott the mayor’s stunt. The resolution passed 7-1 (Mai Vang was absent).

How did Steinberg get the resolution before council? He circumvented rules that say resolutions must first pass through the Law and Legislation committee.

City Council could waste weeks debating conflicts around the world while ignoring pressing matters across town. Global diplomacy isn’t in the job description.

Was there a win here? Not for city residents and taxpayers. The meeting verified something everyone already knows—there are passionate opinions about the war in Gaza.

Was it a win for Steinberg? Clearly not. His actions prompted a meeting to descend into chaos. He sought community healing but instigated a near riot at City Hall.

Was this political theater? Yes, with a bad outcome.

Beyond the mayhem, Steinberg’s resolution had no practical impact. Five days later, the United States abstained from voting on a United Nations Security Council demand for immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the City Council faces a local financial crisis of its own creation. There are many municipal issues that demand attention and resources. The council should focus on concerns within its authority.

It’s my hope City Council rules and procedures are changed to exclude symbolic resolutions on matters that don’t directly affect our city and region. I will encourage my new councilmember, Phil Pluckebaum, and the eventual new member from North Sacramento, to support the idea. There was a cost associated with this debacle. Police resources were squandered. An entire meeting of staff time was wasted. And the doors were opened for protestors to return and disrupt future meetings. They promised as much.

By Jeff Harris City Realist

If Gaza deserves a City Council resolution, how about one to end Russia’s war in Ukraine? Or condemning the subjugation and starvation of people in North Korea and Myanmar?

Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield justified the abstention, saying the proposal didn’t condemn Hamas. She noted this war will end with diplomacy and negotiations.

If the mayor or City Council members are experts on international affairs, I would encourage them to seek employment at the State Department.

Steinberg leaves office in December. After eight years, you’d think he would have learned something.

Jeff Harris represented District 3 on the 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

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sustainable communities, it’s healthier communities and it’s developing a sense of place and a sense of belonging among people who live here.”

North Natomas, far better planned than its older neighbor South Natomas, still gets a bum rap. It was designed with too many 1970s-era wide boulevards that encourage fast-moving traffic but create more congestion.

But the area also has significant numbers of parks and open spaces. Natomas Jibe helped expand the Jack Rabbit bike trail so cyclists can ride into Downtown and connect with the American River Parkway.

The need for these attractions is not relegated to Natomas or the suburbs. Livable communities consistently feature ways to get around without a car.

Midtown and East Sacramento are two of the city’s most enjoyable neighborhoods in large part because residents can walk to restaurants or meet friends for a beer or coffee.

Traffic Detour

NATOMAS SHOWS HOW CITY CAN ESCAPE CARS

California has an estimated 31 million registered motor vehicles, nearly twice as many as Texas, the next closest state. All those cars make the work of Mellissa Meng and her colleagues at North Natomas Jibe vital.

North Natomas Jibe is a nonprofit devoted to making it easier for people to walk, bike and use public transportation. Meng is executive director.

Its mission is critical. Lewis Mumford, author of such classics as “The City in History” published in 1961, laid it out when he wrote: “We have sold our urban birthright for a sorry mess of motor cars.”

“Future generations,” Mumford warned, “will perhaps wonder at our willingness, indeed our eagerness, to sacrifice the education of our children, the care of the ill and aged, the development of the arts, to say nothing of ready access to nature, for the lopsided system of monotransportation, going through low density areas at 60 miles an hour, but reduced in high density areas to a bare six.”

By Gary Delsohn Building Our Future

Judge for yourself whether Mumford was exaggerating. But there are a lot more cars today than when he died in 1990.

There are also glimmers of hope, thanks to thoughtful urban planning and organizations like North Natomas Jibe, where Meng has worked since

2009 to entice people to leave their cars at home.

Having once ridden her bike about 900 miles from Port Angeles, Washington, to Eureka, Meng knows something about alternative transportation. She has considerable experience.

Her work is about more than reducing vehicle miles driven, the primary aim of the North Natomas Community Facilities District when it was established by the city in 1999.

Most of Jibe’s roughly $2 million annual budget comes from a modest assessment on property taxes that North Natomas businesses and residents pay, much as they do for library and other community services.

“At our core, we are trying to get people out of their cars and to provide transportation options beyond just single occupancy vehicles,” she says. “But really if you look at the core of what that is and what that provides to the community, it’s quality of life, it’s social connection, it’s

One popular Natomas Jibe program is “Walk to School.” Students at all 10 local elementary schools get scanner cards if they want to participate.

They earn points for prizes if they walk three blocks or more to school, chaperoned by parent volunteers and paid part-time staff. The program cuts down hundreds of car trips.

“Walk to School” makes so much sense, the only drawback is that more neighborhoods don’t do something similar.

Jibe teams up with like-minded organizations such as Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, Slow Down Sacramento, Sacramento Bike Kitchen, Bicycling Advocates for Rancho Cordova, 50 Corridor TMA, Sacramento TMA, South Natomas Transportation Management Association and others to promote travel in something other than a car.

“This community was developed with the idea that it would be walkable, bikeable and that there would be a strong quality of life and a mixed income base,” Meng says. “It has had its struggles, but in many ways, it has achieved that and is a success story.”

Meng and her colleagues at North Natomas Jibe have a winning philosophy that every neighborhood in town should appreciate and copy.

Gary Delsohn can be reached at gdelsohn@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Mellissa Meng

Photo by Linda Smolek

FPerformance Art

AUDIT SHOWS CITY LACKS SERIOUS HOMELESS GOALS

Farishta Ahrary, principal policy analyst in the auditor’s office, signed the report. She’s Oseguera’s temporary replacement.

It’s understandable why an interim auditor might be reluctant to embarrass the mayor and City Council. They hire the city auditor. We’re left with a document that operates on two levels.

The surface presents a tentative, data-heavy review of objective facts. Homeless population growth is graphed like a rocket launch. Numbers climb to the sky. Lucrative city contracts with service providers are also recorded.

Answers surface when the audit digs into the city’s response. The city’s goal wasn’t to remove tents and discourage new campers. The plan was, Let’s create a new bureaucracy and see what happens.

As with most government projects, the mission involved securing shortterm dollars, hiring staff and vendors, spending money fast and asking for more. Nobody thought about accountability or performance metrics or outcomes.

Despite endless press conferences by Steinberg, the city didn’t create a comprehensive strategy to get people off the streets. The audit describes piecemeal efforts by city departments, county agencies and vendors. All siloed and winging it.

inally got around to reading the city auditor’s “Preliminary Report on the City’s Homeless Response.” Hated it. Then I read it again. Loved it.

People told me the report was a lightweight, whitewashed effort, a statistical compendium lacking analysis on how the city’s political leadership failed to manage encampments, drug sales, fires and crime.

On the surface, critics were right. The report makes zero effort to analyze decisions that turned Sacramento into a national disgrace, a place where tents line sidewalks, enforcement is discouraged and residential pleas

RGBy R.E. Graswich City Beat

for help are answered with, “Sorry, nothing we can do.”

The audit offers no explanation why homelessness expanded after the city spent $57.3 million on solutions in 2022-23. Self-defeating policies and misguided political priorities go unexamined.

“The City Council remains committed to ensuring the protection and advancement of an adequate standard of living for every resident,” the report says. Seriously?

But look deeper. The auditors reveal more than they intend. Beneath the servile facade stands an indictment of Mayor Darrell Steinberg and the City Council over the past eight years.

No names are mentioned. No accusations leveled. But it’s there.

The report was released several weeks after City Auditor Jorge Oseguera resigned. Reasons for his abrupt departure aren’t explained, but he left like a guy whose patience had run out.

Handy reference material. But readers aren’t told what it all means. Good stuff comes later, interpretations required.

The report opens with excuses for Steinberg and City Council. The federal appellate court case Martin v. Boise is blamed for stopping the city from removing encampments. As always, Martin gets misrepresented.

The audit disingenuously says Martin “severely limits a local municipal agency’s abilities to enforce certain laws.” To its credit, the report admits that’s not really true 36 pages later.

Other familiar City Hall deflections fill early pages.

The tight housing market catches blame for all those tents. County inadequacies are noted. There’s a bizarre explanation for why code violations aren’t enforced. It’s staff resignations! Code inspectors quit and move to Folsom and Roseville, where fewer unsheltered people congregate. Excuses don’t establish why the local homeless population skyrocketed from 2,700 to 10,000 after Steinberg took office in 2016.

The audit’s prose doesn’t soar. But the words describe a haphazard, uncoordinated approach, doomed to fail.

“We believe the city is capturing and reporting on valuable data but may not be performing adequate analysis to optimize enforcement.”

“This disaggregation raises questions on how the data can be efficiently compiled to demonstrate the full operational response and cost to the city.”

“The city does not appear to have a centralized process to account for homeless-related costs.”

“This thus limits the city’s ability to compile homeless-related expenditures using a more streamlined and efficient approach.”

Eight wasted years. Millions of dollars squandered. At least Steinberg’s press conferences were entertaining.

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

Mayor Darrell Steinberg speaks to media at City Hall, flanked by City Councilman Eric Guerra.

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

Kids on Foy Reynolds’ YMCA basketball teams learn more than sports skills. They learn life lessons.

“I coach by the Y’s core values: respect, responsibility, caring and honesty,” Reynolds says. “I start getting kids in second grade all the way through seventh, which is an important time in their life. They play hard and they win, but they earn it because they work hard. I bring out the best in a person. That’s my job.”

Reynolds has volunteered as a coach at the YMCA on W Street for 12 years. He has a long history of inspiring young people.

He was hired by Mountain View YMCA as a site supervisor in 2001. When they were short a coach for the

By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Profile

Life Coach

YMCA MENTOR TEACHES MORE THAN SPORTS

When he moved to Sacramento and got engaged, Reynolds stopped coaching. He worked odd jobs until his youngest son showed an interest in sports.

Not wanting to “put my kid in something and not be a part of it,” Reynolds coached his son’s football teams at the YMCA, plus Burbank and Sheldon high school feeder youth programs.

“At that moment, I knew my calling in life was coaching our youth,” says Reynolds, who coaches 150 kids a year across three YMCA basketball teams and a flag football team. “It also was a perfect opportunity to not only coach and mentor my own son, but also so many other kids throughout Sacramento.”

they’re doing in school. They want me to know that they’re doing good.”

“Coach Foy is the best coach I have ever had because he is helping me become a better player,” 12-year-old Lucas Gerkovich says. “He’s teaching us the right way to play basketball and also makes sure we show good sportsmanship. He’s always pushing us to do our best.”

Reynolds himself grew up playing baseball—it was the one sport his grandmother could afford when she raised Reynolds and his three siblings. He knows how important sports can be to a young person. At age 65, he volunteers his time and gives newer generations a solid foundation.

2002 basketball season, Reynolds stepped up and took on three teams: kindergarten, fourth grade and high school.

Management liked him so much they hired him to run the sports programs. Reynolds soon ran YMCA sports camps at Stanford.

To keep himself at the top of his game, Reynolds earned associate degrees in sociology and social and behavioral sciences. He strives to build young athletes’ physical strength— each practice starts with a run—and strength of character.

“We don’t just talk about just sports,” the Hollywood Park resident says. “You can’t play if you’re not also good in school and listen to your parents. It’s valuable to the growth of the kid. Some of the kids come back to see me as young adults, and I ask how

“I want to be around good kids and build community among teams,” he says. “The kids and their parents become my friends. I can’t tell you how many birthday parties I’ve been to. Everywhere I go, I see somebody who says, ‘Hey, coach!’ That does something for me. Coaching is just part of me now.”

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

Foy Reynolds

Photos by Linda Smolek

Foy Reynolds chats with his players before a game.

Reverse Theology

PRAYERS DON’T HAVE TO MAKE SENSE TO CONNECT

After a recent Sunday sermon, a vehicle parked in front of my church rolled up hill and slammed into my bumper. Yup. The pickup truck put itself in gear and gave my Camry a big boo-boo.

At this point, I ask that you suspend your disbelief.

Let’s move to the spiritual point you expect from a pastor.

After hearing the all-too-familiar crunching sound while backing up, I went to examine my car’s damaged trunk.

As I placed my hand on the door handle, I found myself praying a nonsensical prayer.

“Please God, just allow the trunk to be operable. Please allow my car to remain drivable until it can be fixed.”

That’s the word I use for these kinds of prayers: Nonsensical.

I say nonsensical because I know that no matter what I pray, the damage is done. It’s a prayer after the fact.

These kinds of prayers are about as ludicrous as someone claiming they were hit by a parked car.

However, while my prayer seemed futile, it was also very human.

Prayers that come from disappointments and hurt often don’t make sense to casual listeners. They’re spoken in a language of the heart that’s not easily translated.

“I’m not sure that God is looking for dialogue from us that makes sense,” I said, “because I’m not sure we are expected to be doing sensible things at a moment like this.”

Looking for sensible words in our prayers can be as senseless as expecting patterns in the wind. “Sensible” prayers are our attempt to find a formula or cast a holy spell where we make God do as we wish.

We’ve invented all kinds of prayer systems. In the end, the only thing that gets us through hard times are prayers that resonate in our hearts.

you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

The gist of the teaching is, when it’s just you and God in the closet, you have no witnesses. You needn’t care what your prayers sound like. The only thing that matters is God hears you.

Which tells me whether it’s backing into a parked pickup or hitting the wall of reality, prayers of a fearful heart always find the ear of a loving God.

By the way, I was able to open the trunk by following the method of TV evangelists. I placed one hand on the ailing part of the car and one hand on my Bible and just “beeeelieved.”

NB NB

By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

I learned this from a Sutter cancer patient who told me her prayers no longer made sense. She had stage 3 breast cancer and wondered whether it was crazy to ask God to heal her after the cancer had progressed to this advanced stage.

I was tempted to spout the “chaplain answer,” a response that gushes with God-speak.

Instead, to this frightened mom on our oncology unit, I admitted what I knew to be true: I knew nothing.

When it comes to the language of prayer, God uses the human heart as a universal translator to hear us. The prayers we express in fear don’t always align with sensible theology.

Jesus suggested the best way to find alignment with spiritual things is to find a closet to pray in.

I love how The Message translates Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:6:

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from

The trunk lid bounced back on my head. You should have heard my prayer then.

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

The Corps is “saying we need to use Engineering with Nature, not just for projects we’re going to do, but projects we’ve already started,” says resident Alicia Eastvold, who can walk onto the levee from her backyard. “It’s about natural methods that preserve the ecosystem.”

Riprap (human-placed rock and rubble used to protect shorelines) is part of the current design. Eastvold wonders why the Corps doesn’t consider nature-based alternatives, such as logs and other woody materials.

Eastvold cites a Sonoma County project as an example of Engineering with Nature. “They kept the trees. They had meetings with the community. By the time they were done, it was a tourist attraction instead of a blight.”

Engineering with Nature calls for community engagement.

COMMUNITY CALLS ON ARMY CORPS TO RETHINK FLOOD CONTROL

My husband and I live two blocks from the American River Parkway. Dog walks are daily events along dirt paths lined with old oaks and thick sagebrush. The river flows steps away.

We share space with snowy egrets, pond turtles, mallard ducks and Canada geese. Occasionally a family of mule deer allows us to pass.

The problem with having a majestic river in your backyard?

Sacramento is one of the most atrisk areas for flooding in the United States, reports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“After Katrina, the Corps took a hard look at the most at-risk cities in the country and started developing

plans,” says Pete Spaulding, whose house backs up to the American River levee. The result included a 2016 floodrisk management plan to implement erosion control and bank protection along the Sacramento and American rivers.

The Army Corps erosion-control project means “massive damage” to the American River Parkway and wildlife habitat, according to American River Trees, a citizens group calling on the Corps to reconsider its plans.

For a better idea of what might be in store, drive across the H Street bridge and look down at work completed already. Riverbanks near Sac State and Campus Commons, once verdant and lush, are barren. Destruction extends to Paradise Beach in River Park.

Next up are several miles along the lower American River from the Howe Avenue bridge to east of Watt Avenue. Established vegetation and as many as 500 trees, including 300-yearold heritage oaks, are scheduled for removal.

By Cathryn Rakich

“Everybody sees what it looks like now by Campus Commons and Paradise Beach,” Spaulding says. “That’s what

has encouraged us to speak up.” The Larchmont/La Riviera resident cites more than 900 letters submitted to the Army Corps.

Organizations speaking out include the Environmental Council of Sacramento, Save the American River Association, Sierra Club Sacramento, Environmental Protection Agency, National Parks Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Sacramento River Trees is calling for a more targeted, less destructive approach using new models and engineering approaches.

“There’s a whole push, not only within the Corps but the federal government, about Engineering with Nature,” Spaulding says. “Let’s use nature-based solutions to solve problems.”

The Army Corps touts Engineering with Nature in a December 2022 memorandum. The Corps “is committed to integrating EWN into our guidance and processes to facilitate the meaningful inclusion of natural and nature-based features into our projects.”

“It should be all about communication with the public,” Eastvold says. “We asked them (Army Corps) to come meet with us. Walk with us. You can show us and we can show you.” No response from the Army Corp.

“Every river is going to be different based upon the flow velocity, slope, gradient, vegetation,” says Spaulding, who has a degree in civil engineering. “We have to prevent the flooding, but let’s do it in a smarter way. Let’s use the most up-to-date models, data and techniques that we have rather than a one-size-fits-all.”

For example, advanced 3-D models of river flow show low velocities along the American River, even when waters are high, he says.

American River Trees asks, Why is the Corps taking such drastic measures in an area where erosion is minimal, seepage is not a problem and recreational use is significant?

Why hasn’t the Corps considered advanced research that shows tree roots protect against erosion, as well as maintain habitats for wildlife?

“All the animals will be gone— beavers, otters, bald eagles,” Eastvold says. “We are not saying, ‘No way.’ We’re saying, ‘There’s a better way.’”

Spaulding adds, “If the Corps would work with the community, we could have a project to be proud of for generations instead of a project that’s going to take generations to recover.”

The Army Corps did not respond to questions before this edition’s deadline.

Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Pete Spaulding and Alicia Eastvold survey the lower American River where erosioncontrol work is scheduled to begin.

READERS

NEAR & FAR

1. Capital City Squares attend annual International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs convention in Ottawa, Canada.

2. Roberto H. Romero with grandson Elijah Cruz in New York City.

3. Lucas and Linnea Gerkovich in front of the Millennium Falcon in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

4. A 50th birthday celebration for Shirley Liu with family (Georgia, Coco, Tom, Presley, Pat, Amy, Shirley, Peter, Tony, Santino) at Lake Como, Italy.

5. Mary Esparza, Irene Sanchez, Yvette Lanausse and Stella Lanausse at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

Downtown Commons adjacent to Sawyer Hotel and Golden 1 Center is perfect for a casino complex.

I’ve reported on the Kings since 1984 when they played in Kansas City. I wrote a book about them a decade ago. It’s taken awhile, but I’ve finally figured out what they need. The Kings need a casino next to Golden 1 Center. Macy’s might be perfect.

Everybody needs a casino these days. Wheatland has one. Ione has one. Lincoln has one. Even Elk Grove has one. Seven tribal gambling halls exist within an hour’s drive of the Capitol.

They provide punters with 14,575 slot machines, 481 table games, and 54 bars and restaurants.

Who says that’s enough?

There are several reasons why the Kings need a casino. Start with economics. As a small-market team, the Kings struggle to develop and hang onto talent necessary to stay competitive in the NBA.

The Kings lack lucrative sponsorships enjoyed by teams in richer cities. As a government town, Sacramento boasts few corporate headquarters and tycoons indifferent to price tags on luxury suites. Local broadcast rights are limited by the market’s diminutive size.

CASINO ROYAL

KINGS CAN BE MONARCHS WITH A GAMBLING HALL

By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

It’s no coincidence all four ownership groups that managed the Kings since 1984 suffered financial hardships. Money troubles forced the first three partnerships to sell.

NBA franchises are glorious longterm investments. But profits only arrive when you sell the team. It’s almost impossible for a mediocre

franchise to bank solid operating margins. The cost of doing business is too outrageous.

The current ownership, led by Vivek Ranadive, is the richest group to own the Kings, dating from their Royal start in Rochester, New York. But even this bunch sailed into rough seas.

After the pandemic, the Kings bought out small local investors and welcomed private equity firm Arctos Partners. The move would have violated NBA rules a few years ago.

The league loosened its objections to private equity because too many owners needed operating cash. It’s too soon to judge the impact of institutional investors, but this much we know:

Private equity isn’t like old-school car dealers and real estate guys who bought teams for bragging rights and courtside seats.

Private equity pursues profit. Nothing else. Institutional investors want to get in, build wealth, and exit. How this strategy fits into long-term NBA growth goals is a story yet untold.

There are other reasons why the Kings need a casino.

Hard to believe, but Golden 1 Center is nearing middle age. In another decade, the arena will be ready for Social Security and retirement.

Fans won’t notice anything wrong, but the owners will. They will compare the building to newer arenas and insist they need a replacement years before their 33-year mortgage is paid off.

The mortgage is another problem. Golden 1 Center was built in collaboration with the city. The deal proscribed an unusual payment plan. The first chunks of mortgage were paid mostly by the city. The team’s debtservice obligations increase every year.

By the end, the Kings will be responsible for most of the bond payments. When this occurs, the arena will be on its last legs, if it hasn’t already been demolished and replaced. A new arena will cost 10 times more than Golden 1 Center. Conservative estimate.

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

Money for top players and a new arena must come from somewhere. The Kings can’t count on the city again. The numbers are too big.

The answer? A royal casino next to the arena.

Sacramento area tribal casinos are the most successful in the United States. In 2022, California casinos made $11.9 billion. Why let Elk Grove and Lincoln drain money from Kings fans and city residents?

Building a casino isn’t simple. The Kings need a tribal partner, federal approval and a compact with the governor. There are 59 federally recognized tribes around the valley, and only 11 casinos between Colusa and Jackson. Once the Kings find a tribe with links to Sacramento, the path becomes clearer.

I didn’t mention sports betting, which should be legal in California by the time the Kings build their casino. Another reason to start today.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared are InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Cecily Hastings Publisher

news. Sign up for our weekly newsletter at insidesacramento.com.

Museum Quality

HOME GROWS ALONG WITH FAMILY’S CREATIVITY

Thirty-eight years and four remodeling projects later, Jim and Ann Tracy still live in the home they purchased in 1988.

Back then, with one child and another on the way, the P Street vintage home in East Sacramento seemed like a good choice. The corner location had two bedrooms, one bath and a generous attic with a steep pitched roof.

It also had a separate garage. “Although the garage wasn’t built to code and was literally falling down,” says Jim, retired chief financial officer for SMUD.

“We started progressively going through and eventually we remodeled everything in the house. It totaled four major projects over the years.”

As the family grew to four children, the attic became bedrooms. “The downstairs bedrooms became a family room looking out over the small backyard patio,” says Ann, a retired account rep for Inside Sacramento.

“We took out the separate little rooms in the kitchen and created a larger open space with a small eating area,” she adds. The original bathroom turned into a laundry room and halfbath.

The attic conversion in 2001 created four bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a master suite over a new garage. The second floor connects the upper garage space to the front of the house.

Now the couple are empty nesters. Their most recent project was remodeling their primary bathroom suite upstairs.

CH CH

By Cecily Hastings

by Aniko Kiezel Open House

It features a combination of plum blue walls, terra cotta picket-shaped tile floors and white tone-on-tone Moroccan-style shower walls. The vanity is a custom design with French styling and a rich green quartzite counter.

The upstairs bedrooms were repurposed. The front bedroom is now Jim’s art studio with French doors that open to the hallway. There are two guest rooms, one with a queen bed and another with a set of twin beds.

Photography

Jim and Ann Tracy

95608

5927 CASA ALEGRE $250,000

5213 GIBBONS DR $330,000

6052 VIA CASITAS $333,000

5500 HESPER WAY $375,000

5101 KOVANDA AVE $410,000

5785 CADA CIR $416,000

2240 BOYER DR $420,000

3631 WALNUT AVE $430,000

6319 EDGERTON WAY $435,000

6001 CHERRELYN WAY $465,000

3532 GRANTWOOD WAY $500,000

6354 MARKLEY WAY $505,000

5212 WHITNEY AVE $510,000

6401 BELGROVE WAY $510,000

2205 MARIE WAY $520,000

2336 FALLWATER LN $534,750

5600 VALHALLA DR $545,000

5149 MARCONI AVE $560,000

6457 MILES LN $567,000

2525 WINSFORD LN $588,000

5009 WHITNEY AVE $590,000

5706 FRONTIER WAY $605,000

5293 HERITAGE DR $609,000

3723 CALIFORNIA AVE $615,000

2804 ROOT AVE $630,000

3806 DELL RD $638,500

4725 CAMERON RANCH DR $680,000

5510 IVANHOE WAY $695,000

3832 GIBBONS PKWY $695,000

2525 CALIFORNIA AVE $700,000

3920 LA HONDA WAY $715,000

4209 LINGROVE WAY $720,000

4630 SHAFTESBURY CT $730,000

3357 NADINE ST $735,000

4950 CYPRESS AVE $765,000

1850 SHELFIELD DR $776,000

5244 ADELAIDE WAY $777,000

6990 WISE CT $925,000

6137 MERRY LN $960,000

3120 EDGEHILL LN $1,350,000

64 COVERED BRIDGE RD $1,500,000

2200 SHELFIELD DR $1,510,000 1665 DEL DAYO DR $1,931,500

95815

2729 RIO LINDA BLVD $185,000

2639 LEXINGTON ST $244,000

643 SONOMA AVE $285,000

2623 CLAY ST $306,000

1941 MIDDLEBERRY RD $310,000

3041 BRANCH ST $340,000

2465 COLFAX ST $340,504

340 LAS PALMAS AVE $375,000

2609 ENSENADA WAY $380,000

2978 PONDEROSA LN $412,000

95816

307 ALHAMBRA BLVD $480,000

2429 N ST $682,000

1224 33RD ST $684,000

3531 D ST $750,000

3531 FORNEY WAY $955,000

2101 G ST $1,865,000

95817

2542 35TH ST $430,000

3030 SAN CARLOS WAY $510,000

6001 3RD AVE $520,000

3141 TIGER ALY $560,000

2461 41ST ST $575,000

5200 V ST $585,000

3042 8TH AVE $625,000

3969 COLONIAL WAY $750,000

95818

1221 V ST $400,000

2030 19TH ST $420,000

2629 3RD ST $485,000

2764 SAN LUIS CT $535,000

2546 28TH ST $595,000

2355 JAY KING WALK $649,000

1828 COMMERCIAL WAY $675,000

2369 WANSER WALK $685,000

2363 BASTOGNE WAY $689,000

2107 24TH ST $699,000

2364 BASTOGNE WALK $705,000

2721 MARSHALL WAY $845,000

3336 CUTTER WAY $915,000

2292 PIERCE ARROW LN $1,000,000

3015 HUNTINGTON WAY $1,055,000

2237 5TH AVE $1,255,000

3193 CROCKER DR $1,333,000

95819

901 EL DORADO WAY $540,000

5611 MONALEE AVE $675,000

4340 T ST $759,000

5814 SHEPARD AVE $760,000

508 SAN ANTONIO WAY $782,000

87 46TH ST $804,500

4100 FOLSOM BLVD #7B $850,000

122 43RD ST $860,000

1225 43RD ST $1,250,000

839 53RD ST $1,659,900

1060 42ND ST $2,250,000

95821

2123 RUBY CT $320,000

2201 BURNEY WAY $346,500

2105 EDISON AVE $370,000

2436 WULFF LANE $377,000

2104 JANICE AVE $380,000

3418 CHENU AVE $450,000

3316 MORSE AVE $460,000

4520 MCDONALD DR $505,000

3470 POTTER LN $509,000

2853 VERNA WAY $516,000

3421 LYNNE WAY $520,000

3812 SUNNYVALE AVE $560,000

3110 CALLE VERDE CT $590,000

3130 COWAN CIR $596,000

4031 NORRIS AVE $675,000

3932 POUNDS AVE $684,000

95822

7536 COSGROVE WAY $235,000

5652 BRADD WAY $255,000

7519 COSGROVE WAY $343,000

7528 LEMARSH WAY $380,000

3001 MELINDA WAY $395,000

5632 24TH ST $395,000 1454 38TH AVE $400,000

5925 MCLAREN AVE $400,000 1452 STODDARD ST $405,500 2030 MANGRUM $440,000

7019 HOGAN DR $455,000

HITHER

“However, our original living and large dining room have remained exactly the same, even most of the same furniture,” Ann says. “Although it has all been reupholstered.”

The couple describes their style as traditional with bold contemporary accents. Dramatic wallpaper in the half bath features a deep brown background with stylized galloping zebras.

What also makes this home unique is the focus on art.

The layout features 80 art pieces, many placed by professional installer Dave Saalsaa. “The very best part is that 35 pieces were created by members of our own family,” Ann says.

The family has an artistic tradition. One drawing was created by Jim’s

grandfather in 1903. Several paintings by Jim’s mother are on display. Jim painted in college but took it up seriously in 2000, after his mother’s death.

“I mostly do watercolor landscapes, which are very traditional. But six years ago, I started creating in ceramic, and lately have gotten into more pop art sculptures,” Jim says. He tries to work in the studio every day. He’s preparing for the open art studio tour in September.

The children made their contributions, too. As a teenager, son David created with Legos. A larger-thanlife lime green male sculpture centers the stairway. Daughter Elizabeth’s terra cotta heads grace shelves. Son William

is a photojournalist. His images of African wildlife line the family room walls.

“I even kept and display my favorites my children made in elementary school,” Ann says.

She adds, “I love this home because it has adjusted to our needs so beautifully over the years. We once considered moving to a larger house, but the deal fell through. We were glad of it in the long run.”

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. To recommend a home or garden, contact publisher@insidepublications.com. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Dr. Cynthia Metcalf with PAWS patient Storm

including Front Street Animal Shelter, Elica Health Centers and Street Dog Coalition. These free clinics offer basic care, such as vaccinations, flea prevention and microchipping. PAWS performs no-cost spays and neuters on the spot.

“I had no idea the clinic was going to be here,” Rival says. “I took my dog up and they said, ‘We can neuter him for free.’ I said, ‘Go ahead.’” Rival was on his way to a job interview. “They took care of him until I got back.”

The mobile clinic is in the field two to three days a week, traveling to locations where the need is greatest. This includes the Florin Road Safe Stay, where 33 homes have pets, and the East Parkway Safe Stay, with 15 animals.

“We will come around to a certain location every two weeks until we have saturated that area, then we put them on a monthly rotation,” says Dr. Cynthia Metcalf, PAWS full-time veterinarian.

It’s tight in the 7-foot-wide trailer, but space is efficiently used. Each kennel can house one large dog or be divided for two smaller animals, up to 12. When not in use, a large dog scale slides under the kennels. A tiny closet serves as storage and bathroom.

For spays and neuters, which begin at 8:30 a.m., “seven surgeries are probably the max we can do in a day,” says Metcalf, who works with two registered veterinary technicians.

The clinic books three to four surgeries per visit. The rest are walkups. “We want to be able to get the population that is right there at the moment,” Metcalf says. “Not everybody has access to a phone or internet” for appointments.

PAWS To Go

MOBILE CLINIC OFFERS SPAY/NEUTER FOR PETS OF UNHOUSED

Dags was named for the dagger-shaped marking on the back of his neck. A mix of husky, pit bull and

By Cathryn Rakich Animals & Their Allies

lab, the big mutt lives with owner Joey Rival at the Safe Stay Community on Florin Road.

The community offers cabin-style shelters for 125 unhoused guests and their pets.

“I take Dags everywhere I go,” says Rival, who moved to Safe Stay last November. At the time, his 2-year-old canine companion was not neutered.

That’s when Sacramento County’s PAWS (Pet Aid & Wellness Services) Mobile Clinic stepped in.

Launched in December, PAWS is a free spay/neuter veterinary outreach clinic for pets owned by unhoused people.

“PAWS is the first mobile clinic of its kind in the area,” says Luna Anona, spokesperson for the county’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter. “Offering vital veterinary care on the go, the clinic’s foremost focus is spaying and neutering as many pets as possible.”

That’s where Bradshaw’s effort differs from other mobile vet services,

While spay/neuter patients recover from surgery, PAWS offers an afternoon wellness clinic with vaccinations, flea prevention, microchipping and basic medical care. A mini pet pantry dispenses food and supplies.

“We prioritize juvenile animals that have never had vaccines and really sick animals,” Metcalf says.

With the exception of specialized surgeries, PAWS can provide the same services as a traditional vet, including lab work and diagnostics.

The surgery room at the back of the 18-foot-long trailer is equipped with electrocardiogram and anesthesia machines. A centrifuge spins blood samples to assess red blood cell counts. A microscope lets Metcalf check cells for cancer.

DMD

As a dental professional I have the ability to educate, motivate and inspire my patients. The power of a smile promotes confidence, which can change lives.

A handheld ultrasound scans for pregnancies and problems such as bladder stones. The vet views the images on her phone.

Clients don’t need proof of homelessness. “I don’t want to retraumatize people by asking them ‘Are you living on the street? Are you living in a tent?’ There is no judgment,” Metcalf says.

PAWS is a passion for Metcalf whose father, a Vietnam veteran, was

diagnosed with schizophrenia and became homeless. “I know what it’s like to have a family member who has been unhoused, and I know how important our family dog was to him and how their bond helped him, so this program really resonates with me.”

The mobile clinic is sponsored by Sacramento County with $400,000 in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. PAWS was also awarded a $100,000 grant through UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine program.

By mid-April, PAWS performed 122 spay/neuter surgeries, treated 251 pets at the wellness clinic and performed 11 procedures, including mass removals.

“We are in full swing,” Metcalf says. “The response from the community has been amazing. We are lucky that the county gave us the opportunity to do this work. I wouldn’t be any place else.”

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

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

ARTIST BUILDS ON PHOTOGRAPHS TO MAKE ORIGINAL WORKS

Though Poinski planned to become an accountant and “had no intention of becoming an artist,” her passion for photography was irrepressible. (Even while working as a bookkeeper at Lightworks, Poinski went next door to The Darkroom for classes.)

Her accounting prowess came in handy. In her years on the art festival circuit, traveling as far south as La Jolla and as far north as Bellevue, Washington, she says she was “probably the only artist who knew how to do my own tax return.”

When it began to get difficult to procure paper and film, Poinski realized the digital age had arrived. She started experimenting with Photoshop and discovered a new way to create unique photography.

“I used to get angry when people would see my prints at art festivals and think it was Photoshop,” Poinski says. “I even put up a picture of myself handcoloring to prove I’d done it. But now, I love my computer.”

Over the years, Poinski experimented with different papers, tools and mediums. She eventually landed on pan pastels on ink jet paper. Now she favors encaustic, a process involving paint, wax and heat.

After creating an image in Photoshop, she makes a print on a panel and applies four to six layers of clear encaustic medium over the top. She embellishes the work with pigmented wax and oil to “create depth and texture.”

“I joke that I always have to put my hands on my photograph somehow,” she says. “First it was hand-coloring, then encaustics. I like to make original art out of my photographs.”

DBy Jessica Laskey Open Studio

ianne Poinski admits much of her career has been serendipitous. Consider her introduction to the art form she’s worked in for most of her life.

A self-described “book worm and math kid,” Poinski didn’t try anything J L JL

artistic until she took a black-andwhite photography course in college to satisfy an art requirement. Her passion for photography was born.

In the 1990s, Poinski started taking portraits of her children with a Pentax K1000 camera, a gift from her husband. She took a hand-coloring

class at The Darkroom, fell in love with the process, and thought about selling her work at art festivals.

Serendipity intervened. She was seated next to someone at a dinner party who sold at art festivals and helped her get started. She says, “It just snowballed from there.”

If you’ve attended Second Saturday during the last 20 years, you’ve probably seen her work at ARTHOUSE on R Street. Poinski has been a member of the collaborative gallery and studio since 2005. Once again, serendipity intervened.

“I went to a Second Saturday at ARTHOUSE and thought, I would love to have a studio here,” she says. “I mentioned it to a friend, who contacted me a while later to see if I was still interested because a studio had become available. I’m now the second-longest member and in my fourth studio space.”

Dianne Poinski

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

Studios at ARTHOUSE are open to the public during the day. Artists welcome visitors. Poinski loves her interactions with folks who wander upstairs to discover the studios.

“ARTHOUSE is such a unique situation,” Poinski says. “We have the studios and we have the gallery. Each studio is responsible for one (exhibition) a year. We’re not a coop, but we work together to make

this thing happen. For four years, I actually managed the whole space, but now we all share that responsibility. Funnily enough, now I’m in charge of bookkeeping!”

How serendipitous.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at “Artists at Work!” on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ARTHOUSE at 1021 R St.

For information, visit diannepoinski. com and arthouseonr.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

Tater Tale

BRINGING AN OLD SONOMA SPUD BACK TO LIFE

Kind-hearted folks adopt rescue dogs. I adopted a rescue potato.

Like a dog, the humble rescue potato requires food, water and loving care. A potato will not offer companionship or cute tail wagging, but the reward is embracing an abandoned, endangered edible. Plus, good eating.

My potato already had a name, Bodega Red. Once, it was the star spud of the Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay area. Sorely neglected, Bodega Red was thought to be extinct more than 50 years ago.

It was rediscovered and rescued by a persistent chef, Sonoma County farmers and the heritage food group Slow Food Sonoma County North.

Barbara Bowman, Slow Food Bodega Red project leader, says she will be “looking for opportunities to involve farmers” in the Sacramento region once “seed production ramps up.”

Ensuring the survival of local food cultures and traditions is the mission of the slow food movement. Small farms, gardeners, old and endangered varieties are embraced by Slow Food, a nonprofit organization.

According to Slow Food, 75% of edible plant species in the world have “now become extinct while three cereals— wheat, rice and corn—make up 60% of our food production.” Our future, Slow Food believes, “depends on defending the diversity of plants and animals, learning lessons about what we have lost to focus on what we can save.”

Only a few Bodega Red seed potatoes were available this spring, but a gardener friend who has supported Slow Food journeyed to Sonoma County and secured a few. A lifelong plant rescuer, I was fortunate to land a bag of these rare red seed potatoes.

Some were baseball size, others more like golf balls. All were planted in grow bags (fabric containers).

varieties in the U.S. that originated in South America, homeland of spuds.

A sailor likely brought Bodega Red to California prior to the Gold Rush. Most South American potatoes were introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers who brought them home.

Potatoes became the staple of European empires. An American favorite, we devour about 125 pounds a year—French fries, chips, hash browns, pancakes and dumplings, salad and soup. We twice-bake, mash, dice and even crisp the skins and serve with favored toppings.

Growing potatoes is simple and fun. Basically, you plant a potato to get more potatoes. Home-grown flavor is phenomenal compared to grocery store potatoes.

the following season. The idea is to eat some, save some.

Seed potatoes from reputable sources, either local nurseries or online, are certified disease free, a necessary plus because of devastating fungal and bacterial diseases associated with spuds. Grocery potatoes are not necessarily disease free. Grow them in containers so contaminated soil can be discarded.

Some grocery potatoes have been sprayed with chlorpropham, a growth inhibitor to prevent sprouting. If you must plant grocery potatoes, look for an “organically grown” label and hope for the best.

By Dan Vierria Garden Jabber

Like heirloom tomatoes, heirloom potatoes are old varieties passed down by generations of farmers and gardeners. Too often these storied and tasty ancestors of modern hybrids have been lost because of fate, disease or unknown factors.

Years of genetic testing proved the Bodega Red was one of only six potato

Traditional containers and grow bags are ideal. Bagged potting soil allows good drainage, and potatoes prefer loose soil. To harvest, just spread a tarp and dump out the container of soil. Children love to sift through the pile and discover potatoes.

In Sacramento, plant potatoes February through April or August through September. Harvest is 90 to 120 days after planting, depending on variety.

A seed potato is not a seed. It’s a potato specifically grown and stored to be planted and yield more potatoes

In recent years, I’ve planted Yukon Gold and Yukon Gem potatoes. Both dependable and trouble free. With Bodega Red, there’s an obligation to ensure success, but it’s a noble cause.

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

Garden columnist Dan Vierria's homegrown potatoes.

READERS NEAR & FAR

1. PJ Balsley at the Tower Bridge in London, England.

2. Don , Nick, and Linda Honda with Kasumi and Yuseke Morisada at Kosanji Temple in Onomichi, Japan.

3. Donna Ouchida, Andy Dong and Marielle Tsukamoto at Easter Island.

4. Mary and Robert Szabo at the Manet/Degas exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

5. John, Kim, Lilly and Kennedy Buchholz at Lake Pukaki on New Zealand’s South Island.

Career Leap

YOUNG DANCERS PREP AT BALLET’S SECOND COMPANY

By Jessica Laskey Open Studio

Hard work and months of rehearsal come together when Sacramento Ballet’s Second Company performs its spring showcase May 11–12 at Hiram Johnson High School Auditorium.

Second Company was started two years ago by Jill Krutzkamp as a way to give dancers ages 18–21 intensive training before leaping into the professional dance world.

The company encompasses the Trainee Project for promising students who pay tuition, and SB2 for dancers who receive scholarships and stipends.

“Our mission is to get them jobs, help them get to know themselves more and have time to figure out if this is really what they want to do,” Jill says. “Second Company gives them that pre-professional leg up. We want to create the best dancers we can so they’re more marketable.”

Jill came to town in 2017, when her husband Anthony Krutzkamp became executive director at Sacramento Ballet. She soon identified a gap in the company’s educational structure.

Every ballet company she and Anthony danced for—including Cincinnati Ballet, where they met, and Kansas City Ballet—had a second company. It was “a missing piece” the couple believed would contribute to the organization’s strength.

The board agreed to start a second company and hired Jill as director, thanks to her background as an educator in dance and Pilates. She

Jill Krutzkamp

Photo by Linda Smolek

ran a physical therapy and Pilates clinic specializing in dance medicine in Kansas City. She also worked as an adjunct instructor for the dance conservatory division at University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Today she oversees Second Company’s 23 trainees and seven scholarship dancers. This is the first year the corps has a showcase separate from the main company. The Hiram Johnson performance will raise funds for scholarships to “provide greater inclusiveness and equitability for our school as a whole,” she says.

The program includes five pieces, including one by choreographer Adam Hougland that the Krutzkamps originated at Cincinnati Ballet in 2007.

“I remember being a dancer in my young 20s doing this piece. I had a nice relationship with it,” Jill says of “K281,” Hougland’s playful piece set to Mozart. “It really made contemporary movement and partnering click for me. I felt like it made me learn how to move better and bigger in my pointe shoes.”

Hougland, principal choreographer for Louisville Ballet, says, “This hasn’t seen light of day since 2007, so I’m excited to bring it back. It’s so fun and has a young choreographer feeling about it. It was me being a little

ambitious, so it’s quite challenging, but (Second Company dancers) dove right in.”

Hougland set the dance on the corps in September. They’ve rehearsed ever since. Jill Krutzkamp loves how the 14-minute piece helps dancers learn new skills and strengthen their confidence. She plans to continue building the repertoire to give her young dancers more opportunities to grow.

“They’ve already gained so much from it,” she says. “This is hard work, but it helps mature them and show up to auditions a little bit more physically and mentally prepared. Even if they don’t become professional dancers, it’s helping them become better adults and better people.”

Sacramento Ballet Second Company Showcase performs May 11 at 5 p.m. and May 12 at 2 p.m. at Hiram Johnson High School Auditorium at 6879 14th Ave. For information, visit sacballet.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

Vocalists Susan Skinner (left) and Cheryl Tiburzi in Days of Doris at Twin Lotus Thai.

TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE

& ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

By Jessica Laskey Calendar Editor

LIVE PERFORMANCE

Days of Doris

Twin Lotus Thai

Sunday, May 12, 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. 8345 Folsom Blvd.; twinlotusthai.com

Singers Cheryl Tiburzi and Susan Skinner pay tribute to America’s sweetheart for Mother’s Day with the band Hey Day.

Innovations

Sacramento Ballet

May 17–19

The Sofia (2700 Capitol Ave.); sacballet.org

Tickets: $30–$70

This program includes “Apollo” by George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli’s

“Ibsen’s House” and a world premiere from choreographer Andrea Schermoly.

Second Company Showcase

Sacramento Ballet

Saturday, May 11, 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 12, 2 p.m.

Hiram Johnson High School Auditorium (6879 14th Ave.); sacballet.org

This showcase features preprofessional dancers ages 18–21. Proceeds benefit ballet scholarships.

Imagine a World: Tales to Make You Think Stories on Stage Sacramento

Friday, May 10, 7 p.m.

The Auditorium at CLARA (1425 24th St.); storiesonstagesacramento.org

Tickets: $15

Hear stories by Rhys Shaw, Nick Hugues, Kathy Lynne Marshall and ayreÁnna Ross read aloud by professional actors.

Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration

Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra

Saturday, May 4, 3 p.m.

SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (1301 L St.); sacramentochoral.org

Tickets: $54–$64

Experience classic songs from “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music,” “Oklahoma!” and more.

A Tribute to Tony Bennett Voices of California

Saturday, May 4, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

El Camino Fundamental High School Center for the Performing Arts (2340 Eastern Ave.); voicesofcalifornia.org

Tickets: $12.50 students, $25 general, $35 VIP Relive “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” among others, on this celebration of timeless classics.

Peter and the Wolf

Deane Dance Center &

Sacramento Civic Ballet

Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2 p.m.

The Center at 2300 (2300 Sierra Blvd.); deanedancecenter.com

Tickets: $25 adults/stream, $20 seniors, $15 children

See the classic tale performed by dance students.

Season Finale

Chamber Music Society of Sacramento

Sunday, May 19, 4–6 p.m.

Sacramento State Capistrano Hall (6000 J St.); cmssacto.org.

Tickets: $30 general, $25 seniors, $12 students, children are free

Guest artists Phil Myers (horn), Patricia Shands (clarinet), Neil Tatman (oboe) and Mathew Krejci (flute) perform work by Bozza, Brahms, Hindemith and Ravel.

The Height of the Storm

Black Point Theatre

May 10–26

Black Box Theater (1075 W. Capital Ave., West Sacramento); blackpointtheatre.org

Tickets: $20 opening weekend, $25 general, $20 students, seniors and Thursday evenings

Nothing is as it seems in Florian Zeller’s intimate play about family life, love and loss.

No Safe Art

The Art Studios

Second Saturday Reception, May 11, 2–8 p.m. 1727 I St.; theartstudiossacramento.com

Join Emory Ensign, Donutman Art (Chris Jonas), Terry Chunn, Karlowe Waakeen and other contemporary artists for this show gone wild.

Animal House

Sacramento Fine Arts Center

May 14–June 8

Second Saturday Reception, May 11, 5–8 p.m. 5330 Gibbons Drive, Carmichael; sacfinearts.org

Enjoy this juried art show featuring animal-themed art in a variety of media.

ONE-DAY EVENTS

Toy Train Show

Train Collectors Association Sacramento-Sierra Chapter

Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Elks Lodge (5631 Cypress Ave., Carmichael); brsta@comcast.net

Admission: $10 general, children 12 and younger free

Explore more than 80 tables of trains for sale, operating layouts and food. Free train set drawing for ages 17 and younger.

Bike Fest

American River Parkway Foundation

Saturday, May 18, 7 a.m. ride, 10 a.m. festival

William B. Pond Recreation Area (5700 Arden Way); arpf.org/events/bikefest

After a scenic morning bike ride, enjoy an interactive kid zone, music, food trucks, bike demos and local vendors.

Women in Wine: Growing the Grapes, Building a Brand

Les Dames d’Escoffier International

Sacramento Chapter

Wednesday, May 29, 5:30–8 p.m.

Milagro Event Center (6241 Fair Oaks Blvd.); lesdamessacramento.com

Tickets: $50 in advance, $60 at the door

Listen to a panel discussion about the wine industry, and enjoy fine wines and appetizers from Bella Bru.

Walk on the Wildside Bufferlands

Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sacramento Area Sewer District, Elk Grove; sacsewer.com/bufferlands

Hike self-guided trails or enjoy docent-guided tours of restored wetlands and riparian forests. Enjoy live music, conservation exhibits and children’s activities.

Toy Train Show at Elks Lodge in Carmichael. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

ART

Second Saturday Art Opening clayARTstudio814

Saturday, May 11, 4–8 p.m. 814 Alhambra Blvd.; clayARTstudio814.com

Peruse original sculptures, wall hangings, handmade vases and plates, kitchenware, encaustic, decorative prints and more from the studio’s 16 working artists.

Art Imaginings of XIST (aka Michael Rosner)

Archival Gallery & Toyroom Gallery

May 2–25

Opening Reception Saturday, May 4, 5–8 p.m.

Second Saturday Reception, May 11, 5–8 p.m. 3223 Folsom Blvd.; archivalgallery.com

Pop art and galaxies collide at this show featuring Star Wars themes intersected with Egyptian iconography, political figures and more. Dress in Star Wars costumes for opening reception.

“IMAGINATOR” by Michael Rosner at Archival Gallery.

East Meets West

MANHATTAN PIZZA HEADS TO MIDTOWN

Christopher Fairman is a walking advertisement for a well-run restaurant. Having been a manager at The Shack and Magpie, he knows how to work with good people who run good businesses and make good food.

When he told me he was going to manage a new, buzzy Italian place in Midtown, I couldn’t wait to try it.

The restaurant is Pazza Notte— Crazy Night in Italian—at 18th and L streets. It’s fun, irreverent and inviting.

SGBy Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

Black and white photographs line the walls, portraying celebrities and models, cars and kittens. The vibe is old country and new world.

It’s the creation of two restaurateurs from New York City. Tove Nord and Carlo Borea opened the first Pazza Notte 24 years ago in Manhattan. Their

focus is on simple preparations, quality ingredients and fun.

Borea is from Rome. Nord was born and raised in Sacramento. The chance to match her Midtown Manhattan enterprise with one in Midtown Sacramento was irresistible.

Christopher Fairman came on a few months after the September opening. He tells me they consistently fill the dining room with high-energy, happy crowds. One night I saw three birthday parties.

“It gets pretty exciting as the evening goes on,” Fairman tells me.

At the time, I was at the u-shaped bar sipping a glass of Italian Barbera and watching the sun stream in. A relaxed, welcoming Saturday afternoon. Midtown strollers wandered past.

The menu also welcomes. Pizzas, pastas, entrees and small plates feature beautiful preparations and exceptional ingredients. No dish is more than $30— smart for a new restaurant looking to gain a following.

Chicken parmesan, Penne alla Carbonara and perfect calamari make for satisfaction. Salads feature beets and citrus, lobster and crab, and tomato and mozzarella. All are

prepared with skill and generous portions.

Pizza is the star attraction. Cooked in a specialty oven imported from Italy, the pies are thoughtfully topped, thin crusted and shaped in a Roman-style oblong. Fairman’s favorite is the Pizza Forestale, a white pie topped with roasted portabellas, goat cheese, caramelized onions and truffle oil. Rich, savory and comforting. No wonder I received multiple staff recommendations to try this one.

But I have a soft spot for Pizza Di Enzo, a red sauce pie (and what a beautiful red sauce) topped with

mozzarella, prosciutto di Parma and arugula. Food done simply and well.

The bar menu has a host of champagne cocktails and a dozen “martinis” prepared with everything from espresso to mango puree, served with enough left in the shaker for a friend. The wine list draws from California and Italy.

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, Pazza Notte is a place to grab a bite before a show or a drink afterward. It’s a place to luxuriate on an afternoon, sipping wine and spreading burrata with a Calabrian pepper relish on toast. You can watch

the world walk by and catch an old movie on the bar’s television.

It’s a spot for a professional lunch or meal with friends. Whatever the occasion, with Christopher Fairman keeping an eye on things, expect a splendid time.

Pazza Notte is at 1801 L St.; (916) 706-2997; pazzanotte.com.

Greg Sabin can be reached at saceats@gmail.com. Previous reviews can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Photos by Linda Smolek