Inside the pocket apr 14 by Inside Publications

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I N S I D E P U B L I C A T I O N S . C O M

APR 2014

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PRSRT STD US Postage PA I D Permit # 1826 Sacramento CA

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POCKET GREENHAVEN SOUTH POCKET

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GREENBELT CLOSE Beautiful property was builder’s own custom home. 3 bedroom 2½ baths with professionally landscaped front yard, Pergo Àoors, remodeled kitchen and half bath. There is also remodeled laundry play structure, dual pane windows and custom curtains and blinds. $359,000 MONA GERGEN 247-9555

RIVERGATE HOME Wonderful four bedroom home on a quiet street. This home has a great Àoor plan with lots of light! Private living room, kitchen family room combination and spacious master suite. Sliding glass doors in family room and master suite leading to generous sized backyard. $329,000 PAM VANDERFORD 799-7234

pending

CUTE SLP CONDO Lower level 2 bedroom 2 bath cutie; spacious and open. Walk-in closet in the master bedroom, detached 1-car garage with opener. Pool and spa with clubhouse. Lush landscaping. Great value. Private patio. Inside laundry closet. Convenient location close to shopping, restaurants, library. $129,000 LISA McCAULEY 601-5474

STYLISH SOUTH LAND PARK Gracefully appointed, 3 bedroom 2 bath home. The home combines natural elements of wood, masonry and light to create alluring spaces throughout. Lush landscaping, pool and koi pond and spacious 2 bedroom guest cottage. Come see the magic! $667,000 STEPHANIE GALLAGHER 342-2288

pending

WALK TO DIDION SCHOOL A rare opportunity to live close to Didion School. Spacious 4 bedrooms 2½ baths, 2264 square feet, with new interior paint, Àooring, light ¿xtures, granite counter tops in kitchen and all 3 baths, new dishwasher, and new gas range. Huge family room is just waiting for fun and games! $349,000 PAULA SWAYNE 425-9715

LOT ON THE RIVER Must see this beautiful lot! A rare opportunity to build your own home on a riverfront lot in the Little Pocket area close to the freeway and downtown. Riverside Blvd close to 35th Ave. Go by, walk around the lot and enjoy the Sacramento River. Call agent if you have questions. $259,000 MONA GERGEN 247-9555

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

POCKET APR n 14

sold

QUALITY WEBER BUILT HOME 4 bedroom 2½ home on almost 1/2 acre lot with RV access. Gorgeous remodeled items: kitchen, baths, Àooring, imperfect smooth ¿nished walls, windows, sliders, counter tops, custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances, high-end granite, designer lights, ¿replace & more. Tons of quality upgrades! $569,000 MONA GERGEN 247-9555

sold

for current home listings, please visit:

S LAND PARK HILLS AT ITS BEST Amazing renovation features 3 bedrooms 2½ baths with open concept living! Fantastic kitchen and baths boast quartz and custom cabinetry. Kitchen and living and dining combo connects to the yard through a beautiful wall of glass! $488,900 JAMIE RICH 612-4000

S LAND PARK HILLS DUPLEX This is a wonderful duplex in a great location! Spacious 1500+ square feet units, 3 bedrooms 2 baths with formal living room, family room and master suite on each side. Central heat and air, dishwasher, disposal, garages and small yards. $400,000 PAULA SWAYNE 425-9715

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COVER ARTIST Kathrine Lemke Waste The Sacramento artist is inspired by the bounty of nature – whether it’s found in her backyard garden or the local farmers market. She is a Signature Member of American Women Artists and shows her work in the Elliott Fouts Gallery. Visit lemkewaste.com or efgallery.com. EAST SACRAMENTO

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POCKET

APR 2014

VOL. 1 • ISSUE 3

Publisher's Desk.............................................................. ....5 City Beat........................................................................ ....6 Know the Candidates ......................................................... 8 Inside City Hall................................................................. 10 Pocket Life ....................................................................... 12 Life in the City .................................................................. 14

PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings publisher@insidepublications.com 3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only) 916-441-7026 (Information Line) EDITOR PRODUCTION DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY AD COORDINATOR ACCOUNTING EDITORIAL POLICY

Marybeth Bizjak mbbizjak@aol.com M.J. McFarland Cindy Fuller, Daniel Nardinelli Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel Michele Mazzera Jim Hastings, Daniel Nardinelli 916-443-5087 Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Inside Publications. Inside Publications is delivered for free to more than 65,000 households in Sacramento. Printing and distribution costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. We spotlight selected advertisers, but all other stories are determined solely by our editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising. No portion may be reproduced mechanically or electronically without written permission of the publisher. All ad designs & editorial—©

Meet Your Neighbor ......................................................... 16 Shoptalk .......................................................................... 18 Spirit Matters ................................................................... 20 Pets & Their People ........................................................... 26 Getting There ................................................................... 28 Home Insight.................................................................... 30 Local Heroes .................................................................... 34 Writing Life ...................................................................... 36 Garden Jabber ................................................................ 38 Artist Spotlight ................................................................. 40 River City Previews ........................................................... 42 Restaurant Insider ............................................................. 45

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A Pet's Best Friend SACRAMENTO SPCA CARES FOR THE PETS AND OWNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY

BY CECILY HASTINGS PUBLISHER’S DESK

upporting nonprofit organizations that serve our local community is just as important as shopping local. In recent years, Inside Publications has provided advertising to a local organization that does an amazing amount of good in the community: the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This year, we are helping the SSPCA spread its word even more effectively among our growing readership. My love for animals goes way back. My dad was big supporter of the animal shelter in Detroit. When I was a child, our family attended the shelter’s annual open house for donors. I cannot recall another cause that my father supported, other than tithing to our church. But his heart was with the animals, and our family pets always came from the shelter. No wonder his favorite religious figure was St. Francis of Assisi. Sacramento’s SPCA was founded in 1894. Its shelter on Florin Perkins Road cares for more than 11,000 animals each year, placing nearly 4,500 into new homes

and more than 1,200 with rescue partners throughout the state. The organization is a private, independent, nonprofit animal welfare organization supported solely by private donations, grant funding and fees for service. The SSPCA shelter is one of three shelters—along with the city and county facilities—in Sacramento. And that is sometimes confusing to folks. Here’s the difference: The city and county shelters are municipal agencies funded by the government to provide animal and rabies control services. They respond to animal-atlarge calls, as well as complaints of animal abuse and neglect. They also shelter and rehome the animals that come into their care. “Essentially, the SSPCA was established to protect animals, whereas municipal shelters were established to protect people,” says SSPCA executive director Rick Johnson. But the SSPCA is more than a shelter. “Our mission goes far beyond animal sheltering and placement to a variety of complementary services,” says Johnson. “We have a number of important programs that focus on strengthening the bonds between humans and their companion animals.

We look at all the factors that impact these relationships.” The organization offers behavior and training programs and a free behavior help line for pet owners. “And our senior service programs, which include free adoptions, in-home care and vaccination programs, help older folks enjoy the companionship of a pet for as many years as possible,” says Johnson. Before they’re adopted, animals receive any necessary medical and behavioral rehabilitation. The organization also offers lowcost, high-quality vaccination and microchip clinics twice weekly. The SSPCA established its first low-cost spay/neuter clinic in 1973. Forty years later, it now performs nearly 24,000 spay/neuter surgeries each year for shelter animals and pets. A friend of mine who rescues and neuters feral cats raves about the SSPCA for providing more than 3,000 spay/neuter surgeries annually to feral and community cats. The group also performs nearly 1,000 spay/ neuter surgeries a year free of charge to owners of pit bulls and pit bull mixes. According to Johnson, the cost of making a difference is high. “We rely solely on private donations and grant funding for our $7 million

Where to Bring Found Animals:

n For dogs and cats found within the city limits (noted by green street signs): City of Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter, 2127 Front n For dogs and cats found outside of the city limits, but within the county limits (noted by white street signs): Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, 3839 Bradshaw Road

operating budget,” he says. The group doesn’t receive any federal, state or other government funding. It is not affiliated with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or any other national organization.

In 2012, the organization purchased 10 acres adjacent to its current campus, where it plans to build one of the premier animal campuses in the country. You don’t have to watch much television to have your heart broken by the sad animals in commercials meant to raise funds by national anti-animal-cruelty advocates. None of this money goes to help animals in Sacramento. The SSPCA has a staff of 150 and more than 2,200 active volunteers. In 2012, the organization purchased 10 acres adjacent to its current campus, where it plans to build one of the premier animal campuses in the country. “This new campus will allow us to better serve animals in the community and the people who care for them,” Johnson says. The planned improvements include a full-service veterinary hospital, a behavior PUBLISHER page 7

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Empty Storefronts QUESTIONING HOW WE FIX AN INTRACTABLE PROBLEM

BY R.E. GRASWICH

CITY BEAT

nce upon a time, there was a bookshop in Promenade Shopping Center at Rush River and Windbridge in the Pocket. The proprietor was a grumpy man who didn’t seem to like people or books. He mostly sat in silence behind his counter and starred at his computer screen. But he had a deep collection of works by Nelson Algren—who knows why—and that little fact alone made his shop interesting.

So what’s wrong with the Promenade? Why have storefronts at both ends sat vacant for years? The Promenade had a hardware store and frame shop run by local city councilmember Robbie Waters and his family. People would come to the shop when they needed a garden hose or a paint roller or when they had

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Promenade Shopping Center has a number of empty spaces available to lease

problems getting a city permit for a new roof. The family that owned the Bel Air grocery chain had a travel agency in the Promenade. A man from Elk

Grove ran a Mountain Mike’s pizza parlor featuring thick pepperoni and sausage and ice-cold beer. There was a coffee shop that served pastries and frozen fruit drinks, plus coffee.

None of these shops exists today in the Promenade. They have not been replaced by newer, better businesses. The spaces are vacant, reminders of tangible services no longer available. Each empty storefront reflects a broken piece in a community’s mosaic. These are the shops— mundane yet essential—that make a community. The barber and sandwich shop and veterinarian and video store are gone, too. The Promenade is a contradiction. The center is well groomed. It has good security. Stylish lights ring the palm trees. The parking lot is typically packed with shoppers bustling into Bel Air for groceries and the CVS drugstore. Thanks to those two big stores, constant traffic is guaranteed at the Promenade. Smaller specialty shops need only stand ready to serve the secondary needs and impulses of residents who visit the community’s most centralized shopping center two, three, six or seven times a week. So what’s wrong with the Promenade? Why have storefronts at both ends sat vacant for years? For this story, the leasing agent did not respond to phone calls. Tenants offered various explanations, from high rents to the length of leases to reasons that were linked to the global economy. Everyone had a different story. “We opened the hardware store in 1989,” Waters says. “We eventually doubled our space, from 5,000 feet to 10,000. We signed a 10-year lease and almost immediately learned Home Depot was opening nearby. That was not good timing.”

Clearly, some vacancies are linked to problems beyond the influence of any landlord. Bookshops and travel agents everywhere have been wiped out by online services. Blockbusterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outpost in the Promenade disappeared with the chainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other 3,500 shops. The Waters familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardware store closed several months after Home Depot opened.

The parking lot is typically packed with shoppers bustling into Bel Air for groceries and the CVS drugstore. But there were other problems, Waters insists: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were able to sublease the space and move part of our businessâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the frame shopâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to another location in the center. But when our lease was up there, they tried to double our rent. I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;But this place is half empty.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; They wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work with us. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather stay empty.â&#x20AC;? Waters retired. Four years later, his old shops are still vacant. High retail vacancies are not unique to the Promenade center, or to the Pocket. The recession killed small retail businesses across Sacramento, despite the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advantage of relatively low-cost commercial rents in neighborhood shopping areas. One thing never changes: Running a business is tough. Two men are now running for the city council seat that represents the Pocket. Both shop at the Promenade. Both are distressed by the empty storefronts. Candidate Julius Cherry, a retired Sacramento fire chief, admits he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a quick or easy answer to the problem of vacant shops. He suggests that city council members must be prepared to connect new businesses to regional location opportunities in their districts. But he notes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A city council member really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that kind of power.â&#x20AC;?

Candidate Rick Jennings, CEO of the nonprofit Center for Fathers and Families, believes the Pocket community could be improved by the formation of a business or property association, similar to organizations in downtown, Midtown and along Florin Road east of Interstate 5. Business and property groups tax themselves. They focus on safety, clean streets and business recruitment. They assist with city services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It works,â&#x20AC;? he says. Both candidates have a point. The Promenade is a private investment property. The city canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell the owners how to run their center. And business improvement districts have had a positive impact in Sacramento, getting merchants and landlords to work together. Maybe the Pocket is ready for one. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten used to the empty storefronts. Nobody should ever be ready for that.

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PUBLISHER FROM page 5 training center and a holding area for animals whose owners are hospitalized or victims of abuse. The SSPCA will launch a fundraising campaign for the campus expansion in a few months and hopes to finish the project within four or five years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our board is very committed to our expansion,â&#x20AC;? says Johnson. The SSPCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature fundraising event is the Doggy Dash, a fun run to be held in William Land Park on Saturday, June 7, starting at 8

a.m. The organization hopes to raise $230,000. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve missed this great event in recent years because our old dog couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the journey. But my husband and I plan to attend this year with a new young dog in tow. I hope to see you and your pooch there! To register for the Doggy Dash, go to sspca.org/dash. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n

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Know the Candidates WOULD-BE COUNCILMEMBERS ON RIVER ACCESS, BUDGET, PENSIONS AND MORE

BY R.E. GRASWICH

wo candidates, Julius Cherry and Rick Jennings, are running for the District 7 City Council seat being vacated by Darrell Fong, who is running for the state assembly. The district includes the Pocket/Greenhaven and Valley Hi neighborhoods. The election is June 3. Cherry, 59, is a Sacramento attorney in private practice specializing in bankruptcy. His public-service career included 30 years with the city fire department, culminating in his appointment as fire chief (2004-2006). He serves on the community advisory board for Catholic Healthcare West and is a board member of Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada. Jennings, 60, is CEO of the Sacramento Center for Fathers and Families, a nonprofit serving young people and adults with after-school and parenting programs. A former regional manager with Xerox, Jennings served 12 years as a trustee of the Sacramento City Unified School District. He played professional football, including a victory in Super Bowl XI with the Oakland Raiders. Inside Publications invited Cherry and Jennings to share their views on topics of interest to voters. Measure U helps the city maintain staffing levels in public safety and parks. The city manager expects a $27 million deficit in 2020, when Measure U

POCKET APR n 14

expires. How will you prepare for the end of Measure U? Cherry: The taxpayers were generous in allowing us additional revenue. There are strategies about extending the useful life of that money. One strategy bandied about last year was not spending all of it every year. Squirrel some of it away. Another way is to grow the tax base. It’s really important that the city keep its promise to the taxpayers and manage itself so that when 2020 comes we can function and provide the basic services the city needs. Jennings: Over the next five years, I’m confident the economy of Sacramento is going to change. With the revitalization of downtown through the arena project, and a better economy through new investment, our economy should be growing. Each year, as we look at

Rick Jennings

future employees won’t have this benefit. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but until we get our fiscal house in order, you never know what the risks are. Jennings: This is an ongoing liability and it must be slowly paid off. I believe in keeping my promises, and the city needs to keep its promises to its retirees. That starts with paying it off over time and working with the state and other agencies. We don’t have a quick fix. But keeping our promises is very important.

Julius Cherry

our budget and revenue, we’ll look at creating reserve funds for our times of deficits. That’s where our focus has to be. The city has $440 million in unfunded liabilities for long-term retiree medical benefits. How will you close that gap? Cherry: It’s an actuarial number, but I’m not saying it’s not a big problem. I don’t know what that number is going to be, but it’s based on the number of employees, the life expectancies. It is a huge number, and a huge problem we have to deal with. Frankly, there are only two ways you deal with it: pay as you go, or start putting money away with deal with it. Now we’re pay as you go. I know the city did put $2 million away last year. That’s something we have to do. Lastly, there is the possibility that

The city is obligated to spend about $50 million for ADA improvements to the Community Theater, with bonds backed by the general fund. Might there be a better way to replace or move the city’s key performing arts theater? Jennings: We want to make sure that everybody knows the city is in a lawsuit and is obligated to make those repairs. It’s cost effective to do it at the same time that you’re retrofitting and updating the theater. At this time, it’s the most feasible solution. The funds will be repaid through a surcharge on ticket sales and the transient occupancy tax collected in Sacramento. If we don’t support the retrofit, we’ll kill a major portion of the arts community. The arts are vital to our quality of life. I value the performing arts. And you can tell Sacramento values the arts by seeing that over $500,000 was raised in a 24-hour period for the Arts Day of Giving.

Cherry: You can’t pick the building up and move it, not for $50 million. The ADA part, which is mandated by a judgment, is about $25 million, and the second part is, like when you have the patient open and you fix other things, so you could call it optional. But to replace or move it for $50 million or $100 million is not an option. A major portion of District 7 is bordered by the Sacramento River. What specific ideas do you have about making the district more accessible to its river? Jennings: The current city council has already approved extending the bike lanes along the river levee. I want to make sure this happens, and ensure that homeowner privacy and safety are protected as well. I know people who were against this extension were concerned about safety, and we want to make sure we address that. But at the same time, we have to make sure the river becomes a resource and asset for us. I would urge the city to negotiate with homeowners, keeping in mind safety, but also allow for easier access to the river for all residents of the city. We need to improve our public access points to the river. When the arena opens, I envision District 7 residents being able to take their bicycles and ride all the way downtown and see the beautiful rivers that we have here. That would make us healthier, save gas and allow us to enjoy the serenity of the river. It’s a win-win-win. But we’ve got to make sure residents are safe. Cherry: One of the hot issues is whether we open the bike trail to go from the Pocket to downtown. I frankly haven’t firmed up my position, but it’s something we need to take a look at. Previous councils were against it. Our current councilmember is in favor of it. I talk to people as I walk precincts to get an idea what the community thinks. We definitely need to take a look at it. What strategies can the city use to assist developers with projects in designated redevelopment areas?

Jennings: The best way to help developers is to have an open door and help them navigate the bureaucracy, and to introduce them to neighborhood associations and community leaders and help them understand the positive and negative impacts that their projects will have in the community. Be transparent. We have to make sure we listen to the concerns of the community so the project is as beneficial as possible. I don’t believe in rubber-stamping projects. I do believe in being active in every phase, from the idea to the implementation. We streamline the permit process, look at state and federal programs for finance assistance, look at water and sewer credits and leverage federal funding when appropriate. Cherry: You have to pause on that question, because we all know that redevelopment as we know it has ended, thanks to some measures supported by Gov. Brown. What I can tell is, this is going to be tough, because redevelopment dollars aren’t out there anymore. They have been taken to balance the state’s budget. As I talk to developers, one thing they want is certainty. What’s the length of the process? What do I have to do? Am I being treated fairly? Can we take out the red tape? Those are the kinds of things we can do to help developers move their projects along. Cities such as Phoenix, Charlotte and Austin make a point of targeting large California businesses to move to their communities. What’s your strategy to encourage business to move or expand in Sacramento? Jennings: Grow Sacramento needs to be revisited. We’re a member of SACTO, which was really our regional actor in doing outreach to new businesses. And we need to work with the state, to figure out how they are going to replace the redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones. Cherry: The city has an economic strategy plan, sometimes referred to as “Next Economy,” based on regional cooperation. There are some things we do very well. One is agriculture, another is medical and hospitals,

and another is education. We have two major institutions, Sac State and UC Davis. And with Drexel in the system, we are building on our educational reputation. I saw in the paper someone suggest a Cal Poly Sacramento. That may be pie in the sky, but it has been proven that communities that have a highereducated and better-trained workforce attract higher-income jobs and help lower the unemployment rate, which is one thing we desperately need in this community. One candidate (Cherry) is making Mayor Johnson a key issue in the District 7 race. How do you characterize the mayor’s presence in the race? Cherry: I would disagree that I have injected the mayor into this race. The mayor has decided to support my opponent, and to bring his considerable power and influence to support my opponent, and I’ve simply pointed that out. That’s a fact, and I’ve pointed it out.

Jennings: The mayor is not the problem in the city of Sacramento. The city needs a council that can work together with the mayor, with the legislature, with the state. The mayor is not the issue. What we need is a council that’s all on the same page and working together to make Sacramento a better place for us to live, work and raise our kids. We have to work together to ensure we have an enjoyment of life that makes us want to stay here for years to come, and makes our kids want to stay here. I’ve asked a lot of people around my age about their kids. I ask if their kids come back to live here after school. And often, they said no. You ask the question, why? Their kids say Sacramento doesn’t have the quality of life, the job opportunities, the excitement, the arts and entertainment. They say Sacramento doesn’t fit on their scale of what a city should be. It’s up to the council to make sure we make Sacramento a place where our kids want to live, and to have our kids love Sacramento as much as we do. n

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Buckets of Trouble WHAT ARE THE REGION’S LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE DROUGHT?

BY CRAIG POWELL

INSIDE CITY HALL

f you are a longtime Sacramento resident, you may be experiencing some issues in adapting to the changing regulations that now govern our household use of water. Join me on a journey through the strange new world of water conservation. It is a world that we’re likely to be in for some time, given the dire nature of the current drought and expectations that we could be in for multiyear shortfalls in precipitation. Why is it challenging for longtime Sacramentans to get used to the idea of water conservation? Because we grew up thinking of water as an endlessly available commodity that we were free to use in any way we wished, as much as we wished, whenever we wished. The only limitation back in the day was to not be a “gutter flooder.” Leaving a hose running on your driveway while you soaped up your car was as natural as going to your mailbox each day. Washing down your driveway with a hose was simply being a good neighbor. The idea of water meters was anathema to us, akin to communism

POCKET APR n 14

to most right-thinking Sacramentans. We elevated our hostility to water meters to a local constitutional right, enshrining a prohibition against meters in our city charter until the state legislature passed a bill overriding us. Many of us have never seen a water meter before in our lives (I’ve seen pictures of them), but they’re coming to each and every one of us over the next 10 or so years. (Half the city already has them.) Why did we feel this way? Because we lived at the confluence of two great rivers, and the city enjoys goldstandard-level water rights. And we knew that all Southern Californians really cared about was getting the perfect tan and stealing our water. Mark Twain was right: “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” The most hotly contested political battle I can recall from my youth was a titanic fight over whether the state should build a “peripheral canal” bypassing the Delta’s byzantine plumbing, a project championed by then-Gov. Pat Brown. The proposal failed. Fast-forward 40 years or so and we’re now debating a pricey (and untested) plan to build tunnels under the Delta to satiate the desire of Southern Californians for more “reliable” water deliveries, which to many is code for just more water. But the ’60s were also the golden age of California infrastructure construction, when we actually built dams, reservoirs, hydroelectric plants, water conveyances and electrical grids (and universities and freeways) that infused Californians with an innate confidence that we were rapidly mastering the age-old

California challenges of drought, flood, power needs and moving water over great distances to the state’s population centers. Our hubris about water was really born of our growing mastery of these challenges. And we mastered them with a state budget that was a small fraction of our state budget today. How did we lose our ability to build essential infrastructure? In the ’70s and ’80s, we saw the cancellation of numerous infrastructure projects that were in the pipeline, from freeways to dams, and our long retrenchment began. Valuable rights-of- way were sold off or abandoned. We’ve been living on previous generations’ infrastructure investments ever since. (Except for prisons—we’ve built dozens of new prisons since the ’80s.) Most infrastructure work today is patchwork and crisis management. Rebuild a levee here, build a spillway on an existing dam there. But our levees in the Sacramento region are part of a 110-year old system that wasn’t designed to handle even half the load we regularly place upon them now in flood years (weirs and bypasses have been our saving grace), and they provide us with only 100year flood protection. We haven’t built significant new water-storage capacity in Northern California since Shasta Dam (1945), Folsom Dam (1955) and Oroville Dam (1968). Construction of Auburn Dam, which offered 400-year flood protection and was authorized by Congress twice, was halted in 1979. With our retrenchment on infrastructure investment, we’ve eroded our self-confidence in our ability to master our environment

WHEN TO WATER The city’s spring/summer watering schedule is now in effect. Due to the drought, those schedules have been reduced to two days per week. Watering days are based on street address. Customers with addresses ending in odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Customers with addresses ending in even numbers (0,2,4,6,8) can water on Wednesdays and Sundays. Watering is not allowed on Monday, Thursdays or Fridays. Watering must take place before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Excessive runoff is prohibited at all times. Car washing is permitted only on your watering day, and hoses must be equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle. and productively harness natural resources. Our failure to upgrade levees in Natomas, the city’s top area for future growth, and the resulting de facto federal building moratorium in the area have placed a heavy burden on Sacramento’s economy, local jobs and the city’s budget for the past several years. We now seem to be living in a recurring cycle of fear over floods followed by panic and crisis over droughts. We’ve almost reverted to the flood/drought fears of a century ago. We need to the willingness and political courage to tackle big things in California that the people really

need, such as stronger protection from both flood and drought. The good news is that there appears to be a growing political and policy consensus that state water policy needs to include funding to build additional water-storage capacity. A pending state water bond, which has undergone a number of iterations, is expected to include funding for additional water storage. Sen. Dianne Feinstein recently announced her strong support for new storage capacity, and the House may be lurching, fitfully, toward a possible consensus on the issue. Local water officials, like Sacramento’s Department of Utilities director Dave Brent, are convinced that any workable statewide water plan must include new water-storage capacity for our region. “New water conveyances like the tunnel project do nothing to increase water-storage capacity,” Brent said. One irony of the current drought is that it is having much less of an impact on the lives of Southern Californians than it is on us. We have mandatory rationing while

most people in the south are facing requests that they voluntarily conserve water. How is that possible when we live in the (typically) wet north and they live in the semiarid south? Foresight. As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, “Southern California agencies have invested $12 billion in water-supply improvements since the 1987-1991 drought triggered widespread rationing. Reservoirs around L.A. are brimming, groundwater basins remain comfortably stocked and recycling and conservation programs have freed up abundant reserves.” Meanwhile, Folsom Dam is sitting at 33 percent of capacity. Former Sacramento city manager Bill Edgar, who currently serves as president of the Central California Flood Protection Board, is deeply involved in efforts to harmonize state water policy among various stakeholders. He says a key reason that SoCal has been dramatically outpacing NorCal in building new water-storage capacity is that “they’ve had a sense of urgency for a long time” over water shortages. “Our

region has lacked a sense of urgency, at least until now,” Edgar added. Another problem slowing waterstorage investment in our region is the attitude of SoCal water customers. “Before they’ll invest [in NorCal water storage], they want to be sure they’re going to get water. They have no assurance that they’ll get water reliably without the Delta tunnels project,” Edgar said. Once water meters are fully installed in the city (we face a 2025 deadline) and everybody is paying for water “volumetrically” (based on how much water you actually use), the experience of other cities that have switched to meters shows that we can expect to see about a 20 percent reduction in water consumption in Sacramento (and a corresponding increase in water rates to cover the city’s fixed costs). There is talk of the city imposing “tiered pricing,” which would charge heavy water users more per gallon used than lighter users. However, such policy may run afoul of Proposition 218, which requires a city to charge customers only the city’s actual cost of delivering water to each

customer. On July 1, the city will impose the final year of three years of double-digit hikes in city water rates. Southern California legislators and water officials regularly beat Sacramento up for being big water wasters. But is it true? Utilities director Brent thinks the claims are exaggerated. “Attempts to compare L.A.’s relatively low per capita wateruse rate to Sacramento’s rate is unfair because our weather is much hotter than L.A.,” he said. “The amount of water needed to water 100 square feet of lawn in Sacramento is greater than what is required in L.A.” (Speaking of lawn, Sacramento has launched a new “cash for grass” program to financially entice/bribe you into ripping out your lawn, offering about 50 cents per square foot.) A fairer comparison would be to the hotter communities east of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernadino, which have climates similar to Sacramento’s. It turns out that such cities have per capita water-use rates that are pretty close to Sacramento’s CITY HALL page 13

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Wells of Hope FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HELPS BRING CLEAN WATER TO ETHIOPIA

Faith Presbyterian will raise money to assist this worthwhile well project. The group just completed their Walk for Water fundraiser in the neighborhood on March 23. To learn how to help, email Walk4Water@ faithpresby.org.

BY SHANE SINGH POCKET LIFE

here are droughts and there are droughts. David Nash, who serves as communications elder at Faith Presbyterian Church in the Pocket, just returned from his second two-week trip to Africa, where the lack of abundant, clean drinking water is catastrophic. Says Nash, who had been to Africa in 2012, “I personally was moved by my last trip and have embraced the opportunity to be a goodwill ambassador to improving the quality of life for the poorest of the poor, specifically in Ethiopia.” To put the issue into perspective, the average Sacramento household uses 417 gallons of water a day, while the average African household uses five gallons of water a day. The scarcity of clean water results in the death of 4,000 children a day worldwide, according to UNICEF. Joining Nash are Sandi Bilbo, Isabel Chapman, Pastor Jeff Chapman, Stacy Cumming, Mule Gebrewahid, Natalie Reyes and Kitty Tatro, plus World Vision Church liaison Lorraine Kempf.

POCKET APR n 14

KENNEDY HOOPS With so many Pocket teens leaving the neighborhood for private high school or (even worse!) C.K. McClatchy The Abaya Vision Team from Faith Presbyterian Church recently returned from a trip to visit the staff of High in Land Park, it’s World Vision Area Development Program in Abaya, Ethiopia. When there, they viewed work related to nice to report on a big providing clean water, hygiene, education, and health care to the people of this region. Natalie Reyes is pictured below with village children in Ethiopia. success by the home team, the John F. Kennedy Cougars. On Feb. 26, the Kennedy boys’ varsity basketball team stopped the highly rated Lincoln High School squad from Stockton 96-90 in overtime. The big news here is that two high school teams would combine for 186 points—a remarkable total for that age level. Winning made the final score all the sweeter. The team is coached by Robert Fong, himself a class of 1975 graduate. Fong has coached at Kennedy on and off for 18 years, spending the past eight years as head coach. When asked about the most dominant player, he replied, “This team isn’t comprised with one dominant player. I play 10 players, and each serves a role. They’ve bought into that role as a unit.” Under Fong’s leadership,

the team has made the playoffs for seven straight years. That is an inspirational feat for the school and our community.

FOOD TRUCK MANIA Beginning on Friday, April 18, food trucks will gather in Garcia Bend Park monthly for the second year of Food Truck Mania, a community event organized by Councilmember Darrell Fong. More than 10 local food truck vendors, including Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen and Krush Burger, will participate. There will also be live music, a beer and wine garden and fun for the kids. Food Truck Mania will be held on the third Friday of the month until October from 5 to 8 p.m. (9 p.m. in summer months).

REFORMED CATHOLIC CHURCH BEGINS SERVICES A new reformed Catholic church recently began holding services at Greenhaven Lutheran Church. St. Anthony of Padua Reformed Old Catholic Church is a liturgical Catholic church that uses both the traditional Old Catholic Mass and the contemporary Mass of Vatican II. According to the church’s founding pastor, Bishop Tony Scuderi, the church is open to people of all faiths and traditions who are seeking renewal and reform. It is a Catholic church that offers all seven sacraments but is not in union with Rome. “Our mission is to celebrate that God is in us all,” he said. The church will hold weekly services on Sundays at 5 p.m. at Greenhaven Lutheran Church (475 Florin Road). For more information, contact Bishop Scuderi at 706-1596 or bishoptonyscuderi@gmail.com, or go to bishoptonyscuderi.wix.com/oldcatholic-church.

BITTER BREW You might think everyone would welcome a classy new community magazine that celebrates life in Pocket and Greenhaven—and happens to be free.

Inside's new newspaper boxes

Think again. One neighbor, Caffe Latte, has greeted Inside Pocket with anything but a smile. The trouble started when a new Inside news box was placed alongside other news boxes near Caffe Latte at Riverlake Village Shopping Center. A day later, photographer Aniko Kiezel dropped by to take a picture of the shiny new lavender box. She found nothing. The box was gone. Kiezel went inside the cafe and asked an employee if the woman had seen the box. It was there, the employee said, but not for long. Kiezel asked to speak to the owner. Out marched executive chef Daniel C. LaVelle. His greeting was neither warm nor fuzzy: “Did you get permission from the landlord to put a box out there?” he demanded to know. As Kiezel tried to figure out how she’d been transported to Caffe La Rude, LaVelle added a dash of pepper: “I put it out back, in the alley.” Kiezel tried to sum things up. She said, “You took our property and picked it up, put it in the alley and then didn’t even tell anyone? Didn’t call to let us know?” As I pointed out earlier, Inside Pocket is a classy publication. So I won’t print the response. Our intrepid photographer drove behind the shopping center and found a dumpster but no Inside box. She left, knowing that the frigid greeting is not how other Pocket merchants

treat newcomers. For example: About 100 yards from Caffe Latte is a friendly new Starbucks, where Inside Pocket is warmly welcomed and hundreds of copies a month are picked up and read. Inside Pocket now prints 2,000 copies a month for newsstand distribution, in addition to mailing more than 8,000 to select carrier routes in 95831 ZIP code. As ad revenues grow publisher Cecily Hastings plans to continue to expand home delivery. Newsstand locations include Robbie Waters Library at 7335 Gloria Dr., Starbucks at 7600 Greenhaven and Pocket, Nugget Market and Starbucks at Greenhaven and Florin West, 24 Hour Fitness at 7600 Greenhaven & Pocket, and Bel Air at 1299 Florin Rd., Vic’s Market at 5930 S. Land Park Dr., South Land Park Post Office at 5930 S. Land Park Dr. If you have other locations to suggest please contact aniko@ insidepublications.com. Shane Singh can be reached at shane@shanesingh.com. n

CITY HALL FROM page 11 per capita usage. Then there is the fact that 40 to 50 percent of our water is recaptured through discharges into the Sacramento River, whereas water used in SoCal is almost fully consumed. The Sacramento Bee’s Matt Weiser has done a fine job of cataloging all the pernicious impacts of the drought, which range from excessive drawdowns of groundwater supplies to the threat of rising salinization levels in the Delta to the dire plight of San Joaquin Valley farmers who’ve seen their water allocations cut off and much more. Weiser is one of the few reporters in the state who have mastered the details of the twin tunnels proposal. The Bee’s water coverage is so comprehensive these days that it’s starting to rival its saturation coverage of the arena deal. Craig Powell is a local attorney, businessman, community activist and president of Eye on Sacramento, a civic watchdog and policy group. He can be reached at craig@ eyeonsacramento.org or 718-3030. n

HOW TO REDUCE BY 20 PERCENT The average Sacramento family uses 417 gallons of water per day. Here are some ways to help your family reduce its water use by 20 percent.

Doing This Install aerators on

Saves This 1.2 gallons per person/day

bathroom faucets Install efficient, WaterSense- 1 gallon per minute (or 10 labeled showerheads

gallons per average 10minute shower)

Wash only full loads of

15-45 gallons per load

clothes Turn off water when

Approximately 10 gallons

brushing teeth or shaving

per day

Take 5-minute showers

12.5 gallons with a water

instead of 10-minute

-efficient showerhead (2.5

showers

gallons per minute)

Fix leaky toilets

30-50 gallons per day per toilet

Install high-efficiency

19 gallons per person/day

WaterSense-labeled toilets (1.28 gallons per flush)

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This Old House CURTIS PARK HOME TOUR WILL SHOWCASE SEVEN OF THEM

BY JESSICA LASKEY LIFE IN THE CITY

oping to get a gander at some of the historic homes you see lining the streets of Curtis Park? Now is your chance to take a peek inside seven of these beauties on Saturday, April 26, during the 28th annual Curtis Park Home & Garden Tour. “Each year for the home tour, the Heritage Committee spotlights an area of Curtis Park,” explains Janice Calpo, who co-founded the committee. “We feature special historic displays, a history presentation on that area and a new self-guided walking tour brochure.” This year’s focus is on South Curtis Oaks Hill, which, according to ads from the 1920s, was considered the “last and best” of the neighborhood’s subdivisions. The development opened in 1924, and construction continued until the early 1930s. It’s known for stunning Spanish Revival-style houses that are sure to knock your socks off. For more information, call 4523005 or go to sierra2.org.

ALL IS WELL If you want to make sure your little one is as healthy as can be, don’t

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Don't miss the opportunity to take a peek inside seven homes featured on the 28th annual Curtis Park Home & Garden Tour on April 26. Photo courtesy of Rudy Calpo.

miss the Sutter Children’s Center Wellness Festival at Fairytale Town on Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy free admission for a day that includes health screenings, gardening activities, engaging games and tips and tricks from Sutter’s medical personnel on healthy childhood development. For a bit of theatrical fun, stop by the Children’s Theater for a performance of “The Adventures of Sir Enamel,” a dental health-themed puppet show by Puppet Art Theater Company. (Catch the show the whole weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.)

Get your basket ready for the Spring Eggstravaganza on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fun-filled family weekend will feature egg hunts (daily at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. with separate “hunting” grounds for different age groups), spring-themed hands-on art activities and an appearance by Peter Cottontail. And make sure you sign up for “Bunny Boot Camp,” the newest Puppet Art Theater Company performance, at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. For tickets and more information for all Fairytale Town events, call 808-7462 or go to fairytaletown.org.

Fairytale Town is at 3901 Land Park Drive.

WRITE ON Do you think you have a novel in you? Or maybe some pleasant poetry? An essay or two? Release your inner scribe at the seventh annual Our Life Stories writers’ conference on Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cosumnes River College. Sponsored by Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center and CRC, the conference will feature presentations and workshops by authors Kerstin Feindert, Ginny McReynolds,

Become a Zoo Parent to any of the Sacramento Zoo’s three lemur species at the $50 level and you’ll receive four tickets to the advance screening of “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar."

Clive Rosengren and Emmanuel Sigauke; poet Hannah Stein and Sacramento poet laureate Jeff Knorr; storyteller Ann Rothschild; and publishing experts Michael Spurgeon and Christian Kiefer. Stephen D. Gutierrez, a nationally recognized essayist, poet and storyteller, will deliver the keynote address. The conference fee is $35 and includes lunch, workshops and materials. Registration ends April 4. To register or for more information, call 808-5462, email hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com or go to hart-crcwritersconference. org. Cosumnes River College is at 8401 Center Parkway.

HELPING HANDS Ready to get down and dirty? Help the Land Park Volunteer Corps keep the park pretty during their next work day on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Lead corps coordinator Craig Powell and his merry band of concerned citizens will meet at base camp (the picnic grounds behind Fairytale Town) to assign duties and fuel up with breakfast before tackling the landscape that local residents love. If you’re up for even more involvement, the corps is looking for volunteers to help coordinate some basic logistics, like purchasing food

and drinks, setting up and cleaning up base camp, managing tools and transportation and more. If you have a special skill in the areas of horticulture, tree care and selection, water quality, wildlife, irrigation systems, pond management, fund development, nonprofit management or environmental issues, the corps needs your expertise. Contact Jim Swanson at jim@ landparkteam.com. For more information, contact Powell at 718-3030 or ckpinsacto@ aol.com. Fairytale Town is at 3901 and Park Drive.

CASH FOR CURTIS PARK If you’re a Curtis Park resident, you’re probably aware of the plans for a senior apartment complex in your area: a 96,030-square-foot building on two acres of undeveloped land near 24th Street and 10th Avenue that’s part of Petrovich Development’s Curtis Park Village project. The senior complex is being developed by Sacramento-based firm Domus Development LLC, which has secured a loan of $1.8 million from City Home Investment Partnership funds (granted by the Housing and Redevelopment Agency). But as rising construction costs, interest rates and utility allowances hit home, the project found itself floundering. On Feb. 26, Cathy Locke reported in The Sacramento Bee that the city

council approved an additional loan of $2.2 million to complete the project, which will include 91 residential units for seniors in four low-income brackets. But Domus and Petrovich aren’t out of the woods just yet. They’re also seeking a 9 percent low-income housing tax credit for the project, which they submitted to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee last month for the second time. (Their first submission was unsuccessful.) If this one is approved, construction could start in the fall. If not, they’ll have to apply again and perhaps look at other sources of funding. In the meantime, Curtis Park residents will just have to sit tight while the developers and the city hash out a plan for this controversial project and the future of their historic neighborhood.

do with all those extra scraps during five free composting seminars hosted throughout the year by the city’s recycling and solid waste division. On Saturday, April 12, choose from one of two one-hour sessions (starting at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.) at Camellia Park Community Garden. You’ll learn what materials you can and can’t use, how to put earthworms to work and seasonal gardening tips to make your garden grow. Experts will also discuss drought-tolerant plants and how best to save water in your yard. For more information, go to sacrecycle.org. Camellia Park Community Garden is at 6650 Cougar Drive.

WILD, WILD WEST

Do you love lemurs, those furry little friends with the orblike eyes and fluffy tails? Become a Zoo Parent to any of the Sacramento Zoo’s three lemur species at the $50 level and you’ll receive four tickets to the advance screening of “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar” on Wednesday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Esquire IMAX theater. If the protection of the planet weighs on your mind, learn about conservation at the zoo’s Earth Fest celebration on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Looking for a way to both break a sweat and help the zoo? Participate in the 34th annual ZooZoom fun run on Sunday, April 13, from 7 a.m. to noon. To register, go to sacramentozoozoom. com. Registration for Summer Camp classes for kids in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade begins Tuesday, April 8, at 9 a.m. For more information on all zoo events, call 808-5888 or go to saczoo. com. Sacramento Zoo is at 3930 West Land Park Drive.

What made it so wild back when cowboys roamed the land? Why, pharmacies and opium dens, of course! Explore the details of drug use and abuse in the Old West during a fascinating free tour at Old City Cemetery on Saturday, April 5, at 10 a.m. (As the Old Cemetery Committee puts it, “the dice were not the only things loaded in the Old West.”) Well, pin a rose on your nose! If beautiful blooms are more your thing, don’t miss Old City Cemetery’s Open Garden on Saturday, April 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The awardwinning Historic Rose Garden will be a treat for the eyes and nose as more than 500 roses open their fair faces to the spring sunlight. Hoping to buy some beauty for yourself? Rare heritage rose plants will also be for sale during a day that includes free tours, a silent auction and rose merchandise aplenty. As always, donations are greatly appreciated, as proceeds benefit the upkeep and conversation of this historic landmark. For more information, call 264-7839 or 448-0811 or go to oldcitycemetery.com. Old City Cemetery is at 1000 Broadway.

ONE PERSON’S TRASH

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n

ZOO DOINGS

Have you ever wondered how composting works? Find out what to

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Funny Man THIS RENAISSANCE GUY IS COMEDIAN, WRITER AND FINANCIAL PLANNER

BY JESSICA LASKEY MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

f you’re an Inside Publications reader (and since you’re reading this sentence, I’ll assume you are), you know Greg Sabin’s work. He writes the pithy restaurant reviews in the back of the paper. But did you know that Sabin is also a certified financial planner, comedian and musician? “I’ve been called a bizarro Renaissance man,” Sabin says with an easy laugh over beer at The Shack in East Sacramento—one of his favorite hangouts for its Wednesday-night trivia games. (In fact, two of his friends join our table as trivia time draws near.) “Everything in my life has sprouted from being comfortable in front of people.” That’s not hard to imagine, considering his affability and quick wit. When you discover that he’s a performer—both of comedy and music—it seems to fit his personality. But finances? “I kind of fell into it,” he admits. “I’m a licensed stockbroker and a certified financial planner. I’ve been in the financial industry for 13 years now.” That’s the same amount of time he’s been playing the banjo, though if you get him talking, you’ll be able to tell which one gets his blood pumping more. “I’m a product of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society,” Sabin says proudly. “I got into it as a high school student and they gave me a lot as a kid. Now I work as a teacher

POCKET APR n 14

and counselor every year at their jazz camp for kids in Sly Park.” Another talent the Sacramento native discovered as a Jesuit High School student was improvisational comedy, but he’s quick to admit why he chose it over other forms of funny. “I was very bad at stand-up,” Sabin says, grinning. “Stand-up demands

His love of comedy and jazz stuck with him through college at UC Berkeley, where he earned a degree in Russian history. Yes, you read that right. “There’s a ton of writing in history,” Sabin clarifies, “so it was just as good as any other major for someone who likes to write.” Once out of school, Sabin decided to pursue his “first love” of comedy, so he headed to Los Angeles for two years to make a go of making people laugh for a living. “I wouldn’t say I was successful,” Sabin says with a shrug. “But I met people who became successful. I just didn’t dig the hustle. I figured that doing it on the side would be just as rewarding.” Sticking to his skill set has worked out quite well for Sabin. When he’s not being a financial whiz at work, he’s performing at Sacramento Comedy Spot in Midtown or at Shady Lady Saloon with his two bands, The FreeBadge Serenaders and The Crescent Katz. “The Sacramento that you repeat Comedy Spot is the same thing a good home,” over and over. You Sabin says. have to have an act “I’ve worked that’s well-honed with [owner] Greg Sabin and rehearsed. In Brian Crall for improv, you don’t have to memorize seven years. I feel like I’m close to a lines. You just make it up.” founding member. Top L.A. talent are

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always blown away by the work we do there.” Top Sacramento talent, too. Every Saturday night, Sabin and his troupe, Anti-Cooperation League, interview local celebrities and perform a long-form comedy routine involving vignettes riffing on those local celebs. Familiar faces like KCRA-3’s Gulstan Dart and Edie Lambert and Mark S. Allen of “Good Day Sacramento” have all been victims—er, subjects. “We can’t keep Mark away,” Sabin laughs. With all that stage time, it’s impressive that Sabin also serves as this paper’s Restaurant Insider and regular contributor each month. But he’s apparently so used to talking about this part of his career that he readily spouts off answers to the usual questions. “My favorite restaurants in Sacramento are Sam’s Hof Brau and Flaming Grill, which is in a parking lot across from what used to be Loretto High School,” Sabin says. “You didn’t ask me that … but I get that question all the time.”

www.BergamoSchools.com Call or log on today to schedule a school tour!

Though he doesn’t have any formal culinary training, Sabin’s inquisitive palate makes him a formidable food writer.

“I come from a foodobsessed family.” “I come from a food-obsessed family,” he says, “but I’m a very mediocre cook. I like to say that I’m an eating enthusiast. I also love Sacramento’s food scene. It’s calm and competent. No one’s trying to out-creative each other or be cutting edge. That’s just not the personality of the town. We’re surrounded by the world’s greatest agriculture. That’s who we are.” You can be sure that once he’s worked up an appetite selling stocks, getting toes tapping with his banjo or trombone and making people guffaw into their beer, Sabin knows where to get some good eats. n

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More Than Skin Deep DERMATOLOGIST AND TEAM ARE LASER-FOCUSED ON HELPING PATIENTS

professional relationship with her mentor at Harvard—they were two of the first doctors to conduct clinical trials of laser resurfacing and Thermage treatments on humans— Kilmer’s practice has had access to groundbreaking technology for years. “People don’t know it, but we’re one of the top three clinical trial centers in the country,” Kilmer says. “The research has really blown up since lasers were first introduced. And at first, they weren’t even cosmetic, they were only for use on skin cancer and birthmarks.” (And before that, Kilmer tells me, peeling paint off airplanes.)

BY JESSICA LASKEY SHOPTALK

r. Suzanne Kilmer is one of those remarkable people who has every reason to shout her accomplishments from the rooftops, yet is one of the most humble people you’ll meet. As the founder of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California—based right here on J Street—Kilmer and her team are on the cutting edge of all things skin scientific. The Miami-born physician spent the early part of her medical career bouncing from coast to coast before settling in Sacramento. Kilmer received her M.D. degree and did her dermatology residency at UC Davis Medical Center, then moved east for a one-year fellowship in laser surgery at Harvard Medical School’s Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine—the first person to do a fellowship of that kind at the esteemed establishment. Her mentor at Harvard happened to be a preeminent laser specialist—he owns roughly 75 percent of the country’s intellectual property relating to lasers—who was so taken with Kilmer’s skills with skin that they collaborate to this day. “It’s amazing how lucky it all turned out,” Kilmer says, displaying her characteristic humility. “I was in the right place at the right time.” Luck aside, Kilmer’s work in the field earned her a position on the Harvard faculty for two years, at which time she was already eyeing a return to California to raise her then-

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“People don’t know it, but we’re one of the top three clinical trial centers in the country,” Kilmer says. Dr. Suzanne Kilmer is the founder of Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California

infant daughter in her husband’s hometown of Sacramento. “I was going to be a trauma surgeon, actually, before I got pregnant with my daughter,” Kilmer says. “I was one of those people (working in the ER) who would look for lacerations that hadn’t been sewn up yet—I’m very visually oriented. But when I got pregnant, I started thinking about how difficult it would be to be on night call for the next seven years with a baby. Then I did a

random dermatology rotation (at the hospital) and absolutely loved it.” Luck may have stepped in again, but it was Kilmer who ran with it. Once she discovered her secret affection for skin doctoring, it wasn’t long before she bought out a fellow doctor’s dermatological practice and started Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California in May 1993. “I wanted to be a laser specialist because I like to know what I know really well,” Kilmer says. Due to this dedicated drive and her continued

Now, lasers are used for everything from skin cancer removal to hair removal, skin resurfacing, getting rid of pesky dark spots and scars, even removing unwanted tattoos. The names of these procedures may sound like something out of Star Trek— CO2 UltraPulse and erbium lasers; pulsed dye and fractional lasers; picosecond lasers; ruby, alexandrite, diode and Nd:YAG lasers; nonablative resurfacing—but all have a similar goal: to make people proud of the skin they’re in. “I love working on how to make things better,” Kilmer says. “I work

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with companies as a medical adviser to help them make their devices work better—that’s what I love, building things. I get to learn about really rare, weird things, and I love it.” Kilmer oversees a staff of other like-minded female dermatologists and one male plastic surgeon in her practice—though the gender split was entirely accidental. “All of these women are so smart, so brilliant at what they do, that (the staff ratio) just sort of happened,” Kilmer says with a laugh. “They’re

all fabulous employees. It’s a great environment to work in.” Thanks in part, no doubt, to Kilmer’s own remarkable blend of dermatological dexterity and genuine warmth that’s much more than skin deep.

Housekeeping, dining, hospitality services and a dynamic recreation program keep life easy (and fun). Life Enrichment Initiatives include creative art and music; Thrill of a Lifetime; Eskaton Celebrates 100+; and community gardens. Our new discreet QuietCare® smart sensors provide residents and families a peace of mind advantage.

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Want to feel better about the skin you’re in? Contact Kilmer and her team at 456-0400 or go to skinlasers. com. The Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California is at 3835 J St. n

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True Happiness IT WASN’T HIS TO HAVE OR TO UNDERSTAND

hair atop a balding head but felt no flash of recognition. Still, with a lingering air of familiarity, he invited me onto the

stuttered. “She died when she was

for an ambulance, but it came too

just 39.”

late.

was half question and halfhearted

who’d come to visit.

indictment of our celestial employer

but I knew the pastoral pitch and

from his reddened eyes, taking

for expecting a man to remain in

their evacuation route over bulging

ministry after such tragedy.

cheeks. A problem in the baby’s heart shattered the heart of his parents.

ministerial mannerisms. I knew him.

“It was all so long ago,” he said. His

I was looking at myself 25 years from

tone became apologetic, as if mystified

now.

by the source of his tears.

ecently, I met a patient

an uncomfortable reference to his

sitting on the edge of his

weighty encumbrance. “Are we ever really retired?”

considerable stomach, studying the

His mention of “we” felt like a club

floor tiles.

handshake.

“Hello,” I called as I walked into his darkened room. “I’m Norris, the hospital chaplain.”

“I guess not,” I said. “We definitely signed up for the duration.” “That’s right. Ours is a lifelong

He dialed a smile onto his liverspotted face and replied with an

service.” During the next half hour he

upturned tone of recognition. “Hello,

unfolded 50, beginning with his

Norris!”

marriage to his college sweetheart.

I took study of his expressive blue eyes and the swirling tumbleweed of

Together they started a church as well as a family. She birthed a baby girl one year and a son the next.

The old preacher knew the answers were so complex that 10,000 years of deliberation couldn’t bring any real understanding. “You cry because it happened out of order. You’re grieving the loss of potential, for what could have been.”

said. “True happiness is: Grandfather dies. Father dies. Son dies. Grandson dies.” Yet, even as I spoke, he was waving a dismissive hand. It seemed likely

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POCKET APR n 14

10,000 years before I’ll ever understand why.” I sat in silence with that

10,000 years of deliberation couldn’t bring any real understanding. I suppose I could have reminded him that God “… causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45), but he likely knew that. He didn’t need more verses; he needed to know that God still heard his pain. I reached for his hand, asked if we

“There’s an old Chinese proverb,” I

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because he said, “I’ll be in heaven

the answers were so complex that

He nodded.

• • • • • • •

I guess he caught my meaning

observation. The old preacher knew

“Are you retired now?” I asked,

bed, hunched over his

“You lost two children?” Mine

The tears were now leaking

It turned out I didn’t know him,

son started turning blue. They called

“It was congenital,” he told me.

he said. “I’m a pastor, too.”

SPIRIT MATTERS

“The cancer. My firstborn,” he

bedside chair as if I were an old friend “I’m so glad you came, Chaplain,”

BY NORRIS BURKES

However, not long after birth, their

he’d heard this before and just as likely he’d said it himself. Then, as if announcing another chapter of his autobiography, he said, “There’s more.

could tell this to God. He nodded. We prayed. We cried. Just as he was wiping his last tear, his wife came into the room. He concluded his story by adding that he was now serving as pastor emeritus and advising the younger pastors. I guess he was right: Serving God is an endless calling. Doing so with such a gaping wound to the soul brings to mind nothing short of the divine. Norris Burkes is a chaplain, syndicated columnist, national speaker and author of the book “No Small Miracles.” He can be reached at ask@thechaplain.net. n

NEW HEART CENTER OPENS AT MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL

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New Lease on Life ADVANCED HEART TREATMENT

BY DUFFY KELLY

ebra Lehr was in her 50s when doctors told her there was nothing more they could do for her. Thirty-five years earlier, the once-vital horseback rider suffered an aggressive cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Doctors knocked that cancer down. But the heavy doses of chemotherapy and radiation that cured her then turned on her later and threatened to kill her. They caused all types of heart and lung problems, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I couldn’t take care of my husband, my ranch, my animals. I used to ride horses and compete in the show ring. But I couldn’t even breath while walking,” she said. In 2013, doctors told her the only thing that would save her life was an open heart surgery. But, sadly, she was not a candidate. Open heart surgery would be far too traumatic because surgeons would have to crack her chest open, place her on a heart lung machine during the procedure and stop her heart in order to perform surgery. Debra was simply too compromised, too high risk for that kind of trauma, and likely would not survive. “I had what they call a ‘hostile chest.’ I fell into the category of the 90-year-olds who are unable to have open heart surgery because they are so frail. I realized I couldn’t go forward in life. I was completely out of options,” she said. It was winter 2013 and Debra was preparing to die. She didn’t expect to see springtime blossoms or another

POCKET APR n 14

Debra Lehr is riding horses again

barn full of baby goats at her Wilton ranch. With barely the strength to breathe, she planned her goodbyes to her animals, her friends and her family. She was giving up. But across town at Mercy General Hospital, doctors did the opposite. As members of Dignity Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute, they had an idea. “My team of doctors wasn’t giving up. They were like rock stars, going the extra mile for me,” she said. “I had no idea at the time, but Drs. (Allen) Morris and (Frank) Slachman continued to work with their colleagues in Denmark to find a solution. I didn’t know they were working on my case, researching it with doctors around the world.

They went to bat for me and made a comfortable risk assessment.” Doctors got FDA approval to perform a revolutionary procedure on a patient of Debra’s age: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR for short. An expert team of Mercy General physicians came together to perform this complex procedure, including cardiac surgeons Frank Slachman, MD, and Kapil Sharma, MD; and cardiologists Joseph Kozina, MD, and Michael Chang, MD. “Debra was caught between a rock and hard place,” said Dr. Slachman. “The traditional procedure would have been very dangerous for her. The idea of stopping her heart and putting her on a heart lung machine

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was out of the question. With TAVR we were able to make a small incision between her ribs, access the heart and actually expand and deploy a new valve right inside her old one. We never had to open her chest. In fact, we didn’t put our hands inside her chest at all.” But would it work? Would it hold? Debra recovered quickly from the minimally invasive surgery and within days was up walking and breathing deeply. She could smell those spring blossoms she thought she might not see again. She welcomed a new crop of baby goats to her ranch and has been busy training her Border Collies. Just one year earlier, she was hanging up her spurs for good. But Dignity Health surgeons, it seems, had not only minds for the science of heart surgery, they had the heart to keep pushing the limits of technology for people like Debra. “Within two months of the surgery, I felt better than I had in years. I even went out and bought myself a new horse. Now I ride whenever I can. It was a new lease on life for me. A true miracle.” In the last two years, Dignity Health Heart & Vascular Institute physicians have performed 100 TAVR surgeries like the procedure that saved Debra’s life. “We have the lowest mortality statistics and are the busiest heart program in California,” Slachman said. “For years our heart program has scored at the top by independent health grade evaluators. Many people don’t know that Mercy General Hospital has been working on 1,200-1,400 hearts a year with so much success. That’s because we just put our heads down and operate.” n

The Healing Power of Art

edicated cardiologists, surgeons and specialty nurses tirelessly push the limits to make hearts whole again at Mercy General Hospital. But many of these same health care providers know there’s so much more to healing than hightech procedures and cold, hard science. It is just as important to create areas of soothing calm and restfulness in the hospital setting that will promote a healing environment for patients and families. Thanks to the passion of a dedicated committee of nurses and Sisters of Mercy, the healing power of art will play a key role in the new Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Center. “We are bringing in art…and lots of it,” says Doris Frazier, registered nurse, vice president of Cardiovascular Services and the administrator of the new Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Center. “Our committee carefully selected pieces to portray the right message of healing, honor the Sisters of Mercy and their legacy, and reflect the uniqueness of Sacramento.” “Nature has a healing effect, but how do you take a hospital environment and infuse nature into it?” Frazier asked. “In keeping within the healing mission of the

Sisters of Mercy – who founded Mercy Hospital in 1925 – we are transforming the building to make it a space for recuperation on all fronts. The outdoor Healing Garden sets the stage with open walkways and a water feature." Inside, gentle flowing river scenes and pathways through gardens are in surgery lounges to calm the natural anxiety felt by families waiting for loved ones during surgery. For patients, hallways are filled with glorious colorful buds and flowers – newness and life beginning again. Recovery rooms have peaceful and expansive vistas that inspire wholeness. The lobby’s columns have been transformed into majestic tree sculptures and the entryway is made to feel like a flowing river with gracefully placed meandering tiles. It’s a tribute to Sister Mary Baptist Russell, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who is symbolically honored for her ability to remain constant, like a tree by running water, during times of struggle. Frazier becomes extremely passionate about the artwork that’s been selected and describes how it will help families cope with the multitude of emotions that often accompany being in the hospital. She marvels too at the intangible and beautiful qualities patients have – like indomitable courage, the will to survive and the joy of health renewed. It’s clear she sees art not just in paintings on the wall, but in the patients themselves. n

Dr. Stephen Rossiter, Dr. Allen Morris and Dr. Michael Chang

New Spanos Center EXTENDS REACH OF WORLD CLASS HEART CARE

hen it opens, the Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Center will combine the best of two worlds – a state-ofthe-art facility that is home to a nationally renowned cardiac care team. The Spanos Center will be a part of the Dignity Health Heart & Vascular Institute of Sacramento, which performs more heart surgeries annually than any other facility in California. The comprehensive program serves as a major referral center for advanced cardiac care. In 2013, Dignity Health Heart & Vascular Institute achieved the highest rankings from the nation’s leading reporting agencies, recognizing excellence in cardiac surgery, cardiac intervention, heart failure, heart attack, cardiac critical care

and rehabilitation. “The Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Center will be a tremendous benefit and resource for the community and region,” said Edmundo Castañeda, President of Mercy General Hospital. “Mercy General prides itself in the fact that its heart and vascular program rivals the most renowned, academic hospitals in the country. The Spanos Center will continue to build on that rich tradition by providing physicians access to cutting-edge technology, while offering patients superior clinical and quality outcomes.” The 123,000-square-foot Spanos Center provides a new main entrance for Mercy General Hospital and houses all cardiac care services conveniently under one roof. n

The Spanos Center offers some of the most advanced treatments available in Northern California, including: 7UDQVFDWKHWHU $RUWLF 9DOYH 5HSODFHPHQW 7$95 – a less invasive aortic valve repair that does not require open heart surgery 9HQWULFXODU $VVLVW 'HYLFH 9$' – a mechanical pump used to treat patients living with advanced heart failure GD9LQFL 6XUJLFDO 6\VWHP 5RERWLF $VVLVWHG 9DOYH 6XUJHU\ – a less invasive valve repair that provides quicker recovery, less pain and bleeding +\EULG &DWK /DE 6XUJLFDO 6XLWH – an advanced procedure room combining highdefinition imaging capabilities of a traditional cath lab with the advanced surgical equipment of a full cardiac operating room

This original fabric art collage by Merle Sirlin is one of hundreds of art pieces selected to bring about the healing power of art

$GYDQFHG +HDUW 'LVHDVH &OLQLF – providing access to advanced diagnostic and treatment options

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The gift from the Spanos family

Philanthropic Support CRITICAL TO NEW HEART CENTER

has encouraged more than 500 other

hope that patients at the new cardiac

individuals and families to support

center would receive the best care and

the project. Son Dean A. Spanos says

that no one would be turned away

the opening of the Spanos Center will

because of lack of space. This is really

mark the beginning of this chapter of

a dream come true.”

his father’s legacy. “We are extremely

To learn more about the many ways

pleased to celebrate with the Mercy

you can support the Alex G. Spanos

community and the region the grand

Heart & Vascular Center and other

opening of the Alex G. Spanos Heart

works of the Sisters of Mercy, contact

he Alex G. Spanos Heart

& Vascular Center. It’s an amazing

Mercy Foundation at 916.851.2700

& Vascular Center is truly

facility and we are proud to have

or at www.supportmercyfoundation.

the work of hundreds of

played a role in making it possible.

org. n

philanthropic supporters, including past patients and community

Alex and Faye Spanos

members. To date, $22.8 million

and will continue to have on our

in charitable gifts have been

community.”

contributed to the project. “The

The lead gift came from Stockton

remarkable philanthropic support

businessman and philanthropist Alex

really speaks to the stature of

G. Spanos. Mr. Spanos was a patient

the heart and vascular program

at Mercy General, undergoing a

at Mercy General Hospital,” says

coronary artery bypass surgery. The

Kevin Duggan, President and

quality of care he received inspired

CEO of Mercy Foundation. “Our

him to pledge $15 million – one of

donors recognize the impact this

the largest donations ever made to a

remarkable program has had

Sacramento hospital.

It was my father’s deepest wish and

POCKET APR n 14

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Poison Control YOU HAVE TO BE VIGILANT TO KEEP YOUR PETS AWAY FROM THE BAD STUFF

BY SUE OWENS WRIGHT PETS & THEIR PEOPLE

f I had chosen another name for my basset hound, Beau, when I adopted him, it would have been Dyson. Like a Dyson Animal vacuum cleaner, he scours the floor for any morsel of food. There is absolutely nothing this guy won’t suck up, which can be a problem if he finds something he shouldn’t eat. I have to be vigilant about dropping pills on the floor because many human medications can be harmful or even deadly to pets. There are plenty of other substances that are dangerous for pets if not handled with care. Accidental droppage isn’t the only concern with dogs. Some are trash raiders, or you may have an artful counter cruiser like my Daisy was. Her long, slinky basset body was ideal for the job. There was nothing Daisy couldn’t manage to nab from our dining table, but her favorite prize was a stick of butter. I’ve even heard of dogs pushing a chair up to the kitchen counter in order to reach the Sunday roast or Thanksgiving turkey.

POCKET APR n 14

It’s tempting to share people food with our dogs, especially when they beg and give you The Look That Cannot Be Refused. But many of the foods we enjoy are not safe for dogs to eat. The list seems to grow ever longer as people discover, often disastrously, that a dog’s digestive system isn’t the same as ours. Most people already know about the dangers of chocolate, which contains caffeine and theobromine. Although the risk of poisoning depends upon the size of the dog and the amount and type of chocolate ingested (the darker the more dangerous), it’s wise to keep it all safely out of their reach, especially around holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas, when chocolate goodies are more likely to be found around the house.

It’s tempting to share people food with our dogs, especially when they beg and give you The Look That Cannot Be Refused. But many of the foods we enjoy are not safe for dogs to eat. Onions, garlic, grapes and raisins can also be harmful to dogs. Other things the ASPCA warns against include avocado, bread dough, ethanol, hops (no suds for Spuds!), macadamia nuts, moldy food and

xylitol. Xylitol is the artificial sweetener contained in sugarless chewing gum, candies, medications and nasal sprays. It causes blood sugar to drop and liver failure in dogs (not cats). One of my dogs loved chewing gum, but those were in the days before sugarless gum. Other pet toxins include NSAIDS; over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications; prescription ADD/ADHD medications; glucosamine joint supplements like Cosequin and Move Free; and iron-containing oxygen absorbers found in food packages like beef jerky or pet treats. For a more comprehensive list of what

to avoid, go to petpoisonhelpline. com, which contains a wealth of information and includes a 24/7 animal poison center hotline. In cases of suspected poisoning, the sooner your pet is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. It’s not always so easy to know whether your dog has overdosed. If your dog is normally hyperactive, it may be harder to tell when he’s showing signs of poisoning. But if your box of chocolates is missing, Sparky is probably the culprit. Dogs exhibiting more than mild restlessness should PETS page 29

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Stop and Go ALPHONSE AND GASTON HIT THE STREETS

BY WALT SEIFERT GETTING THERE

lphonse and Gaston were early-1900s cartoon characters with a penchant for excessive politeness. Over time, the foolish, fawning Frenchmen were immortalized. People still say, “After you, my dear Alphonse” and “No, you first, my dear Gaston!” in situations in which somebody refuses to act until someone else acts first. Four-way stop-sign-controlled intersections create uncertainty among road users about who should go first. If you throw in an Alphonseand-Gaston routine, the situation gets more complicated yet. When motorists and bicyclists meet at fourway intersections, the results can be amusing, but the outcomes can also be confusing, frustrating, annoying and dangerous. Not all drivers or bicyclists are like Alphonse and Gaston, eager to defer to others under all circumstances. The way I see it, there are at least three kinds of cyclists when it comes to dealing with stop signs at intersections. There are bicyclists who faithfully come to a complete stop at every stop sign. These are a distinct minority. There are cyclists

POCKET APR n 14

who slow down and scan the cross street. They roll through the intersection if there is no conflicting traffic and stop if there is. Then there are bicyclists who flagrantly ignore stop signs and expect the little people to make way for their privileged passage. They blast through intersection after intersection, seemingly without a care in the world despite the risks they are taking. I see four kinds of drivers. There are drivers who fail to stop at all. Thankfully, these scofflaws are extremely rare. There are many drivers who make “California stops,” slowing down and rolling into and through intersections. There are drivers who come to complete stops, ceasing motion in accord with the vehicle code. Then there are the Alphonses and Gastons of both sexes who stop, wait and wave bicyclists through the intersection no matter who arrived first. This courtesy is not normally extended to other motorists, just cyclists. It’s understandable why some drivers wave bicyclists through. They

may be considerate. They know that starting and stopping a bike takes energy. So as to not inconvenience bicyclists, they wave instead of go even if they aren’t legally bound to yield the right of way. They also know any bicyclist they encounter may be a Type 3, “I’m not stopping for anybody” kind of guy. (It’s usually a male, in my experience.) Failure to yield to these idiots could have gruesome consequences.

The different driver and bicyclist types make for a large number of possible encounter combinations. For example, polite drivers may also meet Type 1 or 2 bicyclists who do stop when required and don’t want the rules of the road suspended for their benefit. Then what? I have to admit that I’m a Type 2. I roll through stop signs when there is no other traffic. But if there is a motorist who reaches the intersection before me (or at the same time and is on my right), I yield the right of way. If the driver tries to wave me through, I may shake my head no. Sometimes, instead of a headshake, I assiduously avoid all eye contact and stare at the pavement. This happened one time with a motorist who was far more patient than most. Instead of taking the hint and proceeding, he waited. I waited. He waited some more. I waited, eyes fixed on my feet. After maybe two minutes of this standoff, he rolled down the window and yelled, “Are you all right?” I responded, “Yes. Just go!” One reason I stop and yield is I don’t really trust a wave, or the nighttime signal of blinking

headlights, however well intentioned such gestures usually are. Maybe I’m paranoid, overly cautious or don’t know how to reciprocate a kindness. But if I go when I should be yielding and then get hit, it’s my fault. After all, the motorist may be waving at a fly or can claim after a crash that he didn’t wave at all.

The different driver and bicyclist types make for a large number of possible encounter combinations. When I’m riding with my wife, things are more complicated yet. Like most bicyclists, she’s inclined to roll through stop signs if there’s no other traffic. But unlike me, if a motorist waves her through, she’s inclined to accept the gesture and extend a cheerful thank-you wave in return. So do we ride together or each do our own thing, one stopping and one going, confusing things further? I wish everyone would simply obey the law. When cycling, I anticipate that drivers who get to an intersection before me will proceed based on their arrival. I time my arrival accordingly and everything flows smoothly. When, instead, the driver stays put and waves me through, my subsequent refusal and stopping turns us into Alphonse and Gaston. It’s an impediment to smoothly flowing traffic instead of a help. Following the directions of other road users is inherently risky. Gestures can be misinterpreted or may suggest an unwise course of action. It’s your responsibility to determine what’s safe, not someone else’s. Being polite is wonderful, but it’s not always the right thing to do. Walt Seifert is a bicyclist, driver and transportation writer. He can be reached at bikeguy@surewest.net. He wishes California law were the same as Idaho’s, where bicyclists are allowed to treat stop signs as yield signs, making legal what usually and safely happens anyway. n

PETS FROM page 26 be seen by a veterinarian. If your pet is showing more obvious signs of poisoning, like vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness or collapse, don’t delay in seeking treatment. Your pet’s life could depend on your rapid response. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because he has purged the offending substance he’s OK. He’s likely not. The legalization of medical marijuana poses a new danger for pets. People are coming home to find their canine stoned on cannabis. Though fatalities are fortunately rare, dogs can exhibit overdose symptoms like vomiting, tremors and urinary incontinence.

If you love growing a garden, make sure you maintain a pet-friendly one. Springtime means people are planting showy gardens for summer, and that can cause trouble for pets who consume snail bait, insect traps, rodenticides or other deadly poisons. Some brands of mulch contain harmful substances like cocoa, which attracts animals but can also kill them. So can many varieties of plants. If you love growing a garden, make sure you maintain a pet-friendly one and carefully read the warning labels on products before using them around pets. When you have pets, you must guard against potential dangers in and around your home to ensure their safety. Making certain that potentially harmful substances are kept out of their reach can prevent disaster and costly visits to the vet. Extra caution is advised with clever counter cruisers and Dyson doggies. Sue Owens Wright is an awardwinning author of fiction and nonfiction about dogs. She writes the Beanie and Cruiser Mysteries for dog lovers. Her latest book in the series is Braced for Murder. For more information, go to sueowenswright. com. n

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Good Bones THIS CURTIS PARK TUDOR NEEDED JUST A FEW TWEAKS TO MAKE IT PERFECT

BY JULIE FOSTER HOME INSIGHT

“We didn’t choose this house. It chose us,” says Gunvalson.

POCKET APR n 14

2. 1. The living room is warm and comfortable, filled with unique artwork and collections. 2. Built-in bookcases in the den provide lots of storage space.

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HOME page 32

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“Curtis Park as a whole is great, but our street is the best,” Gunvalson says. “It is like a family.”

The covered courtyard is used all year, including Thanksgiving and Christmas

FROM HOME page 31

ennis Gunvalson and Richard Bay were bicycling through Curtis Park in 2003 when they fell in love with a 1932 Tudor. “We didn’t choose this house. It chose us,” says Gunvalson of the house, one of seven on this year’s Curtis Park Home & Garden Tour. Though the house lacked a master bathroom and there was little backyard landscaping, the pair recognized the 2,000-square-foot structure’s potential immediately. Both were residing in small houses and wanted to buy a home together. The charming, well-maintained brick house met their basic requirements. Still, they were eager to make it their own. “On day one, we began making small changes in stages,” Gunvalson explains.

POCKET APR n 14

They repainted the interior and replaced the electrical wiring and plumbing fixtures. They retained the original leaded-glass windows but replaced others in the master bedroom for comfort and energy efficiency. “It used to get really hot up here before, and functionally we don’t have to fight to get the windows up and down,” Bay says. The pickled wood floors were a grayish color, so the couple redid them in a warm golden brown. Though the kitchen won an award in the 1990s from Good Housekeeping magazine and was still in good shape, the floral wallpaper, fabric swags and linoleum had to go. Gunvalson and Bay installed new a new kitchen sink and appliances but kept the cabinets. Gunvalson, the cook in the family, notes that the

kitchen allows for good traffic flow during parties or family gatherings. The space has plenty of built-in storage with the additional benefit of a partial basement close by. They make the most of the space, using it as a laundry room, pantry and wine cellar. “We don’t really have a lot of complaints over a kitchen that was remodeled over 25 years ago,” Gunvalson explains. Off the kitchen, the slightly curved hallway allows easy passage between the kitchen, living and dining rooms, as well as space for a small bar area, refrigerator and piano. In the dining room, the couple displays some of their extensive art collection, which features works by Sacramento artists C.W. Hurni, Steve Memering, Tina Reynolds, Deborah Pittman, Kristen Phillips Gray and homeowner Bay. The library contains some of their many books, housed on shelves they built themselves. Bay’s sizable collection of DVDs sits under the flat-screen TV. The room opens to the backyard, where they added a deck,

fountain and hot tub. An antique Wedgwood range in the backyard provides space for serving and storage when the couple takes meals alfresco. Adding a gate across the driveway, Gunvalson and Bay created an interior courtyard, which was the site of last year’s Christmas dinner for 12.

The couple’s most extensive project involved converting the unfinished attic into an office space for the pair. The couple added a master bath complete with a large walk-in shower with dual showerheads. The vanity is an antique purchased from Three Women and an Armoire in downtown Sacramento. They chose a vessel sink rather than the traditional sunken unit. With minor repairs, the drawers remained functional.

The couple’s most extensive project involved converting the unfinished attic into an office space for the pair. They added 10 inches of foam insulation to make the space energy efficient. Two Velux skylights add light, ventilation and a treetop view. A large walk-in closet, still covered in the previous owner’s floral wallpaper, provides additional storage space. “It once held gowns and hats of the previous owner, who was active in Sacramento’s Camilla Owners Dennis Gunvalson and Richard Bay Festival,” Bay says. The pair is adamant about English finials on top of the courtyard their affection for where they live. pillars; woodwork throughout the Neighbors get together once a month house, which appears to be stained for wine tastings and passing along but is faux painted in the style of old family news, such as the birth of a Pullman train passenger cars. neighbor’s granddaughter. “Curtis Park as a whole is great, The 28th annual Curtis Park Home but our street is the best,” Gunvalson & Garden Tour takes place Saturday, says. “It is like a family.” April 26. Tickets are $20 in advance, Details to watch for during the $25 on the day of the tour. Sierra tour: Bay’s remarkable collection Curtis Neighborhood Association of puppets ( he is a puppeteer); a members get a $5 discount. For more sparkling collection of Depression information, call 452-3005 or go to glass in the kitchen; Bay’s mural off sierra2.org. the master bath; antique Oriental rugs throughout the home; an If you know of a home you African throne in the living room; think should be featured in Inside an African headdress in the upstairs Publications, contact Julie Foster at hallway; 1920s English stained foster.julie91@yahoo.com. n glass in the courtyard gate; 1850s

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Making Families LOCAL AGENCY BRINGS FOSTER KIDS TOGETHER WITH FOREVER FAMILIES

is a grandmother raising her grandchildren in what should be her retirement years, without any financial assistance, simply because she cares. “These families are amazing,” says Morabito. “They’re doing everything they can to keep their families together.” She notes that African-American children are four times overrepresented in the foster care system, so a disproportionate burden is borne by older African-American women.

BY TERRY KAUFMAN LOCAL HEROES

inzi Crans knew from the time she was in high school that she wanted to adopt. One of her friends had been adopted, and Crans felt so strongly about the subject that she told future husband Erick that they would be adoptive parents. “He was on board from the start,” she says. “I was so grateful.” Six years after they married, the Cranses began to look at local adoption agencies. When they learned about a private nonprofit agency called Lilliput Children’s Services, Crans recalls, “we immediately said, ‘Our kids are here,’ and we did the paperwork.” That was November 2005. Today, they have four children, all adopted through Lilliput. Founded in Stockton in 1980, Lilliput has been at the forefront of the private adoption movement for more than three decades. It was one of the state’s first foster family agencies to receive an adoption license, allowing it to certify families for both foster care and adoption. It was the first agency in California to create a “conversion” program to finalize the adoption of children placed in foster care through county

POCKET APR n 14

Lilliput has been at the forefront of the private adoption movement for more than three decades.

The Crans family. Photo courtesy of Diana Miller Photography.

and private agencies, and it has handled more adoptions—some 500 a year—than any agency in the state. “We operate on the premise that children in foster care are better served by a partnership between public and private agencies,” explains Elizabeth Morabito, Lilliput’s community relations manager. “We’re an extension of the public welfare system.” “The placement work is intensive,” says Morabito, “because what sets Lilliput apart is its focus on

permanence for children. If they can’t go to their birth family, we want to find a family that will adopt them.” The agency invests considerable resources doing thorough home studies, as well as providing adoption and post-adoption support services to families. The average length of time between placement and adoption is 10 months. Lilliput’s kinship program focuses on keeping children within their extended families whenever possible. The most common scenario

In May 2006, the Cranses were entrusted with a beautiful 20-monthold baby with whom they fell madly in love. “She was a failure-to-thrive child,” says Crans. “But as she became part of our lives, she began blossoming and thriving. We were worried about attachment happening, so Lilliput put us together with an attachment therapist.” Today their daughter is 9, gets straight A’s and loves to read and play piano. While they waited to finalize Baby No. 1’s adoption, Baby No. 2 entered their lives. “We found out that the adoption process would take longer, so we began to think about a little boy,” says Crans. “A week later they called us.” In January 2007, they

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brought home a 13-month-old who had difficulty sleeping and cried a lot. “After six weeks, he was a completely different little boy,” says Crans. “It’s amazing what love can do.”

Crans attributes their adoption success to Lilliput’s social workers. They kept on going. In 2009, the second girl, an 8-month-old, arrived at their home after having already been in two other foster homes. She is now a kindergartner who does gymnastics. Three years ago, a tiny 7-week-old infant showed up in their lives. “We were terrified, because we had never had one that little,” says Crans. “The beginning was hard, but he grew into a chunky, happy, absolutely beautiful little boy.” Crans attributes their adoption success to Lilliput’s social workers.

“They really get to know you,” she says. “There are no secrets, so they know what you can handle. They find really good matches for families. I feel like the agency does a good job of making sure couples are ready and know what they’re getting into.” She also acknowledges the counseling and financial help that Lilliput provides to help work through children’s problems. Although Lilliput receives government funds, it relies on private donations. Its biggest source of unrestricted funds is the annual Derby Day fundraiser, to be held this year on May 3 at Mulvaney’s Building & Loan. In conjunction with the Kentucky Derby, prizes will be tied to horses running in the race, and there will be jazz bands, Southern-style food and both a silent and a live auction. Tickets to Derby Day are $60. For tickets or more information about Lilliput Children’s Services, go to lilliput.org.

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Challenge Accepted MY YEAR OF READING THE HOLY BOOK

BY KEVIN MIMS WRITING LIFE

ast year I read the Bible— every word of it. I even have the documentation to prove it: a certificate signed by the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California. It says, “Kevin Mims met The Bible Challenge by reading the Bible in one year, January 2013 to January 2014.” I may be the only atheist in town who can boast of having received such a citation. I was part of a group of people that met every Thursday, at noon, in a meeting hall at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Sacramento to discuss the Bible verses we had read that week. The Episcopal Church has a program called The Bible Challenge, which divides the text up into 365 easy installments. Each day, we were assigned a chapter or two of the Old Testament, a single psalm and a chapter of the New Testament. The people in my group tended to be older (in their 60s, 70s or 80s) and female. (I was one of only two men in the group.) The group included people who were raised in a variety of Christian faiths: Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc. One woman was raised a Seventh-day Adventist and

POCKET APR n 14

tended to read the Bible very literally. The cradle Episcopalians tended to view the Bible more metaphorically. Because I couldn’t bring any religious faith to these meetings, I decided to bring the next best thing: cookies. I was the only member of the group who didn’t miss a single Thursday session, and I brought cookies to all of them. Our group sessions were presided over by an Episcopalian priest, but she didn’t make any effort to pass herself off as an expert on the Bible or to discourage heretical thinking. We were there simply to discuss our thoughts on what we had read. We were not required to conform to Episcopal orthodoxy—or any other orthodoxy, for that matter. Reading the Bible from cover to cover in a short period of time emphasizes just what an odd document it is. It is less a book than a collection of books, many of which seem to be in conflict with each other. The Song of Solomon, for instance, is a sequence of poems that celebrate sexual love. How it found its way into the Bible, I don’t know. It is filled with beautiful and suggestive imagery: “Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits…” It would be difficult to run a longer quotation than that one without violating the standards of a family newspaper. Because sex is so often treated as a cause for shame and punishment in the Bible, it was refreshing to come upon a book that doesn’t have any Thou Shalt Nots in it, a book that celebrates love and allows its female narrator to talk openly about her desire without being branded a harlot. The women in my

group were particularly fond of it, having endured so many passages in the Bible that condemn women as wanton hussies. Many biblical books seem to be in conflict with each other. In 2 Samuel, we see King David behaving appallingly, committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband murdered. But later, in the second Book of Chronicles, many a subsequent king of Israel is criticized for not being an upright, godly leader like David. Again and again, we are told that David never did anything wrong in the sight of the Lord, and yet earlier passages of the Bible have detailed much wrongdoing on David’s part.

So which command should one follow if one wishes to live biblically? I was also surprised to see that the Bible contains some outright errors. In 2 Chronicles 21, we learn that King Jehoram of Israel died at age 40 and was succeeded by his son, Ahaziah, who was 42 at the time. The notes in the New Oxford Annotated Bible disclose that this error occurs in the original, so here is clear evidence that the Bible can be wrong. While reading the Bible, I found it difficult to understand how anyone can claim to follow it to the letter. In Leviticus, for instance, we find the famous injunction, “Anyone who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return: fracture for fracture,

eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” But in Matthew 5:39, Jesus says, “You have heard it said, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also…” So which command should one follow if one wishes to live biblically? You could argue that Jesus’ words trump those of the author of Leviticus. After all Jesus (and later Paul) frequently contradicts Old Testament teaching. (For instance, the O.T. is full of dietary restrictions, but Jesus tells his followers to eat whatever they want. He also rejects the Pharisees’ strict interpretation of the O.T. injunction against working on the Sabbath.) And yet elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus insists that every word of the Old Testament is to be followed: “Do not think I have come to abolish the law (of the Old Testament) … For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law.” So how did the members of my Bible Challenge group resolve these scriptural inconsistencies? We didn’t. The Bible, like humankind itself, is a record of evolution. Its harshest passages and most draconian laws come in its earliest books. Gradually, the Bible becomes less about rulemaking and the punishment of evildoers and more about being kind to others and looking after the needy. In the Old Testament, the list of people who inspire the wrath of God is long and wearisome. He wants children stoned to death for disobeying their parents.

is open for debate. After all, even Jesus, who often comes across as the ultimate peacenik, says at one point, “Do not think I have come to bring peace to the earth. I come not to bring peace but a sword.” To most of the Bible Challenge meetings I brought chocolate-chip cookies. Occasionally I decided to mix it up a bit. To one meeting, I brought a very popular type of cookie that I have always called a Russian tea cookie. When I showed up at the meeting with a bowlful of these, I was astounded to hear how many different names my fellow group members had for this one variety of cookie. Some knew them as Mexican wedding cookies. Some knew them only as Christmas cookies. One woman called them Italian butterballs. Another called them pecan puffs. Another claimed they were known as ambrosia balls, while still another woman just called them snowballs. Regardless of what they were called, we all enjoyed them. And no one insisted that her particular name for the cookie was the only truly

accurate one. In that regard, the Bible is a bit like a Russian tea cookie. Everyone in my group seemed to interpret the Bible in her own unique way. Rarely were we all in agreement about any particularly troubling passage of scripture. There’s nothing wrong with reading the Bible and trying to live by it. But it’s important to recognize that everyone interprets scripture in his or her own way. We live in a world where few people can agree on what to call a cookie made with powdered pecans, flour, salt, butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and a bit of powdered sugar. We’ll only create trouble for ourselves and others if we insist that everyone interpret a book written thousands of years ago by numerous different authors over a period of many centuries exactly the way we ourselves interpret it. That’s what I learned from my year of reading the Bible. Kevin Mims can be reached at kevinmims@sbcglobal.net. n

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He wants people punished for eating shellfish, getting tattoos, wearing polyblend clothing, shaving their beards, reading their horoscopes, working on Saturday, engaging in same-sex physical relations and a whole host of other behaviors that nowadays seem perfectly innocuous. Jesus’ list of evildoers is much shorter. He is silent on the matter of tattoos, horoscopes, homosexuality, beard shaving, polyblend clothing and most of the other Old Testament laws. Jesus saves most of his wrath for the rich. But even though the wealthy come in for a great deal of criticism from Jesus, he never comes close to calling for them to be punished in any way, at least not here on earth, and he certainly doesn’t want them executed. When you read the entire Bible, it’s hard not to notice that it tends to evolve away from punishment and in the direction of greater forgiveness and kindness to others. It becomes less tribal and more universal. It becomes less about rules and more about personal choices. But even this evolutionary reading of the Bible

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Shades of Gray HOW TO USE WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER DURING THE DROUGHT

BY ANITA CLEVENGER GARDEN JABBER

e’ve lived in the same East Sacramento house for nearly 40 years. A major drought was ending when we moved into our home, but the thought never occurred to us that the water that ran off our roofs and driveway could be put to use rather than sent gurgling down the drain. More worried about floods than drought, we spent considerable time and money employing plumbers and landscapers to move stormwater and wastewater off of our property as quickly as possible. Times have changed. The notion that rainwater and some wastewater can be kept on-site to recharge

groundwater and to irrigate plants has become increasingly accepted. Rather than letting water flow straight into the storm drains, why not let the soil filter it naturally? Having less water run off our property reduces the risk of flooding and lessens the need for water treatment. When we landscaped our backyard 10 years ago, we decided to use permeable pavement that allows water to flow through it. We installed decomposed granite for our walkways and built a brick patio set in sand. We also formed some gentle swales and berms to slow down excess rainwater and to give it a chance to be absorbed. We are now eyeing a depression in our front lawn, thinking that it can be transformed into a “rain garden” that will catch and use rainwater from our roof rather than directing it to the street. Even in a dry year, a lot of rain runs off our roofs. According to the Sacramento Stormwater

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Quality Partnership’s river-friendly guidelines, “During a 1-inch rain, 625 gallons of water can be collected from a 1,000-square-foot roof.” Rain barrels can be used to store part of that water. Even if you put them all around your house, you won’t get enough to last through our hot, dry summers, but it’s more than just a drop in a barrel. Rules have relaxed about using gray water, which is uncontaminated wastewater from bathroom sinks, showers, bathtubs and washing machines. California now allows installation of a simple “laundry to landscape” irrigation system without a permit, so long as it doesn’t require cutting the existing plumbing piping. The system needs a three-way valve so that flow can be directed back to the sewer, especially critical if you’ve washed diapers or other contaminated laundry. Pipes and valves must be

clearly labeled and must discharge the gray water into basins near trees, shrubs or planting beds, or stone covering. Gray water must discharge underneath a 2-inch layer of mulch, a plastic shield or stone covering. It can’t be allowed to pond or run off. Human contact should be avoided because there is a risk of harmful bacteria remaining in wash water. According to UC guidelines, gray water should be applied only to nonedible ornamental plants. Studies don’t show any problems with plants, which may actually benefit from some of gray water’s nutrients. Marsha Prillwitz, a Sacramento County Master Gardener and water consultant, says that choice of soap is important. She advocates “garden- and people-friendly cleaning products, shampoos, soaps, and detergents containing no dyes, bleach, chlorine, sodium, boron or

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While using gray water and stormwater can reduce your water needs, there are more effective ways to conserve water. Choose waterefficient plants and reduce your lawn. Focus on irrigating efficiently and wisely. Check your irrigation system to make sure that it’s working properly, water your plants deeply and no more frequently than your water district allows, and mulch, mulch, mulch your planting beds and trees. Anita Clevenger is a Lifetime Sacramento County UC Master Gardener. For answers to gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners at 875-6913 or go to ucanr.edu/ sites/sacmg. Their water-efficient landscape is always open at Fair Oaks Horticulture Center in Fair Oaks Park. You can visit the center and talk with Master Gardeners during the next Open Garden on Wednesday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is at 11589 Fair Oaks Blvd. n

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Love Affair With Art DURING TOUGH TIMES, MARCY FRIEDMAN FOUND SOLACE IN HER FIRST PASSION

BY DEBRA BELT

the field.” Friedman also studied with

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

the late Ken Morrow, an art professor at CSU Chico, creating a series of successful collages. However, she quit

arcy Friedman is running

painting “cold turkey” to focus on her

to get her camera. The

family. “I was a mom, and I loved it, ”

sun is streaming into the

she says.

atrium at her Carmichael home and

She began painting again in

backlighting a Hawaiian ti plant,

2011. After participating in a group

brilliant red in the morning light.

show at Sacramento Temporary

She snaps several photos.

Contemporary in 2012, she received

“You’ve got to get it when you

good feedback and inspiration to keep

can,” she says.

working. Last June, she had a piece in

While Friedman is referring to the

the Crocker Art Museum auction that

present moment, the statement aptly

sold for double the asking price.

summarizes her life. At age 78, she

“I’m highly motivated,” she says.

recently put the finishing touches on a

She tries to paint 25 to 30 hours a

series of acrylic paintings for her first

week and completes about a painting

solo show this month at Alex Bult

a week. “Last night, I worked from

Gallery in Midtown Sacramento.

3:30 to midnight.” Friedman hires

Friedman is widely known as an

models for three- to four-hour

arts advocate, community activist,

sessions, then takes photos for

Crocker Art Museum benefactor,

reference to complete her paintings.

businesswoman, mother of three

She works regularly with a small

successful sons, and wife of the late

group of local artists including Fred

developer Mort Friedman, who passed

Dalkey, Boyd Gavin and Pat Mahony.

away in 2012. A smaller group knows

Her figurative works are lush

Friedman for her painting, a lifelong

paintings of female figures often

passion she’s pursued off and on over

draped in fabrics Friedman collected

the years, but one that was never far

while traveling. The paintings

from her mind.

captivate the eye but also highlight

“Now I’m playing catch up, and

women from the perspective of

I can’t paint fast enough,” says

a woman who has spent her life

Friedman, clad head-to-toe in black

studying art, collecting art and

with a singular accent: large silver earrings. Working in acrylic, she has

Marcy Friedman in her Carmichael studio

more than 30 figurative paintings likely select about 24 pieces for the

family, and Mort knew I needed

gallery owner. “Benny was a very

April exhibit.

something else.” He encouraged her

good teacher,” she says, recalling that

The work marks her return to

to find a creative outlet, and through

he always looked like he was on his

painting after more than 40 years.

the San Juan Unified School District

way to an IBM meeting. “He always

“I did figurative work in the

she began taking classes with Benny

wore a suit, tie and polished shoes,

1960s,” she says. “We had a young

Barrios, a local painter, teacher and

even when we were out painting in

POCKET APR n 14

Looking at her career, Friedman says she was never dissociated from

ready for the show. She says Bult will

advocating art.

art. “What develops as a person interested in art is that you train your eye to observe,” she says. From the back of her home studio, she pulls out paintings she did in the ’60s, a series of portraits from the

modeling sessions Barrios

girls & boys from public or private schools are welcome!

arranged. They are loose, colorful works showing the evolution to Friedman’s current paintings. They help piece together the

Summer Classes & Camps

story of her lifelong artistic love affair. Marcy Lichter minored in art at Stanford University, where she was pre-med major planning to become a medical illustrator. “My father was of the mind that

For 5th-12th Grade Girls & Boys Arts, Academics, Sports & More!

I needed a profession,” she says. Things took a

different course when she met Mort Friedman in her

www.stfrancishs.org/summer Session 1: June 16 - July 3 Session 2: July 7 - July 25

sophomore year. “I dropped the art and science and took a summer session so that I could graduate in three years,” she says. She married Mort in 1955, and together they had a family and created a legacy that includes a $10 million donation to the Crocker Art Museum, fundraising

5900 Elvas Avenue . Sacramento, CA 95819 . 916.737.5040

to launch Shalom School and volunteer work that helped transform Thomas Jefferson Elementary School into a California Distinguished School. They turned their home into a refuge of beauty with tropical plants, a koi pond and a diverse art collection including a wide range of Northern California painters. They were together 57 years. “We were the eternal perfect couple,” she says, looking out her studio window at the nearby American River. “We were a team, always together.” Things changed in 2009 when Mort began a three-year battle with supranuclear palsy. “It was a difficult time,” Friedman says. “I was in the middle of this, and I needed to do something for my own mental health or I felt like

Couch potato no more.

I would go down, too. I tried to think of what I could do and still be there for him.” She remembered back to the ’60s and painting with Benny Barrios. “I went back to what I used to do,” she says. She put a tarp down in the office of their home and started painting again. “It has been an emotional lifeline,” she says. “Painting was just so important, especially in the year following Mort’s death.” Her show is titled “Life Lines,” which refers to the figurative works, but also to the deeper meaning of art and its ability to keep us afloat in difficult times. “Life Lines: New Paintings by Marcy Friedman” will be exhibited at Alex Bult Gallery (1114 21st St.) from April 8 to May 3. The openingnight reception will be held Saturday, April 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, go to alexbultgallery.com. Debra Belt can be reached at fab. studio@att.net. n

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Crown Jewels NEW AND LONGTIME ARTISTS TEAM UP FOR A KVIE BENEFIT SHOW

By Jessica Laskey RIVER CITY PREVIEWS

re you an avid art collector looking for that next great gem? Then don’t miss “essential six—A KVIE Arts Curated Exhibition,” on display at Tim Collom/Atelier 20 Gallery from Friday, April 11 through April 26. The installation will feature some fixtures on the Sacramento art scene—the late, great Laureen Landau, Jian Wang and a new, never-before-seen piece by Gregory Kondos—as well as up-and-coming area artists Collom, Micah CrandallBear and Kim Squaglia. “Together these works exemplify Sacramento’s crown jewels for art buyers seeking a strong representative Sacramento art collection,” says D. Oldham Neath, KVIE’s art curator and owner of Archival Gallery in East Sacramento. Proceeds from the art show and sale will benefit KVIE public television, the region’s PBS affiliate, and its mission to help everyone explore the worlds of art, history, current events, drama, nature and science through free, accessible television programming.

POCKET APR n 14

Catch Marcy Friedman’s first solo exhibition, “Life Lines”, at Alex Bult Gallery April 8 through May 3. Friedman returned to painting after a 42-year break.

For more information, call 6413663 or go to kvie.org. Tim Collom/ Atelier 20 Gallery is at 915 20th St.

COME BACK KID What happens when an artist picks up a paintbrush after 42 years of not painting? See the exquisite results at Marcy Friedman’s first solo exhibition, “Life Lines” at Alex Bult Gallery April 8 through May 3. You might recognize Friedman’s name due to her impressive

philanthropic ties to Sacramento. She and her late husband, Mort, have been among the area’s most generous donors. But this show reveals more than just a giving heart. It reveals the inner artist Friedman had set aside years ago as an arts minor during her years at Stanford University. Upon meeting her husband, Friedman decided to focus on raising their family, growing their business and giving as much as she could to various causes. It wasn’t until Mort

died in 2012 that Friedman returned to her initial interest. “(Painting) was a way to save myself during Mort’s long illness,” Friedman says. “I knew if I didn’t do something, I’d sink along with him.” More than four decades after ending her artistic studies, the prolific painter has returned to her studio, and the outcome is stunning. Meet Friedman and get a sneak peek of her work at the preview from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, or at the

Times best-seller list. He has appeared in numerous films, often as himself in all his homespun, hard-living glory. See him for yourself when he makes this unexpected tour stop just down the road in Davis. For tickets and more information, call 866-754-2787 or go to mondaviarts. org. The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts is just off Interstate 80 on Old Davis Road. Before Flying Monkey Productions’ new musical “Generation ME” travels to the Hollywood, Washington, D.C., and New York City Fringe festivals, catch its world premiere at Harris Center in Folsom from April 4-13.

TO BE …OR NOT TO BE artist reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. For more information, call 4765540 or go to alexbultgallery.com. Alex Bult Gallery is at 1114 21st St.

THE YOUNG AND THE GIFTED Lend an ear to the next generation of classical chamber musicians during the performance of the Mondavi Center/SF JAZZ High School All Stars at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, hosted by Sacramento Community Concerts at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Part 1 of the program will include performances by seven stellar student musicians, coordinated by Susan Lamb Cook, highlighting their favorite pieces from the chamber music repertoire. Hold on to your hats for Part 2 of the program: The Mondavi Center/ SF JAZZ High School All Stars will take the stage and blow your socks off. Under the direction of Mike McMullen, the premier jazz group of the Mondavi Arts educational outreach program is an elite ensemble of up-and-coming jazz musicians, all still in high school, who specialize in jazz of all kinds, from well-known

compositions to creations composed and arranged by group members. For tickets and more information, call 400-4634 or go to sccaconcerts. org. Westminster Presbyterian Church is at 1300 N St.

ALL IN THE FAMILY That rootin’, tootin’, guitarstrummin’, joke-crackin’ character is back: Willie Nelson and Family perform at the Mondavi Center at 8 p.m. on April 9 in a recently added performance that’s sure to sell fast. The multitalented Texan has recorded on more than 200 albums over six decades, including his most recent endeavors, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” in April 2013, featuring Nelson and Family, his touring and recording ensemble, and “To All the Girls” last October, which features duets of Nelson and 18 famous female singers, including Dolly Parton, Mavis Staples, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Wynonna Judd, Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones and Shelby Lynne. Nelson also has written a book, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” which landed on The New York

That may be the question, but the real question you’ll be asking yourself after seeing Theater Galatea’s production of “Hamlet”—running April 11 through May 10 at Geery Theater in midtown—is, “How did they do that?” Four performers will tackle Shakespeare’s arguably bestknown play in a whirlwind two-act production that is sure to leave your head spinning. You might even recognize one of those four actors up there: I’ll be playing Ophelia, Horatio and Laertes as well as producing this production with my co-artistic director and Hamlet-playing husband, p joshua laskey. With minimal sets and props, a soundtrack of contemporary pop hits and a healthy dose of playfulness, this play will surely be the thing to catch the conscience of the King. For tickets and more information, call 261-0262 or go to theatergalatea. com. William J. Geery Theater is at 2130 L St.

ONCE IN A GENERATION See it here first! Before Flying Monkey Productions’ new musical “Generation ME” travels to the

Hollywood, Washington, D.C., and New York City Fringe festivals, catch its world premiere at Harris Center in Folsom from April 4-13. This original musical, written by FMP founding artistic director Julie Soto and FMP musical director Will Finan, with direction by FMP founding executive producer Ryan Warren, tackles the tough tale of troubled teen Milo Reynolds. At 15 years old, Milo has it all: cool parents, a great girlfriend and plenty of popularity. But when he kills himself on a Monday morning, his friends and family are left wondering just what was on Milo’s mind. The heavy-hitting show is back on the boards after a one-weekend workshop in spring 2013 and, after a year of rewrites and recasting, it’s ready to shed light again on a generation that might be more miserable than it appears. For tickets and more information, call the Harris Center box office at 608-6888 or go to flyingmonkeyproductions.org. Harris Center’s City Studio Theater (Stage 2) is at 10 College Parkway in Folsom.

ROCK THE CROCKER Celebrate a slew of artwork— music, dance, theater, photography, design, film, poetry and prose—by Sacramento State’s talented faculty of the College of Arts and Letters at U-Nite at Crocker Art Museum from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 10. The third annual event full of exciting new projects, provocative dialogue and artistic unity is sure to keep the Crocker rocking all night long. The best part? Admission is free for museum members and Sac State students, faculty and staff, and is included with general admission for nonmembers. If you’d prefer a different, though hardly less dynamic, night of artistic endeavors, don’t miss Joanna Marie Frankel on violin at the Crocker Classical Concert at 3 p.m.on Sunday, April 13. The talented musician will play pieces including Niccolo Paganini’s “Caprices for Solo Violin,

PREVIEWS page 44

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PREVIEWS FROM page 43

Opus 1” to accompany the ongoing Sam Francis exhibition. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets soon by calling 808-1182. How did you see yourself in high school? Find out what this generation sees in itself at the reception for the “High School Self-Portrait Show” from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. This student exhibition will feature self-portraits from emerging teen artists in collaboration with Chalk It Up!, Christian Brothers High School and the Crocker’s own “Teen Takeover: Spring Break Edition,” an art jam that same evening for and by local youth. Teen Takeover will feature live bands, parkour demos, an open microphone, a hip-hop dance slam, interactive art making, a youthproduced fashion show and digital photography display. (Accompanying a teen? Chaperones can kick back for chair massages, cooking demos, art making and more in the Adult Lounge.) For the more mature arts patron, “Tour, Taste, Talk: Monterey Memories” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 is sure to delight— deliciously. After a tour of the Monterey landscapes in the current exhibition “Jules Tavernier: Artist and Adventurer” led by chief curator Scott Shields, sit down to sip and savor a tasting of Monterey wines and a three-course meal presented by Supper Club’s executive chef, Matt Woolston. Tickets are $55 for museum members, $65 for nonmembers. Since space is limited, it’s a good idea to reserve your seat in advance by calling 808-1182. Oh, baby! If you have an amateur artist on your hands who also happens to be younger than 18 months old, don’t miss “Baby Loves Art” from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15. This new program, which will take place every third Tuesday of the month, engages babies in a visually stimulating experience that’s sure to prepare the next generation of art aficionados. For baby’s best viewing, front carriers are recommended. (Strollers are allowed, but backpacks

POCKET APR n 14

are not.) And don’t worry if your tiny tot squeals with delight—all baby noises are expected and welcome. No fussy museum hush here. For information on all Crocker events, call 808-1182 or go to crockerartmuseum.org. Crocker Art Museum is at 216 O St.

CAT GOT YOUR PAINTBRUSH? Have you ever wished you could capture your furball’s fair features in paint, but you’re afraid you lack the skills? Then Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary’s Paint Your Pet fundraiser from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 is purr-fect for you. Grab your favorite photo, or clearest image in your mind’s eye, and let Creative Juices lead you in this guided class for artists of all levels. The $65 class fee includes a 16-by-20-inch canvas, paints, easel, brushes and an apron, as well as equally important supplies such as complimentary snacks, wine and other beverages. At the end of the class, you’ll have an original portrait of your pet you’ll be proud to display, and Happy Tails will receive some of the funds it needs to maintain its volunteer-run, no-kill pet sanctuary that finds loving homes for furry critters. For more information, email purrball@happytails.org or go to happytails.org. Paint Your Pet will take place at Sacramento County Animal Care & Regulation at 3839 Bradshaw Road.

THE SCENIC ROUTE Are you passionate about preserving our environment? Do you also enjoy short films? Then make a beeline for the Sacramento Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour at the Crest Theatre on Friday, April 25. This unique film festival was started in 2003 by the South Yuba River Citizens League to garner awareness and advocacy for regional environmental causes. This year’s event will feature several short films that address local issues such as sustainable development and energy, food and local agriculture,

Have you ever wished you could capture your furball’s fair features in paint, but you’re afraid you lack the skills? Join Happy Tails on April 12 and learn how.

wildlife protection and conservation, environmental activism and outdoor recreation. If you get hungry just walking into a movie theater, check out the zerowaste reception in the Crest lobby featuring food from the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op and other local caterers, with beer and wine available for purchase. Proceeds from the event will benefit the California Heartland Project, which seeks to “create a connected network of parks, preserves and conservation easements on working farms and ranches—creating access to open space for education and recreation, protecting the unique biological diversity found in the Sacramento Valley and conserving our agricultural heritage,” according to the project’s event and sponsorship coordinator, Jo Oseman. For more information, contact Oseman at 203-1220 or sacwildandscenic@gmail.com or go to ecosacramento.net. The Crest Theatre is at 1013 K St.

MUSIC MANIA Ready to hear some prolific pros strum those sizzlin’ strings? It’s time for the Sacramento Banjo Band’s annual Banjo-Rama festival May 1-4 at Clarion Inn. This ain’t your grandpa’s banjo playing. These are the best and the brightest of the professional music scene performing exciting arrangements on an array of fourstring banjos to raise money for charities, including Shiners Hospital for Children. This year’s four-day-long festivities will feature Navihanke, a talented touring group from Ljubljana, Slovenia, as part of their goodwill tour of the United States in cooperation with the Republic of Slovenia. Buddy Wachter, Charlie Tagawa, Steve Peterson, Jack Convery and Bill Lowrey, among others, also will perform. Bring your own banjo and jam with the pros! For tickets or more information, call 412-3020 or go to sacramentobanjoband.com. Clarion Inn is at 1401 Arden Way. n

Brewing Small, Thinking Big BREWERS POPPING UP THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN THE LEAST LIKELY OF PLACES

and a model for what a small brewery can accomplish. Visit Track 7’s humble digs across from Sac City College and you’ll most likely find a line out the (garage) door of this industrial haunt. You’ll also find one of the area’s best food trucks slinging hash in the parking lot, and Curtis/Land/Hollywood/Tahoe Park residents catching up with half-empty pints in their hands. 3747 West Pacific Ave.; 520-4677; track7brewing.com.

BY GREG SABIN RESTAURANT INSIDER

n the last few years, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of beer-themed establishments and events throughout the region. If your favorite restaurant doesn’t claim to have a world-class beer selection with rotating taps and brewers’ dinners, then it’s out of step indeed. In the wine-centric world of Northern California, beer is taking its rightful place as an equal. And while you will find an incredible selection of domestic and international brews at places like Pangaea Two Brews Cafe, The Shack, Capitol Beer and Tap Room and Flaming Grill Cafe, a new breed of local microbrewer is taking root in the region.

NEW GLORY CRAFT BREWERY

Focusing on beer alone, they’ve left the kitchen duties to the region’s growing fleet of food trucks. Stop by and enjoy a beer or two at Track 7 Brewing Company

Local players like Rubicon Brewing Company, River City Brewing Company and Hoppy Brewing Company have established a presence in the region built around a brewpub experience, serving custom brews along with traditional pubbish fare. These new brewers, however, have gone back to basics. Focusing on beer alone, they’ve left the kitchen duties

to the region’s growing fleet of food trucks. During Sacramento Beer Week (Feb. 27-March 9), I visited a number of new breweries. Tucked away in industrial parks and office complexes, these bare-bones establishments feel like honest expressions of the brewing culture. They’re laid-back, accessible, well priced and neighborhood-centric.

Here’s a small sampling.

TRACK 7 BREWING CO. One of the first of the new breed, Track 7 opened in late 2011 to decent reviews and a small but loyal following. Fast-forward a few years and Track 7 has become one of the region’s premier beer destinations

Most new breweries suffer growing pains when they first open a taproom. Most. Not New Glory. Open only a few weeks at writing, this joint is firing on all burners. The new taproom feels part clubby man cave, part factory break room. Leather couches and rich wood give way to industrial brewing equipment and corrugated roll-up doors. The beer selection ranges from a simple California common to rich, dark stouts and porters. The selection is impressive. The flavors are impressive. The whole enterprise is impressive. 8251 Alpine Ave.; 760-8306; newglorybeer.com.

DEVICE BREWING COMPANY This newish little tasting room is already outgrowing its modest confines. Owners Ken and Melissa Anthony (who are nice and modelRESTAURANT page 46

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2966 Freeport Blvd. l 442-4256 Visit freeportbakery.com Please Order by Wed. April 16 FROM from page 45 attractive, by the way) welcome every guest, most by name. The simple tasting room sports a few flat surfaces on which you can rest your beer (I suggest the Belgian blonde), and a few board games are scattered around. Children are welcome, dogs are welcome, all are welcome. There are plans to build an outdoor patio, expand the original footprint and add a few more taps. And, like almost every other small brewery in town, a rotating host of food trucks are available to satiate your hunger. 8166 14th Ave.; devicebrewing.com.

BIKE DOG BREWING COMPANY Just a quick hop over the river, Bike Dog Brewing Company is West Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shining star of brewing. Open only six months, this startup has plenty going for it.

POCKET APR n 14

Tucked away in an office park, Bike Dog already has down the brew/food truck/neighborhood vibe. What sets the place apart might be its beers and its branding. The logo (a dog rolling along on bicycle wheels) is whimsical and eye-catching. The merchandise, from sweatshirts and T-shirts to glasses and growlers, feels like a solid consumer investment. The beer, from the humble American wheat to the incomparable milk stout, will easily set it apart in a near-capacity field. 2534 Industrial Blvd., West Sacramento; (916) 432-3376; bikedogbrewing.com.

NEW HELVETIA BREWING CO. Eschewing the roll-up door/ industrial park model, New Helvetia opened in a long-neglected corner building on Broadway in 2012. The space has been stripped down to the

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studs and rehabbed into a comfortable hangout. Oversized windows let in light and the stares of thirsty onlookers as they watch you polish off one of Helvetia’s lovely brews. The coffee stout, a cooperative effort between New Helvetia and Naked Coffee, is particularly delicious, and the Buffalo Craft Lager is a salute to the straightforward, everyday beers brewed by Sacramento’s own Buffalo

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2 bed, 2 bth home in a gated 55+ community. Features glass HQFORVHG KRPH RIÂżFH FXVWRP SDLQW FURZQ PRXOGLQJ FRULDQ kitchen countertops, whole house fan, park like backyard and so much more! $360,000 LIZ GONZALEZ 718-4753

CLASSIC OLD LAND PARK HOME!

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