Arden Carmichael News - February 24, 2017

February 24, 2017 | www.valcomnews.com

Arden-Carmichael News — Bringing you community news for 26 years —

Autorama draws large crowds to cal expo, despite the rain See page 8

School News............................................5

City Kitchen Sacramento reinvents food delivery

Sacramento Button Club to hold Button Bazaar

Crossword....................................................6 Arts. ...........................................................10 Home Improvement Guide....................... 11 What’s Happening.................................. 13

See page 15

See page 3

SOLD: 6900 Lisa Marie, Carmichael $483,500

5424 Bentley Way

4 beds • 2.5 baths • $750,000

PENDING 2772 13th Street 2 beds • 1 baths $549,000

PENDING 2124 Citrine Way 4-5 beds • 3.5 baths $399,999

PENDING 3537 Imperial Way 3 beds • 2 baths $299,900

PENDING 250 Fernwood in Dixon 2-3 beds • 2.5 baths $450,000

3601 Tolenas Court, Arden Park $652,600 2221 Viola Way, Roseville $635,000

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Vol. XXVI • No. 4

Arden-Carmichael News is published on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Newspapers are available in stands throughout the area.

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Sacramento, CA 95818 t: (916) 429-9901 f: (916) 429-9906

Publisher...................................................................David Herburger Editor............................................................................... Monica Stark Art Director.......................................................................John Ochoa Graphic Designer..................................................Annin Greenhalgh Advertising Director................................................... Jim O’Donnell Advertising Executives................ Linda Pohl, Melissa Andrews Copyright 2016 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc. All rights reserved.

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Cover by: Monica Stark Other photos by: Dave Shafer Catie Loveless

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Arden-Carmichael News • February 24, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

From County Supervisor Susan Peters Congratulations to the property owners and businesses along Fair Oaks Boulevard and Manzanita Avenue who have formed a Property and Business Improvement District to enhance the economic vitality of this core area of Carmichael. This district basically consists of the commercial corridor properties along Fair Oaks Boulevard between El Camino Avenue and McClain Road and along Manzanita Avenue from Fair Oaks Boulevard to Jan Drive.

Sacramento County has several PBIDs serving the business corridors of unincorporated area including the Fulton Avenue Association and the Watt Avenue Partnership. Like those districts, the Carmichael PBID collects a special property tax assessment on properties within its borders and allocates those funds in accordance with a district management plan. The Carmichael district management plan can be viewed at <sites.google.com/site/carmpbid/>.

duce new items like appliances, building and industrial materials and textiles. The County’s Mattress Recycling Program, in coordination with Bye Bye Mattress through the Mattress Recycling Council allows individuals to drop off unwanted mattresses and box spring foundations for free at two county collection sites: North Area Recovery Station: 4450 Roseville Road in North Highlands with hours and other information.

Kiefer Landfill: 12701 Kiefer Boulevard and Grant Line Road in Sloughhouse with hours and other information.

At these locations, mattresses are sorted and loaded into trailers to be picked up by a dedicated mattress recycler.

Note that if you are replacing a mattress and getting a new one, California law applies a small disposal fee to every mattress purchase to cover the cost of recycling those old units.

If your new mattress units are being delivered, Transient Smart Policing be sure to have the retailer pick up the old Sacramento County’s Sheriff Department ones at the same time at no additional cost. recently received a $700,000 Smart Policing And if you don’t have a vehicle to transport a Initiative Grant for a three-year period from bulky item like a mattress, that’s OK. Sacramenthe U.S. Department of Justice to establish a to County Waste Management and Recycling partnership with Sacramento Steps Forward residential customers can have five cubic yards of and Sacramento State University to come up bulky items picked up at no additional cost once with the methods to reduce homeless-related a year, and each additional pickup is only $25. crime in the unincorporated area.

This effort will be piloted in the north area of To schedule a pickup, go online to make a Bulky Sacramento County and involves an assigned Waste Collection Appointment, or dial 875Navigator (ie: an outreach worker) from Sacra- 5555. For more information, visit <sacutilities. mento Steps Forward working with the Sher- org/Pages/MakanAppointment.aspx>. iff ’s Department to conduct vulnerability assessments and provide resource information to Can the leaves help get homeless individuals into services. SacLeaving large leaf piles on the road can clog ramento Steps Forward is the lead agency that storm drains as well as create traffic hazards connects homeless individuals in our area with for motorists and bicyclists. While Sacramento access to employment, health, education, and County does not have a pick-up service for leaf other resources necessary for providing individ- piles left in the street, residents in the unincorual stability. CSUS will evaluate and analyze porated area are provided with every-other week the data collected during the pilot project. green waste collection service with a green 30, 60, or 90-gallon container (your choice) provided by Finding Rover the County’s Department of Waste ManageThe Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Ani- ment and Recycling. That service alternates evmal Shelter is using facial recognition tech- ery other week with mixed recycling collection. nology to identify lost pets by offering county If your yard generates more leaves than a residents Finding Rover, a free app for smart- single green waste container can handle, it’s no phones and computers. problem because a second green waste can is Every dog that enters the Bradshaw Shel- available at no charge to you! ter is registered on Finding Rover and dog And for those residential parcels needing owners also can register their cherished pet more than two containers, additional ones can on it, too. When a user spots a lost dog, he/ be obtained for a modest price to accommoshe can take a photo either within the app, date those homes with a large number of leafor upload a photo from a device’s photo al- generating trees. bum. When a dog has been found and idenFor more information, visit <wmr.saccountified through Finding Rover’s facial recogni- ty.net/Pages/Curbside-Green-Waste.aspx>. tion software, the finder receives information on how to notify the owner. Learn about the Parkway Volunteer Success app, visit <findingrover.com/>.

The American River Parkway Foundation is a valuable partner with the County’s DeBye Bye Mattress partment of Regional Parks in maintaining Two thousand mattresses on average have the natural habitat and beauty of the 23-milebeen recycled monthly since the free mattress long American River Parkway. drop-off program was launched by SacraLast year through the Foundation’s efmento County’s Department of Waste Man- forts, more than 7,643 volunteers contributed agement and Recycling. That means fewer 18,000 hours to removing over 57,747 pounds discarded mattresses are stacking up in our of trash and 81,650 invasive plants plus mainlandfill and this effort has helped reduce ille- taining trails and much more. If you are intergal dumping, too. Now those mattresses and ested in volunteering or learning more, visit box sprigs instead are being recycled to pro- <arpf.org/index.html>.

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Sacramento Button Club to hold Button Bazaar

By Laura I. Winn

Think about your clothes.

Picture your jackets, jeans and sweaters. Can you visualize the buttons on each item? Do the details jump out at you, or are the buttons just there to serve their fastening purpose?

Function over fashion is typical of today’s buttons, but vintage and antique buttons tell a different story.

From buttons crafted out of black glass or white pearl to buttons hand carved of wood or hand painted with intricate pictures, these accessories are considered miniature works of art by their dealers and collectors. On March 4, the collectors in the Sacramento Button Club invite the public to see the difference for themselves at Button Bazaar, a free event featuring a diverse selection of buttons for sale from 18 Western dealers inside the La Sierra Community Center.

The Sacramento Button Club, a 52-year-old nonprofit organization, has hosted the Button Bazaar every other year for the last 10 years.

For first-timers, the sheer amount and variety of buttons at the bazaar can be overwhelming.

“People walk in the door and stand there like a deer in the headlights,” explained Faye Wolfe, a 20-year veteran of the club, and one of the event’s organizers. “They just cant imagine there are that many different kinds of buttons.”

Although the vintage, antique, handmade and military buttons are the draw for many collectors and can cost hundreds of dollars per button, dealers will have an assortment of budget-friendly buttons ideal for sewing and crafting. For hobby projects, scout the tote box collections, which offer deals such as five buttons for $1 or $1 each.

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Because most crafters and seamsters are accustomed to what’s available at stores like JoAnn’s and Michaels, Wolfe said as newcomers browse the collections, they often exclaim,“I’ve never seen a button like that!”

Finding that one unique button that speaks to the shopper is a thrill for general hobbyists and serious collectors alike. “The most challenging part of this hobby is the hunt,” explained Sacramento Button Club member Sue Rhoades. “Collectible buttons are still very attainable, but you need connections to find them.”

The Button Bazaar will not only connect shoppers with dealers, but it will also connect collectors with appraisers and give the community a chance to learn about the history and importance of buttons. If you’ve inherited your grandmother’s prized picture buttons or your grandfather’s military service buttons, the Sacramento Button Club encourages you to bring them in for free a appraisal and assessment.

Although the Sacramento Button Club is currently “rebuilding” and boasts just 16 members who meet at UC Davis on the second Saturday of the month, button collecting is still a popular hobby nationwide. In California, there are a dozen official clubs under the umbrella of the California State Button Society.

For many members, it’s a hobby that has been passed down through the generations.

Wolfe remembers her mother’s own unofficial button club in the 1950s.

Wolfe’s mother and six friends would write to European manufactures to request buttons for bracelet making. At a penny a button, it was an affordable way to create jewelry to color-coordinate with every outfit.

Photo by Dave Shafer

Now Wolfe collects buttons to display in frames as artwork on her walls. Her favorites are 18th century pearl buttons, as well as wood buttons by acclaimed Bay Area artist Jon Sauer. Sauer, whose artisan wood works are on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, will be one of the featured dealers at the bazaar.

Buttons dating to the 1700s will also be for sale.

“When it comes to art and fine craftsmanship, these collector buttons are comparable to fine glassware, jewelry, metalwork, ceramics, enameling, woodworking and paintings,” explained Rhoades.

“They’re absolutely beautiful works of art,” added Wolfe.

If you go: What: Button Bazaar When: Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: La Sierra Community Center, 5325 Engle Road in Carmichael Cost: Parking and admission is free; a $2 donation is suggested.

Contact: Faye Wolfe at 489-1785

www.valcomnews.com • February 24, 2017 • Arden-Carmichael News

The Carmichael Recreation and Park District and SactoMoFo present Food Truck Mania!

The Carmichael Recreation and Park District and SactoMoFo returns with the everpopular Food Truck Mania every first Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. As always, there’s a delicious range of gourmet food trucks, great music, and tons of family fun. All Food Truck Mania events are free to the public - the only cost is the food & treats you choose to enjoy!

Can I bring my pet?

All well behaved animals on a leash while on site are welcome! However, please think twice before bringing your furry friend. If your pet has issues with crowds, loud noises and lots of sensory stimulation, or has issues getting along with other animals, you should consider leaving them home.

Do trucks accept credit/debit cards?

Yes, all trucks accept cash and credit/debit cards.

Will you have alcoholic beverages?

Most of our events are alcohol free, however some of our select events do feature beer gardens Will there be places to sit and eat? for our adult guests. All guests must provide a Yes! SactoMoFo always provides tables and valid photo ID and be 21+ in order to purchase chairs at Food Truck Mania events, however alcoholic beverages. When drinking a beer purwe encourage you to bring picnic blankets and chased at one of our events, please be mindful of chairs if you want to spread out and enjoy our the event’s fencing perimeter and toss your cup various park venues picnic style! before exiting the designated event space.

If I am vegetarian or vegan, will there be food I can enjoy too?

Yes! Many trucks offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meal options. Inquire at the truck of your choice to see what menu items meet your dietary parameters.

Will my kids enjoy the event?

Absolutely! At SactoMoFo we pride ourselves in being able to offer a truly family friendly environment for our guests, which almost always includes a selection of children’s entertainers like balloon artists, face painters, bounce houses and more! All music that is played at our events never exceeds a PG level, so feel free to bring the whole family for an evening of safe and delicious fun!

Is smoking allowed at the event?

Smoking is strongly discouraged in all event spaces, as many of our attendees are families with young children.

How can I have food trucks at my event/for my next special occasion?

It’s easy! Contact us at info@sactomofo. com with your event inquiry and one of our event coordinators will happily provide you with options for your next corporate or private party! If you want to celebrate food truck style but don’t have the budget for a fully catered event, ask us about our Food Truck Mania Party Package options to find out how to bring YOUR party to our next Food Truck Mania event!

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Arden-Carmichael News • February 24, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

Women’s Wisdom Art Transforms Women’s Lives in Our Community

By Jan Dalske

When Laura Ann Walton founded The Wisdom Project in 1991, as a part of Maryhouse, it was a daytime shelter for homeless women and children. The program was initially designed as an art empowerment program for women who were working to overcome poverty, homelessness, violence, and abuse.

The women formed an artist’s co-op and always donated a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the art that they created back into the program. Women’s Wisdom ART, what the current program is known as, operated under the wing of The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services from 2000 to 2012.

In June of 2012 Women’s Wisdom ART (WWA) was led

by Laura Ann Walton, Helen Plenert, and a small Board of Directors, as well as a large group of volunteers. It operated as a non-profit corporation under the umbrella of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, received additional small grants and depended mostly on private donors. Ms Plenert recently retired after serving as the Program Director for WWA for ten years.

Last year, the organization celebrated a milestone of twenty five years of service to local women. The women they help have experienced some sort of trauma in their lives.

The WWA staff members believe that the arts helps enliven and empower. As a result the lives of the women changed and they begin to heal themselves. Arriving at that milestone was a challenge.

The program was slated to be closed down in 2012, as the recession took its toll on funding sources. But, some very dedicated volunteers and women that had been helped in the program convinced the leadership to keep it going. They kept it going, and helped it to thrive. The past five years were difficult.

But, Ms Plenert was determined not to let the program fail.

2016 marked the 25th anniversary for WWA. In June of that year the WWA became an independent 501c3 organization. The artist members now include a diverse range of women from across a broad spectrum. But, they all have two things in common: they are all women and they are all artists. They gather in their community to create art as a way to escape isolation, recover from illness or loss. They forge new friendships and become empowered to transform their own lives and the lives of others in their families and communities.

As a part of their celebration they developed an anthology which includes poems written by the members of the Wisdom community for the last 25 years. The title of the Wisdom Poetry Anthology is “Lift It Tenderly”. During the last 25 years over 2,000 women have attended WWA. There are poems that were written by participants from 1991 to 2016. It is remarkable to read the thoughts expressed by the many poets over those 25 years.

This unique collection of poetry celebrates a chorus of voices, transparent with simplicity, honesty and courage. Many of the poems are the very first that the writers had attempted.

Others have written poetry all of their lives and have received recognition and prizes for their efforts. By purchasing a copy of this anthology you can experience the wisdom of the poems, such as “From the death of innocence is born deep wisdom… from the dark, dark storm arise people of the wild who know pure wisdom…” Louie The Wisdom Poetry Anthology was presented to the public Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Parkway Theatre in South Sacramento. If you missed this special event you can call the office at 916-838-2981 or email WisdomArt@womenswisdomart.org They will be happy to tell you how you can support these women as they work to improve their lives.

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School News Nominate someone for Teacher of the Year The San Juan Unified School District and the Board of Education realize that there are many outstanding employees in service within the district. To recognize outstanding teachers, the district is now accepting nominations for the Teacher of the Year program.

Two Teachers of the Year will be selected based on the nomination form, application, interviews and classroom observations. If you know a teacher who goes above and beyond for the San Juan Unified School District and the surrounding community, you may nominate them for consideration. Any San Juan employee or member of the surrounding community may submit a nomination.

Nomination forms are due by Thursday, March 16 and may be found online at www.sanjuan.edu/TOY. A new, free app to help you stay connected with school Mobile app San Juan Unified is excited to announce the release of a mobile app designed to keep families better informed and connected to what’s going on in your schools. The app is FREE and available for download today on both iPhone and Android smartphones.

2. Search for “San Juan Unified.”

3. Select our San Juan Unified app for free download.

4. Open the app, and select the schools you wish to follow.

5. Click the “Student Info” button to login with your Parent PIN or Student ID and password. (Not sure about your credentials? Visit www.sanjuan.edu/parentportal to request your login information) 6. Click the “Settings” icon to customize push notifications and newsfeeds.

Visit www.sanjuan.edu/app to explore additional resources and provide feedback about your app experience.

Parent Leadership Academy offers look into district decision-making PLA decision-making Parents, family members and guardians looking to build their leadership skills and get more involved in district decision-making are invited to attend the upcoming Parent Leadership Academy. These classes are designed for individuals who want to be parent leaders and who want to be more informed about how decisions are made at the district level to support academics.

The 90-minute classes will meet Thursday eveThe app delivers school nings starting March 2 and news to your smartphone ending April 6 from 5:30 – for quick, easy access while 7 p.m. at the district office, you’re on the go. With the 3738 Walnut Ave. in Carapp you can: michael. Participants must 1. Get the latest district and commit to participating in school news. all six sessions. Childcare 2. Select the schools you want and a light meal will be proto follow.

3. Get push notifications about emergencies, events and more.

4. Access grades, assignment and attendance information and set up custom alerts.

5. View a calendar of school events and sync information to your phone calendar.

6. Contact teachers and staff directly using the app directories.

File photo by Monica Stark

This is a photo taken from the 2013 Race for the Stars. This year’s event will take place at Rio Americano High School on Sunday, April 26.

vided. Translation will be provided upon request.

Participants will learn about: District initiatives and the educational system Local Control Funding Formula, district budget resources and Title I Parents’ rights and advocacy Common Core State Standards Student evaluation and assessment How district committee members are selected Participants will have the opportunity to: Interact with other parent leaders, district Board of Education members and members of the superintendent’s cabinet Share their hopes and dreams for all students in the San Juan Unified School District

Get ready for Race for the STARS Race for the Stars The seventh annual 5K Race for the STARS run/walk/kids race takes place on Sunday, April 23 at Rio Americano High School, 4540 American River Drive in Sacramento.

All San Juan Unified schools can use the race as a fundraiser. Schools receive $10 for each adult and $5 for every student/child that register in the school’s name.

The race offers a commemorative shirt, medals for all kids run participants, awards in age divisions and ChronoTrack chip timing by Capital Road Race Management.

In addition to the 5K run/ walk and kids races, there is a Family Festival with food, music, entertainment, prizes, raffles and activities for all ages. Younger students

will enjoy performances by high school groups and photos with mascots like Dinger of the River Cats.

New this year is the Healthy Eating Expo organized by the San Juan Unified Nutrition Department showcasing the nutritious food offered at San Juan Unified schools, the district’s nutrition education program and more.

Details and registration at www.raceforthestars.com.

This is your opportunity to support our schools while working out, spending time with family and friends and sampling healthy foods.

San Juan Education Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that provides funding for innovative learning directly to San Juan Unified classrooms through teacher grants in the focus areas of Science, Technology, Arts and Reading (STARS).

You can download the new app in a few easy steps: 1. On your smartphone, go to the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

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www.valcomnews.com • February 24, 2017 • Arden-Carmichael News

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Arden-Carmichael News • February 24, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

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Sacramento publisher, resident launches new statewide LGBT publication

By BonnIe oSBoRne

Fred Palmer has been a tireless advocate for equal rights for LGBT people and for other marginalized communities for decades.

He is one of a handful of local business owners who founded the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce some 15 years ago. He has served on the boards of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center; WEAVE, which supports victims of domestic violence; and Wells Fargo’s community advisory board.

He created Sacramento’s monthly Drag Queen Bingo charity fundraising events, raising more than $100,000 for local non-profit organizations before handing over the reins to the Rainbow Chamber in 2015.

And in 2013, when federal courts overturned California’s anti-equality ballot measure Proposition 8, he launched the Sacramento LGBT Wedding Expo, a vendor fair that both celebrated the right of LGBT people to marry and offered local businesses an opportunity to benefit from the ensuing “gay wedding boom.” Last but not least, Palmer is creator and publisher of Outword Magazine, a bi-weekly print publication featuring news and information targeted to the region’s LGBT readers now in its 22nd year.

Then the election of 2016 happened. Like millions of other Americans, Palmer suddenly feared that the progressive values and civil rights advances he had worked so long and hard for would be threatened. After many sleepless nights, he arrived at a course of action that would allow him to harness his talents and experience to make a difference and help counter the epidemic of falsehoods and “fake news” that continues to plague the U.S. political landscape: He would start a new magazine. “I thought, ‘I have to do something. What can I do?’” Palmer recalls of his epiphany. “And I realized that what I know how to do is publish an LGBT magazine.”

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Debuting January 4, 2017, the online publication Outword California expanded Sacramentobased Outword Magazine’s reach statewide. Its editorial focus will be to inform LGBT Californians, and those interested in visiting the Golden State, about the attractions, activities, events, natural beauty and people that make it such a special place—and to provide a forum where LGBT people can find accurate news and information about the issues impacting their lives. It also will provide an advertising platform for companies seeking access to the purchasing power of the LGBT market, estimated at $917 billion nationally.

“As a publisher and a gay business owner, I have always encouraged the LGBT community not to boycott those companies that oppose equality, but to support and patronize those companies that support our community,” Palmer said. “Harnessing the power of our LGBT dollars is one of the most important things we can do to promote equality. Fortune 500 corporations recognize the economic clout of our community—and they have been among our staunchest allies in adopting samesex partner benefits, protesting discriminatory laws, and including LGBT companies in their supplier diversity programs.”

As is true of Outword Magazine locally, Outword California will support LGBT and other non-profit organizations throughout the state with sponsored promotions and ads, Palmer said. One of its initial alliances has been with the Golden Gate Business Association, San Francisco’s LGBT chamber of commerce.

Election aside, the timing also was right for a new LGBT publication. “We have lost so many of our LGBT publications in recent years,” Palmer said, citing the closure of Los Angeles’s venerable Frontiers Magazine as a recent example. “Our LGBT media

Inaugural issue cover – Outword California

is under the same pressures as other print media—advertising revenue has dwindled, and more readers are consuming news online rather than going to the newsstand. For the LGBT community, it means the loss of credible sources that are dedicated to providing the information and resources we need and care about. I hope that Outword California will help to fill that gap.”

With a goal to showcase some of the state’s less-traveled attractions, the cover story for the first issue of Outword California was about Autocamp’s Airstream trailer park “hotel” located in bucolic Guerneville on the Russian River. The town is already well known as an LGBTfriendly getaway for Northern Californians and as the site of several annual men’s and women’s festivals. Outword California’s premier issue also featured articles on same-sex weddings, on the prospects for same-sex marriage under a Trump administration, on the wave of celebrities who came out in 2016, and on the tragic losses of actresses Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.

The February edition of the online magazine will feature a profile of PBS station KVIE-TV’s Rob Stewart of the station’s popular “Rob on the Road” show, which is in the process of taking its “Califor-

Peter Milinazzo and Fred Palmer

nia explorer” theme statewide as well.

Palmer, who resides in the Greenhaven-Pocket neighborhood with spouse Peter Milinazzo, has lived in Sacramento since graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in organizational communications. He began his career in corporate communications, as vice president of marketing for ICG Communications and as a regional marketer for MCI Communications.

As publisher and CEO of Outword Media Marketing Events he has provided fundraising and sponsorship services for numerous Sacramento organizations and events, including the Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Sacramento Pride, PFLAG, Davis Pride, NorCal AIDS Cycle and WEAVE. In 2007 he was named Sacramento News & Review’s Best Local Political Activist.

For more information about Outword California or to read the current issue, visit OutwordCalifornia.com.

Call Melissa at (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com

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www.valcomnews.com • February 24, 2017 • Arden-Carmichael News

7

Autorama draws large crowds, despite the rain

By Lance Armstrong Photos by Monica Stark

The Sacramento Autorama returned to Cal Expo last weekend for its 67th year, as the fairgrounds once again transformed into a showplace for car enthusiasts.

Not even the rainy weather kept away the crowds, which were filled with people eager to absorb the brilliant shine of machines of yesteryear.

With nostalgia strong in the minds of the event’s attendees, the 2017 edition of the local Autorama, which was held Feb. 17-19, had plenty to offer.

More than a dozen buildings housed more than 500 show vehicles.

Among those showing cars at the event was Brett Richardson, who stood in a room filled with 20 lowriders of the Sacramento Chapter of the Family First Car and Bike Club.

“We’re just here representing the lowrider culture, showing our beautiful cars,” he said. “This is what we do and we just enjoy it.”

The most expensive vehicle in the room was an all-original, 1958 Chevy Impala convertible.

It is one of the first 56,000 Impalas that were built and it is rarer because it is a convertible.

Corvette lovers also had the opportunity to view classic models of this popular Chevrolet sports car.

For instance, the Rancho Cordova business, Corvette Care, showed 1956 and 1967 Corvettes.

Among those representing Corvette Care were Carmichael resident Mike Hachigian, a 1969 graduate of El Camino High School, and Pocket resident Bob Herr, a 1973 graduate of C.K. McClatchy High School.

Arden-Carmichael News • February 24, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

Hachigian said that he enjoys collecting cars, including Corvettes.

“I don’t have a real strong history (as a collector), but I’ve always had Corvettes,” he said. “Probably my 1967 Corvette was my most favorite. It was my first Corvette.”

Herr said that he is most drawn to cars that travel with a lot of speed.

“I’m more of a race car guy, but I like the old cars, because that’s what I grew up around and it just brings back memories,” he said.

Bob Cook, who travels to car shows across the country with his wife, Peggy, came to the Autorama to display his 1955, atomic orange and cool vanilla-colored, two-door, hardtop Chevrolet Bel Air, which is modified with a Hemi motor.

Bob, who lives in Fresno, said that he is a longtime car enthusiast, who has owned a variety of cars, including a 1968 Dodge Charger.

And he noted that he is fortunate to have the ability to complete car projects as he envisions them.

“I’ve always had the ability to kind of see what (a car) is going to look like finished and get it to that point,” he said. “And when I get it to the point of what I really wanted it to look like done, then I’m tickled to death. And so far, most of the cars have come out that way.”

In reflecting upon the condition of his 1955 Bel Air at the time he acquired it several years ago, Bob said, “You don’t want to know.”

The American Tri-Five Association, which features Chevrolets from 1955 to 1957, was well represented at the show.

Christopher Sondles, president of the association, described this organization as “(focusing) on family, friends, fun and, of course, our beloved Tri-Five Chevys.”

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Mixed among the crowds at the event were many people who enjoy their own collectible cars, but were not showing them at the Autorama.

Among those people were El Dorado Hills resident Rich Lessa, who was attending the Sacramento Autorama for the eighth time.

Lessa, who is known by the nickname of “The Joker” for his reputation for pulling practical jokes on his Sacramento car club friends, mentioned that he owns three collectible cars.

And in commenting about what he considers the best of those cars, Lessa said, “I’ve got a 1968 Chevelle, big-block, 454 in it, putting out about 600 horsepower.”

With that sort of engine power, Lessa enjoys his car club’s slogan, “Drive it like you stole it.”

Also attending the event as a spectator only was Xavier Vasquez, a 1970 Luther Burbank High School graduate who grew up around lowriders.

“I have a big family and there are probably 45 lowriders in my family,” he said. “We’re all in Sacramento. I have a 1972 Porsche 914. It looks like it rolled off the showroom.”

With the enthusiasm of both the presenters and guests of the event, coupled with the many classic cars of eras gone by, the Sacramento Autorama continued its existence as one of the Arden area’s most popular annual events.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

www.valcomnews.com • February 24, 2017 • Arden-Carmichael News

Ar ts Chautauqua Playhouse presents

“Nana’s Naughty Knickers” Chautauqua Playhouse will present the racy, naughty little comedy “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” by Katherine DiSavino beginning on February 3 at the Playhouse. The show will run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm through March 5 with an additional matinee at 2 pm on March 4. The performances will be held at the Chautauqua Playhouse, 5325 Engle Road in the La Sierra Community Center in Carmichael. Admission is $20 General, $18 Seniors/Students and SARTA members. Premium seating is an additional dollar.

Bridget and her Grandmother are about to become roommates. However, what Bridget saw as a unique opportunity to stay with her favorite Nana in New York for the summer quickly turns into an experience she will never forget. It seems her sweet Grandma is running an illegal boutique from her apartment, selling hand-made naughty knickers to every senior citizen in the five-borough area!

The direction and set design are by Warren Harrison, with lighting design by Andrew Fiffick. Costumes are by Eileen Beaver. The cast includes Dona Akers, Laurren Cooper, Hazel Johnson and several local actors and Chautauqua favorites.

Information and tickets are available through the Chautauqua Playhouse website: www.cplayhouse.org or call the box office at (916) 489-7529, during business hours.

www.valcomnews.com

Chautauqua Playhouse Children’s Theatre presents “Hansel and Gretel” Chautauqua Playhouse Children’s Theatre will present a new musical production of “Hansel and Gretel” adapted by Warren Harrison with tunes based on the Humperdinck opera. The performances begin on Feb. 11 at the Playhouse. The show will run on Saturdays at 1 p.m. though Feb. 25. The performances are held at the Chautauqua Playhouse, 5325 Engle Road in the La Sierra Community Center in Carmichael. Admission is $8 for all seats. Advance purchase of tickets is strongly recommended.

Hansel and Gretel are sent into the forest to gather berries for supper. When they realize that their breadcrumb path has disappeared, they find they are lost in the wood.

Little do they know that Rosina Rubylips, the Candy Witch, has lured them to her candy house with special plans for them.

This is a very traditional musical telling of the fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm. Songs include “Brother, Come and Dance with Me”, “Evening Prayer”, and “The Witch’s Ride”.

The direction is by Warren Harrison, with costumes by Carolyn Gregory. The cast features Violet Hansen, Stella Pedersen, Karen Sandoval, Carolyn Gregory and Warren Harrison.

Information and tickets are available through the Chautauqua Playhouse website: www.cplayhouse.org or call the box office at 489-7529, during business hours.

Casting call for “Exit Laughing” by Paul Elliot Chautauqua Playhouse will hold auditions for the comedy “Exit Laughing” on March 12 at 7 p.m.

The show will be directed by Walt Thompson. The theater address is 5325 Engle Road, in the La Sierra Community Center, Carmichael.

Audition will consist of cold reading from the script.

When the biggest highlight in your life for the past 30 years has been your weekly bridge night out with the “girls,” what do you do when one of your foursome inconveniently dies? If you’re Connie, Leona and Millie, three southern ladies from Birmingham, you do the most daring thing you’ve ever done. You “borrow”

the ashes from the funeral home for one last card game, and the wildest, most exciting night of your lives involves a police raid, a stripper and a whole new way of looking at all the fun you can have when you’re truly living.

Parts open: Connie—age 50-60 Leona—age 50-60 Rachel—age early 20’s Bobby—age early 20’s The part of Millie has been precast.

If you have questions, please email them to info@cplayhouse.org and they will be forwarded to the director.

Do you have an upcoming or monthly event?

Let us know.

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Arden-Carmichael News • February 24, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

e-mail Monica: editor@valcomnews.com

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What’s

happening,

Arden-Carmichael?

FEB. 22 and 23; FEB. 24 and 25

ONGOING

SACRAMENTO/BLACK ART OF DANCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY DANCE CONCERT: Sacramento/Black Art of Dance (S/BAD) celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special concert, it’s last under the directorship of Linda Goodrich. Performances are at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23; 8 p.m. Feb. 24 and 25; and 2 p.m.

Feb. 25 and 26, University Theatre on campus, 6000 J St. S/BAD explores the Black Concert dance form originated by Katherine Dunham. Afro-Cuban music and dance group Ebo Okokan is the special guest. Tickets are $5-$12, available at 278-4323 or www.csus.edu/hornettickets

SIERRA PASTEL SOCIETY MEMBERS SHOWING ART NOW AT SACFINEARTS: Exhibit dates: Feb. 21-March 12. Sacramento Fine Arts Center is located at 5330B Gibbons Drive, Carmichael. Gallery hours: Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9 THE MARINE CORPS ALL-STAR JAZZ BAND JOINS SACRAMENTO STATE’S JAZZ ENSEMBLES for their next concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 9, in the Capistrano Concert Hall on campus, 6000 J St. The University’s jazz ensembles have been honored by Downbeat magazine and the Next Generation Jazz festival for many years. Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 seniors, and $5 students, at (916) 278-4323 or www. csus.edu/hornettickets. Contact (916) 278-5155.

SUNDAY, APRIL 23 RACE FOR THE STARS: Race for the Stars The seventh annual 5K Race for the STARS run/walk/ kids race takes place on Sunday, April 23 at Rio Americano High School, 4540 American River Drive in Sacramento. All San Juan Unified schools can use the race as a fundraiser. Schools receive $10 for each adult and $5 for every student/child that register in the school’s name. The race offers a commemorative shirt, medals for all kids run participants, awards in age divisions and ChronoTrack chip timing by Capital Road Race Management. In addition to the 5K run/walk and kids races, there is a Family Festival with food, music, entertainment, prizes, raffles and activities for all ages. Younger students will enjoy performances by high school groups and photos with mascots like Dinger of the River Cats. New this year is the Healthy Eating Expo organized by the San Juan Unified Nutrition Department showcasing the nutritious food offered at San Juan Unified schools, the district’s nutrition education program and more.

Details and registration at www.raceforthestars.com.

This is your opportunity to support our schools while working out, spending time with family and friends and sampling healthy foods. San Juan Education Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that provides funding for innovative learning directly to San Juan Unified classrooms through teacher grants in the focus areas of Science, Technology, Arts and Reading (STARS).

RECOVERY FROM GRIEF WORKSHOP: All widowed persons can participate in the recovery from grief program sponsored by the Widowed Persons’ Association of California, Sacramento, Chapter, No. 1. There is no charge or donation required. The only criteria is that you must be widowed or the surviving member of a registered domestic partnership in the State of California.

The next Recovery from Grief Workshop be Feb. 4 continuing till Feb. 25 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The meetings take place at 2628 El Camino Ave., Ste. D-18. Enter through the breezeway. Call the office at 972-9722 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to reserve a seat. If there is no answer at the office, leave your name, phone number and reference the workshop and someone will return your call. The Widowed Persons Association also sponsors Sunday Support Sessions which are held every Sunday at the office from 3 to 5 p.m., entering from the back parking lot at 2:30 p.m.11 HANSEL AND GRETEL - A NEW MUSICAL ADAPTATION: From Feb. 11-25 at 1 p.m., The Chautauqua Playhouse (5325 Engle Road, Suite 110, Carmichael) presents a new musical production of “Hansel and Gretel” adapted by Warren Harrison with tunes based on the Humperdinck opera. The performances begin on February 11 at the Playhouse. The show will run on Saturdays at 1 p.m. though Feb. 25.

Admission is $8 for all seats. Advance purchase of tickets is strongly recommended. Tickets are available at www.cplayhouse.org NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS SEEKING LOCAL HOST FAMILIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE STUDENTS: ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE), in cooperation with your community high school, is looking for local families to host boys and girls between the ages of 15 to 18 from a variety of countries: Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Japan, to name a few.

ASSE students are enthusiastic and excited to experience American culture while they practice their English. They also love to share their own culture and language with their host families. Host families welcome these students into their family, not as a guest, but as a family member, giving everyone involved a rich cultural experience.

Trip Discounts

The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. ASSE students are selected based on academics and personality, and host families can choose their student from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.

To become an ASSE Host Family or to find out how to become involved with ASSE in your community, please call the ASSE Western Regional Office at 1-800-7332773 or go to www.host.asse.com to begin your host family application. Students are eager to learn about their American host family, so begin the process of welcoming your new son or daughter today!

LIBRARY EVENTS ARDEN-DIMICK LIBRARY MOTHERS OF INVENTION – Disposable diapers, liquid paper, Scotchgard, the circular saw and other practical inventions were based on women’s breakthrough ideas. Enjoy lively stories of remarkable women inventors as told by speaker Carolyn Martin. Learn about the naval officer who created COBOL, the language of computers, the first black self-made millionaire, and the most beautiful inventor, Hedy Lamarr. Saturday, March 4 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

COOKING WITH MISO AND GOCHUJANG – Fermented bean pastes, such as miso ( Japanese) and gochujang (Korean), are not only good sources of probiotics but they’re also great flavor boosters. In this program, Lisa Lin from Healthy Nibbles & Bits will show you how to cook with miso and gochujang! Saturday, March 18 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

SEUSS-ABRATE! – March 2 is Read Across America Day. Come to the library and celebrate with all things Dr. Seuss! All ages welcome. Thursday, March 2 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

FREE EBOOKS! – Come to the Arden-Dimick Library to learn how to access free digital books. In this class we will show you how to use Overdrive to download and read/listen to our digital collections on your smart device. Saturday, March 25 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

TWEEN THURSDAYS: LIGHT UP YOUR CLOTHES – Tweens, come have some fun with LED lights. Light up your clothes; make jewelry; get creative!

Open to ages 8-12. Thursday, March 9 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

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ST. PATRICK’S DAY SCIENCE – Rainbows and pots of golden fun! Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Science. For school age children. Thursday, March 16 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

TWEEN THURSDAYS: PEEP SUSHI – Come to the library to make sushi rolls with Peeps and other candy. We will provide the materials. Open to ages 8-12.

Thursday, March 23 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at ArdenDimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

TEENS ONLY NIGHT – Come for free pizza, video games, movies, activities, crafts and more at this after-hours program. Open to youth in 6th -12th grades.

Friday, March 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

FANDOM EVENTS FOR TEENS – Geek out at the library. Join Geek Club for fans of anything from Anime to Sherlock, Doctor Who to Supernatural and Anime Club for anime, manga, games and pocky. Open to youth in 6th through 12th grades. Fridays, March 10 and March 17 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at ArdenDimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

PROM DRIVE – Bring your gently used formal wear, including dresses, suits, shoes, and other accessories to the Arden-Dimick Library during open hours. All sizes needed. Menswear encouraged. Donations will be distributed to teens in need at scheduled programs to be held at different library locations throughout the Sacramento area. Donations accepted through March 4. Prom Giveaway event will occur on April 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

Do you have an upcoming or monthly event?

Let us know. e-mail Monica:

editor@valcomnews.com

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13

“40 years of accomplishment” since the flight from Laos Hmong exhibit showcased culture with school community

By Pat Lynch

At the entrance stood a shimmering tree of lights adorned with white tags, each tag featuring a Hmong name.

“This is a Unity Tree,” explained Mai Chee Angel Lor. She said the tags were Hmong family names. “They show how everyone is all connected and related.” Her brother, Anthony Chee Meng Lor, nodded approvingly.

This was the initial display greeting visitors at the first Sacramento Hmong Story and Exhibit ( Hmong Story 40) Feb. 11 through Feb 25 at the Serna Center).

The overall exhibit, impressive and carefully crafted, provided a vivid antidote to what one official called “the ugly verbiage coming out of DC these days.” In contrast, the Hmong event was a positive, flourishing display where Hmong community members celebrated 40 years of the Hmong presence in America, showcasing Hmong history, art, food and dance.

Beautiful, intricate tapestry was featured everywhere.

Bright and elaborately fash-

14

ioned costumes were also in abundance, and children performed ceremonial dances and routines that pleased the large audience, especially the parents and family members who craned to see their young on stage.

School Board Trustee Mai Yang Vang, the first elected Hmong official in Sacramento and an event team member, spoke enthusiastically in Hmong and English.

Other speakers did the same.

This had the effect of making everyone feel welcome, the older Hmong speaking people as well as English speakers who came to see the show. The dual language presentation honored the Hmong language not as merely the old language, but as a persistently dynamic and cherished aspect of Hmong culture. The program sought, successfully, to integrate past and present, to celebrate the continuum as an old and revered culture adapts to a new country.

After introductory comments Youa Xiong gave an inspiring rendition of the U.S. national anthem, and the large crowd stood and cheered.

Arden-Carmichael News • February 24, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School (from the Hmong Dual Language Program) performed a bi-lingual song and did a dance that also charmed the audience.

A recognition of Chue Bee and Nhia Khang, one of the first Hmong couples to establish a family in the Sacramento region met with appreciative applause.

The chief thrust of the performances and colorful displays was identity. More than one speaker employed the quote, “ The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of their history.”

Events like this help older refugees to reclaim their history, while younger participants, many born here, are enriched by the celebration of their roots. However the exhibit had a deeper meaning than contemporary ethnic celebrations like the Irish wearing green on St. Patrick’s day. That’s because the Irish have become over time fully absorbed into American culture. The Hmong haven’t been here long enough to escape all the vicissitudes that plague immigrants: isolation, culture clash and the erosion of the old culture while adjusting to the new. Still, enormous progress has been made, and was justly celebrated.

Photo by Ellen Cochrane

Mai Chee Angel Lor and her brother, Anthony Chee Meng Lor, in front of the Unity Tree.

Modern immigrants like the Hmong have a refugee status, like European immigrants of older times. The Exhibit program offered an eloquent historical testimony of their journey. “After fighting and losing The Secret War to protect ‘their’ homeland in Laos, after crossing the Mekong Delta to live in squalor…in the refugee camps in Thailand,” they crossed the Pacific Ocean “for a strange land.” After 40 years that strange land is not so strange: it is their own. They are now, they declare, “realizing the American Dream.”

Along the way of immigration some of the great treasures of the past may be lost—language, custom, a defining aesthetic. The exhibit succeeded in its effort to recover some of that, to celebrate it. Giving Hmong people and others who gathered the gift of Hmong history kept the past alive, and honored it. The very large crowds moved slowly but cooperatively, pausing to study displays that highlighted a

touted “40 years of accomplishment” since the flight from Laos. Photos, embroidery, traditional dress and testimonies combine to bring the Hmong story alive.

Hmong Story 40 organizers hosted many local political leaders, all of whom expressed enthusiasm for the exhibit and pledged continued support for immigrant programs.

The theme of the exhibit was best expressed by these published program sentiments: “The United States is a melting pot of many cultures.

It is the blending of our differences that makes this country so great. However, during the assimilation process our own identity, heritage and history can be lost. Through this exhibit we have strived to tell the Hmong story, with the realization that this isn’t exclusively a Hmong story…it’s an American story.”

This American story featuring American with Hmong heritage will be shown at the Serna Center, 5735 47th St. until Feb. 25.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

City Kitchen Sacramento reinvents food delivery

By Gavin Loveless

(Editor’s Note: The article’s author is a student at the MET High School and wrote this piece about his mother’s business, City Kitchen Sacramento.)

Have you ever wanted to share a good meal with your family but either you have been too busy, or don’t have the resources? How about all of the above? Ever thought to yourself, “I wish food could just fall out of the sky?” Well, now it does! Sort of.

Introducing City Kitchen Sacramento.

Local chef, Rebecca Lujan Loveless, has just made your dream of an easy family meal on busy weeknights, a reality.

City Kitchen’s mission is to feed all families and professionals healthy, quality food, without the hassle. As the head chef and owner, my Mom releases her weekly menu on Sundays, on her website and social media accounts for Monday through Thursday. You can order from that menu for as many nights as you want, and City Kitchen will prepare, cook, and deliver your meal right to your doorstep between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

My Mom first started her journey with City Kitchen not here in West Sacramento. The company was first launched in Orlando, Florida. For years, many of her friends have asked her to cook for their events, weddings, parties, you name it. So, around the summer of 2015, she got to work on making her passion into a business. In August of 2015, City Kitchen Orlando was born. With her friends and family connections around the city, she got the word out and was very busy because of it.

“Business was great right out of the gate,” she said, “I love my job, which is serving people amazing food.”

Last year, her family made the bold decision to move cross-country to West Sacramento. When asked how this decision came about my Mom said, “My family was ready for a change and I knew my business would flourish the way it did in Orlando, which is the farm-to-fork capital of the country.” With her family on her side, she got busy and launched City Kitchen Sacramento.

As a mother of three busy kids, my Mom understands the pressures of keeping up with schedules while trying to plan delicious and nutritious meals to keep everyone going. Most people don’t have the time, skill or energy to do all the shopping, prepping, cooking and clean up. Just figuring out weeknight meals can send a busy family into high-stress territory. She started City Kitchen with the hope that this wouldn’t have to be the case anymore. “I know that the struggle on weeknights is real. There’s always a practice or a rehearsal or something that someone has to be at and it can be hectic. And this is coming from personal experience. Those crazy nights are what City Kitchen is for.”

I asked her where her passion for cooking comes from and it was from her family growing up. She grew up on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Food on Maui has culinary influences from places all over the world. “I was always in the kitchen with my dad or mom,” she said. “They introduced me to foods I thought I would never like, but I ended up liking them and still do to this day.” With her family influences and the culture she was exposed to, she grew up loving food more everyday. She also learned a lot by watching the Food Network Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Photo by Catie Loveless

Shown here is the Loveless family standing beside Lake Davis in Orlando, Florida. From left to right, back row, is father Josh, Gavin and Rebecca. In front of them stands India and Kingston. The family moved out West and Rebecca has started a farmto-fork food delivery service for busy Sacramentans.

with me when I was about 3 or 4. She would say, “Gavin, let’s go watch auntie Rachel Ray’ or one of the other chefs.” This was also a major factor in what really sparked her love for cooking.

Her family. She loved them and wanted to give them the best, healthiest, most creative meals out there. Once she did this, she wanted to share her art with the world. And that’s what she did.

“One of the things I am very passionate about, other than cooking, would be knowing where my food comes from,” said Lujan Loveless. “I do a lot of research on the farms I do business with to make sure I, and all my customers, are getting the best possible food we can get.”

This was an unexpected positive for the business when it was moved to our city. “I didn’t know much about the farmland here but I was pleasantly surprised when I found out how great it is.” One of City Kitchen’s goals is to feed its customers healthy farm-to-fork meals that are organic whenever possible and use products that have been ethically raised and produced. With the great help from our local farms, her healthy ingredients were more accessible than ever. “In Florida, the closest farms were at least a six-hour car ride away, so moving here to Sacramento helped me a lot, with the closest farms a manageable 30 minutes away.”

When constructing her menu for the week she doesn’t have a normal ritual that she follows other than “asking my family what they would want for dinner this week.”

The menu changes every week and normally a meal won’t repeat within the month. “Diversity in the food I cook is something I am proud to bring to the table,” she says.

I asked my mom what makes her different than some delivery services that already exist and she said, “love.”

Photos by India Loveless

Mango cilantro salsa

“I know it might sound like a cliche, but I actually put love into the food that I cook, and you can taste the difference.” When being interviewed, my Mom was very passionate about her clientele. She explained that as a wife and mother of three, she wants everyone to experience her food the way her family does. If this shows anything, it would be that she doesn’t skimp out when it comes to her food.

My Mom has been overjoyed to start fresh here in West Sacramento. With new clientele and new resources the possibilities are endless. You can learn more about her and City Kitchen online at citykitchensacramento.com, or by gazing at their drool-worthy photos and videos on Instagram [@ citykitchensacramento], Facebook [CityKitchenSacramento] and Twitter [@citykithcensac].

www.valcomnews.com • February 24, 2017 • Arden-Carmichael News

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