Arden Carmichael News by Valley Community Newspapers

September 7, 2018 | www.valcomnews.com February 15, 2019 | www.valcomnews.com

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Parks foundation hopes to bring bocce ball to Carmichael Park see page 3

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Telling stories through music: The ARC Orchestra presents the winners of our annual concerto and aria contest

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E-mail stories & photos to: editor@valcomnews.com Editorial questions: (916) 267-8992 Arden-Carmichael News is published on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Newspapers are available in stands throughout the area. Publisher...................................................................David Herburger Editor............................................................................... Monica Stark Art Director...........................................................Annin Greenhalgh Graphic Designer..................................................Annin Greenhalgh

Vol. XXVIII • No. 3 1109 Markham Way Sacramento, CA 95818 t: (916) 429-9901 f: (916) 429-9906 Cover by: Courtesy

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All music tells a story. Composers know what message they are trying to send and part of the art of performance is interpreting and delivering that message. On March 15th and 16th, The American River College Orchestra will present ten soloists, eloquently communicating those stories. Eight of the performers are playing classics from the familiar repertoire of pieces like Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor and Bizet’s Fantasy from Carmen. The works range from the Baroque period to the Contemporary. Having ten soloists also allows a wide variety of instruments to be highlighted. The concert will move between piano and violin

to guitar and saxophone. Two of the pieces are original compositions from ARC students. Rebecca Stroup, composer, hopes her piece, Fiarovana, will lift people’s spirits. “The main thing that I hope people take away from my performance is inspiration,” said Stroup. “I want them to walk away feeling hopeful and excited about the next adventure in their life.” Performing can be quite an adventure and Stroup recognizes that the way to make it enjoyable is practice. “If you don’t work at it and be consistent, performing music and even writing music can be overwhelmingly hard. You have to be committed. You have to work at

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it and constantly polish your abilities and find ways to get better. You must have a willingness to learn at all times,” she said. The work pays off for most musicians when they move past the exercise of playing the right notes. “I was taught that playing music is all about telling a story,” said flutist, Eve-Lyne Leclerc. “It’s a lot of work to learn all the notes and play them as written on the pages, but then comes the best part: finding the story that goes with the notes, making those notes say something, and expressing the emotions behind them.” The March 15th and 16th performances will be at the American River College Theater at 4700 College Oak Drive in Sacramento. Both performances are at 7:30 pm. Tickets are at brownpapertickets.org. For more information on the American River College Orchestra and these concerts, contact Dr. Steven Thompson at (916) 4848433 or visit the ARCO website. General information can also be found at the ARCO Facebook page. Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Parks foundation hopes to bring bocce ball to Carmichael Park By LANCE ARMSTRONG

A fundraising effort to bring bocce ball courts to Carmichael Park has raised $75,000. Behind that fundraising effort is the Carmichael Parks Foundation, which is working to reach its goal of $125,000 to have two courts built in Carmichael Park, behind the Carmichael Italian Center on Fair Oaks Boulevard. The park’s master plan includes four bocce ball courts, and the foundation opted to assist with two of those courts. Bocce ball, which was popularized in Italy, where the first bocce clubs in modern times were established, is a game that is generally played in groups of two or four, and

is most closely related to lawn bowling. It was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants during the turn of the 20th century, and first played in the Sacramento area as early as the 1930s. Sharon Ruffner, president of the Carmichael Parks Foundation, said that it is important to the organization to diligently move forward in raising the remaining $50,000 needed to build the courts. “(Rising costs of materials) is a concern,” she said. “Just like when you’re building your house, the longer you wait, (the more it could cost).” The foundation has also been seeking other funding

Angela Heinzer

through the application of grants and partnerships in the community. Ruffner said that a contractor informed the organization that the courts would need to be built during the drier part of the year, during the summer or early fall. Also of interest to the organization is the donation of materials such as lumber, iron and cement to construct the courts, Ruffner noted. “If we could get the materials donated, that would make a huge difference, too,” she said. Ruffner, a 1978 graduate of El Camino High School, mentioned that fundraising contributions for the project include a $5,000 donation from Shirley Simi, who was

916.212.1881

Photo courtesy of Bob Ahnders

Pictured are bocce ball courts at Almaden Lake Regional Park in San Jose. The Carmichael Parks Foundation is raising funds to have similar courts constructed at Carmichael Park.

active with the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento. “Shirley was very interested in seeing these bocce ball courts built and so she made a signif-

icant contribution to the Carmichael Parks Foundation, and the money was earmarked for bocce ball courts,” she said. see Bocce page 15

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“Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento,” coming Monday, February 18, 2019 from Arcadia Publishing! ing back to the late 1800s. They might also be surprised to know how thriving Mexican American baseball teams and leagues were during the 1920s through the 1950s. During those years, baseball provided an important social, leisure, and political network for Mexican American communities throughout California. Mexicans in Sacramento made connections with barrios in nearby communities like Woodland, Elk Grove, Stockton, Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Pittsburg, Martínez, and even into the San Francisco Bay Area. In many ways, the sport became a focal point and a crucial element of the social fabric that influenced the development of the Sacramento Mexican community.

Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento explores the history and culture of teams and players from the Sacramento region. Since the early 20th century, baseball diamonds in California’s capital and surrounding communities have nurtured athletic talent, educational skills, ethnic identity, and political self-determination for Mexican Americans. The often-neglected historical narrative of these men’s and women’s teams tells the story of community, migration, military service, education, gender, social justice, and perseverance. Players often became important members of their communities, and some even went on to become 4

professional athletes--paving a path for Latinos in sports. These photographs serve as a lens to both local sports history and Mexican American history by Christopher Docter, Richard A. Santillán, Ernie Cervantes Jr., Cuno Barragán Mark A. Ocegueda (Author), Juan Carrillo (Foreword) 1) Tell us some surprising facts that the average baseball/sacramento history buff might not know Well we think that the average baseball and Sacramento history buffs might be surprised to know how many talented Mexican American baseball and softball players came out of the region dat-

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2) Break down the chapters and discuss something interesting from each of them 1. Barrio Baseball in Sacramento Though Mexicans resided in Sacramento prior to the 1910s, the migration spurred by the Mexican Revolution during the first two decades of the 20th century led to a more centralized and cohesive Mexican community in the California capital. These new migrants converged in the capital to work at the Southern Pacific Railroad, packing houses, and canneries and in farm labor and first settled in downtown’s multiethnic communities. As the years passed, these immigrants and their progeny formed a vibrant Mexican community with their own organizations, churches, community centers, and of course, baseball teams. This chapter looks at teams from the late 1920s, including the Octubre Club, which consisted of players like Julio Reséndez and Pete Benton, who went on to

establish the Mexican Athletic Club (MAC) in 1931. The MAC served as a social and cultural lifeline for the Sacramento community for over 26 years and produced excellent barrio players like Ernie Cervantes Sr. and Manuel Ramírez. Women also played for the MAC, such as Consuelo “Chelo” Sánchez, Mary Dávila, and Babe Cervantes. Some of these players also played in the military while serving in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. During and after World War II, another era of Mexican American players emerged and carried the torch, playing with pride for their community and bringing joy to Sacramento’s baseball fanatics. Overall, these photographs and stories show Sacramento’s Mexican American history through the lens of baseball and celebrate its positive impact in the community. 2. Youth Baseball from Sandlots to University Diamonds Many of Sacramento’s Mexican American residents learned baseball by going to their local diamonds and swinging the bat with their siblings, parents, friends, and coaches. Others served as batboys for the adult teams and quickly fell in love with baseball. As others continued to play the game into their early adolescent and teenage years, they often played for their local middle school and high school teams. The Cervantes brothers all played for Sacramento’s Bishop Armstrong High School Falcons (now called Christian Brothers). Gene Cervantes was a key player as a catcher and second baseman on Sacramento’s Bishop Armstrong team that posted a 22-2 record in 1962. The team beat four conference champions

that year, and local baseball buffs consider it to be one of the best high school teams to ever play in the Sacramento area. Players like Chado Vasquez played for the same school on the Gaels baseball team during the early 1950s. Many went on to play for Sacramento City College, including George Mojica, Cuno Barragán, and even major-league Hispanic Hall of Famer and Elk Grove native Buck Martínez. This chapter chronicles the youthful sport from sandlots to college diamonds. 3. Mexican Americans and Professional Baseball This chapter looks at players from the Sacramento area that played professional baseball. Mexican Americans have been scouted and evaluated by major-league teams since the early 20th century. It is believed that in 1908, Frank Arrellanes became the first Mexican American to play in the major leagues when he pitched for the Boston Red Sox. Late in the 1910 season, Arrellanes joined the Sacramento Senators in the PCL. In the interwar years from the 1920s into the early 1940s, more Mexican Americans joined semiprofessional teams, and the more talented players even made it into “the show.” After World War II, major-league teams scouted for more Mexican American players, and they entered the professional leagues with greater frequency. Cuno Barragán is perhaps the most renowned Mexican American player from Sacramento who went on to the major leagues when he joined the Chicago Cubs in 1961. Prior to playing for the Cubs, Cuno played for Sacramento High School, Sacramento City College, and the PCL Sacramento Solons. see Baseball page 5 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Baseball:

that Mexican American baseball provided to Sacramento cotinued from page 4 and surrounding communities. Although former players After retiring from the game and their families in the rein 1963, Cuno returned to gion have not forgotten baseSacramento and mentored ball’s cultural and social siga new generation of baseball nificance, we believe that this players. Some of them, like book serves as one of the first pitcher Fred Arroyo, contin- efforts to present the history ued in Cuno’s footsteps as of Mexican American baseball they also entered the major and softball in Sacramento to leagues. Chapters four and the general public. We hope give focus on the San Joaquin readers will leave with a greatValleys. er understanding of the history of Sacramento’s Mexican 3) Why did you decide to community. write this book? What do you hope readers get out of 4) For ocegueda: tell us it? When did you begin writ- about your teaching profesing this book? sion, how long you’ve been This photo book chronicles teaching, what you enjoy the overlooked history of Sac- most about it and how this ramento’s Mexican American book may have been influsports community and con- enced by your teaching. Tell nects those stories to a broad- us what it was like working er Mexican American history. with other experts on this While some attention is given book. to the rise of individual proI am an assistant professor fessional and major-league of U.S. and Mexican Amerplayers, the emphasis rests on ican history at Sacramento the celebration of ethnic iden- State. I finished my Ph.D. in tity and community solidarity history at the University of

California, Irvine in June 2017 and started this position in the Fall of 2017. I love teaching at Sacramento State because we have great students who are eager to learn the history of their communities. Many of the students at our campus remind me of myself as well. I went to a California State University campus for my undergraduate training and am also a first-generation college student that comes from a working-class family of immigrants. Many of our students come from similar backgrounds and it has been a wonderful experience to work our students. In fact, some of our students

like Yozantli Lagunas Guerrero and Yazmine Vargas Castañeda helped out with some of the research for the book. Working with the other coauthors of the book was also a great experience. Cuno Barragán and Ernie Cervantes Jr. were the lifelines to the community for this project. As long-time baseball players has given them an intimate knowledge of the Sacramento community. Their expertise in Sacramento’s Mexican American history was absolutely crucial in collecting the majority of the images readers will see in this book. Professor Richard Santillán has been a long-time mentor of

mine and he has been the primary researcher for the Latino Baseball History Project–––a special collections archive housed at the Pfau Library at California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Santillán’s work has led to the establishment of perhaps the largest collection of Mexican American baseball images in the country. Chris Docter has also worked tirelessly to produce two great chapters on the San Joaquin Valleys. I think readers will be stunned at some of the breathtaking images and stories that Docter has collected for this book.

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LIFE

did not have a slow cooker. All of her cooking and baking chores were accomplished on a small gas stove or in the one door oven. Homemade egg noodles were always a great addition to many of the dishes she By Jan Dalske prepared for her family. She Arden Carmichael News would roll out the mixture of flour and water and eggs that created the noodle dough. When it was perfectly flat, she placed it on a large wooden bread board and sliced the dough into long strips. The strips of dough were carefully laid out on the bread By Jan Dalske was a lot more labor intensive board to dry. She placed the With seven growing chil- than it was in the twentieth bread board on top of our pidren and a hard working hus- century. ano in the family room, hopband to feed, our mother had Our mother had a gas stove ing to keep it out of reach to be creative and make the with four burners and a small of any children’s fingers. We most of her limited food bud- oven. There were no micro- liked to eat the dough before get. Cooking in the 1950’s wave ovens at that time. She it was cooked, and by plac-

in the Village

HOME COOKING for a Large Family

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ing it on top of the tall piano, it was out of our reach. Sometimes she added the dried noodles to a mixture of cooked beef chunks, onions, and seasoning. This created a tasty brown sauce. And, when she added a can of mushroom soup, and a little flour, it would become a dish she called beef stroganoff. If she wanted to create a beef stew, she just added fresh chopped vegetables to the mixture of beef, onions and seasoning. And, at other times she would cook a whole chicken and pull the meat off the bones. She flavored the boiled water with chopped pieces of onion, carrots, celery, and seasonings. If she wanted to make dumplings, she would mix some flour with milk and eggs, form the mixture into balls, and drop them into the chicken base. That dish was delicious. Whether it was chicken soup, beef stroganoff, beef stew, or chicken and dumplings, we all loved the tasty

dishes that she created for her hungry, growing family. Sometimes, if she woke up early enough, she would get some yeast and mix it with warm water and flour to start it rising. On those days, she would make homemade rolls or maybe a loaf of bread or two. The smell of the rising dough filled our house with a wonderful fragrance. We could not wait until the finished rolls or bread came out of the oven. With so many hungry children at the table, we would usually eat the rolls or bread all up at one meal. I loved to watch her while she mixed the ingredients for whatever she was preparing together in her small kitchen. The smells of the cooking food filled the air with delightful fragrances. She did not need the fancy appliances that we all use now. She worked with just a large pot and a small stove. She added a little bit of her love and shared her creations with her hungry family every day.

Do you have a passion to work with the Arden Community & foster an environment that encourages youth to make positive choices around health, substance use, and violence?

IF SO, JOIN THE COALITION FOR A SAFE & HEALTHY ARDEN ARCADE. Next Coalition Meeting: Wednesday, February 20th at 4:00 pm For more information contact Jessica Fielding at jfielding@sacscip.org

Swanston Community Center, 2350 Northrop Ave, Sac, Ca 95825

Strengthening Families Parents and Kids ages 6-16

Join our Youth Coalition The youth leadership program is designed to acknowledge the need for more positive activities for teens during out-of school time. This opportunity provides teens with a way to get involved with community service projects and work with community groups that address issues important to teens. This is a great way to gain real world experience or try something new.

For more info contact Gao at gxiong@sacscip.org 6

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Date: March 7 - May 23 Time: 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Location: Swanston Community Center 2350 Northrop Ave., Sac, CA 95825 Join us for the FREE Strengthening Families series where families learn TOGETHER! You will learn how to grow your family’s strength and the importance of social & emotional development, along with topics on how to discipline and make family time fun. (Free dinner will be provided)

To register contact Jessica Delgado at: delgadoj@sacscip.org | 916-570-2807 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Former Loaves and Fishes Director, released new book, to join local author’s panel at local library etc.). I also have a focus on grief and how it affects homeless people and those who try to help them.

By Monica Stark editor@valcomnews.com

“Squatter’s Gold” a debut novel of fiction by long time Sacramento homeless and affordable housing advocate Tim Brown, was published in July 2018 by NFBPublishing. com. This Sacramento story of homelessness, treasure and murder begins with a historic prologue about 1850 Sacramento, the gold rush and the historic Squatter’s Riots. The story then jumps to Sacramento 2002: A crime mystery of murder, gangs, and found treasure. A story of colorful homeless campers and their personal struggles; The politics of homelessness and advocates at an interfaith center; Protest, justice and redemption. The cast of haunted, but at times funny heroes and villains and scenes of charity, murder, drug use, recovery and civil disobedience are inspired by actual events drawn from the author’s thirty-five years of experience as a street activist, social worker and creator/manager of homeless and housing programs in Sacramento, California. It is for lovers of gold rush history, urban crime/mysteries, treasure stories and people interested in homeless and poverty. The author is a former Executive Director of SacraValley Community Newspapers, Inc.

mento Loaves & Fishes and the former Director of the Ending Chronic Homelessness Initiative (A Sacramento City/County collaboration which cut chronic homelessness by over fifty percent in just four years, 2007-2010). Squatter’s Gold is available in paperback at Amazon, Beers Books, Time Tested Books or NFBPublishing. com. From 6 to 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 12, he will be on a local author’s panel at McKinley Library ( 601 Alhambra Blvd.) with Andy Furillo, author of The First Year; and Bob Sylva, author of The King of Karaoke and Other Stories for a moderated conversation. Andy and Bob are both former writers/columnists for The Sacramento Bee. Signed copies will be available for purchase.

Park, I’m a water person and Paradise Beach has always been my touchstone here. I’ve run, biked, hiked and swam just about all of it and still do. MS- What do you hope So it was fun writing it into readers get out of this the book. novel? TB- I want readers to be MS- Do you miss workentertained by the tragedies, ing as executive director treasure, murder mystery, re- for loaves and fishes? If so, demption, etc., but my ambi- why? tious goal was to create real TB- Being hired as Diand colorful characters that rector of Loaves & Fishes made homeless people ful- was my dream job as a social ly human, (lovers, heroes, vil- worker and homeless/houslains, philosophers and fools) ing advocate. I worked with while also educating read- amazing staff, volunteers, and ers on the politics, complex- homeless guests and felt like ities, causes and solutions to we were able to do so much homelessness. to help so many people. I witnessed the incredible generosMS- Who is this novel ity of Sacramentans and the for? incredible resiliency of imTB- Sacramentans - it is a poverished and often disabled Sacramento story based on people. This is what makes my love of this place and over thirty- five years living and working, now retiring here. It is for lovers of gold rush history, urban crime/mysteries, treasure stories and people interested in homeless and poverty.

MS- What drove you to write this novel? Will you be writing more books? TB- I am writing about what I know. I started out writing memoirs, but I love fiction and found it challenging, but so alluring as a storyteller. I started this project over five years ago after my reMS- Tell us about the pro- tirement. It was at the top or tagonist and the conflict he my bucket list and I still have or she faces a passion for these issues. TB- The protagonist is a social worker and director of MS- Tell us about the river an interfaith homeless ser- park connection in the book vice center. He is pulled in and why rp plays a role. many directions (i.e. the basic TB- I came to Sacramenneeds of homeless people, lo- to to attend graduate school cal politics, managing a large at CSU Sacramento, and non-profit agency, helping the lived in east Sac. for seventeen police solve murder/crimes, years, including seven in River

our community great. Yes, I miss it. On the other hand, I don’t miss the constant fundraising ( L&F doesn’t accept government funding). The grief you experience in jobs like this can lead to burnout, depression, etc. and I was not immune it. Its been twelve years since I left the job and even back then we averaged a homeless memorial service every ten days and these were just the homeless folks we knew. I hear that now a homeless person dies every five days in our community. People used to ask me what the hardest part of my job was and I know they expected me to say it was all these difficult homeless people, but it was really the housed people who talked about homeless folks in subhuman terms.

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Lunar New Year cooking with Mollie and Elizabeth By Monica Stark Photos by Stephen Crowley

A mere two-and-half decades apart in age, Mollie Chow, 90, and Elizabeth Wong, 65, celebrated Lunar New Year the old-fashioned way – by cooking Jai, the traditional vegetarian delight inside “Auntie Mollie’s” Sacramento home. Putting their heart and soul into a laborious tradition that seems to be fading away, watching Elizabeth and Mollie prepare the ingredients was like watching a cooking show on PBS. “I’m 65 years old,” says Elizabeth. “(My friends) don’t get it. They said their parents used to cook it but that they haven’t had it in years; going to the restaurant is not the same. The tradition is about gathering your friends, shopping for the ingredients, and preparing them.” Donning custom-made aprons from San Francisco’s Chinatown, and preparing the ingredients, they did. Mollie’s kitchen counter displayed bowls of including (but not limited to)

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carrots, lotus root, ginger, garlic, various fungi, noodles, ginkgo nuts, mushroom, and, of course, the magic ingredient: fresh water chestnuts (which Elizabeth peels with a meat clever because a vegetable peeler won’t work because the skin is too thick). Trying to describe the dish, in so many words, Elizabeth said, it’s not really a stew (even though that’s what recipes tend to call it); it’s more like a goulash, but don’t call it a goulash. “It’s a vegetarian delight.” “ The preparation is very intense, but it’s fun,” Elizabeth said. So, every other year, she finds “foodies” who are interested in preparing the dish. “One’s Jewish, one’s Irish, one’s Filipina, one’s American-born.” But this year she asked her friend, Mollie, who she befriended last year at a local mahjong group. Besides mahjong, their friendship surrounded food, as they’d often grab a bite to eat nearby after a session. When talking about the idea of see Cooking page 9

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Cooking:

continued from page 8

joining forces to make jai, Mollie told her, “I can’t see too well, but I’ve got my ingredients.” Well, Elizabeth had hers, too, spawning discussions and debate over preparations. “I said, ‘how old are your ingredients?’ (Mollie responded): ‘Some are 60 years old.’” And Elizabeth said hers were only 50. And, no they don’t get sick from it. Every year, they bounce back and Elizabeth ends up talking about it. And with Mollie having five more ingredients on her recipe list than Elizabeth, they wondered if Valley Community Newspapers should print the recipe with this article. But, as Elizabeth says, “We can’t even imagine what they are because we are counting them on our fingers.” “ That, to me, that’s really Chinese New Year,” she added. And for Mollie to be so excited – that, in and of itself is worth preserving. Short of driving, Mollie wears makeup, goes to Jazzercise, plays games,

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hosts a party once a month, and her home décor is what Elizabeth likens to “antiques galore.” On Mollie’s kitchen counter was a picture of a “Kitchen God.” According to legend it’s believed that on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, just before Chinese New Year, the Kitchen God returns to Heaven to report the activities of every household over the past year to Yu Huang, the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor, emperor of the heavens, either rewards or punishes on the family’s yearly report. At Elizabeth’s parents’ home growing up, she said because her mother was disabled, her father would bring the Buddha statue downstairs for the Lunar New Year dinner. “We called him the ‘Basement Buddha’” she said. In keeping with the Buddhist tradition, the significance of the first meal of the year being vegetarian is not to take a life. The meal is traditionally prepped the night before and on New Year’s Day, there is to be “no cutting”, no “ use of the scissors,” no sweeping.

“You can’t shower, but you do cut your hair the day before,” Elizabeth said. “Last year, I tried to find a place to cut my hair the day before new years; a lot of beauty shops were booked.” Asked what the significance of those traditions, Mollie said she’d ask her mother that question and her mom would say, “Just do it.” And Elizabeth agreed, in laughter: “Just do it.” Fifteen years ago, Elizabeth said The Sacramento Bee sent a reporter and a photographer to follow her and her friends for four hours to gather the ingredients. Then after they gathered it, they asked when would it be cooked? The answer, that night for the following day and then it takes even longer to cook. So, the Bee staff asked how they were going to taste it. Elizabeth found a restaurant that uses 10 of the ingredients that she would have used. “We were talking about not only the ingredients but how we celebrate, what’s the meaning of it. That, to me, is really what new years is about,” Elizabeth said.

www.valcomnews.com • February 15, 2019 • Arden-Carmichael News

Uncorked: Stories of Sacramento Valley wine & vineyards

by Bia Riaz

I still remember the first time I sipped an Old Vine Zin. Lush, velvety and smooth with a deep distinct aroma, I was smitten. What sorcery was this? I ran my fingers across the gnarled roots and branches while walking through a serene Sacramento Valley vineyard. I swear I almost heard soft whispers of secret ancient stories, tales of sunshine and baked earth. I needed to know more. I had always assumed Zinfandel was a silly sweet white wine served on airplanes in tiny bottles with twist tops. Little did I know, California, and more precisely, Northern California,

produced some of the most delicious and sought after red wine varietals of bold Zin, better known as Old Vine Zin. Of course I knew about Napa and Sonoma, and their legendary wines, but I had tragically overlooked the treasures growing all around me in this part of California. So began my journey of wine exploration. Not only did I want to experience all the different varietals, but I wanted to know the stories, meet the winemakers, visit their vineyards, and discover hidden treasures. My wine adventure has been an absolute delight. I had the opportunity to meet passionate winemakers cap-

turing California sunshine in glass. I’ve learned about the history, agriculture, myth, mystery, and business of wine. It’s gotten to the point where I truly feel the need to share all of this wonderful experience with the readers of Valley Community News. So whether you are a casual wine consumer, a wine aficionado with dreams of having your own vineyard or winery, or just curious about the allure of wine and food pairings, this regular column may suit your fancy! I’ll be diving into the local wine scene, interviewing winemakers, visiting their vineyards, and demystifying “wine-speak.”

Speaking of food and wine pairings, this coming weekend, the historic Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg will be hosting the annual Port Wine & Chocolate Lover’s Weekend. If you have not had the opportunity to visit this venue, it is a unique experience. The original mill was converted to a custom crush facility and tasting room gallery for boutique winemakers. Guests can park their cars and experience wine tasting in over 14 different wineries. I promise a future column will feature a lot more information about the history of the Old Sugar Mill, but for now, their very popular wine and chocolate event will be held

February 9th and 10th from 10AM to 5PM. This year’s event will feature a “Valentine Bubbles” reception at 10AM. Throughout the day, guests will be able to enjoy wine and chocolate pairings. For tickets and more information please visit their website: oldsugarmill.com. I sincerely believe that wine has the ability to connect with, and activate, all five of our senses. That is exactly why, it is a universally loved experience. Every wine has a story that generates a lifetime of memories. The Sacramento Valley wine region is rapidly emerging as a destination for wine aficionados across the globe. I hope you will join me on this journey.

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Faces and Places: Art by Fire show Photos by Monica Stark

Slightly imperfect pieces of pottery, glass, metal and clay were sold at very affordable prices at the annual Seconds show, held on Jan 12 inside the Shepard Garden and Arts Center. Art by Fire has over 74 members creating art using fire. The annual seconds show has become a very popular event drawing crowds from near and far.

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What’s NEW SACRAMENTO AREA ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE: Great news for those who live relatively close to central Sacramento! The Sacramento Country Dance Society is adding a second monthly English Country Dance, on the third Sunday afternoon of each month beginning October 21. Lovely hall and floor, easy parking, and on the American River Bike Trail. Come join to Camp Pollock, just 5 minutes from downtown/midtown Sacramento, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Each dance is preceded at 1:30 pm by an Introductory Workshop for newcomers. This is in addition to our longrunning dance in Roseville that continues on the first Sunday afternoon of each month. Beginners welcome, no partners necessary, always live music. Details about both dances, including callers, music, locations, and date changes, can be found on our Web site: sactocds.org/englishcountry-dance/

FRIDAY, FEB. 15 FRIDAY NIGHT FILM FESTIVA “I NOSTRI RAGAZZI”: Fourth Film in the 2018-19 Series! (Our Boys) AKA “La Cena,” (The Dinner) Tensions between two brothers and their families escalate when a video of two teenagers -- the son of one and daughter of the other -- beating a homeless woman, shows up and the parents have different views on dealing with the

happening

situation. Stars Fanny Ardant, Antonio Catania, Francsca D’Aloja and Riccardo Garrone. In Italian with English Subtitles. (2014). Admission $15 at the Italian Center, Carmichael. Refreshments included. No reservations required. Pay with cash/check at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 17 GET HEALTHY SACRAMENTO SPEAKER SERIES 2019 Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church 4600 Winding Way, Sacramento, California 95841 Tickets by Eventbrite. Sales end on Dec 31 at 10:30 a.m. $49.00 There’s a wonderful line-up of top people to help us along our path to optimal health, including: Anthony Lim, M.D, Steve Lawenda, M.D. Chef Aj, James Bennie, M.D. and Bettina Baiduc, M.D. We will have delicious muffins, glelato, cheeses, hummus, crackers and more to snack on...! CHECK IN: Please be prompt by 11:30 am to collect your name badges and muffin. The introduction and speakers will start promptly at noon. There will be two 15 minute breaks.

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February 20 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

THURSDAY, FEB. 21 CODE.KIDS – Come learn and create free programming websites. Feel free to bring your own laptop. Please register if you need to borrow one so we know how many to provide. This program is for “tweens” ages 8-12. Thursday, February 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at ArdenDimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22 TEENS ONLY NIGHT – Come for free pizza, video games (Wii U, Nintendo Switch), activities and crafts for this Teens Only After Hours Night. Open to teens in 6th-12th grades. Friday, February 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 2ND ANNUAL RACIAL HEALING IN AMERICA CONFERENCE: The one-day conference will take place from 9:00am to 6:00pm., 9249 Folsom Blvd. It will be comprised of keynote speakers, discussion panels and transformational work that will dive deep into the existing wounds, foster healthy dialogue and create community-based plans of action to create unity and equality. Participants will:Experience unprecedented bonding, understand the importance of racial healing, learn more about themselves, experience what life is like as a marginalized person in this country and co-create a community-based plan of action. Tickets are $11.26 and available at www. eventbrite.com

SUNDAY, FEB. 24 “DONATELLO, THE FIRST MODERN SCULPTOR”: The Renaissance began in Florence, Italy in the 1400s and is considered the beginning of modern history. Italians flourished during this period and their influence reached all parts of Europe and influenced all aspects of life. Some of the greatest artists the world has known, like Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, lived during the Renaissance. Donatello, the greatest sculptor of the 15th century was born in Florence in

1386. Donatello was influenced by classical art but his strong portrayal of human character and expressive style make his work as appealing today as it was revolutionary in his time. In this art history documentary we will travel with three acclaimed modern sculptors to Florence, Siena, Venice, Padua and London in this in depth study of his major sculptures like the life size Bronze of David. Admission $15 at the Italian Center, Carmichael. Refreshments included, no reservations required. Pay with cash/check at the door. Doors open at 1 p.m. Documentary starts at 1:30 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 25 IRELAND TODAY-RENAISSANCE SOCIETY MINI-SEMINAR – The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s relationship has changed. What is the political situation today? What will the impact of Brexit be? We’ll also explore the status of Catholicism and the Church in the Republic. Monday, February 25 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27 CHAIR YOGA AND MEDITATION – Join us for simple chair yoga for beginners, easy meditation for relaxation, and a short talk on a health and wellness topic. Facilitated by Marilyn Buehler, M.Div. Wednesday, February 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 ANIMAL SIGNS AT THE KOOBS NATURE AREA: Earl J Koobs Nature Area is located at La Sierra Community Center(LASI). 5325 Engle Rd, Carmichael, California 95608. The Koobs Nature Area is open for public open days on the first Saturday of every month, March through October. March’s theme will be Animal Signs. Come out and explore the Koobs Nature Area and discover things about animals by examining the tracks and signs they leave behind. We will have activity tables for kids to create and learn about Animal Signs. The Koobs Nature Area will be open on Saturday, March 2, from 10am-2pm, and is free to visit. This wonderful natural treasure in the heart of Carmichael is run and maintained by the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael. ANNUAL FISHING DERBY: Get out your gear and reel in that “BIG CATCH” at FultonEl Camino Recreations and Park Districts’ Annual Fishing Derby. Join FEC and the California Department of Fish and Game’s Fishing in the City Program for a day of fishing, fishing instruction and prizes. Howe Park Pond will be freshly stocked with trout. PRIZES awarded for Longest & Fattest! Youth ages 15 and under enter area first. Children only fishing area provided. Event is rain or shine! All (fishing license is required 16+) Morning: 8 to 10 a.m.(signin begins at 7:30 a.m.); afternoon: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Howe Park Pond, 2201 Cottage Way 95825. Fee (per derby): Pre-Registration: $4 per person; $18 per household; same-day

Registration: $5 per person; $20 per household. Up to five persons per household. $5 fee for each additional family member. For more information Please contact Jaden at (916) 927-3802 ext. 125 or jdelfer@fecrpd.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 SACRAMENTO SYMPHONIC WINDS, A 60-PIECE SYMPHONIC BAND, PRESENTS “… AND THE HEART REPLIES”: Bring the entire family to this extraordinary concert season entitled “… and the heart replies” at the new Rio Americano High School Center for the Arts. The Sacramento Symphonic Winds is a 60-piece adult symphonic band conducted by Music and Artistic Director Timothy M. Smith. The season will include James Sochinski’s epic Legend of Alcobaca, Frank Ticheli’s setting of Amazing Grace, Robert Jager’s inventive Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann (The Happy Farmer) plus clarinet soloist Robert Mitchell performing Black Dog by Scott McAllister, lyric baritone vocal soloist Omari Tau performing selections from Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs, and our own trombone soloist Thomas Eckert performing Carnival of Venice by Herbert L. Clarke. Visit our <http://www.sacwinds.org> Date/Time: Sundays, March 10 & May 5 (2019), 2:30 pm. at Rio Americano High School Center for the Arts, 4540 American River Drive. Tickets sold at the door: Children 10 and under Free; Student/ Senior (65+) $10; General $15. For more information, call 916489-2576 or visit www.sacwinds.org https:// www.google.com/maps/place/4540+American +River+Dr+95864

FRIDAY, MARCH 15 AND FRIDAY, MARCH 16 ARC ORCHESTRA ANNUAL CONCERTO AND ARIA CONTEST: All music tells a story. Composers know what message they are trying to send and part of the art of performance is interpreting and delivering that message. On March 15th and 16th, The American River College Orchestra will present ten soloists, eloquently communicating those stories. Eight of the performers are playing classics from the familiar repertoire of pieces like Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor and Bizet’s Fantasy from Carmen. The works range from the Baroque period to the Contemporary. The March 15th and 16th performances will be at the American River College Theater at 4700 College Oak Drive in Sacramento. Both performances are at 7:30 pm. Tickets are at brownpapertickets.org. For more information on the American River College Orchestra and these concerts, contact Dr. Steven Thompson at (916) 484-8433 or visit the ARCO website. General information can also be found at the ARCO Facebook page.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 EARTH DAY AT THE KOOBS NATURE AREA: The Koobs Nature Area is open for Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

What’s

happening

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public open days on the first Saturday of every month, March through October. April’s theme will be Earth Day and Conservation. Come out and explore the Koobs Nature Area and discover the ways we can protect and enjoy our Earth. We will have activity tables for kids to create and learn about Earth Day and Conservation. The Koobs Nature Area will be open on Saturday, April 6, from 10am-2pm, and is free to visit. This wonderful natural treasure in the heart of Carmichael is run and maintained by the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael. Earl J Koobs Nature Area is located at La Sierra Community Center(LASI). 5325 Engle Rd, Carmichael, California 95608.

out and explore the Koobs Nature Area and discover new things about birds, such as where they live, how to bring them to your yard, and how to identify them. We will have activity tables for kids to create bird houses and other bird activities. The Koobs Nature Area will be open on Saturday, May 4, from 10am-2pm, and is free to visit. This wonderful natural treasure in the heart of Carmichael is run and maintained by the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael. Earl J Koobs Nature Area is located at La Sierra Community Center(LASI). 5325 Engle Rd, Carmichael, California 95608.

Old American Songs, and our own trombone soloist Thomas Eckert performing Carnival of Venice by Herbert L. Clarke. Visit our <http://www.sacwinds.org> Date/Time: Sunday May 5 (2019), 2:30 pm. at Rio Americano High School Center for the Arts, 4540 American River Drive. Tickets sold at the door: Children 10 and under Free; Student/ Senior (65+) $10; General $15. For more information, call 916-489-2576 or visit www.sacwinds.org https://www.google. com/maps/place/4540+American+River+ Dr+95864

SUNDAY, MAY 5

ONGOING

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

SACRAMENTO SYMPHONIC WINDS, A 60-PIECE SYMPHONIC BAND, PRESENTS “… AND THE HEART REPLIES”: Bring the entire family to this extraordinary concert season entitled “… and the heart replies” at the new Rio Americano High School Center for the Arts. The Sacramento Symphonic Winds is a 60-piece adult symphonic band conducted by Music and Artistic Director Timothy M. Smith. The season will include James Sochinski’s epic Legend of Alcobaca, Frank Ticheli’s setting of Amazing Grace, Robert Jager’s inventive Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann (The Happy Farmer) plus clarinet soloist Robert Mitchell performing Black Dog by Scott McAllister, lyric baritone vocal soloist Omari Tau performing selections from Aaron Copland’s

LITERACY LITTLE LEAGUE IN NEED OF READING TUTORS: Reading tutors are needed for 40 minutes per week on either Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays from 1:55 to 2:35 p.m. starting in mid-September, continuing through May, 2019 (with the same child for the entire academic year, if you wish ). Training/scheduling coffee occurs in late August. Literacy Little League, an award winning tutoring program, lets you get to know a third grade student in need of help with reading comprehension. Tutors work together in the Resource Room with a credentialed teacher present and all materials provided. Substitutes are available if you can’t make it, or you can sign up as a substitute. Tutoring takes place at the Edison Language Institute (at the site of the former Jonas Salk Middle School)

FAMILIES LEARN ENGLISH – ESL students and their children are welcome at this weekly program. Designed for beginning learners. Tuesdays from 9 a.m. 11 a.m. at Arcade Library, 2443 Marconi Ave., Sacramento.

CAMP POLLOCK VOLUNTEER DAY: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays help improve Camp Pollock! Join the Sacramento Valley Nature Conservancy at the 11acre, former Boy Scout Camp, located on the American River in the American River Parkway. Every Saturday volunteers team up with SVC staff to accomplish tasks including: painting, planting, weed eradication, construction, fence building, outreach, native plant garden maintenance and more. Volunteer days are held every Saturday from 9am-1pm at Camp Pollock. Please wear sturdy, closed toe shoes, hat, dress in layers and bring a water bottle, snack and liability form. All youth must be accompanied by their guardian. Please register below, so we can plan our volunteer projects accordingly. Volunteers will be notified by email if the event is canceled. Rainy conditions will also cancel Service Project. Important Documents: Directions to Camp Pollock Liability form - please print and bring (http://www.sacramentovalleyconservancy. org/admin/upload/Adult%20Release%20 of%20Liability.pdf ) Additional information about SVC’s events, outings and volunteer opportunities. If you would like to coordinate a group service day or have questions, please contact us at camppollock@sacramentovalleyconservancy.org

the Park events at the SutterJensen Community Park in Carmichael. At the Dinner in the Park events, attendees had the options of donating to the bocce ball courts, the Garfield House or youth scholarships. The event features a seated, family-style dinner, appetizer stations, dessert, a live auction and musical entertainment. This year’s Dinner in the Park will be held Sept. 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. A shuttle will transport ticket holders from Carmichael Elementary School to the event. To further assist in fundraising for the bocce ball courts, the foundation has advertised through banners that were hung at the Italian Cultural Society and at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard. Ruffner mentioned that the banners resulted in about 30 phone calls from people in-

terested in either donating to the project or expressing a desire to play on the courts after they are completed. Fundraising for the courts have also been assisted during the past two years through the Big Day of Giving. The current recommendation from the Carmichael Recreation and Park District is that all funds should be collected before any physical work on the project begins. Ruffner said that based on comments from people in and outside of the community, there is plenty of enthusiasm for the courts. “We understand from the folks that go all the way out to (the bocce ball courts) at East Portal (Park) that a large contingent would love to come and play in Carmichael,” she said. “Some people in Sutter Creek have indicated that they would also love to play in Carmichael.”

Ruffner noted that certain bocce ball players in Carmichael have told her that they would become more involved with the game if courts were build in their own community. “People say things like ‘I would love to be a part of a club that was in Carmichael, I would love to give lessons, I would love to help manage the club, I would love to help maintain the courts, and bocce is needed in Carmichael, there is nowhere nearby,’” she said. Ruffner added that she would also consider becoming a regular bocce ball player if the courts are built at Carmichael Park. In pondering the future, Ruffner expressed her belief that the enthusiasm with having the first two courts in the park would lead to the raising of funds and the construction of the other two courts.

“You know, I think about that (1989) movie, ‘Field of Dreams.’ Build it and they will come. What I envision, as those first two courts get built and the Italian society opens up their gate, they will come out and have a big celebration, (and people will say), ‘We don’t have enough room here for all the people to play, (so) let’s get that second set of courts built.’ “And everybody would pitch in every time they come to play, and there would be spaghetti feeds and other big fundraisers (for that project).” Those interested in contributing to this project can visit carmichaelparksfoundation.org or send a check to or visit the foundation’s office at 5750 Grant Ave., Carmichael 95608. Checks should be made payable to the Carmichael Parks Foundation.

KID’S ART FESTIVAL: Join the Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District and the San Juan Unified School District for a free community focus on creativity from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make and take art stations, dance and music performances, art show, food trucks, and more. Fair Oaks Village Park is located at 4238 Main St, Fair Oaks, California 95628

SATURDAY, MAY 4 BIRDING AT THE KOOBS NATURE AREA: The Koobs Nature Area is open for public open days on the first Saturday of every month, March through October. May’s theme will be Birding. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., come

Bocce:

continued from page 3

Following Simi’s death last March, the Shirley Simi Memorial Bocce Ball Fund was established. Family and friends of Simi have contributed to the fund to assist with the foundation’s fundraising efforts. Ruffner, who has lived next to Carmichael Park since 1985, emphasized the importance that Simi played in the project to bring bocce ball courts to the park. “Shirley Simi was really the fuel for this fire,” she said. “She got the Italian society excited about it. We are heartbroken that she isn’t going to be around to see (the courts).” The foundation, which contributes to youth scholarships and park beautifications, has also raised funds for the project through two Dinner in Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

at 2950 Hurley Way near Morse Avenue. Contact Dorothy Marshall, retired psychologist, San Juan Unified School District, at 916488-2578., dorothymarshall@comcast.net for date/time of training session. FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP: Every first Monday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. Location: Sacramento. Call 916-428-3271 for exact location. Description: Is your friend or family member in a domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking situation? This free, drop-in group is for you. Learn how to support your loved one, and receive some support yourself among people who are in the same situation. Feel free to call My Sister’s House for more information: 916-428-3271. #METOO SUPPORT GROUP: Every third Monday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. Location: Sacramento. Call 916-428-3271 for exact location. Description: This drop-in support group is free, confidential, open to all genders, and available to sexual assault survivors at any point in their healing. Feel free to call My Sister’s House for more information: 916-428-3271.

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