California Kids - September 2016

September 2016

www.valcomnews.com | ß BOOK REPORT, 8 | ß WHO WROTE THAT, 11 | ß WHAT’S HAPPENING, 14

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • SEPTEMBER 2016

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Clone of the Ron Howard ’58 Chevy and Toad’s Vespa from American Graffiti.

American Graffiti cars to cruise this year’s car fest

By Monica Stark editor@valcomnews.com

Girl in Cadillac: Hey! You got a bitchin’ car.

John Milner: Yeah, I know.

Girl in Cadillac: In fact, your car’s so neat, we’re gonna give you our special prize. You want me to give it to you?

John Milner: Sweetheart, if the prize is you, I’m a ready teddy.

Girl in Cadillac: Well, get bent, turkey! [throws a water balloon which misses him and hits Carol] — American Graffiti

George Lucas, who grew up in early 1960s Modesto, once stated that cruising was a “uniquely American mating ritual involving automobiles” and inspiration behind the creation of “American Graffiti” was that with the onset of “hippie culture”cruising was gone and he wanted to document what his generation did to meet girls.

After all, cruising on the strip was a popular pastime with the low riding community during the 1940s before spreading to surrounding communities in the 1950s and early ‘60s.

This year, the group known as the Tribute Team American Graffiti will be at the seventh annual car cruise set for Saturday, Sept. 10 from 4 to 8:30 p.m., benefiting the California Automobile Museum. They will be bringing four re-creation clones of cars featured in “American Graffiti”: Harrison Ford’s ’55 Chevy (owned by club member Jeff Zastrow), Paul Le Mat’s yellow ’32 Ford coupe (also owned by Zastrow), Ron Howard’s ’58 Chevy and Toad’s Vespa (both owned by Ken Crawford).

The festivities on Sept. 10 begin with more than 500 amazing automobiles (so beautiful they’re suitable for framing) cruising up and down Fulton Avenue, between Marconi and Cottage from 4 to 6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., the cars will all be parked along the route, where spectators will be able to get up close and personal with these classics.

In addition to the American Graffiti cars, there will be cars from all years, makes, and models, including hot rods, customs, lowriders, pickups, gassers, choppers, bobbers, old dragsters, race cars, as well as a variety of SEPTEMBER 2016 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

modern exotics like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche and Maserati.

“We are really excited to bring cruising back to into the Sacramento car culture. All of the vehicles will be making a two- mile loop around Fulton Avenue between 4 and 6 p.m. They of course, can pull over any time,” said Brittany Cordero, spokesperson for the museum.

Cruising down from Milwaukie, Oregon, Tribute Team American Graffiti car club member Ken Crawford, spoke with Valley Community Newspapers about his love for the movie, how the club formed and about the cars he owns.

“We want to keep that era alive. Hot rods are a unique part of our past. We built the cars and the tea bucket was one of the first. The Model T, they cut it down and made a hot rod out of it, and so came the definition of a tea buckets. We’re going back to those days of car cruising.

“We have tribute cars and these cars do a reenactment of some of the scenes of the movie, which makes them kind of unique.

When people see them they totally relate to the movie of course. We will interact with the audience whether on a cruise or a roadster show.

People ask us about cars and about the actors and actresses which we have had the honor to work with. Every weekend of the year, there’s an event somewhere going on in the United States for American Graffiti.”

Crawford said the tribute team started with a tea bucket and it took five years to find the cars for the tribute team. “We all got together and started doing showcases and people were excited to see (the cars). It took quite some time.” Searching for the cars, he said, Petaluma, where the movie was filmed, was where they made the most contacts and where they linked up with most of the cars. “I sat down and wrote Lucas for a photo shoot at Skywalker Ranch.

He’s very protective, of course. Shockingly within a matter of days we were honored to do a photo shoot at Skywalker ranch. Those photos will be available (to look at during the Sept. 10 car cruise). (Lucas) knows who we are and what we do... The photo shoot was on 40th anniversary in 2013... when we reenacted the

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www.valcomnews.com Publisher: David Herburger Editor: Monica Stark Contributing Writers: Susan Roberts, Bitsy Kemper Art Director: John Ochoa Graphic Designer: Annin Greenhalgh Advertising: Steve Crowley 916-429-9901 Cover photo courtesy Metro Newspaper Service California Kids! is published monthly and distributed to more than 1,000 locations in the Sacramento Valley, including all of Sacramento County, and portions of Yolo (Davis and Woodland), Placer (Rocklin and Roseville), El Dorado (Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Placerville) counties.

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • SEPTEMBER 2016

Summer reading at your local library

By Diane Levin

The children’s librarian can help guide the search and make recommendations on books that can lead to surprising new discoveries. There are also compact discs available to be borrowed for sing-along time at home.

Additionally, libraries offer a wide variety of free and low-cost activities and programs, such as story time, readings by children authors, arts and crafts classes, puppet shows, musical performances, science labs, book clubs, and many more. This enables children to learn new skills, socialize, and interact with others of their own age.

Visit your local library today!

There are amazing benefits just waiting to help enrich your child’s life and create a life-long appreciation for reading. Find the nearest library at http://www.publiclibraries.com/ california.htm Diane Levin as the First 5 California’s Chief Deputy Director and directs the agency’s day-to-day opera-

Chief Deputy Director, First 5 California

I

t can be challenging to find new activities for your young children.

A great option to consider is the local library. Libraries offer many free resources and activities for parents with young children.

From the moment children are born, their brains are developing at an incredible speed. By talking, reading, and singing to a child during these critical early years, a parent can help to develop crucial neural synapses, increase a child’s vocabulary, and establish a love for books helping that child to be successful in school and throughout life.

The neighborhood library has a wide selection of books for children of all ages to explore and discover.

Every day, parents and their children can check out a stack of books, read through them together, and then do it all over again, all at no cost.

Photo courtesy Metro Newspaper Service

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SEPTEMBER 2016 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Sacramento 2016 Aloha Festival

by Leigh Stephens If your vacation funds are empty this year, you can still travel to Hawai’i via the 2016 Aloha Festival. This sixth annual festival celebrates all that is wonderful and exotic about our 50th state and the Pacific Islands: world-class food, traditional and modern hula, and the aloha spirit and community of the Hawaiian and Polynesian people.

The Festival will be held Saturday, October 1 from 9 a.m.

– 6 p.m. at Cal Expo. Admission is free, but parking is $10, and the gate opens at 8:30 a.m. The coordinators request no tailgating or outside food or beverages. Last year’s Festival drew 15,000 attendees, so because of the expected large attendance, bring your own chairs. The opening ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m.

The Ka’Onohi Foundation, a non-profit organization, along with community groups is sponsoring the Festival. The Foundation was established to demonstrate, embody and perpetuate the culture of Hawai’i for present and future generations.

The day will be filled with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander entertainment, the Cultural Village, the Keiki Korner with arts and crafts for

the children, speakers, presentations, educational exhibits, workshops, and merchandise and food vendors.

The Cultural Village is centered on bringing awareness of the Hawaiian/Polynesian culture with everything from music and musical instruments, the history of the lands, and works of art to travel crafts. By immersing individuals of all ages in making an adornment, playing a ukulele or admiring the photography of the dance, lands and people, the Village is able to bring an awakening and understand of the Polynesian way of life.

The Keiki Korner is a wonderful place to have young ones

connect and learn about living in the distant Polynesian and Hawaiian Islands. Every little piece of the cultural puzzle is important and connects everybody in some form.

The Main Stage and the Le’Ale’A Stage will be swaying with dancers and music throughout the day. The entertainers come from all over California, the Western Region of the United States, Canada, and Hawai’i.

Kumu (teacher) Naomi Kalama of North Highlands will appear on the Main Stage with her halau (school), Ka Pa Hula Kanoelehuaokahalema’uma’u ‘O Kalama. The school celebrates its 25th anniversary September

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Programs offered 9am to noon on: July 23, Aug.27, Sept. 24, and Oct. 1. Details and registration at:

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24. Born and raised in Hawai’i, Naomi named the halau after her paternal grandmother who was her first hula teacher. She says her introduction to hula was private and ceremonial, and her beloved tutu (grandmother) died at the age of 92 years.

Kalama was the first kumuhula outside of Hawai’i to bring her school to compete in the world-famous Merrie Monarch in Hilo, Hawai’i in 1980. She has entered her students in many competitions in California, in Las Vegas, and Canada. She is the co-founder of the Organization of Native Islanders of the Pacific, its Alliances and Affairs (ONIPAA).

Aloha Polynesia is an entertainment group that will appear on the Le’Ale’A Stage. It is one of Sacramento’s oldest Polynesian dance schools and continues to perform in more than 50 shows a year. Kumu Cheryl Leilani Cook says she fell in love with Hawaiian dance as a toddler and has been dancing ever since.

Her dance troop reflects the array of Polynesian dances.

Cook says in 1982, she inherited a dance troop, Aloha Hawaiian Dancers, from her former dance instructor. Today the group has been renamed Aloha Polynesia. Kumu Naomi Cook studied under several Northern California hula and Tahitian dance instructors and has participated in thousands of competitions and floor shows.

The Aloha Festival Marketing Coordinator Mahela Ames says, “I became involved with the Sacramento Aloha Festival in its first

year, 2011, as a volunteer. It gave me an opportunity to give back to the community.

After the first year, I became a marketing coordinator with Anela Freeman. In addition to pre-fest marketing, we are heavily involved the day of the Festival greeting attendees, making connections with the extended Pacific Islander community, and making sure everyone is having a memorable time.

“My favorite part of the Festival is seeing the families from all walks of the community coming together to enjoy, learn and help perpetuate the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture. With the local halaus, artists, entertainers, and vendors coming together anyone can truly feel the sense of aloha and ohana (family). Quite often you will see new connections being made with people relating to their favorite foods, music, arts, and even memories of traveling across the Pacific to Hawai’i and Polynesia.”

The Sacramento 2016 Aloha Festival website (www.sacalohafest.org) has more information and event scheduling. Vendor and performance spots are available for the Festival. Food or merchandise venders should contact Coordinator Leslie Leong at vendors.sacalohafest@ gmail.com or Entertainment Coordinator Lahaoa Doroen at entertainment.sacalohafest@ gmail.com.

Professor Leigh Stephens is retired from the CSUS Journalism and Communications Dept. She also was a visiting professor to the University of Hawaii for 22 years.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • SEPTEMBER 2016

Have fun coloring!

Crafts courtesy of: www.Activity Village.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy SEPTEMBER 2016 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

THE BOOK REPORT

Friendships

By Susan L. Roberts

H

aving a friend and being a friend means everything to children. When toddlers, making friends comes easily, but as children develop, they begin to make choices and learn life-long values.

This collection of stories explores the values of being a good friend.

Ella and Penguin Stick Together, by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Rosalinde Bennet (HarperCollins Children’s Books, ages 4-8) Ella shares with Penguin her new special stickers.

Trying to guess what’s special, Penguin asks, “Are they smelly? Can you eat them?

Do they talk?” Ella says they glow in the dark, but, together, they stare at a closet door, too afraid of the dark to open it…and so the suspense begins. Together they try many semi-dark areas until they realize the only option is the dark in the closet.

Pretending she is brave, for Penguin’s sake, Ella babysteps into the closet, and calls out to Penguin to come in. Each page is full of BIG emotions or FUN surprises as these friends explore their world and test their mettle.

Readers will easily become friends with Ella and Penguin. Reviewer’s Pick of the Month

The Monkey and the Bee, by C. P. Bloom, illustrated by Peter Raymundo (Abrams Books for Young Readers, ages 3-8) Written with only twelve different words, The Monkey and the Bee tells a humorous friendship story. It’s bold, action-filled illustrations show the rest of the story so even the youngest can follow along, and will likely soon be ‘reading’ the book to the parents!

A monkey opens wide for his first bite of a banana, when a bee lands on it.

Monkey flicks him away.

Mad, the bee dives into the banana just as the monkey takes that first bite. Monkey spits out the bee. When a lion appears and chases after the monkey, the bee threatens the lion with his stinger. Monkey offers the bee a banana in thanks and they soon become friends.

a bit snuggish. While Paula knows she should stick up for Maggie, she deserts Maggie and hangs out with Veronica.

But when Veronica starts calling Paula ‘Bucky,’ guess who charges up to defend her?

The joyfully rendered character illustrations show it all and children will intuitively learn what true friendship is about.

Illustrated in bright, welcoming colors, My Friend Maggie sings of the happy feelings of being a good friend.

My Friend Maggie, by Hannah E. Harrison (Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 4-8) Author/artist Hannah E. Harrison tells a big story about peer pressure and friendship.

Maggie and Paula have been friends since forever.

One day, Veronica points out that Maggie is too big.

Paula remembers how clumsy Maggie can sometimes be, how she stinks at hide-andseek, and how her clothes are

Bear and Bunny, by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand (Candlewick Press, ages 2-5) Bear and Bunny are friends.

Bear thinks Bunny is a little bear. Bunny thinks Bear is a big bunny. They delight in exploring their world and sing songs together. After their naps, they wonder why they don’t have a pet. They discuss what a pet is and think about what pet they would like. After a lot of

thinking, they take another nap. When they wake, they see something up in the tree.

The animal goes, “Croak!” and they climb the tree to take home their new pet, a kitty. Rendered in mixed media, each scene is filled with clever extras to delight the mind and endearing expressions that move the heart.

A quiet, yet humorous, book about friends, perfect for bedtime.

My Two Blankets, by Irena Kobald, illustrated by Freya Blackwood (Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt, Ages 4-8) A young girl from Sudan moves to Australia where

everything looks different, everyone dresses different and everyone talks different.

She feels she is in a “waterfall of strange sounds”.

By the end of the day she wants to be alone with her comforting blanket of familiar words. At a park a new girl befriends her and slowly introduces new words to her. Over time the new girl creates a new blanket of new words until she has two blankets.

Beautifully illustrated, the artist, uses warm colors to show the feelings of the girl’s home country and cool colors to represent the new county.

Susan L. Roberts (www.Books4theCuriousChild.com) lives in Sacramento, CA where she reads dozens of picture books each month and reviews the best to help parents and teachers find books that will inspire and develop a child’s curiosity and love of life. An aspiring picture book author, she hopes to be published soon.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • SEPTEMBER 2016

Matías Bombal’s Hollywood

Magical Kubo and his two stings will enchant and please audinces with stop motion animation. Photo: Laika Entertainment

Kubo and the Two Strings

The MPAA has rated this PG Focus Features releases another remarkable bit of stop motion hand crafted animation from Laika Entertainment, “Kubo and the Two Strings”. Presented in 3-D. From the creators of the wonderful “Boxtrolls” movie of 2014, comes this tale of a young boy, Kubo.

Set in an ancient Japan of fantasy, Kubo has lost an eye when the vengeful Moon King took it from him. He was saved from total destruction by his mother who possesses magical powers as does he, though he has not yet fully developed them.

Kubo makes his way, supporting himself and his week mother who suffers from memory loss, by telling stories in public whilst playing his shamisen, a 16th century Japanese three stringed instrument similar to a banjo. His young magical skills allow the forming of flying origami to assist with telling his tales. In his story telling, he unknowingly foretells of his own adventure which will follow.

Just as in his stories, there are three objects described

which will become part of Kubo’s real quest taking him through the classic hero’s cycle; The Sword Unbreakable, The Breastplate Impenetrable and the Helmet Invulnerable. He will face the Moon King’s beasts in his quest to find these three real objects, but he will not be alone. He will be accompanied by Monkey, voiced by Charlize Theron, Beetle, voiced by Matthew McConaughey and Honsu, a little origami samurai.

As the three adventure forward they encounter all sorts of magical monsters.

Some scared even me. This is a visually stunning movie and filled with very human interactions between the principles. I found it overall a beautifully made and told story with mysticism throughout. Even as an adult I viewed it with wonder. It is admirable, in this day of computer animation, that this is being made in this traditional way, just as George Pal had done with his “Puppetoons” at Paramount in the 1930’s.

“Kubo and the Two Strings” sets a high mark of what movies should be for children of all ages.

The solid story and good characters make this enjoy-

SEPTEMBER 2016 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

able to watch. It is lovely to hear the voice of Brenda Vaccaro in the movie, she voices a woman of a certain age appropriately named Kameyo. The Moon King is voiced by the always fantastic Ralph Fiennes. George Takei also has a small voice over. The sheer artistry of this movie is haunting and beautiful and it stirs the imagination of those that watch it. I encourage you not to miss it. It’s not just for children. Before the story is over, you’ll know the full value of the two strings on Kubo’s shamisen.

For more information about “Matias Bombal’s Hollywood”, please visit: mabhollywood.com for exclusive content. The third year anniversary month is sponsored

by PTB Screen of Australia - world-wide at http://www. ptbscreen.com.au and on Facebook, where you’ll find promotions and information which reinvent the appeal of cinema going whilst providing space for current release information and archive research related to the past and present of the cinema. To support the ongoing production costs of Matias Bombal s Hollywood , donate here: paypal.me/MABHollywood

Art for the Ages: The SFAC Summer Children’s Program Encourages Imagination

O

n Wednesday, July 27 a girl of 10 years old named Alyzee Sullens sat smiling with scissors in one hand and rubber scraps in the other. She was making a dinosaur.

Alyzee was learning the art of printmaking alongside other 4th-6th graders in a class taught by Ms. Schneider, a retired San Juan Unified School District art teacher and second year teacher at the Sacramento Fine Art’s center Children’ s Program.

“I think it [printmaking] is nice because you draw things and cut out things. I like using ink like in the olden days when they used to dip feathers in ink,” says Sullens. She participated in the program for a week last year and returned for another week this year. “I like doing all of the art.”

The six week long program is run by a number of passionate teachers and volunteers who are devoted to giving youth the liberty to create. Some volunteers like thirteen year old Leo Dippon, an incoming freshman at Mira Loma High School, were even once students themselves.

“I started in first or second grade and it got me interested in a lot of other mediums of art. I also enjoyed the art history side of things. I learned quite a bit from that and whenever there was an art project in school I was able to apply what I learned from here, like the proper techniques so that things looked correct,” Dippon reflects.

Not only has the experience influenced his performance at school, it has encouraged to him to be innovative at home.

His favorite personal projects include designing Cosplay costumes and making models, proving that art is not just limited to traditional painting, drawing, and sculpting.

“Art class is where I learned to make things I am really satisfied with,” says Dippon.

“I really like seeing things that I created. Art put that satisfaction into my life. Doing art helps me understand it and enjoy it more. You appreciate art if you do art.”

Teachers like Gil Peterson, who has been involved with the Children’s Program since 2001, have been appreciating and practicing art for years. After spending eighteen teaching in the San Juan Unified School District, Gil sees the importance of having programs like this available to youth in the summertime.

“I think here you’ve got a full blast chance to have fun,” remarks Peterson while cleaning up the colorful mess made by his group of 1st-3rd graders. “You don’t have to worry about ‘oh we’ve got to go!’ When I’m teaching in the district its 40 minutes and then I’ve got to run, and kids are like “but I’m not done yet!”

The children get a full two hours of hands on instruction and crafting time, in addition to a snack break.

“You can try things out and they can try things out. They get more attention here,”

Cruise: Continued from page 3 race on Paradise Road, but we didn’t roll the car over. The streets were blocked off. I don’t imagine we were too crazy because we wanted to do the film more than anything else.”

This year’s CruiseFest on Fulton Avenue, sponsored by the Fulton Avenue Association, will feature seven bands, a variety of food trucks, numerous vendors and auto-related artisans.

All proceeds benefit the California Automobile Museum and the mission to preserve, exhibit, and teach the story of the automobile and its influence on our lives.

The cruise originated in 2009 and was in midtown. Originally known as the CAM Car Cruise,

10

states Peterson. “I come with clay and we do a clay project because that’s my medium so we always get to do a fun clay project on Monday and then I let it dry and I fire it on Wednesday morning and on Friday we paint them. That’s probably what I enjoy doing with the kids the most.”

From sculpting, to painting, drawing, and printmaking, there is always a new artistic adventure for the little ones. Engaging in the program is also a great way for students to make friends and learn about collaboration.

“It is interesting to see the interaction between the children and how they help each other. I was impressed by how interested the kids were,” says Beverly DeJarnett, a retired art teacher.

She was in charge of the Children’s Program back in 1988 when the SFAC first opened and wanted to spend a day observing. “It’s a joy to watch the kids,” says DeJarnett. “Being an observer is very rewarding.”

The volunteers and teachers all have rich backgrounds in art and art education and work together to make sure the children have a meaningful experience that will help them foster a love for creating.

“Art is important to everyone, especially to kids.

Art makes you see the world differently which is why it is so sad to see art curriculum being cut from schools,” says SFAC Office Manager Sharon Drysdale.

The lack of art programs in public schools makes it

this year it’s been changed it to CruiseFest on Fulton Ave to honor the long time title sponsor – the Fulton Avenue Association.

Prices for CruiseFest are as follows: $44 per car for museum members, $49 per car for general public. For pre-registration, visit calautomuseum. org/cruisefest CruiseFest On Fulton Avenue is a benefit for the California Automobile Museum, located at 2200 Front St. Established in 1987, the mission of the California Automobile Museum is to preserve, exhibit, and teach the story of the automobile and its influence on our lives. The current museum exhibition is “Pickup Truck Exhibit: Where Utility Meets the Everyday.” It ends Sunday, Sept.11.

Coming on Sept. 24 is a motorcycle exhibit called “Live Free—California’s Motorcycle Culture.”

especially important for arrangements like the SFAC Children’s Program to exist.

Spreading access to art literacy will help youths develop skill sets that may serve as emotional outlets, career opportunities, and builders of confidence.

To learn more about upcoming Sacramento Fine Arts Center’s Children’s Art Classes, visit: http://www.sacfinearts.org or call (916)9713713. Fall children’s art classes begin Sept. 7 and run for four weeks. Four sessions cost $65.00 and instruction is every Wednesday from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center 5330B Gibbons Drive, Carmichael. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and Tuesdays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Steve LaRosa

1967 Camaro.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • SEPTEMBER 2016

Who wrote that?

KIDLIT CREATORS WHO MAKE KIDS WANT TO READ An interview with with Elizabeth Raum

By Bitsy Kemper

Who Wrote that? is a monthly column that profiles the talented authors and illustrators who bring children’s books to life.

E

lizabeth raum has written many books. Many, many books. around 150. She’s not really sure how many—she’s so busy writing that she stopped counting. an award winning author, her latest picture book Cedric and the Dragon has won a Mom’s Choice Award and been on the Christian Century Magazine “notable Books List.” not too long ago, one of her editors said she didn’t have enough books about dragons. on the same day, Raum’s three-year-old granddaughter declared with great pride that she had learned a Bible verse: “Be kind to everyone.” the ideas melded together and raum asked herself: is it possible to be kind to a dragon? cedric and the Dragon was born.

“I’ve always been drawn to the idea that we need to look closely at others to know their true strengths,” raum said. “on the surface, Prince Cedric is a bit of a loser: he’s slower than other children and cannot meet the king’s high expectations. But cedric has something that his stronger and smarter siblings lack: compassion. He acts out of love, not revenge.” encouraging reading raum writes because she loves to read, and wants children to share her passion for books and stories. as a teacher and school librarian, she noticed that many children read only what was required. and they often struggled to get through it all. raum saw when a struggling reader found the right book, they persevered. their schoolwork improved and so did their attitude toward school and learning. She got hooked on helping.

She tries to write stories that will engage the interest of those reluctant readers, and lead them deeper into the text. She’s written some unique books called “interactive novels” where the

Elizabeth Raum

reader actually chooses the storyline of the already-written text. For example, in Spies of the American Revolution, the reader can choose to be General Washington’s Spy, General Clinton’s Spy, or Slave Spy, a double agent. the story unfolds a little differently depending on which character tells it. no matter the initial choice, readers continue to make choices as they read. the unique format works well for advanced readers in grades 2 or 3 as well as for reluctant readers in grades 6 and 7. A single book can be used for, and enjoyed by, a wide range of reading levels. secret Writing passion Ms. raum wanted to be a writer from the time she was about nine-years-old, but it remained a secret passion for many years. “it was not a practical career choice,” she admits. She persisted, though, writing at night and on weekends while teaching school, parenting her own children, and working as a school and college librarian. She first got published in 2001. That was a banner year for her first foray into authorship: she ended up with three publishing contracts and wrote an adult biography (Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Called by God), a christmas picture book (Follow That Star), and a book for teachers (Every Day a Holiday: Celebrating Children’s Literature Throughout the Year). all those years of practice had finally paid off. And the ball never stopped rolling. She now writes full-time. ideas a-plenty raum would have to write full time to make it to 150 ti-

SEPTEMBER 2016 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

tles. Her ideas originate in various ways. Follow that Star (later reissued as Christmas Star) was based on a real life event: a small goat escaped from the church’s annual outdoor nativity Pageant. the church got a call from McDonalds, asking if the goat in their drive-thru belonged to the church. it did indeed. that was the basis of her book about a small sheep named Star who led a chase through city streets. other ideas come from her own reading of history.

She might find a great anecdote, research it out through library databases or expert interviews, and then expand it into a book-length idea.

Some topics are assigned, like her stories on snakes, lizards, and poisonous animals.

What about Questions?

During school visits, she’s discovered the importance of explaining what a question is and what it is not. (For example, a question is not telling about a new puppy, but asking.) one girl pointed to the printed words on the page and asked, “How did you print it so neatly?” raum beamed. “i just had to give her a hug, and then i explained that i wrote the story, but didn’t print out the book myself, that a company helped do that. She seemed satisfied.” a couple of years ago she got a phone call around 3:30 in the afternoon. a 4th grader from Utah was calling from the school bus on his way home, and raum said, “he just wanted to tell me that i was ‘his favorite writer in the whole world.’ We talked about books and what he liked to read for several minutes, and then he reached his house. it was a great afternoon for us both. i love hearing from young readers.” no question about that!

Bitsy Kemper is author of 15 children’s books. You may have seen Bitsy on CNN, heard her on national radio, noticed her quoted in a range from Parenting magazine to Writing Children’s Books for Dummies, or seen her work in countless newspapers, radio and TV stations across the U.S of A. Busy with three kids (four if you count her husband), she happily finds time to present at schools and writer conferences from CA to NY. www.BitsyKemper.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH RAUM Visit: www.elizabethraum.net

UPCOMING EVENTS/SIGNINGS: September 2016 North Dakota Reading Association, Fargo, N.D. L.E. Berger Elementary School, West Fargo, N.D. January 2017 Robert Asp Elementary School, Moorhead, MN

A SAMPLING OF BOOKS BY ELIZABETH RAUM (She’s written about 150!)

Popular Books (With Catchy Titles) The Dreadful, Smelly Colonies: The Disgusting Details about Life in Colonial America, Capstone Press The True Story Behind Toilets, Heinemann Stealing Nazi Secrets, Capstone Storms and Storm Chasing, Capstone They Wore What? (Colonial America Series), Capstone

A FEW FAVORITES: Cedric and the Dragon, illustrated by Nina Crittenden, Alma Little Cutting a Path: Daniel Boone and the Cumberland Gap, Capstone Press Spies of the American Revolution: An Interactive Espionage Adventure, Capstone Press Scorpions, Amicus Komodo Dragons, Amicus Cobras, Amicus The California Gold Rush: An Interactive History Adventure, Capstone Press

11

Parental Rights vs. Public Responsibility

By Michele Townsend The 2016/17 school year is upon us, and the hot topic this year is the changes made to the mandatory vaccine law, prompted by the 2014 Disneyland measles outbreak and historically low levels of vaccinations in some California schools. Senate Bill 277 (SB 277); authored by Senator, and Pediatrician Richard Pan and Senator Beth Allen, is a bill that was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on June 30, 2015 requiring mandatory vaccines for all children entering into kindergarten or seventh grade in any public school, or daycare.

This bill has had such strong opposition during its legislative process that Senators Pan and Allen had received multiple death threats and had to be escorted from the capitol by security for their own safety.

Opponents to this law say that by making it mandatory for all children to be vaccinated, it is stomping on the perental right of deciding what they think is the safest way to treat their child’s health, and eliminating that decision making power from them.

They maintain that “families that do not comply with the one-size-fits-all vaccine mandate, will lose their State Constitutional right for free and appropriate education in public and private k-12 schools. The use of licensed daycare facilities, in-home daycare, public or private preschools, and even after school care programs are also included in SB 277.” The authors and those that

concur with this bill say that they are not removing that right, or power.

They say that they are protecting the rights of all children to go to public school safely. This bill is supported by the California Medical Association.

Professor of Law Doris Rubinstein Reiss gave testimony to the California Senate Judiciary Committee reminding them of their “leeway to require school immunizations, rejected the need of non-medical exemptions, and claimed this bill did not violate the right to education.”

One mother in Sacramento said “In America, you have the right to drive also, but there are laws in place to keep people from driving crazy. Those laws are not only there for the safety of that driver, but for the other people that can be hurt as well. The driver didn’t mean to hurt anyone else, but he didn’t know school hours and thought 50mph in that area would be ok at that time of day! It was an accident that anyone got hurt, but it was one that could have been avoided. That’s what I think this law does.” Yet another Mother told me “This is America, We have the right to decide what we feel is best for our kids.” As a debate began among the parents (None of which wanted to be named) a gentleman said “But, Is it fair to put everyone else at risk because of your belief?” Another stated “If parents put their children in potential harms way in other ways, it is considered neglect or child endangerment. Why is this different?” So, Is it about the

parents losing their rights.... or is it that their decision effects many others, in addition to their own children?

In the 2015/16 school year, those entering had three options to avoid the mandatory vaccination requirement; (1) obtaining a medical waiver (these are EXTREMELY hard to get), (2) enroll your child in a independant study or homeschool (non-classroom based instruction such as k12) program or (3) by filling out a “Personal Belief Exemption (PBE) Form” (These were primarily for religous beliefs).

As of July 1, 2016 PBE’s are NO LONGER AN OPTION. So, what if vaccines go against your core belief, your spirituality, your religion? Do you have to homeschool your child, or go to a perocial school? Perhaps you do. However, many perocial schools are following the same requirements as the publics schools on this topic.

You will need to really do some research to find one that does not. However, If your child is already enrolled in school, and is going into any grade besides the seventh grade, your child is considered “grandfathered in”, and will not need to be vaccinated until they are entering the seveth grade.

Therefore, if your child is above the seventh grade, they will not be required to be vaccinated. Grades below seventh will be required to be current upon entering the seventh grade.

The law does not, however, prohibit students from accessing special education or related services required

by their individualized education program (IEP). Some school districts have constructively exempted special education students due to legal mandates that may open them up for legel challenge. Other districts are insisting all students, including special education services, be vaccinated. You will need to check with your school district if this something that pertains to your child.

Those parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children, to date, are also up in arms about the amount of vaccine that their child may have to now be injected with, in order to “catch up”. There is a “catch up” schedule that can be reviewed on the California Department of Public Health website www.cdph.ca.gov.

Nurse Mary Covin says, “Why would you not have your child vaccinated when you know you were as a child? Measels and Polio have come back as well as other old time diseases and disorders.These have come back into play, and now there are so many more people that if someone get sick, it’s not just a few people that get sick.

It’s hundreds or thousands!”

Should you have any questions regarding this information, you may contact your school distrct for further information, or California school’s legal council; Parker and Covert Southern California office at 714-5730900 or Northern California office at 916-245-8677 or visit their website at www.parkercovert.com.

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • SEPTEMBER 2016

Children’s Home to kick off 150th anniversary today with ribbon cutting and open house

T

he iconic main building of the Sacramento Children’s Home, located at 2750 Sutterville Road across from Curtis Park, is kicking off its 150th anniversary in 2017 with a ribbon cutting and open house today to unveil its renovated facility on Sutterville Road.

A long-anticipated construction project to improve accessibility and administrative efficiency while bringing the building back to its historical roots has been completed. The event, which is designed to celebrate the organization’s history as Sacramento’s longest standing non-profit and important role it plays as the most comprehensive child and family service organization in Sacramento County had several elected officials as well as members of the business community at it.

The Sacramento Children’s Home started as an orphanage and later developed into a children’s farm association and home for the abandoned and now serves more than 6,200 children and 4,600 families through a comprehensive spectrum of residential, community-based, mental health and educational programs. Throughout its long history, SCH has been at the forefront of trauma-informed care and developing new ways to improve the outcomes of children and families through community-based prevention and early intervention programs.

The renovations to the iconic administrative building that faces Sutterville Road was intended to meet several goals, stated Roy Alexander, the Children’s Home Chief Executive

Officer. Most importantly, he said some of the goals include bringing the building to current ADA standards, and making the building more energy efficient, upgrading electrical and plumbing and current life and safety code, and bringing it back to its 1925 design.

In researching the history of what is now called the Sacramento Children’s Home, one constant is that the agency has always responded to the needs of the community, and has adjusted programming accordingly, Alexander said. The campus use has changed dramatically over the past 14 years; moving from 80 youth in the residential program to 30. There are some dramatic changes coming to the field of child welfare and the Sacramento Children’s Home will be responding to those changes. In terms of available space on the grounds, there is only one building that has not been remodeled to another use. The Marzen building, currently used for after school educational services is yet to be remodeled for a new use. There are buildings on campus that were intended to be temporary 40 years ago. Alexander foresees that they will be replaced by modern buildings as the home grows to meet the needs of the future.

In describing the rich history of the site, Alexander said the agency was first formed as an orphanage and operated that way until 1942, when the move was made to start operating more as treatment facility. In the mid 1960s, it started moving toward a mental treatment program and in the 1980s, the Children’s Home branched out to

providing prevention and early intervention programs. The addition of the mental health clinics, the family resource centers, and the crisis nurseries opened the campus to the community and created a path to building family strengths and avoiding children being placed in the foster care system.

Live-in staffing ended in the early 1980s and the only remaining live-in staff is Lisa King who will be retiring this month after 35 years of working at the Sacramento Children’s Home.

She is currently the Program Manager over our Educational programs both on campus and also serving 2000 students per year on public school campuses, Alexander said.

Next year, three major events will be planned to celebrate the 150-year milestone: a business lunch with other Sacramento businesses from the late

1800s will be held on Jan. 25, 2017.

On Sept. 16, the home will celebrate with a large gala at Memorial Auditorium. Additionally, Family Resource Centers will be hosting family events throughout the year. “We will be increasing the activity at those events to celebrate the anniversary for families that otherwise would not have the opportunity,” Alexander said.

The campus on Sutterville Road is 13 acres. The iconic building facing Sutterville is administrative offices.

Behind that building are office buildings (once cottages) for mental health clinics and Lilliput Adoption agency.

Additionally there are two residential facilities, and a recreation center housing 30 boys. Also on the campus is the Pat Anderson Education Center, a School operated by Land Park Academy serving children with Autism.

Please

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What’s Happening, Kids!

THURSDAY, SEPT. 1 GRAND OPENING: OFF THE GRID: SACRAMENTO ZOO: Off the Grid food trucks is excited to partner with Sacramento Zoo to bring food truck dinners and live music from 5 to 9 p.m., every Thursday, beginning Sept. 1. 3930 West Land Park Drive (on 15th Avenue adjacent to the zoo).

Saturday, Sept. 3 SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS #ZOONIGHT: At 7:05 p.m., watch your hometown baseball team take on the Fresno Grizzlies and support the Zoo! Players will be sporting custom Red Panda jerseys that will be auctioned off and you can purchase tickets here with promo code “ZOO”. Purchase #ZooNight tickets, promo code “ZOO”. 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento, 95822; 916-808-5888.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 6 READ TO A DOG (SCHOOL AGE 6-12): Starting at 3:30 p.m., specially trained therapy dogs are waiting for children to come read to them. For school age children that can read, we supply the books or you may bring your own book to read to the dogs. The books should be able to be read in 5 - 10 minutes. After 10 sessions the reader is awarded a free book. Carmichael Library, 5605 Marconi Ave., Carmichael MOCK PSAT EXAM FOLLOW-UP (TEEN): Follow-up session with test results and valuable test-taking tips for students who have taken the PSAT Mock Exam given on Saturday, Aug. 27. Parents are encouraged to attend, 6 p.m., Carmichael Library, 5605 Marconi Ave., Carmichael.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD TRUCKS & FUN!: Don’t miss another great evening out with our friends from Sacto Mofo from 5 to 8 p.m. at Garcia Bend Park.

To find out the food truck line up in advance, visit Facebook.com/Sacto MoFo. Contact Councilman Rick Jennings’ office at 808-7007 for more information.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 8 CARMICHAEL MOVIE MATINEE (FAMILY/ ALL AGES): Starting at 3 p.m., bring your friends and enjoy a movie at Carmichael Library - Free! Visit Carmichael Library for a list of up-coming movie titles. Carmichael Library, 5605 Marconi Ave., Carmichael.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Hang out with Superbowl Champ & Vice Mayor, Rick Jennings at one of our great neighborhood businesses at 8:30 a.m. at

Bel Air (7465 Rush River Drive). For more information or to host a Community SPOTlight at your local business, contact his office at 808-7007.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 and SUNDAY, SEPT. 11

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10

OTO’S MARKETPLACE ANNUAL JAPANESE FALL FESTIVAL: Come to Oto’s at 4990 Freeport Blvd., for an annual weekend sale. You can “Spin the Wheel” for free prizes (min. purchase required); there will be live music by Island Sunset Band on Saturday starting at noon. There will be shaved ice sold by Osaka-Ya, and there will be Japanese food booths benefiting the Sacramento Barons Boy’s 2021 and Sacramento Warlord Boy’s 2022. Parking available at the “Church of the Masters”, 1900 Potero Way (parking lot behind Rite-Aid). The hours for Saturday’s festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the hours for Sunday are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CARCRUISE BENEFITING THE CALIFORNIA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM: See details page 3.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 16

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 TEEN LGBTQ+ & ALLIES GROUP @ ARDENDIMICK (TEEN): Teen member of the LGBTQ+ community? The library is your safe space! Join us for snacks, talking movies, crafts and more. Open to ages 12-19. Teen allies welcome. 4 p.m. Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave.

100,000 “GENTLY USED” BOOKS AVAILABLE AT SEPT 10 FRIENDS OF LIBRARY BOOK WAREHOUSE SALE: In ever-changing inventory of more than 100,000 “gently used” books, videos, and audio books will be offered for prices from fifty cents to $2 at the Saturday Sept. 10 sale at the warehouse of the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library. The warehouse is at the rear of the Friends’ store at Suite E, 8250 Belvedere Ave., just south of 14th Avenue between Power Inn and Florin-Perkins roads. Plenty of parking is available, but visitors should be careful not to park between the “No Parking” signs on the south side of Belvedere. Sale hours on Saturday will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a preview and sale on Friday Sept 9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Friends members only (You can join at the door for $20). Income from the sale helps pay for programs, equipment, and materials local libraries need but can’t afford. With more books constantly needed, the Friends will be glad to have yours, too. See a staff member on how to donate. The book store is open weekly on Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as during the sale. Items there are priced from $1 up. For more information, call (916) 731-8493 or go to bookden@saclibfriends.org.

MOVIE NIGHT IN WILLIAM LAND PARK RESCHEDULED: From 7:20ish to 9 p.m., councilmember Steve Hansen’s office and the Land Park Community Association are co-sponsoring a movie night at the William A. Carroll Amphitheatre in William Land Park at sundown. The movie will be “Zootopia”. Bring a picnic, blankets, and/or chairs, and enjoy a family-friendly flick. Free drinks and snacks will be provided. The amphitheater is located at 15th Avenue and Land Park Drive. For more information, call 808-7004.

SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK!: After grabbing a tasty treat at Trucks & Such, grab a few blankets and your favorite picnic chair and enjoy a FREE viewing of ZOOTOPIA under the stars. The movie starts at dusk at Garcia Bend Park. Contact Councilman Rick Jennings’ office at 916-808-7007 for more information.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21 DEER AND FAWN STORYTIME: A NATUREFOCUSED PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND THEIR PARENTS AT EFFIE YEAW- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Mini-naturalists only! We invite you and your preschooler to join us for a whimsical journey into nature through stories, songs and crafts. And if time allows, you’ll meet and learn about one of our friendly, resident animals! The program ends before lunchtime, so feel free to bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a short walk in the nature preserve before you head home. Deer and Fawn Storytime introduces preschoolers and their parents to the wonders of the natural world and helps reinforce a lifetime love of learning in children. We hope to see you here! Cost is $5 per child. (Adult accompanying child is free.) Appropriate for ages 3 and 4. NOTE: NOT a drop-off program - at least one adult must accompany each child. Please no siblings. Pre-registration is required. Program is limited to the first 15 registered children. Program funded by Sacramento County Regional Parks. Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Inside Ancil Hoffman Park, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael, CA 95608. Register at http://www.sacnaturecenter.net/ storytime.html

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28 LPCA BIANNUAL SAFETY & SECURITY Q&A WITH SACPD AND SAC FIRE : Mark your calendars! The Land Park Community Association will be holding its biannual Safety & Security Q&A with SacPD and Sac Fire on Wednesday, September 28th at 6:30pm. Location TBA. This is a great opportuni-

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Do you have an upcoming or monthly event?

Let us know. e-mail Monica:

editor@valcomnews.com

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• CLASSES • GYMNASTICS CAMPS • PARTIES & EVENTS • COMPETITIVE TEAMS

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

THE LILY TOMLIN EXPIERENCE: FE GALLERY’S UNAUTHORIZED/UNOFFICIAL LILY TOMLIN ART SHOW: FE Gallery, 1100 65th St. presents original art interpretations of comedian, writer and singer “Lily Tomlin”. Artists include: Gail Miller, Jim Marxen, Stephen Ward , Camilo Valencia, Paula Re, Skye Becker-Yamakawa, Madelyne Templton, Sarah Hedlund, Julie Crowder, Carrie Rennolds, Robert Pierosh, Carol Duarte , Priya Drews, Denise Irwin, Eileen Searcy, Jill Layton, Susan Berry, Chuck Drumm, Cuauhtemoc Kish, Dwora Fried, Paula Lewis, Rhonda Thomas-Urdang, Sharol Nau, Mike Purdy, Emma Liff, Kenneth DelAlcazar, Susan Silvester. The show goes until Sept. 23. Gallery hours are 2nd Saturday Hours Front Gallery & Metal Shop 6 to 9 p.m., Monthly Daytime Hours Gallery Monday Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Closed for lunch some days 11 a.m. to noon)

Birthday Parties, Grand Openings & Other Events!

Free Open Gym from 12-2pm

WHEN YOU SIGN UP ON OR BEFORE

D7 HOT SPOT: Teens cool out at the D7 Hot Spot! Boys & Girls ages 13-19, Basketball, Snacks, and more! Call 808-7007 for more information.

Paid for by Measure U and sponsored by the Department of Parks & Recreation. Fridays, 7 to 10 p.m. at the School of Engineering & Sciences – 7345 Gloria Drive.

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ty to ask questions and bring concerns to both Sac PD and Sac Fire in a small group environment. If you have any topics you’d like SacPD or Sac Fire to cover during the meeting, feel free to post them in the comments or email publicsafety@landpark.org

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Troop 259 welcomes three new Eagles to the Eagles’ Nest

By Bill Kirk

O

n Saturday, Aug. 13, three new Troop 259 Eagle Scouts, Ethan Kwong, Tariq Celeste and Damian Thomson, were honored at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Elks Lodge No. 6 on Riverside Boulevard.

It was a day of celebration for these Scouts as they were joined by family, friends and fellow Scouts of Troop 259 in Greenhaven to mark the achievement of Boy Scouting’s highest rank—the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Master of Ceremonies at the event was Scoutmaster John Pitcher, assisted by Senior Patrol Leader Diego Gonsales. Pastor Dave Finch delivered the Invocation and Benediction followed by welcoming remarks

by Exalted Ruler Conrad de Castro of Elks Lodge #6 which is the Troop 259 Charter Organization. The ceremony was officially opened by Gerry McIntyre, Capital City District Advancement Chair on behalf of the Northern California Golden Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America.

As the Troop’s newest Eagle Scouts, these three young men join rare company in their Troop and nationally. According to the Boy Scouts of America website, out of more than one million registered Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts nationally in 2015, the number of Scouts earning the Eagle Scout rank was 54,366 or about 6.6 percent of all registered Scouts. In California, the number of Eagle Scout Awards earned in 2015 totaled 4,887. Notably, as has been the case for many years, the national average age of Scouts earning the Eagle Scout rank in 2015 was 17 years of age.

As Scoutmaster Pitcher noted in his remarks, since its inception in 1910, the Scouting program has helped shape the character of millions of young men in this country and around the world. The Eagle Court of Honor ceremony carries on a proud tradition honoring over 2.25 million boys who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout since the first Eagle Scout Rank was awarded in 1912. In the years since Troop 259 was originally chartered on Aug. 25, 1966, a total of 174 Scouts have earned the Eagle Scout Rank in the Troop.

To earn his Eagle, every Scout must achieve five intermediate ranks: Tenderfoot Scout, Second Class Scout, First Class Scout, Star Scout and Life Scout. He must also earn at least 21 Merit Badges (13 of them mandatory) and live by the Scout Oath and Law. In addition, an Eagle Scout Candidate must complete an Eagle Scout Service Project. Its purpose is to give the Scout an opportunity to learn and demonstrate project management while leading others to make a contribution to the community.

Like the Eagles who preceded them, Kwong, Celeste and Thomson each identified a need, overcame the challenges of project coordination, fund-raising and work crew recruitment, completing a community service project that clearly left its mark. Kwong’s project reclaimed space in an outdoor garden area at Leonardo da Vinci K-8 School and added a large garden SEPTEMBER 2016 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

box, a square table, and four farmhouse style benches for the visually impaired students.

Celeste coordinated a project to provide much needed parking lot restriping and yellow safety striping at the Chinese Confucius Church.

And Thomson added six garden planter boxes to support the hands-on learning program at Alice K. Birney K-8 Waldorf School.

An important component of the Eagle Court of Honor proceedings is the Eagle Challenge.

Following Troop 259 custom, the challenge to the new Eagles is issued by another Eagle Scout who came before them. Cameron Vansoest (Eagle 2014) did the honors, calling on the new Eagles to live with honor, loyalty, courage and good cheer and to always be prepared to put forth their best in school, career and life.

Former Troop 259 Scoutmaster Todd Thompson then presented a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to each new Eagle.

Highlighting the Court of Honor was the presentation of a special Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Resolution to each Eagle Scout by Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy who is himself an Eagle Scout. “The resolutions acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of these young men during their many years in the Scouting program,� said Kennedy, noting that service to others is a key building block that makes our community, state and nation strong.

In their personal remarks, each Eagle spoke of how Scouting had affected the direction of their lives, providing a valuable underpinning for what lies ahead for each of them.

Kwong recalled National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and lessons learned about perseverance while backpacking steep slopes to Showers Lake with a backpack that weighed a ton. Celeste credited outdoor experiences such as “the day we were blown off Point Reyes� with stimulating his self confidence and personal growth. Lastly, Thomson described outdoor adventures which allowed him to discover his love of backpacking from which he learned valuable life lessons in the midst of all the fun.

Looking to the future, these three newest Troop 259 Eagles will be starting college in 2016. Kwong will begin his academic journey at UC Berkeley and Celeste plans to study Biology at San Francisco State University.

Thomson will begin his pursuit of an acting career first at Sacramento City College and later transferring to San Diego State University. Troop 259 congratulates each of these fine young men for their exceptional Scouting achievements on the Trail to Eagle. Once again, it’s a great day for Scouting!

Troop 259 generally meets on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at Elks Lodge #6, located at 6446 Riverside Blvd. in Greenhaven. For specific information about meeting times and how to become a part of Troop 259, visit our Troop website at http://www.

Troop259.org or e-mail our Committee Chairperson, Allison Fong at aaajfong@sbcglobal.net .

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