East Sacramento News - January 5, 2017

January 5, 2017 | www.valcomnews.com

East Sacramento News — BRINGING YOU COMMUNITY NEWS FOR 26 YEARS —

A Year in Review

EAST SACRAMENTO NEWS SHARES ITS FAVORITE STORIES OF 2016 SEE PAGE 2

Life in the Village ..................................................3 Door-to-Door ........................................................4 Faces and Places ...................................................8 Matías Bombal’s Hollywood ................................9 What’s Happening ..............................................14

See page 6

See page 8

January 12 - 22, 2017

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Vol. XXVI • No. 1

East Sacramento News is published on the first and third Thursday of the month in the area bounded by Business 80 on the west, the American River on the north and east and Highway 50 on the south.

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

Publisher...................................................................David Herburger Editor............................................................................... Monica Stark Art Director.......................................................................John Ochoa Graphic Designer..................................................Annin Greenhalgh Advertising Director................................................... Jim O’Donnell Advertising Executives: Melissa Andrews, Steve Crowley, Linda Pohl

Cover by: Annin Greenhalgh

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Year in Review Citizen Cohn: Former Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn discusses recently-released memoir

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Even after 20 years of public service on the Sacramento City Council, Steve Cohn always looked at his tenure as an act of community service, and certainly not as a career. When the council first getting stipends, they were so slight that they were pretty much volunteer. When Josh Pane (1989-1994) decided not to run for re-election, Cohn hadn’t given any thought to run for council but a number of neighborhood activists approached him to step up.

“It was kind of a time when neighborhood activists were starting to get more into politics,” Cohn recalled. It was when Cohn helped lead the opposition to the Centrage project, a 3 million-square-foot development, which included 30,000 cars in and out of the current McKinley Village site. Because of the impact that project would have had on the neighborhood, Cohn said it wasn’t that hard to put together a coalition of those concerned for that amount of traffic funneled in.

So, in terms of politics other than being in campaigns for various people running for office it really was the Centrage fight that was his introduction to local politics that possibly would have continued if it wasn’t for a freak accident when he fell from the ladder of his Truckee cabin. Taking a few days off from the “campaign grind” during the general election runoff for California State Assembly in 2014, Cohn leaned “too far” and “too forcefully” trying to finish cutting off a dead branch of a large Jeffrey pine tree. As he writes on his blog, stevecohnsacramento.com/blog, the extension ladder “suddenly twisted and fell, sending me sprawling 15 feet to the ground, fracturing my pelvis and tailbone among other things. After two months of excruciating pain and rehab, I was able to start walking precincts again (limping more accurately) by Labor Day, but it wasn’t enough to resuscitate my foundering campaign. I don’t know if the result would have been different without the accident, but I ended up losing two critical months of campaigning. Many people, especially labor and corporate donors, stopped believing I could win, which became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Instead of closing a manageable five percent gap from the June primary, I ended up losing by 17 percent in the November general.”

The accident led to the revelation of a benign brain tumor that his doctor advised to be removed. During the recovery, he reflected on his time in local politics and began writing. His blog is updated frequently and in October he released the self-published “Citizen Cohn: Memoir of Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn.”

The book, broken into eight parts, begins with his grandparent’s migration from Ukraine and Lithuania to America and then chronicles his life by decades. There’s “The Fifties” and his black and white memories living in mid-century Missouri; “The Sixties” and his

formative years; “The Seventies” including the “Yale Years”, “falling in love in France and Tahoe”, law school and moving to the West Coast Capital; followed by “The Eighties”: becoming grownups and starting careers and a family; “The Nineties” and the victory over Centrage and his first run for office; “The New Millenium”: hate crimes, Heather Fargo’s two terms, Kevin Johnson rocking the political establishment, the Sacramento Kings Arena Saga, the 2014 Assembly Campaign, the fall, and the end of Cohn’s Tenure.

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More than $150,275 raised for the food bank at this year’s Run to Feed the Hungry

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

The weather couldn’t be better for the 29,002 participants in the annual Run to Feed the Hungry who on Thanksgiving morning collectively raised more than $150,275 for the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.

Made possible by dedicated volunteers and title sponsor Western Health Advantage, the annual event has become a holiday tradition for countless families and individuals.

“People want to give back and do something for the less fortunate and the beneficiary is the best non profit in town, the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services,” race director Rich Hanna said. “We’re in East Sacramento, the best neighborhood, in my opinion. I live in East Sac, the most beautiful neighborhood in See Run to Feed the Hungry, page 3 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Run to Feed the Hungry: Continued from page 2

town. And (Thanksgiving) is the perfect day to do it.”

To donate to the Food Bank today, donate online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org. All donations are 100 percent tax deductible. Once your donation has been processed, you will receive a thank you letter with our organization’s Tax ID on it.

Submissions given to school district for redevelopment of Old Marshall School Site likely to be developed “within a year”

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

UPDATE: The Sacramento Bee’s Bill Lindelof reported in November that “negotiations are to begin soon to turn a century-old school in mid-

town Sacramento into senior housing and land on the school grounds into condominiums. Sacramento City Unified School District trustees have directed staff to begin negotiations with Mogavero Architects and Bardis Homes to renovate the 113-year-old Marshall School into senior housing and also build 35 to 50 for-sale condominiums on school grounds.”

Board of Education trustee and preservationist Ellen Cochrane says redevelopment of Marshall School will like start within a year, though the school itself can be improved but not changed. “The main thing for me is neighbors don’t want to lose the historical structure… It’s a historical building. The inside could be changed to apartments, a brewery.”

Meanwhile, inside you have to look really hard for the historic features, as the interior doesn’t mirror the exterior as the school district has remodeled over the decades.

A number of proposals from prominent local firms like Mogavero Ar-

chitects and Vrilakis have included the building of up to 60 residential units inside the old school while entities like the Sacramento Labor and Nonprofit Incubator, Inc. would “rehabilitate and sublease small spaces to labor and nonprofit groups and use an apprenticeship program to increase training opportunities for community members. Additionally, Immanuel Housing in partnership with Community Architecture, Inc. and Cowan Construction Services submitted a proposal for “transitional housing for emancipated foster youth and veterans, victims of domestic violence. Classrooms and meeting rooms, and 16 condo units for first time homebuyers… (with) priority given to veterans and teachers; and a meeting room available to SCUSD.” Cochrane says the second building on the property — the old Boy Scouts building – on, the other hand, is not historical and will likely be taken down. Made by the Boy Scouts 45 years ago, she says the building hous-

es a “funky stage” and has a kitchen and meeting area. “The Boy Scouts built it but it was used by the school district for various things,” she explained. “The lease gets tricky with schools and this is a special type of property that we have to send to state and federal agencies.”

The Board of Education back in June deemed the property more valuable to the district as “an income producing asset that may also provide the district with some use under a joint occupancy agreement.”

From the neighborhood perspective, Julie Murphy, co-chair of the Marshall School New Era Park Neighborhood Association, says their message to the school district simply has been to “do something” with the property. “So we are thrilled we are getting some communication, momentum and some interest.” “ There is a universal agreement that we don’t want to see building get the demolition by neglect we’re See Marshall School, page 5

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Marshall School: Continued from page 3

witnessing on daily basis. We appreciate that with the school district’s limited funds, their purpose is to educate children not manage properties. “ There are people who want it to return to its original purpose as a school and the school district has been candid about the challenges of that. Universally, we want things to have longevity, restore the building and return to vital part of our community.

Murphy lives right across the street, so she admittedly has a personal take in the building’s future. Additionally, they hope the school board, in the end, chooses something “sustainable and viable.� “One challenge with housing is you have time it correctly with the market. With the last market crash, there were lots that didn’t get developed.�

McKinley Village has arrived

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Rendering of McKinley Village Clubhouse.

McKinley Village, the 49-acre community developed by The New Home Company and Riverview Capital Investments in East Sacramento near Business I-80, opened in September with the unveiling of 14 model homes and community amenities. McKinley Village is an infill project of 336 homes “designed to foster connectivity and healthy living with a wealth of parks, common greens, public art and a wide array of homeowner amenities,� according to a press release.

Events included open houses of the model homes, and on a lighter side, attendees got to enjoy refreshments, shuttle rides around the grounds, bocce ball, balloons, outdoor foosball, making for a festive unveiling.

The prices for the various plans range from the mid-$300,000s to the low $900,000s and are broken down as follows: Birch Cottage Greens (alley loaded, parking in the back and porches in the front with opportunity for granny flat) boasts up to 2,781

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square feet and are priced from the low to high $600,000s; the prices for the up to 3,172 square-foot Cottonwood homes (single family detached on standard sized lot) range between the low $700,000s to the low $900,000s; the Magnolia homes (courtyard homes) are up to 2,258 square feet and range between the low $400,000s to the high $500,000s; the up to 2,007-squarefoot Mulberry homes (also courtyard homes) are priced from the mid $300,000s to the mid $500,000s. Additional model homes that will debut in the fifth McKinley Village enclave in mid-October and include the Adler homes (stack flats) which will be up to 2,536 square feet and priced between the low $500,000s to the low $700,000s.

With about 30 years of home-building experience, Kevin Carson, President of The New Home Company in Northern California, spoke with the East Sacramento News regarding

McKinley Village and what the community outside of this enclave can expect in the coming months.

At the time, he said 17 homes are under construction and the entire project is slated to take about three years to complete with the first home buyers will move in late November, early December. Three thousand people signed up on the McKinley Village website as “interested� in the project and were notified of the unveiling.

Guests of the event will be presented with a variety of Greek food, entertainment and other attractions.

Mike Dariotas, who co-chairs the event with Dan Eriksson, said that one of the biggest attractions of the festival is its food.

Dariotis and other volunteers are looking forward to the 2017 festival, which will be held at a structure that is currently being built on the church’s grounds on Alhambra Boulevard, across from Park.

Greek festival to relocate McKinley “Most Greek churches have their to east Sacramento festivals on their church grounds, so to be back at the church with facilities church grounds in 2017 and showcase the church building itBy LANCE ARMSTRONG self is really special,� he said. “It’s like a Lance@valcomnews.com dream come true.�

The Greek Orthodox Church of During the 1950s, the parish had its the Annunciation held its 53rd annu- Byzantine-style church building and al Greek Festival at the Sacramento recreation hall, known as the Hellenic Convention Center during Labor Day weekend.

See Greek Festival, page 6

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Greek Festival: Continued from page 5

Center, built on its Alhambra Boulevard property.

The Hellenic Center, which is located to the south of the Alhambra Boulevard church, was the church’s first building constructed at the site.

The church was completed in the fall of 1951 and held its first liturgy in the building with its pastor, Father Nicholas Karas.

New church offices were also constructed along N Street in the same decade.

A plan to build a church in South Natomas fell short in 1993 and the property was subsequently sold.

Through that sale, the property’s former owner, Angelo Tsakopoulos, gifted the church $1.1 million, which was used to purchase the remainder of the block at the Alhambra Boulevard site.

Church members later became split between the options of demolishing the present church building and constructing a new church in its place or building a new church on an 8-acre site in the 48-acre McKinley Village development, just east of the current church.

Sam Manolakas, the current capital campaign chairperson

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for the construction project on the Alhambra Boulevard grounds, said that in about 2010, the parish voted to remain at its present site.

He added that a fundraising campaign was established in 2012 and a groundbreaking was held in June 2015 for a 40,000-square-foot family center and administration/ Sunday school structure.

“The grand hall is large enough to have about 450 people and it’s divisible into two different sections, so we can have two functions going on at the same time,” he said.

“We have a gigantic, really beautiful commercial kitchen that we kind of are utilizing the same kind of equipment that they have down at the Convention Center.”

Manolakas said that the grounds’ old, two-story administration and Sunday school building and the old church hall will be demolished in late September, and in between the new building and the church will be a plateia – a plaza, courtyard or open space.

The entire project, Manolakas added, is planned to be completed by mid-January 2017.

With the festival’s relocation to the Alhambra Boulevard site, the parish will annually save about $50,000 on the cost of renting the Convention Center.

And because the parish is not dependent on the schedule of that venue, the event will be more conveniently held in late September or early October at the Alhambra Boulevard site.

Terry Kastanis said that he has a specific concern regarding the parish’s plan to relocate the festival to the Alhambra Boulevard site.

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Rendering of Greek Orthodox Church Courtyard.

“Everybody thinks the (festival’s) move is going to be a wonderful idea, but I’m not so sure,” he said. “I have reservations, because downtown there is parking and there is the city garages. We don’t have parking on Alhambra Boulevard.”

Kastanis added that he is worried that this parking issue could result in the festival returning to the Convention Center.

Although Manolakas said that Kastanis has a valid concern, he added that he is not worried.

“I think we’re going to try and work out something with some of the businesses and/or (Sutter Middle School) that’s right down on the corner of J (Street) and Alhambra (Boulevard) to see if we could potentially rent that for parking and have a shuttle bus go back and forth,” he said.

And being that the church grounds are located near a park and neighborhood, Manolakas expects that many festival guests will arrive by foot and bicycles.

Marsha Schindler

Manolakas said that the parish is looking forward to the completion of its long awaited facility.

“We’re looking forward to our new home over there (on Alhambra Boulevard),” he said. “I mean, let’s face it, I think we’re in one of the best locations in the city over in east Sacramento. I don’t think it gets any better than that next to McKinley Park. And this new facility is going to allow us to enhance our programs and our missions for the church. So, it’s going to be wonderful.”

governor’s office, is moving to East Sacramento. Here, at 814 Alhambra Blvd., across from McKinley Park, she will conduct workshops and classes at the clayARTstudio814.

“We are thrilled to be part of the East Sacramento community,” she said. “We should be up and running by mid-August. My desire is to provide an artistic space for people to take classes at various levels, primarily in ceramics. There will be events that showcase local artists with gallery exhibits, workshops and demonstrations.”

Currently teaching at the Art Institute of California Renown artist and the Crocker Art Museestablishes herself um, Schindler’s work has focused on the inextricable link in East Sac between humans and the

By Pat Lynch earth and its other species. “I Widely lauded artist, Mar- find I am still having this afsha Schindler, once commis- fair with nature in the tree sioned by former California form, the birds, the bones and First Lady, Maria Shriver, to create a 35-foot mural for the See Schindler, page 7 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Schindler: Continued from page 6

nests that occupy my work.” The “continuously transforming female figure” is a subject that also commands her attention.

It’s not surprising that Schindler, who took a degree in biology from Cal Poly and worked as a marine biologist in Southern California, finds inspiration in the immense dynamism of nature. After acquiring a Master in Art from Cal State Long Beach, she painted, illustrated and worked as an independent muralist. Presently she explores the “3-D work of ceramic sculpture” which “combines the elements of shape, color, value, texture and line with space.”

Ceramic art, as Schindler observes, “has a presence.” The local community welcomes opening a studio for this work in East Sacramento. “I’m excited to learn she’s coming,” says East Sac resident, Kathleen Pandolfino.

“I’ve heard about her and read about her. It’d be wonderful to work with her.” Another neighbor, East Sacramento Preservation Association president, Janet Maira, says, “ I adore

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Marsha’s work. Were lucky to get an artist with her remarkable gifts and reputation to base her operations here. She’ll have terrific success and we’ll be part of it.”

Schlinder’s studio will be open to the public during events or by appointment. She can be reached at marsha@ marshaschindler.com or at her website, http://marshaschindler.com.

Meet the Marmaladies: East Sac and Land Park neighbors developed unique recipe for the California State Fair

By Pat Lynch

They don’t lounge at spas and plan leisurely retirement cruises. They are K. D. Proffit from Land Park and Barbara Ruona from East Sacramento, and they play for keeps.

They created and developed a unique marmalade recipe. Making extraordinary marmalade requires the science of a chemist and the art of a superior chef. In 2015 Proffit and Ruona earned a second place award in the Cal Expo canning and baking competition. In 2016, determination heightened, they entered again.

K.D. Proffit with the 2015 shared rosette.

Barbara Ruona stands triumphant in front of the winners’ display case.

Using tasty naval oranges from Proffit’s tree and Seville oranges donated by a friend, the women set to work.

Both are acknowledged excellent cooks, but that is not nearly enough to win the coveted State Fair awards.

You won’t find too many more focused protagonists than Profitt and Ruona, and they worked resolutely on three entries—three identically sized small jars of marmalade, two bitters, one sweet.

Now they needed a name. The rules demanded it. “How about, the Marmaladies?” suggested friend, Eileen Lynch, and the two women were now the Marmaladies.

July 14th–the judging begins.

Proffit had to leave to Colorado, so a nervous Ruona went with other friends through the milling State Fair crowds to Building See Marmaladies, page 8

www.valcomnews.com • January 5, 2017 • East Sacramento News

Marmaladies: Continued from page 7

B, where the fate of the marmalades would be decreed. Some people had come early, sat on pillows, and had brought stools upon which they propped their feet. Contestants and general fairgoers filled the seats. Some, who sold wares at the Farmers Market, longed for those blue ribbons that would testify to the high quality of their goods. Finally the judges began to sample the products. People watched intently.

Ruona’s nervousness now palpable, she listened as the judges (all cookbook authors, chefs or other acknowledged experts) began smelling, tasting with spoons, holding jars to the light, intently discussing the texture and flavor. Some entries were quickly disqualified for multiple reasons: the jars didn’t match, the lids were wrong, the spread was too thick, or a jar was found with exterior dirt. The judges generally tried to find something encouraging to say as they disqualified people, but there were no exceptions: if you were out, you were out.

Ruona’s nervousness increased.

But there were so many entries the judges didn’t reach the Marmaladies offerings in time. She would have to come back later that night.

What a long day it was. Her friends took her to the movies to distract her, but it didn’t work. The Marmalady couldn’t stop thinking about marmalade. At 9:30 pm they returned to the fair. The contest area was empty now, the jars behind a window display. Ruona and her

friends advanced on the display, began reading. Then a shout—“Here it is—a blue ribbon.” One blue ribbon. No, two blue ribbons. No, three. A blue ribbon sweep for the Marmaladies!

Last year when they shared a second place ribbon, Ruona kept it for six months at her house, Proffit for six months at hers. Now there would be no need to share. The next day Ruona made a phone call to Colorado and heard jubilation. “K. D. was so thrilled,” she said. “We worked so hard to get it right. It all paid off.”

“Now you can relax,” somebody said. “You’re a big winner.”

“Oh no,” replied Marmalady Barbara Ruona. “Now we have to aim for Best of Class.”

New East Sac neighborhood edging closer to becoming a reality More than 100 homes to be built on old Sutter Memorial Hospital site

By LANCE ARMSTRONG Lance@valcomnews.com

The plan to transform the grounds of the old Sutter Memorial Hospital into east Sacramento’s newest neighborhood continues to move forward.

Behind chain-link fences, demolition work has already changed a portion of the appearance of the site, which served as home to the hospital for 78 years.

Known as the Sutter Park Neighborhood, the current project features plans for the construction of about 115 to 120 single-family homes, a

Sutter Park neighborhood plans.

428 ½-foot-long by 75-foot-wide central park, a 12-unit multifamily building and a mixed-use structure.

The opportunity to redevelop this 19.36-acre site at 5151 F St. was presented through Sutter Health’s decision to have the Anderson Lucchetti Women’s and Children’s Center built at 2825 Capitol Ave. Sutter Memorial’s entire operations moved into that facility last August, and work to remove all property from the interior of the old F Street hospital was completed two months later.

The purpose of the closure of Sutter Memorial was to consolidate jobs and services in a single location in new, modernized facilities.

According to Sutter Health, the new hospital structure was built to last for the entire 21st century and

offers “the highest level of neonatal and pediatric intensive care services, pediatric cardiac care, pediatric neurosurgery services, pediatric cancer services and high-risk and conventional maternity services.”

The current Sutter Memorial site project, which received all discretionary entitlements in April 2014, is a partnership between the property’s owner, Sutter Health, and StoneBridge Properties, which is a subsidiary of the historic Sacramento family-owned firm, Teichert Land Co. StoneBridge Project Manager Josh Leachman said that Sutter understood the necessity of replacing the hospital with a quality redevelopment.

See Sutter, page 13

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Best photos of 2016 10

World aiDS Day celebrated at the clunie center

The neighborhood celebrated World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2015 at the Clunie Community Center.

World AIDS Day is recognized and celebrated every year on Dec. 1 as a community opportunity to remember those lost and empower those living with HIV and AIDS. With the diversity of the capital city, HIV/AIDS touches every life in some way. As new infections are on the rise, disproportionately in youth and people over 50, folks came together to reach out to our communities. This collaborative event with Sacramento HIV/AIDS service organizations, agencies, support groups and entities served as a symbol of unity and continued commitment to achieving our goal: reducing stigma, increasing awareness and remembering the lives lost to this disease. People helped out in many ways, including monetary donations, in-kind donations, advocacy by wearing a red ribbon, illuminating the building with red lights and sharing personal experiences.

coldwell Banker 18th annual fine art exhibit at the clunie community center

Coldwell Banker Sacramento Metro held its 18th annual fine art exhibition on the evening of Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Clunie Community Center. Coldwell Banker provided hors d’oeuvres for the event and invited clients, family and friends. In memory of longtime artist participants Jane Goldman and Mary Marshall, participating artists donated $10 to the art programs at the Mustard Seed School.

East Sacramento News • January 5, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

For the Love of Dance contra dance event held at the coloma community center

Families gathered at the Coloma Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 to dance -contra style. With a Valentine’s Day theme, “For the Love of Dance,” the contra dance event brought families together and featured live fiddle music and lots of fun and laughter.

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2016 chinese new year at hiram Johnson high School

Hundreds of people celebrated the start of the Year of the Monkey on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at Hiram Johnson High School. Presented by Chinese New Year Culture Association, the event featured a dragon dance, martial arts, cultural entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts, community organization exhibits, and children’s games.

Prom Drive Giveaway at the Mckinley Library

Teens who were looking to find a way to make Prom more affordable stopped by McKinley Library for the Prom Drive giveaway where they got to try on dresses, tuxedoes, shoes, and accessories. It was all free with a valid student ID on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Dressing rooms were provided.

aLL PhotoS By

41st annual historic home tour

The 41st Annual Historic Home Tour featured the Julia Morgan House and several other historic structures in the Elmhurst neighborhood on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. This promo photo features Bonnie Hansen, then-vice president of the Elmhurst Neighborhood Association and a member of the tour’s subcommittee; Amreet Sandhu, then-president of the Elmhurst Neighborhood Association and a Preservation Sacramento member and Elmhurst resident Ilsa Hess, owner of this 1962, 15-foot Oasis trailer, one of the highlights of the home tour.

Stephen Crowley stephen@valcomnews.com • www.PhotosByCrowley.com

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East Sacramento News • January 5, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Sutter:

Continued from page 8

“ They realized the hospital kind of predates a lot of the residential area around (the hospital),” he said. “It kind of grew around it, so I think Sutter kind of realized that institutionally they had a responsibility and desire to kind of further their legacy and do something cool.

We started working probably like in 2012 with Sutter.”

Leachman also spoke about the future timeline for the project. “ The site will be cleaned up in late spring 2017,” he said. “Everything will be done, with the majority of the buildings really being gone this year. And we will put in all the site improvements, including streets and roads and park and open space areas by fall-winter 2017.”

Leachman added that he is hopeful that construction will begin at the site in late 2017.

“We have not yet identified the builders,” he said. “We will work toward identifying those builders over the next six to nine months. There will likely be a handful of builders.”

Sutter Park could receive its first residents by as early as the spring of 2018.

And after being asked when the entire project will be completed, Leachman said, “That will be market driven, so, probably 2020 to 2021.”

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Design plans for the Sutter Memorial property project are described in a Sutter Park Neighborhood document as “a mixture of classic architectural styles, from traditional park homes to row homes, to cottages to mixed-use housing on top of retail,” as well as “secondary units over garages (to) provide opportunities for flexible, multigenerational living.”

The document also notes: “These homes will have the charming, period look of their east Sac brethren – reflecting the diversity of architecture found throughout the community. Utilizing the latest advances in building technology and sustainable design, Sutter Park Neighborhood homes will be green, healthy and efficient, consuming just a fraction of the energy of older structures.”

Leachman explained that much research was performed in preparation for planning for the old Sutter Memorial property.

“We took a pretty involved look in our home and lot characteristics found throughout east Sacramento,” he said. “And what we did was really kind of modeled that similar density and intensity and types of homes really found throughout the neighborhood. And so these design guidelines kind of represent our research into the history of the area and observations of that.”

Although no rules have been established, neighborhood residents

will be required to belong to a homeowners’ association.

Leachman described the project’s future park as a very important part of the project.

“The central feature of the project is the park,” he said. “We’re working on the design now. We anticipate having a place for children to play and possibly something like a bocce ball court. We’re working with that through the city of Sacramento.”

He added that with the park’s importance, the project will be developed around the park as its centerpiece.

“What we’ve done is really kind of located a lot more of kind of the units and somewhat the density around this park function,” he said.

“And so, it’s the hub of the park and so we’ve created a series of roadways, paseos and open space areas to kind of connect the existing neighborhood to this park. There will be a single, mixed-use building that you can imagine would have a neighborhood coffee shop, similar to like a Peet’s Coffee or neighborhood serving retail. You can grab a cup of coffee and get your kids and take a walk around the park.”

Leachman said that another element of the project is to preserve a portion of the site’s existing trees.

“I think there are several hundred trees on site and our goal right now is to save about 100 of those trees,”

he said. “And a number of those are heritage trees, and so we put in place a program to continually evaluate the health of those trees throughout site cleanup and site development.

And we’ve carefully designed the site to work with many of those trees. If we can maintain them throughout the process, I think we’ll have a great blend of existing mature tree canopies, as well as new tree growth with the new development.”

Also preserved is a 25-foot-tall camellia tree that Gary Zavoral, public relations specialist for Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, said is considered one of the oldest camellia trees in Sacramento. “(The tree) is at least 100 years old,” he said. “It was transferred from the Sutter General (Hospital) area to Sutter Memorial when it opened back in 1937. So, that (tree) was taken out and it is being stored at a nursery right now.”

See Year in Review, page 14

Do you have a story?

Tell it to us.

Call Monica Stark at 916-429-9901

www.valcomnews.com • January 5, 2017 • East Sacramento News

13

Year in Review: Continued from page 13

A little measure of kindness:

Personal chef donates proceeds to women in need; East Sac moms group helped build customer base

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Never asking for a thing in return, personal chef Sarah Thompson of the Arden area created what she’s called a “Kindness Campaign” – free food donated to those in need.

More than a year into cooking full time after being laid off from managing a doctor’s clinic, Sarah serves about 30 families a week and caters for life’s big events; 20 percent of event proceeds gets donated to the kindness campaign. For instance, she catered a memorial last Saturday and was able to feed 15 single moms in need. “It just feels so good,” she said.

After being laid off from her comfortably routine medical job, she created her dream job. Promoting Sarah’s Kitchen on the East Sac Mom and Friends Facebook page, within the first week, she received 150 positive responses and made 12 shepherd’s pies. A business on the quick uptick, two months later, on a whim, she asked the group if anyone needed an extra measure of kindness.

Sarah’s first Kindness Campaign began with the following post to the East Sac Mom’s group: “If you are suffering from the lack of support from the home, I want to make you a quiche.”

“I started giving about 20 percent to the kindness campaign, which at first was 20 percent of nothing,” she said.

But then people learned about Sarah’s Kitchen and they began associating Sarah Thompson as someone whose business helps others and her efforts have started a ripple effect in the community. People say they are inspired by Sarah Thompson’s Kindness Campaign.

“It’s really cool to see people want to show kindness in their own way, too,” she said.

From serving veterans on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Folsom VFW, to serving cancer patients, single moms and moms suffering from postpartum depression, Sarah’s heart grows as she helps lessen suffering experienced by folks in the East Sac Moms and Friends group.

A self- trained chef, Sarah has always enjoyed cooking for crowds.

Having entertained huge numbers of folks at her family’s cabin, she never thought too much about it. And now, she cooks for roughly 300 people a week.

14

Sarah Thomspon and daughter Grace.

A mother of a 3-year-old daughter named Grace, Sarah said she suffered horribly from post-partum depression and alienated everyone in her life that she cared about. But being part of the East Sac Moms and Friends group helped her be a part of something again.

“And I felt like there were so many people having such a hard time; I thought I can make a quiche. Another thing that happened I was having a real hard time in my life. And I talked about it on the mom’s page, and that was recently. (Someone) said she was going through something similar and then someone brought her one of my quiches.”

“So there’s always something to be done. Whatever you do in this life, there’s no way to express what happens when you do something without any hope or expectation of repayment. If you do it for the joy for somebody else, there’s magic in that.”

As Princess Diana once said, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

Without expectation, eventually when they can, the spirit of mothers is to pay it forward. But, Sarah doesn’t want people to feel like they have to.

“I want them to feel like it’s just for them. Just for them to have a break.

And enjoy it.”

“The amount of things people are expected to do and what they are able to do is different. We’re learning to create a sense of community to nurture it. It’s not out of this country. We can do this. We can create the support system.”

Sarah says she has a lot of kindness campaigns, and she just listens.

It doesn’t matter what the person’s problems are. They could be financial, or not. Her first Kindness Campaign lives on 41st Street but she really needed that extra kindness. “The Kindness Campaign doesn’t discriminate for any reason.”

Sarah hopes the Kindness Campaign and Sarah’s Kitchen can one day be separate entities as her goal is to

East Sacramento News • January 5, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

have the former become a legitimate nonprofit organization. Additionally, she would like to get away from the weekly menu and acquire more monthly subscribers.

Packaging states that its contents are made with love in Sarah’s Kitchen. It really is. I swear you can taste it. (Disclosure: I benefited from the Kindness Campaign. Thanks, Sarah.)

For more information, email Sarah at hello@sarahs-kitchen.com *********** From Sarah’s Kitchen (sarahs-kitchen.com) How it works It’s simple!

Sarah’s Kitchen delivers fresh-prepared meals weekly right to your door.

1. You choose how many meals you would like per week.

2. Sarah’s Kitchen delivers.

3. You enjoy healthy, all-natural meals without the shopping, cooking or cleaning.

The menu changes weekly, keeping the variety of choices eclectic and inspiring so that you always enjoy a wide selection of delicious meal options. Choices range between grassfed burgers stuffed with avocado and bleu cheese to thai panang organic free-range chicken curry or organic vegetable fajitas with asparagus and portobello mushrooms. Sarah offers vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy and gluten-free options on every menu.

“Sneaky” kid friendly menu is something the whole family can enjoy. Dishes like sneaky mac and cheese or sneaky meatballs are full of pureed vegetable goodness that taste delightfully delicious and are unbelievably nutritious.

little wooden desk, silently deciding if this 6th grade teacher was a monster or not. I had heard the older kids talking last year about how mean and nasty he was. “Homework every night”, they complained. His methods of detention and the “rules” they whined about. It all instilled the fear that this final year in grade school was going to be the end of me. The class clown would be no more.

He stood at the front of the class, my first male teacher, Mr. Hal McKellips. Not as tall as I expected. He was suffering from male pattern baldness that had left his head glinting brightly with sweat, with a strip of gray hair wrapping around it like a visor. Horned rimmed glasses set low on his nose, centered on a face resembling a leprechaun. A mischievous look in his eyes gave you a sort of odd but comfortable feeling, all business but little playful too.

He claimed to be 33 years old, but I had never seen someone look so much older then my dad and I knew he was 52. It became one of our year long quests to find out his true age.

But much like the Holy Grail, it eluded us until it didn’t matter anymore.

His desk, quite a formidable wooden structure, was raised about six inches above the floor on a platform.

When he sat it was like a king lording over his subjects. We often joked that it was to make up for his lack of height. But if you were called to it, you knew you were about ready to meet your maker.

“Can I go to the restroom?” Kevin Haw asked. He was one of the class troublemakers. A child of privilege, who thought no rules applied to him.

“I don’t know, can you?” Mr. McKellips stated. It came out so simply that Kevin started to get up and walk A Class Apart toward the door.

By Bryon Malpert The words shot through the class It was September 1970 at Da- with the report of a fifty caliber gun. vid Lubin Elementary in Sacramento, California and I was sitting at my See Class Apart, page 14 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

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Class Apart: Continued from page 14

Kevin froze in his tracks. The girls gasped. The guys, I included, giggled.

This was the first time any teacher had put Kevin in his place. Kevin was a scrawny kid whose dad was an orthodontist, which explained the rich kid attitude. He was the only kid who ever got under Mr. McKellips skin. So much so, Mr. McKellips, his face so red we thought we could see steam seeping around round his collar, marched Kevin, by the neck, to the principles’ office for a major outburst of words none of us would have dared to utter. Remember this was before lawyers got involved with your education.

As Kevin walked back to his seat with this look on his face, a cross between shocked, “did he really just yell at me”, and anger, “how dare he yell at me”, Mr. McKellips explained that Mr. Haw didn’t ask if he “may” go, only if he “can”. Wow, our first true grammar lesson.Mr. McKellips was an “old school” teacher. He believed in teaching the basics, reading, writing, and arithmetic. His ideal of detention, and how to get out of it, instilled a set of values that I carry with me thirty seven years later. But I am getting ahead of myself.

His class was split into courses.

Same subjects. Same time. Everyday.

Beside the aforementioned, he included basic Art and Music. He was the first teacher that allowed me to play piano for the class and encouraged me to keep at it. To use the word ‘firm’ in describing how he kept order in the class would be an understatement. Any infraction of the rules afforded you fifteen minutes of detention. The time spent after class with him, where you did the homework assigned or worksheets he provided.

Oh you could get out of it by standing and reciting a multiplication table in class, something every twelve year old enjoyed doing about as much as going to Aunt Betsy’s. You all know her, the relative with the funny smelling house who would pinch your cheeks and try to feed you some foul smelling concoction with a name you couldn’t pronounce. You couldn’t repeat the same times tables over and over I liked the fives myself, as he kept track of each one you had done before.

Did I mention that Mr. McKellips was a south paw? I had never seen that before. With his 3 by 5 card under his left wrist, he would write everything down, then go back and add the loops and swirls below the line to all the letters that required them. His writing was perfect.

Mr. McKellips required, no, make that demanded, a quiet classroom.

I was so impressed by his saying “Help stop noise pollution, close Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

your mouth”, that I painted a sign of it for him. Ok I was a teachers pet, whatever. It was a lesson some kids never learned. Mona Frûge was the only kid who spent every day in detention for this infraction. I ran a close 3rd.

She was tall and slender, with an air of sadness about her. But that mouth on her. She would have made a great gossip reporter. Sadly we will never know. She was my first encounter with suicide, several years later.

Was Mr. McKellips the monster I had so nervously anticipated? Was detention in his class the stuff of legends that circulated around the school like a bad case of head lice?

Well for me it was the time I learned the most about life, respect, and, well ok, how to be a teachers pet.

I stopped in at David Lubin a couple years ago to see if he had retired only to learn that I had missed his passing by a year. I felt a deep sadness within me and it was hard to walk away from that institution without the well of emotion leaking out around my eyes.

I learned many lessons about life and how to treat my fellow man from Mr. McKellips, all of which I carry with me to this day.

Do I follow them all? No. But then who does.

Surrealist art covers walls at DADAS, a new art gallery in East Sacramento

By Corky Oakes

The spirit of Salvador Dali is alive now in East Sacramento. DADAS Art Gallery Boutique opened Nov. 14, 2016. Just as the dada artistic movement paved the way for surrealism, great hopes ride on DADAS paving the way as a new venue to embrace the arts.

The creator of this space is the very ebullient Yvette Ewell. Ewell worked 30 years in IT for UC Medical Center and decided that she had “done everything in IT that could be done.”

During her career she dreamed of owning her own business. For over 20 years she has also been a dedicated enthusiast of Second Saturday venues across the greater Sacramento area. This high energy visionary was on a personal quest to create the next chapter of her life.

Although Ewell didn’t have a precise image of the business in the beginning, her multi-year exposure to the Sacramento art scene and working at a gallery boutique in Folsom, forged the final concept. Ewell realized she had found the business model. Ewell recalls, “The minute I saw it [art gallery/boutique model] I knew this was the business I wanted.” Having two brothers who are artists sealed the deal. It took a year but she found the “right spot”…the vacated space at 3655 J Street, formerly occupied by Shabby Chic.

Ewell’s brothers, Dwight and Todd Head, coordinate artists, exhibits and classes. Artists in their own right.

Dwight’s focus is surrealism; his media are pencil, pen, ink and watercolor. He has been on the Sacramento art scene for 25 years. Todd is a graduate of the California College of the Arts.

He has participated in Bay Area cafe shows for 20 years. His focus is visual arts using oils and multi-media.

DADAS is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10-6. “Second Saturdays we may stay open a bit later,” smiles Ewell. The store will open for a few hours on Sunday, Dec. 6 for California International Marathon spectators, as well as other Sundays during the holiday season. There is street parking and also parking behind the store. For more information contact DADAS at 307-9686 or on Facebook, DADAS Art Gallery Boutique.

Matías Bombal’s top fives of 2016: Best: 1. The Jungle Book 2. Café Society 3. The Light Between Oceans 4. Florence Foster Jenkins 5. La La Land

Worst: 1. Sausage Party 2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 3. The Angry Birds Movie 4. Ben-Hur 5. Inferno Best Actor: Michael Fassbender “The Light Between Oceans” Best Actress: Natalie Portman “Jackie” Best Supporting Actor: Simon Helberg “Florence Foster Jenkins” Best Supporting Actress: Judy Davis “The Dressmaker” Most interesting newcomer: Finlay MacMillan “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children “

Other Outstanding films:

The Finest Hours ( January), Eddie The Eagle (Feb), Elvis & Nixon (April), The BFG ( July), Kubo and the Two Strings (Aug), The Dressmaker (Sept), The Birth of a Nation (Oct), Hacksaw Ridge (Nov), Nocturnal Animals (Nov), Rules Don’t Apply (Nov) and Jackie (Dec)

Honorable mention:

Deadpool (Feb), Race (Feb), Money Monster (May),The Nice Guys (May), Hands of Stone (Aug), Sully (Sept), Snowden, (Sept) Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Sept), The Accountant (Sept), Arrival (Nov), Allied (Nov,), Fences (Dec)

www.valcomnews.com • January 5, 2017 • East Sacramento News

17

What’s

happening

FRIDAY, JAN. 6 SPAGHETTI FEED TO GET TERRY MOVING! This event is a fundraiser to get a wheelchair accessible van for Terry Preston so he can get around in the community. Tickets are $25 each; 5 to 9 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento (UUSS), 2425 Sierra Blvd, Sacramento, California 95825. Tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spaghetti-feed-to-getterry-moving-tickets-30332810252 If you can’t make it, you can contribute at: https://www.gofundme.com/getterrymoving

FRIDAY, JAN. 13 LEGO MANIA! – Like building with Legos? Join us for our monthly Lego free-play afternoon! Legos and Duplo Legos will be provided for this family program.

Friday, Jan. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14 SABLE AND QUILL 2ND SATURDAY JANUARY 14 RECEPTION AND READING: Sylvia Plath, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and D.H.Lawrence, all had something in common besides being writers. They were also visual artists. Following in their footsteps Sacramento artists, Jennifer O’Neill Pickering, Tim Mchargue, Jeanine Stevens, Laura Llano, Bethanie Humphries, Heather Judy, Wendy Williams will read from their writing and exhibit their art work at the Sable and Quill. Second Saturday Reception is from 6-7 p.m. Reading is at 7:30p.m. Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA. Event is free, but donations welcome and benefit the center. For more information, call Jennifer Pickering at 402-2347.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18 STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER – Ever wonder what your stuffed animals like to do at night? Find out by bringing your stuffed animal buddy to the McKinley Library Stuffed Animal Sleepover! Drop your stuffed animal at the library on Wednesday, Jan. 18. You can then pick it up on Friday, Jan. 20, when you will receive pictures of their activities during their sleepover at the McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento.

GLOBAL OPEN HOUSE: The Sacramento Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines International joins more than 600 world-wide choruses in teaching the world to sing during a special “Global Open House.” Women who enjoy singing are invited to the open house at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18 at the Developmental Disabilities Multi-purpose Room, 2331 St. Mark’s Way, Sacramento. The award-winning chorus has more than 100 members, and will compete in the International competition next October in Las Vegas.

Nearly 23,000 women worldwide are members of Sweet Adelines International, and sing four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. Sacramento Valley Chorus members share a love for music and for singing barbershop harmony. Women of all ages with average singing ability will find a part that fits their voice range with the help of chorus musical leaders. Musical knowledge is not a prerequisite.

One of the goals of Sweet Adelines is to educate its members musically. The diverse members of the chorus perform regularly throughout the community, performing at civic events and charitable functions. Besides competition, the chorus presents an annual show, and sings at the State Fair and the State Capitol, as well as at other events through the year. The chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall. To learn more about Sweet Adelines International and how to become a member of the Sacramento Valley Chorus, visit www.sacramentovalleychorus.com or call 916-420-1662. Additional information is available on the International website by visiting www. sweetadelines.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21 SABRINA’S CRAFT CORNER – Got any knitting supplies you’re not using? This month, join us for the annual Knitting Exchange! Bring what you have, take what you like. This free, adult program takes place Saturday, Jan. 21, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento.

FRIDAY, JAN. 27 MINECRAFT GAMING – Like building and creating new worlds in Minecraft? Come join us for an afternoon of Mine-

18

craft gaming! Each player will be given their own computer to battle with friends on our library server or build new creations and in creative, survival, or hardcore mode. Players of any level of experience are welcome to join. This is a school-age and teen program. Friday, Jan. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28 BENEFITING WEAVE: “LOUDER THAN WOLVES: TAKING A STAND AGAINST RAPE”: Rape is a problem in our society. Silence is not the answer but it is the only choice for many. On Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. at the Historic Colonial Theatre in Sacramento, filmmakers, artists, musicians, poets, dancers, aerialists, and more unite their talents in order to give a voice to the voiceless and inspire positive change.

Louder Than Wolves: Taking a Stand Against Rape is produced by Tim Meunier, Rebel Rose, & Jamie DeWolf and is hosted by Jamie DeWolf & Jaz Sufi.

Dance Performances by Audrey Von Price, Christa Quinn, Mone’t Ha-Sidi, Skye Monroe, Bella Badonkadonk; Spoken Word/ Poetry By: Jamie DeWolf, Nancy Levine, Jaz Sufi Belly Dance Art by: Verbatim, Melissa Reyes Aerialist Arts by Rebel Rose, SacCirque, VicKnives, Katie Nicole, Croalia Musical performance by Rachel Lark Short Films include: “Quiet Culture” Directed by Cody Martin, “Girls Don’t Cry Wolf ” directed by John Chigas & Anna Eva Kotyza All proceeds benefit Sacramento WEAVE. There will be a minimum donation of $10 that will be asked. Tickets will only be sold at the door. Event page: https:// www.facebook.com/events/1320141231383228/

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 LITERATURE OF LOVE, LECTURE 1: In lecture one of Frank Dixon Graham’s first lecture in the Literature of Love series, attendees will learn about the greatest love correspondents of all time. Why did they write the best love letters? What did these lovers have to say?

How did they express themselves and what stories are behind their romantic correspondences? Attendees will hear a brief history of love letters and their star-crossed lovers. Participants may write their own love letters in class. The authors we discuss and the reading of romantic letters will be certain to inspire. Class starts at 7 p.m. at the Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Blvd.

The program is open to adults aged 18 to 81 years and older. There is no cost associated with either session. It is free and open to the public.

SAC STATE’S NEW MILLENNIUM CONCERT SERIES kicks off with The Mexico City Woodwind Quintet, 7:30 p.m. in the Capistrano Concert Hall, on campus 6000 J St. This is the Northern California debut for Mexico’s most distinguished wind ensemble. The program features a rich array of music, including Piazzolla’s “Tema de Maria.” Tickets are $20 general, $15 seniors and $10 students, available at (916) 278-4323 or www.csus.edu/hornettickets

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8 LITERATURE OF LOVE, LECTURE 2: In Frank Dixon Graham’s second lecture in the Literature of Love series, just one week following the love letter talk and less than a week before Valentine’s Day, we’ll read some of the best love poems ever written. There will be a discussion of these authors and what goes into writing a meaningful or lasting love poem. Enrich your own relationship by writing your own love poem in class or become inspired to express yourself with a well-crafted note to your valentine. Class starts at 7 p.m. at the Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Blvd. The program is open to adults aged 18 to 81 years and older.

There is no cost associated with either session. It is free and open to the public.

ONGOING FE GALLERY PRESENTS AN ART BENEFIT FOR THE SHORT CENTER NORTH: There will be art featured by the students and faculty of the “Short Center North” now until Jan. 31 at Fe Gallery. The

East Sacramento News • January 5, 2017 • www.valcomnews.com

East Sacramento?

Best Bets FE GALLERY PRESENTS AN ART BENEFIT FOR THE SHORT CENTER NORTH: There will be art featured by the students and faculty of the “Short Center North” now until Jan. 31 at Fe Gallery. The Short Center North (SCN), a component of DDSO, has provided arts training to adults with developmental disabilities in the Sacramento area for over 35 years. The Short Centers were founded in 1975 by Mary Short, wife of Senator Alan Short, who co-authored of the historic Lanterman (LPS) Act, which guaranteed rights for people with disabilities. SCN is truly an artistic treasure in our community. Many of you have seen artwork by SCN artists at such diverse venues such as the California State Fair, the CrockerArt Museum, the State Capitol, and countless galleries and businesses throughout our community. Literally 1000’s of adults with disabilities have benefited from attending The Short Centers.

SCN provides more than arts training. Through the arts it provides an opportunity for persons with disabilities to develop life skills, form meaningful friendships, and to become part of our community. SCN is more than a place to go – it is a way of life for our clients. http://ddsoarts.org/; https://ddso.org/project/short-center-north/ Gallery hours are as follows: 2nd Saturday Hours Front Gallery & Metal Shop 6:00pm ‒ 9:00pm; Monthly Daytime Hours Gallery Monday Friday 9:00am‒4:00pm; Most 3rd & 4th Saturdays 2:00pm - 4:00pm call first; after hour appointments available. 1100 65th St. Sacramento, CA 95819. For more information, call 456-4455.

SABLE AND QUILL 2ND SATURDAY JANUARY 14 RECEPTION AND READING: Sylvia Plath, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and D.H.Lawrence, all had something in common besides being writers. They were also visual artists. Following in their footsteps Sacramento artists, Jennifer O’Neill Pickering, Tim Mchargue, Jeanine Stevens, Laura Llano, Bethanie Humphries, Heather Judy, Wendy Williams will read from their writing and exhibit their art work at the Sable and Quill. Second Saturday Reception on Saturday, Jan. 14 is from 6-7 p.m. Reading is at 7:30p.m. Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA. Event is free, but donations welcome and benefit the center. For more information, call Jennifer Pickering at 402-2347.

BENEFITING WEAVE: “LOUDER THAN WOLVES: TAKING A STAND AGAINST RAPE”: Rape is a problem in our society. Silence is not the answer but it is the only choice for many. On Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. at the Historic Colonial Theatre in Sacramento, filmmakers, artists, musicians, poets, dancers, aerialists, and more unite their talents in order to give a voice to the voiceless and inspire positive change.

Louder Than Wolves: Taking a Stand Against Rape is produced by Tim Meunier, Rebel Rose, & Jamie DeWolf and is hosted by Jamie DeWolf & Jaz Sufi.

Dance Performances by Audrey Von Price, Christa Quinn, Mone’t Ha-Sidi, Skye Monroe, Bella Badonkadonk; Spoken Word/ Poetry By: Jamie DeWolf, Nancy Levine, Jaz Sufi Belly Dance Art by: Verbatim, Melissa Reyes Aerialist Arts by Rebel Rose, SacCirque, VicKnives, Katie Nicole, Croalia Musical performance by Rachel Lark Short Films include: “Quiet Culture” Directed by Cody Martin, “Girls Don’t Cry Wolf ” directed by John Chigas & Anna Eva Kotyza All proceeds benefit Sacramento WEAVE. There will be a minimum donation of $10 that will be asked. Tickets will only be sold at the door. Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1320141231383228/ Short Center North (SCN), a component of DDSO, has provided arts training to adults with developmental disabilities in the Sacramento area for over 35 years.

The Short Centers were founded in 1975 by Mary Short, wife of Senator Alan Short, who co-authored of the historic Lanterman (LPS) Act, which guaranteed rights for people with disabilities. SCN is truly an artistic treasure in our community. Many of you have seen artwork by SCN artists at such diverse venues such as the California State Fair, the CrockerArt Museum, the State Capitol, and countless galleries and businesses throughout our community. Literally 1000’s of adults with disabilities have benefited from attending The Short Centers. SCN provides more than arts training. Through the arts it provides an opportunity for persons with disabilities to develop life skills, form meaningful friendships, and to become part of our community. SCN is more than a place to go – it is a way of life for our clients. http://ddsoarts.org/; https://ddso. org/project/short-center-north/ Gallery hours are as follows: 2nd Saturday Hours Front Gallery & Metal Shop 6:00pm ‒ 9:00pm; Monthly Day-

time Hours Gallery Monday Friday 9:00am‒4:00pm; Most 3rd & 4th Saturdays 2:00pm - 4:00pm call first; after hour appointments available. 1100 65th St. Sacramento, CA 95819. For more information, call 456-4455.

KNITTING CIRCLE – Any adult interested in knitting — even an absolute beginner — is invited to join.

Participants can learn to knit, or get help on current projects and advice from expert knitters. Don’t forget to bring your knitting needles and yarn. Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento.

ONE-ON-ONE TECHNOLOGY HELP – Are you curious about eBooks but not sure how to get started?

Is your tablet or eReader a mystery? Do you need basic computer help such as creating e-mail accounts and using the internet? Come meet with a Technology Assistant! Sessions are first-come, first-served and last 30 minutes. This free, adult program takes place on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

McKinley Park goers discuss 2016 and their resolutions for the New Year

By Laura Winn

who previously ran McKin- happen to you, you have to ley Upholstery just down the stay positive and focus on This year was one for street from the park. what you can do to better the history books in more yourself,” she said. Gregory, ways than one. The country Katelyn Gregory who recently started work as watched as Olympians, such For 24-year-old Katelyn a self-employed organizer, alas stars Simone Biles and Gregory, 2016 was the year ready had a New Year’s resMichael Phelps, took home that changed her outlook on olution in mind. “I set a bar multiple golds. Our city wel- life. “The past year was real- to never go so low again,” she comed a new arena and a new ly hard, but I learned that no said. “No matter how cruel mayor. And the presidential matter how many bad things people can be, be yourself. Try election was unlike any other.

East Sacramento News spoke to people visiting McKinley Park and asked them to share their thoughts on 2016, as well as their resolutions for the new year.

to be positive and know that to begin a career in law engood wins in the end.” forcement and hopes to eventually work in the K9 unit. “I Giovanni Troja want to focus on the future “2016 has been a journey,” and stay in shape.” In 2016, said Giovanni Troja, while baseball kept him active. As throwing the ball for his yel- a pitcher for Twins 18, Trolow Labrador Retriever, Max- ja helped his team win its diimus. After studying criminal vision playoffs in the Sacjustice at Sacramento State, ramento National Adult Giovanni, 29, said he is ready Baseball Association.

Sam Cecil While enjoying a winter picnic with his girlfriend, 21year-old Sacramento State accounting student, Sam Cecil, took a moment to reflect on 2016 and concluded it was a tough year. From politics to the death of so many celebrity icons, including Prince, Bowie and Gene Wilder, “it was a shock,” Cecil said. Stresses in Cecil’s life also taught him unexpected lessons: For example, too many finals and not enough money can help you lose 20 pounds, and living with roommates is awful.

“I do not recommend it!” he stressed.

But the year wasn’t all gloom. “The new arena is awesome!” Cecil, a King’s fan, said. “I think it will bring a lot of musicians and important people to our town.” As for his resolutions, Cecil plans to get his own place in East Sac, graduate and find good employment, “So I can take my girl on a real date instead of a picnic in the park.”

Alex Madrigal “It’s been a strange year,” said 39-year-old Alex Madrigal, who was showing the park–“his second home” during childhood–to his two young children. “A lot of people passed away; then there was the election. A lot of things happened that I don’t think anyone could have foreseen.” Madrigal said he doesn’t really do New Year’s resolutions because he doesn’t have many vices. Still, he added, “I will try to keep an open mind on things like the new president.” Madrigal currently lives in the Bay Area and was visiting his parents, Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

www.valcomnews.com • January 5, 2017 • East Sacramento News

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Everything’s On

Sale!

*

*Everything on Sale except for “Special Buys”, “Floor Sample Clearance”, and icomfort mattresses.

New furniture could be the start of something exciting for 2017 Don’t miss out on Naturwood’s New Year Sale!

Every Department is on Sale!*

NEW YEAR

SALE 12125 Folsom Blvd.

Rancho Cordova 916-351-0227

Mon – Fri 10am – 8pm Sat 10am – 6pm Sun 11am – 6pm

www.naturwood.com

*Everything on Sale except for “Special Buys”, “Floor Sample Clearance”, and icomfort mattresses. Sale prices cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Sale ends 01/09/2017.