Pocket News 3-3-2023

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bobsledder wins silver, bronze medals in first international competition

When most people think of Sacramento, California, the thought of winter sports rarely crosses their minds. Sure, it’s only two hours from Lake Tahoe, but typically it’s the idea of spending warm summer days near the rivers or hearing the jingle of the ice cream truck as it rolls through the neighborhoods. But a local Sacramento teenage bobsledder? No way. That was until Emily Bradley entered the scene.

You may remember Emily made headlines early last year as she became the youngest athlete to ever drive a bobsled from the top of the track in Lake Placid, New York – considered to have the most difficult bobsled track on the planet.

That accomplishment shattered a record set 21 years ago by former Olympian John Napier when he was just 15 years old. However, this was only the start of Emily’s journey toward the Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Gangwon, South Korea from Jan. 19 to Feb. 1, 2024.

The Youth Olympic Games is an international, multisport event for athletes, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old, and organized by the International Olympic Committee.

Shortly after returning home last March, Emily began a rigorous training program consisting of weight lifting at Hyperthrive Athletics in East Sacramento and speed training with the Sacramento-based sports per-

formance coach, Ike Okoroike, of IkePerformance.

All of this training was for the current bobsled season when Emily must successfully complete eight races on three separate tracks to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

All of the off-season preparation has paid off for the young teen who is fresh off the plane after returning home from her first two races in Innsbruck, Austria. Emily competed fiercely in her first international competition on Jan. 27 and 28, as she earned silver and bronze medals for the U.S. team.

Asked what it felt like to stand on the podium wearing the U.S. flag draped over her shoulders,

Photos courtesy of Mike Bradley Sacramento resident Emily Bradley poses with her silver and bronze medals after the award ceremony for the Winter Youth Olympic Games qualification races in Innsbruck, Austria on Jan. 28.

Remembering former

executive Greg ‘Dutch’ Van Dusen

By Lance Armstrong vcneditor@gmail.com

A phone call came into the Pocket News on Feb. 22, with the news that a significant figure in ARCO Arena history had died: Greg “Dutch” Van Dusen.

The man who called was Gregg Lukenbill, one of the six Sacramento businessmen who purchased the National Basketball Association franchise, the Kansas City Kings, in 1983. He is also the owner of the historic Pocket structure that houses The Trap bar.

In 1985, Lukenbill and his partners moved the team to California’s capital city, marking the beginning of the Sacramento Kings.

Heading the team’s 10,333seat temporary arena, ARCO Arena, in North Natomas, as vice president and general manager was Van Dusen. He was also the original manager of the second North Natomas ARCO Arena, a 17,317-seat venue that opened in 1988 and was replaced by downtown Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center in 2016.

The second North Natomas facility – the “permanent arena” – was last known as Sleep Train Arena. It was demolished last year in preparation for the construction of California Northstate University’s new medical campus, which will feature a 13-story teaching hospital.

Lukenbill’s phone call was brief, given that he was preparing for a Sacramento history-related speech he would be presenting that evening. He currently serves as vice president of the Sacramento Historical Society.

The following day, Lukenbill dedicated time to speak-

ing to this paper about Van Dusen, a 1968 Sacramento High School graduate and former California State University, Sacramento student

who died at the age of 72 on Feb. 21.

Lukenbill recalled meeting Van Dusen, who had been involved with the Sacramento

Solons Triple-A baseball team and the Sacramento Gold professional soccer team. The latter team won the American Soccer League championship in 1979.

“The guy who introduced us was (Sacramento Bee sports columnist) Bill Conlin,” he said. “So, we ended up (meet-

Photo courtesy of Van Dusen family Greg “Dutch” Van Dusen, who died on Feb. 21, played a role in the negotiations to purchase the NBA franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings. He served as the first manager of ARCO Arena, and was known for his expertise in public relations.

Who was Charles Swanston?

Vandalized Land Park statue pays tribute to early area resident

By Lance Armstrong vcneditor@gmail.com

Editor’s note: This is the second article in a three-part series related to William Land Park’s Charles Swanston Memorial Fountain, which was vandalized in December 2022.

The nearly century-old, carved granite statue of Charles Swanston in William Land Park made news late last year after it was vandalized. But despite this recognition, most Sacramentans would have difficulty relating any trivia about this man who

was once very well known in this capital city and beyond.

Legacies are not always long lasting, and were it not for the existence of the Charles Swanston Memorial Fountain, which includes the vandalized statue, Swanston’s once strong legacy would be even more diminished today.

With the recent attention given to the statue, which had its head knocked to the ground on or about Dec. 26, it is quite timely to present a history about the life of this memorialized Sacramentan.

Charles was born in Northern Ireland to William and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Swanston on June 21, 1833. The Swanston family immigrated to the United States in 1851 or 1853 (depending on the source), and settled in Youngstown (Mahoning County), Ohio.

William and Elizabeth were married in 1826, and together they had 11 children, nine of whom were born in Ireland. Their youngest children were

born in Ohio.

While living in Ohio, Charles worked on his father’s farm.

In a ceremony held in Mahoning County on Jan. 1, 1862, Charles was married to the

then-21-year-old Nancy M. Powers, who was a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Together, they had three children: Lillian, George and Frank.

In about 1879, Charles and

his family made their way to Sacramento, where Charles would initially work as a stock buyer for various parties.

The 1880 Sacramento city directory is the first such directory to include a listing for Charles. That directory refers to him as a stock dealer residing at 1726 N St.

Charles’ next financial endeavor was to establish a butcher’s shop.

According to the 1931 book, “History of the Sacramento Valley, California, Vol. 2,” Charles’ expanded business later became the largest of its kind in the Sacramento Valley and the only meat packing concern in the capital city.

He was a large buyer and seller of stock for his business, See SWANSTON

Photos by Lori Bauder

The Charles Swanston family plot is located in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery at 10th Street and Broadway.

UK’s Loving Earth Project coming to Sacramento, Carmichael this spring

Schedule to include exhibit at St. Anthony Church

An exhibition of artwork from around the world will be on display in Sacramento in April.

The Quaker Arts Network has invited people to create 12-inch by 12-inch fabric panels that ex-

press their love and concern for a world endangered by environmental change.

The United Kingdom’s Loving Earth Project has helped people of all ages engage creatively and constructively with climate change issues without becoming overwhelmed. The exhibit also shares positive examples of how people are

taking action.

This project has grown to include more than 400 panels. It is now on tour in communities around the world and was listed as one of the “best cultural events in Scotland for COP26” – the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The community is invited to explore some of the issues and how to reduce threats to the world.

Selected panels from the Loving Earth Project will be on display in Sacramento and Carmichael in April in recognition of Earth Day, and then move on to locations in Fresno and Chico.

Sacramento exhibit calendar

April 1-30

• Sacramento Municipal Utilities District Museum of Science and Curiosity, 400 Jibboom St. — This is a venue with interactive exhibits for children of all ages. The panels will hang in the main corridor leading to the museum’s nature and environment wing.

Photos courtesy of Cindy Fowler

The traveling event features fabric panels designed to express love and concern for a world endangered by environmental change.

• Atrium 916, 1020 Front St. – This creative innovation center for sustainability in Old Sacramento offers a circular economy marketplace for Sacramento-made products. Visitors can enjoy the display and have time to respond with drawings or poems to add to the exhibit.

• Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd. – Panels will be on display in the main hall.

April 15-16

• Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael – Panels will be accompanied by weekend educational programming and activities for children.

• St. Anthony Church, 660 Florin Road – A smaller traveling exhibit will be on display before and after Masses.

April 23

• Sacramento Earth Day 2023 –A full day of activities and exhibits in Southside Park at 2115 6th St.

Further information about the Loving Earth Project can be ob -

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Swanston:

which was also a feeder of beef cattle in Nevada and Oregon.

The aforementioned 1931 history book notes that Charles had an “unerring judgment in the selection of bullocks, sheep and hogs” and was “a man of great vision and abundant faith in the future development of the Sacramento Valley, a faith that he backed with his time, efforts and money.”

Charles lost both his father and his spouse during a 14month period.

His father died in Boardman (Mahoning County), Ohio on Jan. 28, 1881, five days prior to his 89th birthday, and Nancy died in Sacramento on March 29, 1882, 11 days before her 36th birthday. Nancy’s funeral

was held during the afternoon of the following day at the Swanstons’ residence at 1423 K St.

Along with his son, George, Charles established the meat packing firm, Swanston & Son, at Riverside Boulevard and 4th Avenue in 1886.

It would eventually become known as the West’s largest independently owned meat packing concern.

George, who initially served as the general manager of the business, was heading a branch office in the Stoll Building at the southwest corner of 5th and K streets by at least 1898.

On April 14, 1911, Charles returned to Sacramento from a trip to Bakersfield, and he complained of feeling faint. He died in his home on Riverside Boulevard during the early morning of the next day, before a doctor could arrive at his residence.

The doctor reported that Charles’ death was due to a weak heart that eventually failed him.

Charles was interred alongside his wife in the old city cemetery – known today as the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery – which is located at the modern-day address of 1000

An announcement of Charles’ death in the April 16, 1911 edition of The San Francisco Call notes that he was “known from the Mexican border to Nevada, Oregon and Idaho as one of the biggest cattlemen in the state,” and that through his business, he owned large tracts of rich agricultural land in the Sacra-

For an article in the Sept. 10, 1938 edition of The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento native Walter Dunlap, a porter at the Southern Pacific passenger station on I Street, recalled Charles, who he met in about 1898 while he was working as an elevator operator in the Stoll Building.

“I can remember old Mr. Swanston clearly,” he said. “He always was dressed in a long box overcoat and wore a wide brim hat. He tried very hard to teach me to speak German, but I couldn’t learn much while

riding up and down for the few minutes he was with me in the elevator.”

Research for this article found no further references to Charles having the ability to speak any other language than English.

An article in the April 15, 1911 edition of The Bee mentions that it was not uncommon for Charles to be misidentified as German.

The article notes: “While many people thought he was a German, owing to the name, Swanston always boasted of his Irish parentage and traced his ancestry back to the old McCurdy stock. His uncle, John McCurdy, fought with Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo.”

On a trivial note, the 1870 U.S. census shows that Charles was then living in Berlin (Mahoning County), Ohio, which was named after Berlin, Germany, the ancestral home of some of the settlers of that place, which was established in 1828.

It could be speculated that Charles picked up a few German words or phrases while living in Berlin, Ohio, and that he later shared a few of those words or phrases with Dunlap, when

The grave marker of Charles Swanston (1833-1911) at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery is pictured on Feb. 16.

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Swanston:

Continued from page 6

he was an elevator operator in Sacramento.

As for Swanston & Son, the business continued its successful operation following Charles’ death.

An example of the business’s latter, large-scale operations appeared in a brief news item in the April 5, 1913 edition of The Pacific Rural Press. That item reads: “Swanston & Son have been putting 1,000 head of steers from the San Joaquin Valley on their Colusa, Yolo and Lake county range. The cattle will be sent later to the Klamath Meadows to be finished for beef.”

The Swanston & Son meat packing plant operations were relocated from Riverside Boulevard to present-day Arden Way, near the Southern Pacific crossing, in 1914.

On Nov. 14, 1922, The Pacific Rural Press reported: “Swanston & Son, Sacramento, topped the steer sale (at the California National Livestock Show in San Francisco) by paying 25 cents per pound for the champion shorthorn steer, Straloch Corporal, (who was dropped at the Straloch Farm in Davis on Jan. 11, 1921).”

Among the employees of Swanston & Son was Oswald Hall (1886-1934), a butcher whose Sacramento addresses included 1930 F St. and 330 18th St.

Robert Swanston Sr., George’s son, began serving as president of Swanston & Son in 1923.

During the latter years of this business, Robert Swanston Jr. joined his father in its operations.

Swanston & Son sold its packing plant and slaughterhouse to the Safeway grocery store chain in 1943, but maintained ownership of its farmland and feeding pens.

The company ceased operations in 1948, and its old packing plant on Arden Way was

demolished eight years later.

As a tribute to his father, George Swanston donated $10,000 for the creation of the Charles Swanston Memorial Fountain, which sits upon a knoll just north of the Sacramento Zoo.

The base of the statue includes the inscriptions: “To the pioneers” and “Erected by George Swanston in memory of his father Charles Swanston.”

Although the featured topic of this article is the legacy of Charles, it should be recognized that George’s legacy is also substantial.

In addition to his successful business affairs with his father, George, in association with F.B. McKevitt, was involved with the 1922 sale of property, which would become William Land Park.

George died on July 23, 1923, prior to the completion of the park and its memorial fountain.

The memorial fountain is mentioned in the Jan. 4, 1923 minutes of the Sacramento City Council, as follows: “Communication from George Swanston, relative to the adoption of plans for the improvement of William Land Park and his offer to build or cause to be built a public drinking fountain to be placed in the William Land Park and to be known as the Charles Swanston Memorial Fountain, was ordered filed.”

The memorial, which sits in the park’s formal garden area, was designed and sculpted by the famous sculptor, painter, muralist, etcher and art educator Ralph Stackpole (18851973). It was officially accepted by the city on June 18, 1926.

Charles Swanston left a strong legacy in this world.

In addition to his monument and other Swanston named local landmarks, including Land Park’s Swanston Way and Swanston Park at 2350 Northrop Ave., Charles has been memorialized through many positive

words.

port the worthiness of having a monument dedicated in his honor are the following words published in the aforementioned 1931 book: “Indeed (Charles)

ticle of this series – published in the Feb. 17 edition of this paper

oping plan to restore William Land Park’s Charles Swanston Memorial Fountain in William

Charles Swanston’s wife, Nancy M. (Powers) Swanston, was interred at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery. She died in Sacramento on March 29,

Bobsledder:

Continued from page 2

Emily said, “I had such a sense of pride and accomplishment to be standing there in a different country with the American flag displayed behind me. It also re-

ally justified all the hard work I had put in over the summer, because I was able to win two medals for my country.”

Emily’s father, former bobsledder Mike Bradley, has been guiding Emily through this

sport from day one and was there to witness Emily win her first medal.

Mike described his experience watching his daughter’s silver medal-winning run.

“I held my breath the entire run just watching the clock,” he said. “I probably looked like a statue. When she crossed the finish line and I saw that she had secured a silver medal, I jumped up and down and started hugging everyone around me. I was hugging my wife, the coaches of Emily’s competition, officials, strangers and whoever was within reach, honestly.

“I was so proud of what Emily had accomplished. She had one week to learn a new track in Europe before the race and was able to be competitive and earn a medal.”

The celebrations didn’t last long though.

After spending only a short time at home, Emily left her home on Feb. 11 en route to train and compete in Pyeongchang, South Korea for races No. 3 and No. 4 on March 1 and 2.

The next day after those races,

she will depart for Lake Placid for the season’s final two races.

Emily spoke about her upcoming travel schedule.

“I’m really excited to travel and compete in all these different places around the world,” she said. “I have met such amazing people and athletes from all over, and made friends with people I would have never met without this sport. It is truly something special to have teens from so many different countries coming together to share their culture through sport. It’s what I love most about bobsledding.”

Each of the races this season puts Emily that much closer to qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games, which are held every four years and feature only the top 18 nations in the world.

While draped with an American flag, Emily Bradley stands on the podium after being awarded the bronze medal at the Winter Youth Olympic Games qualification ceremony on Jan. 28.

Emily Bradley approaches a curve during her silver medal run on the Innsbruck, Austria track on Jan. 28.

Doggy Dash to celebrate 30th anniversary

Registration for Doggy Dash, the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SPCA) 2K/5K walk and pet festival is now open.

On Saturday, April 22, join thousands of walkers at William Land Park as we lace up our shoes and leash up our pups for Doggy Dash, our largest fundraiser of the year and an opportunity to celebrate the amazing commitment of our community to healthy, happy and unconditional relationships between dogs and their people.

Your registration and participation in the Doggy Dash helps the Sacramento SPCA provide direct care to more than 40,000 animals

each year in our community.

The cost to register for this event is $30.

For general event infor-

mation and vendor interest, contact Jessica Miller at (916) 504-2868 or jmiller@sspca. or g.

Continued from page 3

ing) in 1979.

“(Van Dusen) had a sports background with the Solons, and a huge stadium and sports background with the Sacramento Gold. So, he was looking for a place to land in the sports business, and I was about the only sports scene going at that point.”

Lukenbill hired Van Dusen, who would play a significant role with the team in both Kansas City and Sacramento. His work included playing a role in the negotiations to purchase the Kings and assisting in their relocation to Sacramento.

As for Van Dusen’s legacy, Lukenbill noted that he should be remembered as “a guy that was trying to raise the bar on Sacramento sports from minor league to major league.”

“(Van Dusen) was like Gregg’s voice,” he said. “He was his (public relations) guy. He was good at getting the word out and dealing with people. He was a good public speaker. Those were the types of things that he really excelled at.

“I think probably his forte was if you needed to get the word out or if you needed to have positive relationships with the media, he was a good person to do that. He could get people excited in the media.”

Benner also referred to Van Dusen’s strong desire to make Sacramento more of a sports city.

“He was someone who really loved Sacramento, and was a big advocate of Sacramento, and of bringing sports and entertainment to Sacramento,” he said.

Gather your mothers, daughters, sisters and friends and register today for the Kaiser Permanente Women’s Fitness Festival.

The event will be held on June 4 on 9th Street, between L Street and Capitol Mall. This is a one-of-a-kind, all-

women’s event that includes medals and a beautiful race T-shirt for 5K/10K finishers.

Participants of the Princess ½-Mile Fun Run receive a medal.

After the event, there will be a breakfast and celebra-

tion with friends in the mimosa garden. Complimentary health screenings will be available at the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Pavilion.

To register, visit www. RaceRoster.co m , and search for the “Kaiser Permanente Women’s Fitness Festival.”

And his dream became a reality through his involvement with the Kings, which became Sacramento’s first major-league sports team in 1985.

Rick Benner, who served as the Kings’ president from 1989 to 1999, praised Van Dusen for his work with the Kings.

Although neither Lukenbill nor Benner knew the cause of Van Dusen’s death, they both told this paper that he had been experiencing some health issues.

Van Dusen had three sons, Adam, Brett and Kyle, as well as four grandchildren. His last place of residence was in Rocklin.

Buddhist church food, shopping event to return March 4

By Karen Adachi

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and its variants, the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, 2401 Riverside Blvd., will once again host the Sakura Matsuri Food & Shopping Faire on Saturday, March 4.

This event will include many local vendors, and will feature a “Grandma’s Attic” booth, selling new and gently used Japanese items. These items include vintage Japanese dolls, doll display cases, dishware, serving platters and bowls, vases, tea sets, decorative items, framed pictures, small appliances, and much more.

Many of the church’s organizations will have food and craft booths, with all proceeds going to their individual organizations. Food items such as teriyaki beef sandwiches, kahlua pork rice plates, chicken curry rice plates, barbecue pork yakisoba, and spam musubi were available for pre-order on the church website’s online store.

Food, including baked goods, will also be available for purchase on the event day.

The shopping portion of the event will be held in the indoor gym from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The food fair will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the courtyard.

For more information, visit www.BuddhistChurch.org.

Bobsledder:

The games in Korea are sure to be both a challenge and an opportunity, as most of the competition has never seen this track before, so it will be a level

playing field.

Korea will also be the host of the 2024 Youth Olympics, so these races could be an indicator of what’s to come.

The hope for Emily is to secure more medals for the U.S.

in Korea before returning to her home track in Lake Placid in March.

Emily is currently a sophomore at St. Francis High School in East Sacramento.

She and her parents say that St. Francis has been extremely supportive of her athletic endeavors and has assisted in making accommodations for her training and race schedule.

“I’m so proud to be a Troubie (an adopted nickname associated with the school’s Troubadour mascot) and represent St. Francis on an international platform,” Emily said. “My school has a long history of successful women breaking barriers, and I get to be part of that history and culture through my own journey towards the Olympics.”

Continued from page 2

Emily Bradley pushes her sled during her Jan. 28 race in Austria.

Sacramento Zoo structures officially designated as city landmark

By Lance Armstrong vcneditor@gmail.com

The Sacramento City Council, on Feb. 21, unanimously passed a motion to officially designate the Sacramento Zoo entrance structures as a landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.

That vote was preceded by the city Preservation Commission’s unanimous vote, last November, to recommend to the council that the zoo entrance structures receive this official designation.

The urgency of this designation proposal was associated with the proposed plan to relocate the 95-year-old zoo from its current site in William Land Park to a designated 70-acre portion of a 100-acre Elk Grove city-owned site at the northwest corner of Kammerer Road and Lotz Parkway in Elk Grove.

Last year, a six-month feasibility study between the city of Elk Grove and the Sacramento Zoological Society identified a potential relocation of the Sacramento Zoo to Elk Grove as a viable option.

That study was followed by the adoption of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city of Elk Grove and the zoological society. The MOU outlines steps involved in the planning process and potential development of the project in Elk Grove.

Prior to the council’s vote on the zoo structures’ historic landmark designation, the city’s staff determined that the nomination aligned with the city’s 2035 General Plan goal to provide for the identification and preservation of historical and cultural resources.

According to a city staff report, the historic designation of these structures ensures that future development on the site will “undergo preservation review as part of the city’s site plan and design review process, prior to the granting of any entitlements, thereby protecting the historic resource, which would be considered part of the environment.”

In the same report, the zoo structures are referred to as “a fine example of the Googie (architectural) style developed out of mid-century modern architecture.”

The Sacramento-based architectural firm, Rickey & Brooks, was commissioned to design these structures, which feature a hyperbolic paraboloid roof design. The project was completed in 1961.

In providing background to the nomination, Sean de Courcy, the city’s preservation

director, noted that a 2011 survey of historic resources at William Land Park – conducted by the Sacramento-based

architectural and engineering firm, Mead & Hunt – represented the first time that the zoo’s entrance structures were

identified as potential historic resources.

He added that the nonprofit organization, Sacramento Modern, later sponsored an additional evaluation of the zoo’s entrance structures by Mead & Hunt.

“(Sacramento Modern) prepared a National Register (of Historic Places) nomination for these structures, which has formed the basis for this local nomination,” de Courcy said.

Prior to voting in favor of the Sacramento Register designation for the zoo’s entrance structures, Sacramento City Council Member Katie Valenzuela expressed her support.

“The zoo is beloved for many a reason and anybody who’s been on Land Park Drive knows that entrance and knows what that entrance looks like,” she said. “It is so much a part of Land Park that having this marked as (a) historic resource makes just all the sense in the world,” she said.

Photo by Lance Armstrong

The Sacramento Zoo’s historic entrance structures were recently designated as a landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.

Elk 6’s first female member to attend lodge’s farmers’ market

By Stephen B. Clazie Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 past exalted ruler

When Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 opens its second farmers’ market season on Saturday, March 4, among its most cherished members, Lillie Brown, will be in attendance.

The Elks’ farmers’ market, 6446 Riverside Blvd., will be open every Saturday through Nov. 11, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Brown, 92, is a 25-year member of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6.

She won’t be the oldest Elk 6 member or the person with the most membership years, as the oldest and seniority can change. But Brown has one very unique thing that can never be taken away. She is the very first female member of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6.

Brown has been very impressed with the Elks.

“The Elks were so active, so I applied,” she said. “When I first heard that women were able to join the Elks in other states, I was really excited and felt I really would like to join.”

Brown was initiated into the lodge on March 4, 1997, which is exactly 26 years before Elks 6’s opening of this year’s farmers’ market.

She is proud they are still so active with their farmers’ market on Saturdays and their Sunday breakfasts.

Six months before Brown was initiated, her proposer was Jim Keating, and she was blackballed. Keating wanted to be the first person to sponsor the first female member.

Brown said, “However, that didn’t go over so well. They voted me down!”

She applied again at the encouragement of a few of the Elks’ officers, and a former boss who was also an Elk.

“Things took a turn, though, when one of the Elk officials spoke up and implied that I might sue the club for discrimination – which I never would have done,” she said.

That March 4 initiation was one month before new officers were to take office.

The Elk 6 official Brown was referring to was Tom Rotharmel, who was going to become the new leading knight.

regarding the grand lodge and our charter.”

Rotharmel wanted the issue resolved before he was going to become the lodge’s president in 1998.

That other member, Brown mentioned, was Wendell Fair.

“Some of the Elks shunned Wendell for supporting me, which was sad,” she said.

Brown was an English teacher at Charles M. Goethe Junior High School (now Rosa Parks Middle School) for 10 years, and Fair was the principal until his retirement in 1978.

Rotharmel stressed that Fair was one of the nicest people he ever met at the lodge, and that he was a “good Elk.”

Brown mentioned that Fair’s legacy was not only in education, but also in his community activities. He had been a member of the lodge for 20 years when Brown joined.

When Fair retired, Brown left Goethe Junior High and spent her last 20 years of teaching as an English teacher at Luther Burbank High School.

Brown stressed that she was treated graciously by Elks members.

At the February 1997 meeting, Rotharmel, with help from his very good friend, Paul Frye, was going around making sure that everyone was going to vote for Brown. Frye was going to be the new loyal knight.

Rotharmel was asked if it was true that the lodge was warned not to do another blackball or “We might lose our charter?”

He recently recalled that he sponsored Brown, and he noted “Paul and I campaigned for her approval, and we were successful. It’s possible – damn possible – allusions were made

the river in August.

Some of Brown’s friends have told her that she should have her picture in the Elks lodge foyer as the first female member of the lodge.

There are 17 photographs of women on the wall as past presidents of Sacramento Emblem Club No. 539, which was formed in 1987 as an auxiliary for wives of Elk members.

It was 10 years later that Brown became the first female member of the lodge.

In April 2004, the first female exalted ruler (president) took office, and Elks 6 has now had five female exalted rulers, and their pictures are on display on the foyer walls.

Brown has been joined by many women as members of Elks Lodge No. 6, and out of the present 662 Elk 6 members, 163 are women.

Some females were members of both the Emblem Club and Elks 6. Two former Emblem Club presidents were Elk 6 officers this 2022-23 term, and, thus, had their picture on two different foyer walls.

“(They) did invite me in and showed gracious acceptance after that,” she said. “I used the pool, the gym, belonged to the El Kampers, helped at dinners, and have had wonderful years with the lodge”

Brown and her husband, Norb, were very active in the El Kampers, which is the lodge’s recreational vehicle club. They loved to be in charge of campouts in the Russian River area.

The Browns’ home is located along the Sacramento River, and for a number of years, they would have El Kampers gatherings in their backyard along

As for the Emblem Club, it continued until the fall of 2012, and at that time presented $15,000 to Elk 6’s scholarship fund.

Brown mentioned that despite experiencing some personal health issues, she remains dedicated to the Elks lodge.

“I turned 92 years (old) a couple of months ago and due to a car crash in September, I suffered an injury to my inner ear, so I can’t do much where there is noise,” she said. “But I’m working with hearing aids and ear covers, etc., to get some control. I recently paid my 2023-24 lodge dues, and as far as I am concerned, I will always want to be an Elk.”

Photo courtesy of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6

Lillie Brown became the first female member of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 on March 4, 1997.

Italian society seeks local dancers to learn Italian folk dances

The Balliamo! dance troupe is currently seeking dancers who live within the greater Sacramento area to learn Italian folk dances.

Dancers must be willing to travel and perform at festivals throughout Northern California, as well as attend weekly practices and participate in occasional weekend performances.

A recruitment open house will be held at the Italian Center, 6820 Fair Oaks Blvd., in Carmichael on March 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. A demonstration will be held at 7 p.m. The event will be open to dancers 18 years old and older.

For more than 30 years, the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento has sponsored Balliamo!

The Balliamo! folk dancers are skilled in the folk dance traditions of the Italian regions and have become one of North-

ern California’s premier Italian folk dance groups.

This dance troupe is a unique cultural resource for the Italian community and represents cultural and dance heritage to the public. They are always entertaining and fun to watch in their colorful, regional costumes.

Their dance repertoire includes

tarantellas, mazurkas, Renaissance, and dances representative of the various regions of Italy.

Balliamo! regularly practices at Carmichael’s Italian Center, and performs at cultural events, festivals, parades and private events.

The troupe is looking for

new dancers to join in the fun. The folk dance recruitment open house event is a wonderful opportunity for newcomers to experience the dance traditions of Italy and become acquainted with the group.

For additional information, write to the email address, www. BalliamoDancers@ gmail.co m .

Spring concert coming to El Camino High March 19

The Sacramento Symphonic Winds will present a spring concert, the “John Williams Spectacular,” on Sunday, March 19, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

This event will be held at the El Camino Fundamental High School Center for the Arts at 2340 Eastern Ave.

Sacramento Symphonic Winds is a 60-piece adult symphonic wind ensemble that is conducted by music/artistic director Dr. Matthew Morse.

For more information, visit the website, www.SacWinds.org.

The Camellia Society of Sacramento will present its 99th annual Camellia Show at Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 on Saturday and Sunday, March 4 and 5.

Show hours are 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The event includes judged camellia competitions, camellia bloom displays, a plant sale, camellia care and culture informa-

tion, floral designs, a Matsuyama display, collectible Camellia Show buttons, a raffle, and watercolor artists (Sunday only).

This year’s co-chairs are Don Leismeister and Julie Vierra.

While admission will be free, donations will be accepted.

For more information, visit the website, www.CamelliaSocietyofSacramento.org.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Photo by Lance Armstrong

The Balliamo! Italian cultural dance troupe recruitment open house will be held at the Italian Center in Carmichael on March 15. Pictured above are members of the troupe at an event in Sacramento in 2021.