Pocket News - January 5, 2018

January 5, 2017 | www.valcomnews.com

Pock e t News — Bringing you community news for 27 years —

CELEBRATING

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SPIRIT

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LIFE

Mrs.

im Lee Polk Opening Doors for Homeowners since 2007 AU G U S T 7 , 1956 - J A N UA RY 31 , 2017 TH

ST

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Pocket News Best of 2017 John F. Kennedy Marching Band to represent state of California at 2018 Memorial Day Parade in Washington

By Ellen Cochrane

When Congresswoman Doris Matsui nominated the marching band at John F. Kennedy High School to represent the state of California the parent leaders knew they needed to get to work. The marching band and color guard, which is under the direction of Jeremy Hammond, was selected to march in the 2018 Memorial Day parade in Washington D.C. The parade exists to salute our military and fallen heroes from the American Revolution through Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It’s our goal to send every one of our more than 150 students to D.C.,” said Cindy Kazee, secretary of the JFK Band Booster Club. “We are so proud of the students and how they represent our community. It will be a chance for the kids to see our capital and experience travel. Many Some of them have never been out of California or on an airplane.”

Long-time Sacramentans know about the mighty, award winning JFK marching band.

In the 70s and 80s, the boosters were able to support multiple trips to competitions in the state as well as trips to DC and Hawaii to represent California in celebrations and parades.

The money was also used to hire extra instructors, and operate a tractor trailer rig to move equipment. Much of this money was earned through the operation of a bingo hall. The rise of the Indian Casinos took a bite out of the bingo hall profits and it was closed. Today the band relies on the booster club’s diligence and hard work. “We raise $95,000 annually to cover the expense of purchasing instruments and uniforms, covering stipends to instructors not paid by the school or district and transportation fees,” said Kazee.

It’s going to be a heavy lift for the boosters to get the band, their uniforms, instruments

and chaperones to D.C. The cost of the trip is $2000 per student and the instruments will have to be trucked to the capital. (It’s hard to carry a tuba onto a plane.) While this is a nearly “all inclusive” fee, it is an impossible amount for many of the students. A large number of students enrolled at Kennedy in the band qualify for free lunches.

Sacramento City Unified School Board Trustee Darrell Woo knows the community can do it, “It’s going to take JFK students and families, the Greenhaven Pocket area and the district to support this program and get our wonderful kids to D.C. It’s such an honor to be nominated by Congresswoman Matsui and selected to be in the parade. The community needs to get behind these kids to make it a fantastic learning experience.”

Woo has personal ties to the band. “My brother played the tuba in the JFK band and was with the band in D.C. in 1976 for the Bicentennial Celebration parade. I think I still have his jacket,” Woo said.

In addition to the traditional yearly fundraising, the boosters are taking a three-pronged approach to earning money for the D.C. trip: offering sponsorships to businesses, special events and appeals to city, county and state government to help. They hope to meet their $300,000 goal by February 1, 2018.

“We’re reaching out to businesses, organizations, alumni, the community and individuals to consider donating. Our trip is five days long with a tour company (mandated by the parade organizers for student groups), and includes the march, a concert in the square, a tour of Washington, D.C. and a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and ends with a full day in NYC,” said Kazee.

Grit and hard work characterize this band.

The students have a band class, and work an additional three hours on Saturdays and Tuesdays to hone their craft. Not to mention the performance time. “There is nothing but positive words to describe these kids. They don’t See JFK Band, page 3

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Vol. XXVII • No. 01

Pocket News is published on the first and third Fridays of the month in the area bounded by Interstate 5 on the east and the Sacramento River on the north, west, and south.

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Pocket News • January 5, 2018 • www.valcomnews.com

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JFK Band: Continued from page 2

do it for money or glory they do it because they love the band. We are carrying a great history forward. Any one who hears the band sees the potential of the children. We are all so proud of them,� Kazee said.

Donations to the band are accepted through PayPal at JFKennedyband.com. For further information about how to help contact Cindy Kazee at 916-207-8632 or secretary@ jfkennedyband.com.

Oto family celebrated 50 years in grocery business on Freeport Boulevard

By Lance Armstrong

The Oto family, owners of Oto’s Marketplace, celebrated a special milestone. Last year marked 50 years since their late patriarch, Masashi “Ted�

Oto (1927-2016), began working in the grocery business on Freeport Boulevard.

The family’s current store opened in a newly-constructed building at 4990 Freeport Blvd. in 2007, and it was there that they welcomed the community to a celebration with entertainment, Asian food booths, food tastings and demonstrations.

The celebration, which was held on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9 and 10, 2017, drew hundreds of people, including many longtime customers of Oto family-run businesses.

Entertainment included performances by the Island Sunset Band, Rendevous (a band from the Bay Area), Sacramento Taiko Dan, the Ota-

hi Marama Hawaiian Dance Group, and opportunities to spin a wheel for prizes.

The event also presented flavored, shaved ice treats made by Osaka-Ya, a historic business in the old Japanese district on 10th Street, south of Broadway.

As part of the event’s attractions, Sen. Richard Pan (DSacramento) presented a California Legislature resolution honoring the Oto family’s business history.

A portion of the resolution, which is signed by Pan, Assembly Member Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Member Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), reads: “Holding pride of place as one of Sacramento’s oldest Japanese markets and familiar to generations of Sacramentans as a specialty grocery store stocked with a large and tantalizing selection of Japanese and Asian foods, some of the freshest fish locally available, quality meats, farm-fresh produce, and much, much more, Oto’s Marketplace will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in the year 2017, upon which occasion, Oto’s and the Oto family members, who have owned and operated this much-loved business in its various incarnations for more than a half century, are deserving of special honors and accommodations.�

Photo courtesy

Members of Kids Can Change the World, shown from left to right, back row (standing): Natalia Vallejo, Ava Delucchi, Kendall Holman, Nicole Staggs, Katie Leung, Madison Lessing. Front row (sitting): Abigail Lessing, Steven Holman, Abigail Pierce, Gisele Matocq. This photo represents about one third of the club members.

er’s Edge Church. A white Toyota sedan drove through a green light going southbound on Riverside Boulevard when a red Chevy SUV plowed through the red light and T-boned the passenger side of the sedan. Both cars spun around in front of River’s Edge Church.

Two eye witnesses, including a nurse, arrived at the scene within one minute of the accident.

According to witness Elizabeth two men were Another car accident trappedWong, in the white sedan for on the 6500 block of 10 minutes before the emercrew arrived. “(The) Riverside Boulevard gency driver outside of a red car (Red

By Monica Stark Chevy SUV) was screaming/ agitated, even dancing about.

A 2-car accident resulted She resisted helping police, in badly damaging two ve- kept changing her story, tried hicles and injuring two vic- to leave the scene. She was tims around 4 p.m. on May unaware of an accident: ‘Was 9, 2017 on the 6500 block of there a car? Did I hit someRiverside Boulevard at Riv- one?’ Police handcuffed her

as she is kicking at the police car.� Acting “crazy�, Wong said the driver moved her hands oddly, “mumbling� and “dancing about. She resisted police who needed to handcuff/seat her into the police car.�

Wong noted that another woman came to the scene to speak to the police about the female driver who left her house in a rush at a high speed, driving erratically.

The male passenger of the white sedan was immediately rushed into the ambulance when it arrived. The driver’s jaw was broken and his face was covered with blood. He was also rushed into the ambulance.

Wong said for years these accidents have been occurring once every two to three months.

She noted that road, weather and traffic conditions were not factors this time, though previously prior accidents on the same block have been attribut-

ed, in part, to a bus stop taken out, a parked car that was totaled, a car that crashed into the witness’s driveway, cars flipping on winter “black ice�, and an out-of-control driver that hit a tree resulting in the death of a pedestrian.

Taking charge to change the world: Local kids club formed out of a desire to help others

By Monica Stark

Woken at 2 a.m. and told she had to pack a bag, 11-yearold Ella of Glen Ellen didn’t know what was going on around her. Ella, whose home was completely destroyed by the recent fires in Napa, spoke See Change, page 4

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Change:

Continued from page 3

with friends in Sacramento about the fire and making it out safely.

As the world around her immediately changed, Ella’s peers gathered in the Little Pocket home of Gisele Matocq, age 12, wondering how she was coping and feeling the need to do something to ease the girl’s loneliness. On Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, they gathered together to make 31 friendship bracelets, and collected (as of that evening) 30 backpacks, 86 items of school supplies, 453 diapers, 736 wipes, 53 pair of new socks, 18 clothing items, and 320 travel-

size toiletries to help fire victims like Ella.

Each donning a shirt with the words “KIND IS COOL” across the front, the kids regularly visit Gisele for gatherings, or as they call them “club meetings” during which time projects are decided upon and worked on.

The Sunday, Oct. 15 gathering of the club, aptly called, Kids Can Change the World, came on the heels of the fires that ravaged Northern California, affecting their friends. As Gisele explained, “My friend’s mom came up with the idea because one of their friends is a fire victim and is feeling a little lonely, so we decided to make friendship bracelets for them.”

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Gisele’s genuine ambition to help those in need has been infectious among those whom she’s approached regarding the kids club. Her mother, Lisa, says Gisele has always enjoyed helping those less fortunate and doing community service projects, but decided that the impact would be greater (and the activities more fun) if she invited some friends to join her. They they formed the kids community service club earlier this year. Around the same time, while shopping at Target, Gisele found a Tshirt with the logo, “KIND IS COOL” and decided that not only did she want to buy it, but she thought it would be a perfect club shirt, as it sends a powerful message and would convey the sentiments of the club members. She and her mom Lisa learned later that the KIND IS COOL shirt is part of Target’s anti-bullying campaign.

By February of this year, there were more than 20 kids in the club, ages 8-13, and Kids Can Change the World Club of Sacramento was off and running. The club has about the same amount of kids as are in her entire seventh grade class at Genevieve Didion K-8, but club members hail from various schools in the area — Sutter and Cal middle schools, Brookfield and Merryhill.

Every club member receives a KIND IS COOL shirt upon joining. From making Valentine’s Day cards for senior citizens to collecting food items for the homeless and helping abandoned animals, the group promotes kindness at every level and rejects any type of bullying.

Photo by Bernard Kitt

Bernard Kitt specially constructed this bell tower for his Lake Greenhaven home.

Santa made a special visit to his home last December.

Asked about the impetus to take on such a responsibility, Gisele said, “My brother and my family were always doing a bunch of projects and so was I, so I decided to start the kids club because I wanted to get more done and it’s more fun because it’s with my friends.”

On a given Sunday, you will find them sitting around Gisele’s living room, readying themselves for the meeting. “They just come for the meetings,” Gisele says about her friends. “They’ll sit on the couch and chairs and I’ll just be right in front of the fireplace.” And if they can’t make the meeting but want to do the project, they can make it ahead of time, she says.

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Pocket resident’s dream bell tower has holiday visitor: Santa Claus

By Lance Armstrong

Among the more unusual scenes in the Pocket area this past holiday season was a 4-foot tall, plastic Santa Claus waving from the interior of a bell tower.

Perhaps even more unusual is that the bell tower does not rise above a church.

It is instead part of the residence of Bernard and Anne Kitt, whose Keel Court home is bordered on one side by Lake Greenhaven.

At sundown every evening through at least Christmas Eve, a timer turns on a light inside this vintage, hollow Santa Claus and a colored string of lights above him. But by 10 p.m. each night, the timer shuts the lights off to abide by a homeowners’ association regulation.

Once again abiding by a regulation, the bell tower rises not an inch above 33 feet from the ground.

Because the roof of the Kitts’ home is 22 feet from the ground, the bell tower was See Bell Tower, page 5 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

CELEBRATING

Bell Tower: Continued from page 4

constructed as an 11-foot-tall landmark.

The Kitts’ bell tower, which measures about 5 and a half feet wide, is a fully functioning bell tower, Bernard explained.

“I have it set so you can sit down up there and eat lunch or whatever you want to do,” he said. “There’s a bell in there with rope and everything, but it’s not connected to the front porch. I tried to connect it, but there were just ropes all over the place. It was a little crazy. But (the bell works).

You can get up there and (ring it). It’s really loud.”

In continuing to comment on his bell tower, Bernard said that he is well aware of his unique status of owning the only home with a bell tower in the Pocket.

But being unique in that regard made no difference to Bernard when he made the decision to add a bell tower to his home. Instead, he noted that he simply wanted to fulfill one of his childhood dreams. “(For many years), I wanted to put a bell tower on my house,” he said. “When I was in grammar school, we lived a few blocks away from (the University of California), Berkeley, and they had what they call the Campanile. It’s like a giant bell tower.

“You used to go in there and go up in an elevator and go up to the top and see all the bells, and walk around

up there and everything.

And I said, ‘God, I’ve got to get a bell tower.’”

Bernard said that he finally made arrangements to have his own bell tower constructed at his residence about two years ago.

“I had a handyman do it for me,” he said. “He was kind of a local guy. It took maybe a month (to build).

The base is real stone – not imitation stone – and then there’s these four columns that are between 5 and 6 feet tall. Then there’s this copper roof that goes into a point, and then there’s a weather vane on the top.”

As for the bell tower’s sturdiness atop his home, Bernard said that it is very strong.

“It’s tied into the structure of the house,” he said. “It’s not just sitting there. Structurally, it’s sound. And the homeowners’ association approved it. You have to go through the homeowners’ association, if you make a change that’s a visible thing (to neighbors).

And they gave the OK on it.

If you had some nutty looking thing, they’re not going to say, ‘OK.’”

A force to be reckoned with, Kim possessed the skills and tenacity necessary to manage a city council office and navigate city systems, was politically astute, had a vast array of colleagues and resources, was a friend to all and a mentor and teacher to new employees, and expressed her passions through her commitment to working with at-risk youth and projects such as back-to-school backpacks, Santa Sam, Jazz in July, community egg hunts, the Veterans Day parade, the Spirit of the Pocket Fourth of July Parade, and the Matsuyama sister cities program. Kim earned the title as “Diva” because her lifestyle and wittiness exuded swagger and a winning mentality. “Fashion was her passion and her daily life always modeled designer clothes, shoes, purses, sunglasses and flashy jewelry, compliments of her beloved mother, Avie Lee. Kim was always dressed to impress,” according to the program passed out at her memorial service on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017.

Her memory filled St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church In memory of Kim (3996 14th Ave.) that mornBlackwell-Polk ing, as people shared an outpouring of love and concern The city of Sacramento lost for her and her family. a strong leader when Kim Born to proud parents Blackwell-Polk, executive as- Avie Lee Holmes-Carpensistant to Vice Mayor Rick ter and Edward Davis at Jennings II, passed away on San Francisco General HosJan. 31, 2017 at the age of 60 pital on Aug. 7 1956, Kim tragically from an unexpected grew up as the “baby” of the case of Sepsis. family, the youngest of seven children in the cities of

HER

SPIRIT

&

LIFE

Photo courtesy

The city of Sacramento lost a strong leader when Kim BlackwellPolk, executive assistant to Vice Mayor Rick Jennings II, passed away on Jan. 31, 2017 at the age of 60 tragically from an unexpected case of Sepsis.

San Francisco, Pacifica, and T. Matsui, she returned to Daly City. After graduating the city to serve as executive from Jefferson High School, assistant to Mayor Heather Kim attended San Francisco Fargo, followed by District 8 State University where she Councilwoman Bonnie Panexcelled in business admin- nell in 2011 before returnistration and modern office ing to District 7 in 2014 to procedures before marrying work for current Counciland giving birth to two sons, man Rick Jennings, II. Averi and Marcus. She latTo coworkers, she epitoer relocated her young fam- mized professionalism and ily to Sacramento, where T G U S T 7 T H , her 1 9 5 6home - J A N UA RY 3 1 SSee , 2Blackwell-Pope, 017 she AU established page 6 and began her lasting career with the city of Sacramento mayor and council office in 1992 working for thenDistrict 7 Councilman Terry Kastanis and later Rob- Call Melissa at (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com bie Waters. After she left for a 3-year stint in the office of Congressman Robert

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Blackwell-Pope: Continued from page 5

held herself and the office to high standards because of the love and care she had for others, no matter which neighborhood in the district they lived in. As Dennis M. Rogers, chief of staff to the vice mayor, aptly stated: “She wanted to make sure people were taken care of...What I learned from her is no job is too small. Every job has a purpose; everything has a reason and don’t forget that.

A missed trash can pickup is probably not big deal to most people, but super important to (those who called it in)... (Kim) was focused on doing everything right, the big and the small. “ On an even greater scale, Kim would try to make sure services in Valley Hi matched those provided in Greenhaven/Pocket. “She didn’t want to see any differences in the services we provided. She wanted to level the playing field,” Jennings stated. “Kim was a task master. I don’t know if she worked for me or if I worked for her. She kept me on point. Everything was always well-organized.

She wanted to make sure she accomplished everything... I don’t even know how you replace 25 years of institutional memory. I don’t know how to bring somebody in who had all of her knowledge.”

Pocket resident discussed Pam Suwinsky tragedy

By Lance Armstrong

Pocket area resident Pamela Suwinsky was only 62 years old when word began to spread about her disappearance in South Lake Tahoe last April. And as her friends and family held out hope that she would be discovered alive, some of those people joined in a search for her in that area.

Jeff Scott, a close friend of Suwinsky, was among those people.

Scott, who began that friendship with Suwinsky about six years prior, told the Pocket News about the moment he heard the tragic

Photo courtesy of Jeff Scott

Pamela Suwinsky, whose body was discovered in the Truckee River on April 9, 2017, had a variety of interests, including animal welfare, book editing and attending films at the Tower Theatre.

news that Suwinsky’s body was discovered in the Upper Truckee River on April 9, 2017, six days after she was reported missing.

“We were up there the Sunday before last searching for her door to door, asking people if they had seen her,” he said at the time.

“And then when we got back to the place where the police were (and) they had the search party there in Tahoe.

They told us how they happened to find her.”

The discovery occurred about a mile from the Motel 6 where she was last seen alive.

Scott said that until the moment that he learned about Suwinsky’s death, he and others close to her had been holding out hope that she was not dead. “(News of her death) was quite traumatic, because we always held out hope that something weird happened that she went away and wanted to get lost or something,” he said. “But she wasn’t the type of person that would do that. It did not fit her character of somebody who was optimistic. I mean, she had her problems, but we all do.”

According to a press release, Suwinsky had fallen in the motel’s parking lot and cut one of her lips and chipped one of her teeth the night before her disappearance.

Suwinsky’s ex-husband, who continued to be her friend after their divorce, reported on April 3 at about 10 p.m. that Suwinsky was missing and that she had last been seen in the motel’s parking lot during the afternoon of the same day.

Four days later, with Suwinsky still missing, Fox40 reported that the South Lake See Tragedy, page 7 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Tragedy:

In dealing with the loss of his friend, Scott said that he is personally trying Continued from page 6 to have a positive attitude.

Tahoe Police Department was then “I was in absolute shock and disbecalling her disappearance “suspicious.” lief (about her death),” he said.“It’s still The same report notes that with a just a lot of sadness and anger over it. search warrant obtained through the But I’m trying to stay positive. That’s El Dorado County district attorney, a what she would want us to do is keep computer tower, a small suitcase, and going in life and continue to do good several paper bags were seized by au- things and be a light to people and not thorities at Suwinsky’s Pocket area dwell in the past.” home on April 6.

Suwinsky’s funeral was held in In memorializing his friend, Scott Pennsylvania and a memorial service described Suwinsky as a Pennsylvania with friends of the deceased was held, native who was a “very giving and gra- a couple of weeks thereafter. cious, fun person with a big heart.”

He added that he met Suwinsky through a mutual Pocket area friend Know your neighbor: and developed a friendship due to Hoàng Chi Truong Smith, their similar interests, including author of TigerFish watching movies at the Tower The- By Monica Stark atre, visiting the Crocker Art Museum and Old Sacramento, and raising and caring for rabbits.

In her memoir TigerFish, Pocket auScott also mentioned that Suwin- thor Hoàng Chi Truong Smith chronsky was a book editor, and enjoyed icles the tumultuous years growing up spending time with her dog, Wilson, in war-torn Vietnam and the abrupt and her two cats. She was also work- and brutal regime change that forced ing on her own book, a collection of the disruptive and disorienting comstories, called “Bloomers: Adventures ing of age between two vastly differin Lingerie Management.” ent cultures.

Photos courtesy

In her memoir TigerFish, Pocket author Hoàng Chi Truong Smith chronicles the tumultuous years growing up in war-torn Vietnam and the abrupt and brutal regime change that forced the disruptive and disorienting coming of age between two vastly different cultures.

Truong Smith witnessed abject poverty, war veterans with missing limbs, orphans having to sell trinkets on the street to make a living, young girls and ladies driven from their bombed out villages to the cities and loured into lucrative business of being “bar girls”. As

Martha Macias

a child, her parents taught her to be aware of her surroundings. Kidnapping and assassination attempts were real fears that the young girl and her family faced. These social ills and inSee Reichmuth Park, page 8

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Reichmuth Park: Continued from page 7

justices were set against the backdrop of a heavy Vietnamese and U.S. military presence, as she listened to the same American music and watched the same television shows most Americans watched overseas by way of the GIs’ television sets.

The daughter of Col. Thuc Tan Truong, Truong Smith describes life away from her father for the protection of his family.

Truong Smith self published TigerFish on April 24, 2017 via CreateSpace, a print-on-demand publisher. Truong Smith ordered 50 for a private book launch and 30 copies from Sacramento Public Library’s I Street Press. Besides buying TigerFish on Amazon, the book is also available on paperback and Kindle.

You can meet Truong Smith Tea Reichmuth Park is located at 6135 and Talk Book Club at Belle Cooledge Gloria Drive.

Library on Jan. 3, 2018 from 10 to 11 Source: http://mrcrec.com/www/ a.m. and from noon to 1 p.m., where blog/page/3 copies of the book will be sold for $20 (including signing).

Jim Piskoti, A Double Life

Reichmuth Park got new playground The City of Sacramento Parks & Recreation installed a new playground at Reichmuth Park with design assistance from MRC & GameTime. The new playground pays tribute to the hard working men and women of the Sacramento Fire Department. Reichmuth Park is located directly next to the Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) station 13, which is why city officials thought a fire truck/fire station themed playground would be a phenomenal way to honor the cities bravest.

The playground equipment design features a custom fire station with multiple slides exiting the enclosed tower. The fire station portion of the playground is decorated with the SFD emblem to bring a lifelike element to the focal point of structure.

A fire truck climber and slide sit just below the fire station. Inside the fire truck is a play panel that children can use to create sounds familiar with the vehicle. Adding lifelike audio to this play structure is a great way to get the imaginations of children running wild.

Also exciting, the Reichmuth Park playground is the first of its kind to incorporate augmented reality as a feature throughout the play structure.

Park visitors can use their smartphones to engage with photos posted throughout the structure that will link to videos highlighting the history of the SFD, fire safety and many others. Suddenly this playground structure becomes a place to not only play, but learn at the same time.

8

in Art

By Mark Hanzlik

Many artists approach a blank canvas without any expectation or where the creative journey might take them.

There are also those who seek immediate gratification, a desire to see their creation come to life quickly. Jim Piskoti, a long-time Pocket area resident, artist and print-maker is neither of those. His socially perceptive translations of people, places and objects through a unique form of kinetic art is something to behold. Jim’s passion for art takes him on a long journey with the creation of each new multi-media piece. He also becomes an engineer and electrician as the work itself to his best description, often involves a lot of ‘problem-solving’.

Jim says he produces a kind of contrived “scene-picture” that incorporates aspects of perspective, chiaroscuro and local color. I’m attracted to themes that are often tied to social issues, sometimes, purely celebratory depictions of modern genre situations.”

I met with Jim and his wife Carol in his River Oaks home studio located in the Pocket area of Sacramento while he anxiously prepared for the Blue Line show. He graciously shared details about his artistic process and inspirations that formed his life’s work over the past 50 years.

As we talked, Jim revealed his desire to be considered more of an ‘outsider’ despite his formal education, artistic training and lofty principals he promoted as a teacher himself. The coolest part of hanging with Jim for a few days was listening to him describe the narratives layered within

Pocket News • January 5, 2018 • www.valcomnews.com

Photos courtesy

Jim Piskoti inside his studio in the Pocket

each of his scene-pictures, peppered modern life against images of sowith his infectious laugh and revela- cial issues. In one painting, the intory self-discovery. habitants are seeming ly satisfied enjoying a food truck experience Double Life Roly Poly Food Truck and CustomOne way to explain what some ers (2016) while in another Justice viewers might see in Jim’s paint- (2002) a much darker death penalty ings is think about the “double life” statement is made by the artist. they inhabit. His large-scale kiIn Roly Poly, Jim points out how netic work combines the traditional the lighting makes highly detailed medium of acrylic paint with mod- cheese frying on the grill appear like ern technology, motorized parts, candles being lit in church. In this LED lights, and in some cases au- one, he opted out of adding audio dio. Jim offers “I like the idea that as it already “had so much stuff goin one state, it’s an arrested, quiet ing on.” Jim tries to strike a balimage, and then when the electrici- ance between being overly active or ty goes on, it comes alive in a whole too static, something he admittedly different way.” Two worlds exist in struggles to control with each kinetone painting; inactivity which in- ic project. vites thoughtful contemplation, and Jim suggests when a viewer apan electrified interactive experience proaches the painting Justice (perthat many of us are accustomed to manently displayed at Crocker Art in our distracted lives.

Museum) “they become the execuYou’ll also discover a different tioner by pushing a foot pedal and kind of double life in Jim’s juxtaposition of celebratory depictions of See Piskoti, page 9 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Piskoti:

Continued from page 8

activate the lights and gears. The lights and movement simply add to the drama that is already present.”

In T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets, the world is described as a place where beauty and corruption cohabit and are often indistinguishable. Contrasting qualities reside within a single painting, City of Gold (2012) another of Jim’s depictions of modern genre. Jim is pleased with the balance he achieved with so much going on, he says ultimately, “the viewer can still find it easy to see all the different characters and actions.”

In the painting, a woman’s purse is picked in front of Neiman Marcus while flowers are sold off the sidewalk, a busload of sightseers gawk at the sights and seductive images of money are mixed with garbage and panhandling. It’s a form of satirical social commentary filtered effectively through Jim’s interpretative eye and exaggerated style.

Jim’s latest kinetic work, Convenience Store with Customers (2017) is in his own words, “a microcosm of the whole world of things that interest me in terms of people, vehicles, signs and the morality issues.”

It’s his interpretation of the range of characters and actions you might see at a convenience store. A rotating 24-hour sign sits atop another “double life” structure where liquor and cigarettes are displayed on a dark side and food and soda dominate the bright side. Hidden in the back, an adult purchases beer for a minor, a ferocious dog barks off the back of an open bed truck at a frightened child, and nearby there’s a guy with a walker filled with liquor. Meanwhile movement in the foreground shows a woman washing an auto windshield in a fuel station

while another woman actively collects ice from a machine and a family carries supplies for their camping trip in a Volkswagen bus.

All of the aforementioned pieces are among Jim’s favorites but Driven Man (2007) has a special place in Jim and Carol’s family room. “It reminds me of Jim,” adds Carol, “a man carrying a briefcase and Starbucks with clock hands moving very fast. You can see the gears and motors moving which you can’t in his other pieces. It’s very active and it makes me very jittery—that’s why I like it.”

As a young art student, Carol met Jim at California State University Stanislaus in Turlock where he was teaching printmaking, painting and drawing. “He looked like Andy Warhol, a head full of blonde hair, glasses, very skinny.” The first decade or so of their relationship involved a lengthy commute after Carol took a job teaching art at J.F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento in 1973. Jim, an Emeritus Professor of Fine Art retired in 2005 after 36 years and Carol turned in her keys at Kennedy in 2010. For more than a dozen years now, Jim has committed himself to his home studio work which has been primarily kinetic.

Carol says their Pocket-area home was built in 1985 to accommodate Jim’s studio work but as his kinetic projects began to take shape and fill the home after 2002, he outgrew his studio. “If I could do it again, I would have built a shed for him!”

Carol prefers Jim’s kinetic paintings over his earlier two-dimensional work. Her favorite is Tunnel of Love (2010), an appropriately heart-shaped piece with more of his nuanced “double life” imagery and an oldies audio track titled Sea of Love.

“The couple under L.O.V.E. letters

“Convenience Store” by Pocket artist Jim Piskoti

are supposed to be us which is kinda sweet,” Carol continues, “ There’s some lovebirds, different couples, genders, ages, and sexual orientation coming out of the tunnel. Another couple is crying, so, you never can tell what’s gonna happen in your love life.”

Much of Jim’s work can be found online at his website: jimpiskoti. com

Artistic Development Jim was always drawing as a child.

He was born in Logan, West Virginia but moved to Flint, Michigan at age 12. His attraction to trucks began early in his life and can still be found in much of his current work, and in his studio one can see a large collection of toy trucks See Double Life, page 10

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9

Double Life: Continued from page 9

displayed well out of reach of children. But it was Jim’s fascination with hearses as a teenager in Michigan that laid the groundwork for what would eventually get him accepted at Yale University. “I wrote to these companies that did conversions of Cadillac sedans to hearses, and they sent me really nice catalogues.”

After two years at Flint Junior College studying commercial art, Jim headed to the University of Michigan where he was to complete his B.S. in Design. It was while at U of M he produced a series of photo-realist paintings of funeral hearses, Cortage Series Crown Royal Rear Servicing Coach (1966) in acrylic. “I used an opaque projector and projected the image on canvas, and just filled in the colors,” Jim laughs, “people are so impressed.” Apparently, Yale was impressed enough to accept him into the graduate program of the School of Art & Architecture. “I’m still doing hearses but in a more personalized way. I distort and exaggerate them now.”

Jim absorbed the striking images of Appalachia early in his life and later in Michigan in the shadow of the booming auto industry, developed his artistic sensibility and desire to include social commentary in his work.

At Yale, Jim grew as an artist as he was exposed to contemporary art in New York galleries and museums. New York Traffic, No. 1 (1969) painted in oil was part of a series Jim produced after drawing inspiration from sketches made during his weekend jaunts into Manhattan. He also was doing a lot of printmaking which would later become a focal point in his own teaching career.

“At that time, printmaking had a much higher re-

spectability in the art world. Digital has completely killed it off.”

At Yale, Jim experimented with bold, gestural moving qualities in his oil paintings during this period. His interest in vehicles, cities and scale, he refers to as “huge trucks and tiny women” were to become recurring images in his work throughout the next five decades.

After Jim was hired in 1969 to teach in Stanislaus County, he continued to paint impressionistic views of traffic, mostly scenes in the small town of Turlock. In the 1980’s, Jim produced a large volume of work, acrylic and oil paintings of a variety of scenes, many of them awarded prizes and exhibited throughout Northern California and beyond.

Figure in a Yellow Dress (1980) caught the eye of a feminist art critic at Ann Arbor News when Jim’s piece was shown in an Alumni Art Annual in 1984.

Peggy Page wrote, “ I just don’t like Piskoti’s definition of women – as sexpots who dress for, and enjoy leers from men. That image of women went out with go-go boots.” Jim proudly shares a clipping of the opinion piece and a hearty laugh with anyone who wants to join him.

Another two-dimensional piece from this period, On the Sunnyside of the Street (1984), an acrylic painting served as an early indicator of Jim’s Double-Life. “Carol’s father was telling me it’s always better to have your business on the side of the street that gets the sun. People are in a more optimistic mood.” In the painting, Jim shows a porno theater, lowlife characters on the dark side, and an old woman looking toward the brighter side of the street at a younger woman where there’s plenty of money and high fashion.

Although Jim has concentrated primarily on kinetic works over the past 15 years, he has returned to acrylic works on paper. After seeing a Bosch

“Figure in Yellow Dress” by Pocket artist Jim Piskoti, 1980

show in 2016, Jim produced a number of two-dimensional paintings on paper including Side Show (2016), of a Trump-like scene where a woman is groped, a wall is erected, red-capped supporters raise weapons, and mortally-wounded statue of liberty is wheeled away on a stretcher.

When I asked Jim about this idea of a double life, he suggested in his paintings he’s simply introducing a capacity for a double life, a richer variety, a different experience for the viewer. “It’s opening a new direction or another way to capture life in the 21st Century. That’s why I’m doing them I guess.”

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Pocket News • January 5, 2018 • www.valcomnews.com

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What’s

happening

THURSDAY, JAN. 4 GUEST CHEF DINNER FEATURING CHEF ARTURO VARGAS BENEFITING ST. JOHN’S: Join Saint John’s and Plates Cafe on Thursday, January 4, for the first Guest Chef Dinner of 2018 featuring Chef Arturo Vargas of Taste for the Senses! This special evening will feature a fine dining experience including wine tasting by Carvalho Family Winery and live music. Also introducing our GUEST CHEF DINNER CLUB enjoy 2 tickets to ALL 9 Dinners in 2018 for $800 (a $100 savings). Club members will also receive a hand-painted piece of art and personal story from one of our clients. Early Bird tickets for January 4 are available until December 21, 2017 on Eventbrite. Support the employment training program of Saint John’s Program and join us for an unforgettable Guest Chef Dinner.

Signature appetizers include: Signature Ceviche Shots in Spoons and Shot Glasses, Comprised of Sea Bass, Tiger Prawns, Avocado, Tomato, Cilantro, Onions in a Crab and Octopus Sauce, Signature Banana Leaf Wrapped Vegetarian and Chicken Mole Gourmet Tamalitos, Vegetarian comprised of Sautee Garlic, Red Onions, Zucchini, Carrots, Spinach with Mozzarella Cheese, Oaxaca Style Chicken Mole Tamalitos Served with Salsa Roja of Molcajete Salad Colorful California Salad with an Aztec Flavor: Chopped Red, Orange, Yellow Bell Peppers, Celery, Fresh Cactus, Red Cabbage, Black Beans and Whole Kernel Corn on a Bed of Fresh Arugula served with Toasted Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette Main Dish Marinated in Garlic, Lime and Jalapeno Grilled Tri Tip served with Chimichurri Sauce Marinated in Mojo de Ajo Rosemary Grilled Chicken Breast served with Fresh Pesto Accompanied by Garlic Roasted Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

Pocket/Greenhaven?

Dessert: Seasonal Berry Brulee with Kahua Drip and Fresh Mint Served in a Martini Glass Plates Cafe and Catering is located at 14 Business Park Way #149, Sacramento, CA 95828.

FRIDAY, JAN. 5-SATURDAY, JAN. 6 LIBRARY FRIENDS TO HOST WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE SALE: The Friends of the Sacramento Public Library are hosting a Warehouse Clearance Sale at the Book Den Warehouse, 8250 Belvedere Ave., Suite E, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A preview for Friends members only will be held Friday, Jan. 5, 5 to 8 p.m., and nonmembers who wish to attend may join at the door for $20. The warehouse is currently overstocked with a wide variety of books which must be sold so that room is available for incoming new donations. Proceeds benefit the Sacramento Public Library system. All books and other materials in the warehouse will be priced at $6 for each grocery bag, and customers are encouraged to bring their own paper bags, though bags will be available. Because of the reduced prices, the Friends members’ usual discount will not be offered at this sale. The Book Den store, which specializes in better books and is located at the same site, will be open during the same hours with materials offered at regular prices.

For more information, call 916-731-8493 or email bookden@saclibfriends.org. Regular Book Den store hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

SUNDAY, JAN. 7 10TH ANNUAL FLORIN MOCHI MADNESS: A fun, taste-tempting Japanese American New Year’s tradition awaits friends and families at Florin’s “Mochi Madness X” Hand-Pounding Workshop, Treat Tasting, and New Year’s Potluck from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come rain or shine! Sponsored by the Buddhist Church of Florin and Florin

JACL. It’s free to members plus ages 5 and under. $5 for non-members to help cover supplies.

Please RSVP by January 4th by email to: florinjacl5@ outlook.com Mochi (sweet rice cake) Treats: Popular in Asian countries, mochi symbolizes strength and a prosperous New Year. Check out New Year’s treats - hot ozoni and zenzai sweet red bean soup! How about “an”, kinako, shoyu sugar, or daikon oroshi? (Plenty of tasting samples, but no mochi sales.)

You’ll get to make the mochi “old school” like families on the farm - pounding with huge wooden mallets (kine) in a stone mortar (usu) after cooking in wooden steamers (seiro). Be ready to pound, shape, make, and taste!

Learn how to make mochi, traditional dishes, and get some scrumptious Asian mochi recipes.

Potluck Social: People should bring a dish to share based on last name: Letters A – U: Salads, veggies, cold side dishes, nigiri rice, etc.

Letters V - Z: Desserts (besides mochi), snacks, etc.

Main Dishes: Committee members and Volunteers are invited to bring main dishes. Ovens are available to heat items. Please let organizers know what you’re bringing.

Volunteer Helpers Needed: This is hands-on so please let us know if you can volunteer: - If you are an experienced mochi-pounder, turner, cutter, or maker, we need your help!

1. 9:30 a.m.: Setup of tables, chairs, condiments, drinks, mochi treat tasting areas, and registration table.

2. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: (Approximately) dozens of mochi pounders, cutters, makers, and treat tasting helpers.

3. 1 to 2 p.m.: Potluck Social: Catch up with friends and enjoy the food.

4. 2 to 3 p.m.: Clean up mochi equipment and facility (All helpers). (Bring warm clothes & apron) RSVP by Jan. 4 by email to: florinjacl5@outlook.com Buddhist Church of Florin, 7235 Pritchard Road, Sacramento, California 95828.

11

FRIDAY, JAN. 12 DIABETES ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL SERIES: Diabetes Academy is a series of classes dealing with diabetes. This class will deal with diabetes medicines: what are they, when to use and how do they work. Free of charge. Pre-registration required.. Class will be held Friday January 12, 2018 from 1 to 2:30p.m. at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. For more information, call (916)393-9026 ext 330, www.accsv.orgs.

SATURDAY, JAN. 13 STORYTIME AND BOOK SIGNING BY POCKET AUTHOR: Pocket resident and author Ameshia Arthur will read from and sign copies of her children’s book, “Brown Boy Brown Boy What Can You Be?” at Underground Books, 2814 35th St. from 4-5:30 p.m. The book features children of color as characters and is designed to convey to that same audience the wide range of vocations available to them that they might not ordinarily consider, such as airline pilot, artist, horticulturist and oceanographer.

Light refreshments will be available.

READ TO A DOG – Looking for a way to boost school-age reading skills? Join us in the library’s Reading Tower area and practice reading out loud to a registered therapy dog (Marvin, the Wonder Corgi). Kids are invited to bring their own books or borrow one from our collection. 2nd and 4th Saturdays ( January 13 and 27) from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento.

TUESDAY, JAN. 16 “ALL IN” GAMING AND SOCIAL HOUR FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS – It’s a NEW day & time for games, refreshments, conversation, and fun on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month! Available games See more What’s Happening, page 15

th

Saturday, January 20, 2018

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Keynote Speaker: Paul Bannick Award Winning Photographer and Author

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What’s Happening:

at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. For more information, call (916)3939026 ext 330, www.accsv.orgs.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20

Continued from page 12

will include poker, chess, Scrabble, checkers, dominos, Mahjong, cribbage, and more!

Tuesdays, January 2 and 16 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento.

FINANCIAL FRAUDS: Financial fraud is a deliberate act of deception involving financial transactions and it affects everyone. Join us in this presentation that will teach you ways to identify fraud and help you avoid becoming a victim. We will cover common schemes that scammers use, as well as resources available if you might be a victim.

Free of charge. Pre-registration required.

Class will be held Tuesday, Jan.16 from 10 to 11 a.m. at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. For more information, call (916)393-9026 ext. 330, www.accsv.orgs.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17 HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA: Come with a friend and learn the healing properties of teas such as Green, White and Oolong, bought at your local grocery stores.

Handouts in the class will allow you to enjoy the tea instead of taking notes. Pre-payment of $20 and pre-registration required.

Drop-in rate of $25 at the door .Class will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. For more information, call (916)393-9026 ext 330, www.accsv.orgs.

FRIDAY, JAN. 19 FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR WOMEN: This workshop highlights the unique financial challenges women face and provides a forum to share their insight and wisdom in small groups. Through case studies of women at major stages in their lives and their financial challenges, this workshop will offer strategies for establishing and maintaining financial security.

Free of charge. Pre-registration required.

Class will be held Friday, Jan. 19 from 1 to 2:30p.m. at ACC Senior Services, 7334 Park City Drive. For more information, call (916)393-9026 ext 330, www.accsv.orgs.

INTRODUCTION TO MICROSOFT WORD: Microsoft Word has been the standard word processing software for decade. In this introductory class, students will learn how use templates to prepare letters, essays, newsletters, flyers, and basic documents that can include photos. Basic knowledge of MS word is a prerequisite for the Microsoft Publisher (Beginner) class. Free of charge. Pre-registration required. Class will be held Friday, Jan. 19 from 1 to 2 p.m.

FREE PRESENTATION ON STANDARDIZED TESTS: Strategies and Prep: Sacramento Library with AP College Consulting presents this free workshop at Belle Cooledge Library, 5699 South Land Park Drive at 2 p.m. High school students and families encouraged to attend.

Topics covered include: PSAT : What it means, why take it?

ACT vs SAT: Which is right for you?

When to take and how many times?

AP tests: How to use them Subject Tests: Who requires them and for what?

Test Prep: To pay or not to pay Super Scoring: What it means.

Questions: contact@apcollegeconsulting. com.

& Park District partners with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to bring fishing to the children in the community who may not have a chance to experience catching a fish. The event is for children up to the age of 16 and children do not need a fishing license to participate. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will have fishing poles and bait available for those who need it. Plan on catching a lot of fish in our newly renovated pond at Florin Creek Park. The event will start at 8:15 a.m. with a free demonstration from DFW volunteers and staff. Fishing will begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. and all fishing poles will be out of the water at 11 a.m. Each registered child will receive an opportunity to win some great donated items and we will give prizes to the first catch, smallest fish and largest fish caught. Please contact Sheila Surritt at 916-422-7610 for more information. Florin Creek Recreation Center, 7460 Persimmon Ave, Sacramento, California 95823.

CalBRE# 00692245

TREE PRUNING CLINIC – Learn how to keep your trees in good shape at this free workshop presented by the Sacramento Tree Foundation. Saturday, January 20 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento.

POSTCARD PEN PALS – 4th through 6th graders, join us for the launch of our new Postcard Pen Pals program! Craft your own postcards, write to kids in the Sacramento Delta area, and receive awesome snail mail. This program will be available every third Saturday of the month. Check out our first meeting on Saturday, January 20, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento.

SATURDAY, JAN. 27 FREE PRESENTATION ON STANDARDIZED TESTS: Strategies and Prep: Sacramento Library with AP College Consulting presents this free workshop at at Sacramento Library Elk Grove, 8900 Elk Grove Blvd. at 11 a.m. High school students and families encouraged to attend.

Topics covered include: PSAT : What it means, why take it?

ACT vs SAT: Which is right for you?

When to take and how many times?

AP tests: How to use them Subject Tests: Who requires them and for what?

Test Prep: To pay or not to pay Super Scoring: What it means.

Questions: contact@apcollegeconsulting.com.

FISHING IN THE CITY: Come out to the newly renovated Florin Creek Park for this free community event on Saturday, January 27, 2018. Southgate Recreation

Providing quality adult day services since 1992

SECONDS SALE! Sat. January 13, 2018 10AM - 2PM A very special sale of less than perfect pottery, glass, metal & clay work at perfectly affordable prices!

Treat yourself to an after-holiday present!

SHOP EARLY FOR BEST SELECTION!

FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.ARTBYFIRE.ORG

SHEPARD GARDEN AND ARTS CENTER 3330 MCKINLEY BLVD, SACRAMENTO Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Mention this ad and receive $50 off your enrollment

(916) 808-1591 | www.TripleR.org Locations in Midtown, North Sacramento & Greenhaven Licensed by the State of California, Dept. of Social Services www.valcomnews.com • January 5, 2018 • Pocket 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 2018 ���������������������������������������������

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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 01/08/2018.