Ardent for Life Summer 2025

Ardent content &f lavor

Ital I an Sau S age Calzone S C t Morris

16. Chee S e Speak Cindy Della Monica

20. take-out

McConnell e states

22. aM bro SI a Sala D & Wal D orf Sala D C t Morris

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

No doubt you’ve heard a lot about Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy lately. What is it all about? How does it work? Who needs it? Is it something you could benefit from?

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, also known as BHRT, is exactly what it sounds like. Your declining hormones are replaced with hormones that are structurally identical to the hormones produced by your own body. Why is this important? Hormones that are not structurally identical to your own (for example, Premarin, which comes from horse urine) do not act the same on your body, may contain hormones that your body does not make and has no receptors for these hormones, so you waste energy by giving incomplete messages to cells which then fail to produce a balanced hormonal response. Also, your body cannot effectively metabolize these foreign hormones, which may have long term unknown, potentially, negative effects on your body.

MYTH: Our hormones levels are declining because we are growing older.

FACT: We are growing older because your hormones are declining.

The goal in BHRT is to turn back the hormonal clock to around age 35, or around 20 years younger than your chronological age. Anti-aging medicine is a personalized, metabolic medicine. We now have the science to individually customize your care and we can look at the cause of the problems, instead of just treating symptoms. If you are basically healthy, we can look at how your body breaks down things to help you be healthier and stay healthy. All the patients in my practice have a totally different treatment regime, there are no protocols. It is a very personalized approach.

So is Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy right for you?

Do you find yourself wondering……?

Why am I so tired?

Why am I gaining weight?

Why do I have mood swings?

Why do I have a low sex drive?

Why am I not able to sleep well?

Why am I having memory lapses?

Why do I have frequent urination and/or incontinence?

Why do I have migraine headaches?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, bio-identical hormone therapy may be just what would benefit you.

How does the process work?

After obtaining lab testing of saliva, blood or urine, you meet for a consultation with Dr. Dayle A. Imperato, an American Anti-Aging Academy trained physician for evaluation of your unique bio-identical hormonal needs. You are prescribed the specific hormones that your body needs! We use a quality compounding pharmacy and carry a high pharmaceutical grade of supplements for your use.

Your hormones are a symphony of interactions. All of your hormones are designed to work together and if one is altered, or deficient, it will affect the actions of all of the other hormones in your body. It is an interactive balance and as unique to an individual as a fingerprint. One size does not fit all. Treating even “mild” hormonal deficiencies can dramatically improve quality of life. Longevity medicine is aimed at the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age related decline.

We are not prisoners of our genetic destiny. Chronic inflammation is the cause and the effect of most illnesses and the diseases of aging. Balanced hormone optimization and a balanced life style decreases chronic inflammation. Hormone optimization is the finishing touch of an anti-aging lifestyle of good nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, anti-oxidants and nutraceuticals.

Contributor’s Corner

Justin Azevedo

Justin has been a Youth Services Librarian for Sacramento Public Library since 2010, and is currently the Youth Materials Selector for the system.

Allie Crump

Event Manager at McConnell Estates

Scott and Dana Halvorson

We are Sacramento photographers, shooting everywhere from Tahoe to San Francisco, and we have a love for travel beyond.

David Hipskind

Owner of The Red Door Antiques, Vintage, and More. Located in Historic Old Town Elk Grove.

Dr. Dayle A. Imperato

A Board Certified physician, she has served the Sacramento community for the past 20 years. Owner of Rejuvenation Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine in Old Town, Elk Grove.

Nan Mahon

Nan is an author and journalist. She is a member of the City of Elk Grove Committee for the Arts and received the Elk Grove 2011 Mayor’s Award for Volunteerism in the Arts.

Cindy Della Monica

Cheesemonger and Owner of Cheese Central in Lodi, Ca.

Carole Morris

Instructional Specialist, Author and Adjunct Professor. She is married to an outstanding, brilliant man and the mother of two grown aweinspiring children, and grammie to three flawless grandchildren.

Anna Osborn

Anna lives in Elk Grove with her husband and school aged twins. She owns Life Unscripted Counseling in Midtown Sacramento.

Elizabeth Pinkerton

Teacher and Administrator for 40 years, she is now a historian and author.

Justin Pinnell

Justin is not just another pretty face in Real Estate. He enjoys long walks on the beach and high mountain sunsets.

Louis Silveira

Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, and Archivist at the Elk Grove Historical Society

Dianna Singh

Owner of Elk Grove Vitamins for the past eight years.

Zachary Wackman

General Manager at McConnell Estates Winery

Kayla Webb

Marketing Manager at McConnell Estates Winery

Brendle Wells

Is a librarian and lifelong reader who has a passion for sharing books with pretty much anyone she meets. She currently works as the Adult Materials Selector for the Sacramento Public Library and asks, “What have you read lately?”

For full bios of our contributors, please visit www.ardentforlife.net.

creative director Sara pinnell sara@mrsandmrpublishing.com

Make every sandwich count this summer—choose your cheese wisely! Check out the “Cheese Speak” article by Cindy Della Monica, owner of Cheese Central, on page 16. Learn the language of cheese and discover the perfect pairings to elevate every bite.

executive editor Carole Morris carole@mrsandmrpublishing.com

art & production info@mrsandmrpublishing.com

view ardent for life online at www.ardentforlife.net

business manager

Justin pinnell justin@mrsandmrpublishing.com

sales sales@mrsandmrpublishing.com

Copyright © 2025 Mrs. and Mr. Publishing

Published by Mrs. and Mr. Publishing six times a year

Want to know about great events, open houses, and more? Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ardentforlifeelkgrove

Ardent For Life is distributed in Elk Grove, Sacramento, Lodi, and every point in between.

Have a great story idea, or know someone that we should feature? Email us with your comments & suggestions at info@mrsandmrpublishing.com

Interested in increasing your business and partnering with Ardent For Life? Check out www.ardentforlife.com.

The information in this publication is for informational purposes only. Mrs. and Mr. Publishing Inc. (DBA Ardent for Life) assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organization is not necessarily the views of the magazine.

ArDent for life

Checking In

There are so many fantastic things to say about summer it’s hard to encapsulate all of them…you know things like longer days for outdoor activities and adventures. Additionally, there are fresh foods growing in gardens, blue skies and trips to the ocean. Let’s not forget family get togethers where we “catch up” with each other’s busy lives. Let’s enjoy each season and be thankful for the small and big things in our lives. I absolutely refuse to complain about the heat when there are so many things to embrace with positive energy.

executive editor

Carole Morris

What Have I Learned?

There is something uniquely enjoyable about gathering with others to discuss shared interests… like books. In this issue there is an inventive article about book clubs with a creative twist.

The traditional book club—pick a book, read it in a month, discuss—is always a solid option. But if you’re craving something with a little more flair, there are countless non-traditional ways to build a book-loving community that reflects your personality and passions.

History lovers, we have a historical article about a bank robbery that happened in 1928 at the Elk Grove Bank! Brandishing revolvers, and with faces partly covered by handkerchiefs, two bandits forced three employees and three customers in the Elk Grove bank into a back room off the lobby, looted cash drawers and vault for $8,200.00 and escaped in a waiting automobile.

We have delicious must try recipes in this issue! They will not disappoint, I promise.

By CT Morris

Italian Sausage Calzones

food}

Calzones

The roots of calzones (or calzoni) date back to the 1700s in Naples, Italy. Roughly translated calzone means “pants legs” in Italian, because the calzone was built for the worker on the go. Calzoni is usually baked in the oven for a beautiful outer crust, however, it can also be fried for a crunchy crust.

In Italy, fried Calzoni are known as panzerotti and trace their roots back to Apulia, which is located on the opposite coast of Naples. Baked or fried, if you want to wow your family and friends…try this recipe!

Crust

preheat oven 375

3 cups of flour

1 pkg active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1/4 tsp salt

DireCtions

In a bowl mix together 1 ¼ cups of flour, yeast and salt. Add warm water and beat with a mixer on low speed, scraping bowl continually. Stir in the rest of the flour (if dough is sticky, add more flour. On a floured surface, knead dough adding flour as needed so that it is stiff and elastic. Cover and rest.

Filling

1 pound of italian sausage cooked and drained

6 ounces of sliced pepperoni

½ cup onion

1 cup mushrooms

1 cup green peppers (any veggies or meat can be added or omitted)

DireCtions

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Pizza Sauce (adjust amount to taste)

¼ cup milk (for brushing on crust)

Parmesan cheese (for crust)

Grease two 12-inch pizza pans or baking sheets. On floured surface roll half of the dough into a 13-inch circle (repeat with other half). Transfer dough to pans and spoon the desired amount of sauce and meat on half of each circle (stopping one inch from edge). Sprinkle with vegetables, meat and cheese. Moisten the edges of dough with water, then fold dough in half over the filling. Seal edge by pressing with a fork, prick top and brush top of dough with milk and grated Parmesan cheese. Bake in preheated oven at 375ᴼ for 30 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

ALPINE If you ask for Swiss cheese at the deli counter, you receive slices of factory produced square and holey, slightly rubbery, slightly sour cheese with which everyone is familiar. However, true Alpine-style cheeses are those produced in the high-valley mountains in France, Switzerland, Austria, Bavaria, and Italy. All have similar characteristics like the holes, or “eyes,” which may “weep

A Second Language Cheese Speak

By Cindy Della Monica, Owner, Cheese Central

Some people are adept at conversational Spanish, German, or Mandarin. Maybe sign language is easy for you. Me? I speak Cheese fluently. Here is a short Cheese Speak tutorial for you to impress friends, family, or your favorite cheese monger.

melters. Real Alpine cheeses vary in flavor from nutty and brown-buttery sweet/fruity Alpine-style cheese, is perfect shredded into a quiche or potato dish. Moosbacher, a brothy Alpine, is delicious in mac n’ cheese or fondue

CHALKY A term used lov ingly when describing the mouth-feel of spreadable goat cheeses known as chevres. In a good way, the chalkiness is a character istic not found in cow or sheep cheeses. It leaves your teeth feeling squeaky sometimes, like you have eaten a spinach salad. Coincidentally, Couturier chevre from France, would be delicious crumbled over a spinach salad with a sprightly vinaigrette. Give it a try!

cheeses are those that have special brine washing of the rind during ag ing, and they ARE pungent, or stinky! Our cheese case has a special box we named “Stinky Jail,” the inhabitants of which are pungent Bavarian Lim burger, French Chaumes, and Italian Taleggio. Though the “nose” part of the cheese is pungent, the “tongue” reaction to the paste is creamy and luscious, belying the stinky exterior. All pungent cheeses benefit from an accompanying sweet, such as dessert wine or fruit. Try pungent Taleggio as I had it in Italy—in the middle of a ciabatta panini with fresh Bosc pear slices and arugula. mmmmm Break fast Italian-style!

Not all cheese families have “salty” members. You might know Pecorino Romano, an Italian sheep’s milk cheese that is very dry and salty, perfect for grating fine snowy drifts over pasta or vegetables. Blue cheese may be creamy and salty, such as St. Agur—my go-to blue for pairing with beef steak or burgers. There’s Feta and Ricotta Salata, both cheeses that have been brined in salty whey. Though Feta is stored in brine to maintain its freshness, Ricotta Salata is brined and then dried to serve as wedges, or for shredding. We know it as the Italian twin to Myzithra from Greece, which is the yummy topping to Old Spaghetti Factory’s brown but ter pasta entrée.

The descriptor used when talking about brie-

MUSHRooMY The descriptor used when talking about brie-style cheeses. Velvety white rinds of brie should smell and taste like raw fresh mushrooms. A good description, it turns out, as the tiny little mold spores that form the “velvet” are sort of cousins to the mushroom! Brie is a young cheese meant to be eaten before there is any hint of ammonia on the rind, indicating the cheese is going over the hill. A favorite mushroomy cheese is Mt. Tam. Made by Cowgirl Creamery, the website has a recipe for a Mt. Tam Grilled Veg Sandwich. If you can keep your hands off the luscious little wheel long enough, this would be a huge hit at any lunch or dinner!

TANGY o R TART Tanginess describes cheese flavor as kind of sour, having a bit of an acidic snappiness that might linger. Tartness indicates a clean, but sharp, acidity. Certain goat cheeses are tart, usually coupled with chalkiness. Both are very much stellar attributes in chevres. Tart and tangy are also appreciated in Feta, some blues, quark, or aged cheeses such as British cheddars or Canada’s Old Quebec cheddar. The tartness of Old Quebec cheddar, aged 7 years or more, would be well matched with sweet or savory chutney. Homestead Favorites Cherry Chutney or Somerdale’s Balsamic and Caramelized Onion Chutney would do the trick—the combination would keep you reaching for more!

Salty Ricotta Salata is an antipasto ingredient at its finest! Lay slices of the cheese on the bottom of a rimmed platter, top with marinated artichoke hearts and pitted olives, halved cherry tomatoes, ribbons of fresh basil and roasted red pepper pieces. Finish it by drizzling with good olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a grinding of red chili flakes. A couple of hours marinating on the kitchen counter at room temperature is just long enough to gather and slice a crusty rustic loaf of bread… scoop a spoonful of the platter mixture onto your bread and enjoy with a lusty red wine.

The descriptive terms noted above refer to the flavor of cheese. Howev

an “artisan” product is made lovingly by human hands. If “artisan” is noted on the label, right then and there, please use your phone to look up who is actually producing this product, confirming that it is indeed “artisan.” Taste the cheese, if a sample is available. Decide for yourself if those hands did a palatable job—if your taste buds are happy, it was made for YOU. Some of our cheese mongers favorite artisan choices include a lightly pungent Camembert from the two Capt brothers in Normandy, France. Pour a chilled hard apple cider sip with it. Then, Franklin Peluso, in his 80’s, makes Teleme in Hanford, California. He is currently training just two other pairs of hands to follow the original recipe created by his grandfather a century ago. A match made in heaven— Teleme slices in a bowl of polenta topped by hearty ragu! Another treat is Bellwether Farms in Petaluma whose cheese makers ladle the fresh ricotta curds into little baskets to drain briefly. Lucky you can

When you find “farmstead” printed on the label, you KNoW that great care has been taken through all processes. We say that the “love” has been added to the cheese—a very special extra ingredient!

spread it thickly on morning toast and top it with jam and berries, or roasted tomatoes and rosemary.

FARMSTEAD A term indicating that all parts of cheese making happens within the property lines of the farm, in an artisan way. The dairyman breeds and raises the animals there, the twice-daily milking is rushed to the on-site creamery for the cheese maker to turn it into cheese curds, and the cheese then moves to the aging room for a human ( the affineur ) to take daily care of the wheels until ready for you to enjoy. When you find “farmstead” printed on the label, you KNOW that great care has been taken through all processes. We say that the “love” has been added to the cheese—a very special extra ingredient!

Take a really special daytrip to Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.

The dairy was established in 1959, cheese making started in the late 1990s, and The Fork hosts events on the farm since 2010. Enjoy their cheeses, such as Original Blue, on boards, salads, sandwiches, with beef, and dessert. The website has many recipes and ideas too numerous to list here.

As with all languages, Cheese Speak needs to be practiced. Your local cheese shop is where you will find conversational Cheese, a love language common to passionate curd nerds everywhere. CHEESE CENTRAL will help you practice, over and over again, finding each and every one of the cheeses listed above for you to try. Our mission is to help YOU become fluent!

As always, our staff at CHEESE CENTRAL is ready to help you with samples of our 100+ cheeses at the counter. Visit us at 11 N School St, Lodi, CA 95240 or visit our website at www.cheesecentrallodi.com

take-out

By Allie Crump,

Manager

Introducing our take-out series! If you love to eat and drink, then the greater Sacramento area is the perfect place for you, as the Farm-to-Fork Capital boasts some of the best cuisine around. With so many delicious restaurants to choose from in Elk Grove and beyond, we’re here to be your guide to what pairs best with our estate-grown wines. Next up in the series is our 2023 Rosé of Tempranillo, which we recommend pairing with Tikka Masala from your favorite local Indian restaurant.

The 2023 vintage of our Rosé features the freshest of Tempranillo fruit, picked early for the singular purpose of crafting this Rosé. We picked and pressed the Tempranillo overnight, keeping skin contact to less than eight hours, and then we vinified at low tempera-

ture in stainless steel. Our second vintage of this wine was inspired by our winemaker’s trip to Spain, where they frequently make Rosé from Tempranillo. We chose to make this wine in an off-dry style to highlight the juicy red fruit found in Tempranillo, making it stand out as an elegant Rosé perfect for pairing.

If you’ve heard the phrase “sugar and spice and everything nice,” then you might already know why enjoying a glass of our 2023 Rosé of Tempranillo with a hearty bowl of tikka masala is a perfect pairing. Its light body, medium acidity, and the residual sugar present in this vintage of our Rosé nicely balances out the spiciness of this dish. And no matter if you prefer chicken or paneer in your tikka masala, the sweet tomatoes and earthy blend of spices complements our 2023 Rosé of Tempranillo in a way that makes this pairing a lovely comfort meal for spring.

NOTE: All McConnell Estate's wines are available in our tasting room or e-store. You can visit our online store by scanning the QR code or through our website www.mcconnellestates.com.

By CT Morris

Ambrosia Salad

This is a salad that many of our g-g-great grandparents enjoyed (especially if they lived in the south). Ambrosia salad is a fruit salad that became popular in the 1860s. The earliest known mention of the salad is in the 1867 cookbook Dixie Cookery by Maria Massey Barringer. The salad traces its roots back to the Southern United States. The name references the food of the Greek gods.

Ingredients

¾ cup diced oranges

2 ripe bananas (sliced)

½ cup seedless grapes (halved)

¼ cup pitted dates (cut in cubes)

3 tablespoons lemon juice

¼ cup flaked coconut

¼ cup mayonnaise

½ cup whipping cream (whipped)

Directions

Combine fruit, sprinkle with lemon juice and chill. In separate bowl, stir together mayonnaise and whipping cream …then fold into the fruit. Sprinkle with coconut.

By CT Morris

Salad Waldorf

This recipe is old…from 1896 and originated at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. I remember eating it when I was a little grasshopper many, many years ago and loving it!

The Waldorf Salad was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896. Oscar Tschirky developed or inspired many of the hotel's signature dishes and is widely credited with creating the salad recipe. It is a deliciously light and flavorful salad for summer.

Ingredients

2 cups of diced tart apples

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon lemon juice

A dash of salt

1 cup (1-inch julienned celery sticks)

½ cup walnuts (broken into small pieces)

¼ cup mayonnaise

½ cup whipping cream (whipped)

Directions Sprinkle diced apples with sugar, lemon juice and salt. Stir in celery and nuts. Fold mayonnaise into whipped cream and gently fold into apple mixture. Chill before serving.

Whether you’re envisioning an elegant, grand celebration or a more relaxed, intimate affair, Elizabeth of Lodi offers a diverse range of wedding dresses to suit every bride's unique style, needs, and budget. Their extensive selection and expert guidance will ensure your wedding day is everything you've dreamed of—and more.

But the services at Elizabeth of Lodi go far beyond just finding the perfect dress. To give you a deeper insight, we spoke with Nancy Chambers, the owner and operator, about what "beyond the dress" truly means to her.

If you’d like to learn more or begin your bridal journey, visit their boutique at 20 S School St, Lodi, CA 95240, or call (209) 369-9046.

Elizabeth of Lodi Bridal Boutique Nancy Chambers

Elizabeth of Lodi Bridal Boutique has been a beloved staple in Historic Downtown Lodi since 1954. This local treasure is your one-stop shop for all wedding day fashion needs, offering a curated selection of toptier designers and high-quality gowns. Their vendors represent some of the best in the industry, featuring award-winning designs and exceptional craftsmanship with intricate detailing.

For a sneak peek of their stunning selection of dresses and accessories, check out their website at www.theelizabethbridal.net.

Q&A

Can you give us a little background on the store?

The Store has been in Lodi Since 1954. It moved to its current location around 1980. I started working here in 2001, doing alterations on the wedding gowns. I took ownership in 2014. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I love what I do.

Tell us about yourself. How did you get into the bridal industry, and what is your biggest passion?

I grew up in Santa Barbara and moved to Lodi in 1986. I'm married and have 3 grown

children and 1 granddaughter. I started sewing professionally for a dry cleaner in Stockton and then moved on to altering wedding gowns and never looked back.

What designers and styles do you specialize in?

We have several designers including Martin Thornburg, Casablanca, House of Wu, and Lillian West.

What services do you offer to brides and grooms?

We are a full service salon we have clothing for bridal, quinceanera, bridesmaid, flowergirl, and mother of the bride; in addition to jewelry, veils and tuxedos.

Do you offer free consultations?

We do offer free consultations.

Do you offer dress and/or tux rentals? We offer tuxedos to rent.

Elizabeth of Lodi offers a diverse range of wedding dresses to suit every bride's unique style, needs, and budget.

What is the typical timeline for alterations?

We normally start alterations for the bride six weeks prior, however, for all others we prefer a month before. We try to have them altered a week before the event.

Do you offer gown preservation?

We do offer preservation. We have a company we prefer out of New York.

What sets Elizabeth of Lodi apart from other bridal boutiques?

We offer 1 on 1 customer service and give personal attention to everyone that comes in. We want you to feel welcome.

Alysse Carlos &

Photographed by Ashlyn Coleal photography

How did you meet?

Carlos and I met while we were working at the Cheesecake Factory in San Diego. I went in for a job interview in January 2020 and Carlos (a server at the time) greeted me at the door. He immediately offered to get the manager for me, then asked if I wanted some water while I waited. Once I got the job, Carlos and I slowly began flirting at work, and eventually he asked me to go on a date. Of course, the world shut down in March 2020 so we weren’t working together anymore, but we never stopped hanging out. We went on lots and lots of beach dates, went on long walks, and just got to know each other every day. And the rest is history!

What is love?

Alysse: Love is choosing your partner every day- not just in the easy moments, but in the hard ones too. It’s growing together through everything that life brings, and laughing a lot along the way!

What is love? It’s growing together through everything that life brings, and laughing a lot along the way!

I love that Carlos is always willing to try new things and to take on new adventures. He inspires me daily to live life to the fullest

Carlos: Love is having a partner who's your best friend- the one that makes the little moments and the big milestones of life so special. It’s about laughing together, supporting each other, and just enjoying the ride!

What do you love most about him?

I love that Carlos is always willing to try new things and to take on new adventures. He inspires me daily to live life to the fullest, and I am so blessed and lucky we get to live this life together.

What do you love most about her?

I love that Alysse is the very best person I’ve ever met in my life. Her kindness, selflessness, determination, and ability to take initiative in every day tasks is something that I’ve admired about her from the beginning of our relationship.

Vendor List

Photographer ashlyn Coleal photography

Videographer elevate productions

Venue

viaggio estate and Winery

Rentals

Celebrations event rentals, Sacramento

Lighting k&t lights

Signage

Shimmer & Stain

Wedding Coordinator

Jennifer Jon events

Cake frosted flour

Ice Cream Cart Cia Di gelateria

DJ Contemporary DJ

Hair alyson zastrow

Makeup alexa Dias Makeup

Florist la loretta’s floral

Tux Rentals tuxedos of lodi

Brides Dress

Made With love, a&bé bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses Show Me your Mumu

Rings Devons Jewelers

When did you know you were in love?

Alysse: I knew I was in love with Carlos when he left his favorite city (San Diego) to move back to Northern California so we no longer had to be long distance.

When did you know you were in love?

Carlos: I knew I was in love with Alysse when our relationship became less convenient and distance became a new obstacle. It wasn’t until it got a little difficult due to the distance, that I realized that I would do just about anything to be together.

What did we love most about our wedding day?

We absolutely loved being surrounded by both sides of our friends and family. We had the best time dancing the night away, and of course, late night Chick-Fil-A to end the night!

Honeymoon

Excellence El Carmen at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

- Our favorite part of our honeymoon was eating tomahawk steaks everyday and getting daily massages by the pool.

Create a Spark…Together.

Even the smallest of sparks can ignite a fire. And the smallest of gestures can amplify hope. I was reminded the other day of just how amazing the simplest effort can create a giant shift in love.

I think one of the coolest parts about my job is all that I learn and am reminded of by my clients. It’s not just me encouraging them, it’s also them teaching me. And when one of them shared just how surprising and exciting it was to notice that a little shift here and a little shift there was creating some big changes in their relationship, I was overwhelmed by the simple statement. And excited by all the possibilities.

Yes, change takes time and consistency, but it usually doesn’t take massive effort. It

By Anna Osborn, LMFT, Relationship Therapist and Coach

takes doing the little things more often. Saying ‘thank you’ in a meaningful way. Taking an extra moment to greet your mate with a hug and a hello. Pausing to put down your phone and really ask, ‘How was your day?’. Showing up just a bit more intentionally.

When things are strained in your relationship, you can get bogged down in the overwhelming idea that you need to do all the things all the time . And yet, the truth is, small and consistent action in one area usually leads to more hopefulness, which then leads to more softness between the two of you, which leads to even more hopefulness and that starts to spread into more and more areas of your relationship. All in the best ways.

Sparks are all around you, waiting to be ignited AND putting in the small and simple effort will yield big shifts for the two of you.

Don’t wait until things are cold and strained before you offer each other some warmth. Put little sparks into everything you do and it will transform how the two of you show up in love.

Struggling with sparks? Here’s a quick list to get you started…

l Give a smile and a hello when your mate returns home for the day.

l Genuinely ask how your mate's day was and pause to listen to the answer.

l Offer words of gratitude often. It feels good to be appreciated for all that we do for each other.

l Nurture each other. Getting a glass of water? Fill one up for your mate too.

l Making a snack? Add a little extra to the plate to share.

Sparks are all around you, waiting to be ignited AND putting in the small and simple effort will yield big shifts for the two of you. Don’t wait until things are cold and strained before you offer each other some warmth.

l See your mate working on a household task (folding laundry, washing dishes)…jump in and lend a hand.

l Carve out some time together. Keep it simple...go for a walk, enjoy a cup of coffee together before you get taken away by the day.

l Find some overlap. Need to run a few errands, why not tag along. Have a long commute home? Call each other to check in before the chaos of the evening sweeps you both away.

Little things done often. Create little sparks.

Make a small shift here and a small shift there.

No matter what you call it, it all adds up and ends up creating massive shifts in love.

And last but not least, remember that it’s simple enough to actually do. It doesn’t take a huge budget or immense planning, it just takes some intentionality and maybe a few digital reminders. If you need to set a reminder to verbalize the good stuff or show up a bit differently, then do it. I sincerely believe that we put our highest priorities on our calendar and set alarms so we don't forget the big stuff…and your relationship is the big stuff my friend! Don’t be above reminders to follow through on the new habits you're creating.

Remember, it’s not hard to create a spark in your relationship and the results will absolutely blow you away!

Now get to it…I just know you will see the benefit.

I’m cheering for the two of you,

A

AnnaOsborn,LMFT,is a relationship coach and therapist. You can reach out to her by calling 916.955.3200 or visiting her website at www.AnnaOsborn.com.

United Way’s 3rd Annual United in Purpose Gala

United Way California Capital Region’s 3rd Annual United in Purpose Gala raised more than $500,000 toward United Way’s 100th anniver sary goal. The evening included a cocktail hour, dinner, inspirational program, fund a need, live auction, golden ticket raffle and more. At the event, 10 former foster youth attending Sacramento State learned they would receive $500 of guaranteed income per month for an addi tional year, and 10 former foster youth at UC Davis learned they would begin receiving guaranteed income.

The United Way California Capital Region has been a driving force across the region for more than 100 years. From advancing youth opportunities and helping kids excel in school, to strengthening local communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United Way mobilizes communities across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive. To make a donation: www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org.

1. Dr. Dawnté early, president & Ceo of united Way California Capital region announces the total raised at the united in purpose gala with family members and Collegiate guaranteed Income Students Iris, Jeneses and kareena on stage

2. united in purpose gala emcee Cody Stark in his Cardboard Caravan made by a few united Way kids.

3. auctioneer freddie Silveria at the united in purpose gala’s fund a need where the Sac State table has quite a few paddles raised.

4. united Way California Capital region Community Schools participants Sandra and her daughter Sophia react to being told they, along with four other united Way families, will be receiving $500 per month for the next year to help their families thrive.

5. ruth Miller, united Way California Capital region past board Chair, Dr. bJ Snowden, united Way board Member and Interim executive Director of the advancement of black Student Success with the CSu system, rocio Cepeda-espinosa pl partner Management operations Director with nationwide and united Way Women united Councilmember, tamiko heim, voter guide and Initiatives Manager with the California Secretary of State and united Way Women united Councilmember, Dr. richard pan, pediatrician and united Way board Chair, Dr. Dawnté early, president & Ceo of united Way California Capital region, Joaquin razo, Senior Manager of learning and Development with blue zones and united Way California Capital region board vice Chair, Chancellor gary May of uC Davis and kimmy bleichner-Jones Senior vice president with uC Davis health.

6. Wilfren esposo, area Safety and Quality Officer with Kaiser Permanente and John petrovich, Sacramento Managing principal at Deloitte and united Way board Member

7. Dr. Dawnté early, president & Ceo of united Way California Capital region, the honorable Chairman Jesus tarango of the Wilton rancheria tribe and reina tarango purchased referred care manager with the Department of health of the Wilton rancheria tribe.

8. former foster youth and current Sac State student Deja chats with emcee Cody Stark after learning the Collegiate guaranteed Income program pilot she participates in was extended for another year, giving her and nine other Sac State students $500 per month to help support them and keep them in school.

9. the honorable Chairman Jesus tarango of the Wilton rancheria tribe, assemblymember Stephanie nguyen, West Sacramento City Councilmember Quirino orozco, Sacramento City Councilmember lisa kaplan, Dr. Dawnté early, president & Ceo of united Way California Capital region and West Sacramento City Councilmember, Sacramento City Council Member Mai vang, Sacramento City Councilmember rick Jennings

10. united Way board Member and Downey brand partner tyson hubbard raises his paddle during the united in purpose gala’s auction at the Downey brand table.

11. elk grove Mayor bobbie Singh-allen, Chris franklin, Coo of the Wilton rancheria tribe, the honorable Chairman Jesus tarango of the Wilton rancheria tribe and reina tarango purchased referred care manager with the Department of health of the Wilton rancheria tribe.

12. Dr. Marjorie Soloman, oates endowed Chair and professor with uC Davis health, Dr. Dawnté early, president & Ceo of united Way California Capital region and Mark Solomon

13. larry lee, president and publisher of the Sacramento observer and his daughter lauren lee and wife Monet lee, project officer with the California Department of Public health.

14. brett Studholme, Senior vp and business banking Market leader at u.S. bank and united Way California Capital region board member raises his paddle during the united in purpose gala auction

15. Charles lawlor press secretary for California State Senator Josh becker, bryan flaherty, advertising director with the Sacramento business Journal, Molly riehl reporter good Day Sacramento, eric Dietz, principal consultant at the California State assembly, patrick harbison united Way board Member and partner Lighthouse Public Affairs

16. Congressman ami bera and his wife Dr. Janine bera address the crowd at the united in purpose gala

Home is where memories are made—and where memories live.

Some items from our past can evoke cherished times and feelings. In today's world, minimalism is often the goal. While minimalism offers simplicity and ease in decor, it can also lack warmth.

But I’m not talking about warmth in terms of color schemes or textures—I'm referring to the warmth that memories bring into our lives.

Trends come and go, but true style isn’t defined by what's popular. It's about statement pieces that hold personal meaning.

I often dread trips to stores like HomeGoods or T.J.Maxx because all I see is stuff—repetitive vases, chairs, centerpieces, and other items that everyone seems to own.

These items lack meaning and are just temporary placeholders, discarded once the next design trend comes along.

Instead of following the crowd, it’s time to make our homes truly unique. Every item we display should have meaning and a story behind it.

Next time you're shopping for your home, consider these tips

lSkip the big box stores and avoid the status quo.

lSeek out items that tell a story.

lWhen you think of vintage or antiques, don't picture clutter. Think of statement pieces that speak to your personal journey.

Here are a few ideas to incorporate memories into your space

lA rolling pin your mom or grandmother used.

lA vintage vase that reminds you of visits to your aunt’s house.

lBookends made from a vintage toy you loved as a child.

lBooks on display that reflect your heritage or a meaningful event in your life.

It's time to bring your identity into your home. It’s time to showcase your story.

What I’ve Learned About

Forgetfulness

The first thing I’ve learned about forgetfulness is that it’s a noun, obviously it’s not a verb because there isn’t much action following someone who is forgetful. They are usually standing still asking themselves, “now where did I put my car keys?” or “what was I supposed to buy at the store?”

Forgetfulness is the consistent inability to remember. When you forget important appointments or have a memory lapse it can be aggravating and sometimes worrisome. When forgetting something happens more than it should, it can trigger fears of dementia.

But there are many things that can cause forgetfulness. One of them is a lack of sleep. In fact, experts say that not getting enough sleep is perhaps the greatest cause of forgetfulness. Additionally, too little sleep also causes mood changes and anxiety.

Medications can affect memory and make it difficult to pay close attention to new things. If you notice (when

By CT MorrisBS Elementary Ed., MS Ed.

taking a new medication) that you are having a hard time remembering, ask your doctor if there is a substitute for that medication.

But really, you're not alone. Everyone forgets things occasionally and there are simple ways to sharpen your memory.

At the top of my list for helping you r memory stay organized! As an educator of students of all ages, from college age down to 1st grade I instilled this concept into them. Why? Because you're more likely to forget things if your notes and house are in disarray. I recommend keeping tasks or appointments in two places—on your phone’s calendar and in a notebook. Keep your to-do lists up to date and check off items you've finished or rip up the note it’s on. Keep your keys, phone and wallet in the same place every time you come home.

Don't do too many things at once. Limit distractions Put Your Phone Down or silence it. If you focus on the information that you're trying to remember, you're more likely to recall it later. It also might help to connect what you're trying to remember to a favorite song or phrase.

If you are physically active it raises blood flow to the whole body, including the brain. Even if it is a few 10-minute walks throughout the day. Moreover, if you are mentally active and do activities that engage your mind, it will help prevent memory loss. Activities such as doing crossword puzzles, reading or volunteering at a local school or museum.

Spending time with others keeps depression and stress away. It’s a fact that depression and stress contribute to memory loss. Make a point to get together with loved ones and friends.

Remember that forgetfulness is a universal experience that happens to the best of us. While it’s important to take steps to remedy memory lapses, you can also find humor in those moments. I believe laughter is the best medicine, even when it comes to forgetfulness. My favorite quote, “I’m not lost, I’m just taking the scenic route to nowhere in particular.”

Spending time with others keeps depression and stress away. It’s a fact that depression and stress contribute to memory loss. Make a point to get together with loved ones and friends.

T HE Go D o F THE Woo DS

Author: Liz Moore

Book Reviews by BRENDLE WELLS

One of the best books of 2024, this an atmospheric and engrossing work of literary crime fiction about the troubled legacy of one family and their summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains. It started in 1975 with the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar. She is not the first Van Laar child to go missing. In 1961, son Bear also vanished without a trace, never to be seen again. The story of their disappearances is told in a nonlinear fashion, jumping back and forth between various moments in time and different points of view. Each lays bare the devastating legacy of damage and abuse that can be attributed to the Van Laar family, spreading far beyond the family and into the local community. Long buried secrets will be unearthed during the investigations, each of which is a piece of an intricate puzzle that will be completed on the final page. This is not only a family drama, but also an intricate portrayal of a place and time, and an absolutely gripping crime novel. Simply put, it is outstanding storytelling, and an absolute stunner of a book. It would be an excellent choice for fans of Tana French and book group members.

Riverhead Books, 2024

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Author: Onyi Nwabineli

If you are looking for a book that will fire up your book group discussion, look no further than this contemporary coming of age story set in London. Here we have Anuri, a young British-Nigerian woman who was the unwilling star of her white stepmother’s social media empire as a child. For years her every move was documented, every private moment shared with the world. It won her millions of fans and lucrative sponsorships for her stepmother, but to Anuri it came at too high of a cost. Now she is 25 and striving to live her own life. It’s not so easy though, because the internet has a long memory and the emotional damage done by living through the lens of social media can be equally extensive. Now she sees her young half-sister being led down the same path and she is determined to stop it, no matter the consequences. Anuri’s story is absolutely heartbreaking at times, but told with exquisite care and feeling, refusing to demonize any of the characters for their choices. It offers plenty of relevant issues and thought-provoking discussion points such as social media, influencer culture, mental health issues, family relationships, race, and plenty more.

Graydon House, 2024

Papilio Author/Illustrators: Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, & Andy Chou Musser

Children's

Book Reviews By JUSTIN AzEVEDO

Meet Papilio Polyxenes, a black swallowtail butterfly who is hungry for new experiences! And, well, hungry for food, too. In this picture book, three different children’s book creators tell the story of the three phases of Papilio’s life. Ben Clanton, creator of the Narwhal and Jelly books, relates Papilio’s life as an adorable caterpillar. With the help of a friendly mouse, she eats and eats until she feels very sleepy. Award-winning picture book creator Corey R. Tabor takes over for her chrysalis stage, where she contemplates how one can’t become a butterfly without becoming goo first, with her mouse friend keeping a close eye on her all the while. Finally, Andy Chou Musser stages her debut as a butterfly, trying out her wings for the first time and giving back to the mouse that was with her every step of the way. Each of the three artists bring their distinctive humor and art styles to highlight each respective section, but they fit together to tell a consistent story that also provides a scientifically accurate depiction of a butterfly’s life cycle. Backmatter at the end provides more information for young readers looking for the facts, allowing the humor of the main story to shine without distraction. A charming book that lends itself well to reading together, perfect for ages 4 to 8.

Viking Children’s Books, 2025

H EIR

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Aiz grew up in the impoverished land of Kegar, and watched as its would-be ruler slaughtered the other orphans in her cloister in a fit of pique. When a long-planned attempt to assassinate him and take her revenge goes wrong, she finds herself condemned to the most fearsome prison in Kegar. But a voice in her mind, one claiming to be the holy savior of her people, gives her the ability to escape and sends her on a quest across faraway lands with the promise of unlimited power. Sirsha, an exile from her own people, makes a living using forbidden magic to track those who don’t want to be found. A job gone wrong results in her accepting a new mission to find an unnatural killer that has been rampaging across the land, taking the lives of innocents. This path takes her to a city under siege, where Quil, the reluctant crown prince of the Martial empire, finds himself just as the Kegari launch a brutal surprise assault. Haunted by the mysterious force responsible for the murder of two of his loved ones, he and Sirsha find themselves thrown together in pursuit of a common enemy. This new book takes place in the universe of Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes fantasy series—fans of those books will be delighted to find their characters and locales well-represented here, though intricate descriptions and deft summarization make this book a good entry point for new readers, as well. The multiple character perspectives wind together into an epic and surprising conclusion, setting the stage for a sequel. High stakes, deep worldbuilding, and plenty of romance, for ages 14 and up.

Putman Publishing Group, 2024

Crime, Craft, and Community Inside the Mind of

Matt Abraham

A longtime fan of noir detective novels, Matt Abraham is known for fusing classic PI palaver with modern day derring-do to create his own, unique style of fast paced, upmarket tales that engage readers from beginning to end. As an adherent of classic three act structure, he drives each of his stories forward with snappy dialogue and gritty action which both titillates and delights at every turn.

Currently, he’s in the midst of completing two very different series. The first is a five-part, soft sci-fi detective tale which stars Dane Curse, a former villain turned PI, who solves the problems of Gold Coast City’s darkest denizens. His second, the Northland Mysteries, is set in the San Joaquin Valley and follows Detective Jake Carter and Professor of Forensic Science, Dr. Nafissa Rayan, through Northern California as they crack cases like a modern-day Holmes and Watson. His most recent novel, Old Debts, features the local duo as they face off against a serial killer who hunts Stockton’s homeless, with 5% of all royalties going to fight housing and food insecurity right here in the valley.

When he’s not writing, he’s a stay-at-home father to his children, Kal and Elliot, a dogwalker to his contentious canine, Kona, and food delivery system to the family cat, Lady Hilo Hawaii Von Snuffleton, the IV. Also, from time to time, he teaches the craft of fiction at the Haggin Museum in order to help potential authors become published ones.

He’s lived in Philadelphia, Hawai’i, Singapore, and China but proudly calls Stockton home.

W H o HAS INSPIRED Y o U AND INFLUENCED Y o UR W o RK ?

Professionally speaking, I draw my inspiration from post WWII detective novelists, or for lack of a better term, the pulp masters, and my favorites are Hammett, Chandler, and Spillane. While their genre was popular, at the time it was relegated to cheaper magazines and often looked down upon by their peers and mainstream critics. However, unlike those detractors, their works still remain relevant because of the relentless focus on dialogue and action, as well as tone and pacing, which allows their stories to engage a reader on a visceral level even today.

I especially like the way they write their protagonists, simple, straightforward, and deeply flawed.

It’s also true that these characters remain steadfast in their story goals. At no point do they waver, or jaunt off to some other B story, but rather keep themselves, and by extension, the reader, focused on the plot. It makes for a fun ride.

W HAT KIND o F boo KS D o

Y o U EN jo Y READING ?

Sadly, I have a very specific style of fiction I enjoy, and most modern authors veer, in my opinion, too far from it. Flowery prose that borders on purple, or descriptions and narration that insist upon itself never fails to lose my attention and damage my ability to invest in the story. Thus, I read mostly nonfiction. Primarily history but I also really enjoy works like Guns, Germs, and Steel or Sapiens. It’s not nearly as exciting as well-crafted fiction, but is engaging and informative nonetheless.

W HAT IS Y o UR EDUCATI o NAL

b

ACKGR o UND ?

I finished my undergrad at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, and my master’s in public administration at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy. So it can be said that my education focused on governance, politics, economics, with a little history, religion, and culture tossed in for fun. And while I haven’t used it directly in my profession, I wouldn’t trade my experiences in higher ed for anything.

Ho W AND WHEN DID Y o U DECIDE T o b EC o ME A WRITER ?

Ha! OK, I always wanted to be a writer but like so many I never bothered to make it happen. Until… It was the penultimate class of my AoL (Art of Leadership) module, and Professor Marshall had us do this class-wide exercise where we broke up into groups of six, and then were told that we were on a life raft after a disastrous plane crash over the ocean, and there were only enough rations for three of us to survive, therefore each person in the group needed to vote for which three classmates they think deserved to live, and which three deserved to die. In the beginning, there were nervous smiles and uncomfortable laughs because it was sort of weird, but Professor Marshall really drove home the seriousness of the exercise.

So we sat there for about thirty minutes, discussing with one another why we should be chosen to survive, and then took turns explaining to three of our group why their pleas went unheard. We did that. All of us. We looked into the eyes of a father or mother or son or sister that we’d known for two years and said, “I’m going to let you die to save Meredith, and here’s why…”

It was grim. People were upset. Some cried. But then Professor Marshall sprung the second part of the exercise on us, namely he was wrong and all of us died in that plane crash. Then he lowered the lights, put on some ethereal music, and guided us through our own fu-

nerals. He asked us who was there, who was crying, what we’d wear, how we’d be buried… everything. He took his time and really let us sink into the fiction in every minute detail, so we would really taste the day we were placed in the ground for eternity.

And then, and I remember this very clearly, he had one question: Now that every tomorrow we’d ever been given had been spent, and every breath we’d ever have was now breathed, now that our families would mourn us and move on, our bosses would replace us, and the world would continue without us in it, what… here at the end of our lives when it’s too late to change a thing… What is the one thing we’d wish we’d done?

Without hesitation I said, “Write a book,” and I’ve been doing it ever since.

W HAT ’ S Y o UR WRITING PR o CESS ?

Oof, my writing process is ugly. There’s a prevailing style called “The snowflake method” where you plan out everything in your novel before you even start writing. You plan out each scene and chapter, each act, each little twist. And you write down a five-page report on every single character… what their name is, where they were born, who’s their parents, and blah, blah, blah. I don’t do any of that.

I grip it and rip it.

First, I begin with my protagonist, their goal, the obstacles in their way, and the stakes (what happens when they fail). Then I come up with an inciting incident, the occurrence that kicks off the story. And then I drop him in and just watch him interact with the world, and work his way towards the climax of the book.

So this first part of the process is me, writing the story, from start to finish, with no concern for quality or continuity. It usually takes about

I draw my inspiration from post WWII detective novelists, or for lack of a better term, the pulp masters, and my favorites are Hammett, Chandler, and Spillane... I especially like the way they write their protagonists, simple, straightforward, and deeply flawed.

a month and I wind up with around 50,000 words of what can be accurately called, “pure garbage.”

And that’s when the real work starts.

Once I have a really-rough draft, I plot out each of the scenes I wrote (a scene is either proactive-goal, conflict, setback, or reactivereaction, dilemma, decision). Of these setbacks I find the three that can become my major disasters (the plot points that occur a quarter, halfway, and three quarters into the book). Then, since I know that the three acts of a story take up 25%, 50%, and 25% percent respectively, I know where I need to start filling in the story to keep it balanced, which means I need to create a whole bunch of new scenes that fit into the broader plot while still making “story sense.” So it takes about another month of willy-nilly writing and I’ll end up with about 75,000 words of what is still, “pure garbage.”

And that’s when the real work starts.

With a solid base now written, I begin polishing. This will entail cutting down the amount of characters by blending them together, fitting in foreshadowing, editing out extraneous occurrences, and amping up the tension in each scene. This is basically the broad, simple exercise of cleaning up the story. And then, once the corners are sanded off and the general tone and direction of the plot are in place, I finally have a workable, respectable rough draft.

And that’s when the real work starts. Seriously this time.

Once my rough draft is ready I read the book from cover-to-cover, taking notes for edits, and when I finish (about five days later), I make those changes to the entire novel. Then I read the whole book again, cover-to-cover, taking notes for edits, and when I finish (about five

days later) I make those changes. Then I do it again. And again. As the novel improves I keep editing, but with an added focus on phonetic errors (like fricatives, affricates, nasals, etc… this gives the writing a smoother feel). And I keep doing this. Again. And again. And again and again and again. Eventually I’ll be able to read the whole book, take notes, and edit it all, in a single day and that means I can read, take notes, and edit the whole book five times a week. And I do that, for about two or three months, so by the end of this I’ve read the whole novel from front to back about sixty or so times. Hopefully, by this point, I’ll almost be finished, which means on the final day I can read the whole book without having to make any changes. If so, then it’s finally ready. For my beta readers. So I send it out to my friends and they read it, then they give me their notes and I make those changes.

Which means now it’s finally ready! For my proofreader. I use a British woman who’s very picky and she’ll go through my manuscript and correct any misspelled words and bad punctuation (I refuse to use colons or semicolons to her chagrin), then when she returns it I’ll look through it two or three more times and if I find no errors…

Then I finally print it.

The whole process takes about a year, and by the time it’s over I don’t ever want to see the book again.

Ho W D o Y o U CREATE THE CHARACTERS F o R Y o UR boo KS ?

Do Y o U HAVE A FAV o RITE ?

It’s going to sound super weird, but I don’t really create the characters in my book, at least not in depth. I imagine them superficially of course, then figure out what they want (their goal), and then I drop them into the world. I use a lot of action and dialogue in my writing, so in short order they’ll show me the person they are, by doing and saying what comes naturally.

Now, there’s definitely some editing and tweaking on my part, so my characters will evolve as I write and edit, but they’re always rooted in what they want. Their goals. Their motivation. And of course their flaws. I can’t stand a perfect hero, there’s nothing to cheer for, to identify with. So yeah, I create a person with their desires intact and how far they’re willing to go to achieve them, then drop them into my milieu and watch.

My favorite by far is Dane Curse. A former black cape turned PI, he was once a former super villain who now works cases for the denizens he once was counted among because when those people need a hand, there’s no one to help. “Sometimes,” he says, “even the unjust deserve a little justice.”

Ho W D o Y o U FEEL A bo UT Y o UR boo KS AFTER Y o U ’ RE D o NE WRITING THEM ?

Since you’ve already read about my process you won’t be surprised that I have a tremendous amount of pride in my work, but I never want

Nothing takes the place of a good writers group. o ther professionals, who know your style, and can give you vital feedback on how to fix issues and improve your prose. Listen to them!

to read it again once it’s done. There are certain scenes where I think I turned an excellent phrase, or some dialogue I’m especially proud of, and I’ll occasionally revisit these parts, but I can’t read the whole thing. In fact, whenever I read the first sentence of one of my books my palms start to sweat and all I think of is, “Good Lord, not again.” But that level of familiarity means I’m very confident that my readers will absolutely love the ride!

W HAT ADVICE W o ULD Y o U GIVE ASPIRING WRITERS ?

1. L EARN THE CRAFT !

If a person said they want to be a professional ballerina you’d be surprised if they never took a dance lesson. If that same person wanted to be a professional jazz pianist you’d expect them to be able to read music. That’s because these two areas have objective quality. Sure, maybe you don’t like ballet or jazz, but the people who perform it are talented regardless of your opinion.

Well, writing fiction is the same thing. There is objectively good fiction, and objectively bad fiction, and the quality of one's work stands separate from the reader’s opinion. You can’t just start writing and succeed. Understanding dialogue, action, narration, flashback, and description is vital. Knowing what an MRU is and how they’re formed is vital. Knowing scene construction is vital. And of course being able to fit it all into an 80K word novel in a three act story structure is vital.

That’s not to say I believe every story should be the same, far from it. Just because a person knows and applies the tools of fiction doesn’t mean they can’t add their own flair and style. It’s just like music, the same notes can be arranged to create starkly different genres, but understanding the notes is vital. So too is it necessary to use proper writing techniques if one wishes to more effectively manipulate the reader’s emotions to put them in a pleasant state of tension.

2. j o IN A WRITERS ’ GR o UP !

Beta readers who don’t know anything about fiction are important because they provide an accurate cross-section of your market. They don’t know why they like something, they just know they like it, and if you please them, there’s

a good chance you’ll please others. But nothing takes the place of a good writers group. Other professionals, who know your style, and can give you vital feedback on how to fix issues and improve your prose. Listen to them! Also, having a monthly meeting where you present your work is a great way to keep to a deadline which will allow you to be more productive and keeps you on schedule for your inevitable publication.

3. A SSUME Y o UR READERS ARE SMARTER THAN Y o U ARE .

I won’t expand on this much, but I don’t just assume my readers are smarter than me, I know they are. I know this because when I’m reading, they’re reading, and when I’m writing, they’re reading. They’re coming to my story with thousands of hours of experience, and if I want to thrill them it’ll take every bit of my creativity, focus, and hard work. So I work as hard as I can, because I know if I don’t they’ll see right through me, and my readers deserve better.

4. C L o SE EN o UGH IS N o T G oo D EN o UGH

.

Do not publish until you know you’ve done your best. Every moment of your life is a gem beyond price. Some of those gems are big, some small, some basic, others multi-faceted, but they’re all valuable. Your readers are spending those gems, those moments, reading your story. They’re spending minutes and hours of their life that they’ll never get back. That’s a sacred thing, and if they’re willing to do that, to breathe life into our characters, and give us a small space in their imaginations, then they deserve our absolute best. Anything less is an insult.

5. H IRE A PR o FESSI o NAL EDIT o R AND C o VER CREAT o R AND LISTEN T o THEM !

I used to have a bad habit of second guessing my artist, but that’s all stopped. When my editor tells me something I listen. When my artist makes a suggestion, I take it. If you want a professional product, find a professional you admire, and listen to their advice. You will never regret it.

Beyond the Page

Creative and Non-Traditional Book Club Ideas

Have you ever wanted to start or join a book club?

There’s something uniquely enjoyable about gathering with others to discuss a shared interest—books! While it can sometimes be hard to find the right group, joining a book club creates a space where everyone is, quite literally, on the same page (pun intended).

The traditional book club—pick a book, read it in a month, discuss—is always a solid option. But if you’re craving something with a little more flair, there are countless non-traditional ways to build a book-loving community that reflects your personality and passions.

Let’s explore some creative twists on the classic format

A Twist on Tradition

S ILENT b oo K C LU b S

Meet up, pick a cozy spot, and read in silence for a set period of time. Afterward, those who want to can share what they’re reading. It can be the same assigned book or a title of each member’s choice. This lowpressure format is perfect for introverts or those craving quiet companionship.

P ICK A T HEME

Choose a theme—like “family,” “resilience,” or “space travel.” Each member selects a book related to that theme. It could be a biography, nonfiction, or fiction title. The options are endless, and the variety adds richness to the discussion. This is also a fantastic way to deepen your understanding of a topic from multiple perspectives.

C H oo SE Yo UR oWN A DVENTURE

Everyone picks a different book they want to read. When you meet, each person shares favorite moments, critiques, or author discoveries. It’s a great way to broaden your reading horizons and get to know your fellow readers’ tastes and personalities.

Focused Formats

A UTH o R S P o TLIGHT

As a group, select an author and let each member choose a different book by them. It’s a deep dive into the writer’s style and evolution. If you're exploring a prolific or classic author, you might opt to read the same book instead. For spoiler-sensitive

readers, consider establishing a “no plot reveals” rule for your discussions.

A RTIST M ASTERPIECE C LU b

Choose a visual artist, and each member finds a book related to them—be it a biography, a historical novel, or an art technique guide. Then, during your meetup, bring paints and canvas and try creating something inspired by that artist’s style. You’ll learn about both the person and the practice.

B OO k-TO -F I lm Clu B

Pick a book with a film adaptation. After reading, either watch the movie together or on your own, and then discuss both versions. Which was better—the book or the movie? (We all know the answer, but it’s still fun to debate.)

Books That Nourish Body & Soul

H EALTHIER Yo U C LU b

Interested in wellness? Pick a topic—like sleep, nutrition, or mental health—and have each member choose a related book. At the next meeting, everyone shares insights and takeaways. You can even include outside input, like advice from a professional or someone with personal experience.

Coo K boo K So CIAL

Each member selects a cookbook and prepares one dish to bring to the meeting, or choose a shared cookbook and divide the

recipes. No repeats! Discuss what worked, what didn’t, and what you learned. Don’t forget take-out containers so everyone can enjoy leftovers.

A DD F UN & F LAV o R

Want to spice up your meetings? Try adding a themed snack or beverage based on your book’s setting, era, or characters. Reading about Picasso? Bring a bold Spanish red wine. Exploring Victorian England? Host a tea party with finger sandwiches and scones.

If doing this every time sounds like a lot, plan one annual celebration instead. Have everyone come dressed as their favorite character, bringing a dish or item inspired by their top book of the year. Encourage attendees to act the part—it’s all about having fun with the stories that moved you. You can even swap themed gifts!

Make It Yours

Book clubs should be something you look forward to. If your theme starts to feel stale, switch it up! Reading and discussing books should be a joy, not a chore. Whether you meet over tea or wine, in person or online, in silence or in character—make it an experience that reflects your love of reading and your community.

So go ahead—start that book club. Just don’t be afraid to break the mold.

Elk Grove Fine Arts Center Brings Art to Life in Old Town

The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center once again lit up Historic Main Street with its fourth annual Elk Grove Festival of the Arts. Old Town was alive with music, color, and creativity as more than 40 local artists and three live bands showcased their talents.

In collaboration with the City of Elk Grove, the Fine Arts Center successfully highlighted the richness of our local art scene, from seasoned professionals to emerging student artists. The festival was not just a celebration, it was a com munity experience that brought people together through the power of art.

In the spirit of spotlighting local talent, we took the opportunity to ask some of the participating artists a few questions to learn more about their creative jour

Q&A Freddy Santana

A RT E DUCAT o R & C ERAMIC A RTIST

Website Freddysantana.com

Instagram @santanaceramics

Email santanaceramics@gmail.com

What sparked your passion for art, and how did it lead you into teaching?

My passion for art was sparked by my late high school ceramics teacher Dave Kent. He was a larger-than-life personality at Elk Grove High School. He taught me so much in ceramics and opened doors for me after high school. He said to me “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.”

What artistic mediums do you enjoy working with, and how do you incorporate them into your teaching?

My main medium is ceramics. Currently the work I have been putting into competitions and galleries has been pottery created with the potter’s wheel. I also enjoy creating ceramic sculpture. Over the past six years I have been submitting my work into competitions regionally and nationally – most recently in the Off Center international Competition 2025 at the Blue Line Art Gallery in Roseville and Feats of Clay National Competition at the Art League of Lincoln. I have been encouraging my students to enter their artwork into regional and national art competitions as well. Recently, I have had students accepted into the On the Rise art competition for high school and college students at the Blue Line Art Gallery in Roseville. The pride and excitement on my students’ faces when they are accepted is a highlight for me.

In your experience, how does art education support the personal and academic development of students?

My philosophy in arts education is about nurturing a creative mindset in my students. I usually have around 200 students in my art classes a year. My goal for them is to be creative in any field they choose to go into. History shows that a creative mindset fosters innovation in any field of study.

What role do you think the arts play in building a strong, connected school community?

In a strong, connected school community like the one we have in the Laguna region in Elk Grove the arts such as music, theater, visual arts, and choir bring people from everywhere together. Bringing students and community members together for culturally, intellectually, and socially around performances and shows. Students from different backgrounds who may not normally cross paths come together and find life long friendships.

What advice would you give to young artists navigating their creative journey, both in and outside of school?

For young artists, I want them to be influenced by the past but not limited by the past. I want young artists to look to past artists and art movements and take those ideas and interpret them in their own modern context or voice. I want them to talk about what’s relevant to them and their generation.

Linda Nunes

MI x ED MEDIA

Website

www.LindaNunesArt.com

Instagram @linda.nunes1

Email

Info@LindaNunesArt.com

Phone 916.833.8030

How and when did your journey with art begin?

Like most artists, I've been creative as far back as I can remember. My dad was a great encourager - always buying fun artsy Christmas and birthday gifts (paint by number sets, paper dolls, weaving kits). He even tried to teach me to crochet once. I was always encouraged and free to use my imagination. My mom taught me at a preteen age to sew. I loved it and took every high school sewing or art class I could get into. I started an art education once I finished high school, but life had other plans. Once our children finished college it was finally my turn to go back to school. I received my art degree from Sac State in 2007. My husband played a big part in that. Once I graduated I hit the ground running and never looked back. I've been a full time working mixed media artist ever since.

What mediums do you primarily work with, and why are you drawn to them?

I've worked in several media over the years. I worked in paper arts many years ago creating handmade cards or collage. I spent a short time working with watercolor and pastels. Following that I worked strictly with acrylic and mixed media for ten years. I loved the flexibility of acrylic and how it could be applied to mimic other media.

I discovered encaustic (a combo of beeswax and resin) while still in college and that became my home for the last 20 years. I love introducing this medium through various local group encaustic workshops. The best part of working with encaustic is that it's compatible with almost everything I had already worked with - taking me full circle. Encaustic is unique, luminous and an ancient medium dating back to the first century BC. Fire or heat are part of the process in layering this molten wax combination, while working under, within layers or on top of the wax.

Who is your favorite artist, past or present, and what do you admire about their work?

Regarding past artists, there's William de Kooning and Joan Miro - both created fiercely moving abstract work. There's the 1940s and 50s encaustic work by Jasper Johns, who's considered the father of today's encaustic art. Today, there are so many wonderful artists that inspire my abstract or surreal work. Here are a few current artists that I love: Michelle Andres (oil) Sarah Post (cold wax & oil), some of my encaustic heroes include: Mira White and my mentor, Charlotte Cooper. Not all of these are abstract artists, but viewing their work just makes my heart so happy.

What role do you believe art plays in shaping a community?

It's impossible to have a healthy community without the arts. Visual arts can provide a sense of place, and a community with new experiences, a celebration of a new way of seeing and thinking about things. It can bring beauty and raise the quality of life to urban spaces, raising self-esteem while encouraging skill and self-expression. I really believe that the arts create a sense of belonging in a community.

What advice would you give to emerging artists just starting out?

Do what you love and don't stop. Find resources that will help your art to grow: books, workshops, conversa tions with artists. If you want to make art, you must see art. Visit art fests, galleries, museums. Don't listen to that negative voice in your head. Look for opportunities. Be grateful for every day that you get to create and do some thing that you love.

Kathryn Mayo

A RT E DUCAT o R , P H o T o GRAPHER , & C ERAMIC A RTIST

Instagram @no._5_studio

Email kjmwinter@gmail.com

Ho W AND WHEN DID Y o UR jo URNEY WITH ART b EGIN ?

My journey with art began in childhood. I was lucky to come from a creative family. My grandmother encouraged creativity and I can remember making the most interesting things with her by my side. I was always drawing, making things, and experimenting with whatever materials I could find. While I never had an opportunity to take art classes before I got to college, I was very lucky to have the opportunity to study art in college. That was where I discovered photography and ceramics. The act of creating shifted from something to pass the time to a language I could use to process the world and express myself in meaningful ways.

W HAT MEDIUMS D o Y o U PRIMARILY W o RK WITH , AND WHY ARE Y o U DRAWN T o THEM ?

Today, I primarily work with antique photographic and alternative processes and handbuilt ceramics. Photography allows me to engage with light, time, and narrative—whether in the studio, darkroom, or outdoors. I’m especially drawn to creating images that explore identity, memory, and place. Handbuilding with clay is a very similar experience to working with antique photographic processes: it's tactile, slow, and grounding. The transformation from raw clay to fired form feels magical every time.

W H o IS Y o UR FAV o RITE ARTIST, PAST o R PRESENT, AND WHAT D o Y o U ADMIRE A bo UT THEIR W o RK ?

It’s difficult to choose a favorite artist, but I often return to the work of Andrew Wyeth. His work is intimate, poetic and soulful. I admire how he weaves narrative, a sense of place and a nod to history into his work.

W HAT R o LE D o Y o U b ELIEVE ART PLAYS IN SHAPING A C o MMUNITY ?

I believe art plays a vital role in shaping community by offering space for dialogue, reflection, and imagination. It allows us to connect across our differences, to honor heritage, and to envision new futures. In a time when so much feels divided or transactional, art can remind us of our shared humanity and our capacity to make meaning together.

W HAT ADVICE W o ULD Y o U GIVE T o EMERGING ARTISTS j UST STARTING o UT ?

To emerging artists, I’d say: trust your instincts and trust your process. Work intuitively and make work for yourself. There’s really no one right way to be an artist as long as you stay curious. Make the work that feels honest to you, even if it doesn’t fit a trend. Find community— whether through classes, shows, or social media—and support other artists as much as you seek support yourself. Most importantly, keep going. Growth doesn’t happen in a straight line, but every piece you make teaches you something. I am still growing and hopefully will continue to grow with each day I make art.

Coping with

Seasonal Allergies

They are the telltale signs of allergy season – the itchy, watery eyes, the sniffling, the sneezing, and the scratchy throat. For some, allergy season is the most dreaded time of the year.

During the spring, trees and grasses stir to life in the Sacramento region, releasing their pollen that can trigger allergies.

It is difficult to predict how a particular person will do with each allergy season. What may be a bad season for one person, can be a tolerable season for another depending on sensitivities and exposures.

What are allergies?

Allergies stem from the body's immune system. During an allergic reaction, the immune system mistakes a harmless substance, like pollen, as a harmful invader and produces antibodies against that substance. These antibodies lead to the release of chemicals like histamine, which produce the allergy symptoms.

Children often have a difficult time dealing with the effects of allergies and expressing how their allergies make them feel. It is not clear why some children develop allergies, and others do not. However, more people are suffering from allergies. Genetics play a role in the development of allergies, in addition to the different exposures that the immune system experiences during its development.

It can be tough to distinguish between allergies and a common cold, as they both tend to have similar symptoms. Typically, colds develop over several days, then gradually improve over a week to 10 days. Allergies begin shortly after an exposure, such as to pollens, and will last as long as that exposure is around. Also, allergies usually happen around the same time every year, with

spring being most common because trees and grasses are pollinating, sending billions of tiny pollen particles into the air.

What can you do to treat allergies?

The three main ways to treat seasonal allergies: avoiding triggers, over-the-counter medications, and allergy shots (immunotherapy).

Avoiding allergy triggers is not always easy to do. But limiting outdoor activity especially on windy days can help limit the effects of pollen circulation. Keeping windows closed, changing clothes, and showering after spending time outdoors can also help reduce the amount of pollen that makes it indoors.

By Marc Ikeda, MD, chief of allergy for Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento

Watch for symptoms and track when they occur. If allergies are a problem, talk with your doctor to create a personalized treatment plan to reduce symptoms and help you lead a healthy, active life.

One trigger people may not consider – their pets. Allergens can travel indoors on your pet’s fur. So, if your dog, for instance, has spent time outdoors, wipe them down with a towel or bathe them before they come inside.

Most of the medicines that are used to treat bothersome allergy symptoms are now available over the counter. They come in the form of pills or liquids taken orally. There are also nasal sprays and eye drops. Over-the-counter medications can cause possible side effects, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist if there are any questions regarding a particular medication.

Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, can also help with seasonal allergies. With immunotherapy, the body is exposed to things that it is allergic to, such as pollen, regularly and over the course of several years. After months of repeated exposure, the body develops a tolerance, and no longer overreacts to these allergens, reducing allergy symptoms.

Watch for symptoms and track when they occur. If allergies are a problem, talk with your doctor to create a personalized treatment plan to reduce symptoms and help you lead a healthy, active life.

Marc Ikeda, MD, has been with Kaiser Permanente since 2013. He is the chief of allergy at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center

b rain Fog? Mental Fatigue? Forgetting More?

New Scientific Studies Show "BDNF" is the "missing link" for a Sharper Mind and a Younger body

Written By Jim Caras - Sponsored by Dianna Singh, Owner of Elk Grove Vitamins

You’re too young for “Senior moments." You forget where you put things. You can't remember people's names. Your focus is scattered. Learning new things is difficult. And you don't have the mental energy you used to. You're just....not like you used to be.

BUT WHAT IF you could fix all these problems with JUST ONE THING. And, at the same time you could improve your skin, gut and heart health - and even reduce your food cravings.

If this sounds too good to be true - good news - it's not. Science says YES - increasing your "BDNF" can change your brain, body, and life.

In fact, BDNF is so promising that TIME magazine reported that it can "give people the cognitive reserves... to counteract any damage that's occurring (in the brain] and minimize its effects," and "protect people against the (damages) that are likely accumulating in nearly all people as we grow older."

Finally, a new nutritional innovation by an American company makes boosting your BDNF levels safe, quick, and easy - and without lifestyle changes or drugs.

What Is b DNF and Why Is It S o Important?

This may be the first time you've heard of BDNF, but it won't be the last.

BDNF, short for "BrainDerived Neurotrophic Factor," is a protein essential for memory and learning.

BDNF works like "Miracle-Gro®" for your brain. It signals stem cells in your brain to

create new brain cells, protects and rejuvenates existing ones, and strengthens the connections between them.

Scientific study after study shows that high BDNF levels help your mind and body stay healthy as you age. They also show that you really don't want to have low BDNF...

b DNF Levels Decline with Age

Your body produces BDNF abundantly when you're young. This is why your mind is sharp, you easily learn new things, and your body is healthy.

Your BDNF levels start declining around the age of 30. And this loss accelerates as you get olderwith levels dropping up to 5% per year.

For women, research shows that menopause also lowers BDNF.

This decline leads to "fuzzy" memories, and forgetfulness, brain fog, difficulty learning, mental

health} Elk Grov E v itamins

fatigue, mood issues, and an inability to focus. And even worse, all your organs can suffer as BDNF occurs throughout your body.

Low levels of BDNF can be serious as they are also associated with ac celerated aging, obesity, blood sugar complications, and advanced brain and memory problems.

For years, we've accepted all this as "just getting old," but it's likely a sign of low BDNF in many cases.

Immediate Mental Clarity and Energy

Research shows the most com mon causes of mental fatiguestress, poor sleep and diet, daily work and life events, and illness - burn up your BDNF.

BDNF also helps regulate glucose, which your brain uses as fuel. So, as your BDNF levels drop, your use of glucose becomes less effi cient. This slows down your brain and leads to mental fatigue and exhaustion.

The good news is that clinical studies show increasing BDNF levels can boost mental energy and alertness immediately.

AminoMind ® Nootropic Collagen

A Sharper Memory in 7 Days!

To "make" memories and remember them, we need to create new brain cells, grow new connections, and reorganize their structure (called neuroplasticity). These are BDNF's primary functions.

In fact, science shows that the more BDNF you have, the better your memory and learning capabilities will be.

• A study in the journal Alzheimer's Dementia showed that BDNF helped improve memory and cognitive performance in older adults.

• A meta-analysis of BDNF studies in Frontiers and Cellular Neuroscience shows that age-related memory decline results from decreased BDNF and its subsequent effect on neuroplasticity.

• A double-blind, placebo-controlled study with adults with mild cognitive decline showed a 27% improvement in memory within 7 days when increasing BDNF levels.

What AminoMind Can Do For You With o ne Tablespoon Per Day...

M o RE b DNF IN 60 m IN u TES*

SHARPER MEM o RY IN 7 DAYS*

FASTE r r EACTION TI m ES*

FASTE r l EA r NING*

P lu S I mm EDIATE* MENTAL FATIGUE ALERTNESS

"... rEVE r SES B r AIN AGING BY 3+ YEA r S IN 4 WEE kS"*

b ye b ye b rain Fog...

Brain fog is the frustrating inability to think clearly while experiencing mental fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

New research has identified impaired brain cell activity, inflammation levels, and neurotransmitter imbalances as causes of brain fog. And guess what? BDNF regulates every single one of these.

Studies show that boosting BDNF levels improves thinking, attention, and alertness, while decreasing mental fatigue.*

Learn New Things Easily, React Faster

Have you ever wondered why children learn and retain things so easily and have faster reaction times? One reason is their high levels of BDNF.

Learning combines short and long-term memory making. Reaction time is a spedup version of learning. Both require new

AMIN o MIND IS P o WERED b Y

Colla b rain Dipeptides

CollaBrain's high potency "prohyp" and "hyp-gly" dipeptides are the only collagen clinically proven to improve brain health. They are 30X stronger than ordinary powdered collagen.*

Coffeeberry Extract

This a patented, standardized coffeeberry backed by four human clinical trials. It's proven to increase BDNF and rejuvenate the areas of your brain that influence memory and healthy brain function.*

L-Citrulline and L-Tryptophan

These amino acids amplify BDNF by improving circulation and neurotransmitter formation.*

brain cells and connections between brain regions. BDNF is critical here.

One study using supplementation to increase BDNF shows an immediate improvement in reaction times, accuracy, and in learning after just 7 days.

b DNF's Whole- b ody b enefits

BDNF is also found in your heart, spleen, gut, and liver. Your bladder, lungs, and colon have even more BDNF than your brain! Outside your brain, BDNF plays a vital role body-wide in areas like:

• Skin Health: BDNF is produced by skin cells and helps regulate skin health. In a meta-analysis, researchers found BDNF affects growth factors and other cells that promote skin growth and repair.*

• Weight Loss: Multiple studies show that overweight adults have low levels of BDNF. BDNF influences leptin, the hormone that

New research has identified impaired brain cell activity, inflammation levels, and neurotransmitter imbalances as causes of brain fog. And guess what? b DNF regulates every single one of these.

controls feeling full and cravings, and regulates glucose metabolism, which affects fat storage.*

• Healthy Blood Sugar Levels: BDNF regulates your glucose metabolism. One study shows it improves blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity.*

• Heart Health: BDNF helps form and maintain heart tissue and new blood vessels. It also has a role in healthy cholesterol and lipid levels.*

• Gut Health: BDNF regulates your microbiome and helps build the protective mucosal lining in the intestines. It's also essential to the Gut-Brain Axis.*

b DNF b oosting Nutrients Finally Available...

While many brain and memory health supplements are available, they don't address the primary issue of brainaging: a decline in BDNF.

Previous attempts to increase BDNF with supplements have failed - until now.

Health Direct ® , which introduced collagen to the public over 25 years ago with the first medical-grade liquid collagen AminoSculpt ® , just released the first clinicallyproven supplement to boost BDNF and build your brain: AminoMind ®.

Finally, the vast and exciting health benefits of BDNF are easily and safely attainable by everyone.

Jim Caras has been an industry leader in collagen for over 25 years. He's a published author in the field of anti-aging health. By Inspired Health Publishing, LLC

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Miracle-Gro® is a registered trademark of OMS Investments, Inc. AminoMind® is a registered trademark of Innovative Health Products, LLC.

Stop by Elk Grove Vitamins to find out more about these products and many more. We have a knowledgeable staff that can answer your questions. We'd like to help you get started on the path to health. Visit us at 9647 E. Stockton Blvd. Elk Grove.

Elk Grove Bank Robbery in 1928

By Louis Silveira, Elk Grove Historical Society -

The first bank built in Elk Grove was, “The Bank of Elk Grove” built in 1910. The building is still in existence but now it is a retail store. It is located on the east side of the railroad tracks and is the first building after the new Old Town Plaza on the south side of Elk Grove Boulevard that was called Main Street at that time. The façade of the building, and the Odd Fellow Hall down the street were used in the 1983 Ann Margaret movie, “Who Will Love My Children?” It was sold to the Bank of Italy in 1928 and within a year bought by Bank of America.

In 1928, brandishing revolvers, and with faces partly covered by handkerchiefs, two bandits forced three employees and three customers in the Elk grove bank into a back room off the lobby, looted cash drawers and vault for $8,200.00 and escaped in a waiting automobile.

Charles H. Copper, manager of the bank, george Tavernar, member of the board of directors, and William smith, teller were first taken behind one of the bank cages, where Tavernar was forced to turn over the keys to the cash drawer. One of the bandits began scooping up the currency and gold while the other guarded the employees and three clients, Mrs. Raymond Baker, Davis Coons, and Frank Downing.

The entire transaction was carried out with military precision as the bandits leisurely conversed with bank employees, explaining the object of the robbery and demanding the keys to the vault. The bandits were roughly dressed, described as mechanics’ greasy coveralls, and went about their outlined task while a third member of the group waited outside in a running vehicle.

As the man with the canvas moneysack hurried toward the door, the other followed and both men

leaped into a waiting automobile parked in front of the entrance with the motor running.

The bandits turned their car around at the corner, returned to pick up their look out and drove toward the Elk grove picnic grounds, where a fourth member at the wheel of a bigger car prepared for the final escape.

Soon after the bandits departed, Coons and Downing followed and told authorities they arrived within distance of seeing the bandits change cars. The pursuers’ machine ran out of gas at that point and were unable to continue the pursuit. They said they stood by to notice two of the men apparently changing clothes in the rear seat of the fleeing car.

sherriff Ellis Jones and deputy sherriff Charles Ogle and Jess hurried to the scene of the holdup and scoured the district the men were to drive over, while telephone appeal was sent to stockton and nearby towns to head off the fugitives.

Photos courtesy of Elk Grove Historical Society

history} b ank r obbery

The mud-spattered Hudson Sedan bearing a foreign license plate only in the front that was used in the holdup was stolen from Seventh and G Streets, Sacramento, and registered to W.H. Beskeen, 170 Redding Avenue, was abandoned by the three, who entered the planted machine.

Officials of the police department and sheriff’s office are strong in the belief that the fugitives have their lair in sacramento, from where they steal out to prey upon their victims, and then cleverly evading pursuit of the posse, enter the city again by roundabout way and go into hiding until the heat of the chase dies down.

D ESCRIPTI o N o F THE R obb ERS WERE …

No.1 – Weight 145 lbs., height 5’ 5”; age 3233; complexion dark; medium build, bushy eyebrows. Dressed in a dark brown suit and gray hat. This bandit did all the talking during the robbery. His manner was cool. (Later identified as george Nelson)

No.2 – Weight 145 lbs., Height 6’ 1”; age 2527; slender build; light complexion. Dressed in light suit and gray hat. seemed very nervous. (Later identified as James sullivan)

The driver seemed very tall and light completion with blonde hair and slouched with a hat.

No.3 – Remained at the wheel of a car parked at the curb in front of the bank and employees were unable to get a description of the individual. The driver seemed very tall and light completion with blonde hair and slouched with a hat.

Four months later on June 6, 1928, ex-convicts george F. Nelson and James sullivan were arrested in Phoenix, Arizona on drug charges. After searching their car and belongings they found fliers of the description of the Courtland robbery suspects. They then contacted the sacramento police, and they were arraigned in sacramento on June 15th. They were convicted on July 28th after seven minutes of deliberation and sentenced to 5 years to life for the robbery.

In Phoenix they were found with two women, but there are no records as to what happened to them or any other robbers, begging the question that the other assailants may have been the women?

It was found later that three robbers had first entered the Walnut grove Bank at 10:30 and were there until 2:30, but because of the large crowds of patrons

they finally gave up and at 2:40 they held up the Courtland bank just before it closed. Two men came in while a third waited in a running car. As they fled, they were shot at four times and all missed. Next stop: Elk grove.

They were sentenced only for the Courtland robbery because they didn’t wear any masks and were easily identified by employees, but in the Elk Grove robbery they wore masks and staff were confused with certainty on identification.

George Nelson

James Sullivan

Bank of America - (Circa 1950 photo)