Arden Park Social Magazine -June 2023

Photo by Marilena Kalfountzos Photography

Business Partner Index

Attorney - Estate, Trusts, Wills

Law Offices of Colin T. Smith

Colin Smith (916) 563-7140 colintsmithlaw.com

Attorney - Family Law

Porrino Law, PC (916) 905-1521 porrinolaw.com

Barber Sacred Barbers (916) 719-0570 Sacredbarbers.com

Clothing Boutique

Pomegranate Boutique (916) 476-5533 thepomegranateboutique.com

Concrete

Zentner Construction (916) 869-1586

Dentist

Arden Arcade Dental (916) 972-8547 ardenarcadedental.com

Dentist

Scripps Family Dental (916) 929-1156 scrippsfamilydental.com

Drywall Wall Refinish LLC (916) 205-8740

Esthetician

MM Beauty (916) 520-9310 morganmerrillbeauty.com

Glass Specialist

B&G Glass Specialties Inc (916) 452-4652 bandgglass.com

Health & Wellness

HolSelf (916) 249-7334 holself.com

House Cleaning

Let’s Go Cleaning (916) 695-9080

Insurance

Farmer’s Insurance

Kevin Guinn (916) 453-2910 agents.farmers.com/ca/ sacramento/kevin-guinn

Insurance

State Farm

Michael Yee (916) 484-4494 michaelyeeinsurance.net

Interior Design

Elizabeth C Style

Elizabeth Comstock (916) 873-4586 ElizabethCStyle.com

Junk Removal Junkaway Inc (916) 900-8535 junkawaysac.com

Mortgage Broker KMG

Ted Kappel (916) 416-5626 kmgloan.com

Mortgage Broker Westshore Mortgage

Matthew Cole (530) 682-4092 westshoremtg.com

Pediatric Dentist

Lisa Nielson Laptalo DMD (916) 221-4321 laptalodmd.com

Photographer

Marilena Kalfountzos

Photography (916) 410-1519 IG: @marilenak.photography

Plumbing

Drain Pros (916) 907-3101 drainprossacramento.com

Professional Lawn Tree & Shrub Care

Liquid Landscape Services (916) 717-5616 liquidlandscapeservices.com

Real Estate - Residential

Coldwell Banker

Tim Comstock (916) 548-7102 timcomstockrealestate.com

Real Estate - Residential Coldwell Banker

Tom Phillips (916) 799-4571 tomphillipsteam.com

Real Estate - Residential Remax - GRAY GROUP

REAL ESTATE

Dana Gray (916) 247-2349 danagray.remax.com

Restaurant Plan B Restaurant (916) 483-3000 planbrestaurant-arden.com

Swim School Little Whale Swim School (916) 790-5945 littlewhaleswim.com

Fitness Studio

Urban Flex & Flow (916) 425-2924 urbanflexandflow.com

Funeral Home

Lombard Funeral Home (916) 483-3297 dignitymemorial.com

Orthodontist

Szymanowski Orthodontics (916) 993-4171 drdamonsmiles.com

Painter Alpha Painting (916) 995- 9227

Veterinarian

El Camino Veterinary Hospital (916) 488-6878 elcaminovethospital.com

Expert Contributors

LISA LAPTALO

Pediatric Dentist • Lisa Nielson Laptalo DMD

Dr. Laptalo is a native of Arden Park. She established her pediatric dental practice in the neighborhood in 2010, where she has enjoyed seeing many of the kids of her former classmates from Mariemont, Arden, and Rio! Outside the office, she and her husband love playing chauffeur to their three young daughters.

ELIZABETH COMSTOCK

Interior Design • Elizabeth C Style Interior Design

Elizabeth Comstock is the founder of Elizabeth C. Style Interior Design. Elizabeth is a wife, mom of two and was born and raised in Sacramento. Her design aesthetic is somewhere between traditional and contemporary, with a focus on casual luxury that functions with ease.

STELLA MANUKYAN & ARAXIA OHANESIAN

Clothing Boutique • Pomegranate Boutique

We are Stella and Araxia, two sisters, who were tired of not being able to find the style of clothing we needed to fit our multifaceted lives as mothers, working professionals, and unique individuals, who love to be confident and comfortable going out with our friends and husbands. We curated our boutique to provide our customers with community, as well as a place to get personally styled. We pride ourselves with providing Sacramento with unique, personal, affordable, and ethically sourced clothing.

DOMINIC PORRINO

Law • Porrino Law PC

Dominic, a Northern California native, has lived in Sacramento for 12 years. He is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law and has been practicing family law for over 16 years. He combines his legal expertise with a bachelor’s degree in psychology to offer his clients informed, professional representation coupled with empathy and understanding. Dominic is a dedicated husband and proud father of two, and enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, gardening, and spending time with his family.

TOM PHILLIPS

Real Estate - Residential • Coldwell Banker

Tom grew up in the greater Sacramento area, he even stayed local after graduation and attended Sac State. He was raised here, graduated here, and bought here. He not only knows Sacramento, he loves it.

KEVIN GUINN

Insurance • Farmers Insurance

After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Kevin and his wife Rachel moved to her hometown of Sacramento. In 2007, he joined Farmers Insurance as an insurance and financial services agent. He loves giving his clients peace of mind and helping them with their financial future.

ZACK MORGAN

Veterinarian • El Camino Veterinary Hospital

After spending many of his early years caring for a variety of family pets, local Zack Morgan opened El Camino Veterinary Hospital, which is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association and is a full-service small animal hospital. They provide in-house labs, digital radiography, surgical and dental suites, an isolation ward, and an intensive care unit for their patients.

DR. DAMON SZYMANOWSKI

Orthodontics • Szymanowski Orthodontics

A Jesuit High School graduate and devoted father of three, Dr. Damon Szymanowski earned a degree in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley. While attending Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, he met many life-long friends and colleagues, including a very special friend—his wife Alison. After completing his two-year postgraduate training in orthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Damon was happy to return to his roots - to his hometown of Sacramento in 2006.

MARIN DEEN WILSON

Health & Wellness • HolSelf

Marin Deen Wilson, owner of Marin Design Co., is an influential Sacramento-based designer who became fascinated with designing a wellness lounge after visiting several wellness facilities in Southern California. Physical and mental wellness are pillars for her and her family which was the driving force in the creation of HolSelf. She believes your environment is a large contributor to both of those pillars. Marin wants to share her love for design and wellness with the Sacramento community and believes HolSelf flawlessly fuses the two.

Happy June Arden Park! It’s officially summer! We have so much to be thankful for, spending our summers in this wonderful neighborhood. Sunshine, pool parties, slip n’ slides, BBQ’s, Arden Park events, kids on break riding their bikes, summer camps, ice cream trucks cruising our streets, home grown tomatoes; am soaking it all in!

This month is loaded with holidays and celebrations for many people, and we would like to wish a happy Pride month, Juneteenth, and Father’s Day for those who celebrate!

As you all know, I’ve been working to grow and expand our magazine since started in this position last fall. This month, we have added a new feature to the magazine called “Rad Rides” where we will feature awesome cars in the neighborhood, so make sure to check it out! Please also note our new resident contributor, Shelly Gantenbein of The Suburban Kitchen, (you can follow her page on Facebook). Shelly is a wealth of knowledge regarding cooking and gardening, and she has generously offered to contribute content. Don’t miss her recipe and gardening tip in this issue!

would also like to give a shout out to some new advertising partners: First, Szymanowski Orthodontics by Dr. Damon Szymanowski; well-known and highly respected within the Arden Park community as the top choice for Orthodontics. Dr. Damon has joined on as Expert Contributor, and we are looking forward to hearing from him. Second is Let’s Go Cleaning, owned by Adelia, who immigrated here from Brazil five years ago. She is an Arden Park resident, and phenomenal person, with a skilled cleaning team behind her. Coming in third, I’d like to welcome Urban Flex & Flow. Urban Flex & Flow is owned by two ladies who some of you already know, Bean and Heather. Their fitness studio combines a mixture of various strength and plyometrics training, as well as yoga. You will get a personalized workout experience with them - check them out! Last, but definitely not least, is Hol Self - The Wellness Lounge, coming soon to Arden Town. You may have seen their signage on Fair Oaks Blvd. near the Watt Ave. light next to Marin Design Co. Hol Self is set to open in July and are currently offering special rates for those of you who like a good deal. Hol Self will be offering a range of wellness services and we are excited to share the benefits of the different services they offer; they have also joined us as Expert Contributors.

hope to see you all at the Arden Park 4th of July Parade!

Kindly,

BETHANY MITCHELL Publishing Director

Meet Your Neighbors • The Gray Family

The story of how Dana and Matt Gray met is a testament to how fate finds a way to bring people together. Dana and Matt both worked for lawmakers at the State Capitol, and they found themselves on the same elevator heading to a meeting they had each been tasked with attending on behalf of their respective employers. Matt asked Dana if he could take her out to lunch, and she said yes— but there was another hurdle he had to jump. “I didn’t give him my number, only the name of the lawmaker I worked for, so I waited to see if he went to the effort of looking up the info and reaching out to me,” Dana explains. “Many lunch dates later, here we are!”

The pair continued with their individual career paths at the Capitol, and when they started a family, Dana stayed home with their kids for several years. During that time, she worked as a Girl Scout leader and dedicated time to school and social events, helping connect her to the community. Seven years later, Dana re-entered the workforce as an assistant to a real estate agent. Soon, she discovered a passion for helping people in a meaningful

way and became a realtor, spearheading the Gray Group Real Estate team.

Matt stayed at the California State Legislature for years before becoming a lobbyist. He worked on a variety of issues within the small business, housing, buildings and trades, public safety and public health industries. Later, Matt decided to switch gears, earning an accredited certification as a residential and commercial property inspector for SacPro Home Inspections, Inc.

Dana and Matt have lived on Castec Drive in Arden Park for more than two decades, moving to the area after they married. “We have loved raising our kids here!” they say. “It has been so ideal—being in a place where we feel safe allowing our kids to walk the dogs on their own when they were little, ride their bikes to school, play soccer, swim, and go for a bike ride to a friend’s house is rare.”

Matt formerly served as the Arden Park HOA president, and he and Dana have

come to value their community more and more with each passing year. The couple explains that their Arden Park family (the “Taco Crew”) was a godsend during the pandemic, helping each other through the darkest days.

Two kids help complete the Gray family. Their youngest, 16-year-old Dylan, is a junior at Rio. Matt and Dana describe him as kind, adventurous, smart, funny, and personable. They also admire his loyalty. “Once, at an away camp, a friend was being picked on by another kid, and Dylan—a black belt—quickly took control of the situation by holding the bully down and asked if he would ‘please’ stop putting his hands on his friend,” Dana and Matt explain. “We are so proud of him for sticking up for his friends and taking care of the situation without being violent.”

At Rio, Dylan has immersed himself in engineering department courses like robotics, welding, and woodworking, and he’s currently finishing up the restoration

by Alexandra Hruz

of a 1967 Mustang. Dylan hopes to one day get a degree in aeronautical engineering and become a pilot.

Older sister Sarah is 20 years old and a sophomore at Chico State, where she’s a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Matt and Dana say their daughter is kind, tenacious, an amazing friend, funny, adventurous, smart, and determined. “She decided she wanted to be a dietitian in her sophomore year of high school and has never looked back,” they explain. “She loves working out and being healthy and helping people. It is a perfect career path for her!” Though she’s busy with her studies, Sarah still makes time for thrifting, pottery making, jewelry making, and gardening.

The Grays love traveling together; quick trips are their favorite ones to plan. “We usually like to go to places that are unique and fun with a little adventure!” they say. Some of the places they’ve ventured include Yellowstone Park, Hearst Castle, Bodie ghost town, Filoli in Woodside, Pismo Beach, Santa Cruz, Stinson Beach, and Lake Tahoe. They also regularly visit San Francisco

and Golden Gate Park. The family is outdoorsy too and likes to hike; some of their favorite trails are Phantom Falls in Oroville, the Redding Waterfall Loop, and Fern Canyon near Eureka. In and around Arden Park, the Grays often frequent local businesses, citing 19 Handles, Duke’s, Mas Taco, Plan B, Ettore’s, Wildwood, and Bella Bru as some of their favorite places.

The Grays feel fortunate to have

spent so many years with their family in Arden Park, and they look forward to continuing to nurture their relationships.

“Valuing family, friends, and community are the virtues for how we embrace life and are the underlying basis for how we live our lives,” they explain. “We enjoy meeting and getting to know people, and the privilege of getting to see the world through their diverse perspectives.”

Kiernan Williams

Kiernan Williams is on the cusp of joining an elite group. The 17 year old Rio Americano High School student has been working diligently on his Eagle Scout project. If approved, he will earn an honor bestowed on only about 6% of Scouts.

Kiernan has been a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) member for more than a decade and is currently in BSA Troop 53 in Sacramento. He joined BSA in 2012 because he wanted to make friends, have fun in the great outdoors, and learn new things. Kiernan’s also on the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) staff, a training group that helps younger scouts gain leadership skills. He enjoys serving as a role model to others and helping them find their way through the program. “I love working with the younger scouts in my troop,” he says. “I am also told that I am outgoing, which probably helps my fellow scouts feel welcome.” Kiernan and his fellow scouts participate in many activities throughout the year. They’ve

been involved in Sacramento Stand Down and countless flag ceremonies; they’ve also participated in food drives and Christmas tree pickup services for the Arden Park community. One of Kiernan’s most memorable and impactful moments spent in scouts was when he and his troop went to San Francisco to help feed the homeless at a soup kitchen. “It was truly an incredible trip because it made me feel good serving them and helping them out,” he shares.

In his 11 years as a scout, Kiernan has gained invaluable skills, including leadership guidance and public speaking acumen, as well as how to interact and work with others in a productive way. But for Kiernan, the best part of being a scout is more than the skills he's learned. “I like the community,” he says. “It really feels good to be with a bunch of like-minded people who are all very kind and have good leadership skills.” For those who might be on the fence about joining a troop, Kiernan advises them to jump into the program. “It’s fun—you learn lots of

by Alexandra Hruz

Local Sitters

Ashlynn: (916) 284-6275

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting (American Red Cross lifeguard/ CPR/First aid certified).

Ava: 916-508-8240

House and pet sitting (can do all types of animals) and can transport kids to and from camps.

Bailey: 916-806-6717

Babysitting (CPR certified)

Caitie: (916) 747-1376

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, house sitting (previously a lifeguard and swim instructor, so is available to spend time in the water with kids).

Charlie: 916-849-8847

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting.

valuable leadership skills, how to speak in public, teamwork and communication, and so much more,” he says. “You definitely won’t regret it.”

Kiernan is working hard and is focused on finishing his Eagle Scout project, which he aims to have completed by June. For the project, he’s building two redwood benches for the garden at California Montessori Project–Capitol Campus. Kiernan was a student at this school for years, and he says that CMP is still very important to him. After wrapping up this project, Kiernan plans on staying active as an Order of the Arrow member (a Scout honor society where members are voted in by their peers). He also might join Crew Scouts, a group that focuses on highadventure activities, first-aid training, and leadership.

After more than a decade of fun and service to others in Scouts, Kiernan is on the verge of being an elite member of the BSA community—quite an achievement for this hardworking teen.

Lucie: 916-472-4085

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting (overnight stays ok, Red Cross Certified).

Lydia: 916-956-4263

Babysitting and/or part-time nanny (available mid-June – August).

Madeleine: 279-222-0290

Babysitting, at-home swimming lessons (CPR, lifeguard and swim instructor certified).

Madison: 916-425-3304

Mothers-helper work, organizing, dog walking.

McKenna: 916-798-6001 Dog walking.

Mia J.: 916-755-1208

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting.

Charlotte: 916-832-6320

Babysitting, plant watering, house sitting.

Drew: 916-990-1483

Pet sitting/walking.

Evelyn: 916-832-6320

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting.

Henry: 916-931-8374

Pet sitting/walking.

Izzie: 916-296-7962

House sitting, plant watering, or pet sitting/walking.

Josie: 916-621-9124

Babysitting (First-Aid and CPR certified).

Kaylin: 916-716-1498

Babysitting, plant watering, pet sitting/walking (not available for overnight).

Lauren: 916-820-2084

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting (not available for overnight).

Lola: 916-396-9410

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting.

Mia N.: 916-804-0125

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting (CPR & First Aid certified).

Mya: 916-621-8585

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting.

Nicole: 916-698-4058

Babysitting and pet sitting/walking.

Olivia: 415-860-0473

Babysitting, pet sitting/walking, plant watering, house sitting.

Reese: 415-314-6595

Pet sitting/walking, house sitting.

Sienna: 916-202-0780

Lifeguard for private events/parties (CPR and lifeguard certified)

Sydney: 916-425-3304

Babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, running errands, picking up kids (CPR and first aid certified and available for overnight).

Arden Park Easter Eggstravaganza

The Arden Park community has many traditions, but one that has continued to bring smiles to children throughout the neighborhood and beyond is the annual Easter event at Arden Park. This year, the Easter Eggstravaganza event was hosted by Arden Park Recreation, and sponsored by our ad partner, The Gray Group Real Estate. Families were given the chance to mingle while eating a delicious pancake breakfast and taking pictures with the Easter Bunny. Kids were then given the chance to hunt in the park for Easter eggs, filling their Easter baskets with special treats! This is one of the many events Arden Park has to offer that makes this community so special. We are grateful to Darcie Maeesomy of Arden Park Rec., and the dynamic team at The Gray Group Real Estate, for putting on such a special event.

Pomegranate Boutique

Have you ever gotten so stressed planning what to wear to an event that you couldn’t decide how or where to start shopping for an outfit? We’ve all been there, so we have made it our mission to help all our clients find the perfect outfit, garment, or accessory to bring out their best for all their special moments.

Just last week my sister-in-law Lidiya texted me, "Hey girl, you don't happen to have any white dresses at the boutique, do you?" I responded, "Yes, of course, I have 2 options that I think will be great for you." I sent her photos of the two dresses, and she loved one and chose it to wear to her event. Lidiya had shopped at our boutique before, so she was confident that she didn’t even need to try on the dress I chose when she picked it up! Even though I urged her to try the dress on just to make sure, she insisted that she trusts that we know her style and whatever we suggest will fit her perfectly, which was exactly what happened.

Lidiya’s experience working with us is just one of many examples that tell a story about the kind of boutique we are—we like to think of it as "Your Sister’s Closet".

Imagine your sister's closet being so big, filled with comfortable, sexy, unique, and a range of styles but in a broader range of sizes (0-XXX), not just the 0-4 that we are all so used to seeing in most department stores. We have high-quality garments that are good for all occasions and seasons.

Our clothes are affordable, chosen for you, and you can always find us only a text message away when you need us!

by Stella and Araxia

LOVE WHAT YOU LIVE IN

Sisters Stella and Araxia curate a boutique bringing un que, luxur ous, and ethical sty es priced accessibly for the who e

If you need styling advice or just want to update your look, Araxia would love to book an in-person or virtual private styling session and can be reached at (916) 952-0463. So next time you wish to stop by "Your Sister’s Closet" for that perfect outfit that will make you love what you live in, stop by our brick and mortar (free parking on the street) in Midtown Sacramento at 920 24th street. Hope to see you soon!

Arden Park is known for its golf cart culture, so when the Prybyla family officially moved to the neighborhood, Chris Prybyla knew some sort of golf cart was in his future. Fast forward a few months, and Chris took the average Arden Park golf cart up a notch (or twelve) in purchasing his 2023 red Moke.

As the owner of Plan b Restaurant in Arden Town Center, Chris has a short commute to work, which made it easy for him to justify purchasing the electric Moke. It's technically classified as a Low Speed Vehicle, and has a maximum speed of 25 MPH. The Moke is street legal on all roads 35 MPH or less. The battery will fully charge on a 110 volt after only eight hours, and will go for up to 40 miles officially, but Chris says it’ll actually make it to 45.

Chris purchased his Moke from Bert's Mega Mall in Southern California and had it shipped home back in January. Since the purchase, the Moke has become Chris’ main source of transportation, weather permitting. Although he has not made any modifications yet, he is planning a stereo upgrade soon.

Chris has driven the Moke as far as the Sarah Court River Access in Carmichael, which is about four miles from Arden Park. “As long as I can find roads 35 MPH and below, the sky is the limit on how far I can go,” Chris shared. Chris and his wife, Tasha, and son, Michael, are looking forward to driving the Moke in the 4th of July Parade and note that they love being part of the Arden Park Community.

We create cozy gatherings of neighbors and friends sharing stories with laughter and joy in the company of those they love at the place they call HOME.

At The Gray Group, we know the importance of belonging and connectedness.

We live, work, and raise our families right here. As neighborhood experts, you can trust us to expertly sell your home and find your dream home. Let us cover the details so you can concentrate on making your house your HOME.

neighborhood e us to expertly sell your dream home. Let us cov can concentrate on ma HOM

Real Estate Rumble

RESIDENT RECIPE Easy Caprese Salad

The suburban kitchen summertime means tomatoes – especially where we have hot summers! And one of the easiest and most delicious salads of summer is a beautiful Caprese Salad. Caprese is also known as Insalata in Italian, and it is one of the prize dishes found in Italian cuisine and especially Capri. Caprese salad dates back to the 1920’s in post-World War

INGREDIENTS

2 large heirloom tomatoes plus cherry tomatoes (optional)

handful fresh basil leaves (washed and dried)

8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup of white balsamic vinegar (can use dark if that’s all you have)

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

Can be made ahead of time and bring to room temperature before serving.

by Shelly Gantenbein

An Italian patriot wanted to create a dish that represented the Italian flag: red, white and green. In later years it is reported that King Farouk, looking for a light afternoon snack, received a Caprese sandwich prepared by his chef. Following that, the salad became a staple of Italian cuisine. This salad brings a large platter of sliced garden tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese arranged to look like the Italian flag. It’s light and fresh and fits on most diets. If you want to add some protein and make it a meal you can add some left-over roasted chicken slices or even prawns or shrimp to it.

JUNE GARDEN PLANTING TIPS: It’s not too late to consider planting an heirloom tomato of your choice and some basil in your garden this month. You can provide yourself months of this delicious restaurant quality dish this whole summer! If you made this recipe, please share a picture with us at @thesuburbankitchen or #the_ suburban_kitchen This recipe and video are available on my YouTube Channel at The Suburban Kitchen.

Lic # 1038345 Owner