Arden Park Social- Sept 2022

Photo by Marjorie Kessler

Business Partner Index

Attorney - Estate, Trusts, Wills Law Offices of Colin T. Smith

Colin Smith (916) 563-7140 colintsmithlaw.com

Funeral Home

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

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 www.ElizabethCStyle.com

Mortgage Broker KMG

Ted Kappel (916) 416-5626 kmgloan.com

Effective and personal planning for your family, loved ones and neighbors for over 10 years

Mortgage Broker Westshore Mortgage

Matthew Cole (530) 682-4092 westshoremtg.com

Photographer

Angela Langford Photography (916) 529-9029 angelalangfordphotography. blogspot.com

Photographer Selective Memory

Photography (916) 799-1872 selectivememoryphotography.com

Real Estate - Residential Coldwell Banker

Tim Comstock (916) 548-7102 timcomstockrealestate.com

Real Estate - Residential Remax - GRAY GROUP

REAL ESTATE

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

Real Estate - Residential Sotheby’s International

Sara Raudelunas (916) 826-1500 rgroupsells.com

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

Veterinarian

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

Real Estate - Residential Coldwell Banker

Chris Balestreri (916) 996-2244 chrisbhomes.com

Real Estate - Residential Coldwell Banker

Tom Phillips (916) 799-4571 tomphillipsteam.com

• Wills & Living Trusts

• Estate Administration

• Probate

• Revisions/Up dates to Existing Estate Plans

plimentar y w to create e plan or update ate plan.

Expert Contributors

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 our patients.

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.

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.

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.

Autumn is coming! The changing of the leaves is always a beautiful sight, and soon we will all be able to enjoy a delightful crispness in the air. The children are going back to school, ushering in the beginning of football season and tailgate parties with family and friends. Many thoughts turn to Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving dinners, and the magical Holiday season.

As you are out enjoying this beautiful autumn season, please visit our business partners and say hello. They make this magazine possible and we are grateful for them and their continued support.

September celebrates the end of the first year of The Social Publication in Arden Park, and we are also grateful for each of you who have been part of usl. We have met many amazing people and we have loved learning about your families, kids, athletes, pets, and more! Who would you like to see featured in an upcoming issue? A friend? Family member? Yourself? We are always looking for nominations in this wonderful community we call home. Happy fall!

Nominate Your Neighbors

We are looking for more families, kids, athletes, pets, community events, and story ideas to feature in our upcoming issues.

Send in your recommendations to:

kenna.adams@thesocialpublication.com

MICHELLE CAMPBELL Publishing Assistant

ZACK MORGAN

ELIZABETH COMSTOCK

TOM PHILLIPS

KEVIN GUINN

by Alexandra Hruz

For more than 15 years, the Hurd family has called Arden Park home. Heads of the household Karla and Josh first met in the spring of 1993 while they were attending college. Karla, who was on the University of San Francisco’s volleyball team, had a game at Sonoma State, Josh’s alma mater. A friend of Josh’s was dating Karla’s roommate and teammate and set them up in hopes that the pair would get along. He proved to be a solid matchmaker: Despite them both dating other people at the time, Karla and Josh began seeing each other later that year and have been together ever since.

Before landing in Arden Park, the Hurds lived in several other places. Josh was raised in Marin and later Sacramento, and Karla grew up in Orange County. They made San Francisco their home for many years and bought a house in Oakland, which is where they lived before starting their family. Arden Park has been their home since 2006, and the pair says that moving there has been one of their best decisions. “We are so happy that we made the move then, as our lives are less stressful here with so much more free time and proximity to the mountains and nature,” they explain.

Josh is a Certified Financial Planner, and Karla works as a commercial property manager. In their free time, both Karla and Josh revel in staying active and enjoying the outdoors. True to their history, volleyball has remained an integral part of their lives; it’s one of their favorite activities to participate in together. The pair also enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, seeing live music, and traveling. Josh likes golf, road biking

along the American River Trail, and Bitcoin. Karla’s go-to activities include walking the dogs, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and going to the river.

Karla and Josh are in the midst of raising three children: Griffin, Paxton, and Daphne. They explain that because of the gaps in age between the siblings, they’ve developed a cool dynamic. “There is a seven-year gap between Daphne and Paxton and 10 years between her and Griffin,” the couple explain. “Her arrival changed the dynamic of our family, and instead of competing over everything, the boys have bonded in their love and adoration of their sister.” Karla and Josh describe Griffin as quiet, observant, and occasionally pleasant. At 17, he’s now surpassed even his dad in height, clocking in at 6’5”! He uses this height on the volleyball court: As a junior, he was a starter on the Jesuit varsity squad. In the middle of the sibling trio is 14-year-old Paxton. His parents describe him as a free spirit who is outgoing and patient. He likes experimenting with different

hairstyles and colors—he had a long shag during COVID-19 but has also rocked a bleached buzz cut, a mullet, and leopard print and pink colors. Both Griffin and Paxton love skateboarding, and often use the backyard halfpipe their parents built right after the pandemic started. Paxton is now teaching 7-year-old Daphne to skateboard as well. Daphne is described as a lover of life, friendly, and kind to the core. She participates in gymnastics and plays Arden Park soccer, and she’s recently discovered a love of the stage. Daphne has done a few singing, dancing, and acting camps, and her family is encouraging her to continue. The Hurds’ pets are also integral pieces of the family puzzle. They have two cats, and their mini Australian Shepherds, Indigo and Skye, love going on most family adventures. Daphne also has two bunnies: Chip and Nutella (aka Marlon Bundo and Wesley).

As a family, the five Hurds try to spend lots of quality time together, even when work, school, and hobby schedules threaten to overwhelm them. The family goes hiking and camping, and some of them love cliff jumping (Karla shares that she and Daphne prefer to watch and film

t he guys’ jumps). Backyard volleyball and bike rides are other family activities this crew likes. Traveling is another interest of the Hurds. Their favorite vacation spots range from near to far: Serene Lakes, Portugal, and New Zealand are the vacation locales they like most.

When choosing which sports teams to root for, the Hurd quintet keeps it local. The Sacramento Kings, Sac Republic, and the San Francisco Giants are the teams that receive their loyalty and support.

In the community, the Hurds stay connected through their hobbies

and interests. They enjoy furthering their knowledge about the future of money and meeting other Bitcoiners in the community. The Hurds also like volunteering at and supporting local food banks and at Soil Born Farms, which just happens to be their favorite local company. A few other local businesses the Hurds frequently visit include Tower Theater, PLA Skateboarding, The Boulder Field, and B Street Theatre. The Hurds have plenty on their plates to keep them busy, but the five family members will always make time to enjoy life together.

by Alexandra Hruz

At an early age, Dana Gray learned what it meant to own and run a business. Dana was born in Sacramento and raised in Folsom. Two generations of her family ran Scheetz Welding Service in Orangevale, which was a large operation that did everything from fix lawn mower housings to supply Old Navy stores with their industrial look in the 1990s. It was through seeing how different aspects of the business were run that Dana developed her own ideas about how she wanted to operate a company. “My parents and grandparents were hard workers and taught me that if you take care of your customers, they will take care of you,” she explains.

Early in her professional career, Dana worked at the Capitol for Governor Gray Davis’s administration. She began in the real estate industry as an assistant doing paperwork for other agents and became a full-time licensed agent in 2015. Dana’s main inspirations were her children: Sarah, who is 19 and studies nutrition at Chico State, and Dylan, who is 16 and attends Rio Americano HS. She shares that being able to work and still be a part of their day-to-day lives helped guide her entrepreneurial ambitions. As her kids got older, she worked more and pursued new goals. After several years of learning the ins and outs of the real estate world, Dana decided to take the next step and start her own team, The Gray Group. Dana says that she has had the privilege and honor to work with agents who have

shown her what it looks like to go the extra mile for clients and do a great job. In starting her own group, she anticipates being able to provide her clients with better service and cutting-edge tools and technology to make a more streamlined process from start to finish. Developing a strong sense of community is something Dana emphasizes. She and her husband Matt have lived in Arden Park for the last 21 years, and the couple’s kids attended schools in the neighborhood: Mariemont Elementary, Arden Middle School, and Rio Americano HS. In their years in Arden Park, they’ve discovered what a unique and special area it is. “Community is more than a place with neighbors to me—these people have become family,” Dana says. “I have seen both great loss

and great joy here, and I can tell you I have never seen people come out to support each other more than here in Arden Park.” Through her business, Dana proudly supports many local events, and she also makes a donation to UC Davis Children’s Miracle Hospital in her client’s name after every sale to help support children and families in the community.

Dana describes The Gray Group as customer service-focused. In an age where speaking to an actual person when dealing with an issue is becoming more rare, having a knowledgeable person listening to a client’s needs and guiding them with sage advice to the best outcome for them personally is a godsend. “Customer service means different things to different clients, so some days I am going over contracts or evaluating the market for a client, and

other days I am helping my clients decide what paint color to choose or where to place their furniture,” she explains. “That is what I love most about this career: Each day brings something new, and throughout the process, I get to help people in a meaningful way.” Dana strives to go the extra mile for her clients—she says their goals come first and that she doesn’t give up when helping them reach for what they want. Dana’s tenacity has resulted in her being accepted into the Sacramento Association of Realtors Masters Club Lifetime Membership; she’s also in the

RE/MAX Hall of Fame, the 100% Club, and the Platinum Club. Additionally, she is a member of the Sacramento Real Producers, which includes the top agents in the area.

Dana proudly shares that most of

the company’s business comes from referrals and past clients. She says that receiving a referral is the highest compliment she can get, and she wants to continue being a cheerleader, coach, and strategic partner for her clients.

“My clients know that I am here as their friend and partner,” she says. “I honor the trust they put in me, and they know I will do everything I can to get them where they want to be.” She adds that her mission is to become essential to her clients by providing superior services and being a resource for all her clients’ real estate needs.

DANA GRAY

(916)

graygrouprealestate.com

Dana loves her work and feels honored to assist people with major life decisions. Through The Gray Group, she’s eager to continue helping her clients and the community at the same time.

by Kathy Ford

Hoodoo is an eightyear-old male, Rhodesian Ridgeback.

His unusual name was inspired by nature. The breeder gave the litter of pups names inspired by National Parks. Hoodoo was named for the rock formation at Bryce National Park.

Hoodoo, also known as Hoodie, is a member of the family along with Mike, Yayin, Ashlynn (16), Brody (14), and Archie (another family dog).

Hoodoo and Archie are a couple of lucky pups. They love to go camping with their human family, knowing they will soon frolic in the great outdoors. Hoodoo also loves going to the dog beach, where he “can run around like crazy with the other dogs!”

Some of Hoodoo’s favorite things include his favorite treats, carrots, and his favorite toy, a Kong. Hoodoo also loves to snooze. “Seeing as he has his own ‘couch,’ I would say he is spoiled!” said his human parents.

Despite being a huge pooch, Hoodoo is very gentle and sweetnatured. But, he does have a naughty side. Hoodoo loves to eat. No food is safe around him. He “will steal any and all food no matter the consequence!” His family tells us Hoodoo will snatch food right out of your hand. “There have been many a meal lost in our family,” said his human parents.

While Hoodoo enjoys camping trips and visits to the dog beach, he is not a part of all the family vacations. His human parents told us the most challenging thing about being a pet owner is when the family goes on vacation without the pups. “Traveling and going on vacation is always the hardest part,” said his human parents. “Making sure they are going to be well taken care of while we are gone, hoping that they are not too anxious, and missing them while we are gone” is also tough on the family.

More than anything, the family loves to take Hoodoo for a good walk. Their “normal walking route is up Arroyo Grande and down Los Molinos, or El Sur and the Los Coches loop.” A walk with both dogs is always an adventure. Archie, a small dog, is surprisingly strong for his size. He can be seen dragging the family along on the walk while Hoodoo lags behind despite his size.

Hoodoo is a lucky pup to be part of a loving family. But, his family is just as fortunate to have Hoodoo, the gentle giant, in their lives.

The Real Estate Rumble

Instant Pot Chili

Canned chipotles in adobo give it an extra kick of flavor

by Josh Miller

If you’re not using your Instant Pot to make chili, this quick and easy recipe is a reason to give it a try! While there’s nothing more comforting than a big pot of beef-and-bean chili bubbling away on the stove, there are times when you just need chili fast, and this Instant Pot chili recipe delivers. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd for the big game or as a cozy, comforting dinner by the fire. Just be sure to serve it with plenty of cornbread.

How do you make chili in the Instant Pot? Because different Instant Pots have different bells, whistles, and buttons, the best and most foolproof way to make chili in the Instant Pot is to first use the sauté setting and then the pressure cook setting. Browning the meat and onions and toasting the spices using the sauté setting builds a rich and flavorful base for the chili. Switching to the pressure cook setting locks in that flavor by concentrating the heat and fastforwarding the traditionally long cooking time.

How do you keep chili from burning in the Instant Pot? This recipe has been specially developed to keep chili from burning in the Instant Pot because it contains plenty of liquid, but there are some additional steps you can take for extra insurance against burning. First, make sure that the Instant Pot insert is completely clean (you can use an abrasive

stainless steel cleaner to remove any stubborn, cooked-on bits). After browning the beef and onions in plenty of oil in your squeaky-clean liner, add a splash of stock and stir to release any browned bits that may have collected on the bottom. These add delicious flavor to the chili, but could trigger your Instant Pot’s burn sensors if they aren’t scraped and stirred into the soup.

What’s the best secret ingredient for Instant Pot chili? The best secret ingredients for Instant Pot chili are items that layer on big boosts of flavor. Because you’re shortening the cook time by using the Instant Pot, choose ingredients like canned fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotles in adobo that already boast big flavor. Usually located near the salsa in the grocery store, chipotles in adobo are smoked and dried jalapeño chiles that are simmered in a tangy sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, and spices. They’re

DIRECTIONS :

• Add the oil to the liner of a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot and set to sauté.

• Add the beef then sprinkle with cumin, chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

• Cook, stirring often to break up the meat, until browned, about 7 minutes.

• Stir in onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, until onion is slightly softened, about 3 minutes more.

• Add the beef stock to the Instant Pot, stirring to release any browned bits from the bottom of the liner.

• Gently stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, and chipotle puree, if using.

• Press the cancel button to reset the Instant Pot.

• Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and lock it into place.

• Seal the steam release handle.

• Select high pressure and set the timer for 14 minutes.

• When the timer is up, let it rest for 10 minutes, then manually release the pressure (unseal the steam release handle).

• Unlock and remove the lid, being careful of any remaining steam.

• Give the chili a good stir to recombine all of the ingredients.

• Serve topped with cheese, sour cream, green onion, and corn chips.

Yields: 6 - 8 servings

Prep Time: 0 hours 10 mins

Cook Time: 0 hours 0 mins

Total Time: 1 hour 55 mins

This delicious chili can be made up to three days ahead and refrigerated, or frozen up three months. Recipe From: https:// www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/ recipes/a38665019/instant-pot-chili-recipe/

supremely flavorful and pretty spicy, so a little goes a long way. You can freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays to add big flavor to soups, marinades, and even other Instant Pot recipes for months to come.

INGREDIENTS

3 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 1/4 lb. lean ground beef

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. salt, divided

½ small yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 c. reduced-sodium beef stock

2 (15 oz.) cans black or kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 oz.) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

2 tbsp. tomato paste

1 tbsp. pureed chipotles in adobo

(optional)

Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped green onion, and corn chips, for serving.