District 7 staff Philip Norton (left) and Ivanna Pincilotti (third from right) present awards to Congressional Art Competition winners (left to right) Justina Ibarra, Madeleine Ng and Riley Bloodworth. Artist David Peterson (right) with the Sacramento Fine Arts Center assists with the presentation. Hutchison unknowingly filed the jackpot application. She previously worked as membership director for the California Restaurant Association and ran her own event-decorating business. At the age of 45, the mom of two decided on a real estate career. Lyon Real Estate’s Downtown Sacramento office is her base. Off-duty, Hutchison multitasks as a counselor for youth programs at her LDS church. She is also the Carmichael Soccer Club president. She joined the Chamber of Commerce at the invitation of fellow soccer parent and chamber Vice President Joe Green. “The chamber is thrilled to welcome Laura in her new career,” Green says. “Increased membership means more
networking opportunities for local businesses. A strong financial footing also enables us—as a nonprofit—to give back to our community as we’ve always hoped.”
COPS, CANINES AND COPTERS In an open-and-shut case of good cops, faux cops and fuzzy cops, Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones and staff brought all their toys to the recent Unity in the Community picnic at Gibbons Park in Carmichael. Along with free burgers, the event offered friendly time with the men and women in blue. Hundreds of families
The Sacramento County Sheriff ’s Department hosts a fun-packed Unity in the Community picnic at Gibbons Park in Carmichael.
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Madeleine Ng’s artwork, "Little Dreamer Dancing on Top of the World," takes first place. met Jones and posed for selfies with mascot McGruff the Crime Dog. Robotic cop cars buzzed around issuing quirky commands and squirting water. A helicopter landed and lines formed for kids to climb in its cockpit. Visitors observed that toothy canine law-keepers were pussycats off duty. SWAT and bomb-disposal teams were among units that volunteered off-duty time with kids and parents. Staged annually at several unincorporated Sacramento parks, Unity in the Community gives police
Laura Hutchison, Carmichael Chamber of Commerce’s 300th member, is congratulated by Vice President Joe Green.
officers an opportunity to connect with the community. More picnics are planned for this summer and fall. For dates and times, visit www.sacsheriff. com. Susan Maxwell Skinner can be reached at sknrband@aol.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n