Inside Land Park December 2023

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COVER ARTIST

3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only)

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KATHRINE LEMKE WASTE Kathrine Lemke Waste is a Sacramento artist with a national presence. Her work celebrates the light and abundance of California's Central Valley. She is a past president of American Women Artists and a leader in its national effort to get the work of women artists into the permanent collections of America's art museums. Shown: “Chocolate Raspberry Tart,” watercolor, 13.5 inches by 16 inches framed, watercolor. This piece is available at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale. Visit lemkewaste.com.

PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings EDITOR Cathryn Rakich editor@insidepublications.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel @anikophotos AD COORDINATION Michele Mazzera DISTRIBUTION Info@insidepublications.com or visit insidesacramento.com ACCOUNTING Daniel Nardinelli, COO, daniel@insidepublications.com

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Hero’s Death A GRANDSON DIES WHILE SAVING LIVES IN ISRAEL

Brenda Wolfson and her grandson Yannai Kaminka on his military graduation day in 2022.

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By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

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omething seemed amiss as I greeted my neighbor Brenda Wolfson. She and her husband Jon had been out of the country for two weeks. I didn’t know why.

Their journey involved the worst news a family can hear.

The Wolfson’s grandson, Yannai Kaminka, 20, was killed when Hamas militants attacked his military base on the first day of the Israel-Hamas war. He was a lieutenant in the Israeli Defense Forces Home Front Command.

He died three weeks before his 21st birthday.

Kaminka was part of a unit stationed at Zikim Training Base south of

Ashkelon. The base had around 90 new recruits and trainees. Kaminka played a large role in protecting them, along with a nearby community.

Then came Oct. 7. About 50 Hamas operatives attacked the base.

“All of the recruits on that base were saved. Plus, behind the base was a kibbutz, one of these small, kind of rural communities, but amazingly everybody survived,” Wolfson says. “At least Yannai died a hero, and he saved so many lives.”

Wolfson learned of her grandson’s death from a WhatsApp message from her daughter Elana, Kaminka’s mother. “There on my cellphone were

six words that I’ll never forget: ‘He was killed. Come to Israel,’” Wolfson says.

The Wolfsons traveled to Israel for Kaminka’s funeral, held two days after his death. They met military colleagues who described her grandson’s lifesaving heroism.

Brenda recalled a conversation with a young woman and her mother. “She said, ‘This is my daughter, and your grandson saved her life. She received this head wound in the middle of the fight, and Yannai dragged her to safety, bandaged her head, put her behind a column and ran out and continued fighting and she lived.’ And I said to the mother and the girl, ‘Live a good life for our grandson.’

“That’s really the comfort, knowing so many peoples’ lives were saved,” Wolfson says.

The Wolfsons returned to Sacramento a few weeks ago. “I find myself often looking through photos of my grandson, including pictures of him, my daughter and other family members at his military ceremony from the summer of 2022,” she says.

“You see them grow and you realize what the passage of time means, and suddenly here he is, a man, a soldier taller than me doing amazing things.”

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Kaminka was born and raised in Israel but visited his grandparents in Sacramento almost every summer.

He spent a year here in 2017 before returning to Israel. Kaminka’s mother is a peace activist who grew up in Davis and volunteered for Humans Without Borders, a group that provided hospital transportation for Palestinian children.

“I have so many sweet memories from when he was smaller and when they used to come and stay with us. He was just an adorable child,” Wolfson says.

Kaminka was a father figure for recruits at his base. “He considered his recruits just like his kids. Colleagues of his in the military came and talked to us and said how he took care of everybody,” Wolfson says. “He was warm, and he was like their dad, and he did love being in the army because he loved helping people.”

Kaminka was helping people when he died in the Hamas attack. “He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but for the people who he saved, he was in the right place at the right time,” Wolfson says.

Please join me in keeping the Wolfson family in your hearts and prayers, along with every innocent victim of this horrible war.

Readers ask how they can contribute to Inside Sacramento. Here’s how.

Consider a paid supporting membership starting at $19.95 a year. Use the QR code and help support our mission to deliver local news. Sign up for our weekly newsletter at insidesacramento.com.

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications. com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Art is on the menu at the Zero Waste Mobile Art Café.

“Dad has always been an extremely upbeat person,” Tim says of his 94-year-old father who lives in Wilhaggin with his wife of 73 years, Barbara. “(He) is committed to thought, spirit and deed by giving back to society in every way he can.”

“It’s humbling and inspiring to be able to reach more people with this book,” Wulf says. “As I wrote in the front, ‘May this amazing book bring you added joy, satisfaction, success, inspiration and happiness.’”

Royalties from book sales will help provide more free books for anyone who needs what Wulf calls “an extra boost.”

MOBILE CAFE DISHES UP ART, NOT FOOD

SEE’S CANDIES DRIVE

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trium 916, a nonprofit collaborative hub for artists and creative entrepreneurs, has launched a Zero Waste Mobile Art Cafe that serves art, not food.

Housed in a 1950s horse trailer upcycled by artist Mike Jones and

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By Jessica Laskey Out & About

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powered by solar, the cafe travels around town to offer inclusive art activities paired with locally brewed KC Kombucha.

Take a seat at one of the bistro tables to paint on a provided canvas or your own reusable tote bag and learn about sustainability with the cafe’s Recycle Challenge game.

“We have been serving art at our location in Old Sacramento, but we wanted a way that we could reach people and serve healing arts where they are while providing information and fun education on sustainability,” says Shira Lane, designer and executive director of Atrium 916.

To find out where the art cafe will be next, follow @atrium916 on Instagram

or visit atrium916.com/artcafe. Also visit Atrium 916 at 1020 Front St. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

WORDS OF WISDOM You might remember “Grandpa” Don Wulf, who was featured in Inside Sacramento in 2021 for the wise missives he collects and aggregates into booklets he hands out free to inspire others.

He’s now a published author. With help from his son Tim, Wulf released “Grandpa Don’s Words of Wisdom for YOU!” on Amazon to reach even more people.

Help provide women and girls access to education and economic empowerment by doing something delicious—buying See’s Candies.

Soroptimist International of Sacramento, which celebrated its centennial in March, is hosting its annual See’s store fundraiser to collect money for scholarships, education and training awards, and a career support and mentoring program.

SIS has raised nearly $160,000 over 15 years. The store is open Dec. 1–24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lake Crest Village Shopping Center (by Nugget Market) on Florin Road West off I-5. For information, visit soroptimistsacramento.org.

E-TRIKE PROGRAM Do your errands in a more sustainable—and enjoyable—way by renting an e-trike at Colonial Heights Library as part of Sacramento Public Library’s new pilot program.

Anyone with a library card in good standing who is at least 18 years old can check out a three-wheeled electric tricycle for up to three weeks. There are five trikes available with plans to add five more and expand to new locations.

“We have partnered with the city of Sacramento in this project because more people need to experience alternative transportation methods if we, as a community, are going to meet our clean-air goals,” says Cathy Crosthwaite, library deputy director of public services.

“Public libraries are a place where people are encouraged to discover new things,” she says. “So why not discover different modes of electric transportation?”

Colonial Heights Library is at 4799 Stockton Blvd. For information, visit saclibrary.org/etrike.

CHAMBERS ART Here’s a new reason to attend a meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors: beautiful artwork in the board chambers. “Oceans of Air:

Paintings by Jim Darke” is on display through Jan. 19.

“I consider having my work on display in the Board of Supervisors chambers a sign of respect,” says Darke, a South Land Park resident and former naval aviator and glider pilot, jobs that inspire his atmospheric subject matter.

“As a painter who is approaching 80, I’ve accepted that I’m not going to achieve widespread fame and fortune, but having my paintings hung in what seems to me like an auspicious location is just nice.”

Visitors can view the art, which rotates biannually, when meetings are in session at 700 H St. For a meeting calendar, visit bos.saccounty.gov.

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season

LOWRIDER EXHIBIT Sacramento History Museum’s “Boulevard Dreams,” celebrating our city’s history of lowrider and cruising culture, is open through Jan. 21 at the Old Sacramento Waterfront.

In partnership with the Sacramento Lowrider Commission, with support from Sol Collective and local lowrider car clubs, the exhibit explores the discrimination and prejudice that led to a citywide ban on cruising in the 1980s and the grassroots efforts that rescinded the ban in 2022.

A 60-foot white fir lights up the Old Sacramento Waterfront for the holidays.

Photo courtesy of Downtown Sacramento

WeLiveSacramento.com W eL eL

The exhibit includes stories, fashion, music, art and memorabilia.

The Sacramento History Museum is at 101 I St. For information, visit sachistorymuseum.org.

LIGHT UP CURTIS PARK The annual Light Up Curtis Park is now in full swing. Curtis Park residents decorate front yards, porches, windows, roofs and more with festive lights and creative displays to enchant neighbors and passersby.

Register your home by Dec. 15 to be part of the People’s Choice competition.

Residents vote for their favorites online Dec. 16–31. Winners, announced Jan. 4, receive gift cards from local businesses. For information, visit sierra2.org/lightup23.

DIDION LIBRARY Thanks to a $500,000 gift from the Didion family and the Sacramento Historical Society, Sacramento City College’s library will be renamed the Joan Didion Learning Resource Center in honor of author Joan Didion.

“We’re proud that she started her college career here,” says Sac City

President Albert Garcia. “Her status as an author of international renown, as a creative and incisive thinker, makes her a wonderful inspiration for our college community.”

The gift will support student writing scholarships and faculty research programs that align with the late author’s interests.

HOLIDAY TREE The holidays have hit the Old Sacramento Waterfront—in the form of a 60-foot decorated tree.

The white fir hails from Carlton Christmas Trees in Shasta County. The tree is decorated with 24,000 lights, 550 icicles, 400 strobes and other specialty lights designed and installed

by Stage Nine Exhibits and Stage Nine Entertainment.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com.

Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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Retired Bee photographer Dick Schmidt documented the removal of presses and equipment from the Bee at 21st and Q streets. Here’s what he saw May 6, 2021.

AS BEE AND PUBLIC RADIO FADE, WHO MAKES NEWS?

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hree months ago, the Bee announced its print circulation was 25,325. The number represented a oneyear drop of about 35%. It signaled massive revenue losses, $17 million if annual subscribers paid $1,200.

About 5% of digital subscribers also disappeared.

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By R.E. Graswich City Beat

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As a former Bee reporter who remembers when circulation topped 300,000, I type these numbers with sadness. In 2019, the Bee sold 93,000 copies daily.

I escaped the newsroom at 21st and Q streets 16 years ago, when I saw deep cracks in the Bee’s fundamentals. I knew management wasn’t capable or willing to address threats from online advertising and free news content. I decided the Bee had no future.

That was a smug assessment. Now it’s serious. As lights flicker and the Bee’s final plunge gains momentum, it’s time to stop discussions about whether the paper is good or bad

or whether leadership was inept or victimized by tech.

It’s time to consider life without a local daily print newspaper.

The Bee’s death spiral coincides with the collapse of another important regional news operation, Capital Public Radio. An audit commissioned by Sacramento State University, which holds broadcast licenses for CapRadio, revealed critical leadership blunders and an oblivious board of directors.

CapRadio reached for the moon.

It hired staff, designed fancy new studios and leased a Downtown performance space. Such pretensions were missions impossible. CapRadio

was insolvent, unable to pay rent or debt service on an $8 million loan.

Faced with calamity, Sac State seized operational control of CapRadio. The university’s new president vows to rebuild from the rubble. But CapRadio’s ability to produce news, analysis and commentary on local stories is uncertain.

It’s time to consider life without a news-forward public radio station.

There are few parallels between CapRadio’s disintegration and the Bee’s corpse. CapRadio’s heart attack hit fast. The Bee’s deterioration was slow and steady for nearly two decades, with managerial purges and bankruptcy.

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In 2020, McClatchy family stockholders sold their newspapers to a New Jersey hedge fund, Chatham Asset Management. The building on 21st Street was offloaded and abandoned for redevelopment, the presses dismantled and sold for scrap.

What remains of circulation is printed in the Bay Area and hauled to Sacramento, soon enough in a hatch back. What’s left of the news staff works mostly from home or rented space on Alhambra Boulevard.

Without the daily Bee and CapRadio, the city won’t earn the label “news desert.” But there’s no replacement for a powerful newspaper and ambitious public radio news programs.

Inside Sacramento magazine covers the city but only publishes monthly. Sactown produces six colorful editions a year but caters to suburban audiences intrigued by plastic surgeons and Napa wine tours.

Local TV and commercial radio stations aim cameras and microphones at weather stories, car crashes and police roadblocks. They have limited interest in substantial reports built over time.

Important local stories always went untold, even when the Bee had 300 reporters, photographers and editors covering the region. When I joined Mayor Kevin Johnson’s staff in 2009, I was surprised by how little

the media (me included) knew about City Hall and local government.

It’s worth noting the sex scandals that ended Johnson’s political career were resurrected by national media outlets, not local. And today, City Hall coverage is far weaker than it was a decade ago.

I fear the decline of local journalism is so steep and inevitable that residents won’t have time to process the loss.

One day soon, there will be no more printed Bee. Without subscription revenue and money from print ads, budget cuts will further decimate an online skeleton staff of college interns and a few old hands.

CapRadio may survive, but with more syndicated programming and less local emphasis.

Who will generate local news?

I see two sources. Newsmakers themselves, including elected officials and community leaders, with reports engineered for self-interest and promotion. Then comes social media influencers, prompted by payoffs and working source-free with no concern for objectivity or fact.

I never missed the Bee when I walked away. Now I miss it already.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

I FEAR THE DECLINE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM IS SO STEEP AND INEVITABLE THAT RESIDENTS WON’T HAVE TIME TO PROCESS THE LOSS.

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We Were Warned HOW CITY MISSED ITS CHANCES ON RIVER PARKWAY

A short road off Riverside Boulevard is all that remains of the popular levee restaurant and recreational area known as Captain’s Table.

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he names were evocative, inspired by the river and people who lived, worked and played on it. Amen’s Landing, B and B Harbor, Cotton’s Landing, Stogey’s Landing, Shaw’s Landing, Captain’s Table, Wheeler’s Landing.

From Elkhorn to Freeport, a string of boat ramps, docks, waterfront cafés, taverns, picnic grounds and fishing camps made the Sacramento River levee accessible, enjoyable and essential to generations.

Today, below Miller Park and Downtown, old recreational haunts are gone. Some were destroyed by the river and its seasonal torrents. Others

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By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

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collapsed when operators tumbled into financial despair.

The Sacramento River has always drawn people pursuing recreation.

What’s criminal is how city leaders ignored the river’s recreational appeal.

These days, city officials seek to buy something called “recreational” easements from about 70 property owners near the levee in Pocket. The city insists it needs these “recreational” easements to finish the Sacramento River Parkway bike path.

The 70 or so property owners rejected the city’s offers. Now authorities are determined to acquire easements under eminent domain. The bike trail should open in two or three years. Selfish property owners will try to stall the festivities.

None of this had to happen. A century ago, planning consultant John Nolen advised the City Council to buy riverfront property from Downtown to Pocket. A decade later, planner Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. presented the same proposal. Both were ignored.

Farmers along the river in the early 20th century wanted to reduce liabilities and responsibilities. They were eager to offload the levees onto taxpayers. They sold levee easements to the state for almost nothing.

There are dozens of easements. Most are masterpieces of brevity. No legal jargon, just monuments to taciturn farmers who wanted the state to handle levee maintenance and safety. The easements say: Here are the levees.

Take them.

Nolen and Olmsted predicted today’s controversy over “recreational” easements. They envisioned those 70 suburban property owners selfishly holding up a regional parkway and bike trail. Nolen and Olmsted instructed the city how to avoid it.

Why did the city ignore these nationally respected planners?

One answer is City Council’s misunderstanding of the word “recreation.”

A century ago, the word lacked familiarity and common use. Farmers

never spoke of “recreation.” Neither did state officials or country lawyers.

In those days, almost everyone in Sacramento played and fished along the levees and rivers. Nobody called it “recreation.”

I dug deep to unearth the history of “recreation.” The word goes back 600 years. But it wasn’t until after 1945 that “recreation” began to commonly describe what Californians do when they find a river or forest or mountain trail.

The word surfaces in 1864, when California tries to establish Yosemite Valley for “public use, resort, and recreation.”

But when Congress creates Yellowstone National Park in 1872, it describes the site “as a park of pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” No recreation.

For the next 70 years, recreation serves as an academic concept, an act of “refreshment,” vague to everyday citizens.

“Recreation” was popularized in the 1950s. Workdays shortened after World War II. People had time and money for leisure and “refreshment.”

Boat showrooms opened on Broadway and Freeport Boulevard.

Along Riverside Boulevard, a barge restaurant called Captain’s Table greeted guests at Shaw’s Landing in 1956. It advertised itself as “The Fisherman’s Wharf of Sacramento.” It featured “famous sea food.”

Downstream near 35th Avenue, the Aloha Room welcomed customers at Wheeler’s Landing. The dockside café presented Hawaiian specialities and orchids for women. It soon abandoned the Polynesian menu and hired an Italian chef.

Between 1960 and 1980, federal expenditures for recreation increased from $75 million $1.4 billion.

Recreation was stamped into the national psyche.

Around that time, Pocket and Little Pocket were subdivided. Again, the city blew its chance to control the levee. It let new suburban homeowners pretend they “owned” the levee and river.

Eminent domain will finally end the nonsense. Recreation should never be so difficult.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@iclould.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

The Most Wonderful Time . . .

EST. 1926

LYON VILLAGE

2580 Fair Oaks Blvd, Ste 30. Sacramento 916.487.7853

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15

‘Egregious Situations’ MAYORAL CANDIDATES DISCUSS HOMELESS, HOUSING

Flojaune Cofer

I

First of Three Parts

nside Sacramento interviewed the four candidates for mayor in the March 5 primary election—Flojaune Cofer, Steve Hansen, Kevin McCarty and Dr. Richard Pan. The top two finishers will advance to a runoff in November if no candidate receives at least 50.1% of the March vote. The election is nonpartisan.

Cofer is policy director for Public Health Advocates, a nonprofit that promotes community health care. This is her first run for public office.

Hansen is a managing partner for Lighthouse Public Affairs, a corporate consulting firm. He served as a City Council member for eight years.

McCarty is a five-term state assemblymember and former City Council member, where he served 10 years.

Pan, a pediatrician, is a former state senator and assemblymember, serving two terms in each house. This is his first campaign for city office.

Interviews were edited for clarity and length.

Do you support District Attorney Thien Ho’s efforts to resolve the city’s homeless crisis?

Cofer: No. He’s been in the job for eight months and some of the ways he’s engaging are disingenuous. The

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

Steve Hansen county has an $8 billion budget and has not provided the mental health support or substance-abuse support needed for our community. The city has been doing the lion’s share, trying to address homelessness, but not always with the outcomes we all want to see. He’s trying to make a play for some national attention or something, but not doing something useful.

Hansen: I do support it. It’s an unfortunate situation that it’s come to this. I still think that there’s a path for the city, working with the DA and the community. But what the DA is doing has put even more spotlight on the tools that we’re not using. To make people feel like while we’re trying to help folks, we’re also keeping our neighborhoods safe. And these encampments that the DA is focused on, I’ve read the lawsuit.

They’re egregious situations.

McCarty: Yes. But I think the homeless crisis needs to be solved by all of us. All levels of government. We're all in this together. Community, nonprofits and different levels of government, city, county, state and federal, and I don't have a problem with what Ho is pushing. The city must take more action. But I think at the end of the day, we all need to work on this together in unison and I think that is the best path forward.

Pan: Yes. Thien Ho is raising the issue that so many Sacramentans are

Kevin McCarty raising—that we need to do more about the homeless crisis. He’s using his office to push the city to enforce its laws and to act. As mayor, I will be a partner in being sure that we restore order to our public spaces and that we actually help the homeless.

Should city ordinances on camping, parking and sidewalk clearances be enforced?

Cofer: This is complicated. I will say yes and no. It’s totally reasonable for us to want to have clear sidewalks and not have people camping on front lawns. But we have to be able to answer the question of where people can go. It’s immoral as humans that we tell people they can’t be somewhere without being able to answer the obvious question of where can I be?

Hansen: Absolutely. We need to maintain a balance between helping people and making sure that if you have a business or you’re visiting Sacramento or in your neighborhood, you can walk down the street and feel comfortable. If you’re visiting, you shouldn’t feel like you’re taking your life in your hands. And I know too many horror stories of things that have happened in our own neighborhood, whether it’s a duplex and a fourplex across the street from us that were burned down by warming fires, or next door to the daycare, where there are

Richard Pan encampments, needles, feces and no help from the city.

McCarty: Yes. We need clarity on where people cannot have urban camping. My kids last year were walking home from middle school, and they had to walk around camps and into the street. They couldn’t walk on the sidewalks. This was near a middle school. We shouldn’t have camps in front of businesses. But conversely, we have failed in telling people where they can’t go.

Pan: Yes. Should unhoused people be immune from misdemeanor citations?

Cofer: Nobody should be immune from misdemeanor citations. There are rules in place to keep our society intact.

The challenge comes when we unfairly enforce those rules or use them because people are poor and don’t have a place to be.

Hansen: There is no one above or below the law. We need to make sure the laws are enforced, city laws, county laws, state laws, federal laws. One of the unique things now is we stopped any routine enforcement thanks to someone’s idea that folks would behave themselves. But we haven’t seen that happen. We have to show we can balance both sides. This means making sure that if you do bad things, you

hurt other people, you steal, you do drugs, you cause problems, there’s a consequence. And show we’re going to help those people get off the streets and get the services they need.

McCarty: Everyone should be accountable for laws they follow and don’t follow.

Pan: No, they should not be immune from misdemeanor citations. But we need to be sure we are using effective means. Just putting everyone in jail, or fining people who have no money is not particularly effective. We do need to think about appropriate consequences when people violate the law, including misdemeanors.

Do unhoused people have a right to refuse services and camp day and night on public property?

Cofer: Those are two separate questions, so let me answer them separately. As Americans, we have the right to refuse services. However, as a public health professional, most of the people I’ve interfaced with who are unhoused want services, but all services are not equal. We need to be clear about the fact that just because someone says no doesn’t mean that they’re saying no to everything. When we have effective people who know how to do this work, the answer is usually yes. People have the right to refuse, but they won’t refuse if you offer something good.

Hansen: If you are voluntarily homeless, because you’ve refused services, you shouldn’t have the right to camp anywhere. Boise v. Martin limits some of what you can do at night, but not by day. And that decision, I was on the council when we asked the Supreme Court to revisit it and clarify or change it. That wasn’t accepted, but there’s a new case, and we need clarity.

Out of San Francisco, there has been a major decision by the court that if you’re voluntarily homeless because you’ve refused services, you don’t get to stay there. That’s what we need.

McCarty: People have a right to refuse services. They don’t have a right to camp on public property day and night. We need to enforce the law on no camping. Conversely, we need to have sites throughout the city where people can go, whether they’re tiny home locations like I’m working on for Cal Expo, whether they’re safe grounds, whether they’re places people can park. We have ample public land, and we have enough money. We just don’t always have the political will.

Pan: I wouldn’t say they have the right to camp on public property.

Camping violates city ordinances. They have the right to be in public spaces like everyone else, housed or unhoused.

However, we have rules for being in those public spaces. Those rules need to be followed by everyone.

Should the city expedite permits for developers who want to transition office buildings into housing?

Cofer: I don’t know all the details in terms of what expediting would entail. I don’t want us to be in a position where we’re not doing our due diligence. But I do think this is a housing crisis. We need to do everything in our power to make sure that we can get people housed.

Hansen: Yes. The city needs housing at all levels of affordability. But more importantly, we need housing in the right places. Because office workers are not going to come back. Even the city employees have not come back. We need to pivot these commercial areas and Downtown into places that have people living there 24/7. Then they can support businesses and eat at the restaurants and be the eyes and ears to keep things clean and safe.

McCarty: It’s one of my platform issues. It’s an issue I’ve been leading on for a couple years at the state. The governor signed my bill to have more adaptive reuse. We have a project in the works right now on Capitol Mall, the Employment Development site, which could be between 500 and 1,000 units. That’s just the beginning.

Pan: We should try to expedite permits for everyone trying to build housing or considering housing conversions.

Happy Holidays from

TRADITIONS FOR THE FUTURE LYON VILLAGE

2580 Fair Oaks Blvd. Ste 30. Sacramento 916.487.7853

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17

Gifts From The

Heart

Barbara Heinrich Photo by Linda Smolek

VOLUNTEERS SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER THROUGH GIFT-GIVING

anta’s workshop has been in full swing since November, but it’s not manned by elves.

It’s run by volunteers and administrators of the county’s Gifts from the Heart program.

S

JL

By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Profile

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

Gifts from the Heart celebrates 35 years this season of bringing Christmas joy to children ages 0 to 18, seniors and disabled adults.

Since 1988, the program has annually provided gifts to more than 3,000 clients served by the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services thanks to the generosity of more than 100 community partners.

Local businesses, government agencies, faith-based organizations, service groups, professional groups, private individuals and families chip in.

Starting in October, social workers request specific gifts for clients.

Requests are distributed to partner organizations whose members purchase the items. The gifts are picked up and wrapped by volunteers and given back to the social workers for delivery.

Come early December, Gifts from the Heart operates a warehouse called the Santa Shop, where social workers pick out last-minute items for children and teens just entering child protective services.

“Ninety to 95% of these clients have nothing, so to bring that holiday joy to them is priceless,” says Tonja Edelman, a social worker who coordinates volunteers and student interns for the county and oversees the gifts program. “We couldn’t do it without our amazing sponsors and volunteers.

We have about 25 volunteers, mostly active retired seniors, and they’re all absolutely amazing.”

“It’s really a wonderful program,” says one volunteer, Hollywood Park resident Barbara Heinrich, whom Edelman calls “Santa Barbara.”

“The fun begins in the warehouse— oh, my goodness, it’s very chaotic but very fun,” Heinrich says. “The first couple of weeks we go out and get gifts from the sponsors and drive them into the warehouse. After we wrap them, we drive them back out to the social workers to deliver to their clients.

“For the seniors and disabled adults we serve, we make the trips ourselves to deliver, which is a whole lot of fun.

I’ve gotten the most amazing reactions.

I’ve been hugged, invited in, even given candy.”

Heinrich got involved with Gifts from the Heart after her sister Aileen told her about the program. Heinrich started by donating Barbie dolls—some with handmade outfits—and expanded to action figures. Now she creates boxes filled with dolls, Legos, card games,

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drawing books, puzzles and more.

“Christmas in a box!” Heinrich says.

When she retired 10 years ago as an inspector with the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, Heinrich helped the gift program handle its paperwork. Then she wrapped gifts purchased by sponsors online and helped Edelman and the volunteers set up the Santa Shop.

“We get the Santa Shop set up in less than one day—Tonja is very good,” Heinrich says.

Each client receives three gifts and occasionally extra treats such as blankets from Project Linus and books. Leftover items are donated to other groups to make someone else’s Christmas wish come true.

When the program winds down in mid-December, Heinrich starts all over again, shopping for next year’s goodies.

“Gifts from the Heart is an all-year thing for me,” she says.

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Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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19

Katie Valenzuela

True To Herself VALENZUELA WON’T LISTEN TO ANYONE, BUT RUNS AGAIN

S

oon after winning her City Council seat in 2020, Katie Valenzuela made a decision that set the tone

RG

By R.E. Graswich

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

for her neophyte political career. She hired a man who made violent threats against the mayor and city manager.

As it turned out, Skyler Henry wasn’t violent. But his presence at City Hall prompted Mayor Darrell Steinberg and City Manager Howard Chan to seek a restraining order against Henry. The order was denied, but Chan changed several locks at City Hall to prevent Henry from wandering around.

When I asked Valenzuela why she would hire someone known for making threats against public officials, she said Henry was merely exercising his First Amendment rights. Refusal to hire him, she said, would make her a hypocrite, someone who disrespects free speech.

I told her she was disrespecting Steinberg and Chan. But her mind was made up. Henry held his staff job for a while, caused no problems and left City Hall.

The rocky start became a bumpy first term for Valenzuela, who is running for re-election March 5 against Phil Pluckebaum. In her first three years, Valenzuela demonstrated a contradictory approach to municipal governance.

She argued the city needs more housing, but voted against housing plans when she learned developers didn’t use union labor. She proposed hefty fees on developers, which drove developers away from the city.

She tried to solve homelessness by not enforcing camping ordinances, which produced more homelessness.

She spoke about safe streets and worked to defund police. She survived two recall attempts.

Valenzuela, who ignored interview requests for this story, is an incumbent in name only. The district that elected her three years ago no longer exists.

Disastrous advice from the city attorney created a new District 4 with only partial representation after the city’s 2021 census reapportionment.

Land Park, Little Pocket, Midtown and Downtown were Valenzuela’s original neighborhoods. Now she hopes to represent East Sacramento and River Park residents who hardly know her, plus Downtown and Midtown, where she lives. Pluckebaum lives in East Sac. That’s where the race will be decided.

Homelessness dominates Valenzuela’s time at City Hall. Upon seeing her new district boundaries, Valenzuela held community meetings to discuss the proliferation of tents on East Sac streets and parks.

Her solution involved two new homeless shelters in the gentrified neighborhood. The shelters were never

built, but residents hated the idea.

They immediately gathered signatures to recall Valenzuela, only to learn she didn’t really represent them. Nobody does until December 2024.

Valenzuela ran in 2020 as a Democrat but considers herself a democratic socialist. Even as the City Council moves leftward with new members and a lame duck Steinberg, no member marches with Valenzuela’s intense progressive philosophy.

She celebrated May Day in Cuba, posting photos of herself boozing while colleagues were in Washington, D.C., on a lobbying trip to secure federal funds for regional projects.

Her political passion seems to revolve around income inequality and climate change, a tough fit for an elected official whose constituents expect her to ensure police and fire calls are answered, garbage gets picked up and toilets flush.

Without irony, her biggest success involves a homeless camp. Valenzuela convinced colleagues to create an authorized settlement for campers at Miller Park. Eventually, the state donated trailers for the tiny community.

The camp was supposed to be temporary. It disrupted recreational activities in Miller Park. But Valenzuela argued to keep the site open, housing about 45 people. It’s a fitting metaphor that her grand accomplishment is a homeless camp.

In some ways, Valenzuela’s 2020 election reflected voter disappointment with the incumbent, Steve Hansen, now running for mayor. Hansen opposed public access to the Sacramento River Parkway levee in Little Pocket.

Valenzuela supports parkway levee access.

She walked Land Park and Little Pocket and won election with strong numbers in river-adjacent precincts.

At the time, Valenzuela told me she would follow her beliefs, be true to herself. She didn’t care if she was rejected by voters after one term.

I thought she was being naïve and self-righteous. Now I think she really means it.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. n

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21

Garden Party BOTANICAL OASIS GAINS MOMENTUM

C

ity life, by its very nature, requires places to escape.

Even in our most livable urban areas humans need sanctuaries to get away from traffic, noise, congestion, crowds and other annoyances.

That’s why we cherish parks, museums, beaches and other oases.

Calm, relaxing locations where we slow down and forget the stress.

Few places offer the peace and beauty of a well-designed, plush

GD

By Gary Delsohn Building Our Future

22

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

botanical garden. Now a group of determined Sacramentans is working to bring this amenity to the capital city.

Garden advocates are encouraged by conversations with the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District for 61 of its 2,150-acre “buffer lands” near Consumnes Boulevard in South Sacramento.

There are still many details to be worked out, among them how to raise the estimated $40 million in development costs. Also, negotiations with the city and Delta Shores landowners about using another privately owned 27 acres targeted for a park.

But sanitation district staff and board members have been supportive about a possible lease for some of its property. Renee Taylor, a longtime local public relations executive and former SMUD board member, is interim chair for the Sacramento

Botanical Garden nonprofit. She’s optimistic about producing a final plan next year.

Bryan Young, environmental program manager for the sanitation district, tells me, “We’re open to the idea and continuing to talk. We think we have plenty of common ground.

Our involvement would require board approval, but we definitely think there’s a way it can be done. We see it as an asset to the community.”

Ideally, the gardens would be more centrally located, and not near a sanitation facility, even with its expansive buffer. But cheaper land is a plus and could make the project, which would include a restaurant, conservatory, public art, a small amphitheater for entertainment events and other features, pencil out.

Another reason for optimism, Taylor says, is new energy in the garden’s leadership. Project enthusiasts Bruce

Ritter and Linda Ching, who launched the idea about four years ago, recently stepped down from board positions. The group added new, politically connected civic leaders.

“The Sacramento Botanical Garden founding board worked diligently for the past four years to lay the foundation for the project, and now we are moving to the next phase in garden development,” Taylor wrote in an email. “We identified what is likely the perfect location for a 60+ acre botanical garden in Sacramento, and we are focused on the work to confirm the site.”

New members of the board include William Ishmael, vice chair, local artist and civil engineer; Ray Tretheway, co-founder and former director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation and former City Council member; Jeff Townsend, landscape architect; Christi Black-Davis, public relations executive;

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our favorite cities. We had a wonderful time exploring Van Dusen Botanical Garden on the site of an old golf course in the heart of the metropolis. The 55-acre garden boasts more than 7,500 plant species. It’s a top attraction.

Given Sacramento’s climate and verdant setting, a botanical garden should have happened long ago. Let’s hope the new board can pull this off and create a serene island to escape, reflect and enjoy gorgeous landscapes.

Gary Delsohn can be reached at gdelsohn@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

VISIT

and Julia Burrows, former senior policy adviser to mayors Darrell Steinberg and Kevin Johnson.

The board makes the case for the project on its website at sacbo.org: “Throughout the world, major destination cities have included botanical gardens as one of the attractions for visitors. Think of the New York Botanical Garden, the Huntington in the greater Los Angeles area, or the Royal Botanical Gardens in London.

“A botanical garden in Sacramento is a way to restore our green spaces, provide a place for learning, relaxation and conservation.”

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23

Power Up

CITY NEEDS TO MAKE ALL-ELECTRIC SWITCH

T

he West Antarctic ice sheet is collapsing, hurricanes are growing more intense, sea levels are rising. Locally we have seen two severe droughts, wildfires in abundance and a 500year rain event, all within seven years.

Climate change is here and increasing at a rapid rate. Even the staunchest climate-change deniers are reconsidering. What should we do in Sacramento to address this global calamity?

The answer: reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector is a big culprit. That’s where we can make huge improvements.

Moving to electric vehicles and alternative modes of transportation addresses the problem.

Energy use in homes and businesses is a second big source of

JH

By Jeff Harris City Realist

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

climate pollutants. It’s an area of focus for the City Council.

In 2021, the council adopted the new construction electrification ordinance, mandating that all new structures three stories and under must be powered by electricity, rather than a mix of electricity and gas, beginning this year.

The thinking was leaking gas lines emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Plus, burning gas for heat, water heating and cooking are large sources of greenhouse gas and create indoor pollutants.

Electricity is cleaner. Power produced by SMUD is scheduled to be carbon neutral in 2030. SMUD electricity rates are among the lowest in the country.

Not surprisingly, many public reactions followed the ordinance’s adoption. Objections ranged from a strong desire to continue cooking with gas, to extra burdens placed on developers to rethink building designs and customer acceptance of single-fuel homes.

Many think the power grid can’t handle the extra loads associated with more electric appliances and car chargers. There’s worry about power outages, retrofit costs and

dependence on a single fuel. These are reasonable concerns.

More angst was created when the City Council discussed mandating electrification of existing buildings at some point in the future.

To address these questions, the council told our climate action lead, Jennifer Venema, to develop strategies for existing building electrification and a pathway to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

The strategies don’t contemplate mandating a change from gas to electric cooking.

The result is a 141-page document that addresses concerns, with analyses of the cost and benefits of electrification versus dual-fuel buildings. It’s a good piece of work and worth reading. It will help you decide if electrification of your home is right for you.

There are many rebates available to assist building owners with purchasing new and efficient appliances and solar arrays.

An online tool called XeroHome (xerohome.com) is free and helps explain energy use in your home.

You can build a plan to reduce your carbon footprint, understand the upfront costs and payback

periods, and make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

Can local governments mandate that we change our energy use? The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said no, and blocked Berkeley’s electrification ordinance, saying the city exceeded its authority.

The ruling is being appealed. Until settled, Sacramento can’t implement its new construction electrification ordinance or adopt existing building electrification rules.

I recently built an all-electric ADU. As a councilmember I voted for the electrification ordinance. I wanted to see how going all electric would play out. I’m happy to say it’s working well for me. The new appliances are excellent. Energy bills are low.

Will Sacramento’s ordinances solve climate change? Of course not. But we can be a leader in lowering our carbon footprint. There are numerous personal and societal benefits to changing our energy use. Those benefits must be our focus and goal.

Jeff Harris represented District 3 on City Council from 2014 to 2022.

He can be reached at cadence@mycci. net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

INSIDE

OUT Happy Holidays!

PHOTOS BY LINDA SMOLEK

Homes around Sacramento celebrate the season with festive decorations.

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

25

Jessica Solano

Call Of Duty

COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER HELPS PETS AND PEOPLE

I

t was a sweltering summer day in 2022 when county Animal Control Officer Jessica Solano responded to a call about a dog named Bowbii.

Bowbii, a 170-pound Caucasian shepherd living outside, was severely malnourished, immobile and covered with maggot-filled skin infections.

“It was the most challenging call I have ever done,” Solano says. “The dog needed urgent medical care and

CR

By Cathryn Rakich Animals & Their Allies

26

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

the owner had failed to provide that care.”

Solano impounded the dog, transported him to the Bradshaw Animal Shelter and worked hours assisting the medical staff with Bowbii’s injuries. She went home, wrote the report and submitted it to the district attorney at 1 a.m.

“The owner of the dog had a previous criminal history, and we were able to get an arrest warrant the next day,” Solano says. “The owner was arrested five days after I impounded Bowbii.”

Solano testified in a jury trial against the owner, who was found guilty. “He is currently serving his time in a California correctional facility,” she says.

Solano is one of 14 animal control officers in Sacramento County (not including the cities of Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Folsom and Rancho Cordova, which have their own services.) Bradshaw Animal Shelter averages more than 20,000 calls annually for animal control assistance.

“Our priorities are sick and injured animals, aggressive stray animals, investigating bites, investigating neglect and investigating cruelty,” says Luna Anona, Bradshaw’s public information officer. “Officers need to clear those calls before they can get to calls for issues like barking,” a common complaint.

Solano, who became a county animal control officer in 2020,

averages about 15 calls a day. “Some calls may take 15 minutes, but another may take a few hours,” she says.

Animal control is available 24/7.

After 10 p.m., emergency calls are handled by the animal control officer on standby.

“Many people still see animal control officers as dog catchers,” Solano says. “They don’t realize we do so much more—from being able to reunite lost pets with microchips and their owners on the spot, to writing arrest warrants and playing a vital role in serving justice in criminal animal abuse cases.”

The job isn’t easy, says Annette Bedsworth, director of the Bradshaw shelter. “They regularly encounter extremely difficult and upsetting situations, but their work is vital for both people and pets.”

Tough situations include aggressive dogs. “Dog attacks, especially severe attacks on humans, are very difficult and one of the hardest parts of my job,” Solano says. “They are extremely emotional situations for all involved, both the victims and the dog owners.”

Solano graduated from Animal Control Officer Academy through the California Animal Welfare Association. Animal control officers must pass a drug screening, DOJ/FBI background check and psychological test.

Solano does not carry a firearm but keeps a .410 shotgun in her vehicle to “dispatch” animals when necessary.

The job comes with risks. In 2012, a Sacramento County animal control officer was shot and killed by a man evicted from his home the day before.

The officer was at the house to retrieve the pets still inside.

Solano says any anxiety she experiences “depends on the call.

People don’t make me nervous. I am more concerned about the welfare of the animals.”

Penny Scott, a local volunteer dog trapper, has worked with Solano.

“I had trapped a dog late in the evening who turned out to be a bit aggressive,” Scott says. She called Solano, who was off duty. “Not only did she come and assist, she offered to take the dog home.”

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Then there’s the goat. Scott received several messages to help trap a loose goat on Highway 99. “It was running in and out of traffic, cars were trying to avoid it, people were chasing it,” she says.

After trapping the goat inside Sacramento city limits, Scott called the city’s Front Street Animal Shelter and was told it would not accept the goat. Not prepared to take the animal home, she went on social media to find temporary housing.

“I get a surprise call saying, ‘Bring the goat to Bradshaw Animal Shelter,’” Scott says. “Jessica, once again, was not only helping me, but also this goat.” Following the goat’s stray hold, when no owner came forward, the animal went up for adoption and found a new home.

Solano, who grew up in Sacramento with a variety of family pets, always knew she wanted to work with animals. Now her focus is keeping community animals safe and healthy.

“Officer Solano's expertise, compassion and tireless commitment have made her an invaluable asset

to our team,” Bedsworth says. “She is consistently assigned some of the most challenging and complex cases because of her ability to handle them with remarkable proficiency and care.”

Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

Adopt an orphan who will steal your heart.

sacpetsearch.com sspca.org happytails.org saccountyshelter.net ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

27

Anthony Ferrari

Off The Hook FERRARI FAMILY FINDS FORMULA FOR FRESHEST FISH

M

y dinner tonight is tender, flakey and buttery black cod, known as sablefish, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, torn basil confetti and crushed cherry tomatoes.

GM

By Gabrielle Myers Photography by Aniko Kiezel Farm To Fork

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

It’s the freshest fish I’ve had in town—and it came from a waterfront stand off South River Road in West Sacramento.

Down South River Road’s bends and twists, across the river from Pocket and just before Vierra Farms, there’s sign for Ferrari Fisheries. The trail leads to a stall with a table and containers.

The sign brings to mind the timeless, muddy Sacramento River floating past. Yet here is some of the area’s freshest ocean fish. The fisherman is Anthony Ferrari. He carries on a family tradition started decades ago by his father.

Ferrari and his wife Terri bring whole black cod, ling cod, rockfish and other delights straight from their boats in Fort Bragg to Sacramento.

The direct exchange between Ferrari Fisheries and customers results in the freshest fish around.

Ferrari, known to all as Tony, runs two of the three boats. His father Lou runs the other. The elder Ferrari, 80, has fished since high school, mostly long-line work out of Fisherman’s

Wharf in San Francisco before he moved to Fort Bragg.

Tony grew up fishing with his father, appreciating the open sea and adventure. At 13, he began to fish from his own boat, a junkyard wreck rebuilt safe and navigable by Lou. Tony had another outdoor interest.

A left-handed relief pitcher, he worked eight seasons in minor league baseball.

Career highlights include a four-game stretch with the Montreal Expos and a

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season with an Italian team, Grosseto Orioles of Tuscany.

In 2008, Tony came home to learn the fishing business from his father.

The two were a successful team.

The Ferraris ran a wholesale business, but during the pandemic, with restaurants shuttered and wholesale prices collapsing, Tony started to think about other ways to sell fish.

He went back to basics, hustling fish from a cooler in the back of his pickup truck. It worked. Tony and Terri established a base of 300 customers, alerting people via text when Tony arrived from Fort Bragg with a new haul.

Today the subscriber list is nearly 4,000. Tony brings black cod, ling cod and rockfish. Sometimes he offers salmon, halibut and swordfish purchased from fellow fishermen around Fort Bragg.

As the subscriber list grew, Tony built out Ferrari Fisheries’ stall with a professional prep table where he can filet the catch. By law, customers must buy only whole fish. But Tony can filet on the spot, no charge.

Tony smokes black cod, my favorite smoked fish. It stands up well to cooking and retains its characteristic flake throughout the smoking process.

On my visit to the River Road stall, Ferrari showed me an old refrigerator

he turned into a smoker. Bountiful fillets smoked slowly with apple wood chips.

With Courtland’s apple orchards close by, Ferrari’s apple wood smoke fit perfectly with the view of the winding river.

Hook and long-line fishing practiced by the Ferraris is one of the most sustainable methods. No large nets to indiscriminately capture fish of all varieties. Hook and line fishing produces only the type, quality and size sought.

Ferrari adds another layer of sustainability when he composts and spreads the leftover fish guts and bones around the family yard and garden.

Ferrari’s fish is served at local restaurants, including Hook & Ladder, Localis, Allora and Cacio.

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To buy a whole fish, visit the stall at 4520 South River Road, West Sacramento. For information and text alerts visit ferrarifisheries.com.

Gabrielle Myers can be reached at gabriellemyers11@gmail.com. Her latest book of poetry, “Too Many Seeds,” can be ordered from fishinglinepress. com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

29

They’re Off

Harness racing at Cal Expo.

Photo by Aniko Kiezel

CAL EXPO HARNESS RACES RUN TO UNKNOWN FUTURE

T

ime to bet $50 on a harness horse named Roscoe P Coletrain. He’s no sure thing.

Just a beautiful name.

I rarely bet horses on name alone, and almost never risk $50. I’m a $20 bettor, long shots. Anything over $20 depresses me when luck fails. Roscoe P Coletrain inspires dumb certainty.

The drive to Cal Expo is a reminder of how tough it is to make an oldfashioned, in-person wager on a harness horse. Trouble starts with finding the racetrack. I’ve watched

RG

By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

30

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

races at Cal Expo for almost 50 years, navigated the parking lot hundreds of times.

But tonight, I imagine someone visiting the track for the first time.

I wonder if there’s a conspiracy to hide the racecourse and discourage attendance, especially for newcomers who don’t know their way around the State Fairgrounds.

The track is impossible to miss with a big grandstand and stadium lights.

But vastness doesn’t mean easy access.

Come off the freeway at Expo Boulevard. Head east to the last Cal Expo entrance, the final driveway before the racetrack. Now things get tricky.

Multiple traffic lanes greet the guest.

During the State Fair, attendants work the lanes and collect parking fees.

For harness racing, there’s no traffic, attendants or fees.

Onward toward a guard shack that oversees a side entry to the fairgrounds. No guard. The gate hangs open. A few dozen cars are parked inside, up a slight hill near the grandstand. Here’s the best part about

harness racing: free VIP parking for everyone.

From the VIP lot, it’s a short walk to the grandstand. Inside the door, an empty ticket desk. Admission is free tonight. Around the corner, a few dozen betting machines and empty teller windows. Parimutuel clerks once stood there, punching betting tickets and cashing winners.

Cal Expo still employs several human parimutuel clerks, relics from yesteryear whose ancestors worked mutuel windows at the Stockton Boulevard fairgrounds. Certain clerks were believed to generate luck.

In the old days, mutuel clerks followed the horses. They worked Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields in fall, spring and winter. The Fair Circuit in summer.

Vagabond lifestyles mostly ended when satellite betting centers opened year round in California. Serve-yourself betting machines took over. Gamblers tapped keypads and printed their own mutuel tickets.

This might be the last season for harness racing at Cal Expo. The closure

of Golden Gate Fields in mid-2024 means thoroughbreds will need other tracks to run on. Pleasanton will probably get most dates, but Cal Expo will no doubt expand its thoroughbred calendar.

More racing dates for Cal Expo is good news. But here’s the catch. If those new dates conflict with harness racing, harness loses.

After a half-century as a Sacramento sporting tradition, harness racing at Cal Expo might disappear in 2024, thanks to an expanded thoroughbred calendar.

Harness horses are poor stepchildren to thoroughbreds in California. It’s been true since the 1930s.

The state racing board allocates schedules for all breeds. Trouble is, thoroughbreds and harness horses can’t share the same track. The hardpack surface used by sulkies is unsafe for sprinters.

The racing board knows about Sacramento’s harness tradition.

But a dwindling fan base prefers thoroughbreds. And thoroughbred

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owners and trainers have more political juice than the harness community.

It’s possible to build a calendar that protects Cal Expo’s November–April harness meet. Spread Golden Gate Fields’ thoroughbred dates among Pleasanton, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Fresno and Ferndale. Leave harness alone.

The racing board, never in a hurry to make a bet, should decide next spring.

Time to get that $50 down on Roscoe P Coletrain. “Good luck,” the clerk says.

I could have done all this without leaving home, via smart phone.

Gambling has become so ubiquitous that people can bet hundreds of races through apps without falling out of bed.

But I love the track, the horses, people, atmosphere, even Roscoe P Coletrain, the horse with the beautiful name, who finishes last.

Cal Expo harness racing runs Friday and Sunday nights November through April at the State Fairgrounds.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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31

Exterior photo by Aniko Kiezel

Happy Returns

EAST SAC HOME BECOMES A MAGNET FOR THIS FAMILY

E

ast Sacramento pulls you back. Noelle Dear and her husband Ben joined the returnees.

“As our family grew, we both decided East Sac was the best place we could be,” Noelle says.

The family has two children, ages 5 and 14 months, with Noelle’s parents just a few blocks away.

The couple moved from the Bay Area in 2020 and loved the charm of the 46th Street home they purchased and remodeled. Designer Ricki Stevens helped create a master plan to add some modern touches.

“I was visiting my folks, and, on a walk, there were two homes for sale, side-by-side. I looked at one and ruled it out. My dad suggested I check out the other home,” Noelle says. “I walked in and could envision the possibilities

CH

By Cecily Hastings Open House

32

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

Interior photos by Stephanie Russo of Ricki Stevens Design in a heartbeat. I contacted Ben immediately and said, ‘Call the mortgage broker, I just found the best home for us.’”

The home, built in 1938, was 2,581 square feet. It’s now almost 3,000.

During the remodel, the family lived with Noelle’s parents. They moved into their new home about a year ago. “The perfect time to be on the

Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour this month,” Noelle says.

“We reconfigured the entire upstairs,” Stevens says. “We added a laundry room, previously in the basement, and two bedrooms with their own bathrooms.”

With space from a former balcony off the bedroom, they created a generous primary bedroom with large bathroom and walk-in closet.

“Downstairs we reconfigured the existing kitchen, using some existing cabinets and adding new where needed,” Noelle says. “The family room fireplace received a facelift, and we used the original built-in niches, just making them more functional by adding more depth to the shelves.

“We also created a larger entry facing the street, added a front courtyard and walkway from street

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

33

to the front door,” Stevens says. The original entry faced the driveway and lacked a formal walkway to the front door.

The house received new doors and windows, paint, lighting, plumbing and stucco. “We refinished the floors and added new where needed to match original,” Stevens says.

The couple tore down the garage and built an ADU for a home office as both

34

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

work from home. New landscaping was installed.

Noelle is a fan of designer Stevens’ creative designs. “She just was awesome,” Noelle says. “The theme was casual, elegant using natural materials.

In addition, it had to be family-friendly.

Ricki succeeded on every level.”

Of note are focal points of color, texture or pattern unique to every room.

“My favorite part of the house is the floor plan flow for social events. It’s just amazing,” Noelle says. “We host a lot of parties. We have a very large family. And we have amazing indooroutdoor space that expands the home tremendously in good weather.”

The Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour celebrates its 50th anniversary Dec. 1, 2 and 3. Tickets are $35 to $45, available online or at Sacred Heart

School at 856 39th Street on event days.

Visit sacredhearthometour.com.

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com.

To recommend a home or garden, contact cecily@insidepublications. com. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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2408 VIA CAMINO AVE $305,000 6420 QUIESCENCE LN #A $325,000 6442 TEMPLETON DR $350,000 2304 GARFIELD AVE $412,000 5317 HESPER WAY $427,200 6443 REXFORD WAY $430,000 2525 MIDLAND WAY $450,000 2217 NANCY WAY $451,000 5034 ROBANDER ST $454,145 6441 BELGROVE WAY $455,000 4931 KURZ CIR $470,000 5713 GRANT AVE $482,000 5126 VON WAY $484,000 4120 SALMAAN DR $523,000 4512 FOSTER WAY $525,000 4533 ONYX WAY $530,000 5136 MELVIN DR $535,000 4807 DONNIE LYN WAY $550,000 5099 TONYA WAY $575,000 6504 SUTTER AVE $580,000 5400 HALSTED AVE $605,000 76 FOOTBRIDGE PL $655,000 6079 SHIRLEY AVE $670,000 3988 ORVAL WAY $675,000 7012 TRABERT CT $685,000 3820 CLAIRE DR $700,000 5955 SHIRLEY AVE $730,000 4710 HARDCASTLE LN $750,000 5013 KINROSS RD $760,000 4300 FOREST HILL CT $760,000 1752 PARK PLACE DR $780,000 6508 STANLEY AVE $810,000 6041 SHIRLEY AVE $875,000 5405 ALDER GLEN CT $900,000 5301 SHELATO WAY $925,000 6879 GRANT AVE $1,230,000 4731 DOVERCOURT CIR$1,235,000 1360 GARY WAY $1,360,000 1408 KINGSFORD DR $1,400,000 6324 SUTTER AVE $1,565,000 1397 PARS OAK LN $1,785,000 1160 GLEN AULIN CT $1,950,000

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1851 GLENROSE AVE $258,000 950 ALAMOS AVE $260,000 672 BELASCO AVE $300,000 2850 PLOVER ST $315,000 2735 CLAY ST $339,900 2579 ERICKSON ST $340,000 3116 EL REY WAY $360,000 1904 KEITH WAY $360,000 1908 HELENA AVE $375,000 3162 DEL PASO BLVD $380,000 1137 GLENROSE AVE $390,000 2462 BOXWOOD ST $411,500 1932 BOWLING GREEN DR $440,000

95816

3138 SERRA WAY 2605 C ST 2307 L ST 2605 N ST 621 23RD ST 640 38TH ST 3589 FORNEY WAY 2805 E ST 544 36TH STREET 441 34TH ST 593 34TH ST

95817

4065 11TH AVE 4706 U ST 2642 36TH ST 6165 2ND AVE 3135 42ND ST 4869 U ST 2904 58TH

95818

481 LUG LN #58A 933 3RD AVE 2608 CLEAT LN #27 570 5TH AVE 1833 VALLEJO WAY 2536 CURTIS WAY 3041 17TH ST 2725 6TH AVE 2713 TOMATO ALY

$455,000 $508,000 $525,000 $619,000 $670,000 $675,000 $718,000 $760,000 $910,000 $1,040,000 $1,350,000

$210,000 $455,000 $457,851 $535,000 $555,000 $570,000 $675,000

$329,000 $475,000 $493,000 $675,000 $730,000 $748,622 $750,000 $763,500 $825,000

2715 TOMATO ALY 3669 CROCKER DR 3048 24TH ST 1759 7TH AVE

$825,000 $850,000 $890,000 $1,250,000

95819

5246 J ST $459,500 5190 MODDISON AVE $630,000 4630 B ST $640,000 5340 S ST $659,950 5009 TEICHERT AVE $715,000 679 55TH ST $750,000 1155 56TH ST $755,000 1512 40TH ST $775,000 1368 55TH ST $799,000 801 50TH ST $850,000 832 53RD ST $871,800 1656 48TH STREET $875,000 5625 M ST $999,000 3933 T ST $1,076,266 5728 MODDISON AVE $1,100,000 1720 BERKELEY WAY $1,123,677 4425 H ST $1,210,000 1363 44TH ST $1,700,000

95821

2829 SANTA PAULA CT #2829 $260,000 2581 FULTON SQ LN #69 $267,000 2869 SANTA PAULA CT #2869 $271,000 2551 FULTON SQ LN #48 $310,000 3813 PASADENA AVE #38 $350,000 2521 CUMBERLAND RD $391,500 2341 TYROLEAN WAY $395,000 3709 FRENCH AVE $410,000 2029 EDISON AVE $417,000 3608 FRENCH AVE $424,900 3704 BROWNSON ST $499,000 3100 CREST HAVEN DR $505,000 3713 HUFF WAY $535,000 3321 MONTCLAIRE ST $545,000 3534 BECERRA WAY $545,000 2800 CARSON WAY $545,500 4016 NORRIS AVE $585,000 2709 BUTANO DR $610,000 3846 EDISON AVE $640,000 2533 ANDRADE WAY $677,000

3444 DEL MESA CT $700,000 2625 SHERIDAN WAY $740,000 3724 CANNA CT $755,000 2821 TIOGA WAY $755,000 3249 CLAIRIDGE WAY $1,025,000

2224 LANDON LN 1045 VANDERBILT WAY 704 ELMHURST CIR 511 DUNBARTON CIR 2279 UNIVERSITY AVE

95822

95831

5653 HAROLD WAY $360,000 6490 GOLF VIEW DR $375,000 6680 GOLF VIEW DR $375,000 2167 63RD AVE $420,000 2420 37TH AVE $420,000 2121 50TH AVE $422,500 1404 LOMAS WAY $428,000 7442 WILLOWWICK WAY $430,000 2221 51ST AVE $443,390 1925 WAKEFIELD WAY $445,000 3210 ELLWOOD AVE $450,000 3261 TORRANCE AVE $455,000 5604 HELEN WAY $459,000 7425 CANDLEWOOD WAY$460,000 2049 WAKEFIELD WAY $477,000 2333 22ND AVE $510,000 33 MIRANDA CT $520,000 7719 ADDISON WAY $564,000 2221 IRVIN WAY $635,000 5051 HILLARD ST $650,000 2233 IRVIN WAY $660,000 4637 SUNSET DR $690,527 5824 ANNRUD WAY $730,000 1144 34TH AVE $750,000 4541 CAPRI WAY $872,000

95825

957 FULTON AVE #553 $198,000 2201 WOODSIDE LN #9 $224,000 539 WOODSIDE OAKS #6 $235,000 708 WOODSIDE LN E #4 $238,500 2454 LARKSPUR #328 $279,000 792 E WOODSIDE LN #5 $285,000 2280 HURLEY WAY #53 $290,000 523 WOODSIDE OAKS #3 $300,000 1367 HOOD RD $320,000 2470 NORTHROP AVE #11$335,000 2141 CORTEZ LN $370,000 224 EAST RANCH RD $450,000

$480,000 $509,000 $510,000 $526,000 $710,000

522 RIVERGATE WAY $385,000 26 PARK PLACE CT $425,000 821 FLORIN RD $455,000 1274 SUNLAND VISTA AVE $505,000 964 BRIARCREST WAY $540,000 7601 RUSH RIVER DR $548,000 7720 ROBERTS RIVER WY $555,000 556 RIVERGATE WAY $585,000 71 PARKLITE CIR $700,000 575 RIVERGATE WAY $701,000 1221 58TH AVE $715,000 6572 BENHAM WAY $802,000 7684 EL DOURO DR $825,000 6728 BENHAM WAY $825,000 6441 S LAND PARK DR $1,055,000

95864

2663 LARKSPUR LN $325,000 3417 BARRINGTON RD $361,100 3037 MAISON WAY $395,000 1704 MERCURY WAY $460,000 1416 WYANT WAY $465,000 1848 VENUS DR $552,000 4349 FIGWOOD WAY $560,000 2052 MARYAL DR $609,000 3850 BERRENDO DR $620,000 1419-1419 EASTERN AVE $640,000 2029 MEDUSA WAY $644,000 4524 ANDOVER CT $649,000 4200 PUENTE WAY $770,000 2941 SIENNA LN $835,000 180 WESTCOTT WAY $995,000 3920 LAS PASAS WAY $1,095,000 790 LILAC LN $1,300,000 125 CLUNIE DR $1,335,000 1325 ARROYO GRANDE $1,375,000 450 CROCKER RD $3,200,000

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ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

35

Duty Calls

GRAND JURY NEEDS CITIZENS WHO SERVE AS WATCHDOGS

BY STEVEN M. GEVERCER

W

here does a citizen go with information that questions the integrity or work of a local public agency? The answer is the county grand jury.

Oversight of local government is never an option in a successful democracy. It’s a necessity. The community depends on oversight.

In Sacramento County, this essential work falls to the grand jury, 19 people from diverse backgrounds who serve one-year terms as jurors.

The recruiting period for new grand jurors is now open, with applications accepted Nov. 20 to Dec. 29.

36

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

Grand jury newcomers join a group of county residents who review citizen complaints about local government, engage in independent inquiries and participate in criminal grand jury indictments.

As a member of California’s legal system for four decades, I’m honored to serve as judicial adviser to the grand jury. While I understand the legacy of grand juries can be traced back almost 1,000 years to England, I know the primary function hasn’t changed. The grand jury is the public’s watchdog over local government.

The grand jury’s most recent annual report, released in June, described critical work, including a scathing

investigation of how the county and sheriff’s department mismanaged the operation and maintenance of the jails, and violated constitutional rights and federal protections for people with disabilities.

Grand jurors also revealed failures by the county and seven local incorporated cities to manage the homeless problem. Failures included a lack of cooperation, coordination and collaboration to create a comprehensive plan to attack the situation.

Additionally, the grand jury found an absence of measurable processes and outcome metrics with programs that serve unhoused people.

There are two ways citizens make the grand jury function. One is by serving as a juror. The second is by anonymously reporting wrongdoing or waste of public funds by local agencies.

As Steve Caruso, grand jury foreperson, says, “The grand jury relies on county residents to help us investigate and improve all aspects of local government.”

To apply to be a grand juror or learn how to make a confidential report, visit sacgrandjury.org.

Steven M. Gevercer is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge and judicial adviser to the grand jury. He can be reached at (916) 874-7559. n

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Amazing South Land Park Hills home on a rare double lot! Remodeled kitchen, park-like backyard, secluded pool & spa + much more! $925,000 PAM CRAWFORD 916.849.2167 #01327114

Land Park Colonial Cottage. 3BD/2BA,1 block from the park. 1865SF. Large yard w/gazebo.

Man Cave adjoins 2 car garage. $850,000 RHONDA HOLMEN 916.296.8886 #01189785

Sweet Land Park Cottage with brick courtyard.

3BD/2BA, 1740SF Spacious kitchen, large deck o΍ primary bedroom, 2 car garage. $795,000 RHONDA HOLMEN 916.296.8886 #01189785

Lovely Greenhaven home. 4BD/2.5 BA. Custom cabinets, SS appliances Close to schools & shopping. Nice evening Delta breeze! $524,950 JIM ANDERSON 916.806.4061 #01268030

Nestled in Anatolia with great community features - pool/spa, ȴtness room, tennis courts 3BD/2.5BA. Elk Grove School District! $428,000 MOLLIE K. HAGAR 949.510.6440 #02062951

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Beautifully Remodeled Land Park Home on Teneighth Way! 4BD/3BA, 2073SF, gourmet kitchen, hardwood ȵoors, stunning pool! $1,299,900 JIM JEFFERS 916.730.0494 #00768740

Stunning Modern in West Sac! 3BD/3BA. Gorgeous open concept Great Room. Near Downtown, the baseball park, restaurants & more! $569,900 JONATHAN BLUFER 916.572.6592 #02195450

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IN

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Lyon Land Park is hiring. If you are entering the business or looking to grow your business, we have the coaching, tools, and support to get you there. I am personally committed to helping my agents reach their goals.

Call or text me, and I’ll share the exciting things that are happening at Lyon Real Estate.

Visit JoinLyonLandPark.com to learn more.

Country Club living at its ȴnest! Remodeled Swallows Nest townhome. Gated, 3 pools, tennis courts, golf course & near the two rivers! $379,000 RHONDA HOLMEN 916.296.8886 #01189785

Stephen Haley Branch Manager Lic# 01903161 916-955-9112

LAND PARK OFFICE | 2620 21 ST STREET, SACRAMENTO | 916.453.3333 | GOLYON.COM The information in this advertisement, including, but not limited to, square footage and/or acreage, has been provided by various sources which may include the Seller, the Multiple Listing Service or other sources. Lyon Real Estate has not and will not investigate or verify the accuracy of this information. Prospective buyers are advised to conduct their own investigation of the Property and this advertised information utilizing appropriate professionals before purchasing this Property.

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Cheap Talk CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY, SOMEONE’S LISTENING

A

fter 30 years as a hospital and military chaplain, I returned to the pastorate last year.

Now I’m rediscovering things

I missed.

I missed preaching, potlucks and the fun I share with parishioners. I don’t miss the pressure clergy feel to recruit new parishioners. I was never much good at that.

In the Air Force I had ample opportunities to “troll for souls.” Each base chaplain is assigned workplaces they must routinely visit. My assigned areas were the hospital and security police station.

One day during a visit to the police station, I was warmly welcomed by a parishioner who worked as the desk sergeant. We sat in his cubicle and talked about office issues.

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By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

A few minutes into our conversation, the sergeant’s boss called him away.

While he was gone, I remained in the cubicle, hidden from several officers who entered the squad room. Assuming they had an empty office, they began to talk.

Their “talk” quickly turned to the graphic nature of their dating life. As they told can-you-top-this stories, one officer claimed his leading role as a “ladies man.”

His stories centered on his prowess with several women inside his Ford Taurus. Of course, when they saw the desk sergeant reenter the room, they went silent and retreated to the break room.

“Do you want to have a little fun?” I whispered to my friend.

He gave me a nod, so I filled him in on the conversation I’d overheard. Then I asked him to introduce me to the officers assembled around the doughnut box.

The sergeant and I entered the break room wearing matching grins. Each officer gave me a hearty greeting.

I recognized the distinctive voice of the Taurus officer and sensed his unspoken question, “How long have you been here chaplain?”

That’s when my friend and I began our recruitment drive. “The chaplain thinks some of you might want to join him for chapel service.”

Even with the police officers’ sixth sense, they didn’t understand they were in the crosshairs of a practical joke. Their answers focused on excuses.

“I’m Catholic,” one said.

“My wife’s out of town,” said the other.

“I don’t have a car,” said a third.

And with that divinely ordained cue, it was bombs away.

“Well, I understand that one of you has a nice big car you can use for church carpool.”

They exchanged puzzled looks, but the eyes of the boastful cop widened in fear. He knew we had him in target lock.

“Yeah, I was sitting behind your supervisor’s cubicle when you all walked into the office,” I said. “You couldn’t see me, but I could sure hear you. Which one of you has that Ford Taurus?”

Suddenly, the guy telling the car stories doubled over in embarrassment and left the room.

Pointing to the doughnut box, I said, “You know, I think it might have been Jesus who mentioned that it’s not the

things that go into a man’s mouth that defile a man, but it’s what comes out of the mouth that really messes him up.”

(Matthew 15:11, paraphrased.)

For a moment, the officer fancied himself as Casanova. In the next moments, the exposure of his words melted him into shame.

In an effort to recruit friends, this officer tried to be a different person to everyone he met. On his patrol beat, he was the protector for his community. To his friends he was the conqueror. To his chaplain, he was a shy boy ashamed of what he said.

Recruiting friends and followers at the expense of who you are can get awfully expensive for one’s integrity.

It’s much easier to be the same person to everyone we meet. This makes it less likely we’ll forget who we are.

My pastor gig starts at 10:30 Sunday morning. Care to join us?

Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. Burkes is available for public speaking at civic organizations, places of worship, veterans groups and more. For details and fees, visit thechaplain.net. n

CHICORY

This plant has a single long, thick root, plus leaves and flowers that can be used in food. In the South, the root is roasted, cut up and steeped to make a coffee substitute.

Eat it: The root can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.

COLLARD GREENS

A Southern staple, these loose-leafed greens are related to cabbage, broccoli, kale and spring greens. Collards are a good source of vitamin C and soluble fiber.

Eat it: Braise with bacon, onion and crushed red pepper.

Monthly Market

A LOOK AT WHAT’S IN SEASON AT LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS IN DECEMBER

POMEGRANATE

Originally from Persia, this fruit is nutrient dense and rich in antioxidants. A glass of pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberries or cranberries.

Eat it: Add the jewel-like seeds to salads.

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Kevin Wilhite Photo by Aniko Kiezel

Licking Good

OIL PAINTER DEPICTS TREATS, TOYS AND MORE

I

f you’re tempted to lick one of Kevin Wilhite’s paintings, don’t.

Though the delectable treats he portrays in oil paint as thick as frosting look sweet enough to eat, they’re still paint.

“I get hungry every time I paint ice cream,” Wilhite says.

His latest series features every flavor of Gunther’s ice cream. He

JL

By Jessica Laskey Open Studio

40

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

explains, “I started learning to use the palette knife to incorporate more shape into my pieces, which lends a more chunky, textural style.”

Wilhite’s paintings were recently paired with paintings of donuts

by Chris Jonas—AKA “The Donut Man”—as part of a group show titled “Sweet on the Eye” at The Art Studios at 17th and I streets.

Wilhite organized the show with fellow studio members Jonas and abstract painter Carlo Joaquin to highlight the Gunther’s series of “over 30 ice creams that won’t melt on your wall.”

If you’re a regular reader, you’re probably familiar with Wilhite’s work. His impressionistic painting of iconic New Roma Bakery was

featured on the cover in 2019. It’s a good example of his style and most common subject matter.

A graphic designer by trade, Wilhite started out painting portraits

of vintage neon signs based on photos taken by a fellow graphic designer who took a trip on Route 66. He moved into other vintage items,

including buildings and his personal favorite—cars.

“I grew up going to car shows in Modesto, home of the cruise,” says the Ceres native. “I was saturated with old cars and hot rods. That instilled in me to drool over cars. In rust we trust.”

His Central Valley upbringing inspired other rural subjects,

including trucks and tractors. He provides paintings to Art Farm, an annual fundraiser for YoloArts in Woodland. In turn, Art Farm connects Wilhite to local farms that have cool old vehicles he can capture in oil paint.

“I love to go onsite to touch and feel in person and photograph things myself to get the angles and

perspective,” Wilhite says. “I drive around to random locations and stop if I see something, particularly old trucks in the Delta.”

Wilhite held his first exhibition in 2013 at Spanish Fly Hair Garage in Midtown. From there, he exhibited in the Crocker Art Museum’s Big Names, Small Art event, at the defunct Fe Gallery on 65th Street, in fundraisers for Art Farm and Clarksburg Library, at restaurants and breweries around the region, and the PBS KVIE Art Auction.

The artist’s love of vehicles extends to toys. His series of Tonka trucks in vibrant blues and yellows is whimsical and nostalgic, a balance he strikes in all subject matter, from vehicles and landscapes to figures and ice cream.

While working at University Print at Sacramento State and taking classes for his MBA, Wilhite still spends time at The Art Studios where he finds inspiration.

“There are 16 other artists here, so you get to see what people are doing in lots of different mediums and talk with other artists who’ve been around for quite some time,” Wilhite says. “It’s a launch pad for me to go get dirty and paint.”

For information, visit kevinwilhite. com.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Good Juju VETERAN CHEF DELIVERS MAGIC TO A COCKTAIL BAR

H

eaded to the theater for a holiday show? I’ve got the place for you. Juju Kitchen & Cocktails, a drinks and small-plate enterprise at 15th and L streets, offers a sophisticated stop for the discerning theatergoer (or anyone else).

GS

By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

42

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

Chef David English brings his pedigree and penchant for tasteful simplicity. Having closed his Press Bistro in late 2019, English offers many familiar dishes at Juju but with a different vibe.

Juju is a cocktail lounge. It’s a bit of a restaurant too, but alcohol comes first. A cleverly situated circular bar dominates, but a partial wall bifurcates the bar and splits the room in two.

The inner space, all ferns and soft surfaces, opens onto the Marriott Residence Inn. The outer space, all windows, is an urban fishbowl with funky cocktail vibes. The menu is the same on both sides and bears the

hallmarks of English’s journey from New Orleans to Sacramento.

If you knew Press Bistro, you might recognize his grilled calamari. If you never had a chance to try it, now is the time. Tender, smoky, delicate strips of grilled calamari, lightly dressed and served over a bed of arugula and white beans, it’s a dish that proves how incredible squid can be.

English brought back a small plate of roasted garlic and parmesan arancini. The fried risotto balls may not be good for the cholesterol, but they’re great for the soul. Other small plates (there are always at least 10 on the menu) range from falafel to tacos.

The price point at Juju is surprisingly low. Most small plates hover around $10. All three entrees are affordable, around $20. Offerings rotate with the seasons, but the care put into a plate of pasta Bolognese, gnocchi with parm and prosciutto or a chicken piccata is undeniable.

But this isn’t a restaurant. It’s a cocktail lounge. It’s also a hotel restaurant. Or maybe it’s a hotel bar with a kitchen. Doesn’t matter. Juju is an exquisite opportunity to try some of the most soul-warming food in town.

The fact that it’s a block from the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center and two blocks from the Esquire

Photos by Linda Smolek

Happy Holidays!

Special Christmas Eve menu | Special NYE menu Closed Christmas Day | Open Jan 1st 11-4pm

IMAX or four blocks from the Crest Theatre is just a cherry on top.

The cocktails, visually striking and crafted with care, range from classics (pisco sour and Manhattan) to clever mocktails and low-alcohol choices.

One creative offering is the “Getting Figgy Wit It,” which includes these eccentric ingredients: ida mezcal, leblon cachaca, amaro lucano, fig jam, honey,

dry curacao, lemon juice and walnut bitters. That’s mixology with a master’s degree.

Juju joins several new restaurants that, while located at hotels, feel like they exist for locals. 7th Street Standard, at 7th and L and attached to the Hyatt Centric, is a phenomenal dining experience. Echo & Rig is a brash steakhouse at the Kimpton

Look no further for banquet space.

Book your party today!

Mon-Fri 11-8 | Sat 10-9 | Sun 10-8

1110 Front Street | 916.442.8226 | riocitycafe.com Sawyer Hotel. The Star Lounge is a glamorous drinking and eating spot at the Hyatt House near Sutter’s Fort.

Whether you’re going to catch the Nutcracker at the Safe Center or Peter Petty’s Hepcat's Holla’Daze! at the Crest or a Christmas film at the Esquire IMAX, you’ll appreciate a pop-in at Juju. If it’s drinks or dinner or something in between, Chef English and crew are ready.

Juju Kitchen & Cocktails is at 1501 L St.; jujukitchenandcocktails.com.

Greg Sabin can be reached at saceats@gmail.com. Previous reviews can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

JUJU IS A COCKTAIL LOUNGE. IT’S A BIT OF A RESTAURANT TOO, BUT ALCOHOL COMES FIRST.

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Peter Petty’s Hepcat’s Holla’Daze!

Swingin’ Yuletide Revue at Crest Theatre.

TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

By Jessica Laskey Calendar Editor

HOLIDAY EVENTS Peter Petty’s Hepcat’s Holla’Daze! Swingin’ Yuletide Revue Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.

Crest Theatre (1013 K St.); crestsacramento.com Tickets: $32.50–$49.50 This long-running big-band Christmas card to Sacramento is back for its eighth year. Concert is for ages 15-plus.

Nutcracker The Sacramento Ballet Dec. 9–23 SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (1301 L St.); sacballet.org Tickets: $49–$99

44

ILP/GRID DEC n 23

The ballet’s beloved hometown Nutcracker promises to wow audiences with choreography by Sac Ballet alumni Nicole Haskins, Colby Damon and Julia Feldman.

Home for the Holidays Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra Saturday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium (1515 J St.); sacramentochoral.org Tickets: $43–$63 Enjoy holiday music by Rutter, Fry, Forrest, Bradford, Handel, Bass, Willcocks and Stopford, a candlelight procession, audience singalong and guest artist baritone Finn Sagal.

A Master Singers Christmas Sacramento Master Singers Sunday, December 10, 3 p.m.

First United Methodist Church (2100 J St.) Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.

McClatchy High School Auditorium (3066 Freeport Blvd.)

Sunday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m.

Fremont Presbyterian Church (5770 Carlson Drive) Friday, Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.

Harris Center for the Arts (10 College Pkwy., Folsom) mastersingers.org Tickets: $37, $10 with student ID Revel in the beauty of the holiday season with music and a candlelight procession.

A Festival of Lessons and Carols Capital Chorale and Orchestra Thursday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.

Pioneer Congregational UCC (2700 L St.); pioneerucc.org Tickets: $25 This festive concert includes music

by Bach, Haydn and Mendelssohn, and lessons read by Capital Public Radio’s Donna Apidone, plus an audience singalong.

Hollywood Harmonies for the Holidays Voices of California Saturday, Dec. 2, 2 p.m.

Richard Brunelle Performance Hall, Davis High School (315 W 14th St., Davis); voicesofcalifornia.org Tickets: $35 VIP, $25 general, $12.50 students

Holiday songs from famous movies are performed in four-part harmony by this worldclass ensemble.

Holiday Fiesta Sacramento Symphonic Winds Sunday, Dec. 10, 2:30 p.m.

Capistrano Hall, Sac State (6000 J St.); sacwinds.org This free concert is performed by a 60-piece adult symphonic wind ensemble conducted by Dr. Matthew Morse.

Nutcracker Suite & Christmas Angels Sac Civic Ballet & Deane Dance Center Saturday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m.

The Center at 2300 (2300 Sierra Blvd.); deanedancecenter.com/performances Tickets: $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 children, $25 stream The tandem one-act holiday ballets are back.

Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour Friday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sacred Heart Parish School (856 39th St.); sacredhearthometour.com Tickets: $35-$45 Tour five beautiful Fab Forties houses decorated by local professional designers, then head to a cafe and holiday boutique. Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Parish School.

Jingle Bell Pup Crawl Sacramento SPCA Saturday, Dec. 9, Noon–4 p.m.

Truitt Bark Park (1818 Q St.); sspca.org Tickets: $35 (day of $45) Check in at Truitt Bark Park for a map, jingle bells for your pup, photos with Santa and other holiday giveaways, then enjoy food and drink specials, shopping discounts and holiday activity stations at each stop throughout Midtown.

Jack Gallagher The Sofia, Home of the B Street Theatre Saturday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.

2700 Capitol Ave.; bstreettheatre.org Tickets: $38 Comedian Jack Gallagher returns with two friends from his hometown of Boston, Ken Rogerson and Tony V. Each comedian performs a 25-minute set followed by tales of their experiences in standup comedy.

Presents

A Raisin in the Sun Celebration Arts Dec. 1–24 2727 B St.; celebrationarts.net Tickets: $23 general, $21 students & seniors Lorraine Hansberry’s classic stage drama returns, directed by new artistic director James Ellison.

SATURDAY | DECEMBER 9 | 3PM Annual Sacramento Holiday Tradition with full orchestra, candlelit procession and audience sing-along.

HEADLIN ER Finn Sag al, Bariton e Frank Sin a

tra reborn !

SACRAMENTO MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

SAFE CU PAC Box Office | 916.808.5181 or Ticketmaster.com

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

M ESSIAH SING -ALONG

Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink Downtown Sacramento Partnership Through Jan. 15 7th & K streets; godowntownsac.com Tickets: $15 general, $8 children 6 and younger Sacramento’s outdoor ice rink is open 2–9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays (weather permitting).

Wetlands & Waterfowl RegionalSan Bufferlands Saturday, Dec. 9, 9 a.m.–Noon Elk Grove; regionalsan.com/bufferlands Join tour biologists for a 1.5-mile walk around seasonal wetlands. Free

Home for the ys Holida

Donald Kendrick Conductor

Tuesday, December 26 at 2:00 pm Ryan Enright, Organist First United Methodist Church 2100 J Street, Sacramento

TICKETS: $20 Seniors/Students $15

SACRAMENTOCHORAL.org | online – or at the door but registration is required the week prior. Email Roger Jones at jonesro@ sacsewer.com or call (916) 875-9174.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com.

Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

ART & PERFORMANCE SALON 2023 Archival Galley Through Dec. 30 Second Saturday Reception Dec. 9, 5–8 p.m.

3223 Folsom Blvd.; archivalgallery.com Twenty local artists feature floorto-ceiling artwork in a Parisian-style salon with the gallery’s vintage Santas and snowmen collections in the front window.

Dancer Isabella Velasquez in The Nutcracker at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center.

Photo by Marissa Gearhart

ILP/GRID n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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ILP/GRID DEC n 23

12 Award such as Best Female Athlete with a Disability 15 Obtain (from) 18 Pay no attention to 20 Drum set component 24 Word after “essential” or “mineral” 25 Poetry competition 27 Apples in the classroom 28 Daily planner’s length 29 Trees symbolizing strength 30 Native of 19-Across 31 A pop 32 Polynesian carving 35 Pen name?

36 Veteran sailor 37 ___ Christian Andersen

ACROSS 1 In favor of 4 San Antonio team 9 “___ pig” (“Charlotte’s Web” message) 13 Unrefined metal 14 Lose your nerve 15 Little darlings 16 Compartment where a trucker sits 17 Even more vulgar bit of advice?

19 State named after the 30Down people 21 “Blue (Da Ba ___)” (Eiffel 65 hit) 22 Like lawns 23 “You can’t be ___!”

25 Hair salon sound 26 Positive affirmation to one’s curves?

31 And others: Abbr.

33 Use a peeler 34 “Please, dig in!”

35 Fish or cut ___ 36 Guilty feeling 38 Create 39 “Eww!” 40 Get data from, as a hard drive 41 Milky Way manufacturer 42 Chimney cleaner from Santiago, say?

46 Cutlass automaker, for short 47 Fly fishermen, for example 51 Slowly, in a symphony 54 Country with the calling code +1 55 Fencing blade 56 People who are grumpy about how unpleasant the trail is?

59 Actor McKellen 60 Sheeplike 61 “The Backyardigans” penguin 62 Includes on an email 63 Hankerings 64 UFO pilot 65 ___/her DOWN 1 “Keep your eye on the ball!”

2 Give a TED Talk, e.g.

3 Concretereinforcing rod 4 UV-blocking stat 5 All square 6 Except if 7 Religious ceremony 8 Coll. or univ.

9 Colorful Latin American shawl 10 Feed bag food 11 CT scan alternatives

3/5

Greetings! by Winston Emmons

38 Butcher block wood 40 Repair, as an old coat 41 Tom’s “Sleepless in Seattle” co-star 43 Username/ password combos 44 Pungent green condiment 45 Make possible 48 Heroic sagas 49 Get through to 50 Feel 51 “Hey, sailor!”

52 Plunge into a pool 53 Related (to) 54 River between Europe and Asia 57 1099-MISC expert 58 Jr., to a Sr.

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READERS NEAR & FAR

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Kyle Fong, Robert Fong, Keilen Fong, KC Fong, David Chan and Peggy Chan at the Ponte de la Madoneta in Venice, Italy.

2. Norman and Sulai Meder at Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia.

3. Irish Rhine with Annie the dog and Cookie the guinea pig on Stinson Beach.

4. Sophia and Elizabeth Monasa at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Take a picture with Inside and email a high-resolution copy to travel@insidepublications.com or submit directly from our website at InsideSacramento. com. Due to volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee all photos will be printed or posted. Find us on Facebook and Instagram: InsideSacramento.

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COLDWELL BANKER DUTRA BEND ONE OF A KIND 4000 SqFt Exec-style home w/4 ensuite bdrms, grand family rm & more!

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MCKINLEY VILLAGE DREAM 4+BR/4BA. Modern luxury and comfort. Large corner lot. $1.145MIL PIERRE VIARD 916.767.6813 CalRE # 02128355

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