Inside Pocket December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

POCKET

HEATHER GALLOWAY

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS ARDEN

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EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A BET TER PL ACE. DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019

EAST SAC

ARDEN

LAND PARK/GRID

POCKET

SUZANNE MURRAY

KAREN HAMMON: CA STATE FAIR

CAMERON WALKER

ARDEN • ARCADE • SIERRA OAKS • WILHAGGIN • DEL PASO MANOR • CARMICHAEL

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

SUSAN SILVESTER

HEATHER GALLOWAY

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • SOUTH LAND PARK • THE GRID • OAK PARK

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

CARMICHAEL

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • SOUTH LAND PARK • THE GRID • OAK PARK

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • SOUTH LAND PARK • THE GRID • OAK PARK

ARDEN

ARDEN

POCKET • GREENHAVEN •

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

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3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

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COVER ARTIST

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

info@insidepublications.com PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings

HEATHER GALLOWAY Heather Galloway works in acrylics and more recently photography, and her work is a contemplation of the relationship between colors and how those relationships shape our subconscious mind. She hopes to encourage the viewer to embolden their own sense of wonder and childlike curiosity when looking at art. Shown: “Surface Tension,” acrylic on canvas, 24 inches by 24 inches. Contact Galloway at heather.galloway02@gmail.com and on Facebook at Heather Galloway Art.

EDITOR Cathryn Rakich editor@insidepublications.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel AD COORDINATION Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Sue Pane Sue@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Daniel Nardinelli, COO daniel@insidepublications.com

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DECEMBER 2019 VOL. 6 • ISSUE 11 6 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 31 32 34 35 36 40 42 44

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Gov. Gavin Newsom

“SINCE TAKING OFFICE, NEWSOM HAS TWEETED 85 TIMES ABOUT IMMIGRATION, 77 TIMES ABOUT GUN CONTROL, AND 35 TIMES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. BY CONTRAST, HE HAS TWEETED JUST 16 TIMES ABOUT HOUSING AND JUST FIVE TIMES ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.” —AUTHOR MICHAEL SHELLENBERGER, FORBES.COM.

Governor, Call 911 NEWSOM MUST DECLARE HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY

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CH

By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

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hile flipping through cable news shows a couple months ago, I came across an interview with a Sacramento resident named Elizabeth Novak. She made national news by posting a desperate— but heartfelt—video message to Gov. Gavin Newsom on social media.

Novak, who owned and operated a hair salon on Broadway in Land Park, posted a video on Twitter describing how difficult it was to run her business during the homeless crisis. She asked how the governor was going to help. I was intrigued because I’ve had smallbusiness owners reach out to me with similar problems.

“When I get to work each day I have to clean up human waste off of my doorstep. I have to clean up the

syringes. I have to politely ask the people who I care about—and I do care for the people that are homeless—to move their tents out of the way of the door to my business,” Novak said.

She described fighting off drugaddicted people who pushed their way into her shop because the police aren’t able arrest them for drug offenses. She apologized to clients daily for the mess and filth.

“You want to make a sanctuary state, you want to make it comfortable for everybody except for the people that work hard and try their hardest to get along in life. But … your liberal ideology is not working. And I don’t understand who you’re trying to please.

You … don’t have to look at what we have to look at,” she said in her plea to

Newsom. “What are you going to do for us?”

Sadly, Novak is one of thousands of small-business owners in West Coast cities who deal with this problem. I am convinced our political leaders are not hearing these pleas for help. Novak’s example shows how a social media message can strike a nerve and garner tremendous attention.

“They turned over my garbage cans.

They’ve broken my windows. They’ve robbed me. They’ve kicked down my door. And finally, my husband and I got together and collectively we just said we’re done,” Novak said in an interview.

She still has a lease, so her plan to relocate her salon will be expensive.

“It’s a huge inconvenience and I know

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that I will lose clients, but I have no other option. I cannot live like this.”

On the other end of the media spectrum comes a well-researched series of articles on the California homeless problem in Forbes.com. Writer Michael Shellenberger’s first piece makes the case for Newsom to declare a state of emergency on homelessness.

“It’s time for California’s governor to use the powers granted to him by the state’s constitution and declare a state of emergency on housing and homelessness,” writes Shellenberger.

The time for half measures has passed, the author says. The growing number of people without shelter across our state threatens public health and safety.

“Allowing large numbers of people to sleep, eat, and defecate outside of designated campgrounds is not safe and robs them of their dignity,” he writes.

In 2018, Newsom was elected with 62 percent of the vote and a mandate to take radical action to significantly increase temporary and permanent housing. He promised 3.5 million new units by 2025, or 580,000 a year. He promised to create a “homelessness czar” with the power of a cabinet secretary to “focus on prevention, rapid

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POC DEC n 19

Great Hospitality

rehousing, mental health and more permanent supportive housing.”

Surveys show the homeless crisis is one of the highest priorities for California residents. We have repeatedly voted to tax ourselves to solve the problem. And when the problem gets worse, voters get frustrated.

It isn’t tough to see that Newsom has not kept his campaign promises.

Homeless counts rise. The crisis worsens. Shellenberger notes the governor allowed a legislative package of housing reforms to die. And Newsom reversed himself and announced there would be no cabinet-level homelessness czar. This year, fewer housing units will be built than in any previous year in the past decade.

The State Constitution allows the governor to declare a state of emergency for any reason. He recently did so for natural disasters and wildfires. But people on the streets are dying at far higher numbers than have been killed by wildfires and disasters.

Assaults on and by the homeless are rising dramatically. Social scientists believe drug addiction, mixed with life on the street, helps turn otherwise nonviolent people violent.

The 2012 ballot measure Proposition 47 reduced the number of nonviolent

drug offenders in prison. But with the threat of incarceration removed, many addicts lack the motivation to address their addiction. That often means they live on the streets. When Proposition 47 passed, the number of people on Los Angeles’ Skid Row who enrolled in drug court treatment declined 95 percent.

Construction costs in California are the highest in the nation, primarily because of fees, regulations and the threat of lawsuits that often come with public housing. A state of emergency would allow the governor to waive unnecessary regulations and fees to help bring down construction costs and speed the process.

Of course, whatever action Newsom takes will lead to criticism. But mayors across the state have been joining the chorus to declare a state of emergency.

Even Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, writing an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times last July, urged the governor to take stronger action. Since Newsom appointed Steinberg to lead a taskforce on homelessness, the governor should carefully consider the mayor’s ideas, along with those of local leaders with boots of the ground.

The governor’s 2019-20 state budget includes a $1 billion investment in the fight against homelessness. But

money is clearly not enough to solve the problem. Shellenberger’s reporting makes the case that declaring a state of emergency is the right step in bold leadership to manage this sad, terrible and growing epidemic.

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

Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

SURVEYS SHOW THE HOMELESS CRISIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS.

LEVEE IMPROVEMENTS WILL SOON BRING LOWER FLOOD RISK The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the California Central Valley Flood Protection Board, California Department of Water Resources and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, will be constructing levee improvements along the Sacramento River East Levee from downtown Sacramento to Freeport. This work is part of the American River Watershed Common Features, WRDA 2016 project authorized by Congress in 2016.

Access at Front St. 1 80

2

Access at Front St. and Miller Park Cir. 5

Pre-construction (December 2019-March 2020) Relocate utilities, remove encroachments, cut and trim trees located only in the construction footprint.

Levee Construction (Spring 2020-Fall 2020) Degrade existing levee up to 1/2 its height, install slurry cutoff walls and rebuild levee section. Haul trucks and work crews will access levee at points near construction work areas shown on map.

er to Riv amen Sacr

What to Expect 2020 levee improvement locations shown in red on map - construction equipment levee access points labeled with blue arrows

3 Access at Sutterville Rd. 5

Access at Piedmont Dr. Seamas Ave. Riverside Blvd.

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Recreational Impacts

3 Sutterville Rd. i Flor

4 Riverview Ct. to Prow Ct. Rd

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Pocket

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacramentodistrict Twitter: www.twitter.com/usacesacramento

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Telephone: (916) 557-5100 Email: spk-pao@usace.army.mil

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Access at Pocket Canal

5 Pocket Canal to River Garden Ct.

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Website: www.sacleveeupgrades.com

1 Front St. at Pioneer Bridge 2 Miller Park

Blv d

For More Information

Greenhaven R i v ers id e

Garcia Bend Park boat ramp/launch area and boat trailer parking area will be closed. The park will remain open throughout construction

2020 Levee Improvement Construction

River ento m a r Sac

D ria Glo

Temporary closure of the Sacramento River bike trail in the Pocket area and north of Sutterville Road.

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Access at Garcia Bend Park 5

Access at Freeport Water Intake Facility

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Winter Faire BRING KIDS OUT FOR ART AND ACTIVITIES

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elebrate the warmth and wonder of Camellia Waldorf School’s 31st Annual Winter Faire on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, but there is a fee for some activities.

Children can enjoy making gingerbread houses and holiday crafts.

The event features puppet shows, artisan vendors and a children’s store filled with treasures.

For information, contact Cindy Stinson at (916) 284-8094 or Kari Rose Parsell at (916) 427-5022, or check the school website at camelliawaldorf.org.

PLANT A SEED The small packets sit in the lobby of the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library. They contain plant seeds— herbs, edibles and ornamentals.

None are genetically modified. All are heirloom. And they are free. They can be checked out and even donated back, just like the books and movies borrowed by so many residents.

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By Corky Mau Pocket Life

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POC DEC n 19

“Including a seed library is innovative and something we hope our patrons will utilize,” says John Esquivel, Pocket library supervisor.

“We want people to see the library as a resource for things beyond books.

And thanks to our local Friends of the Library, we’re now better equipped to grow and nourish our community.”

Users of seed libraries can help make the project more sustainable. As Esquivel explains, “Gardeners can drop off seeds from their homegrown crops to the library. Staff will repackage and make them available for other patrons to check out.”

Pocket-Greenhaven isn’t alone in the seed program. Colonial Heights and Southgate libraries also offer seeds, along with Galt, Rio Linda and Orangevale.

PROJECT WARM WISHES Can you share some holiday magic with a local senior? Meals on Wheels is collecting warm winter items to distribute to homebound seniors who might not receive a holiday gift.

You can drop off new or handmade lap blankets, scarves, gloves, socks, hats, pet toys and treats, and music CDs at the Park City Drive office by Thursday, Dec. 12, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash is also welcome so staff can purchase gifts for seniors. For more information, contact Michelle Bustamante at (916) 444-9533.

POCKET CANAL HOLIDAY LIGHTS Walking the Pocket Canal Parkway is a daily activity for me. But last year, I really enjoyed walking in the evening among the sparkling holiday lights.

This year, the lights will be lit on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. Organizers need community volunteers to help put up the lights on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. If you can volunteer or donate to purchase more lights, email pocketlightvolounteers@gmail.com.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Gather friends, family and kids, and head to Elks Lodge No. 6 for the annual “Breakfast with Santa” on Sunday, Dec. 15. A pancake and eggs buffet will be served from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Admission is $5 for children under the age of 6. It’s $10 for everyone else.

For $15, you can take home a photo of your children with Santa. To reserve a table for 10 or more, call the lodge at (916) 422-6666.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS The annual Portuguese Hall New Year’s Eve dinner and dance takes place Tuesday, Dec. 31, with a social hour at 6 p.m. Dinner follows at 7 p.m. Afterward, enjoy dancing and champagne at midnight!

Prices for the dinner-dance package are $50 for adults, $25 for children 6–12, and free for children 5 and younger. Cost is $30 per person for only the dance. For information or to purchase tickets, call Judy Allen at (916) 947-6695.

Another popular venue for the final day of 2019 will be Elks Lodge No. 6.

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31.

For $57 per person, attendees will enjoy a prime rib dinner, party favors, and all-night dancing with the Latin Touch Band and DJ Bobby Lopez. For tickets, call the lodge at (916) 422-6666.

CANINE TIME Did you know registered therapy dogs visit the Pocket-Greenhaven Library and your child can spend some quality time with them?

I volunteer in the Friends of the Library Bookstore on Saturday mornings, and it’s always a joy to see these dogs walk through the library’s front doors. Kids are invited to read a book to a new furry pal on Saturdays, Dec. 7 and 21, 11 a.m. to noon, and Dec.14, 1 to 2 p.m.

Corky Mau can be reached at corky. sue50@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication date.

Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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River Access is Trending GOVERNOR WANTS OPEN BEACHES. IS THE CITY LISTENING?

Levee with Restricted Access

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here are two ways to think about public access at California’s beaches and waterways. One way is to embrace the idea of access for everyone. Gov. Gavin Newsom demonstrated this approach in October, when he signed legislation that opened previously private beaches in Santa Barbara County.

“I’ve long fought to protect these public treasures for future generations and to ensure that any person can experience their beauty,” Newsom says. “That won’t change now that I’m governor.”

Then there’s the opposite approach, as exemplified by Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Hansen.

While Newsom was knocking down gates at Hollister Ranch on the Pacific coast, Hansen was ducking questions

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By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

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and unable to justify why 40 or so homes should maintain exclusive access to the Sacramento River Parkway in Little Pocket. Hansen put up a gate at 35th Avenue and Riverside to keep people out.

Hansen recently held a Town Hall to discuss concerns relevant to Little Pocket. He pushed the access matter to the final minutes and refused to answer questions from many audience members. He also tried to intimidate Inside’s photographer (see sidebar).

Hansen has consistently opposed efforts to finish the river parkway bike trail from South Pocket to Miller Park. He acts like a lobbyist for those 40 riverfront homeowners, allowing them to treat the levee and beaches like private playgrounds.

Under pressure from constituents who demand river levee access, Hansen tries to fog the issue and change the subject. He says it would cost too much to develop Chicory Bend, the city-owned park that’s off-limits to the public—unless you arrive by boat or know someone who lives in one of those homes along the levee in Little Pocket.

And he plays other games. He suggests homeless people are

overrunning the parkway and infers a levee bike path would only make matters worse.

Hansen is clever. He says he has “consistently supported efforts to provide safe access along the levee.” He says he has “voted in favor of budget allocations to build the Sacramento River bike trail along the Pocket neighborhood.” He says he “welcomes a reasonable conversation about the public’s interest in accessing Chicory Bend.”

Those statements may be true, but they land with qualifications. Yes, he has supported levee access and approved funds for the levee bike path in Pocket.

But not Little Pocket. His interest in access stops at Little Pocket.

Bottom line, Hansen doesn’t want cyclists on the levee in Little Pocket. He wants the public to exit the waterfront near 35th Avenue and jockey with cars on Riverside. Bikes and runners and folks out for a stroll can rejoin the levee at the Westin Hotel.

Hansen’s real message: You are not welcome on the Little Pocket levee unless you own a home there.

With two terms on the City Council and four more years within reach,

Hansen enjoys the arrogance of incumbency. He can do pretty much whatever at City Hall. The big problem for Hansen is his legacy.

A talent for double-talk won’t stop Hansen from being remembered as the councilmember who spent years blocking public access to the Sacramento River. On his current trajectory, Hansen’s legacy will be as an obstructionist who helped 40 or so Little Pocket homeowners keep the levee and beaches private.

By contrast, here’s Gov. Newsom: “No matter your ZIP Code, all Californians deserve a chance to enjoy our public parks and beaches.” That includes 95831 and 95822.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Pocket Councilmember Rick Jennings and six other City Council members agree with the governor. Hansen is the only holdout. He represents Little Pocket, 95822.

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

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INTIMIDATION DOESN’T STOP INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHER

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irst he tried to intimidate our photographer. Then he lied about Inside’s policy on opinion pieces. Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Hansen was anything but statesmanlike at his October Town Hall at Kobasic’s Candies on Freeport Boulevard.

Before the event, Hansen and his City Hall staff told Inside photographer Aniko Kiezel she could not take pictures without the councilman’s consent. Hansen said media were not invited to the public meeting.

Despite the intimidation, Kiezel covered the Town Hall. She noted the First Amendment allows anyone to photograph or record public meetings organized by government officials. Her photos appear on this page.

In a written request to Mayor Darrell Steinberg and the City Council, Inside Sacramento Publisher Cecily Hastings asked for Hansen to be publicly admonished by his colleagues for his intimidating and unlawful behavior toward Kiezel.

During the Town Hall, Hansen told the audience Inside has refused to publish his opinion piece reflecting his views on public access to the Sacramento River Parkway. In fact, Inside told Hansen his op-ed would be reviewed for publication after he sat for an interview. That’s Inside Sacramento’s policy—no interview, no free space.

Hansen has refused at least five interview requests from Inside, including one with Hastings.

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Strumming for Fun GUITAR SOCIETY VOLUNTEER HELPS KIDS ACCESS MUSIC EDUCATION

ept. 11 was a turning point for many people for many reasons.

But for Lili Williams, it was a wakeup call that she wanted to do more for her local community.

“I saw that something like that could happen in our community tomorrow, so I decided to do something closer to home that would be impactful,” the Midtown resident says.

After working as a technical writer for Intel for 22 years, Williams retired and promptly bought OSC Computer Training, a licensed private adult vocational school serving unemployed workers and U.S. veterans, which she ran with her husband for 10 years.

But something was still missing, so she turned her attention to the organization that had brought her joy for years—the Sacramento Guitar Society.

“I’d been a longtime patron of the Guitar Society’s concerts,” says Williams, who plays the guitar as well as the piano. “It was a peaceful thing to go to when I was under stress at Intel.”

Williams was traveling in Spain when she received an email from the nonprofit arts and education organization—which offers guitar classes as well as concerts—about a grant they had just received to fund a series of free classes called Strum for Fun for disadvantaged kids. That’s when the lightbulb went off.

“I thought, here’s something I love—guitar—and something I’m passionate about—kids,” Williams

S

Lili Williams

JL

By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Profile

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says. “That’s what I can do in retirement. I can write grants for the Guitar Society.”

Williams transformed herself overnight into an independent grant writer and offered her services free of charge to the organization. When the board asked why she thought she could write grants with no formal experience, Williams’ answer was easy.

“I’ve been a technical writer at Intel. I’ve done marketing. I’ve worked with the state of California on licensing for the vocational school. And I’m passionate about helping kids,” Williams says. “Writing is just the

WILLIAMS TRANSFORMED HERSELF OVERNIGHT INTO AN INDEPENDENT GRANT WRITER AND OFFERED HER SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO THE GUITAR SOCIETY.

tool—it’s all about the function you want to get out of it.”

The board brought her on in October 2016 and Williams immediately went to work helping the Guitar Society develop a better system to not only apply for grants, but also keep track of fulfilling them.

A few months later, an impressed board asked Williams to assume the presidency, but she declined—she was happy writing grants. The board finally persuaded her to take the helm in June 2017. During her tenure, Williams saw to it that the organization got an infusion of “new blood and new enthusiasm,” as well as a much-needed technological overhaul, which included implementing a new membership and donor management system, and a new website built by Williams.

The past three years have certainly been hard work, but Williams is passionate about fulfilling the two tenets of volunteerism that are most important to her.

“Any nonprofit’s mission can be boiled down to social justice and equity,” explains Williams, who also serves on the board of Square Root Academy, which brings STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education to schools in

low-income neighborhoods. She’s also a former president of the Bradshaw Business Park Owners Association and a former board member of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s about how you as an individual approach the nonprofit,” she says.

“My approach is to give back to the community through music education for disadvantaged kids. There are so many studies that show the connection between arts/music education and academic achievement. That’s the social justice part—parents who aren’t welloff can’t purchase that critical music education for their kids, but now they have access through the Sacramento Guitar Society.”

For more information, visit sacguitarsociety.org. Don’t miss the Annual Community Holiday Concert on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Auditorium at CLARA at 1425 24th St. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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15

Fruitful Thinking LOCAL L OCA L AUTHOR AUT HOR PROMOTES P R O M OT E S D IVER S IT Y IN DIVERSITY IN HUMOROUS HUMOROUS CHILDREN’S CHIL D R EN ’S BOOK BOOK

Jeff Durston

L

ike many of us, Jeff Durston was quite troubled by the rhetoric coming out of the Republican primary in 2016. So what did he do? He wrote a children’s book.

“I wasn’t consciously thinking, ‘How can we resist this?’” Durston says. “I started thinking about how we could push back against the values

JL

By Jessica Laskey Meet Your Neighbor

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we don’t support. My daughter was 3 at the time and we would read books to her every night. I realized that a lot of children’s books are passing down core, fundamental values like friendship, acceptance—human themes.”

The social science teacher—who works in Elk Grove and lives just outside of Downtown—started to draft a story he thought captured the essence of the issues at play in the political sphere without making the book incomprehensible to its youngest audience—or reprehensible to its older readers.

He sent the text to a friend of a friend, Hannah Howerton, a Roseville-based illustrator with values-driven children’s books of her own (“The Little Lemon that Leapt”) under her anti-bullying brand Lionel’s Place. Howerton lent her charming

illustrations to Durston’s words and “Make America Grape Again: How One Misguided Orange Almost Ruined the Whole Fruit Salad” was born.

The book features a misguided orange who believes that eliminating the “imperfect” fruit is the key to restoring his nation’s greatness. (Yes, the orange bears a striking resemblance to the person currently occupying the White House, even down to the hair and the hat.) While a pointed political satire, the book strikes a gentle tone told in Dr. Seussian rhyme, with the orange inadvertently helping his citizenry realize the key to their greatness is their diversity.

“Even if you take the allegory out of it, the fundamental idea of the book is tolerance,” says the 37-year-old author, who reads the book to his now 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, but also gets plenty of feedback from adults—on both sides of the aisle—who love its subtle humor.

“It’s not too snarky. The focus isn’t on the orange, the focus is really on the lesson. When you get to the end of the book, it feels like the perfect time to have an important discussion about diversity with your kids.”

The book is available online and in local stores such as The Avid Reader (in Sacramento and Davis) and DISPLAY California in Oak Park, and even in

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Madison, Wis., where Durston’s wife is from. It has sold “surprisingly well,” thanks in part to a photo Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg posted on Twitter after Durston approached him with a copy of the book at Chocolate Fish Coffee. The “Make American Grape Again” team recently completed its first successful book fair in Berkeley, with many more to come.

“This book gives us a lot of confidence,” says Durston, who has no plans for a sequel as of yet (though “ImPEACHment” would sell itself), but he does have a memoir about his years teaching in central Oakland tucked away waiting to be published.

“I think the book stands out because of its title and its humor, but our biggest hope is that it allows conversations with 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds about what’s on all our minds. We hope it allows catharsis.”

For more information, visit makeamericagrapeagainbook.com.

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

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EYE FOR STYLE FRIEDMAN CREATES A NEW SACRAMENTO VIBE

New development planned for West Sacramento Riverfront.

Renderings courtesy of Fulcrum Property.

M

ark Friedman was showing a visitor around The Foundry, his latest apartment project in West Sacramento, when he paused to check something that had been bugging him.

An outer hallway connecting different wings of the three-story building were painted orange, which seemed like a good idea at the outset. But now Friedman was having second thoughts: too much orange. He was pleased to see workers already covering it up with a less garish coat of gray paint.

Given the high-profile and impactful projects he’s juggling, Friedman could be forgiven for not noticing or caring about such details. But quality design

GD

By Gary Delsohn Building Our Future

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and attention to detail are his signature, and now he’s about to take the lead on perhaps his biggest project yet.

Although he played a major role in developing Golden 1 Center—he was largely responsible for the aircraft doors that give the arena indoor-outdoor flexibility for concerts and events— the Raley’s Landing development announced along the west side of the Sacramento River in July could become his defining project. At least until he finds something to eclipse it.

Friedman has already created an iconic West Sacramento landmark with his whimsical, cantilevered Barn that its Dutch designer said was inspired by a sprouting vegetable seed. With a restaurant and beer garden, both wildly popular in nice weather, the Barn is an events venue, civic gathering space and high-end arts piece all at once.

With his Dutch-inspired apartments nearby, the so-called Bridge District in West Sacramento is on its way to fulfilling years of anticipation and promise as an attractive riverfront setting that is urban and dense, but at

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a low-rise scale. It’s close to the central city, but not of it—a place where, Friedman points out, natural and manmade environments come together in a decidedly Sacramento way.

When he says, “It’s where the city meets the agrarian part of Yolo County and we’re creating this middle ground that has its own character and is different from Midtown or Downtown,” you realize that’s not just marketing hype. It’s actually true.

The Raley’s Landing site is adjacent to the ostentatious Ziggurat, built for the old Money Store headquarters, and

the Tower Bridge. The property sits across the river from Old Sacramento.

The mixed-use project will feature a 200-room boutique hotel and about 60 private residences on land long owned by the Teel Family Trust of Raley’s supermarket wealth.

Friedman formed a partnership with the trust to finally bring this long-held dream to fruition. Given his track record of quality projects with smart, attractive design features, if things go according to plan this will be unlike anything Sacramento has experienced.

“I really think it’s incumbent in trying to figure out, instead of just copying what you see elsewhere, how to create something that’s unique and appropriate for this city in this time,” Friedman says of this West Sacramento work generally. To Friedman, that means pleasant summer evenings eating fresh food outside with a gentle Delta breeze. That feeling is a big part of the ambience he and his architects try to recreate.

Friedman, 62, could not escape Sacramento fast enough when he went away to college. But he is long past worrying about establishing his own identity beyond the legendary legal, development and philanthropic contributions of his late father, Mort Friedman. Nor is he in the shadow of the cultural and arts contributions of his mother, Marcy Friedman, the driving financial and visionary force behind the outstanding addition to the Crocker Art Museum that elevated Sacramento’s artistic credentials.

Hiring smart, creative designers from the Netherlands, Britain and elsewhere, Friedman put his own stamp on projects such as R Street’s Ice Blocks, the Barn, Bridge District apartments and townhomes, the Davis Commons and existing buildings his company has renovated and owns.

His developments have a hip, urban character. They are the kinds of places people seem to like to spend time in and around because they are functional and cool without being pretentious or out of place. They reflect and elevate Sacramento, which is what Friedman has sought with panache and success.

The city has many projects in the planning stage, from Downtown to Midtown to the railyards. It will be fascinating to see if everything comes to fruition and how the pieces fit together.

If recent history is a guide, you can be certain Friedman’s projects will stand out as appealing pillars of Sacramento’s ongoing renaissance, like so many of his contributions to our community.

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

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Up In Smoke

HOW CITY ABUSES ITS OWN POT RULES

U

krainian-born Andrey Kukushkin is a man in the middle. He has roles in two scandals, one consuming Washington, D.C., and the other rocking Sacramento City Hall and the local regulated pot industry.

Kukushkin is one of four men indicted by federal prosecutors for allegedly trying to channel offshore money into the campaigns of U.S. politicians to gain entry into pot industries in Nevada, New York and other states.

Two of the other men indicted, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, are associates of President Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and allegedly have been

CP

By Craig Powell City Politics • OPINION •

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helping Giuliani press the Ukrainian government to initiate an investigation into Hunter Biden’s role as a highly paid board member of a Ukrainian firm.

Meanwhile, in Sacramento a second scandal has been brewing. In a major story broken by The Sacramento Bee, it turns out that Kukushkin is a partner in a Sacramento pot dispensary with Garib Karapetyan, who apparently controls eight of Sacramento’s 30 pot dispensaries, despite a city ordinance that forbids anyone from acquiring more than a 20 percent interest in a cannabis dispensary from another party.

Under the local ordinance, folks leaving the pot business must surrender their licenses to the city. From there, the city is supposed to conduct a lottery to place the license into new hands. In practice, city officials have turned a blind eye to open trading in ownership interests at local dispensaries. It was through such trading that Karapetyan and his partners secured a dominant position in Sacramento.

It also turns out Karapetyan, Kukushkin and partners have given campaign contributions to local

politicians, including Mayor Darrell Steinberg and City Councilmember Jay Schenirer.

Schenirer’s former chief of staff, Joe Devlin, served more than two years as the city’s marijuana policy and enforcement manager until May 29, when he was fired, effective immediately, by City Manager Howard Chan, according to a termination letter obtained by the Sacramento Business Journal. Devlin told the Business Journal he resigned.

After his dismissal, Devlin became vice president of new market development for Ikanik Farms, a significant company in the cannabis industry. Interestingly, Devlin’s three brothers operated a cannabis edibles business in the state of Washington, called Zoots Cannabis Infused Edibles.

They sold the company to Ionic Brands, which manufactures cannabis vapor cartridges, for $11 million.

Why was Devlin fired? Did his dismissal have anything to do with the city’s chronic noncompliance of its own ordinances? City Manager Chan is silent.

In 2017, City Auditor Jorge Oseguera issued a critical report on the handling and oversight of Sacramento cannabis licensing. Several issues he raised are unresolved. In response to recent media coverage, Steinberg directed Oseguera to re-audit the licensing program.

Councilmember Angelique Ashby told the media, “Obvious mismanagement has occurred in our permitting process.

Several of us on the City Council have raised concerns many times about the lack of integrity and perceived equity in our marijuana permitting system.”

Apparently, those concerns fell on deaf ears.

Multiple sources have confirmed that the FBI is investigating whether city officials accepted bribes in the form of campaign contributions in exchange for favorable treatment in dispensary licenses.

Our review of public records shows Schenirer collected a total of $5,750 in campaign contributions from Karapetyan and associates, and received a further $11,000 from Karapetyan and friends for an initiative committee Schenirer formed to promote his

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916.808.5181 or TICKETS.COM unsuccessful cannabis tax ballot measure in 2016. Our calculations show Schenirer received a total of $16,750 from Karapetyan and associates.

The Karapetyan group is not the only cannabis player showering Steinberg and Schenirer with cash. Our review of campaign finance filings shows in the most recent elections, Steinberg took in $31,900 from cannabis operators, while Schenirer collected more than $29,000 from the industry.

And that doesn’t count the $63,500 in cash Schenirer collected from nine cannabis contributors to help fund his 2016 cannabis tax ballot measure.

The average size of his cannabis contributions for that initiative topped $7,000—more than quadruple the maximum allowed for City Council candidates under local campaign finance laws.

There’s no limit on the amount a contributor can give to a ballot measure committee controlled by a councilmember. This means a donor can influence the City Council by making unlimited contributions to ballot measures sponsored by councilmembers—a huge loophole in our local campaign finance rules.

The city’s “revolving-door” ordinance requires that former employees

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SACRAMENTOCHORAL.COM refrain from lobbying the city on issues over which the employees had responsibility for one year after leaving city employment. To protect the public’s interest, the ordinance should be changed to bar post-employment involvement with any business regulated by the city for two years. And the law should impose a four-year ban against lobbying on issues over which a former employee had responsibility.

Further, employees in an oversight role over regulated businesses should be required to document all contacts with representatives of regulated companies.

There should be no after-work, offthe-record connections with folks you regulate.

Let’s liberate the city auditor.

Currently, the auditor can only examine a department or program with approval from the City Council. Each year, Oseguera submits a list of audit targets to the council for approval.

A better practice would be to give the city auditor free reign to audit any department. This would prevent councilmembers from “protecting” a favored department or program. It would let the auditor do spot audits, which should keep bureaucrats on their toes.

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Redwood City & Sacramento We should prohibit officeholders from taking contributions from any current or prospective licensee, permit holder or city contractor. Frankly, those seeking financial favors from the city have no business greasing the campaign accounts of elected city officials. We need to put an end to the gross conflict of interest of elected officials handing out licenses, permits and contracts to their major campaign contributors.

We should also apply city campaign contribution limits to ballotmeasure committees headed by any councilmember. The ability to make unlimited campaign contributions to committees controlled by the mayor or councilmembers is an obvious and abusive end run around the contribution limits that apply to the city’s elected leaders.

Craig Powell is a retired attorney, businessman, community activist and president of Eye On Sacramento, a civic watchdog and policy group. He can be reached at craig@eyeonsacramento.org or (916) 718-3030. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

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A Secret Guide to Homelessness CITY HAS PLAYBOOK, BUT YOU CAN’T SEE IT

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long North 12th Street, X Street or Alhambra Boulevard, the ubiquitous presence of unsheltered people and their tents, shopping carts, plastic bags, bicycles and detritus suggests Sacramento has no clue how to handle homelessness.

But that impression is wrong.

The city does have a clue—recorded in a secret little publication called “Homeless Services Division Playbook.”

The Playbook covers a range of topics related to homelessness, starting with the city’s “roles and responsibilities.”

The book’s primary mission is to arm city employees with talking points and factoids designed to calm the nerves of taxpaying, non-homeless residents who fear their neighborhoods are being overrun by relentless platoons of unsheltered people.

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By R.E. Graswich City Beat

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Curious thing about the Playbook.

While its goal is to placate city residents and answer questions about homeless services, it’s not supposed to be seen by residents or homeless people. The book is classified material. The introduction says: “This Playbook is not intended to be a public document, but to provide City staff with the information needed to understand the role of the City related to homelessness and to help answer common questions.”

In italicized red letters, the paragraph concludes, “Please do not distribute the Playbook to constituents!”

Despite the warnings, I got a copy.

After examining the Playbook’s 41 pages, I can testify it doesn’t deserve a top-secret rating. There’s nothing incriminating. It’s simply a guide for city employees.

Still, the Playbook is interesting—if only for the way it works to convince residents that the city is managing the homeless crisis despite piles of painful evidence to the contrary.

The Playbook touches on the dilemma faced by the city—the reconciliation between homeless people

who believe they can literally live outside the rules, and residents and merchants who are weary of dealing with them.

On one hand, the Playbook describes how Sacramento must be “compassionate to the needs of those most vulnerable in our community.”

On the other hand, it admits the city must be “responsive to the concerns and impacts of homelessness on the greater community.” That’s a conundrum.

The early pages include typical bureaucratic kissing up. Yes, the Playbook congratulates city leaders for their wisdom in opening shelters and partnering with various agencies.

For me, the best parts are sections that provide city employees with guidelines to handle complaints about homelessness. It’s a tricky job, dealing with complaints. It takes a personal touch. Employees are warned not to “simply cut and paste the information into an email. There is often a nuance and context to a specific question.”

Indeed.

The book has 11 pages of sample questions and answers. One part covers questions asked by people who are homeless. Another page deals with

residents who want unsheltered folks to camp elsewhere. The answers are not always helpful. Some merely pass the buck.

Question: “What is the City’s stance on the criminalization of homelessness?” Answer: “It is not a crime to be homeless ... The City’s focus is on preventing and ending homelessness first and foremost.”

Question: “There is a homeless encampment under the freeway. How do I get it removed?” Answer: “For encampments under the freeways, where the City does not own or maintain the land, the City must coordinate with CalTrans for cleanup.”

Ultimately, the Playbook is a nice try that falls short. The most honest sentence says, “We recognize that no one approach or solution will end homelessness in Sacramento.”

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

s

READERS NEAR & FAR 1. Jed Harris with his decorated pumpkin that won a contest held at his work.

2. Sara Nelson at the opening of the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon in Arizona.

3. Peter Kwett in Grand Turk shopping area.

4. Erin and Anthony Arieas in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic.

5. Marisa and Michael Alcalay touring wineries by bicycle along the Danube River.

6. Merena Feickert, Isabela Salinger and Mylah Feickert at the Salzburg Cathedral in Austria.

Visit our new website at InsideSacramento.com, under “Near & Far,” for a map with past readers' photos! You can also submit photos directly from our website.

It's never been so easy!

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: InsidePublications.

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Thru design is a finalist for new bridge across Sacramento River.

Bridge Building NEW SPAN TO TIGHTEN LINKS ACROSS RIVER

S

ince 1911, the I Street Bridge has faithfully carried trains and cars and people and bicycles on its slender, double-deck span 400 feet across the muddy Sacramento River.

The bridge is an old-timey mechanical marvel. Giant gears pivot the decks sideways, like a sword on a spindle, when tall boats approach. Mark Twain would have loved it, but he died in 1910 and missed the grand opening by a year.

Now the cities of Sacramento and West Sac are ready to replace the old workhorse, or at least lessen its burden.

In a neighborly effort to forge new bonds between the revitalized river

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By R.E. Graswich Inside Downtown

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POC DEC n 19

towns, authorities on both shores have joined forces, hustled for money and focused on a set of designs that will deliver a new bridge just upstream from I Street. The ribbon will be cut in 2024 if everything goes right.

The price tag is murky and fluid, like the water that flows beneath the bridge.

One design, called Thru, is estimated to cost $188 million. The second finalist, Spring, is listed at $210 million. Splitting the difference and assuming the final cost is $200 million, the price tag works out to $500,000 per foot across the river, making the new bridge an expensive piece of friendship.

“I can’t say we have the cash in hand immediately to go out and build it, but we have a pathway to get there to be able to do it,” Sacramento City Councilmember Jeff Harris says. The cities have collectively raised about $158 million. Federal, state and regional transportation sources will be tapped to fill the funding gap of between $30 million and $52 million.

At those prices, the cities better get it right. They have already eliminated

seven design prototypes, several of which were awful, and hope to settle on the final version by early 2020. Let’s make it easy for them.

Forget the Spring iterations, which bring to mind four condo towers sprouting from the river. The Spring design is intended to convey a streamlined, futuristic archway linking two friends. But the four towers seem embarrassed by their function—which is to lift up the roadway when tall boats approach. They look like a developer’s

pretentious attempt to sell luxury lifestyles with the ultimate water access.

By contrast, the Thru design makes no apologies for its purpose. It’s a classic truss bridge, all steel and angles and triangles, with four towers that lift the deck and serve as the generational offspring of the beloved Tower Bridge.

Of all the designs, Thru is the cheapest and most classical, which means it has the best chance to survive decades without looking ridiculously dated after 15 years.

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mona@monagergen.com monagergen.com CalBRE# 01270375

BOTH CITIES HELD WORKSHOPS TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT ON THE NEW CROSSING. MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE PUBLIC DEMANDED A PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE CONNECTION. CARS DREW MINIMAL INTEREST.

The cities will have to settle on a new name. Thru is a placeholder and not inspiring or evocative. The new bridge will drop traffic into the railyards just north of the old Southern Pacific shops.

A train-related name would work, such as Daylight. A train that ran between Sacramento and Los Angeles from 1946

to 1971 was called the Sacramento Daylight.

Both cities held workshops to gather public input on the new crossing. More than anything, the public demanded a pedestrian and bike connection. Cars drew minimal interest.

Which brings us back to the old I Street Bridge. It will serve as a workhorse well into its second century, carrying trains on the lower deck and retrofitted for bikes and pedestrians on top. The new Daylight Bridge will handle the cars.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be read and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Stand-Up Guy FORMER SACRAMENTAN MAKES A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN COMEDY Grant Lyon

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By Jessica Laskey Meet Your Neighbor

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comedy club owner once told Grant Lyon that to get booked, he needed three things: to be very funny, to be easy to work with and to be able to sell tickets.

“I can’t sell tickets yet,” Lyon says, “but two out of three is still pretty good.”

“Pretty good” is an understatement of Lyon’s comedy career. Since he started dabbling in stand-up in college at UC Santa Cruz, he’s made a steady rise in the industry, which includes being named a New Faces of Comedy at the Just For Laughs Festival, winning the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival and making it to the finals in the Big Sky Festival.

The 35-year-old was also featured in the second season of the Comedy Central show “Corporate” and he stars in the feature film “Killer Kate!” Not bad for a guy who started doing standup on a whim.

“I’ve always liked making people laugh,” says Lyon, who attended Sacramento Country Day School for his last two years of high school before pursuing collegiate soccer at UCSC. “I didn’t think I could be a comedian—I didn’t know it was an option. My family

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has a good sense of humor, but it’s not like my parents had old George Carlin and Steve Martin comedy albums sitting around.”

In Lyon’s freshman year of college, his roommate made him listen to an album by the late comedian Mitch Hedberg, who was known for his surreal humor and unconventional, often deadpan, delivery of one-liners. Lyon was hooked.

He reports that he burned a copy of the album and listened to it as he walked around campus, committing the material to memory. When he started telling Hedberg’s jokes to friends, Lyon was surprised at the reaction.

“The start of my sophomore year, our soccer team did its pre-season in Costa Rica,” Lyon says. “The last night there, people started getting up and telling knock-knock jokes on the tour bus mic and someone said, ‘Grant, do some Mitch Hedberg.’ I did probably 30 minutes and it felt great. Even then, I didn’t think, ‘I’m funny’—I was just delivering this other guy’s jokes. But then my soccer coach said he wanted to see me write some original material, so I did. I started going to open mics around campus, and in January 2005 I decided to commit to comedy.”

Soon, Lyon was performing around the Bay Area, making a name for himself with his mix of “intellectual but silly” personal and social commentary at festivals like the Great American Comedy Festival, Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival and Bridgetown Comedy Festival. The Los Angeles native eventually decided that a return to his hometown would yield even more opportunities—and he was right.

In the eight years since he’s been back in LA, Lyon has performed on the TV show “Comics Unleashed” and appeared in a number of national commercials for AT&T, Johnsonville Sausage, Cicis pizza and more. He wrote and starred in a short film, and his sketch videos have been featured online for Funny or Die, MSN and Huffington Post.

“Because we live in a day and age with so many media outlets, the idea of getting one big break doesn’t exist anymore,” says Lyon, who regularly returns to Sacramento to headline at

Punch Line Comedy Club (his mom still lives in Rosemont).

“Everybody in the entertainment business has to think of themselves as content creators. You have to do a lot of things to make a living. Standup can’t be the only thing I create, so I do sketch videos, podcasts. I’m writing a book. I designed a board game prototype. You can never rest on your accomplishments.”

But you still have to acknowledge when hard work pays off.

“I try to take moments to celebrate the small victories,” Lyon says. “It’s easy not to—intelligent, hardworking people expect a lot of themselves. But I’m trying to do a better job of taking the time to say, ‘This is really cool.’”

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

CORRECTION In the November edition, Inside Sacramento incorrectly reported the name of the Mixed Bag store manager in the story “Mixing it Up.” The manager’s correct name is Wendy Gray. We apologize for the error.

INSIDE

OUT Remembering Veterans on Veterans Day IMAGES BY STEVE HARRIMAN

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Contemporary Living REMODELED FAB 40 HOME ADDS MODERN SPIN TO HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

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hen you walk into Uri and Lea Carrazco’s remodeled house in the Fab 40s, don’t expect to see refurbished light fixtures, original hardwood floors or carefully

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By Cathryn Rakich Open House

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preserved crown molding beckoning back to the home’s heyday in the 1920s.

The previous owners gutted the interior in 2015, leaving one wall standing, and started anew.

The two-story home, built in 1927, is now a showcase for contemporary living, complete with a black-and-white color palate and chic furnishings. The Carrazcos’ East Sacramento abode is one of five on the annual Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour this month.

“A lot of Fab 40s homes are old school and traditional. We are more modern,” says Uri, a CPA whose office is Downtown. Previously living in

Davis, the couple purchased the threebedroom, three-bath house in 2016 to be closer to work. “Instead of a 30-minute commute, it’s only 8 minutes,” Lea says. As a young couple, they are close enough to Downtown’s nightlife, “but it’s quieter over here,” she adds. “We love East Sac.” While the majority of the 3,600-square-foot home was practically tailor-made for the twosome, with features such as stained-black flooring and high-end appliances, the Carrazcos added many of their own touches. Most importantly, they installed a deluxe

Sonos sound system with speakers in every room except the downstairs bath.

“Lea and I are really big on music,” Uri says. “All the outside is decked out too.” Lea adds, “The cool thing about Sonos is it doesn’t matter which room you’re in. You can play different music in every room.”

Further post-purchase additions include a basement gym complete with rubber-mat flooring, weight and ball racks, wall mirrors and an elliptical machine.

Where dirt once occupied a space in the backyard now sits a putting green. Their pooch, Bruno, has his own

designated dog yard, not far from a new outdoor kitchen with a sink, refrigerator, barbecue and beer tap.

At the far end of the swimming pool the couple installed a standalone dry sauna (painted black and white to match the exterior of the home), complete with a sound system, of course. “We catch a workout and sweat the toxins out,” Uri says. An outdoor TV swivels to face the pool and hot tub.

They installed a pizza oven in the backyard and stone water feature to the front courtyard, and reworked the landscaping to give it more interest.

“We added things to make it our style,” Uri says.

The remodeled kitchen features a 12-foot-long quartzite island, white marble countertops and backsplash, wine fridge, nickel farmhouse sink, and crystal door and drawer pulls. Keeping in tune with the contemporary color scheme, the kitchen cabinets are white along the wall and black under island. A large

butler’s pantry includes a built-in espresso machine and bar area.

Two Swarovski crystal chandeliers, originally in the dining room, were moved to the office and guest bedroom. The laundry room can be found upstairs near the master bedroom, which has two walk-in closets. A freestanding tub in the master bathroom is situated at a corner window for a relaxing view out two sides.

The Carrazcos used Andrew Turner Construction. Local interior designers Kerrie Kelly and Lori Brazier helped the couple add personal touches.

Brazier will decorate the house for this year’s Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 6–8. The selfguided walking tour begins on 46th Street between M Street and Folsom Boulevard, and winds through East Sacramento ending on 41th Street between J Street and M Street.

The tour includes a holiday boutique, cafe and champagne bar at Sacred Heart Parish School at 856 39th St. Tickets are $30 in

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advance and $35 on the day of the event (no ticket required to visit the boutique, cafĂŠ or champagne bar). For information, including where to purchase tickets, visit sacredhearthometour.com or email shhometour@gmail.com.

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To recommend a home or garden for Open House, contact Cathryn Rakich at crakich@surewest.net. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

Uri and Lea Carrazco with their dog Bruno.

Take A

Hike BIKE HIKERS RIDE THEIR WAY TO FUN AND HEALTH

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teven Kahn was riding his bike along the American River Parkway when another rider came by and told him about the perfect club for people who ride bikes.

It’s a club that emphasizes fun and safety, where members stop at every stop sign and never blow through red lights, where coffee and lunch breaks are built into events, and where group leaders ride at the tail end, not the front, to make sure nobody gets left behind.

“I thought that sounded interesting,” Kahn says. “Everyone needs exercise, and everyone needs to socialize. Here was a club that lets people do both at the same time.”

The club is called Sacramento Bike Hikers, and it’s the oldest continually active cycling organization in the

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By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

region, dating to 1968. Kahn, a retired construction manager for Jones Lang LaSalle real estate, is club president. He took the job because everyone else was having fun riding and leading tours, and no one really wanted to be president.

There are about 600 Bike Hikers.

They never lack for opportunities to hop aboard their bikes and ride somewhere together, nearby or relatively far away.

The club charts easy pedaling on flat valley byways and tougher climbs on twisting roads in the foothills.

“There is something for everyone, no matter what level you ride at,” Kahn says. “We pretty much have at least one ride per day, and some days we have several. We have more than 400 rides per year.”

The Bike Hikers are serious about making room for every rider. Weekday rides tend to be less strenuous. They are popular with older members who are retired and have the flexibility to ride when they please. The weekends tend to give way to longer, more difficult tours where hills are often involved.

But it’s a mistake to categorize the Bike Hikers.

“We have an older woman who’s retired and she really likes to climb,”

Kahn says. “She can climb all day, and enjoy every minute of it. We have younger riders who don’t like to climb at all. So you never know.”

Ride leaders map out routes and post information on the Bike Hikers’ website at bikehikers.clubexpress.com.

The website is a marvel. It’s clean, simple and easy to navigate—better than many professionally designed sites I’ve seen. Riders can look up rides by date and quickly learn what they are getting into.

The events come with lyrical titles. A November event called “Easy Riders,” which departed from Gold River, told members to expect “20 or so miles at a pace of 12 mph. The idea behind the ride is for newcomers and/or others who wish to go slower and not so far.”

Start and estimated finish times are listed, along with the leader’s name and email.

Another November ride was called “Koumis-Maidu to Flower Farm.” The notes warned the route was 39 miles with 1,696 feet of climbs. “The ride will be swept at an intermediate pace and is not suggested for beginning riders,” the notes said.

Either way, whether participants go easy or intermediate, the adventure includes a stop for coffee.

Bike Hikers book several tours each year to places such as Sonoma, Monterey, Death Valley and Las Vegas. Members organize the tours.

Each April, there’s a big event—Party Pardee—that covers 62 miles through Amador and Calaveras counties and lakes Pardee and Camanche.

“Pardee is our big fundraiser,” Kahn says. “We open registration on Jan. 1.

It’s limited to 1,500 riders and always sells out.”

That means interested riders should move quickly after New Year’s Day. Party Pardee even has its own unique jersey, featuring a splash of multicolored stars and circles and geometric designs and the Bike Hikers’ logo. Nobody wearing one will ever be left behind.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @insidesacramento.com. n

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Beyond Store-Bought

Gregory Berger

COOKBOOK AUTHOR BRINGS BURGER BUNS TO HOME BAKERS

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few years ago, Gregory Berger’s interest in cooking and baking was purely part of the household routine. But then, one sourdough loaf changed everything.

Berger is a stay-at-home dad who spends his days caring for his son, Rowan, while running his own graphic design company in Sacramento. He became inspired to delve into the world of breadmaking after reading “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation”

by Michael Pollan.

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Pollan’s book explores how the “cook” is the link between nature and culture. By using the four elements—fire, water, air and earth—a cook or baker can transform natural substances into food. In his book, Pollan recommends “Tartine” by Chad Robertson, a cookbook laden with pictures of perfect bread loaves and elaborate recipes, including a 35-page recipe for sourdough.

“It just intrigued me to try the sourdough recipe,” Berger says. He followed the detailed instructions, beginning with gathering ingredients from his backyard for the sourdough starter. “Pretty much the first time I did it, it worked! I was kind of hooked from then.”

Soon, Berger’s interest in baking became more of a ritual than occasional hobby, and his wife, Lori, was particularly supportive. Imagine coming home every day to the smell of freshbaked bread, warm and just out of the

oven. “She was very excited about it,” Berger says with a smile.

Berger’s breads have won awards at the state fair, and have made appearances at the Sacramento Burger Battle, Sacramento Sausage Fest, popups and local restaurants.

Through his graphic design company, Berger was familiar with the owners of several Sacramento restaurants and farm-to-fork-focused businesses.

He approached Christopher BarnumDann, owner and executive chef of the Midtown restaurant Localis, and asked if he could create an original brioche bun recipe for the restaurant.

“The recipe was very well received in the restaurant,” says Barnum-Dann, adding that Berger also assisted in creating Localis’ sourdough recipe that is used daily.

It was becoming evident that Sacramento residents were hungry for these unconventional breads. With an abundance of creative and scrumptious recipes sizzling in his brain, Berger decided to create his own cookbook.

“Buns and Burgers: Handcrafted Burgers from Top to Bottom,” released in September, instructs readers on how to grill juicy burgers and bake mouthwatering buns in 32 recipes.

BERGER’S BREADS HAVE WON AWARDS AT THE STATE FAIR, AND HAVE MADE APPEARANCES AT THE SACRAMENTO BURGER BATTLE, SACRAMENTO SAUSAGE FEST, POP-UPS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

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Wills•Trusts•Probate & Special Needs Trusts Creating bread, bun and burger recipes with texture and color is tied to Berger’s artistic background. “I was originally inspired by when you go to a bagel store they have a zillion different flavors, but you can’t get those on hamburger buns,” he muses. “Why not?”

“Buns and Burgers” includes beginner recipes for a classic burger on a sesame bun all the way to a Cubano burger on a brioche buttermilk bun (see sidebar). Some recipes use just four or five inexpensive ingredients, while others land squarely on the expert level.

People are in awe of the Black Charcoal

2725 Riverside Blvd., Ste. 800

Lambtrust.com Bun recipe, which includes activated charcoal, a powder that makes the bun completely black but taste like a normal, fluffy, delicious bun.

For his burger recipes, at home and in the cookbook, Berger uses Stemple Creek Ranch grass-fed beef from V. Miller Meats in East Sacramento, and shops at farmers markets for fresh, seasonal vegetables. “Buns and Burgers” features a section written by Eric V. Miller and a page about cooking with fresh ingredients by Jay Cuff of Hearty Fork Farm in Dixon.

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Berger encourages even the most novice of home bakers to try his recipes and go beyond basic store-bought buns.

“I keep telling people they should just try to make their own burger buns,” Berger says. “We’re in a time when everyone’s trying to ‘do-it-yourself,’ but they leave the bun and bread to someone else.”

Tessa Marguerite Outland can be reached at tessa.m.outland@gmail. com. Our Inside Sacramento Restaurant Guide and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ insidesacramento. n

BRIOCHE BUTTERMILK BUNS Reprinted with permission from “Buns and Burgers” by Gregory Berger.

Prep time: 30 minutes plus proofing time of about 2.5 hours Cook time: 15–18 minutes Makes 8 buns 1 cup slightly warmed buttermilk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces 1 large egg 3 1/2 cups bread flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 egg yolk (for egg wash) In the mixer bowl, stir together everything except the egg yolk for the wash. Mix with the dough hook for about 5 minutes, or until the mix is a smooth ball.

Lightly oil a separate bowl, scoop out dough into this new bowl. Move the dough ball around so its oiled all around, then cover with a towel for about 1 hour or until its doubled in size.

Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Do your best to roll the sticky ball into a smooth ball. It helps to kind of fold the dough over itself to make the top side of the bun a tight, smooth surface.

Preheat oven to 375.

Place buns onto two parchment lined baking sheets, 4 per sheet.

Lightly cover and let rise for about 1.5 hours or until very puffy.

Lightly brush each bun with egg yolk (mix a yolk with a few drops of water).

Place in oven, bake for about 15–18 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let cool on wire racks.

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Planning to Live INSPIRATION FROM SENIOR STILL MOVING AT FULL SPEED

f you walk with me down the eggwhite hallway of St. Joseph Hospital in Stockton, I could take you into the room where I met the man who inspired my retirement.

It was a fall afternoon in 2015 when I walked through the east wing making my room-by-room introductory visits.

My catholic employer required me to visit every new admission within 24 hours. I accomplished that on most days, but some were impossible.

This day I was trying to do the impossible—make 12 visits by the end of my shift. I nicknamed this necessity “speed dating.”

If you’re unfamiliar with the term “speed dating,” imagine musical chairs at a restaurant or coffee house. Eligible singles assemble at tables around the room and rotate in timed intervals to meet potential partners.

With this analogy in mind, you might imagine me introducing myself

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to patient after patient, trying to make a quick assessment as to what spiritual support I might offer.

But on this day, I was the one to receive some very needed spiritual support.

As I pushed open the last door on the hallway, I found an elderly female patient lying in a darkened room. I spoke to her, but she seemed to be under heavy sedation. Since I couldn’t offer much support, I made a pivot in hopes of ending a long day.

Instead, my exit was blocked by the lanky silhouette of an elderly man standing in the doorway.

“Hello,” I said. “I’m Norris Burkes, the hospital chaplain.”

The man moved across the room to greet me, introducing himself with a broad smile and a twinkle in his eyes. I don’t remember his name, but his build and his demeanor brought Mr. Rogers to mind.

Mr. Rogers told me the patient was Mrs. Rogers and proceeded with her story. She was 75, he 86. It was their second marriage and he’d tried to make her happy during their 10 years of matrimony. But from the beginning it seemed to him that she was prepping to die.

She’d struggled with the typical things of old age—a bad back, memory issues and poor eyesight, and the doctor visits became more frequent. “It’s as if,” he said, “she was always searching for

something more serious, like she needed a better reason to die.”

“Depression can hit hard in the elderly,” I said.

Mr. Rogers nodded at my conjecture, so I said more.

“I see you’ve decided to make her a DNR,” referring to the medical order “Do Not Resuscitate.” Since it’s part of my job to clarify DNR to families, I added, “So if her heart stopped right now, we would do nothing to restart it.”

“Yup. It’s what she stated in her living will.”

Hoping to affirm him some, I added, “It’s good that she planned for this moment.”

“I suppose it’s a good idea to plan for death, but my wife seemed to make death her plan,” he said. “All she talked about was dying.” Although a bit rehearsed, he wisely quipped, “If you’re not planning to live, you are planning to die.”

I agreed with caution, aware that I was hearing a one-sided story about my patient. Still, the man seemed fit, certain and thriving. Even with his own death likely close, he proclaimed to be living his life to the fullest.

After about 20 minutes, we both began walking to the door, ending our visit.

“Do you drive yourself here?” I asked.

“No, no,” he said.

“Oh, good,” I said, expecting a man of his age to have given up driving.

“I keep the car in the garage. It’s just 4 miles.”

I squinted to signal I wasn’t following his meaning.

“I rode my bike here. I only drive if it’s raining.”

Suddenly, the man’s life philosophy came into sharper focus.

I had stopped riding my bike a few years before out of safety concerns, but this octogenarian wasn’t planning on braking his bike—or his life. He was still going full speed.

Looking back on that visit now, Mr. Rogers’ influence is clear. Within a year of meeting him, my wife and I sold our house to embark on three years of travel. While we are back into home ownership, I’ve never forgotten Mr. Rogers’ inspiration to make life my plan and accept death only when it finally comes.

The best part is that after my wife read this man’s story, she said she’s planning to keep up with me.

Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter 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

Burden or Beauty?

WAYS TO MINIMIZE WORK IN THE GARDEN

Beauty abounds in Anita Clevenger’s backyard garden.

y two yards are like a mullet: business in the front and party in the back. I’ve never gotten around to converting my scruffy front lawn to a more interesting waterefficient landscape, but my husband and I have created our personal paradise in the back.

I didn’t mean to keep it a secret, but only a small circle of family and friends usually see it. Our garden was designed for my obsession with plants and my husband’s addiction to tomatoes, not for garden tours or large-scale entertaining.

However, this year I began dragging people in to see its beauty. Whoever was passing by on the street or encountered in a parking lot or the gym was invited to see the garden if they showed any interest at all. While many expressed

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By Anita Clevenger Garden Jabber

appreciation and delight, it was frequently mixed with a bit of horror.

Where I saw beauty, they saw a burden.

They’d gasp, “Isn’t it a lot of work?”

I usually would respond, “Not really.”

But was that the truth?

My garden has about 75 roses, some of them climbing on arbors or along the fences, with many companion plants.

In the back corner, there is an Asian garden complete with bamboo, a gingko and a Buddha statue. There are several raised vegetable beds and a shade garden filled with ferns. Plantings are tucked behind the garage and along a side path. There’s no question that it takes some effort.

However, there are ways to minimize, manage and distribute the labor. I’m blessed with being able to hire others for some of the bigger jobs, such as cutting back the wisteria on the deck cover, and keeping the grass mowed and edged. My husband spends hours tidying. A friend came this year to help deadhead the roses.

One of the most important ways to minimize work is to put the right plant in the right place. Don’t plant something that needs babying or constant cutting back to maintain its

size. Consider carefully how big a plant will grow and what it needs to thrive with as little effort on your part as possible. How much sun or shade does it require? What are its watering needs? Is it invasive? Ponder before you plant.

What if a plant is too labor intensive?

As my rose friends say, introduce it to Mr. Shovel. You can move it to a better spot or take it out altogether. As much as I love my wisteria and clumping bamboo, there will be a time when we can’t keep up with them and they will have to go. Just not yet.

The next few months are peak work times and an opportunity to establish a foundation that sustains the garden all year long. Spring bulbs need to go into the ground immediately. Roses must be pruned before Valentine’s Day. Perennials need cutting back and dividing. It’s a good time to move or plant woody plants. Spreading a layer of compost feeds the soil and suppresses weeds. When spring arrives, you and your garden are ready to enjoy it.

Having the right tools for the job also helps. With so many climbing plants, pruning sticks, long-handled pruners and a stable tall ladder are essential.

Gardening gauntlets protect from rose

prickles. Weeding tools are a personal preference, but all gardeners need a few favorites that work best for them.

The size of a job depends on your standards. If you mulch bare spots and pull out weeds as soon as you see them, weeding doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Not every edge needs to be trimmed neatly. Some plants look great grown into a tangle. I usually deadhead the roses so more will bloom.

Some years I don’t bother and the roses do fine. My husband wants the wisteria controlled, so he constantly cuts it back.

However, pruning stimulates growth and the vicious cycle continues. If it were up to me, I’d prune it less and wait until winter to tame it once again. We need to pick our battles.

I’ve concluded that it’s not work if you love it. Gardening bolsters the body, mind and soul. Hours in the garden go by in a happy haze of hummingbirds, intoxicating scents and dazzling colors.

Lunches together on the deck are the best moments of the day. Our garden is not a burden. It’s a playground.

The UCCE Master Gardeners of Sacramento County “2020 Gardening Guide & Calendar” makes a great holiday gift. This year’s guide, available for $10, includes planting charts and recipes using flowers. To order online or for a list of retail stores selling the guide, visit sacmg.ucanr.edu/gardening_ guide.

Anita Clevenger is a platinum Sacramento County Master Gardener.

For answers to gardening questions, contact the UC Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338 or mgsacramento@ ucanr.edu, or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu.

Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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TO DO

Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra’s Wells Fargo Home for the Holidays.

THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Wells Fargo Home for the Holidays

The Nutcracker

Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra Saturday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St. • sacramentochoral.com Music director Donald Kendrick will celebrate 24 years of holiday performances by the symphony orchestra and chorus, accompanied by the Sacramento Children’s Chorus. The audience will join in a Christmas Pop Singalong, and the choir will unveil an African carol “Betelehemu” and the majestic “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” Tickets are $50, $40 and $35 (student discount available).

Sacramento Ballet Dec. 12–22 Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St. • sacballet.org Start a new family tradition with artistic director Amy Seiwert’s reimagining of the beloved holiday ballet with music by Tchaikovsky. Tickets are $25–$107.

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Handel's Messiah Capella Antiqua Choir, Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th St. • capella-antiqua.org Come experience one of the season’s most loved works, Georg Frederick Handel’s “Messiah.” Focusing on the Christmas portion of the “Messiah,” this concert will also include J.S. Bach’s “Cantata 147” featuring the well-loved choral “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Tickets are $10 and $20.

See’s Candies Fundraiser Soroptimist International of Sacramento Dec. 1–24, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Loehmann’s Plaza, 2577 Fair Oaks Blvd. • soroptimistsacramento.com Shop for your favorite See’s Candies while helping raise money to support programs for at-risk women and girls in Sacramento. The second edition of “Inside Sacramento: The Most Interesting Neighborhood Places in America’s Farm-toFork Capital” will also be for sale.

New Work by Anne Gregory and Penny Olson

Sacramento Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

Photo by Marissa Gearhart.

Jay Jay Gallery Through Dec. 21 Jay Jay Art, 5524 B Elvas Ave. • jayjayart.com Anne Gregory creates compositional narratives of the natural world and its creatures. Her collage pieces build stories around unexpected material explorations and the animal kingdom. Penny Olson’s work begins with photographs of the everyday and natural world. She takes these images and processes, deconstructs and reconstructs them into moments of pattern and color.

Concerts for Life Series: Tom Rigney and Flambeau East Sac Baby Boomers Sunday, Dec. 1, 1–4 p.m.

Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub, 2708 J St. • harlows.com Enjoy the sizzling jazz-blues-Cajun sounds of violin master Tom Rigney while helping to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program and Society for the Blind’s Senior IMPACT Project. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door.

Holiday Show of Hands Christmas Crafts Fair St. John the Evangelist School Dec. 6–8 5701 Locust Ave. • holidayshowofhands.com Now in its 41st year, this annual holiday market includes unique gifts and custom creations by more than 150 crafters and artists, antiques and collectibles, photos with Santa, a huge silent auction, hot food and toddies.

Admission is $5 on Friday (5–9 p.m.); free on Saturday (9 a.m.–7 p.m.) and Sunday (9 a.m.–3 p.m.).

Winter Wonderland

Celtic Music Series

Fairytale Town Dec. 14 & 15, Dec. 21 & 22, 1–7 p.m.

3901 Land Park Drive • fairytaletown.org Celebrate the holiday season with festive décor and a dazzling display of lights. Visit with Santa in his workshop from 3–6 p.m., dance under a flurry of snowfall nightly at 7 p.m., step inside a giant snow globe and enjoy elf-themed hands-on activities. Tickets are $7; free for children 1 and younger.

The Sofia Saturday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21, 8:30 p.m.

2700 Capitol Ave. • bstreettheatre.org The Sofia continues its Celtic Music Series in partnership with de Vere’s Irish Pub and SBL Entertainment. On Dec. 7, check out the John Doyle Duo, one of the most versatile and prolific voices in folk and traditional Irish music. Tickets are $35. On Dec. 21, experience an Irish Christmas In America featuring top Irish musicians, singers and dancers. Tickets are $45.

Cathedral Music Series: Women Composers Chamber Music Society of Sacramento Sunday, Dec. 15, 4 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. • cmssacto.org Trinity Cathedral continues its partnership with CMSS to present an ensemble of classical music’s greatest women composers past and present, including Jacquet de la Guerre and Ellen Zwilich. Tickets are $40 general admission; $30 seniors; $15 students and children.

Britten & Rutter: A Vox Christmas Vox Musica Sunday, Dec. 15, 5 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.

Beatnik Studios, 723 S St. • voxmusica.net This holiday concert from the all-women choir features music for the harp and women’s chorus, accompanied by Sacramento Philharmonic concert harpist Anna Maria Mendieta. Ticket are $20 pre-sale; $25 at the door.

Fairytale Town’s Winter Wonderland.

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Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus’ Holiday Hits with a Splash of Sass!

31st Annual Winter Faire Camellia Waldorf School Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

7450 Pocket Road • camelliawaldorf.org Come celebrate the warmth and wonder of the season with puppet shows, holiday crafting, delicious hot food and drink, artisan vendors, children’s store, cupcake walk and the return of Father Winter.

From Words, Music Sacramento Symphonic Winds Sunday, Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m.

El Camino High School Center for the Arts, 4300 El Camino Ave. • sacwinds.org The 66-piece adult symphonic band conducted by Timothy M. Smith will perform holiday tunes, including “Sacred Harp” by Jay Bocook, “Blithe Bells”

by J.S. Bach and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson. Tickets are $15 general admission; $10 students and seniors; free for children 8th grade and younger.

Holiday Journeys Sacramento Children’s Chorus Sunday, Dec. 15, 4 p.m.

C.K. McClatchy High School Auditorium, 3066 Freeport Blvd. • sacramentochildrenschorus.org Under the direction of Alexander Grambow and Jessica Suderman, SCC’s four youth choirs will explore music from Scotland, Italy, Argentina, France and England, as well as contemporary holiday favorites. Tickets are $30 preferred; $20 general; $10 students.

A Master Singers Christmas Sacramento Master Singers Saturday, Dec. 14, 3 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N St. Thursday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22, 3 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St. • mastersingers.org Conductor Ralph Hughes has amassed a program of holiday favorites, including “Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming” by Michael Praetorius, “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl and “Winter Wonderland” by Felix Bernard. Tickets are $27 adults; $22 seniors; $12 students.

Camellia Waldorf School’s Winter Faire.

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POC DEC n 19

Sacramento Civic Ballet’s Miriam, Sister of Moses.

Miriam, Sister of Moses & The Nutcracker

“Jeopardy,” mixed media, by Anne Gregory at Jay Jay Gallery.

Holiday Hits with a Splash of Sass!

Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus Dec. 6, 7 & 10, 8 p.m.

Dec. 8, 3 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St. • sacgaymenschorus.org Be a member of the studio audience as the chorus sings a “live broadcast” with KSGMC 201.9 FM of seasonal favorites, showstoppers from prior years and a few new surprises for the whole family. Tickets are $25 general; $15 students; $40 VIP (includes reception and premium seats).

Sacramento Civic Ballet Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m.

The Center at Twenty-Three Hundred, 2300 Sierra Blvd. • deanedancecenter.com Celebrate the season with the new ballet “Miriam, Sister of Moses” (a one-act ballet that tells the story of Moses through the eyes of his sister), choreographed by Don Schwennesen, followed by the ballet’s popular one-act narrated “The Nutcracker.” Tickets are $10 and $15.

Holiday Craft Faire Ben Ali Shriners Saturday, Dec. 7, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 6151 H St. • benalishrine.org Enjoy the spirit of the season at this free day of arts, crafts, holiday decorations, a silent auction and goodies galore. Visit with Santa from 8:30 a.m. to noon. All proceeds benefit the Ben Ali Transportation Fund, which pays for patient transportation to and from Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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DOG GONE GOOD EAST SAC ARTIST PAINTS PETS—AND MUCH MORE

Nikki Solone

JL

By Jessica Laskey Open Studio

40

POC DEC n 19

I

f you take your pet to Sacramento Animal Hospital on H Street, you’re probably familiar with the adorable brightly colored animal portraits that decorate the treatment rooms.

They are the works of multi-talented East Sacramento artist Nikki Solone, who has been making art for as long as she can

remember, but got turned onto her biggest creative niche—pet portraits—almost by accident.

“I painted a portrait of my mom’s dog, Garbo, after Garbo passed away,” says Solone, who is nursing her newborn daughter while we talk.

“It was so important to my mom that she could still be greeted by her dog every day that I realized I wanted to do this for other people.”

Solone was no stranger to the fulfillment she got from painting beloved pets. At 15, she gifted her grandmother a portrait of a favorite cat. The process of painting two family dogs as a Christmas present convinced Solone to declare studio art as her major at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. But it wasn’t until the portrait of Garbo made such an indelible emotional impact that she decided to see where this passion for painting pets could take her.

The painter plastered Portland, Ore., (where she was living at the time) with flyers for her

“pet pawtraits.” They caught the eye of the owner of a local vet hospital, who invited Solone to paint the clinic cat. If she liked the result, she would commission the artist to do six more portraits in time for the completion of the clinic remodel—in just two months.

Solone’s response? She quit her day job as a courier on the off chance she would get the commission (which she did) and has never looked back.

Since moving to Sacramento to be closer to family, Solone has made a name for herself as both a pet portraitist and muralist. She helped the Sacramento SPCA raise more than $60,000 over the course of six years by auctioning off her original artwork at its annual fundraising gala. Her large indoor murals can be found in several of Sutter Health’s pediatric areas, as well as at Dignity

Health in Rocklin and Sacramento Animal Hospital.

Clearly, Solone is about more than just pet portraits—especially if her project for last year’s Sac Open Studios is any indication. For her first time participating in the event—in which more than 250 area artists open their studios to curious neighbors and patrons—Solone decided to do a community art project in addition to displaying her paintings, many of which are inspired by world travels.

“It sounded much more fun to invite the public to paint with me than to show them how I paint,” Solone says on her blog, which chronicles her artistic adventures. “I wanted people to have an opportunity to experience what it was like to stand in front of a canvas with paint and brush in hand, deciding where to make their mark of self-expression. The thought of many people working on a single canvas ignited something within me.”

When her “brilliant” wife suggested turning one of Solone’s paintings of the Statue of Liberty into a community art piece, the artist leapt at the idea. She made a sketch for visitors to follow (or not) with the provided paint. The end result—a vibrant canvas bursting with color and movement—is titled “What Color is Your Freedom?”

“I had no idea how it would turn out or if people would even show up,” Solone admits. “But

150 people came! I’m so moved by the power of community and what can happen when we work together.”

Solone plans to do another community art project and continue working through her queue of pet portrait commissions—once she gets back to painting. For now, she’s hard at work on her greatest project yet: newborn daughter Vidilia Rose, named after a beloved friend from Cuba.

“I can’t wait to see how my creativity changes now that my daughter is here,” Solone says.

For more information, visit nikkisoloneart.com.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Bring Your Appetite SMALL BURGER STAND OPENS NEW OUTLET IN SACRAMENTO

GS

By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

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POC DEC n 19

J

ose Silva has a thing for burgers. “If we can put it on a bun, we’ll serve it,” says Silva, owner of Flaming Grill Café. Whether it’s sirloin, chuck, bison, ostrich, elk, alligator, carnitas or ahi tuna, you’ll find it on the menu at one of Silva’s three locations.

Chef and owner, Silva has spent the majority of his life, almost 35 years, in the kitchen. Starting out washing dishes at age 13, he steadily worked his way through a variety of Sacramento restaurants, finally giving up the game a dozen years ago. But like a professional athlete who just can’t hang up the cleats, Silva found himself back on the field when he stumbled upon an opportunity to buy up an awkward little food stand on El Camino Avenue. Less than one year into his sabbatical and he was back at the grill, the only difference this time was that it was his grill.

That was 12 years ago. Today he has three area restaurants in West Sacramento, Elk Grove and his most recent at County Club Plaza in Sacramento. This new outlet takes the place of that original funky food stand that was a neighborhood favorite. There comes a time when you inevitably outgrow a small and rather impractical space, and look for an opportunity to expand.

The Country Club Plaza location is ideally situated next to the mall’s new movie theaters. It provides three times the seating as the old El Camino location and has a comfy bar at which to enjoy one of Flaming Grill’s many beers.

When it comes to the “beer boom,” Flaming Grill was well ahead of the curve. Back when you could count the number of local breweries on one hand,

Flaming Grill shipped in specialty beers from all over America, introducing its clientele to beers they could get almost nowhere else locally.

These days, Flaming Grill has a girthy selection of mostly local beers rotating frequently at all three locations. A quick peek at the beer list and you’ll see offerings from Mraz, Moksa, Alaro, Crooked Lane, Jackrabbit and too many more to name. Silva and crew do an impressive job to stand out in a now crowded field of beer bars, breweries and beer-focused outlets of one sort or another. Of course, standing out is easier when you serve burgers that are recognized as some of the best in Northern California.

The menu has more options than just burgers, but who are we kidding, burgers are what we’re here for. And those burgers come in more shapes, sizes and species than just about any place you’ve seen. Flaming Grill Café serves buffalo, ostrich, sirloin, Wagyu, elk, venison, calamari and more. Top it with pastrami, top it with onion rings, top it with avocado, top it with all of the above until your toppings have gone over the top.

Now sure, you hear a litany of ingredients and different animals, and think this must be some gimmicky food.

But that’s where you’re wrong. Despite the exotic meats, you only need to take one bite to realize that Silva and his team have thoughtfully and expertly put together everything on the plate.

They’ve chosen every piece of the meal with care and haven’t skimped on the little things.

Many of the burgers are ground inhouse, and absolutely nailed on the grill

to the preferred doneness. On a recent trip I sampled a wild boar burger with swiss cheese and mushrooms, and found the flavors exceptional. My mother, traditionally not a burger consumer, couldn’t stop gushing about her perfectly done bacon cheeseburger with house-ground sirloin. Heck, she was even impressed by the dressing on the side salad.

Move on to the rest of the menu and find yourself torn between the ahi tuna burger—a beautifully seared and heavily seasoned piece of fresh fish on a light, flaky, volleyball-size bun, topped with shredded red cabbage and marinated cucumbers—and carne asada fries, a must-have for anyone who loves Mexican-American cooking and has a football-size hole in their stomach.

Seriously, the portions are generous.

Very generous. Bring your appetite.

And, I almost hesitate to write this for fear of sounding too sappy, be ready to have a wonderful time on top of the fine food. Silva and family run a fine group of restaurants where everyone from server to dishwasher seems to be genuinely happy. Which makes me happy. Which makes the food taste that much better. Which makes me even happier.

Flaming Grill Café is at 2380 Watt Ave. (inside Country Club Plaza) with additional locations in Elk Grove and West Sacramento; flaminggrillcafe.com.

Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. Our Inside Sacramento Restaurant Guide and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento. com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

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Sacramento SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic alters 50 to 60 dogs and cats per day.

Photo by Jason Sinn.

Good Day to Spay SPCA CLINIC OFFERS LOW-COST SERVICES, BUT EXPECT TO WAIT

A

s I drive into the parking lot of the Sacramento SPCA, I see several people and pets already lined up outside the Spay/Neuter Clinic. It’s 6:45 a.m.

Animal owners and rescuers leisurely chat to pass the time on this crisp fall morning, cat carriers and humane traps scattered about their feet. Dogs, large and small, scruffy and fluffy, struggle against their leashes to greet one another.

The clinic is divided in half—right side for felines, left side for canines.

We wait patiently in our respective

CR

By Cathryn Rakich Pets and Their People

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POC DEC n 19

lines. The clinic doors will open in 30 minutes at 7:15 a.m.

On this particular morning, I am with Summer, my foster dog for a local rescue group. We are sixth in line. Even though appointments are required for a specific day, check-in is on a first-come basis—the earlier you arrive, the sooner you will leave.

Don’t be late—doors lock at 8 a.m.

When the clinic opens, we pet lovers line up again at the dog and cat counters. An amiable receptionist greets me and confirms my appointment. She hands me a clipboard with a form and tells me to wait until my name is called. She will not start to summon people until every person in line has checked in, which can take 20 minutes or more as furry patients continue to arrive.

The SSPCA clinic alters 50 to 60 cats and dogs a day Monday through Saturday, providing spay and neuter

services to the community as well as other local shelters and rescue organizations. In 2018, the clinic sterilized 18,370 animals.

“The Sacramento SPCA is one of the top 10 high-volume spay-neuter centers in the nation,” says Dawn Foster, SSPCA director of marketing and communications. “Our region’s animal shelters are overcrowded and under resourced. There are too many dogs and cats and too few loving homes. That is why the Sacramento SPCA devotes significant resources to addressing animal overpopulation through our spay-neuter program.”

Inside the clinic, the reception area is cramped and the first 15 or so people find a seat, while others stand or wait outside. Within a few minutes of checking in, two vet assistants begin to call out names in the order we arrived and whisk the furry patients away. I continue to answer

the questions on my form. When was the last time the animal ate? Any known injuries or illnesses? Do you want treatment for fleas or worms if detected?

When I am finally called back up to the window, the receptionist confirms what services I seek in addition to a spay. I say yes to vaccines, heartworm test and microchip. The time is 7:45 a.m. when I climb back into my car.

As a high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter clinic, the SSPCA faces one big challenge—meeting the demand. Securing an appointment for a spay or neuter can take four weeks or more. “We recognize the need far exceeds capacity in our community,” Foster says. “We are spending time and resources looking into opportunities to expand the program—to be able to offer more surgeries annually.”

For more than 30 years I have been helping your friends and neighbors find THEIR STYLE. What can I do for you? Complimentary One Hour Session.

916.329.8484 Just Your Style.com Appointments cannot be made online or via email—at least not yet.

“We are looking at ways for clients to schedule appointments through an online option,” Foster adds.

To schedule an appointment, pet owners must visit the clinic on Florin-Perkins Road, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.—or call the SSPCA at (916) 504-2810 for dogs and (916) 504-2811 for cats.

“We get 1,200 calls a month for the spay-neuter clinic,” Foster says.

Due to the high volume, it can take two weeks or more to receive a return phone call.

Yet despite the long waits, anyone who has investigated the cost of a spay or neuter at a private veterinary hospital knows the SSPCA clinic is a relative bargain. For cats, a neuter is $35 and a spay costs $50. For dogs, the price is based on weight, not gender, ranging from $100 to $350.

Discounts from 20 to 40 percent are offered to seniors, veterans and students.

There are additional charges for pets who are pregnant or in heat,

“

THE SACRAMENTO SPCA IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 HIGHVOLUME SPAY-

„

NEUTER CENTERS IN THE NATION.

and if the testicles are not descended.

Vaccinations, heartworm tests, flea and worm treatments, and microchips are extra.

While many private vets require an overnight stay following spay or neuter surgery, the SSPCA clinic has a speedier approach. Pick up time is between 4 and 5 p.m. the same day.

There is a charge if you are late.

The private Community Spay Neuter Clinic, located at the county animal shelter on Bradshaw Road, also offers low-cost services. But the wait for an appointment at the Bradshaw clinic is also lengthy, often up to six weeks.

Altering your pet “is the only thing that solves both overpopulation and the number of animals entering the Sacramento SPCA facility and the city and county shelters each year,” Foster says. “Our vision is to eliminate animal homelessness, save lives and improve the quality of life for our community’s furry friends and the people who love them.”

For a list of services and fees at the Sacramento SPCA Spay/ Neuter Clinic, visit sspca.org/ spayneuter. For the Bradshaw clinic, visit communityspayneuter. com. For information on spay/neuter vouchers and other resources, visit the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition at sacanimal.org.

Sacramento’s Most Comprehensive Restaurant Guide is now available @

InsideSacramento.com Search More than 80 Local Reviews by Neighborhood and Cuisine!

As featured in...

Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n

POC n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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DOWNTOWN Cafeteria 15L Classic American dishes with millennial flavor 1116 15th Street • 916.492.1960 cafeteria15l.com

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters Award-winning roasters 3rd and Q Sts. • chocolatefishcoffee.com

de Vere’s Irish Pub A lively and authentic Irish family pub 1521 L Street • 916.231.9947 deverespub.com

Mayahuel

Old Soul

Mexican cuisine with a wide-ranging tequila menu 1200 K Street • 916.441.7200 experiencemayahuel.com

Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 1716 L Street (rear alley) • oldsoulco.com

Old Soul Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 555 Capitol Mall • oldsoulco.com

A cheese-centric food and wine bar 1801 L Street # 40 • 916.441.7463 therindsacramento.com

Preservation & Company

Zocolo

Preserving delicious produce from local farms 1717 19th Street #B • 916.706.1044 preservationandco.com

Tastes inspired by the town square of Mexico City 1801 Capitol Avenue • 916.441.0303 zocalosacramento.com

INSIDE’S

Solomon’s Delicatessen

Downtown & Vine

Opening summer of 2018 730 K Street • Solomonsdelicatessen.com

Taste and compare the region’s best wines 1200 K Street, #8 • 916.228.4518 downtownandvine.com

South

Ella Dining Room & Bar New American farm-to-fork cuisine 1131 K Street • 916.443.3772 elladiningroomandbar.com

Timeless traditions of Southern cooking 2005 11th Street • 916.382.9722 weheartfriedchicken.com

OLD SAC Fat City Bar & Cafe

Esquire Grill

The Rind

MIDTOWN Biba Ristorante Italiano

The Firehouse Restaurant

Federalist Public House

The city’s quintessential dining destination 926 J St. • 916.492.4450 grangesacramento.com

Hot Italian

Mexican cuisine in a festive, colorful setting 2730 J Street • 916.442.2552 paragarys.com

The premiere dining destination in historic setting 1112 2nd Street • 916.442.4772 firehouseoldsac.com

Signature woodfired pizzas and local craft beers 2009 Matsui Alley • 916.661.6134 federalistpublichouse.com

Rio City Café

Lowbrau Bierhalle

California-inspired menu on the riverfront 1110 Front Street • 916.442.8226 riocitycafe.com

Modern-rustic German beer hall 1050 20th Street • 916.452.7594 lowbrausacramento.com

Willie’s Burgers

Old Soul at The Weatherstone

A quirky burger joint 110 K Street • 916.444.2006 williesburgers.com

Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 812 21st Street • oldsoulco.com

Paragary’s

Remarkable pizza in modern Italian setting 1627 16th Street • 916.492.4450 hotitalian.net

THE HANDLE

La Consecha by Mayahuel

Unmatched sweet sophistication 1801 L Street, #60 • 916.706.1738 gingerelizabeth.com

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar

Mulvaney’s Building & Loan

Revolution Wines

Casual Mexican in a lovely park setting 917 9th Street • 916.970.5354 lacosechasacramento.com

Ma Jong Asian Diner A colorful & casual spot for all food Asian 1431 L Street • 916.442.7555 majongs.com

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Farm-fresh New American cuisine 1215 19th Street • 916.441.6022 mulvaneysbl.com

Camellia Waldorf School We will be hosting special Open House

French inspired bistro in chic new environment 1401 28th Street • 916.457.5737 • paragarys.com

A focus on all things local 2718 J Street • 916.706.2275 • theredrabbit.net

Urban winery and kitchen 2831 S Street • 916.444.7711 • rev.wine

Omnivore, vegan, raw, paleo, organic, glutenfree and carnivore sustenance 2820 R Street • 916.455.2667 • sac.coop

Sun & Soil Juice Company Raw, organic nutrition from local farms 1912 P Street • 916.341.0327 • sunandsoiljuice.com

Suzie Burger Burgers, cheesesteaks and other delights 2820 P Street • 916.455.3500 • suzieburger.com

Tapa the World

Experience Kindergarten Jan. 11 at 9 a.m.

Traditional Spanish & world cuisine 2115 J Street • 916.442.4353 tapatheworld.com

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POC DEC n 19

Casa Garden Restaurant Outstanding dining in a garden setting 2760 Sutterville Rd. • 916.452.2809 casagardenrestaurant.org

Open Summer 2018 • 2940 Freeport Blvd. chocolatefishcoffee.com

Award-winning neighborhood bakery 2966 Freeport Blvd. • 916.442.4256 freeportbakery.com

Iron Grill A mecca to hearty eating 2422 13th Street • 916.737.5115 irongrillsacramento.com

Riverside Clubhouse Traditional Amercian classic menu 2633 Riverside Blvd. • 916.448.9988 riversideclubhouse.com

Selland’s Market-Café Family-friendly neighborhood café 915 Broadway • 916. 732.3390 sellands.com

Taylor’s Market & Kitchen A reputation for service & quality 2900 & 2924 Freeport Blvd • 916.443.5154 taylorsmarket.com

Vic’s Ice Cream & Café Family owned since 1947 3199 Riverside Blvd. • 916.448.0892 vicsicecream.com

Willie’s Burgers A quirky burger joint 2415 16th Street • 916.444.2006 williesburgers.com

Woodlake Tavern Sac Natural Foods Co-Op

Discover Preschool Jan. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Elementary & Middle School Jan. 10 at 6 p.m.

LAND PARK

Freeport Bakery

Specializing in housemade salumi and cocktails 1050 20th Street • 916.476.6306 blockbutcherbar.com

Firestone Public House

Grange Restaurant & Bar

Classic European with locally sourced ingredients 2000 Capitol Ave. • 916.498.9891 waterboyrestaurant.com

Block Butcher Bar

Centro Cocina Mexicana

Fine Chinese dining in an elegant interior 806 L Street • 916.442.7092 frankfats.com

The Waterboy

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters

American cuisine served in a casual historic Old Sac location 1001 Front Street • 916.446.6768 fatsrestaurants.com

Frank Fat’s

2200 K Street • 2829 S Street 1010 9th Street • templecoffee.com

Legendary chef, cookbook author Biba Caggiano 2801 Capitol Avenue • 916.455.2422 biba-restaurant.com

Classic dishes in a sleek urban design setting 1213 K Street • 916.448.8900 paragarys.com

Hip and happy sports bar with great food 1132 16th Street • 916.446.0888 firestonepublichouse.com

Temple Coffee Roasters

1431 Del Paso Blvd • 916.514.0405 woodlaketavern.com n

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