Pocket News

Pocket News since 1991

December 5, 2013

Community News in Your Hands

www.valcomnews.com

Introducing

Haley Adel,

Kennedy cross country great See page 10

In the Pocket............................................................ 6 Faces and Places................................................. 8 Sports....................................................................... 10 Local history feature.......................................... 21 Calendar.................................................................. 24

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Cub Scout Pack 259 collected nearly 200 pounds of food

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Sing-Along Messiah Tradition Returns to South Sacramento Community Invited to Free Christmas Concert on December 8 The fifth annual free Christmas “SingAlong Messiah” concert is happening Sunday, Dec. 8, starting 4 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625-24th Street, Sacramento (off Fruitridge Road between I-5 and Highway 99, just 10 minutes south of midtown Sacramento). Free parking is available. Donations of canned or packaged goods for the local food closet will be accepted at the door. Flyer, map and driving directions: www.bethpres.com.

There is no charge to participate as a singer or audience member, and free refreshments will be served following the concert. A goodwill offering will be taken midway through the concert. Chief beneficiary of the offering is the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership Food Closet, which is struggling to provide emergency supplies of groceries to thousands of in-need area residents this holiday season.

In the month of October 2013 alone, food was provided to more than 8,000 individuals.

Everyone is invited to join in the volunteer choir, which will be led by choral conductors from area colleges and churches. Last year’s

combined choir and audience totaled more than 200 people. Participants are encouraged to bring their own musical scores; a limited quantity of Messiah scores will be available for purchase (just $10) at the door.

A special feature sets this event apart from other Messiah Sing events: everyone gets to sing the solos. “We are continuing our practice of not using professional soloists,” says Dr. May Tuan Tucker, Bethany Presbyterian Church Music Director. “Solos will be performed in group fashion at the front by anyone and everyone who desires to sing them.”

For more details, contact event coordinator Dr. May Tucker at (916) 428-5281 or e-mail maytucker@mac.com.

The Messiah, composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741, is based on bible passages that tell the story of Christ. This musical celebration has since become a Christmas tradition in many parts of the world. The December 8 concert will feature primarily the Christmas portions of the Messiah, concluding with the triumphant “Hallelujah Chorus.”

The Sing-Along Messiah is presented by Bethany Presbyterian Church in partnership with local congregations and schools.

Pocket News w w w. va l c o m n e w s . c o m

E-mail stories & photos to: editor@valcomnews.com Pocket News is published on the first and third Thursdays of the month in the area bounded by Interstate 5 on the east and the Sacramento River on the north, west, and south.

Publisher.................................................................................George Macko General Manager.................................................................... Kathleen Egan Editor.......................................................................................Monica Stark Art Director.................................................................................John Ochoa Graphic Designer........................................................................Ryan Wunn Advertising Executives.................................................................Linda Pohl

Patty Colmer, Melissa Andrews, Jen Henry Distribution/Subscriptions.....................................................George Macko Copyright 2013 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Vol. XXII • No. 23 2709 Riverside Blvd.

Sacramento, CA 95818 t: (916) 429-9901 f: (916) 429-9906

Cover photo by: Courtesy Other photos by: Courtesy Lance Armstrong

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Photo by Monica Stark

Christmas in the Pocket

Christmas lights come once a year and decorate the Pocket with lots of cheer. So, enjoy a walk down the block.

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www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

Matsuyama students stress importance of flood preparedness

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Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Matsuyama’s First Lego League team, Robo Pines participated in this year’s “Nature’s Fury” competition held at St. Francis High School on Nov. 16. The Robo-Pines decided to focus on floods because they live and go to school in a high flood zone area and want to raise awareness about being prepared before a flood happens.

The team is consisted of seven members, Josiah, Max, Cameron, Mugita, Jake, Ryan and Casey.

The first four are in sixth grade and the last three in the fifth. The group began working together during the second week of school under the guidance of sixth grade teacher Mr. Mullen. “ This group is actually pretty good for being flood prepared with six of the seven students being flood prepared,” Mr. Mullen said, noting that fewer than 10 percent of the local population is prepared in case of a flood.

There were two parts to the competition, the robot part and a project part. The team, as a whole, works together on both parts. The project part requires the team to pick whatever natural disaster of their choice (flooding), find a problem caused by the natural disaster (people aren’t prepared) and find a solution to the problem (using kids to get the word out about being prepared before a natural disaster happens).

The next step for the Robo-Pines was to share their findings with others. They’ve gone to a few schools such as Kennedy High, School of Engineering and Sciences and Martin Luther King, K-8, to stress the importance of flood preparedness and wanted to share their findings with Pocket News readers.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

‘Cap’n Mitch’ reminisces about his pre-TV cartoon host years

By LANCE ARMSTRONG Lance@valcomnews.com

Editor’s Note: This is part one in a series about Mitch Agruss and other kiddie show hosts, who brought joy to many young television viewers in the Sacramento Valley.

Although many years have passed since Mitch Agruss served as a popular, local TV cartoon host, he remains a legendary figure to thousands of people.

Mitch, who turned 90 years old last summer, won the hearts of children and others in East Sacramento and throughout the valley with his endearing presentations as Cap’n Mitch, and Cap’n Delta, “Skipper of the Valley Queen.�

In agreeing to be interviewed for this publication about his cartoon host days, Mitch also expressed a desire to speak about the oftentimes lesser known parts of his career. “The people in this television market remember me for the hosting of the children’s cartoon shows, and that’s it,�

Mitch said. “But that was, in Sacramento, from 1961 to 1989. From 1941 to 1961, I was back East. I was graduating from drama school, I was in New York, I was doing Broadway shows, I was doing offBroadway shows, I was (working) in the live television era.�

While motioning toward a stack of old books sitting on a table in his home, Mitch said, “Those are ‘Theatre World’ books, in which either my name appears or my pictures are in from plays that I’ve done in New York,� Mitch said.

And in pointing out a particular page in one of the books, Mitch added, “That’s the page in which I appear in the same play with Katharine Hepburn.�

In that play, Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,� Hebpurn played Beatrice and Mitch appeared in the role of Conrade.

A preview for that play, which was held at the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre in Stratford, Conn. from June 22 through Sept. 8, 1957, included the following words: “Mitchell Agruss appeared on Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Broadway in ‘King Lear’ with the late Louis Calhern (18951956), and in ‘At War with the Army.’ He played in the off-Broadway productions of ‘The Clandestine Marriage,’ ‘The White Devil,’ ‘The Carefree Tree’ and ‘The Duchess of Malfi,’ appeared in all three festival productions last summer, and at the Phoenix (an off-Broadway theater in New York City) this winter.�

In further reminiscing about his early work in live theater, Mitch said, “It’s wonderful to realize that there was a time when I did those things.�

Mitch,who was born in Barnes Hospital (now Barnes-Jewish Hospital) in St. Louis, Mo., was the son of Nat and Rose Agruss.

The family’s history in the United States began with Nat and Rose’s parents, who immigrated to America from Eastern Europe in the 1890s.

The Agrusses, Mitch noted, resided in “a very tightknit Jewish community in St. Louis, orthodox at the time.�

Mitch said that his interest in theater began while he was attending Clayton High School in Clayton, Mo. “I got interested in theater when I was in high school, because I had a very encouraging teacher, mentor (named Blandford Jennings),� Mitch said. “( Jennings) encouraged me and was instrumental in having me go to the State University of Iowa (which is commonly known today as the University of Iowa) between my junior and senior years of high school to a special theater class to see how I took to it.

He recommended and referred me – since I didn’t know the first thing about it and where to go to college – to what was then called Carnegie Institute of Technology. It’s now called Carnegie Mellon University.

(The institution, which is located in Pittsburgh, Pa.,) has one of the country’s premier drama departments.�

In 1941, following his freshman year at Carnegie Tech, Mitch returned to his St. Louis home, where he received a telephone call from a classmate named Garry Davis.

The classmate – whose father was Meyer Davis (1893-

1976), who led one of the nation’s all-time notable dance bands – told him that he was at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa. and should join him working on the crew building sets and providing other contributions for the summer stock shows.

Mitch told his classmate that he could not afford to engage himself in that project.

But Mitch quickly learned that the work was not unpaid labor, and instead would earn him $15 per week.

Soon after that conversation, Mitch borrowed money for train fare from his parents and headed to meet his friend in New Hope.

Mitch was surprised to learn that Bucks County Playhouse was one of the nation’s most celebrated summer straw-hat circuit theaters of that era. “All the big names worked there,� Mitch recalled. “It was in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch country, where so many famous theater people have their summer homes. And I was just an 18-year-old kid stepping off a train and walking into the most glamorous world any young theater person could be interested in. The people that were there were all fantastic. All summer long, I met so many people and I became one of the pets of the company.

The theater moved because of (World War II) gas rationing into the ballroom of the Belleview-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, so I spent (the summer of 1942) working there.

Each time I got a little bit better parts to play, as well as being a crew person, building sets and running the shows and stuff like that. My best part was in ‘Elizabeth the Queen,’ with a (British actress) named Flora Robson (1902-1984).�

Like many people, Mitch put his dreams on hold to serve his country during the war.

After joining the Army Air Corps and serving in California, he spent the last twothirds of his three years of military service in Biloxi, Miss.

In 1946, Mitch was honorably discharged from his service and he once again attend-

Photo courtesy of Mitch Arguss

Mitch Arguss and a group of Cub Scouts are shown on the set of Arguss’s television show, “Cap’n Delta, Skipper of the Valley Queen.�

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See Cap’n Mitch, page 18 www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

In the Pocket Holiday Fish By Shane Singh

shane@valcomnews.com

Pocket Aglow Kristi and Jeremy Morioka are ready for Opening Night of their third annual Pocket Holiday Lights display on Little River Drive near Martin Luther King School. The “Angry Birds” theme returns this year. Notes Kristi, “When we are home, we pass out candy canes when ‘Let it Snow’ is played.” As for the inevitable questions about their SMUD bill, “We end up paying about $150 more on electricity each month, but we use all LED lights to be energy efficient as possible.” And yes, the family’s motive is pure as the driven snow: “We started this display because my husband loves Christmas,” Kristi says.

Given recent neighborhood vandalism, Kristi asks neighbors and friends to keep an eye on their display and advise them if anything is astray.

This year the Moriokas will also collect toys for foster children via Sleep Train’s toy drive program. Not just loving Christmas, but displaying that love. ...

If you need a break from turkey or ham, Banzai Sushi on Riverside and Florin Road offers a tasty alternative. Open since 2005, this local favorite “takes pride in providing quality food for an affordable price to our neighborhood families and friends,” says owner Lynn Fu. “We have new sushi rolls with a new menu. I also try to have a special each day on the board.”

During the cold winter Lynn recommends,“My favorite in the winter: ramen noodles to warm people up. Our most popular is the spicy chicken from medium hot to crazy hot. The dish is very good for a person with a cold.”

There’s a recipe for health and sustenance this winter: spicy chicken! ...

Soft-boiled Vandals Jose Negron sent out the very first “Urgent Alert” on Nextdoor-Pocket when his car and truck were egged by a group of vandals on Melanie Way behind the Rush River Bel Air shopping center on Saturday, Nov. 23. Jose advises, “I left my car outside during a bike ride and got home about 10:15 p.m. and saw my both my car, truck and about five cars total on my street that were hit by eggs. The eggs were thrown so

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Photo courtesy

This year Pack 259 collected nearly 200 pounds of canned foods and other non-perishable items. The food was then distributed to the SSIP Food Closet here in Sacramento.

hard it even cracked the paint on my car!” Jose has been a 10year resident of the Pocket and figures, “These kids must be coming in from other parts of town, because my street only has about three teenagers.” Negron is further frustrated that this recent incident is a repeat of an egging that happened about three weeks ago. He wants to encourage neighbors to file vandalism reports with the police department, a process that takes only about 10 minutes online and alerts cops to trouble spots and trends. He hopes that once the culprits are caught, police will tie the eggings together. Jose didn’t offer

his ideal punishment, but one idea would be to make the eggers peel and eat 100 hardboiled eggs each, Cool Hand Luke style. ...

Scouting for Food

Let’s applaud local Cub Scout Pack 259, where Cubmaster Lee Adamson reports, “Scouting for Food is an annual event that the Pack has participated in for the past several years.

Dens distribute fliers throughout Pocket/Greenhaven neighborhoods and then a week later, we go back through those same neighborhoods to collect food that our neighbors have

left out.” This year, 11 boys from the Pack participated in the campaign on November 24.

Adamson says,“The food is collected and then taken to a local food bank. This year Pack 259 collected nearly 200 pounds of canned foods and other nonperishable items. The food was then distributed to the SSIP Food Closet here in Sacramento.” The Pack hopes to conduct a larger drive next year using social media with food drop off locations. Solid community work by our Cub Scouts!

Kings arena Town Halls: Our neighbor R.E. Graswich (pro-arena) will be engaging in a series of Town Hall debates and community discussions against John Hyde (antiarena) around the Sacramento region. The January 9 event will be right here at the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Seating will be limited so get there early to learn about the pros and cons of a project that will change the face of downtown Sacramento.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Faces and Places:

3rd grade holiday pie sale at Alice Birney Photos by Monica Stark editor@valcomnews.com

Alice Birney Waldorf-Inspired K-8 school held a third grade pie sale and Friday market on Nov. 22. Every Friday after school, parents and the AB community comes together to raise funds for various programs at the markets. At this recent market, some brought home whole apple and pumpkin pies and others enjoyed a slice on the spot.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

Faces and Places

20th annual Run to Feed the Hungry Photos by Monica Stark editor@valcomnews.com

Run to Feed the Hungry, one of Sacramento?s greatest family traditions held annually on Thanksgiving Day, raised funds and awareness for families in need in our community. Nearly 30,000 people came out this year for the event that benefits the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

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Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

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18 churches worked to support the SSIP Food Closet Photos and story by Cathy Sapunor

Eighteen South Sacramento congregations support the SSIP (South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership) Food Closet, including St. Anthony Parish & Faith Presbyterian located in the Pocket area.

Church members donate food, monies, and time to feed the poor of Sacramento. The Food Closet serves needy families, individuals and homeless within the following zipcodes in the South Sacramento areas: 95822, 95823, 95824, 95826, 95828, 95831, 95832.

A person may receive food one time each month. Enough for three meals a day for three days is given to each person. The SSIP Food Closet is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. except on major holidays. SSIP is the third largest food bank in Sacramento County serving nearly 5,500 individuals monthly.

SSIP provides emergency food in South Sacramento from the location at: Bethany Presbyterian Church, which is located at 5625 24th St. Patty Shaw is the coordinator and can be reached at 428-5290.

Dozens of boxes of canned/packaged foods were donated by 25 area schools (see list below) as part of KCRA TV 3’s annual Kids Can project. Schools in the Pocket area are marked with *.

Food was unpacked and sorted by volunteers. The attached photos were snapped Monday, Nov. 25, when the waiting line for Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

food was more than 200 people long. Volunteers from Bethany Presbyterian Church served hot chocolate and coffee to those waiting in line and Food Closet volunteers unpacked Kids Can boxes and bags. www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

Introducing

Haley Adel, Kennedy cross country great

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Kennedy Sophomore Cross Country runner Haley Adel has been excelling both on the course and in the classroom. Just back from running 19 minutes 39 seconds at a 3.2 mile course at the 2013 CIF Cross Country State Championships in Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 30, Adel has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and the athletic department could not be more proud of all that she is accomplishing at Kennedy.

Finishing 126th out of 198 of the best female high school distance runners in the state, Adel has been officially running since eighth grade when she began practicing with her sister who is also on the Kennedy team. James Bowles, Head Coach of JFK’s cross country team and assistant coach with the track and field team, said Adel has been running well all season long and has set personal best after personal best, race after race.

While Adel performed well last season, she has rose above her coach’s expectations this year. She went from being the second best frosh-soph girl in the league last year to representing JFK at the State Championship Cross Country race this year, a feat that has not been accomplished by a female runner at Kennedy since 1998, explained Bowles. Just the jump from frosh-soph to varsity is a big deal, being that on the frosh-soph level, the races are about two miles long and varsity races are three miles.

10

‘I think I was more confident that she could make it than she was, but somewhere between the middle of track season last year and cross country season this year, her confidence just broke out…’

–James Bowles Photos courtesy

“Not only are her races farther but now she runs them even faster. She has multiple top 10 finishes in large invitationals this year versus heavy competition and girls up to two grades ahead of her.

“I don’t even know if proud is the best word to describe it. But I am very, very, very proud, happy, and excited. I mean coaching her has been a delight. Sometimes you have star athletes that have huge egos and have a diva-like attitude. Well, she is the exact opposite. I wish I had a team full of runners like Haley. One of the main reasons she is a team captain (is) she shows up, leads by example. She trains hard, works hard and encourages others no matter how she feels about her own performance.”

In describing her training regimen, Adel said during the week, she has different exercises for each day her coaches plan out. “They have us put

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

(above) Kennedy runners. (left) Haley with her coaches.

in mileage on one day, work on speed on the track another day, practice running over hills to prepare for races, and then run some mile repeats to work on our paces. Additionally, this summer my sister and I attended a weeklong running camp on the northern coast. During the summer, I spent Sundays working on my 400-meter speed on the track and spent weekdays running with my cross country team,” she said.

Asked what her favorite distance to run is, she said the three milers are because she can force herself to continue improving. Her favorite race? The Pacific Tigers race. “It’s a flat race on a golf course,” she said.

With a grade point average of 4.0, Adel said she tries to get most of her lengthy homework done over the weekend and during the week, she said she just does her “homework to the best of (her) abilities and keep moving on.”

Certainly her running career is just taking off, but Adel’s favorite Kennedy cross country memories thus far include the occasional run to 7-11 on Fridays to enjoy Slurpees after a hard week of practice and school and, “oh yeah finding

out I qualified for state was a great memory I will never forget!”

The current season is Bowles’s third year coaching, and he said he has learned just as much from coaching her as she has from the coaching staff, which also includes Assistant Coach Michael Derrick.

“At the beginning of the season if you told me that she would make it to the State Championship, I would have said ‘no way’. But as the season grew, I grew more and more confident that she had a great shot at it.

I think I was more confident that she could make it than she was, but somewhere between the middle of track season last year and cross country season this year, her confidence just broke out, even though she doesn’t show it by looking at her or talking to her because she tends to shy away from the spotlight. You can see why I am so proud of her when her confidence shows up in performance in practice and in races.

She doesn’t even practice with the girls anymore because she is usually out kicking most of our boys’ butts during workouts. I am already looking forward to what she can do next year,” Bowles said.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

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www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

11

Local Youth Shine In The Sacramento Ballet’s The Nutcracker

By Gina Lorenzo gina@valcomnews.com

Sacramento Ballet productions, Ron Cunningham’s The Nutcracker has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people over the years and is a great holiday tradition for many. This year’s The Nutcracker production at the Sacramento Community Center includes local girls who have a long history with the Sacramento Ballet.

When asked about their initial involvement, Clara McNatt, an 11 year old Land Park resident said “People told me that it would be fun when I moved here. That was four years ago. I tried out every year for Clara and last year I finally got the part.” Her sisters Louise (Loui) and Anna (twins) who are age 8, joined with they were five.

Abigail Fitzpatrick, a 15 year-old East Sacramento resident and Christian Brothers High School student

who plays Rich Girl in the prologue says, “It’s a lot of fun because I am not much of a dancer but I love to act. I have been acting since Kindergarten. The good thing about the Nutcracker is that you don’t have to be a total ballet dancer. You are learning a lot like how to be with other kids.” And for younger dancers like Loui McNatt, “Dancing as a mouse I am only on stage for a minute at a time,” she states. But as she and Anna explained, when children get older, the characters spend more time performing.

Regarding the audition process, Mariah Hill, a 10 year-old Pocket-Greenhaven resident said “They measure your height, you get a number and wait in line to try out. They choose people for call backs”. Abigail Fitzpatrick, added “They will play a movie because you are here for hours. There is a line out the door.” In fact, The Nutcracker, page 13

Got News? e-mail editor@valcomnews.com

12

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

The Nutcracker: Continued from page 12

over 900 aspiring performers tried out, roughly 150 per part. Children from all over the area were cast.

For some, they have performed several characters like Abigail Goehring, a 10 year-old Arden- Carmichael resident, who has played such roles as Baby Blue Party Child to Clara and has been in ballet classes since age 3.5.

When it comes to balancing ballet with other priorities in their daily life Clara says, “We always remember that when ballet is busy, school

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

still comes first”. “Clara had to quit soccer because she got the role of Clara”, her sister Anna added. And Abigail Fitzpatrick adds “At Sutter Middle School, they taught us time management skills last year. I find time to do homework, even backstage before performances.”

When asked what advice they would give other children who dream of performing in The Nutcracker or a similar role, Mariah advises,” If you want to do ballet, start at a young age to get used to it.” Abigail Fitzpatrick said “If you don’t get auditions, keep trying every year and eventually you will get the part.” Abigail Goehring advised, “Follow

your dreams and never give up even when sometimes you feel like it.” And there are admitted struggles; late nights rehearsing, school projects due during the busiest rehearsal weeks, but they all agree that it is worth it. In fact some are considering career in ballet.

You can see these girls and many other local children performing at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, Dec. 7- 23. Tickets are $19 $90 (children’s tickets are for ages 12 and under).

For more information about The Nutcracker and other Sacramento Ballet productions visit www. sacballet.org.

www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

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Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

This program is made possible by a grant from the Coca Cola Company in conjunction with the City of Sacramento, Department of Parks and Recreation, Neighborhood Services Division. Troops for Fitness employs veterans to teach fitness classes to the community.

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Pocket neighborhood gets in the holiday spirit Photo by Monica Stark editor@valcomnews.com

The Jaco Family has worked hard into the cold night to prepare Christmas trees for the Pocket neighborhood for the last five years for owner Tracy Franz (former football player for SF 49ers in 1980s) who owns nine tree lots.

Mikey’s Christmas Trees is located at the corner of Riverside and Florin. The lot is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Wednesday. The lot is staffed by friendly people waiting to help you find your perfect tree.

All trees are $45.59. See www.mikeysxmastrees.com/ for all nine locations.

Got News? e-mail editor@valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

17

Cap’n Mitch: Continued from page 5

ed Carnegie Tech, where he graduated a year later.

He then returned to Bucks County Playhouse, where he became the assistant stage manager.

Mitch said that it was during that time that he also obtained his Actors’ Equity card and began obtaining better roles in plays.

“I did a myriad of plays with very, very nice parts with more and more important people,” Mitch said. So, my summers were full. I worked with people who are maybe not well known now, but they certainly were well known then. Luise Rainer (1910present) and Shirley Booth (1898-1992) and Moss Hart (1904-1961) and George Kauffman (1889-1961) and Harpo Marx (18881964), and Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) of all people.

Photo by Lance Armstrong

Mitch Arguss, aka Cap’n Mitch and Cap’n Delta, entertained thousands of children in East Sacramento and beyond with his role as a local TV cartoon host.

The summers were full and I was married there, as well, to (Katharine Thompson) who I had met in school.”

In 1948, Mitch and Katharine moved to New York, and Mitch began working in the aforementioned Broadway play, “At War with the Army,” which was later made into a Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis film.

Agruss said that he was offered a role in that film, but added, “Whatever they wanted to pay me, I couldn’t afford to go from New York to California to do it.”

In reminiscing about that time in his life, Agruss said, “It’s amazing for a kid in New York (in) his first year to hit Broadway and be right there in the center of activity at the Booth Theatre, which is like the heartbeat of New York’s Broadway theater scene. That show had moderate success.

We were there for about three or four months, then we toured in Chicago and here and there.

We did something called the subway circuit in theaters. For months we did this in Brooklyn and the Bronx, in Queens and New Jersey and all around.”

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Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

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Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Long-time ballerina retires from Sac Ballet

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Sacramento Ballet dancer Montana native Isha Lloyd has announced her retirement from her first career. Spending nearly seven years with this “incredible family of professional artists”, as she describes her fellow dancers, Lloyd has unfortunately accumulated an incredible amount of injuries that have caught up with her, ending a memorable career. “(The injuries) are finally physically preventing me from enjoying or being able to perform,” she told Valley Community Newspapers.

The first dancer in her family besides her grandfather who was a can-can dancer, Lloyd said she is not sure where she got her passion and dance ability from, though she said she got the ballet bug when she was little.

Forced into ballet when she was 3 years old, along with baseball, soccer and swimming, she hated it until she was 9 and started taking classes in Montana. One of the few states with a residence in ballet program, Lloyd “absolutely loved” ballet. She quit track, swimming and all of the other sports she played up until then.

At that young age, Lloyd began her ballet regimen of dancing six days a week and that drive was an impetus for her to graduate early from high school. But days before the commencement ceremony (as well as her prom and SAT examinations), she got into a terrible, life threatening car accident. Her doctor said she would never dance again, but she proved otherwise within weeks, despite being in a coma for three days and suffering brain trauma, a broken pelvis and leg. Doctors put a titanium rod in her femur. Her first goal toward dancing again was to walk across the stage at graduation. Because she knew if she put herself on a recovery fast track, she would be more likely to fulfill her prior commitment to the Seattle Pacific Northwest Ballet Company, where she danced prior to joining Sac Ballet.

“I made it a goal to walk at graduation. I ditched the crutches. My brother was there to catch me if I Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

fell, which I didn’t do. Getting back to ballet was hard,” she said. That’s when she took Pilates seriously. Her dance teacher in Montana was certified in Pilates and came up with a regimen and brought her back on her feet. Time passed quickly from then on, starting in Seattle where Carinne Binda Cunningham of the Sacramento Ballet happened to watch a random Saturday class. “She picked me out and offered me an apprentice contract. I said why not? I was going to be a ballerina. I am so glad I did it.

I spent seven years here. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”

During Lloyd’s first month of dancing for the Sacramento Ballet, she contracted mononucleosis.

“I started on the wrong foot, but they stuck with me,” she said. And, despite being injury prone, the company embraced her talent and passion, giving her leads in such productions as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker.

Because of the surgery, she can felt the cold weather coming during Nutcracker season. “I feel old. My bones get stiffer. It’s harder to move the hip joint and I have a harder time warming up. But Pilates have helped me get warm.” For Lloyd, this additional physical work became “muscle memory” but it was something that made her feel a lot better. “When I don’t do it, I can notice a difference,” she said.

Having a lead in the Modern Masters in the spring, Lloyd decided to dance through her pain, warding it off with pain killers and holding off on a surgery until three days after the final production. Lloyd has decided to stay in Sacramento and focus on her education toward a second career in Sports Medicine hopes to organize the Sacramento Ballet into a better dance health care program.

She also teaches a Pilates class at Pipeworks, where she took up rockclimbing and met her boyfriend.

“Ballet dancers make for the perfect rock climber,” she notes. “Your legs are strong. You’ve got the muscle memory and are smart enough to know the choreography of the route.

I use that to my benefit. It’s a different kind of release and you are connected by a rope. It’s a lot of fun. It’s

Photos by Keith Sutter

a good transition from pretty, pretty ballet to climbing up rocks. I am lucky to find something out of ballet that makes me so happy.”

Earlier in the day when Lloyd sat down with this publication on Nov. 8, she had taken a ballet class at the Sacramento Ballet. Depending on who is teaching the class, she said, it could be anywhere between 1 to 3 hours long. Considered the warm-up class for the ballet company, Lloyd said she has been told by the Cunninghams that she is always welcome to come by, though she has retired.

It’s because she cannot give up the art completely. Realistically she commented on how quickly one can get out of ballet shape. “We have a joke in ballet that after missing one day of practice, your body feels it, two days off your boss knows it and after three days, everybody knows it,” she said.

Asked how many performances she has done for the Sacramento Ballet, Lloyd tried to add it up aloud. “Normally we do three ballets per rep and there’s about five reps per year. And then there’s four … I would have to look at my resume to see.”

www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

19

Tower Theatre memories from a former employee

By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Editor’s note: This is part one deailing the career of Matias Bombal.

Matias Antonio Bombal spent the entire day of the historic Tower Theatre’s 75th Anniversary celebration on Monday, Nov. 11 visiting with patrons, as well as current and old staff. While Bombal is known for the restoration and management of the Crest Theatre, and helping to revive Sacramento’s Guild and Colonial Theatres as well as working in the Sacramento Inn and Crestview theatres as a promoter, booker historian and all around showman, he spoke fondly of his first job in the movie business, working for Tower Theatre under Gary Watt in 1982.

He had time to talk with this publication about how he got his start in the movie business. “Was I thrilled,” Bombal said. “It was such a cool thing. I was so delighted. I really took to being in the theater business. I loved it.

This was the early 80s.”

Back then, Landmark Theatres operated the now-demolished Showcase Theatre on 412 L St. as well as Tower Theatre but eventually consolidated the two. With the arrival of video and TV, things were starting to hurt in the theater business. So Landmark moved Watt over to Tower, where he became the manager. Shortly after that, Bombal worked under him with excitement.

Upon talking about working under Gerry Watt, Bombal said, he greatly admired the man. “He had a real sense of how to market movies, specifically to niche audiences. Friends of Italy – if there was an Italian film, or any kind of niche group you could think of, he would go out of his way and market. And this was before Facebook and the Internet. He was using publications like the Suttertown News.”

Bombal said while his own love of film got him to apply for the job to begin with, he said Watt was reticent to hire him. “(Watt) had the experience of hiring people who were really into movies in the past, but what do they want to do? They want to watch the movie and they don’t want to do their job,” he said.

While his interest in movies has always been so intense, creating the environment and atmosphere at Tower Theatre was a magical experience for him. “It was a big thrill to get a job and I was just an usher -changing marquees, cleaning out the bathrooms, popping popcorn.”

There was something about Bombal’s demeanor that caught the attention of customers as he worked the ticket booth and over the years, he’s seen many familiar faces, some of whom have commented on his demeanor.

At the 75th anniversary celebration, Bombal said some patrons came up to him, recalling his customer service. “‘I always remember you, Matias. You were just 17 years old. You would tear my ticket and say, Welcome, sir.’”

Clearly, there was something about Bombal’s presentation that made customers feel that they were going to have a good experience.

“And that’s the secret of show business – you tell people they will have a good experience. Then you tell them they are having a great experience. Then after the experience, you tell them, wasn’t that a great experience? Then they’d walk away saying it was a great experience. The bottom line was that the show starts on the sidewalk -- all these lights blazing. The lights are amazing and you are drawn in like a moth to a flame.

You’re sucked into that box office and you pay your fee, back then it was like five bucks to get in.”

“There was something about my presentation,” he said and that something had to do with Mr. Watt. www.mabhollywood.com

Matias Bombal

20

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Former ‘disco king’ speaks about his work as a paranormal investigator

By LANCE ARMSTRONG Lance@valcomnews.com

Editor’s Note: This is part three in a series about former Sacramento disco king, Paul Dale Roberts.

In continuing with the story of the life and times of the former Sacramento disco king Paul Dale Roberts, following the death of disco, Roberts evolved into a new persona.

Far from his days when his dancing attracted crowds at local clubs and he traveled around in Rolls Royces with an entourage, Roberts is now recognized as one the nation’s leading paranormal investigators.

But more than a basic paranormal investigator, he became a Fortean investigator, which is a person who investigates all things paranormal, from ghosts to UFOs to cryptids.

Before Roberts explained how he became a paranormal investigator, he noted that he receives many paranormal hotline calls from people in the Pocket area.”

“There are paranormal books that make claim that many new homes in the Pocket area became haunted due to the fact that these homes were built over Portuguese cemeteries,” Roberts said.

Although, with research, one can easily discover that the majority Portuguese pioneers of the Riverside-Pocket area were interred in the old St. Joseph’s Cemetery at 2615 21st St., it is likely that these books are instead referring to old Indian burial grounds.

In speaking about this delicate topic, Pocket resident Dolores Greenslate, who serves as the historian of the Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society, said, “There was no Portuguese cemetery in Sacramento.

We had a number of (Indian burial grounds) in the Pocket and Riverside area. Two of them that I know of are one on the Manuel Alvernaz ranch and then on the neighboring King Brown property, where his (two-story) home was located (to the immediate north of the Alvernaz ranch) on a mound. The mound was an Indian burial ground. That’s the one when they constructed (Interstate) 5 and they hit this mound, they had to tear down the old house – it was the old Brown house – and when they did, bones went flying all over the place.

They didn’t even bother asking anyone what that was, and if they had, most of us could have told them that that was an Indian burial ground.

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Anyway, they brought the whole Interstate 5 (project) to a halt until they figured out what they were going to do.”

After being asked the golden question of how he became a paranormal investigator, Roberts chuckled, then said, “Oh, yes, where do I begin?

When I was a child, I lived in a haunted house on Effy Street in Fresno. I heard a young woman call my (middle) name and she was trying to beckon me into the orange grove. She was saying, ‘Dale, come here, Dale come here.’ I saw flying skulls in my bedroom. I was violently shoved into a heater. My mother heard me coughing one night and she came into my room and looked possessed and gave me a teaspoon of poison by accident.

I vomited the poison up. She was horrified and we moved out of this home.

After moving out of this home, things got better and I remember meeting (William Boyd, who played) Hopalong Cassidy at a parade in Fresno and my life seemed normal again. I learned later in life that children have psychic abilities up to the age of 8, and then most lose those abilities. (That is) why you hear about children having imaginary friends. I was still haunted about that house on Effy Street, so I started reading every book I could get my hands on in regard to the paranormal. I was reading Brad Steiger books, ‘Chariot of the Gods’ by Erich von Daniken, etc.

“In 1973, I went into the Army and became a military cop with the Criminal Investigation Division, Drug Suppression Team. This is where I learned to be an investigator. I was also a private investigator with my own company, called Silhouette Enterprises. I was not very successful as a private investigator and I allowed that to phase out in my life.”

Roberts said that his curiosity about the paranormal continued through his disco years, and that he became interested in UFOS during his latter Army years.

“I was stationed in Seoul, Korea – Yongsan Barracks – Photo Interpretation Center – Korea,” Roberts said. “At PIC-K, I worked with image interpreters and we studied aerial reconnaissance photos of North Korea and Red China. On one particular day, six photos came in. The photos were of a variety of UFOs taken by reconnaissance satellites in outer space. On the back of all the photos, there were two words:

Photo by Lance Armstrong

Paul Dale Roberts presents a selection of publications featuring his paranormal related writings.

‘intelligent movement.’ Each photo represented a video that went with each photo. I assigned a number to each photo and sent the photos up the line to the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) and they eventually went to the CIA, and I heard nothing more about it. Military Intelligence honed my skills as a future paranormal investigator and I didn’t know in 1981 that I would ever became a paranormal investigator, but everything was leading me down a path toward this career. Later, I became an OPFOR (opposing forces) Army instructor teaching the Soviet Threat, which taught me the ability to lead a large group of people. This would be needed to lead my large group of HPI (formerly Haunted and Paranormal Investigations/ now Hegelianism Paranormal Intelligence) investigators.”

Roberts said that he later began dating a ghost hunter and that since he was already a writer in the comic book industry and knew a lot about the paranormal, she invited him on an HPI ghost hunt.

With his introduction to HPI, Roberts met HPI’s then-owner Shannon McCabe, who took an interest in Roberts’ experience as a writer.

In speaking about that time in his life, Roberts said, “(After) I told Shannon McCabe that I was a freelance journalist, she Googled me on her laptop, saw the many comic book articles I wrote, grabbed my arm and said, ‘I love the press.’ Shannon showed me how to use the equipment and I wrote my first HPI paranormal article that was published in two British magazines and (on) 14 ghost (related) Web sites.

“Shannon was so pleased at the results, she sent me an e-mail and cc’d her staff. She told me that I was going to be HPI’s ‘ghost writer,’ core group member, and she would teach me how to ghost hunt. I replied to Shannon that I would love to join them on a few occasions here and there, but I was too busy with the comic book industry. Shannon sent me a private message and explained to me that right now the paranormal is hot and I should allow my comic book industry partner and vice president, Richard Vasseur, (to) handle the business for a couple of months. Well, Richard has been running my comic book Web site, (www.jazmaonline.com) for eight years now, and now I am the owner of HPI International and still investigating, writing paranormal articles and writing books.”

www.valcomnews.com • December 5, 2013 • Pocket News

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Hardwood Flooring specializing in installing, sanding, and finishing hardwood flooring or repair and refurbish your current floors.

• Custom Painting • Super clean, neat & fast • Interior/Exterior • Cabinets

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& the Holidays!

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b & T upholstery & Repair Furniture upholstery at its finest * senior Discounts www.bandtupholstery.com

nOW iS thE PERFECt tiME FOR hOME iMPROVEMEntS call Melissa at (916) 429-9901!

1600-B Kitchner Rd., Sacto 95822 916/392-1959 • 916/995-7177 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

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Send your event announcement for consideration to: editor@valcomnews.com at least two weeks prior to publication.

Editor’s note: City Councilmember Kevin McCarty told the East Sacramento News the city council has likely postponed the vote for the controversial student housing project, Campus Crest, to Jan. 14. It was previously scheduled for the Dec. 10 meeting.

Ongoing: BloodSource and East Sacramentans geared up to save lives: The East Sacramento Rotary Club is sponsoring the month-long blood drive

CaR FoR SaLE CaR FoR SaLE

2002 White Ford Escort. 2-door. Good running condition. 4 cylinder. Asking price $1600. For sale by owner. Call L.C. Norris (916) 667-1190 or 395-0354.

handyman handyman SERVICES

No job too small. Make your “to-do” list and give me a call. Electrical, Plumbing, Tile, Sheetrock,Plaster, Stucco, Repairs and Remodeling, you name it! Lic# 908942. Call Steven at 230-2114.

as a way to help ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply during the upcoming holidays. Bob Deering, East Sacramento Rotary Club states, “Rotary is passionate about helping our community. Blood donation is just one of the ways we support families, neighbors, co-workers and others who find themselves in challenging medical situations that necessitate blood.

Whether it’s cancer treatments, accident injuries, heart surgeries or childbirth complications, this is something that affects young and old, usually suddenly and unexpectedly. Working with BloodSource to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply is very important and we hope our community will join with us to make a difference.” The two closest BloodSource Do-

nor Centers in the East Sacramento area are the Sierra Oaks Donor Center (3099 Fair Oaks Blvd.) and Midtown Donor Center (1608 Q St.) Use Donor Club No. 6564 when you register (wherever you donate with BloodSource!) and let’s see what East Sacramentans can do! Blood donors receive MyBloodSource Rewards that can be redeemed for fantastic items. For information or to schedule an appointment, please visit bloodsource.org, call 866-8225663 or contact Shirley at 453-3027.

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AARP tax aide seeks volunteers for 2014 The nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service is seeking volunteers for tax assistance/preparation and leadership coordinators. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. Each year from Feb. 1 through April 15, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers prepare federal, state, and local tax returns for low and middle income taxpayers, with

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Install, sand & finish hardwood flooring. or repair and refurbish your existing flooring. Call Michael at (916) 383-8742. References available/Lic#544159

30 yrs. exp. in industries like Auto, Mechanics, Restaurants, Caterers, Massage, Doctors, Chiropractors, Non-Profit, Retail, Martial Arts, Barber, Construction, Wholesale, Investment Clubs, Corp, Partnerships, Sm Business. We are experts in General Ledger, Payroll, Profit & Loss & Quarterlies. Call for yr specialized appt. Same low 1990 rates. Ask for Irene Senst (916) 640-3820, Nevada (775) 410-3422. www.taxirene.info

pET poRTRaITS oRIGInaL pET poRTRaITS

original Pet Portraiture. Realistic paintings of beloved pets. Perfect gift for animal-lovers! Reasonable prices. Submit photograph–turn around 7-10 days. Email melissa@melissaandrews.com or call 447-4441.

SummER CLEan-up SpECIaLS

Rain Gutter cleaning– Concrete removal (Patio, driveways, borders, etc.) Rain gutter cleaning, pressure washing/power spray, hauling, yard work, painting, tree & shrub removal, cleanup, fence repairs, light tree trimming, & more.

Ref avail. Call Les at 838-1247. Specials for seniors. Licensed.

Nutcracker in One Act & Christmas Angels (Family Friendly Performances)

Crockett-Deane Ballet Co & Deane Dance Center

Saturday, December 14, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m.

The Center at 2300 Sierra Blvd.

Tickets at the door and at Deane Dance Center 3385 Lanatt Street (916) 453-0226

adVERTISE youR REnTaLS

sell your car in the classifieds!

call 429-9901

Find that special gift for the holidays at....

An “Old-Fashioned” HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR Saturday, December 7th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Waterford Cove Clubhouse, 7650 Windbridge Drive, Sacramento (Corner of Windbridge & Rush River Drive) There’s something for all ages, homemade candy and sweets, ornaments, dolls, hand bags, NFL lap quilts, jewelry and much more.

Including a Holiday Gift raffle.

special attention to those age 60 and older.

Volunteers are especially needed to assist with electronic filing of tax returns. You do not need to be an AARP member or retiree to volunteer. For more information on how you can join the AARP Tax-Aide team in Northern California, contact Ron Byrd at NoCalTaxAide@Outlook.com or visit website at; www.aarp.org/taxaide ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Attn. students: Submit now for water efficiency video contest High school students can win cash prizes and the chance to view their video on the Raley Field Jumbotron by entering the 2014 Water Spots Video Contest. The contest, sponsored by the Regional Water Authority (RWA) and the Sacramento Bee Media in Education (MIE) program, challenges teens to create compelling and original 25-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos on a select water efficiency topic. The 2014 water efficiency theme is: Don’t be a gutter flooder: Prevent overspray

Need Home Improvement?

Check out the Home Improvement Guide in the Pocket News.

For Melissa for Home Improvement ad rates, call 429-9901.

Advertise in California Kids!

Serving Greater Sacramento For more information, call Jen at (916) 429-9901

Published by Valley Community Newspapers, Inc. A monthly publicationfull of activities, mazes, word search, party ideas, travel, book reports, and a lot more!

35th Annual “Holiday Show of Hands”

CRAFT FAIRE Friday, Dec. 6th, 5-9 p.m. ($3) Saturday, Dec. 7th, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8th, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Unique, Handcrafted Gifts, Decorator Items, Collectibles, Hot Lunch – Shuttle from Elks Club St. John the Evangelist 5701 Locust Avenue, Carmichael

and runoff. Judging will be based on creativity, entertainment value, accuracy, originality and incorporation of the water efficiency topic. Finalist videos will be displayed on the Raley Field Jumbotron screen and winners announced at a Sacramento River Cats game in April 2014. Winning students and their teachers will also get cash prizes. The grand prize winner’s spot may become part of RWA’s 2014 television ad campaign. Submissions due Feb. 28. Visit www.BeWaterSmart.info for more information and tips on using water more efficiently and to submit entries or get more information about contest rules, judging and prizes, visit www. sacbee.com/water-spots ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Sacramento Capitolaires meeting A men’s Barbershop Harmony group, meets every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Pilgrim Hall (Sierra Arden United Church of Christ), 890 Morse Ave., Sacramento. Info: www.capitolaires.org, call 888-0877-9806, or email info@capitolaires.org ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tax pREpaRER #1 Tax pREpaRER

30 yrs. exp. We specialize in Business Tax returns including Corp & Partnerships. We prepare expertly all past tax returns including all State returns. Get the most deductions allowed to you by law. CTEC Registered & Bonded.

Please call for yr appt. today. Irene Senst (916) 640-3820, Nevada (775) 410-3422. Same low 1990 rates. www.taxirene.info

for a box classified ad Call Melissa

429-9901

CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL Pocket/Greenhaven Banquet Steak and Prawns Dinner

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 Cocktails 5:30 p.m.– Dinner 7:30 p.m.

Portuguese Hall 6776 Pocket Road

Tickets call Dave @ 916

427-6961

17th Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser Bella Vista High School Football Boosters Saturday, February 1, 2014 5 – 11 p.m.

Divine Savior Church 9079 Greenback Lane, Orangevale $40 per person/tables seat 8

(916) 717-3517

CALL AND PLACE YOUR EVENT TODAY! (916) 429-9901

or Order forms @ www.bellavistafootball.com

24

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Elks Lodge No. 6 Toys for Tots drive going on now The Lodge has officially kicked off the annual Toys for Tots drive. They are collecting new, unwrapped toys for military families in need of our help. Donation barrels are stationed around the Lodge. The final drop off date is Saturday, Dec. 7. This year, more than ever, military families need help. If you are uncertain about what to donate, you can make a donation to the Lodge Christmas Bicycle Fund (by check or cash to the Lodge office).

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Artisan holds Food Drive Artisan Salon is participating in the Spirit of Giving Food Drive. Over the last 17 years, the Spirit of Giving (SOG) drive has helped Sacramento Food Bank collect and distribute over 4.6 million pounds of canned and non-perishable food items for local families in need. Help support families in need by participating in this year’s drive! Artisan Salon is located at 3198 Riverside Blvd.

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Soroptimist International of Sacramento South meetings A service organization dedicated to insure the status of women and girls, the group meets at Aviator’s Restaurant, 6151 Freeport Blvd. for lunch and to discuss the day’s topic. Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 12:15 p.m. The meetings discuss our fund raising Projects and Community Service, often with speakers from our community.

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Bi-Polar Anonymous Dec. 6: Free 12-step program/support group, for people who have Bi-Polar and those who love them. Meets every Friday, 7-8:30 p.m. 4300 Auburn Blvd., Room 106. (916) 889-5786.

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Kiwanis Club of East SacramentoMidtown Dec. 6: Visitors Welcome, weekly breakfast meeting on first, second and third Fridays at 7:00 AM and Dinner meeting on fourth Thursday at 6:00 PM. Topical weekly speakers and ‘first meal for visitors on us’. Meet at The Kiwanis Family House, (at UCD Med Ctr/ 50th St & Broadway) 2875 50th Street Sacramento, CA 95817. www. eastsacmidtownkiwanis.com, Meeting/ Membership info: 916-761-0984, volunteers always welcome!

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Roseville Craft Fair Dec. 7: Photo greeting cards, photo glass cutting boards, photo aprons, photo giclee canvases, photo 8 x 10 matted prints and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Maidu Center, 1550 Maidu Dr. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Santa’s East Sac Adventure at Theodore Judah Dec. 7: Santa’s East Sac Adventure at Theodore Judah Elementary will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take a picture with Santa for $7 anytime during the event. Visit with Santa and his petting farm ($3); get your picture taken and

partake in a gingerbread house making workshop ($15 per house) and holiday boutique featuring local businesses! Plus, there will be a jazz band playing at noon.

Here is the link for buying tickets for the event: http://goog.gl/z9CfLU ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Messiah Holiday Concert Dec. 7: The Camellia Symphony Orchestra, the Music Society at Cathedral Square, and the Valley Choral Society join together to present Part I (Christmas) of Handel’s beloved Messiah starting at 7:30 p.m. Featuring The Camellia Symphony, three choirs totaling more than 90 voices (Choir of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Capella Antiqua, and the Valley Choral Society), harpsichordist Faythe Vollrath, and additional masterpieces by Telemann and Galuppi, this concert will celebrate the Christmas season in full Baroque glory.

The upcoming Christmas concert will take place in the beautiful and resonant Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th St. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Christmas 2013 • River City Chorale ...Directed by Richard Morrissey

²* )FBSE UIF #FMMT PO $ISJTUNBT %BZ³

Friday, December 6, 2013, 7:30 pm Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3235 Pope Avenue

Saturday, December 7, 2013, 7:30 pm Faith Presbyterian Church, 625 Florin Road

PLUS Bel Tempo Handbells & the River City Chorale Orchestra Adults: $15.00, $20.00 at the door; Youth under 12 - $5.00 Discount for orders of 10 or more tickets Pre-ordered tickets are good for either Friday or Saturday performances

Information/tickets: (916) 331-5810 or www.rivercitychorale.com

Book Sale and Bazaar at Ella K. McClatchy Library Dec. 7: Fill a bag with books for $6 and shop on the patio for cards, Christmas items, jewelry and more. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the library is located at 2112 22nd St. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– See more Calendar, page 26

Adopt a child for the holidays Help Sunburst Projects bring joy to the lives of children living with HIV/ AIDS. Contact Sunburst Projects at 1095 19th St. Suite 1A, Sacramento.

440-0889, ext. 301.

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December Sacramento City College Annual Holiday Art Sale Dec 4, 5 & 6: Buy unique handmade gifts and support the SCC Art Department and Kondos Gallery. Dec 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6:45 p.m. Dec 6 from 10 a.m. to noon. Fischbacher Art Building: Kondos Gallery: room 123, 3835 Freeport Blvd 95822. 916 558-2559 or www.kondosgallery. org for information. Parking is $1 (you get a parking slip from a vending station) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Rotary Club of Pocket/Greenhaven Dec. 5: Guest speakers address local, regional and international topics. Visitors welcome.

7:30 a.m., every Thursday. Aviators Restaurant, 6151 Freeport Blvd. (916) 684-6854.

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Rotary Club of South Sacramento meeting Dec. 5: Guest speakers address local, regional and international topics. Visitors welcome. Every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Iron Steaks Restaurant, 2422 13th St, Sacramento, CA 95818.

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Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

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Advent faire and Christmas gift boutique Dec. 7: Come One—Come All to the Advent Faire in the Social Hall of the Northminster Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join in for a fun day of free crafts to make for all ages, something for everyone. A light lunch will be served at noon. One can decorate a Christmas house, make Christmas decorations, create a Christmas wreath and many more fun projects, with the assistance of Santa’s helpers. You can also shop for gifts at the Gift Boutique in the Chapel, where you will find many and varied types of beautiful handmade items including Christmas stockings, table runners, pot holders, necklaces, pillows, lap robes, and scarves. (A great opportunity to do your Christmas shopping) Raffle tickets can be purchased to win a unique quilt fashioned

by NPC quilters. All monies from sales will go to provide financial assistance to children and youth to attend camps at Westminster Woods, which provide an outstanding spiritual experience and growth for young people.

For more details call 487-5192 or visit northminsteronline.org. The church is located at 3235 Pope Ave., Sacramento.

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Holiday Fun for All at the Holiday Fair and Marketplace the Brickhouse Art Gallery Dec. 7-8: The Brickhouse Art Gallery will host a two-day holiday fair and marketplace on Dec. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Brickhouse Art Gallery, 2837 36 St. The holiday marketplace will feature local and regional artisans and vendors selling a variety of items such as: unique handmade

dolls, quilts, jewelry, books, ethnic clothing item, ceramic items, and art work. $5 suggested donation to benefit the Brickhouse Art Gallery’s youth summer arts program. For additional information, call Barbara Range, 475-1240, extension 413 or visit: www.thebrickhousegallery.net/.

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Holiday Boutique at Parkside Community Church Dec. 7-8: Do your Christmas shopping early at the Parkside Community Church Holiday Boutique. The event will be held Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 11:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Purchase unique items from local artisans and vendors including hand-crafted pottery, turned wooden gifts, jewelry, knitted and crocheted items and much more. In addition, UNICEF items along with reusable SSIP tote bags and t-shirts promoting the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership food closet will be on sale. A food court will offer delicious soup, bread, homemade desserts and baked goods for lunch or to take home. Bring nonperishable food donations for the SSIP food closet and receive a free raffle ticket for amazing prizes. Parkside Community Church is located at 5700 South Land Park Dr. (one block south of Fruitridge). For more information, call the church office at 421-0492 or e-mail parksideucc@sbcglobal.net.

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Christmas Memories Dec. 7 and 14: Get ready to experience lavishly re-created period décor, an impressive array of live holiday music and captivating storytellers during special “Christmas Memories”

events happening on two Saturdays in December at the majestic Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park. Surrounded by docents in period costume, Mansion visitors will be transported back in time to the very place where thirteen of California’s early governors and their families lived, spent Christmas seasons and shared holiday traditions. Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park, 1526 H St. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (guided tours depart hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Cost: $6 for adults, $4 for youth (ages 6-17), children five and under are free. 323-3047 or www.parks.ca.gov/governorsmansion.

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Sacramento Symphonic Winds Concert Dec. 8: Bring the entire family to this festive concert entitled “Holiday Moods” at the Crowne Plaza Sacramento Northeast at 2:30 p.m. The Sacramento Symphonic Winds, conducted by Dr. Les Lehr, features Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich, A Charlie Brown Christmas by Guaraldi/Mendelson, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers by Leon Jessel, A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson, and more! Visit our web site at www.sacwinds.org.

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Rotary Clubs of Arden-Arcade, Carmichael Dec. 10: Guest speakers address local, regional and international topics. Visitors welcome, every Tuesday. Arden-Arcade meets at noon, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in the Pavilions on Fair Oaks Blvd. (916) 925-2787.

Carmichael meets at 6:30 p.m., Ancil Hoffman Golf Club. www.rotary.org ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Soroptimist International of Sacramento North meeting Dec. 10: An organization for the betterment of women and children meets at the atria El Camino Gardens at 2426 Garfield, Carmichael. Call Sheila at 624-4643.

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A travel program featuring one day trips for Active Adults EXCITING EXCURSIONS YOU CAN AFFORD!

EXCURSIONS

CITY OF SACRAMENTO DEPT. OF PARKS AND RECREATION

NEW TRIPS FOR 2014!

Sunday, February 16, 2014 SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE BEAUTIFUL CLIFF HOUSE Course #126523 TRIP COST: $115.00 per person

Thursday, March 20, 2014 SAN FRANCISCO FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW - San Mateo Course #133623 TRIP COST: $70.00 per person Saturday, April 26, 2014 LIGHTHOUSES OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY Dolphin Charters, Berkeley Marina BRUNCH INCLUDED! Course #133624 TRIP COST: $130.00 per person Saturday, May 17, 2014 YOGA THE ART OF TRANSFORMATION - Asian Art Museum SF Course #133625 TRIP COST: $ 75.00 per person Thursday, June 5, 2014 DAY AT THE RACES – Golden Gate Fields, Emeryville CA Course #133626 TRIP COST: $95.00per person Thursday, July 17, 2014 PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES – East Sonora Theatre Course #133627 TRIP COST: $105.00 per person Saturday, July 26, 2014 SHOPZILLA! San Francisco Jewelry and Gift Mart!

Course #133628 TRIP COST: $75.00 per person Thursday, August 21, 2014 WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM AND THE PRESIDIO WITH GARY HOLLOWAY – SF Course #133629 TRIP COST: $110.00 per person

Call 808-8687 for more info www.cityofsacramento.org/excursions 26

Pocket News • December 5, 2013 • www.valcomnews.com

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

East Sac Rotary Dec. 11: Meets at noon, Evan’s Kitchen, 855 57th St. Sacramento. www.eastsacrotary.com.

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Singer/songwriter Chad Wagoner performs weekly at the Pocket Bistro on Tuesday nights, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Pocket Bistro is located at 6401 Riverside Blvd., located inside the Grocery Outlet shopping center.

Rotary Club of Pocket/Greenhaven Dec. 12: Guest speakers address local, regional and international topics. Visitors welcome. 7:30 a.m., every Thursday.

Aviators Restaurant, 6151 Freeport Blvd.

(916) 684-6854.

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Rotary Club of South Sacramento meeting Dec. 12: Guest speakers address local, regional and international topics. Visitors welcome. Every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Iron Steaks Restaurant, 2422 13th St, Sacramento, CA 95818.

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Bi-Polar Anonymous Dec. 13: Free 12-step program/support group, for people who have Bi-Polar and those who love them. Meets every Friday, 78:30 p.m. 4300 Auburn Blvd., Room 106.

(916) 889-5786.

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Soroptimist International Sacramento presents Dr. Christine Lee Dec. 13: Christine Lee, author of Optimal Life: Essentials of Diabetes, will be the guest speaker at the luncheon, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at Casa Garden. The entire speaker series is posted on the Club Calendar page of the S.I.S. website at www.soroptimistsacramento. org. A limited number of seats are available to the public on a first come, first served basis. The cost is $15. If you want to reserve a seat for lunch and hear an upcoming speaker, contact Rosalie Gladden; rosaliegladden@comcast.net Meetings are held Fridays, 11:30 a.m. at Casa Garden Restaurant, 2760 Sutterville Road, Sacramento, California.

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ner meeting on fourth Thursday at 6:00 PM. Topical weekly speakers and ‘first meal for visitors on us’. Meet at The Kiwanis Family House, (at UCD Med Ctr/ 50th St & Broadway) 2875 50th Street Sacramento, CA 95817. www. eastsacmidtownkiwanis.com, Meeting/ Membership info: 916-761-0984, volunteers always welcome!

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Sacramento Jingle Bell Run/Walk Dec. 14: The Sacramento Jingle Bell Run/Walk is a fun, festive event for

the whole family! Put on your reindeer antlers and your running shoes and come join us for some holiday cheer at Crocker Art Park. You can participate in the 5K chip timed race or 5K fun run or walk with holiday themed activities all along the course. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues too! The kids will love the 1K Reindeers Games (un-timed fun run for ages 3- 12).

Crocker Park is located at 211 O St, Sacramento. (916) 487-5192 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Kiwanis Club of East SacramentoMidtown Dec. 13: Visitors Welcome, weekly breakfast meeting on first, second and third Fridays at 7:00 AM and Din-

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

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