March 20, 2014 | www.valcomnews.com

Pock e t News — Bringing you community news for 23 years —

Know your neighbor:

Cole Cuchna Pocket musician to release new album April 1

See page 21

The Pocket Watch............................................4 School News....................................................8 Sports.............................................................12 Pocket profile.................................................20 Calendar......................................................... 22

Writer Lance Armstrong to receive award from Sacramento County Historical Society See page 7

Pocket Little League celebrates opening day See page 12

Debbie O’Hearn: A Pocket fashionista with a heart of gold By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

She gets giddy. Like a kid in a candy store, Land Park resident Julie High gets ecstatic each time her good friend Pocket resident Debbie O’Hearn photographs her wearing the latest styles. But get this: Julie has owned some of these outfits for at least five years and hasn’t worn them, but maybe just once before. This may seem like a contradiction of sorts, in reality, however, this is all part of Debbie’s magic. Debbie, a longtime Pocket resident and transplant from the Midwest is a fashion consultant with a big heart. The bubbly trendsetter gets some of her energy from watching a transformation occur right before her very eyes. One February Saturday morning, Debbie came over to Julie’s and went through her closet and evaluated her clothes. Julie’s square-toed shoes – not in fashion anymore! Those could go, but as soon as Debbie had Julie try different combinations of clothing items on together, the eyes from her longtime friend widened and her smile grew. Meanwhile, Debbie photographed Julie wearing outfits she liked for the purpose of putting them all in a personal “look book.” Together, they created 31 outfits with only two pairs of pants, and, after a shopping trip to Nordstrom’s, Debbie hopes to get 100 outfits together and place them in Julie’s book, so she can flip to her outfit of choice and be on with her day. Julie’s excitement was overwhelming; “I had to say, ‘Down girl!’ We had a ball,” Debbie said. Debbie started her interest in fashion as a very young child, dressing up her dolls, and as she got a little older, she made her own clothes, including her very own prom dress. Debbie, the prom queen, was a trend-

Photo by Monica Stark

Pocket resident Debbie O’Hearn is a fashion consultant with a big heart who sees beauty everywhere.

setter back then, and people look to her today for fashion advice and inspiration. Displaying photographs of previous and current clients donning their outfits, Debbie described their clothes, noting the brand names (or not) whilst saying how beautiful each woman is no matter her age or weight. “They’re all adorable,” she said. “I want them to be happy. Fashion forward.” That’s the nonchalant message Debbie relays over a glass of ice tea at Cafe Bernardos, in an interview with this See O’Hearn, page 17

Pocket News

w w w . v alc 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 2014 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.



Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

Vol. XXIII • No. 6 2709 Riverside Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95818 t: (916) 429-9901 f: (916) 429-9906

Cover photo by: Courtesy Other photos by: Courtesy Lance Armstrong Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Our local Elks lifted the spirits of Yountville Vets On Feb. 12, 2014, Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 volunteers took the party to Yountville, Calif. where the Yountville Veterans had been quarantined for almost three weeks due to a stomach virus. Once the quarantine was lifted, our local Elks decided to step in and lift their spirits. The Elks treated the Vets to an authentic Mexican meal and also took DVDs, CDs, numerous boxes of Sees Candy, t-shirts, Hershey candy bars (donated by Hersheys and Judy Tracy,) and cakes. They played trivia games and most importantly visited with these wonderful Veterans. Ben Which-

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ard, who use to live in the Greenhaven area, attended the party. Ben is still a faithful member of Elks

Lodge No. 6 and drives in for the Sunday breakfast from time to time. They all loved seeing him.

www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News



The Pocket Watch

A Walk in the Park By Jeff Dominguez jeff@valcomnews.com

My old neighbor, Per Ostland, used to marvel at the way walking in the park next to our homes was like being a cast member in some great play. He could tick off the characters: the old guy who walks backwards, the woman who performs elaborate arm exercises as she goes, the crowd of old ladies shouting at each other in Chinese, various people and their interesting dogs, the young woman who talks on her cell phone the whole time. I never thought much about Per’s observation at the time, because, back then, I wouldn’t be caught dead walking around the park. Then, last year, my doctor told me that I just might be caught dead if I didn’t start walking around the park sometime soon. And so, I succumbed to this medical threat, staked out a route along the greenbelt that runs throughout my neighborhood, and began incorporating a half-hour-long, 1.5-mile walk into my daily routine. A few years back, I moved away from the park I used to share with Per, but I’ve re-

cently realized that we host a production of the same play in this neck of the woods, with a different cast that is interesting in their own right, and Per’s observation came echoing back to me. He was right. The park is its own little world, and I’ve noticed that, if you pay attention to it, you can easily find enough interesting things going on to take your mind off of the monotony of putting one foot in front of the other for what would otherwise seem like an eternity. The first thing I did when I embarked on this new program was to download an app to chronicle my efforts—I decided on “Runkeeper”, which was heartily recommended by a couple of friends who have made a similar conversion to exercising for exercising’s sake. I also recruited a companion to accompany me on my voyages—the family dog, a Jack Russell Terrier by the name of Trixie, who basically pulled me through the course our first couple of times out. I noticed after those initial walks that you do tend to see the same faces out there on the greenbelt who all stick to a consistent time of day for their daily jaunt. Start your walk an hour or two later, and you get an entirely different set of characters who consistently appear at that time. One particular timeframe suits my schedule best, and I’ve enjoyed the crew that

works the park at that specific time of day. The one guy I see most consistently is a guy I affectionately refer to as the “Fit Jogger”, who, with his Labrador retriever, not only passes me and leaves me in a Roadrunner-esque poof of dust, he delivers a friendly “good morning”, impressively not out of breath in the least. I look into the camera with my best Wile E. Coyote look of resignation as he zips up the trail ahead of me, and the Warner Bros. theme music plays him out. An older gentleman with a utility belt of water bottles seems to have sussed out Trixie’s m.o. immediately. “Good morning!” he says, then, looking at Trixie, “ Tough guy, huh?” Trixie approaches every walk like this is going to be the day she finally bags one of those elusive gophers or, better yet, a crow. As fast as she is, she doesn’t have a prayer of catching either, but I do admire her optimism. The sad truth of the matter is that, if she were ever challenged by any other living creature, great or small, she would immediately dive into that universal position of dog subservience, flat on her back with her legs up. Every five minutes, a woman from the Runkeeper app pipes up on my smartphone to tell me how far I’ve gone and what my minutes-permile pace is. At first, I tried to improve my time with each new outing, but then I realized that such a thing would one day have me breaking the sound barrier. Eventually, I came to appreciate all the sights and sounds that I encountered out there to the point that I don’t necessarily want to hurry through them. Like this one coming up right here, for example… She is an older gal, in green tights, jogging with the most feminine stride imaginable. It’s like she’s running on a cloud. She’s considerably older than me, but she’s beautiful. This is probably See Pocket Watch, page 5



Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

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Pocket Watch: Continued from page 4

what my wife will be like when she’s that age. And she doesn’t just say, “good morning” as we approach each other, the way most of the others do. She gives a kind of combination wave and finger point with a turn of the wrist. There’s a warm smile, too, and, wait… was that a wink? I call her “Betty”, as in “Hello, Betty…!” from the old Dentyne chewing gum commercial. There is a woodpecker that lives out here somewhere. I can’t pinpoint the exact spot (too much loud rock and roll in my past), but that sound, like the sound of a rattlesnake rattling, is unmistakable. Sometimes it sounds like I’m directly beneath it, and then it suddenly sounds like it’s off a little further in the distance. When you’re walking, it’s like there’s nothing else to do but walk, so your mind tends to wander. With me, I catch myself slipping off into my thoughts and memories. The sound of the woodpecker brings up one of my favorite stories that my grandpa used to tell me. When he was maybe 12 or 13 years old, living in Vacaville, he was home one day, sick in bed with the flu, trying to rest. He had finally managed to fall asleep, but, first thing in the morning, the jackhammer sound of a woodpecker against the house stirs young Grandpa from his slumber. He turns over, trying to maintain his semiconscious state, hoping that the woodpecker will fly away. No use. A few minutes later, the woodpecker is at it again. Angry at the interruption, grandpa gets out of bed, slides his window open, and spots the woodpecker working on the wood trim around his sister Annie’s window at the end of the house. With that, grandpa retrieves his .22 rifle from his closet, leans his entire torso out of the window and picks the bird off with one shot. Next comes my favorite part of the story that I always made my grandpa repeat several times when he told it: After shooting the bird, Grandpa puts on his pants, goes downstairs and Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

retrieves the dead bird for his mother, Grandma Juanita, who promptly plucks it and makes Grandpa some nice woodpecker soup for breakfast that morning. Better pick it up again. The Runkeeper lady has just chimed in to tell me that my average pace per mile is now 18 minutes and 23 seconds. I remember a day when it was a matter of miles per minute rather than minutes per mile. Now look at me… Like grandpa used to say, “You can’t beat Father Time.” Man, I miss my grandpa. I just realized that this must be my old friend Carl Packard’s house. He always used to talk at work about living next to a park, and that HAS to be his Alfa Romeo out front. There aren’t too many cars like that in Sacramento. His wife tends a beautiful flower garden in the strip of Earth that runs between their house and the walking path. I always look for Carl when I walk past. Haven’t seen him in ages, and it would be nice to catch up. Before I know it, I’m on the last leg of my journey, I see many more members of the cast of characters, the woman who walks her immense dog and pushes her kid in a stroller at the same time; the lady with the white fluffy dog (never on a leash), and who always stops me

so that she can offer Trixie a dog biscuit from her ziplock (which is the only thing, other than lettuce, that I’ve ever seen Trixie refuse to eat); the husband and wife walking team who wear matching sweatsuits. Everyone says some form of “Hello” or “Good Morning” as they pass. When I return home, I hit “STOP ACTIVITY” on my smartphone. The Runkeeper lady then offers me my final numbers, along with an aerial view of the neighborhood with my route that day traced onto it. I swipe through the walks I’ve done to this point, all neatly filed on my phone. Technically, they’re all workouts, but if I were to consider them as such, I’d lose interest almost immediately. Luckily, they’ve become something much more to me. Visits, maybe. A promenade of visits with friends whom I don’t really know. Whatever they are, they seem to make time pass quite quickly for me, my only hope for a consistent exercise program. Further, they seem like something that only a resident of the Greenhaven/Pocket community can enjoy.

Got News? e-mail editor@valcomnews.com

“The Pocket Watch” appears in every issue of the Pocket News. Jeff Dominguez can be reached at jeff@valcomnews.com.

www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News



See Answers, page 17



Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

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Congratulations to our very own: Lance Armstrong Editor’s note: The Sacramento County Historical Society will recognize Valley Community Newspapers’s very own historical writer, Lance Armstrong, at its annual dinner, to be held Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at the Dante Club, 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd. Lance Armstrong was born at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento and has had a lifelong interest in the rich history of his native city and region. At a very young age, Lance excelled in English courses and writing proficiency and creativity, and as a teenager, he was awarded a special medal for his excellence in creative writing by the San Juan Unified School District. It was also during his teenage years that he created his own single-page newspaper, which he distributed to friends in various states. And because of this fact, occasionally Lance has humorously told people that by the time he was 16 years old, he was the editor of a national newspaper. Lance’s early interest in history led to his many years of researching local histories and preserving historical documents, photographs and other historical items from throughout Sacramento County and other areas of the Golden State in his vast personal collection, which is recognized as the Lance Armstrong Collection.

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After graduating from California State University, Sacramento with degrees in journalism and music, Lance began his professional writing career, which includes his work for local newspapers such as the East Sacramento News, Land Park News, Arden-Carmichael News, Pocket News, Elk Grove Citizen, The Sacramento Union, Capitol Weekly, Sacramento Downtown News, Sacramento Midtown News, Old Sacramento News, Natomas Journal, The Folsom Telegraph and the Sacramento News and Review. Lance, who is presently employed by Valley Community Newspapers in Sacramento, has used his knowledge, researching abilities and personal archives in the process of producing local history articles for each of these publications. These informative and entertaining articles provide a valuable resource for the present and future understanding of the area’s rich history. The majority of Lance’s local history articles include oral history quotations from his interviews with people from various levels of society. His local history articles have been positively recognized by various newspapers and organizations. For instance, in a review of local newspapers in the Jan. 8, 2009 edition of the

Photo courtesy

Valley Community Newspapers’s Lance Armstrong will be awarded general excellence for publications by the Sacramento County Historical Society.

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

See Armstrong, page 10

www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News



School News Kennedy students excelled at the FIRST Robotics Competition held at UCD; Mr. Greene earned the prestigious Woodie Flowers Mentor Award Dubbed a varsity Sport for the Mind, FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology and congratulations to Kennedy’s robotics team for winning its last match against School of Engineering and Sciences. At the Robotics Competition, teams follow strict rules, have limited resources, and time limits. Teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand”, hone teamwork skills, and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real world” engineering as a student can get. Professional Mentors volunteer their time and talents to guide each

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Shown here, is a little damage repair on the Kennedy robot at UC Davis. The Kennedy team won its last match against School of Engineering and Sciences, and is shown here, making repairs for the next round.

team. Congratulations to Mr. Greene for earning the prestigious Woodie Flowers Mentor Award! Robots are built in six weeks from a common kit of parts provided by FIRST, and typically weigh up to 150 pounds.

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson stopped by the Robotics work area at UCD to spend time with JFK team! Congratulations to Mr. Greene for earning the prestigious Woodie Flowers Mentor Award!

High-school students get to: Work alongside professional engineers. Build and compete with a robot of their own design. Learn and use sophisticated hardware and software.

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Weekend Excursion Train Rides California State Parks and the California State Railroad Museum are proud to announce the opening of the 31st season of weekend excursion trains on the Sacramento Southern Railroad on April 5 and 6 and continuing through September 2014. New this season, guests will be treated to updated commentary aboard the trains, which changes regularly depending on the special theme for each month. Also, the Railroad Museum will offer special “Diesel Days” one weekend per month when the popular excursion trains are pulled by two gracefully-styled, streamlined diesel locomotives. Excursion train ride guests delight in the sights, smells and sounds of an authentic, working locomotive as it rolls along the levees of the Sacramento River for a six-mile, 45-minute round-trip excursion. Appealing to all ages, the experience offers guests with the chance to enjoy train travel from an earlier era. The train features a combination of vintage closed coaches with comfortable seats, and open-air “gondolas” with benchstyle seating. Also new this year, excursion train ride tickets are available to book online in advance at www.csrmf.org or can be purchased in-person starting at 10:30 a.m. the day of the train ride (based on availability) at the Sacramento Southern Railroad ticket office, located on Front Street between J and K streets. All excursion trains depart from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento (located on Front Street between J and K Streets). Departures are on-the-hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends the trains are running. Regular excursion train tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-17; and ages five and younger ride free. For passengers desiring a ride aboard the first-class car El Dorado, tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for ages 6 to 17, and are free for children five and younger. (There is a per-ticket service fee when booking online.) Groups interested in reserving the entire El Dorado car for a regularly scheduled ride need to do so in advance by calling 322-8485. If summer temperatures reach 100 degrees or higher, trains may be canceled for the remainder of that day. For more information about the weekend excursion train rides or the California State Railroad Museum in general, call 323-9280.

Got News? e-mail editor@valcomnews.com

Old Sacramento Underground Tours Now in its fifth consecutive season, the Old Sacramento Underground tour program will resume on weekends beginning April 5 and 6 and will continue through midDecember (with schedules fluctuating and expanding with the seasons). New this year, Old Sacramento Underground Tour guests will have a special, hands-on opportunity to learn what it was like to raise and level a building by operating “mini-jacks” during the tours. Custom-designed jacks will be placed at four corners of a scaled down building and tour participants will work collaboratively to spin the jacks and watch their raising and leveling progress. The hands-on experience allows guests to gain an understanding of and appreciation for the ambitious, yet painstaking process successfully completed by Sacramento property and business owners in the 1860s and 1870s. The Old Sacramento Underground tour program is coordinated by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation in partnership with the City of Sacramento, California State Parks, Old Sacramento Business Association and participating merchants and businesses. While tour schedules vary with the seasons, Old Sacramento Underground tours will kick off on weekends in April, departing as follows for the month: 11 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Additionally, the popular “Adult Only” Old Sacramento Underground Tours will resume with the first two offered on April 24 and 25 at 6 p.m., then expanding to every Thursday through Saturday beginning in May. For the “Adult Only” evening tours, guides lead guests on special walking tours while sharing some of the dark secrets and racy tales lurking in Old Sacramento’s underground history. Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News



Armstrong: Continued from page 7

Sacramento News and Review, one of that publication’s writers, Cosmo Garvin, wrote: “Lance Armstrong’s writing on Sacramento history is always interesting.” In 2006, the Elk Grove Historical Society presented Lance with an honorary lifetime membership for his continuous articles and other efforts in preserving the 150-year history of the Sacramento County city of Elk Grove.

10

Lance, who is also a member of the Sacramento County Historical Society, received another honorary lifetime membership six years later from the Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society (PHCS) for “his work in documenting the lives and contributions of the many Portuguese and Portuguese descended persons who were instrumental in developing the Riverside-Pocket area of Sacramento.” In commenting about the latter honor, PHCS President Mary Ann Marshall said, “We are very appreciative of

Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

the many Portuguese-related articles that (Lance) has written for the Pocket News and we are pleased with the opportunity we have to archive them for future generations to have access to them. Lance did a wonderful job in making these stories come to life.” In another honor, Lance received national recognition from the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in 2011, for his article, “Elks Lodge No. 6 has extensive history in Sacramento.” The article, which was first published in the January 7, 2010 edition of the Pock-

et News, was selected as the country’s best newspaper article written about the Elks that year. In addition to his hundreds of local history newspaper articles, Lance is the author of Echoes of Yesterday: Elk Grove – the first book in his Echoes of Yesterday history book series. In 2007, Echoes of Yesterday: Elk Grove was recognized as the nation’s top regional history book for that year by the American Authors Association. Lance is presently nearing the completion of several

comprehensive history books about Sacramento from the times of Captain John Augustus Sutter to present. His other endeavors include his regular contributions as a professional newspaper photographer and volunteering as a judge at the annual Camellia Society of Sacramento Camellia Show Photography Contest. He is also a public speaker, a musician and an avid music memorabilia collector with an emphasis on collecting concert posters and LP records, ranging in genres from rock and blues to jazz and country.

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11

Pocket Little League president speaks about many benefits of league By LANCE ARMSTRONG

line) will be for the Little League, distance of 70-foot is for travel ball, and Editor’s Note: This is part two in a two- then the 80-foot is for, its called 5480. part series about and relating to the It’s between the junior field and the Pocket Little League. small field. So, it’s a multi-use field.” Lance@valcomnews.com

A Pocket area tradition continued last weekend, as the Pocket Little League opened its season at the Bill Conlin Youth Sports Complex. And in anticipation of the season, Dave Starnes, the league’s president, sat down with this publication to discuss various topics related to the league. In continuing with the theme of the first article of this series, Starnes shared information regarding the league’s home complex, and he noted that its baseball fields are presently “kind of misnumbered,” since a fourth field was recently built.

Maintenance of the complex

Field #1

Praising the fields

In regard to maintenance, Starnes said, “We maintain the grass, the entire complex, including the outer areas 100 percent ourselves. We don’t hire anybody to come out here. That includes watering, fertilizing, weeding, cutting (the grass), fixing sprinkler heads, fixing the fences, everything else. I have two guys (Sandy Wills and Randy Ohara) that come out here just about seven days a week. Without those guys, the place wouldn’t look half as good as it does.”

In describing those four fields, Starnes said, “Field #1 is a 200-foot field, all-dirt infield. It was initially built for softball. We turned it into a baseball field and we put a mound on it. Typically, Double A, which is the first year kids, are pitching (at) 8 (years old). Six, 7, 8, 9 and 10-yearold (kids) play on that field. And actually, if you were going to have some kind of tournament, 11 and 12-yearolds could also play down there. (The field has a) 200-foot fence.

In speaking with experience, Starnes explained that the baseball fields at the Conlin complex compare extremely well with other fields. “I’ve been to a lot of the other fields, just from going to different All-Star tournaments and going to different travel ball tournaments all the way down to Santa Cruz,” Starnes said. “And our fields, at the prime part of the year, are probably the best surface to play on, just because of the way Sandy and Randy take care of them. They turn the dirt over every week (and the grass) is mowed every single Field #2 Friday. If we’re having a tournament, “Field #2 is the junior field or the they’re mowed twice, down to a nice 90-foot baseline, 300-foot fence low cut on the grass, so it’s a really fast field. You know, for the big kids. field. They’re level, watered.” The ages (for the field) are age 13 up to adult. Snack shack

Field #3 “Field #3 is what we call our major field. It’s got a grass infield, a 200-foot fence. Typically, the majors player there, which are the 11 and 12-year-olds.

Field #4 “Field #4, which we just built, we built it with a 60-foot, 70-foot, 80foot, 90-foot baseline. The 90-foot baseline is primarily for practice for the big kids, because the fence is 245 feet at its longest point, which is still kind of short for the juniors. (It has an) all-dirt infield. The 60-foot (base12

Starnes complimented the complex’s snack shack, noting, “We have a pretty good snack shack that we’ve kind of pieced together here. We sell a wide variety of food from pulled pork to teriyaki bowls. Our prices are probably some of the lowest in Sacramento, so we make our money on volume. The snack shack is our big money maker. We average about $35,000 a year gross in the shack, and its 100 percent volunteer, so there (are) no labor (costs). We utilize the local high school kids, so they can get their volunteer hours in community service. But mostly, it’s just the parents coming here.”

Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

Photo by Lance Armstrong

Pocket Little League President Dave Starnes is looking forward to a successful 2014 season.

Photo by Lance Armstrong

John F. Kennedy High School 10th grader Marissa Yamauchi,16, serves a Pocket Little League player at the snack shack on opening day, Saturday, March 15.

Starnes added that it is part of a signed agreement for parents or guardians of PLL players to provide volunteer hours in the snack shack.

Family-friendly vendor, sponsor area

umbrellas and just a bunch of people hanging out. We’re real good on tournaments out here. Then there’s a big area to set up vendors or whatever to sell stuff or (for) sponsors.”

The teams, divisions

In moving on to another element After being asked to speak about of the complex, Starnes said, “The the categories of the league’s teams, whole cement (sic) layout out here is real family-friendly. There are (large) See Little League, page 13 Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Little League: Continued from page 12

Starnes said, “ There’s T-ball, Single A, which is 6, 7-year-olds. Tball is 5, 6. Double A is 7 and 8 year-olds. And then there’s Triple A, which is 9, 10-year-olds. Majors, 11, 12-year-olds, and then juniors, which is 13, 14-year-olds. I think they play up to 15. So, we have six divisions.”

Many tournaments On the topic of tournaments, Starnes said, “We’re going to try to host about 10 tournaments (this year) to generate revenue to finish Field #4, and maybe start working on Field #5. We’ll have an Easter tournament, a Memorial Day tournament, Labor Day tournament, Halloween tournament. Anything that we can think of to have a tournament. Those are the competitive tournaments where there’s a trophy or a prize at the end, different baselines, an hour and 55-minute drop dead time on the games. Real, super competitive. I mean, you could probably make a reality show out of coming and watching some of the parents when the games are going on.”

Photos by Lance Armstrong

The Pocket Little League held its opening day ceremonies on Saturday, March 15 at the Bill Conlin Youth Sports Complex, located at 7895 Freeport Blvd. The family-friendly complex has four well-maintained fields and a good money-making snack shack. The league looks forward to another great season, as last year Pocket Little League’s majors won the District 7 All-Star championship, and this year teams have great chemistry and good coaches.

Kudos for PLL board members, others

During his interview for this article, Starnes made sure to compliment members of the PLL board. “My entire board (is appreciated),” Starnes said. “We have everybody doing something. We have somebody who does the Web and somebody that does all of our registration and the registrar. I have my vice president of operations, Jeff Marang. He’s been kind of the backbone for the admin side this year. He’ll likely be my successor. He’s got young kids in the league, so we’ve got him for a while. And my secretary, Diana Garcia, she keeps me organized and reminds me of stuff, because I’ve got 20 different things going on at once. My umpire-in-charge, Bob Wood, coach coordinator, Anthony Carter, my sponsorship guy, the previous one, Matt DiSantis, and the current one, John Grandchamp, those guys are key. They go out and get a lot of money and sponsors. Our treasurer, Jeff Klein, he’s been the treasurer for 10 years. He knows when I spend 38 cents. He’s kind of the voice of reason when we’re going to go jump off the cliff and buy something big. He reels me back in. I want to make it the best experience for the kids. We give them the nicest uniforms. We give them the belts and the socks and everything that goes with them. The only thing Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

we don’t give them is the pants. We want the fields to be the best, we want it to be just the best experience for the kids.” Starnes also showed appreciation for the past PLL boards, as well as District 7 representative Darrell Fong. Additionally, Starnes made sure to single out former PLL board member Tracy Gee, saying, “She was just a walking wealth of knowledge in helping me learn my job, so I definitely want to mention her.” But like many people who give thank you speeches, Starnes worried that he left some people off of the list of those he desired to recognize for their quality efforts toward constantly improving the Pocket Little League experience.

Pocket champions of 2013 As for the game of baseball itself, Starnes reminisced about a special

moment that occurred in the league in 2013. “Last year is memorable because the Pocket Little League’s majors won the District 7 All-Star championship,” Starnes said. “(That team) went on to play in the sections, which is the tournament that goes all the way up to Williamsport (Pa.) for the Little League (Baseball) World Series. A Pocket team

hadn’t done that in I don’t know how long.”

The 2014 season

In speaking about the 2014 season, Starnes said, “I think it’s going to be another successful season. All the divisions appear to have parody and good coaches. All the right chemistry (is) there. It should turn out to be a good, competitive, fun season. Hope-

Pocket Little League to hold 2nd Annual Dinner and Auction Details: A great night is planned for Pocket Little League’s 2nd Annual Dinner and Auction with all proceeds going directly back to the league’s improvement of Conlin Field and making PLL the best baseball little league for its children. When: Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. Cost: $140 for a table of eight; $20 for a single ticket; $13 for children (age 5 and younger are free) Where: Cabrillo Club, 4605 Karbet Way Contact: Kim Lukenbill at kimmylukenbill@yahoo.com www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News

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Dates released for Food Truck Mania in the Pocket Photos courtesy

last event. The following are the dates for this year: Friday, March 21; Friday, April This Friday, March 21 marks opening 18; Friday, May 16; Friday, June 20; Friday, day for District 7’s Food Truck Mania at July 18; Friday, Aug. 15; Friday, Sept. 19; Garcia Bend Park. Besides food trucks, Friday, Oct. 17. The hours are 5 to 8 p.m. there will be music, a beer garden and fun and until 9 p.m. in the summer months. for the kids. Last year’s average attendance Shown here is a collection of photographs for Food Truck Mania at Garcia Bend was from various Food Truck Mania days at about 1,200 people with about 2,000 at the Garcia Bend.

16

Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

O’Hearn:

Continued from page 2

publication, whilst demonstrating her effect on even the most modest individuals, including clients who declined having their photographs published in this newspaper. “Of course, she didn’t want to have her photo taken,” Debbie says of one of her lovely clients. Debbie sees beauty everywhere, and the price tag of high fashion outfits don’t ever need to be known. “I have one client who the only place she shops is at Thrift Town. She’s gotten Nike athletic wear with the tags on, and an $800 Gucci dress she paid $6 or $8 for,” Debbie said. Then there’s another client who’s about 45 years old and who shops at Forever 21. “It’s not about the age,” Debbie reiterated. “She looks amazing, and no one needs to know where it came from, and no one needs to know the price. It’s the look. It’s how you pull it off. It’s the look you want to achieve. I said to her, ‘Do not tell anyone it came from Forever 21.’” Then there’s Land Park resident Jennifer Fitzgerald who began working with Julie a while ago. “I started her a while ago and just finished her up with her colors. She just needed help with casual looks using only her colors. She knows business attire and evening looks, but needed help with more casual looks. I suggested adding much needed cream pants for business, nice casual, and even cocktail outfits when paired with sequins.” Known at local stores, such as Arden-based Madame Butterfly, or at the mall, be it

at Nordstrom’s or Macy’s, Julie and her guests are often given the red-carpet treatment, with coffee brought out to them, or if they are hungry, something to munch on. “If I tell (the stores) in advance that we’re coming, oh yeah – the manager used to do it all the time.” With a fashion merchandising degree from the University of Arizona, Debbie was a buyer Weinstock’s for women’s ready-to-wear styles and designer shoes. Later, she was an account executive for Lancôme Cosmetics. The job required a lot of traveling, but having children later in life, she was able to accomplish all of that before raising a family. As she raised her children, she kept fashion at home. She would dress her mother-inlaw in outfits, and it was she who suggested Debbie make a living out of this type of consulting work. Debbie’s children and their education have been so important to her that she helps the schools as often as she can. Active in fundraising at Holy Spirit Parish School and Christian Brothers High School, Debbie has one son who will be graduating from CBHS this year, a daughter who graduated there in 2011, and one who’s in eighth grade now at HSPS and who will be a freshman at CBHS next year. “We love, love, love that school. It’s just a genuine community. They have the best teachers, the best leaders. The kids leave ready to fly, ready to take on the world with a new-found Christian confidence. They leave different, wonderful. The Christian Brothers community knows every child. It’s just a very

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special environment over there – everything about that whole school.” On Saturday, March 29, Debbie herself will be one of the auction items at the annual benefit auction at Christian Brothers. Someone donated a limo for her to take six ladies to San Francisco where she will take them shopping and help pick out outfits. “(Christian Brothers) will flash me on the screen in front of 800 people. All (six people) have to do is stick up their paddles. If no one buys it, I’m in trouble,” she laughed. The shopping will start at Union Square where they will hit up the big department stores and if there’s interest, Debbie will take them consignment shopping off Sacramento Street, which has the best “good buys” and “vintage on consignment.” Of course, they can choose where they want to shop and Debbie will take them anywhere. She’ll splurge for coffee and lunch. All they have to do is write a check to Christian Brothers. “A lot of auction money goes to tuition assistance,” she said. “They do a lot of great things.” And so does she. Debbie and her husband have helped out with the auctions for the last five years. The two have put on preauction parties. While their efforts are grandiose, Debbie notes the whole parent community helps out. “Everyone is doing it. There are parents putting on the whole show. There are parents at every meeting – they don’t have to ask. Everyone wants to help out. It’s a unique environment. We are just blessed to be a part of it. It’s a wonderful journey,” she said.

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Pocket resident Debbie O’Hearn is a fashion consultant with a big heart who sees beauty everywhere. Pocket resident Debbie O’Hearn, fashion consultant, stands behind friend and client, Julie High. Photo by Monica Stark

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Chinese New Year at JFK By Anstonia Ma

Chinese New Year is about getting together with your family and having a great time with each other. To promote such a feeling in John F. Kennedy High School, the Chinese National Chinese Honors Society decided to set up a week-long celebration. The main events happened on Monday and Friday. On the first day, there were guest speakers, Councilman Darrell Fong and SCUSD Board Member Darrel Woo, guest dancers, and Chinese Yo-Yo performances by the students. Both Darrell Fong and Darrel Woo gave encouraging words to the students and added a great sense of humor to the crowd of lunch-goers! On Friday, Mr. Jimmy Yee gave a rousing speech to the students which was both inspirational and educational and more dance and Chinese Yo-Yo performances were featured. Mr. Yee brought interesting trinkets and Chinese New Year materials to complement his speech to the students of JFK and gave them new awareness of the intrica-

cies of ancient and modern Chinese culture. Throughout his speech, he connected the old with the new and made interesting jokes to keep the audience interested and constantly asked them questions. Also, on the Friday preceding this event, two students, Anstonia Ma and Wendy Ma, spoke on the intercom to give their peers in John F. Kennedy High school insight of the inner workings of Chinese New Year and all about the different phrases that are spoken during Chinese New Year. This was a fun play on the students’ last names because both of their Chinese last names were Ma which is the Chinese character for horse and it just so happens that this year is the year of the horse. In all, this special New Year celebration could not have been possible without the support given to the Chinese National Honors Society by their guest speakers, Mr. Darrell Fong, Mr. Darrel Woo, and Jimmy Yee and the dance and Chinese Yo-Yo performers! Thanks to all of them, this year’s celebration was a huge success!

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Pocket resident Jim Anderson in the running for Man of the Year By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

On Friday, Feb. 28 Pocket resident Jim Anderson ran for 12 hours on a treadmill at Urban Fitness, a downtown gym, putting him in the running to raise $100,000 in 10 weeks for the Greater Sacramento area chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year. Though he had a few volunteers stand in (err run) for him when he needed a break, Anderson certainly got his workout that day! Now, gearing up for a big shindig at Fairytale Town on March 29, he’s nailing down the logistics for an evening of dance, food trucks, live music from cover band, Thunder Cover, and libations from Bend, Ore.based Deschutes Brewery. (The entrance fee is $20; food and drink sold separately). Besides these fundraising events, Jim has worked the streets, driving around town. He’s even driven out to the Jelly Belly Candy Company factory because he’s golfed with the owners and he figured he would ask them for some money. Along the way, he stopped at car dealerships, and got his foot in the door asking general managers for money. A big hitter for Lyon Real Estate, he’s been reaching out to his colleagues. One-hundred thousand dollars is a key amount for Jim, because with every $50,000 raised, the Society allows these top money earners, name their research grants in memory of someone. And, well, Jim wants to memorialize two people, his father, Jim Anderson, Sr., who died more than 10 years ago, and this year’s poster child, a 4-year-old girl named

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Emily Love, who he met while working on this campaign over the last year and who continues to live each day to her fullest. But in the end, any amount Jim raises for LLS, will help fund therapies and treatments, and essentially help save lives today. The organization’s continued advancements over the years, are responsible for the blood cancer survival rate doubling and tripling; in some cases, the survival rate has even quadrupled. Born and raised in Gridley, California, Anderson grew up around cattle and horses, and now loves working as a real estate agent in this “urban cow town.” Anderson writes so passionately about his father on his fundraising website, calling him his personal man of the year because dad is always in his heart. Between Jim’s two parents, dad was the softie. When mom would say, no, he and his siblings would ask dad. “He was a good spirited guy and he died suddenly. He had an aneurism; it wasn’t leukemia that killed him and because of medical advances, he lived a pretty normal life for 11 years, though there were times he was sick and had to change medicines when one stopped working. “But he was a Marlboro man. He didn’t want us to treat him like he was sick,” Jim said about his father. As an employee for United Parcel Service for 30 years, everyone in Gridley knew Jim’s father as a humble man who helped anyone he could. “He didn’t care how much money you had or how poor you were. He would pick up the town drunk and drive him home. He was just a good old boy. He

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always was the type that made sure everybody was taken care of.” Perhaps that spirit to help others is genetic or has been passed down to Jim, Jr. because his heart is in the right place. Now more than 10 years since Jim Anderson, Sr.’s death, the entire family is on board with Jim’s campaign for his father. Jim’s mom, Sally Anderson, still lives in Gridley and will be holding small-scale fundraising efforts there, including a tea in her home and outreach to local service groups, like Kiwanis, to see what funds they can raise. As Jim speaks passionately about his love for his father, he also describes Emily’s spirit as enduring and pure. He said the first time he met her, she was clinging onto the shoulder of his campaign manager, Jennifer Pear, at an event at Zocolo, but she was quick to let go after a photo request. Recalled Jim: “I said to Emily’s mother: ‘Can I hold her? Can I get a picture with her?’ I thought, Oh sure! But her spirit. She’s so sweet. I was reluctant she was going to come to me, but she did. She is just a sweet, sweet little girl.” Upon thinking about the interaction, Jim explained how she has been used to interacting with strangers over the last year due to spending so much time in the hospital, getting shots, exams and doctors’ visits. Besides those who have donated to his campaign, Jim has garnered support from friends who are holding smaller, fundraising events, including a bunko party and wine tastings at their homes. The following are the larger upcoming fundraising events that have been publicized on Jim’s website:

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Upcoming fundraising events: Saturday, March 29: From 7 to 10 p.m., enjoy live music by Thunder Cover, dancing, food and drink at Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Dr., $20. Sunday, March 30: From 3 to 6 p.m., you be the judge at this chili/bread cook-off at the Pocket Club, 5043 Freeport Blvd. Price: $10. Saturday, April 12: From 3 to 6 p.m. join the Land Park Bike Cruise, which starts and ends at Riverside Clubhouse, 3633 Riverside Blvd. Price: $20. Fee includes one drink and a raffle ticket for a custom cruiser bike.

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Cole Cuchna Pocket musician to release new album April 1 By Monica Stark editor@valcomnews.com

Cole Cuchna, a composer of contemporary concert music and multimedia currently residing in the Pocket, has outdone himself with his solo project, “ Tetrachord”, a 9-track album, digitally due out in April. Full of sound collages, the electronic project “Tetrachord” aims to assemble disparate sound elements and styles into an accessible, unified whole. The first single “Do Right” features Georgia Jackson whose son, George Jackson, was killed in the inmate uprising at the San Quentin Prison in 1971. The audio was provided by the Pacifica Radio Archives via former Cosumnes College English instructor Dan Wenger, whose four sound collages on this subject “dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y”. In an interview with this publication, Cole said he felt when he wrote the music to the song, “Do Right”, it needed a little bit of depth. Included in his description of the song’s process, he said: “I had never written music without singing before. As far as this world of music, electronic, I was still getting used to writing without vocal material. I had it laid out for some kind of voice. (Wenger) had that piece archived. (Georgia Jackson’s) voice stuck with me. It’s really powerful and it gave the song what it needed. It brought a whole dimension to the piece. That work became the focal nucleus of the album.” With Tetrachord, one of the main objectives for the first time with Cole’s music was to combine musical elements he has accumulated over the years. A guitarist turned pianist, Cole started his music endeavors playing rock and roll, with his interests turning to jazz and folk, followed by techno and classical. “Plus, I listen to a lot of hip hop, so I really wanted to combine all those elements at once,” he said. Tetrachord, meaning a four-note segment of a scale, Cole simply said he likes the way the notes sound together. “The finale is dramatic. A tetrachord has an arc; I never had a project name that was one word,” he said. Similar to the overlay of dialogue by Georgia Jackson, is a piece that features a speech by Salvador Allende, the former President of Chile, who died during the Chilean coup of 1973 by the Chilean Army Commander-in-Chief Augusto Pinochet. Accounts of his death vary, with the official version stating he committed suicide and his supporters claiming assassination. Then there’s another piece that has a poem by Cole’s friend poet Jaydn DeWald, an Elk Grove native. “I set it to music; there’s more vocal meshing.” Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Photo courtesy

Cole Cuchna, a Sacramento State University graduate, speaks about his new album, Tetrachord, and about making music today.

An Elk Grove native, Cole’s career as composer began at an early age writing music for rock and pop groups, leading to multiple studio albums and US tours, as well as numerous awards including Sacramento Music Awards Best Indie Band in 2008, 2009, 2010 and Outstanding Keyboardist for his work with the now defunct band, The New Humans. Cole’s creative attention ultimately turned to contemporary concert music, composition for orchestra, chamber ensembles, mixed media, and electronics. During his time at California State University, Sacramento, Cole studied with Dr. Stephen Blumberg and Leo Eylar, and was President of the Composers Symposium club. Upon graduation in fall of 2012, Cole was selected by the music faculty to join Pi Kappa Lambda, a national academic honor society for music students and professors. He was also awarded the Outstanding Senior of 2012-13. As he was developing and writing Tetrachord, he was able to work in a comfortable space out of his Pocket area home. “There were no expectations musically except creating it. I don’t expect much in return except the thing I created. It’s a comfortable space to be in. With The New Humans, I looked it as a business. If you wanted to do (music) as a living, you have to. It was a lot of work. It took away from what I want to do, which is just make it.” Opposed from working with The New Humans, when in his early 20s, he toured, slept on floors, and lived on fast food, he realized later he wanted to produce music differently. Married in December 2009 to wife B Zeboski Cuchna, that lifestyle he had with The New Humans changed as the years passed. The Cuchnas bought a home in the Pocket area about a year ago. “We’re feeling it out. I like that the river is right there and the diversity of it,” he said about his experience as a relatively new Pocket resident. “There’s a mix of cultures. It’s suburban, but it doesn’t feel like it is too much in the suburbs. I love it’s five minutes from downtown.” Cole began playing guitar at age 13, piano at 20 and experienced an age difference amongst his classmates at Sacramento State University. He said, “I was older than everyone and they came years ahead

Tetrachord album cover.

of me.” A self taught pianist, he learned the instrument by first finding a note on guitar, then finding it on piano. Asked about his experience studying classical music, Cole said it was all very humbling. “When you’re self taught in rock bands, you don’t know what you don’t know. I went into Sac State, thinking I knew what I was doing, but realized, no, not at all. I didn’t know what I was in for. I was on the verge of dropping out after the first and second semester, but I grew to love it. I learned a lot. Not only the theory and proper education, but being in an environment where you are surrounded by actual musicians, it was Very humbling, very exciting. And I ended up fitting in a little bit. The majority of them were raised in that world. The culture was really good for me. Although it’s very humbling, I don’t don’t consider myself a pianist anymore or a guitarist anymore. What I am doing now, I am not comparing myself.” Visit www.modestism.com regularly for updates on Cole’s musical endeavors, including the release of “Tetrachord”. www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News

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Bonsai Sekiyu Kai of Sacramento to hold 37th annual show Send your event announcement for consideration to: editor@valcomnews.com at least two weeks prior to publication.

Ongoing Land Park Pacific Little League collecting memorabilia as part of 60th anniversary Land Park Pacific Little League (LPPLL), a youth baseball organization serving children in the Land Park, Curtis Park, Hollywood Park, South Land Park, Little Pocket, and neighboring areas, celebrates its 60th anniversary season in 2014. As part of the celebration, LPPLL is collecting photos and other memorabilia to display throughout the season. LPPLL’s home fields are located at Dooley Fields, located behind Holy Spirit Parish School at the edge of William Land Park, and the baseball fields located in William Land Park. Originally, Dooley Fields

Photo by Monica Stark

were the home of Pacific Little League, created in 1959. Through the years, some of the area little leagues merged. In 1994, Dooley Fields also became the home fields Land Park Little League, which was established in 1954. In 2000, Curtis Park Little League also merged into the league. As part of the Opening Day Parade, scheduled for March 22 at 8:00 a.m., old photographs, jerseys and other memorabilia will be on display. Alumni from past years are invited to attend and share memories. Anyone willing to share or donate items should contact info@lppll.com. Additional information about the league is available at www.lppll.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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

Bonsai Sekiyu Kai of Sacramento to hold its 37th annual bonsai and rock show on Saturday, April 5 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be demonstrations both days at 2 p.m. by Sensei Yuzo Maruyama, who is shown here. The show will take place at the Betsuin Hall of the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Blvd. All guests are welcome. 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 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’ ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Mahogany Urban Poetry Series - Queen Sheba - poetry readings Each Wednesday from 8-11 p.m. at Queen Sheba in Sacramento, local talent makes it way to the restaurant for weekly open-mic events. $3-$5. 1704 Broadway. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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Pocket News • March 20, 2014 • www.valcomnews.com

Registration Open for Nature Bowl Science and Conservation Competition Registration is now open for the 29th annual Nature Bowl, an elementary school activity-based competition held in the spring. Coordinated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in partnership with local organizations and agencies, the Nature Bowl increases the science and conservation literacy of third through sixth grade students in the Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills. The Nature Bowl is open to students from any school, group or organized youth club. Participants employ teamwork, creativity and critical thinking while participating in group learning activities centered on local and regional natural environments. The first round will be held at 10 locations from mid-March through early May. Teams will consist of three to seven students each and several teams will advance to the finals to be held at California State Uni-

versity, Sacramento on May 17, 2014.Teachers, youth group leaders or parents can coach a team. The semifinal at Nimbus Hatchery is scheduled April 3, 2014. To register, call (916) 358-2884. The semifinal at Effie Yeaw Nature Center is scheduled March 11, 2014. To register, call (916) 489-4918. A new semifinal is also being offered at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park in Sacramento on May 1 or 2 (date to be determined). For more information, please call (916) 284-1627. For more information about the Nature Bowl, please call (916) 3582353 or visit the CDFW website at www.dfg. ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Brain Gymnasium Exercise your mind and have some fun at this on-going Brain Gymnasium class! Inviting all seniors to Eskaton Monroe Lodge, 3225 Freeport Boulevard, 9:20 a.m. Thursdays. $6 per class. Call 441-1015 for more information. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Women with Good Spirits monthly meeting Women With Good Spirits is a networking group that engages women in the Sacramento community with non-profit organizations that make contributions to our quality of life and care for our fellow residents. Each month, Women With Good Spirits invites a community non-profit to present on its mission work. The meeting is held at Revolution Wines on the second Tuesday of each month and starts at 6:30 p.m. The presenter will start their presentation promptly at 7:15 p.m. and will last 15-20 minutes with an open question and answer forum after. RSVP is appreciated as well as a $5+ donation per person that will go directly to the non-profit presenting that month. Revolution Wines is located at 2831 S St. Visit www.womenwithgoodspirits.com or find the group on Facebook. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Gentle Qi Gong

(PSA) videos on a select water efficiency topic. The 2014 water efficiency theme is: Don’t be a gutter flooder: Prevent overspray 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Kiwanis Club of East Sacramento-Midtown

Learn powerful relaxation techniques reduce stress, reduce physical pain and emotional suffering, lower blood pressure, increase immune response and improve balance. Inviting all seniors to Eskaton Monroe Lodge, 3225 Freeport Boulevard, 3 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays. $7 per class. Call 4411015 for more information. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Visitors Welcome, weekly breakfast meeting on Fridays at 7 a.m. 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: 916761-0984, volunteers always welcome! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

California Youth Basketball League taking applications

Artisan holds Food Drive

CYBL is a non-profit year round league for ages 4 through 18 that prides itself on being well organized that aims to develop basketball skills, sportsmanship and selfesteem through coaches, gym official and organizers. Visit www.cybhoops.com or call 391-3900. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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

Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

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 nonperishable 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. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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.

March Folsom Library spring 2014 book sale March 21-23: Shop for incredible bargains in 1000s of gently used books, audio books, videos, CDs and much more in both children and adult materials. All proceeds directly benefit the Friends of the Folsom Library, a 100 percent non-profit organization. The sale will be held insdie the Folsom Public Library’s Georgia Murray Building Meeting Room at 411 Stafford St. The early bird sale will take place on Friday, March 21, from 5 to 8 p.m., admission $5 per person (including children 12 and older). The general sale will be Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., admission free. Fill a bag for only $5 on “Bargain Sunday”. For more information, visit www. foflib.org or call 608-8743 or 355-7374. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Vintage Trailer Show & Antique Flea Market

March 22: A fantastic display of Vintage Trailers will be featured at the Vintage Trailer Show and Antique Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy an up close look at these retro trailers that are now a part of the Glamping world. Shop dozens of vendors for treasured Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage and Flea Market finds. Food available on site. A portion of proceeds benefit The Elk Grove Historical Society. Additional information and vendor applications are available at www.thereddoorelkgrove.com or 714-0619. General admission is $5, children under 16 are free. Old Town Elk Grove Plaza, 9056 Elk Grove Blvd. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Sacramento Community Concert Association performance

March 22: SCCA presents A Night At The Movies With Pipe Organist Dave Moreno at 7:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian, 1300 N St. Complemented by emcee Matias Bombal, organist-entertainer Dave Moreno will thrill you as he accompanies popular silent films on Westminster’s grand 3000-pipe organ. Don’t miss this extraordinary event. Regular subscription: $90, Group discount (8 or more people): $75, Students subscription: $45, Single Ticket: $25. For more information, contact Sacramento Community Concert Association www.sccaconcerts.org; info@scc.aconcerts.org; 400-4634.

www.valcomnews.com • March 20, 2014 • Pocket News

23

RIVERGATE HOME

GREENBELT CLOSE

CUTE SLP CONDO

Wonderful four bedroom home on a quiet street. This home has a great floor plan with lots of light! Private living room, kitchen family room combination and spacious master suite. Sliding glass doors in family room and master suite leading to generous sized backyard. $309,000

Beautiful property was builder's own custom home. 3 bedroom 2½ baths with professionally landscaped front yard, Pergo floors, remodeled kitchen and half bath. There is also remodeled laundry play structure, dual pane windows and custom curtains and blinds. $359,000

Lower level 2 bedroom 2 bath cutie; spacious and open. Walkin closet in the master bedroom, detached 1-car garage with opener. Pool and spa with clubhouse. Lush landscaping. Great value. Private patio. Inside laundry closet. Convenient location close to shopping, restaurants, library. $124,000

PAM VANDERFORD 799-7234

MONA GERGEN 247-9555

LISA MCCAULEY 601-5474

PENDING

PENDING

STYLISH AND ENERGY EFFICIENT

BRIDGEWAY SOUTHPORT

S LAND PARK HILLS AT ITS BEST

Gracefully appointed, South Land Park 3 bedroom 2 bath home. The home combines natural elements of wood, masonry and light to create alluring spaces throughout. Lush landscaping, pool and koi pond and spacious 2 bedroom guest cottage. Comme see the magic! $667,000

Beautiful lake front single story home situated in West Sacramento. 4 bedrooms 3 baths, ultra high ceilings and open floor plan beaming with natural sunlight. Large dining room, arched doorways, expansive kitchen, cherry cabinetry, and custom tile floors. $459,000

Amazing renovation features 3 bedrooms 2½ baths with open concept living! Fantastic kitchen and baths boast quar tz and custom cabinetr y. Kitchen and living and dining combo connects to the yard through a beautiful wall of glass! $488,900

STEPHANIE GALLAGHER 342-2288

JESSICA BILLER 761-6035

JAMIE RICH 612-4000

SOLD

PENDING

WONDERFUL WEST SAC

WALK TO DIDION SCHOOL

LOT ON THE RIVER

Wonderful single-level home in a quiet cul-de-sac. 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths on almost a quarter acre. Granite counters and glass subway tiled back splash set the kitchen apart. Dual pane windows and a tile roof. $430,000

A rare opportunity to live close to Didion School. Spacious 4 bedrooms 2½ baths, 2264 square feet, with new interior paint, flooring, light fixtures, granite counter tops in kitchen and all 3 baths, new dishwasher, and new gas range. Huge family room is just waiting for fun and games! $349,000

Must see this beautiful lot! A rare opportunity to build your own home on a riverfront lot in the Little Pocket area close to the freeway and downtown. Riverside Blvd close to 35th Ave. Go by, walk around the lot and enjoy the Sacramento River. Call agent if you have questions. $259,000

PAULA SWAYNE 425-9715

MONA GERGEN 247-9555

NANCY WEGGE 600-5458 LISA MARTIS 612-7548

for current home listings, please visit:

DunniganRealtoRs.com 916.484.2030 916.454.5753 Dunnigan is a different kind of Realtor.®