Editor’s Note: St. Francis will hold a farewell mass and celebration on Wednesday, May 15 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Parents and grandparents are welcome to celebrate Mass with the school community. To get in the graduation spirit, the Valedictorians and Salutatorian provided The East Sacramento News a taste of what St. Francis has meant to them. Also included below are statements from students selected to be speakers at graduation and baccalaureate

Valedictorians:

Ashley Jones and Jasmine Florentino

Ashley Jones:
My name is Ashley Jones and I am a graduating senior from St. Francis High School. At St. Francis, I developed a love of performing, participating in four different singing and dancing groups, including A Cappella, Hawaiian Hula, Hip-Hop, and Show Choir. In the fall, I will be attending UC Davis with an undecided major in Life Sciences. My future plans are not set in stone, but I want to go into the medical field in order to use my education and my passion for learning to give back to my community and help others. St. Francis has instilled in me a love of service, helping me to get involved with various programs such as St. John’s Shelter, Vacation Bible School, and Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) over the past four years, which has influenced me to choose a career path in which I can serve and benefit the community. I also believe that the rigorous and challenging college-prep curriculum of St. Francis has well-prepared me for all of the challenges that come with pursuing a career in the medical field, helping me to develop the leadership skills, motivation, and dedication necessary to succeed.

Jasmine Florentino:
My name is Jasmine Florentino and I attended St. Ignatius Parish School for ten years prior to attending St. Francis. In my four years at St. Francis, I have played soccer, basketball, and diving and have been the Co-President of the Patriots Club, on student council, and a Christian Service and Retreat Team Leader. Outside of school, I am actively involved at my Church, Presentation. I love going to Mass and youth group! Also, one of my favorite things to do is to babysit because I love playing with children and babies! Next year I will be off to the University of Notre Dame, where I intend to pursue my passion for language and continue to deepen my Catholic faith. I plan to major in Theology and Spanish, and hopefully also study Italian. Not only has SF prepared me academically, but it has also been a great journey to find and grow in my Catholic identity. Although it will be hard to leave my home here, I hold fast to my faith, knowing that this is God’s plan for me.

Salutatorian:  Ashley Rose
During my four years at St. Francis I have been involved in the arts and have performed in almost every play and musical.  I have also been an ambassador each year and served as a senior big sister this past year.  I currently volunteer at Eskaton Monroe Lodge and am in charge of the club I created this year, the Brit’-Lovin’ Troubies (an anglophile club)!
I will attend Folsom Lake College and plan to transfer to UCLA. I intend to major in Theater and minor in communications because I want to pursue a career in acting.
My St. Francis education has definitely prepared me to handle the college workload and curriculum.

The following are students selected to be speakers at Graduation and Baccalaureate:

Class of 2013 Graduates’ Prayer: Victoria Quiniola
I am incredibly grateful to have spent the past 4 years at St. Francis High School, and am now headed for the University of San Francisco. Several involvements at St. Francis have helped me construct a path for the future, including leading underclassmen retreats, campaigning for political figures, and attending a weekly SFHS bible-study group. At USF, I look forward to joining the Army ROTC program and accepting a commission upon completion as I incorporate my Christian faith into military leadership and service. I thank my family and the faculty, staff, and fellow students at St. Francis for their never-ending love, instruction, guidance, and support.

Baccalaureate Welcome:  Maia Evrigenis
Maia Evrigenis has greatly enjoyed her years at St. Francis. She spends most of her time on campus in the music department jamming on her saxophone with the Jazz Ensemble. Maia also enjoys studying American History and is the president of the SF Patriots Club. As a member of the St. Francis retreat team, Maia helps underclassmen strengthen their relationships with God. Maia is attending New York University in the fall and plans to become a Hospital School Teacher, a teacher for students suffering from life threatening illness.

Skateboarder and Pocket resident Eustaquio Lafranco.

Pocket residents Demetrius Williams and Eustaquio Lafranco both love to skateboard.

Williams, who has been skating for five years, enjoys the freedom skateboarding gives him. “With this you’re not really required to do anything – you’re required to go out there and have fun, learn as much as you want or as little as you want,” he says.

And Lafranco, who has been skateboarding for the last 10 years, says the skateboard population in the area is steadily growing and although there is now a skate park at Reichmuth Park in South Land Park, it would be beneficial to have more skate parks as an interest in skateboarding continues to grow.

Now with the help of the City of Sacramento, the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), Freeport Renovation on the Move (FROM) and other community members are coming together to give skateboarders like Lafranco and Williams another skate park at Argonaut Park in Freeport Manor.

Getting Support

During their initial work on trying to get a local skate park built, the teens were meeting at the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, where they met Kathi Windheim, president of the Friends of the Pocket-Greenhaven Library. She suggested Argonaut Park as a possible location as it was adjacent to New Technology High School and she knew the school had a group of skateboarders.

Windheim contacted New Tech’s Principal Paula Hanzel, who supported the project. “We’re in a neighborhood where kids need stuff to do, and they need the right stuff to do,” she explains. “And the more we can put in that park for not only my kids, but all the kids in the neighborhood to do, the better off we are.”

Next on board was Darrel Woo, second vice president for SCUSD Board of Education representing District 6, who believes the skate park will be a nice compliment to the workout stations that were put into Argonaut Park a few years ago.

Also on board is Sacramento City Councilman Jay Schenirer representing District 5. “I think anything that we can do to provide positive outlets for young people and safe places for them to be when they’re not in school is a good thing,” Schenirer says of why he supports the project.

And the group received support the of FROM, which according to President Barbara Moore works to provide a healthy way of life for children and teens in the Freeport Manor, South Land Park and Pocket areas. “It’s a need and we have so many kids that like to skate,” she explains. “There’s not (a skate park) that close, so we decided let’s put a skate park over here – we have the space and it would be a great thing.”

Skateboarder and Pocket resident Demetrius Williams. // Photos courtesy of Eustaquio Lafranco

Plan in Action

Now with support in place, plans could start for the Argonaut Park skate park.

According to Windheim, as another skate park is being built at McClatchy Park in the Oak Park area, they asked Schenirer if they could be part of the design process for McClatchy so they could design both at the same time to save money, and he agreed.

On March 5, Windheim says a meeting was held at the Evelyn Moore Community Center to begin planning the design of both skate parks. The meeting was lead by Aaron Spohn from Spohn Ranch Skate Parks in Los Angeles, who Windheim says will be designing both parks.

Dennis Day, landscape architect for the City of Sacramento, says Spohn discussed with those at the meeting what was possible for the skate parks. “He led them – there were some adults there as well as high school students – on what they would like to see in their ideal skate park,” he explains. “They got to design and move around templates of skate elements.”

Community skateboarders, including Lafranco and Williams, attended the meeting to give their input on what they would like to see in the skate parks. “He pretty much gave us a piece of paper and a layout of other parks he’d did that were similar, and just said put the pieces where you want them and that’s what we did,” Williams says.

Hanzel says letting the neighborhood kids help design the Argonaut Park skate park is huge. “You want to teach kids to be civically responsible and civically involved, and the sooner you get them involved and have that be a positive experience, the more likely to have that continued throughout their adult life,” she explains. “When you empower, you create positive people and positive people move things.”

Multi-Use Design

Although a design for the McClatchy Park skate park has reportedly been finalized, the design for the Argonaut Park skate park is still in the works.

According to Woo, the concept for Argonaut Park is still conceptual, but they are looking at a design that would create a “low-level stage amphitheater that the kids can skate around” with a pathway around the perimeter. This way, he says the skate park could serve multiple purposes as it could also be used as a stage area for New Tech. “It looks like a plan that will harmonize with the existing facility without taking away the other purposes of the facility,” he adds.

Hanzel says right now New Tech does not have a room where she can fit all of her 300 students at the same time. ” It would be great to have an outdoor space where we could all gather and engage in the things that we now have to do twice,” she says.

And Windheim says they are considering some skateboard-specific elements for the park, such as a stair set with rail and “hubba bank,” a roller, “curved taco” and flat ledge. She says the Argonaut Park skate park will be roughly 5,000 square feet. “We will be smaller than McClatchy Park (skate park), but with many of the same great elements and a different layout,” she adds.

Finding Funds

Although plans for the design are in motion, much is still needed to be done in terms of fund raising to build the skate park.

Windheim estimates the Argonaut Park skate park will cost around $120,000 to complete.

According to J.P. Tindell, manager of park planning and development for the City of Sacramento Parks & Recreation Department, the City has set aside $20,000 of Park Impact Fees as “seed funding” for the Argonaut Park skate park

Windheim says they are now in fund raising mode for the rest of what they need. “We’re trying to raise the rest of this money through grants, fundraisers, (and) different community support,” she adds.

In regards to fundraisers, they recently held a rummage sale in Belle Cooledge Park, and are now planning an event at Argonaut Park on Saturday, June 8 from 1-5pm that will feature a jazz band, food, prize drawings and a skateboarding demonstration. Windheim says the event will be funded through an $815 community grant they received from Schenirer’s office.

And they will be launching an online fundraiser where community members can vote for the best skateboarding trick videos on votdo.com. Windheim says from May 15-30 skateboarders can upload their videos to the site. Then visitors to the site can vote for $1 per vote from June 1-30. The most votes in each category, Windheim says, will win skateboarding gear donated by Spohn and Spohn Ranch Skate Parks.

Something Positive

Williams says he is going to be “pretty proud” once the Argonaut Skate Park is built as he will know he had a hand in helping make it happen. He also feels the additional skate parks will help people improve and build a love for skateboarding. “It’s going to be bring a lot more people out there to try to skateboard because every time there is a park, there’s people that see the park and say I want to try and they get out there.”

Moore also believes the new skate park will get more kids interested in skateboarding. “I think it’s going to revitalize the youth out there and make really something positive to bring to them because they need some positive reinforcement in the neighborhood,” she adds.

Lafranco believes the new skate parks may even bring new businesses to the area. He says right now skateboarders in the area have to travel to Elk Grove, Natomas, or downtown for skateboarding supplies. “With all these new skate parks emerging, … it could bring in a new business opportunities for skate shops,” he says.

Donations for the Argonaut Skate Park can be made out to “FROM” and mailed to Barbara Moore, 6013 McLaren Ave., Sacramento 95822. For more information on the Argonaut Skate Park, call Kathi at 392-0101 or e-mail Rosio Ruano in Councilmember Jay Schenirer’s office rruano@cityofsacramento.org.

Argonaut Park is located on Kitchner Road near Freeport Boulevard.

The following are bios of the local artists and authors who showed their works at the celebration.

Mary Highstreet is a Californian fine artist. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and later attended to college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.  She graduated in 2009 with a BFA in Art & Design.  Following her graduation, she spent eight months in Los Angeles studying concept design for film under visual development artists and animators currently working in the film industry. Mary has worked in a variety of media and is currently working in oils, acrylics, and digital painting. Her subject matter delves into the deciphering of the human mind, literature, dreams, spirituality, and capturing the sublime.  Her style is primarily illustrative and impressionistic.  Visit www.maryhighstreet.com.

Twenty-three years old, Michael Panush has distinguished himself as a promising young writer. He has published numerous short stories in a variety of e-zines including:  AuroraWolf, Demon Minds, Fantastic Horror, Dark Fire Fiction, Aphelion, Horrorbound, Fantasy Gazetteer, Demonic Tome, Tiny Globule, and Defenestration. He published his first novel, Clark Reeper Tales, for his high school senior project. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Michael currently serves as a City Year Corps Member at Rosa Parks Middle School. His books with Curiosity Quills include The Stein and Candle Detective Agency, Volume 1: American Nightmares, Volume 2: Cold Wars, and Volume 3: Red Reunion, all featuring a pair of occult detectives in the 1950s, Dinosaur Jazz– where The Great Gatsby meets Jurassic Park — a story about a Lost World battling against the forces of modernization; and El Mosaico, Volume 1: Scarred Souls and Volume 2: The Road to Hellfire, a Western about a bounty hunter whose body was assembled from the remains of dead Civil War soldiers and brought to life by mad science. Dinosaur Dust and El Mosaico, Volume 3: Hellfire are expected to be released soon. Read excerpts from his work at http://curiosityquills.com/published-authors/michael-panush/ and follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/Michael_Panush

Eighteen-year-old Sierra Brown is a senior at CK McClatchy High School in the Humanities and International Studies Program. She has won numerous awards over the years for her photography, writing, and art. She enjoys traveling and has visited every state in the U.S. (except Hawaii) and has also traveled extensively throughout Europe and the British Isles. Last summer Sierra spent a month in Rwanda, Africa, as part of a cultural and community service program with other McClatchy High School students.Many of photographs were taken during her travels. Sierra will attend UC Berkeley this fall and plans to study integrated biology.

Carol Ng has played the piano since she was 4 years old and has taught piano for more than 28 years.  Her second instrument is the harp, which she has played for more than 19 years and has taught it for eight years. She has been employed as a clinical certified music practitioner at Mercy General Hospital since 2008 where she has brought therapeutic harp music to the patient’s bedside.  Carol is the resident harpist for the Lutheran Church of the Master and an active member of the choir and bell choir.  Carol received her music teaching diploma from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in Hong Kong.  She composes and arranges music for both the harp and piano.  She is a freelance harpist and pianist for weddings and special events.  She has played before large audiences in Hong Kong and intimate settings in Sacramento. During her tenure as a piano and harp instructor, she has intimate musical one on one interaction with her students and has modified her teaching to accommodate their interest and learning abilities.  She has been an active member of the California Associate of Professional Music Teacher Association (CAPMT-MTNA), the Sacramento Capitol Valley Harp Circle, Harper’s Hall and was Vice President of the Association from 2004-2006. She can be reached at 391-2560.

In addition to her work in public relations and communications in Sacramento, Annette Kassis is a historian specializing in the Western United States, particularly the Greater Sacramento region and Northern California. She recently received the Sacramento County Historical Society’s Award of Excellence in Publications for her book, Weinstock’s: Sacramento’s Finest Department Store (The History Press, 2012), an examination of the history, people and innovations of the Sacramento landmark department store that began at 4th and K Streets in 1874. Kassis serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacramento History Foundation, and her background includes nearly 20 years as co-owner of Sacramento-based advertising and public relations firm K&H Marketing, LLC. Kassis studied journalism and history at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, and continued with graduate studies in United States history at California State University-Sacramento and the University of California-Santa Barbara. She and her husband Rich Kassis live in the Sacramento area.

After the parade, join in festivities at Garcia Bend Park for a parade awards ceremony, local business community fair, hot dog eating contest, city animal care services adoption event and music. New this year will be food trucks!

Parade and pre-registration ends June 28. Walk-ons are gladly accepted, but pre-registering is encouraged. Parade entry forms are available at The Pocket News, 2709 Riverside Blvd. or Riverside Wesleyan Church, 6449 Riverside Blvd.

Volunteer! The Pocket Parade is made possible because of volunteers. Organizers are encouraging each parade entry to have members of their family, organization, or business volunteer. Call for a complete list of volunteer positions or email pastormike @rwcsac.org

Questions? Call Linda of the Pocket News at 429-9901 or email Linda@valcomnews.com

The following is information provided by the Elks Lodge about each of the awardees.

Elks #6 Educators of the Year

Outstanding Middle School Educator for 2013
Mrs. Mikila Fetzer, Genevieve Didion K-8 School

Outstanding High School Educator for 2013
Ms. Lori Jablonski,  C.K. McClatchy High School

Sacramento City Teachers Association  & Elks #6 Scholarships
Presented by Debbie Eto, Exalted Ruler

Elks #6 & Boy Scout Troop 259
Eagle Scout Scholarship
Presented by Debbie Eto, Exalted Ruler

Dillon S. Thomas, C.K. McClatchy High School, $700

Mark A. Thompson, John F. Kennedy High School, $700

Elks #6 Golf Club Scholarship
Wes Okuhara,  C.K. McClatchy High School, $500
Chloe Kashiwagi, C.K. McClatchy High School, $500

Elks #6 Middle School Scholarships
Presented by Debbie Eto, Exalted Ruler

Tilton Hoyt, Sutter Middle School
He strives not only to do ‘A’ work but makes it as creative and original as possible. He is continually thinking outside the box.  He participates in spirit activities, has joined clubs and plays soccer.  He is involved in his local church and does community service.  He is an all-around student that would serve as a role model for our community.

Emily Louie, Genevieve Didion K-8 School
She is co-captain of the cheerleaders and has been a Girl Scout for eight years.  As a Girl Scout, she volunteered at the Special Olympics and distributed Girl Scout cookies for her church. She coordinated the collection of donated materials for military officers stationed overseas.  She earned a level four certificate of merit for piano, and was Elks 6’s April Student of the Month for Didion K-8 School.

Dipp Nguyen, Will C. Wood Middle School
This year, she has participated in Mathletes, MESA , Club Live, Korean Club, and Book Club.  In these numerous endeavors, she strives to uphold leadership roles.  She is team captain of her robotics team, treasurer of Korean Club, and president of Club Live.  Her commitment to these organizations shows her dedication to bettering herself and her peers.

Sacramento Elks #6  Elks National “Most Valuable Student” 2013
Presented by Debbie Eto, Exalted Ruler

Daniel Mingrue Li
As a junior at John F. Kennedy High School, he started the International Student Society, and the club has collaborated with Amnesty International. The group is starting an international women’s rights campaign.  He had a very unique opportunity of traveling across the world to Sacramento’s sister city in China as a youth ambassador.
(DISTRICT $400 & STATE $800 & $1,500 from Emblem Club and $36 from Elks 6 for a total of $2,736)

Keegan Pincombe
He has always been a positive force for hard work.  He has been in the Sacramento Children’s Choir, a youth ambassador to China through a Sister Cities program, and is an Eagle Scout. (STATE $800 & $1,500 from Emblem Club $436 from Elks 6 for a total of $2,736). John F. Kennedy High School

Derek Taylor
He is intensely competitive as an athlete and compassionate as a citizen.  He is wise beyond his years.  He will make his mark in the world in a way that will be both significant and positive.
($1,500 from Emblem Club & $1,236 from Elks 6 for a total of $2,736)
C.K. McClatchy High School

Keiko Jordan Fong
She completed the highest level of math C.K. McClatchy offers by her junior year, and as high school senior received an A in Math 402 at Sacramento City College.  She is an athlete, Girl Scout and accomplished musician, a professional math tutor, artist and an active member of he church group.  She also performs a wide variety of community service, both independently and with her dance troop, often entertaining the elderly at nursing homes.
($1,500 from Emblem Club & $1,236 from Elks 6 for a total of $2,736)
C.K. McClatchy High School

Christina Fang
She assists in the UC Davis Medical Center Trauma Department by performing basic patient care and completing clerical duties.  As a true leader, she is also humble and listens to other’s input.
(ENF SCHOLAR $1,000 for four years for a total of $4,000)
West Campus High School

Allison Yamamoto
Her passion for educational equality empowered her to initiate a volunteer tutoring program at my local library. The positive feedback she received from parents was overwhelming.  She has learned that she can create positive change in my community when there is passion motivating that change.
(ENF SCHOLAR $1,000 for four years for a total of $4,000)
C.K. McClatchy High School

The Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship
The Elks National Foundation is pleased to offer an exclusive scholarship opportunity just for Elks scholars pursuing a medical degree. The Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship will go to six Elks scholars (current or alum) entering the first year of medical school in 2013-14. The $20,000 scholarships were established through the generosity of Lee Weigel, widow of Gunther Weigel. Lee lost her husband of 51 years in November 2009. Gunther was a longtime member of Miami, Fla., Elks Lodge No. 948. He was passionate about the Foundation’s scholarship programs. Lee established these scholarships to help Elks scholars pursue a career in medicine. The application will be available in mid-March 2013 and will be due in mid-May 2013. If you are an Elks scholar pursuing a medical degree starting in 2013-14, email scholarship@elks.org for more information.

As a way of easing the transition process, sixth grade teacher Kim Williams worked with Bowens on an innovative mural project. Students were asked to draw images capturing the school’s “spirit.” Bowens, a nationally recognized artist whose multi-media pieces are collected by such celebrities as LeBron James, then worked to incorporate common themes from the drawings into a cohesive, colorful design.

On Sunday, April 28, the design was projected onto six panels measuring 8 feet-by-4 feet and an outline created. Students painted the panels following the outline – a sort of collaborative paint-by-numbers project.

Once completed, the mural was split into halves of three panels each. One half will go with Washington students to William Land and the other half will be displayed at Theodore Judah. Bowens will then work with students and staff at William Land and Theodore Judah to create new panels to make each mural “whole again,” said Dixon.

“There will be a symbolic combining of Washington with the other campuses to create new schools,” Dixon said. “It’s bittersweet but for the children it’s going to be very impactful.”

Throughout the design are images that reflect Washington’s commitment to “green” values, such as recycling. There is also a rainbow, a giant butterfly and jigsaw puzzle pieces.

“It is hoped that the mural will help ease the students’ transition to their new schools, as well as fulfill the vision of Project Green,” said Dixon.

The Land Park Business Center at 1250 Sutterville Road sits on the former site of the Sutterville Brewery. Photo by Lance Armstrong

For some locals, it might be difficult to imagine a full-fledged brewery operating in the Land Park area. But long before there were such destination places as William Land Park and the Sacramento Zoo, this then-rural area was home to the Sutterville Brewery.
This brewery, which was established just south of today’s zoo in a two-story, brick building with a basement in 1861, was originally owned by the Prussia-born Martin P. Arenz (1826-1949).
The brewery structure, which was constructed 160 years ago in what was then the town of Sutterville, was initially occupied by a grocery store owned Robert H. Vance of San Francisco.
Arenz purchased both the building and its property from Vance for $1,500 in August 1861.
According to The Sacramento Union, in its June 15, 1872 edition, the brewery building measured 62 feet by 62 feet and stood on a 160-foot by 180-foot lot.
Among the improvements made to the premises during Arenz’s ownership of the brewery was an addition of a new roof.
On May 28, 1867, the Sutterville Brewery was among several local breweries that had their lager beer delivery wagons seized by revenue officers during their deliveries.
According to the following day’s edition of The Union, it was charged that these breweries “did not properly cancel the stamps in the manner required by the revenue law, but so contrived matters as to make one (revenue) stamp answer the purpose of many, thereby depriving Uncle Sam of his just and lawful dues.”
Arenz remained the brewery’s proprietor until September 1868, when he sold the business to Patrick H. Lyman for about $8,000.
A biography regarding Captain Frank Ruhstaller in the 1890 book, “An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California,” recognizes Ruhstaller and Joseph Bechler as having owned interests in the brewery.
And in following the sequence of events presented in the book, Ruhstaller purchased an interest in the brewery in mid-October 1869.
The book also notes that Ruhstaller “was in a partnership there (at the Sutterville Brewery) with Bechler for seven or eight months.”
Another biography about Ruhstaller in the 1913 book, “History of Sacramento County, California,” mentions the following: “(Ruhstaller) bought an interest in the Sutterville Brewery, where he carried on a partnership with Joseph Bechler for seven months until the high water forced all work to cease.”
Both biographies mention that Ruhstaller continued working with local breweries before returning to his Swiss homeland for a short period of time in 1873.
No other historic accounts regarding Ruhstaller and Bechler holding interests in the Sutterville Brewery were discovered during research for this article, and there is no firm indication, based on research for this article, that Lyman was not involved in the ownership of the business from 1868 until the sale of the business in 1873.
A fire occurred at the brewery on Jan. 27, 1871. Flames were spotted on the roof of the drying room in the malt house.
The Union, in its Jan. 30, 1871 edition, noted: “Part of the Sutterville Brewery was discovered on fire, but which, by dint of strenuous efforts of the proprietor, Patrick Lyman, and his neighbors, was extinguished before much damage had occurred.”
In 1873, Fritz Futterer and Nicholas “Nick” Thielen became the new proprietors of the brewery.
In regard to this new ownership, The Union, on July 12, 1873, ran the following advertisement: “READ THIS! SUTTERVILLE BREWERY. This well-known brewery was purchased a few months ago by the undersigned, two experienced German brewers, and many improvements added thereto, and they are now able to supply the old customers, as well as new ones, and their friends generally, with the very best of beer in this market, in quantities to suit. THIELEN & FUTTERER.”
This partnership continued until February 1877, when Futterer sold his interest in the brewery to Thielen.
But well before this business change, half of the ownership of the brewery was offered for sale through an advertisement in editions of The Union in April and May 1876.
In part, the advertisement read: “One-half interest in the SUTTERVILLE BREWERY, finely improved and a well established business. Will be sold cheap. For full information, inquire of NICK THIELEN.”
Various non-brewery meetings were held at the brewery, including an April 25, 1878 meeting of residents of Swamp Land District No. 1. The purpose of the meeting was to make nominations for levee commissioner.
In being that a portion of Sacramento, including part of that district, experienced a major flood in 1878, several other very timely, levee-related meetings were held at the brewery around that time.
The 1880 book, History of Sacramento County, California, refers to the brewery, as follows: “This brewery is eighty-two feet long by forty-two feet wide (which are different dimensions than those given in the aforementioned 1872 Union article); employs four men, and has a capacity of fifteen barrels per day. Nicholas Thielen is the proprietor.”
The Union, in its Oct. 17, 1883 edition, reported the following: “Saturday evening (Oct. 13, 1883), a large party of ladies and gentlemen from Sacramento gave a surprise party to Nicholas Thielen, proprietor of the Sutterville Brewery. They were finely entertained. There was dancing and feasting until near morning.”
The operation of the Sutterville Brewery was only about a 22-year venture.
From Nov. 12 through Dec. 31, 1883, The Union ran the following advertisement: “FOR SALE – ON ACCOUNT OF THE removal of the brewery business of the Sutterville Brewery, the buildings and property of same are offered for sale on reasonable terms. Inquire of N. THIELEN, proprietor, or of CADWALADER & PARSONS.”
Nearly four months later, The Union, reported details regarding an auction, as follows: “REAL ESTATE AT AUCTION – Bell & Co. will sell at auction Tuesday, March 18, (1884), on the premises, at 11 a.m., the property of N. Thielen, known as the Sutterville Brewery, and about five acres of good land connected therewith. It includes the brick and frame buildings, barns, sheds, windmill, pump, tank with capacity of 4,500 gallons; underground pipes connecting with frame and brick buildings; large lot of fruit trees and shrubbery, etc. Sale positive. Terms, 10 percent on day of sale; balance when deed is made. Buildings open for inspection until the day of sale.”
The brewery auction, which The Union noted “should receive more than ordinary attention,” was postponed until the following Saturday.
However, for some reason, the auction did not occur until July 19, 1884, when Sheriff Alfred H. Estell sold at auction the brewery property and its buildings to the Germania Building and Loan Association of 1011 4th St. for $2,200. The brewery’s machinery was not included in the sale.
A grand opening for a new business, the Sutterville Garden, owned by William Emerson at the old brewery site, was held on Saturday evening, July 14, 1884. The event, which was free to the public, included music and dancing.
The property changed hands once again in 1890 and was reopened as the Mount View House. Owned by J. P. Melchior, who had previously owned a saloon at the southeast corner of 10th and S streets at the present day site of the Old Ironsides bar, the business advertised itself as featuring “the finest wines, liquors and cigars.”
In the Jan. 27, 1899 edition of The Union, it was noted that George Gray, who resided on Riverside Road (today’s Riverside Boulevard) “is now proprietor of the old Sutterville Brewery on the lane between Sutterville and Freeport Road.”
The two-story, brick Sutterville Brewery building was demolished in 1952, and occupying the site today is the Land Park Business Center at 1250 Sutterville Road.

Greg Brown

She dialed 9-11 and reported the alleged thievery to police. My first thought was, why is there a mountain of bark dumped in the middle of the park? What would Leslie Knope (the main character of Parks and Recreation) do?

I called the City Parks And Recreation department and spoke to Lori Harder. She mentioned that the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association has officially adopted William Curtis Park through the City of Sacramento Partners in Parks program and it was part of the April 6th “Clean Up Day” at the park.

I then asked Terri Shuttle, who is the executive director of the SCNA, if she knew anything about the Curtis Bark Pile and she mentioned it was indeed part of a neighborhood cleanup day. They had requested bark for various spots; unfortunately, they were unable to bring the bark until a week later when no volunteers were readily available.

Soooo, one of the board members took it upon himself to work in the park one day to spread the bark using his pickup truck. Good for him! That’s when the police showed up. Oops. Turns out the Curtis Park resident who initially called the cops was barking up the wrong tree. Turns out the board member was just being a good deed doer. Now he is hesitant to go back and finish the job. The SCNA is looking at schedules to line up volunteers to take care of the rest of the pile but no date has been set.

Last month there was another episode of Yard Crashers direct from Hollywood Park. The lucky couple who received the grand makeover, “A Taste Of Tuscany,“ had a viewing party at Broderick’s in West Sacramento. For those who don’t know, “Yard Crashers” is a backyard improvement show where host Matt Blashaw surprises shoppers at Lowe’s, Green Acres, Emigh Hardware and other home improvement and garden stores with promises of an amazing backyard transformation. From drab to fab!

A lot of the episodes have been filmed in our own backyard in Sacramento. The Yard Crashers crew invades yards with jackhammers, cement trucks, shovels, shears and chainsaws. Before you know it they’re digging up turf, trees, shrubs and removing the greenery that has no purpose and replacing it with thoughtful landscape design.

There have been at least five episodes of Yard Crashers filmed in the middle class neighborhood of Hollywood Park alone in the last few years. Why Hollywood Park? Perhaps it’s because it has Hollywood in the name. Showbiz! Or it could be that the neighborhood has the perfect palette for the backyard makeovers.

The production company, Big Table Media, is actually based out of Sacramento. So it’s a short commute.

The show likes people who are showbiz ready, have a personality, and aren’t afraid to get their fingernails dirty. Also, have a backyard that needs some drastic improvements. On the show’s website they accept viewer submissions. Include a picture of you, your pathetic backyard, and why your yard deserves to be crashed. That’s a route you can take if you’re interested in getting a backyard makeover and want to be the envy of your entire neighborhood. The show airs on the DIY network as well as HGTV. The website for submissions is at www.Diynetwork.com

Last month I wrote about how Raley’s, which purchased the former Capital Nursery lot on Freeport Blvd, has no official plans for it…yet. There have been blue prints created and lots of rumors bandied about. Raley’s official spokesperson stated last month they have “no immediate plans for the site.”

I recently received an email from an “Over The Fence” reader with a great suggestion for the abandoned site. Phil Shroeder mentioned he thinks the property would be a good location for Beer and Food Festivals. “It would be ideal for a Sacramento Oktoberfest. High school musicians could be taught to play appropriate fest music and vendors could supply food and beer. The bus lines are right outside and the police are right down the street. It is just a dream I have of being able to hold European festivals right here in good ol’ Sacramento.”

I like the way Phil thinks! Sounds like a great idea. Throw in some lederhosen and dirndls and it could be a beer and sausage party on Freeport!

I have my own dream for that empty lot. I’d love to see somebody bring “The Zombie Hut” back to Freeport Blvd. “Delightfully different dining with a Polynesian atmosphere.” Oh, and luscious fruity island cocktails topped off with cheery miniature umbrellas. It would be the pride of the neighborhood!

Readers: What would YOU like to see at the former Capital Nursery spot? Send me your ideas at Greg@Valcomnews.com and I’ll publish them in next month’s column. Also, if you have any local neighborhood gossip or items of interest, feel free to send me an email at Greg@valcomnews.com

Photos by Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography These photographs were taken at the June 26, 2010 Mid Century Modern Tour in South Land Park. This year’s tour will be held Saturday, May 18. See sacmcmhometour.blogspot.com for more information.

Architectural design is a subject I don’t know a whole lot about. I ain’t gonna lie. But I know cool Mid-Century Modern when I see it. “Hey, look at that cool building!” I always just called it “retro” or “old school”.

I decided to get schooled on everything Mid-Century Modern by local MCM enthusiast Gretchen Steinberg. She is the President of SacMod (SacramentoModern) and researcher/blogger at Eichlerific. She is a resident of South Land Park Hills, and of course, resides in a beautiful Eichler home with her husband and two children.

She’s gearing up for another Mid-Century Modern Home Tour on Saturday, May 18. The tour will highlight more than 30 spectacular mid-century modern residential and commercial structures in South Land Park and Land Park neighborhoods of Sacramento. There will also be a vintage transportation show, historic displays and exhibits, and lots of goodies!

Photos by Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography

Here’s my MCM Q & A.

Greg Brown: How did you become interested in Mid-century Modern architecture and all things Modern?

Gretchen Steinberg: I was raised by my grandparents in SoCal near Palm Springs. We went there every weekend to hang at their second home. I would say MCM was imprinted in me big time from my childhood. But I didn’t realize it until I got older.

GB: How would you describe Mid-Century Modern?

GS: Mid-Century Modern in architecture has:
- clean lines with an emphasis on the horizontal/vertical
- a blend of natural and manmade materials
- large windows to allow maximum light and promote “indoor/outdoor living” (hangin’ on the patio, Daddy-O)
- open floor plans
- low-pitched, wide-angled or flat rooflines
and usually depicts the era between 1945 (post WWII) and 1970, give or take. It has roots dating back to 19th century design movements and Japanese design — but that’s a long history lesson.

GB: What’s the difference between architecture and design?

GS: Architecture is a type of design that focuses on structures that shelter people where they live, work and play. Design is a wider category that includes a wide array of items that are made to enhance our daily living — such as consumer products, graphics, fashion, machines, etc.

Photos by Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography

GB: I notice the slew of Eichler homes along South Land Park Drive and the surrounding areas. How many Eichler homes were built and why were they mostly all built in South Land Park?

GS: Eichler Homes wound up building roughly 60 homes in Sacramento. All Eichler Homes in our town are in South Land Park.

GB: I also notice the same type of homes in Carmichael. Would you call these homes Eichler inspired?

GS: Those are likely Streng Bros. Homes, designed by Carter Sparks. We have one on our tour. They built roughly 3800 homes in the Sacramento, Placer, and Yolo counties.

GB: Three of your most decadent points of interest on the Mid-Century Modern Tour are Marie’s Donuts, Mahoroba Japanese Bakery, and the Pancake Circus. Will there be free samples?

GS: We are providing the feast for your eyes – but don’t let that stop you from indulging your inner sugar monster!

GB: A lot of Mid-Century modern homes do not have a garage, they have a carport. Where the heck do you store all your stuff? A hoarder would panic in a Mid-Century Modern home!

GS: The carport was designed so that the post-WWII consumers could show off their gigantic finned cars! A well-designed MCM home has plenty of interior storage. Our home originally had a carport but the previous owner closed it in. Nowadays, garages are treated more like closets. Some people can’t even fit their cars in them.

GB: Why is preservation important? New is always better, right?

Photos by Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography

GS: Preservation is important because our very cultural identity and sense of place is inherently rooted in our historic landmarks. Take those away and you have a generic McCity. No one wants that.

GB: How important is color in Mid-century modern design?

GS: Very important! Hard to extrapolate from the old black and white photos — but if you look at old Kodachrome slides you will see that that era was quite colorful.

GB: Mid-Century Modern design is finding its way back into pop culture. Do you think the show Mad Men has helped popularize Mid Century Modern? You watch that show? And if so, do you find yourself looking at the furniture more than Don Draper?
GS: Definitely — but I think MCM was already starting to regain popularity before Mad Men. They just tapped into it. MCM has always been the darling of Hollywood. You can’t watch television or movies without seeing MCM in the background. Speaking of which, no time for me to watch TV — too busy with my family and volunteer work!

GB: I’m a “Generation Xer and mid-century modern is the look of my childhood. I think that is why I like some of its features. Which elements of Mid-Century Modern most appeal to you?

Photos by Sutter Buttes/John DiDomenico Photography

GS: I totally agree. I was born December ‘63 – the last month of the Boomer generation. I tend to gravitate toward the early 60s designs. I have a weakness for commercial buildings and neon signs of that era.

GB: Mid Century modern is being celebrated at the California Museum. It’s MCM Mania! Don’t you have some artifacts at the museum?

GS: I did some volunteer background research into Ray Eames’ childhood years in Sacramento and contributed some books that are displayed in the exhibit.

GB: You have some surprises at this year’s Mid-Century Modern Home show don’t you? Can you spill the beans for us here?

GS: We will have extra goodies and swag. Plus a surprise remodeled room at SacMod HQ. Here’s a hint: it abides, Dude.

GB: Preserving and protecting modern architecture is important, but I also think it would be cool to preserve the original concepts! I say bring back Woody’s Smorgasburger and The Zombie Hut to Freeport Boulevard. Whaddya think?

GS: I have been hoping someone would bring these classics back! In our guidebook we have devoted a two-page retrospective to Zombie Hut.

GB: A few of your favorite things:
Favorite Sacramento neon sign?

GS: Jugglin’ Joe in front of Gunther’s Ice Cream. I used to live in Curtis Park and would take the long way home just to see him throwing scoops at night.

GB: Favorite architect?
GS: That’s like asking who your favorite kid is.

GB: Favorite designer?
GS: See above.

GB: Favorite Mid-Century Modern home on the tour?
GS: See above.
GB: Favorite Point Of Interest on the MCM tour?
GS: I’d have to say the neon signs are my favorite points-of-interest. Our historic signs are really taken for granted. But we sure notice when they are gone.

GB: Okay, last question. Brady Bunch House. Mid-Century Modern or not?

GS: Oh sure — split level modern ranch. There’s a wacky one in SLP Hills. Absolutely enormous! Mr. Brady was an architect you know. Note that we will have four open buildings besides the homes and 22 additional drive-by points of interest. Ultimately what I’m hoping for is that people will know more about the stuff they pass by daily — and have an increased appreciation for and fondness of all that is around us. I’m proud to be from Sacramento. Everyone who lives here should be.

If you go:

What: MCM Home Tour
Where: Through out Land Park, starting at Sacramento Executive Airport, 6151 Freeport Blvd.
When: Saturday, May 18. The vintage transportation show is 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., registration and exhibits open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Homes and other tour locations open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets: Get your MCM Home Tour tickets at www.sacmod.brownpapertickets.com til May 15th. $30 general admission $20 for SacMod members. SacMod is also on Facebook