FURLOUGH FRIDAYS will be held at all Sacramento Public Library branches on May 18, June 15 and June 29. Staff furloughs will result in the closure of the libraries on those days. / Valley Community Newspapers file photo, Susan Laird

The Library’s governing board recently approved three furlough days between May 1 and June 30, as a cost saving measure due to shortfalls in County property tax revenues and funding reductions from the City of Sacramento.

“Funding shortfalls have left the library with few choices to maintain services to the public,” said Library Director Rivkah Sass. The library was faced with either laying off 15 to 18 staff, necessitating the permanent closure of as many as three locations; or furloughing staff, requiring temporary one-day closures of the whole system. “We believe furloughs are a better outcome, especially for those communities that would have faced the permanent closure of their neighborhood library,” Sass indicated.

Sacramento Public Library’s website (www.saclibrary.org) is available 24/7. Visitors can access the Library’s catalog, apply for a library card, request and renew items, download eBooks, audio books and videos, use the research databases, pay fines, and see event and programming information. Call (916) 264-2920 with any additional questions.

ACCESS SACRAMENTO WINNERS. Christian Brothers High School students Jessica Szarek and Ryan Peadboy received first place in the juried Tower of Youth Teen Digital project entries at Access Sacramento’s “Third annual Youth Media Forum for Social Change.” Their entry dealt with the subject of texting and driving. / Photo courtesy, Jen Henry

The event ran live on AccessLocal.tv and was hosted by Sacramento Press.

The annual Access Sacramento event honors youth-created digital media projects from throughout the region. Teachers and students from around the world were invited to participate online.

For the first time, John F. Kennedy and C.K. McClatchy high schools joined the live “streaming” television program as virtual studios. Middle-school students from Will C. Wood also demonstrated their “Youth Block Reports” project. Eight other video projects and their young creators were featured and discussed.

All youth participants received special “The Story is You – My Voice Counts” t-shirts, thanking them for their participation.

Access Sacramento, UC Davis – School of Education, and The California Endowment, awarded $750 in Apple product gift cards to projects juried from the Tower of Youth Teen Digital project entries. Ron Cooper, Access Sacramento executive director, presented the “My Voice Counts” awards and t-shirts to the following winning projects:

First Place: “Texting and Driving – It Can Wait” from Christian Brothers High School students Jessica Szarek and Ryan Peadboy.

Second Place: “Think Before You Act” by Granite Bay High School students Eric Urmanita and Carson Johnson.

A MISSION TO REBUILD. An adult mission team from Northminster Presbyterian Church rebuilt part of a tornado-damaged home in Joplin, Missouri last month. / Photo courtesy, Northminster Presbyterian Church

From April 14 to April 21, the team installed sheetrock, taped, mudded and sanded, and installed some wiring. They also installed a complete bathroom at another home.

Under the direction of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program, Northminster teams have helped in rebuilding 15 homes, churches and businesses destroyed by flood and storms in the last five years. These missions went to New Orleans, Galveston, and Nashville. Projects included tiling a church basement, installing floor boarding, putting in windows, adding porches and painting. The volunteers pay their own way, plus expenses.

Rebuilding structures and restoring families are the goals.

THEN…Boy Scout Troop 136 was established 25 years ago, in 1987. Sponsored by the Sacramento Zoological Society, it gained a memorable nickname: The Zoo Troop. / Photos courtesy, Boy Scout Troop 136

This unique relationship between the Boy Scouts and the Sacramento Zoo has allowed the troop to flourish, growing from just five scouts in 1987 to approximately 100 registered scouts in 2012. To date, over 500 scouts from throughout the Sacramento region have been a part of the troop, producing 70 Eagle Scouts and providing countless hours of service to the community.

Unique attire

Scouts from the “Zoo Troop” are easily recognizable by their unique leopard print neckerchiefs. The troop is also one of the few whose members continue to wear their collars turned inside, a tradition that dates back to the earliest days of Scouting.

How it all began

The troop was formed in the summer of 1987 when a group of adult leaders from Cub Scout Pack #136 saw the need for a Boy Scout troop in the Land Park area of the city. In order to make that happen, an organization would be needed to charter the new troop. Initially, elementary schools and churches were considered. However, the group really wanted to find an organization and meeting place that would be more attractive to older boys. With that in mind, a proposal was made to the Sacramento Zoological Society, which enthusiastically embraced the idea and agreed to become the charter organization, thus making the troop quite possibly the only Boy Scout troop chartered to a zoo.

Leading the way

Initially the troop had only five members, Michael Boughton, Demik Boyden, Jason Hanaman, Tim McKinney and Aaron Thompson with Don Dean serving as the first Scoutmaster. Another scout, Pat Kreitzenbeck transferred into the troop during the first month and served as the first Sr. Patrol Leader.

From the beginning, the troop enjoyed strong community support with the principals from Crocker-Riverside, Sutterville, and Hollywood Park Elementary Schools serving on the Unit Committee alongside Bill Koontz and Maria Baker from the Sacramento Zoological Society, Pack 136 Cubmaster Dan Cole, and Sutterville Elementary teacher Ralph Hanaman. Dick Saldine volunteered as the first Committee Chair.

NOW…Over 500 young men – past and present – have matriculated through Boy Scout Troop 136, including 70 Eagle Scouts. / Photo courtesy, Boy Scout Troop 136

Today the troop is lead by Sr. Patrol Leader Jordan Colby and Asst. Sr. Patrol Leader Christian Salmon with the assistance of Scoutmaster Steve Donaldson and Unit Committee Chair Michele Robb. The original Scoutmaster Don Dean continues to serve the troop as District Commissioner. And as it has from the beginning, the Zoological Society continues to provide guidance to the troop, with Bruce Kern serving as its current representative on the Unit Committee.

Service to others

Community service is one of Scouting’s core values. Keeping that in mind, the troop wasted no time finding ways to give back to the community. Just a few short weeks after its formation, the scouts participated in the annual Ice Cream Safari to benefit the Sacramento Zoo, an event the troop continues to support every year. In addition to the Ice Cream Safari and the annual Zoo Zoom that support the Zoo, over the years the troop has assisted with numerous events throughout the city, such as charity walks/runs, food drives and flag ceremonies.

Monthly outings

The troop has become known for keeping its scouts busy with monthly outings and attendance at annual Capital City District Camporees and Klondike derbies, culminating with a week at a Boy Scout camp every summer. Recent activities have included snow camping in the Sierras, canoeing on the Russian River and an overnight on the USS Hornet to name just a few.

The troop’s very first campout was held at the Zoo on Aug. 22-23, 1987 with the scouts camping near the cheetah area and participating in games, skill events and service projects. This tradition continues with the annual “Zoo Safari” overnight campout held each fall which serves as an introduction to the Zoo Troop for Webelos Scouts from the surrounding Cub Scout Packs.

At national events

In addition to local troop-sponsored activities, Zoo Troop scouts have attended all three of the Boy Scouts of America high adventure camps (Philmont, Sea Base, and Northern Tier) as well as the National and World Scout Jamborees. Most recently, three scouts from the troop travelled to Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia to join over 40,000 Scouts from across the country at the National Jamboree celebrating the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th birthday in 2010.

Capturing hearts

Although there have been many memorial moments over the past 25 years, one in particular stands out. In August 1988, the troop hosted a group of Boy Scouts from Sacramento’s sister city, Matsuyama, Japan. The scouts were escorted on a special tour of the Zoo followed by a barbecue and a spirited game of Capture the Flag (still a Zoo Troop favorite). Although none of the Japanese scouts spoke English, the rules of the game were translated into Japanese, and the area sketched out and marked with colored flags allowing both sides to have a great time. At the end of the day, both groups exchanged tokens and patches plus every scout was presented with the BSA International Activity Patch.

All current and former members of the Zoo Troop are welcome to participate in the 25th Anniversary Celebration. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Don or Tricia Nevis at (916) 391-8495. Also visit: www.troop136.com.

DIG IN! Students at Theodore Judah Elementary School find that digging into the garden is growing their science and math skills. / Photo courtesy, Shannon Hardwicke

According to Principal Corrie Buckmaster, Science Alive is a supplementary part of the school’s core science program that is funded by the school’s PTA. She said all the students at the school, from grades kindergarten through sixth, participate in the program.

“The children go to (science) lab or garden once a week, so half would go to lab and half would go to garden and then the following weeks the groups would switch,” Buckmaster explained. “And the concepts that are covered in the garden obviously coincide and support the work that they’re studying out of their science standards.”

Dig in!

The Science Alive program is lead by its coordinator, Shannon Hardwicke, who is a parent of three current Theodore Judah students. Since the start of the program five years ago, Hardwicke is in charge of coordinating and training the 30 to 40 parent volunteers, or docents, that take the student groups out into the garden each week. She also restocks garden and lab supplies, and coordinates all the activities in the science labs to “make sure they’re all based upon standards and we’re hitting all different grade level activities,” she added.

Since the Science Alive program began with the construction of one garden, Hardwicke said it has grown to encompass two edible gardens, a greenhouse, a butterfly pavilion, and a few native plant gardens.

Buckmaster said the students love the butterfly pavilion as they are able to watch the creatures through a life-cycle. And the edible garden gives students a chance to try vegetables they might not normally have the chance to.

“We want children to understand how good food tastes that’s fresh from the garden,” she added.

The Green Team

Another part of Science Alive is the Green Team, comprised of about 50 to 60 students for grades first through sixth, which works to help “green” the school’s campus

Hardwicke gives an example of a recent Green Team project, where the students discussed what changes they might make in their local neighborhood regarding plastic bag usage.

“The kids were brainstorming, ‘Could we approach our local supermarket and ask them to stop using plastic bags, or are we going to write our assemblymember,’” she detailed.

Also during the year, Buckmaster said the students explore ways people can use resources better and present a poster on their findings. Additionally, the Green Team is in charge of putting together an annual assembly by planning and writing skits that teach students about environmental concepts.

Project Green

The Science Alive program also spurred a large project this year for the school, which participated in the Project Green competition through the Sacramento City Unified School District. According to Buckmaster, the school board had set aside $5 million of remaining unused previous bond funds for schools to present proposals on how to green their campuses.

YUM. This “Science Alive” student at Theodore Judah Elementary School can tell you that foods taste better when they are picked fresh from the garden. In addition to growing kids’ science skills and environmental knowledge, the program also encourages better nutrition. / Photo courtesy, Shannon Hardwicke

For their Project Green submission, Buckmaster said students from grades third through sixth took part in a comprehensive review of the campus. For example, the combined third-fourth grade class did an urban forest audit of the campus and made recommendations on where different types of trees should be planted, while sixth graders did a study of green building technologies and built a green model classroom to scale.

“The students took their normal math, science, writing, evaluation skills and had an opportunity to put those into practice in a very tangible way,” Hardwicke said. “I think they also started to see that they could create change by using their education, using their skills and academics. And that was really valuable – I’ve seen the students realize wow, this is not just a practice, this is something tangible that is making a change and that’s been very exciting for them.”

Buckmaster said Theodore Judah presented their project during the Project Green Showcase held in April and are now waiting to hear back where they stand in the competition. If their project is selected for funding, the school would be looking to remove its current portable buildings and to construct a new two-story classroom building built using green technologies, as well as the construction of a bio-swell with a watershed feature for collecting rainwater.

“We’re just hoping to bolster some changes on our facility that are going to have an instructional purpose and take us to that level,” Buckmaster added.

Growth spurts

In addition to helping the students grow into environmental stewards, Science Alive has also helped bolster science learning.

Buckmaster said the school currently has the highest fifth grade science test scores in the district, and she also knows they’re quite high compared to other schools in the county.

“We’ve seen some pretty significant student achievements produced as a result of this instructional approach,” she said.

Hardwicke said the program has also helped students who may not be successful learning in the traditional classroom setting.

“They’re given an opportunity to have success in a different way,” she explained. “We have some students that have learning disabilities or (are) autistic and they just thrive in the garden – they can demonstrate their skills in just a completely different realm and it’s really valuable.”

Overall, Buckmaster said the Science Alive program is helping Theodore Judah become a very green and environmentally-conscious school.

“This generation of kids, that’s on their radar – it’s a topic of their time,” she added.

corrie@valcomnews.com

On Thursday, May 3, St. Francis High School students, faculty and staff met outside to celebrate the completion of the school’s new solar installation. The $1.2 million project includes 1,316 solar panels placed on the rooftops of seven campus buildings and will reportedly produce 30.6 percent of the school’s current electricity requirements – saving St. Francis $1 million over the next 25 years.

Kelly Brothers was master of ceremonies. Father David Suwalsky, S.J., president of Jesuit High School, blessed the panels. Paul Lau spoke on behalf of SMUD.

A bright idea

According to Sharon Tobar, director of finance for St. Francis High School, the idea for the solar project began several years ago when administrators began planning for future construction projects.

“It was just a natural outflow from that to say…if we’re doing a modernization project, should there be a solar or renewable energy component,” she explained.

The solar project officially began in the fall of 2008 and took about three years to complete, as the construction phase was completed in April.

The system was made possible through a federal grant, a SMUD incentive and financing, Tobar said.

Power up

The installed system is a 309.3 KW Photovoltaic (PV) System that is expected to generate 426,595 KWH of electricity annually.

According to Tobar, St. Francis’ solar system is tied into the SMUD grid, so the electricity it generates is delivered directly into SMUD’s grid. Then a meter installed on the solar system records how much power it generates, which is then applied toward a rebate the school receives for whatever energy they use from SMUD.

“Every energy that is produced by these solar panels they won’t have to buy from SMUD, so that will save them a lot of money throughout the year on operation costs,” explained Lau, assistant general manager of Power Supply & Grid Operations for SMUD.

Lau added the amount of energy the St. Francis’ solar project produces helps SMUD to get closer to its goal of producing 125 megawatts of solar energy as part of the California Solar Initiative and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Million Solar Roofs Program, which has the goal of creating 3,000 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2016.

“Every megawatt our customers put on helps us get closer to that 125 megawatts goal,” Lau said. “SMUD is actually on its way to hit its 125 megawatt goal, so it’s a win-win for both the customer and SMUD.”

A light on learning

In addition to helping St. Francis with its electricity bills, the new solar project has also added to the school’s curriculum.

Tobar said the solar installation has a software-based monitoring system that faculty and students can  access by logging in to a Website, allowing them to see how much energy is being generated and how the system is performing.

“The information that they get from the monitoring system, they can incorporate any of that information into the curriculum and use it any way they want to,” Tobar added.

Additionally, school has a weather station, so Tobar said teachers can tie the performance of the system to the weather statistics.

A bright future

Looking toward the future, Tobar said it is very important for St. Francis to take the initiative to install a solar project like this, as they are modeling what they believe for the students.

“And it’s important to the students, because they hear about fossil fuels, non-renewables, depleting resources, and carbon footprints – they’re very aware of the environment they live in and the diminishing resources (and) this is what they want to see us do,” she added.

Lau agreed, “When you put it in the school environment like that, it helps the future leaders to think about energy in a different way. The more we can educate the next generation and just people in general I think it helps the community and helps the utility.”

corrie@valcomnews.com

CANINE ADORATION. Guide dog Hyatt thinks her owner, Pocket resident Mandy Burton, is someone extremely special. Hyatt is Burton’s third guide dog since losing her eyesight. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Sally King

“Hyatt is five years old,” Mandy Burton says. “She is my third guide dog.”

Burton, who grew up in Alturas, has become a familiar face in the Pocket area. Burton says she walks anywhere from two to six miles every day with Hyatt, a large German Shepard, leading the way.

Hyatt’s beginnings

Hyatt was trained at “Guide Dogs for the Blind.”

“Guide Dogs” was incorporated in May of 1942 and began instruction for students in a rented home in Los Gatos, California. They moved to an 11-acre location in San Rafael in 1947. In October of 1995, they held the first graduation on their newest campus in Boring, Oregon. They have graduated more than 10,000 teams since their beginnings in 1942.

Both campuses house students in dormitory facilities, which include dining rooms, exercise rooms, libraries, computer rooms and social areas. A new dormitory for the students is under construction in San Rafael – after using the same facility for the last 70 years.

The dogs and puppies are cared for in kennels and have state-of-the-art veterinary clinics.

Burton said the puppies spend around a year to a year and a half either in a 4-H home or a puppy raiser home. This is where the pup is potty trained, taught how to ride on buses and receives basic obedience and socialization training.

The next step for the dog is going back to the school where he is given six months of intensive training by a licensed trainer. The dogs have to pass specific tests to become guide dogs.

“The dog’s career can change at this point,” Burton said. “An example, if the dog tends to be a sniffer, the trainer might recommend the dog for the police as a drug sniffer.”

The success rate for guide dogs is over 50 percent. A trained animal costs between $40,000 to $50,000 by the time dogs and people are trained together. All the costs are paid for through personal donations and investments made over the past seven years by the “Guide Dog” school.

There are no costs involved for the person receiving the dog.

Burton said the most frequently asked question she receives from folks is if they can pet her dog. She appreciates that they ask, since it is important that guide dogs are not distracted.

The one thing guide dogs are not allowed to do is chase a ball. It can be a distraction when they are working. Burton said when it is least expected…a dog will be a dog.

“When the dog is out of harness, it is just a dog,” Burton said. “It’s like flipping a switch. When Hyatt’s harness comes off, she acts like a goofball.”

Knowing how to travel with a white cane is the one thing required for the person receiving a guide dog. Burton said many people don’t know what a white cane means.

Burton volunteers her time educating people and students about guide dogs.

“I do not charge a fee,” Burton said. “If people want to make a donation to the Guide Dog school, I accept donations.”

“I have been walking my dog around the Pocket for 20 years,” Burton said. “I work out at “24 Hour Fitness” five days a week.”

Burton’s story

Burton began losing her eyesight around age 25. She discovered she had Retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that affects the retina, which is located at the back of the eye. On top of that, she also suffered optic nerve damage. Now she can only see faint shadows. At the time she was a legal secretary and living in Arizona. Because computers were not available back then, she immediately lost her job. That’s when she chose to move to Sacramento, to be near her parents for support. At the same time, she started dating a young man who followed her back to Sacramento. He ended up proposing and they have been married for 24 years.

Burton attended the Hadley School for the Blind, learning Braille. She prefers listening to CD’s. There are many to choose from today, versus twenty years ago when the only books being recorded were books prisoners used for learning services.

Burton made it a point to say she would not have made it through life without her friends. They take her grocery shopping, to doctor’s appointments and help in many ways.

“I appreciate the people in the Pocket, everyone is so sweet and so kind to me,” Burton said. “Twenty years ago, I used to get kicked out of places. People in the Pocket look out for me.”

Donna Fujimoto, a retired Pocket resident, has been going to the gym with Burton for three years.

“We met at the gym,” Fujimoto said. “We are like sisters now, connected at the hip.”

Fujimoto says Burton is an amazing person; she is so together and has a keen sense of humor.

For those who do not know Burton, she wants them to know she is okay and not to be afraid of Hyatt.

“Hyatt is a guide dog not a guard dog,” Burton said. “She’s afraid of herself and her own shadow,” laughs Burton.

Burton has only had German Shepherds for guide dogs. She said Hyatt is one of the last Shepherds trained at the guide school. The school has determined Labrador Retrievers will do anything for food, they are faster and easier to train and more public friendly. People look at a German Shepherd and they tend to think of them as mean dogs. They look at a lab and see a cute, friendly face. And labs can be crossbred. Sometimes a breeder will cross breed the golden retriever with the golden lab to give it more bounce.

“They can’t mix a shepherd with anything, it looks like a mutt,” Burton said.

Burton said Hyatt has saved her life on several occasions.

“People are like the movies,” said Burton. “They won’t hit a dog with their car, but they might hit a person.”

Burton said Hyatt has actually backed her up to keep her out of harms way. Another reason labs and shepherds have worked well as guide dogs; they are known for their “disobedient intelligence.” There are instances when it isn’t safe to cross a street, especially now with cars that are completely silent at stop signs and the guide dog has to understand not to allow his owner to cross the street.

A simple misunderstanding

Burton said once a year the Guide Dog school sends someone to inspect her to make sure she is not abusing her dog and to make sure the dog is doing its job. The dog owner is followed to make sure the dog keeps its master from bumping into things and staying out of harms way.

About three years ago when the school sent someone out to follow her, he was mistaken for a stalker.

“Either the Bel Air Shopping center store owners or employees were coming out of their stores to tell me I was being followed,” Burton said. “They wanted to stop him and I said, ‘No, you don’t.’”

That is what makes the Pocket area so special to Burton. It’s all of the caring folks who watch out for her and for Hyatt, a very special dog.

sally@valcomnews.com

REPAIRED. The Asch family tombstone is shown in its restored condition. Two of the names on the stone are Barbara and John Asch. The couple emigrated with their then-four children from Baden, Germany in the late 1840s and was residing in Sacramento by the mid-1850s. John and Barbara eventually had 10 children. / Photo courtesy, Susie O’Brien

In February, for instance, an article appeared in this paper regarding three missing New Helvetia Cemetery markers that were recently discovered in the backyard of an East Sacramento home.

During the 1950s, the old cemetery property was sold and these flat markers were removed from the site in preparation for the construction of Sutter Junior High School – now Sutter Middle School – which had previously operated at 1816 K St.

The whereabouts of many of these markers became unknown during this transition.

In an even earlier moment in the cemetery’s history, the historic tombstones of the cemetery were removed and replaced with the aforementioned flat markers as the cemetery site became known as Helvetia Park.

Until somewhat recently, only one of the original headstones from the cemetery – that of Switzerland native Ersiglio Bonetti (1865-1885) – was known to exist.

That status changed with the February 2010 discovery of an original New Helvetia Cemetery tombstone with the names of four members of the Asch or Ash family.

The journey of the discovery of this tombstone began with Susie (Hofmeister) O’Brien, who is a resident of Oceanside, N.Y.

O’Brien, who was born in Fresno and moved with her family to New York when she was one year of age, said that she had taken an interest in her family’s history through her father’s sister, Ruth (Hofmeister) Maysonaze, who O’Brien described as a “huge genealogy buff.”

“She got me started on this,” O’Brien said. “In (the spring of) 2009, my sisters [Barbara (Hofmeister) Caporaso and Cathy (Hofmeister) Mulqueen] and I came to California for a wedding and in that time, I said, ‘As long as we are there, we have to do a little genealogy trip of Northern California, because both sides of the family are from Northern California.’”

As part of this genealogy trip, O’Brien, who was unaware that the New Helvetia Cemetery no longer existed, attempted to locate the old cemetery in hopes of finding the gravesite of her third great-great-grandparents, John and Barbara Asch.

Because she was unable to locate the cemetery, O’Brien contacted the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery to inquire about the New Helvetia Cemetery.

ORIGINAL CONDITION AND LOCATION. The Asch family tombstone is shown in this historic photograph taken at the New Helvetia Cemetery. / Photo courtesy, Center for Sacramento History / Florence Henderson Photo Collection

During her telephone conversation with Lois Dove of the Old City Cemetery Committee, O’Brien was informed by Dove that the cemetery had been closed down and that the remains of her ancestors were moved to the city cemetery in the 1950s.

O’Brien was later sent a brochure about the New Helvetia Cemetery, a copy of an historical photograph of her ancestors’ tombstone and a map of the city cemetery that showed where her ancestors were buried.

Furthermore, the brochure featured the same photograph of the Asch family tombstone on its cover.

The stone includes the names of Baden, Germany immigrants John Asch (1816-1895) and Barbara Asch (1816-1901) and two of their children, the Pennsylvania-born Franz Louis, who died in 1877 at the age of 22, and the Sacramento-born Augusta, who passed away in 1860, when she was two years old.

Although the stone recognizes the spelling of the family’s surname as “Asch,” O’Brien said that all of the other references to this name that she has seen have been spelled, “Ash.”

After uploading a digital copy of the “Asch” tombstone photograph on her family’s ancestry page on the Web site www.ancestry.com, O’Brien received an e-mail message from an Auburn (Placer County) resident, named Louise Pipher, who inquired about her relationship to the Asch family.

O’Brien explained that Pipher eventually told her that she believed that her ancestors’ tombstone was located in Auburn.

“(Pipher) had lived in Auburn for 20 years and she and her husband were going out for dinner on Valentine’s night in 2010,” O’Brien said. “They were driving past this little rock garden circular driveway, right across the street from their house. She tells her husband to back up. She had never noticed in this rock garden this tombstone. She took a picture and sent it to me and it was the middle base (of the tombstone) with the names of the Asch family.”

When asked what her reaction was to finding out about the discovery, O’Brien said, “Wow! They’re talking to me. They wanted to be found.”

O’Brien said that the house on the property with the tombstone was a rental and after attempting for some time to contact the home’s owner, Barbara Clark, in 2011, she sent a letter to the Auburn Police Department and Auburn City Hall stating that she was a benefactor of the headstone.

As a result, Clark, as O’Brien explained, called her and agreed for her to have the stone removed from the property.

O’Brien said that she learned that the stone had been brought to the Auburn property from Sacramento in 1956 by Clark’s stepfather, the late Victor Nation, who was a mason by trade and had a love for antiques. O’Brien added that Clark had no idea how her stepfather acquired the tombstone.

ASCH FAMILY DESCENDENTS. Left to right, Barbara (Hofmeister) Caporaso, Cathy (Hofmeister) Mulqueen and Susie (Hofmeister) O'Brien are descendants of Barbara and John Asch. / Photo courtesy, Susie O’Brien

In preparation for the Asch tombstone’s return to Sacramento, Ray Young, manager of the Fair Oaks Cemetery, and Ron Clark, manager of the Sylvan Cemetery in Citrus Heights, dug up the stone free of charge in June 2011.

The stone was then delivered to Ruhkala Monument Co. at 1001 Broadway, where it was restored.

Assisting with the payment of the restoration were O’Brien and a few of her cousins in California, the Old City Cemetery Committee, the Sacramento County Cemetery Advisory Commission and the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Emigrant Trail Chapter (of Auburn), in which Pipher is a member.

O’Brien, who contributed the majority of the funds to have the stone restored, said, “To me, (having the Asch tombstone restored and rededicated) is the least that I could do to pay respect to this couple and their journey to California. And if you look at the stone, you see how important these monuments were. I would like to think they would be proud of me and my persistence to make this happen.”

And in showing his own enthusiasm for the discovery of the Ash tombstone, Dr. Bob LaPerriere, co-chair of the Sacramento County Cemetery Advisory Commission, said, “It was very rewarding, after two decades of being involved with the history of New Helvetia Cemetery, to locate the Asch monument and have relatives from the East Coast involved in its restoration and dedication. This certainly demonstrates what the significance of these memorials can be to the families.”

The rededication of the Asch tombstone will be a significant part of an even larger event at the cemetery.

The June 2 event will begin at noon at the front of the cemetery at 1000 Broadway, where two memorials, which were recently placed at the site through the efforts of the Old City Cemetery Committee, will be dedicated.

These memorials pay tribute to the Reeves and Jurgens families.

CAREFULLY RELOCATED. The Asch family tombstone was removed from a residential property in Auburn in June 2011. / Photo courtesy, Susie O’Brien

Among these family members was John Wesley Reeves (1845-1926), a former coroner and proprietor and superintendent of the New Helvetia Cemetery.

Following the dedication of these family memorials, those in attendance will then proceed to the second of three New Helvetia areas at the city cemetery for the rededications of the Asch and Bonetti monuments, as well as a rededication of the Jane Hall marker.

As presented in the April 5 edition of the East Sacramento News, Hall’s marker was one of three flat gravestones recently discovered in an East Sacramento backyard.

This event will conclude with a short ceremony to remember the other 100-plus people whose remains were relocated to the old city cemetery from the New Helvetia Cemetery.

FOUND IN THE FOOTHILLS. The Asch family tombstone, shown in this February 2010 photograph, was located in a residential yard in Auburn for 55 years. / Photo courtesy, Susie O’Brien

A granite memorial recognizing these people is intended to be placed at the site in the near future.

lance@valcomnews.com

DICK RYDER, who resides in the Little Pocket area with his wife of 53 years, Irene, enjoys a moment during his recent interview with The Pocket News. Through his marriage, he became a stepfather to two children, and he now has eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

He also proved that he enjoys kidding with others, as he chuckled and explained that he had ushered in the Great Depression with his birth at the old Sutter Hospital at 28th and L streets on Sept. 6, 1929.

“I started the Depression,” Ryder said. “It’s my understanding that Sept. 6 (1929) was the first day that there was any indication that the stock market was falling.”

Although he has spent his entire life residing in Sacramento, Ryder, who continuously displayed a good natured demeanor during his interview, noted that he came close to being born in San Diego.

“My parents (Clark and Mary Ryder) met in the Bay Area and they were going to have me,” Ryder said. “They didn’t like the Bay Area that much, so they decided to move apparently. And it was either to Sacramento or San Diego, because my dad had been in the Navy. And guess what? They moved to Sacramento.”

As a result of this decision, Ryder was born a river city boy, as opposed to a beach city boy.

River City memories

And by opting to remain in the capital city for his entire life, Ryder has more than 80 years of river city memories.

In 1930, the Ryder family moved into a former tract house at 2800 Regina Way, where they lived for many years.

Unique sign

Among Ryder’s earliest childhood memories is seeing a unique, lighted sign at the eventual site of the Tower Theatre.

EARLY INTEREST IN AUTOS. Shown in this early 1930s photograph, Dick Ryder poses with a homemade racecar that his father built for him. / Photo courtesy, Dick Ryder

“One of my earliest memories was going to pick up ice every week (at the State Ice Co.) at 20th (Street) and Y Street, which is now Broadway,” Ryder said. “The icehouse had this big sign on the side that (read), ‘Ice,’ and that’s the first word I ever learned to spell. I was three or four at the time. Coming back along Y Street to turn left onto Land Park Drive, there was a big sign in the field over there. I can remember it well and I have never heard a word of it ever since. But it was a big billboard sign with a face and two big eyes on it – and I think the eyes flashed – and I always called it ‘goo-goo eyes.’ ‘We’re going to go back to goo-goo eyes.’ (The sign) was right where we made the left turn, right now where the Tower Theatre is.”

Tower Theatre

Having grown up in the area, Ryder witnessed the construction of the theater, which opened in 1938. He soon afterward began attending Saturday kiddie matinee movies at the theater.

Solons in ’42

Although he admits that he was not a big baseball fan, Ryder said that he does not recall missing a regular season baseball game at Cardinal Field at Riverside Boulevard and Broadway during the Sacramento Solons’ 1942 Pacific Coast League championship season.

The airport

Ryder said that he also remembers visiting the old Municipal Airport (today’s Sacramento Executive Airport) on Freeport Boulevard during his childhood.

“My father was always interested in flying and he was always hanging out at the airport and I was hanging out there also – the ‘Daddy, can I come, too, sort of thing,” Ryder said.

Close calls

LOCAL BOY. Dick Ryder grew up in the Land Park area with his parents, Clark and Mary Ryder, and his sister, Caroline Ryder, who is three years younger than him. / Photo courtesy, Dick Ryder

Ryder explained that during his childhood, he was like a cat with nine lives.

“Sacramento is a hot place (during the summer) and my dad had a spot out on the American River where he liked to swim,” Ryder said. “I gave my dad a big scare. Apparently he almost lost me there. He had to reach around under water and he couldn’t find me.”

“I gave him another scare when I had my tonsils out at age five, but I got through that one, too. I bled I guess. They had to give me resuscitation or something.”

Ryder said that he was also hit by a car during his youth on two separate occasions.

“When I was 12 or so, I was playing baseball in the street and the only time I can remember hitting a home run, I hit a car. I broke my shoulder and had a concussion,” Ryder said. “There was also the time that I came swinging around on my bicycle and this guy was pulling out (in his car) and he didn’t turn his lights on and I hit the front of his car and went clear over and landed on my front teeth.”

Swimming lesson

Ryder explained that his near drowning in the river proved to be a positive event in his life.

“Back in 1936 or 1937, my dad decided that we should have a pool in the backyard, so he could have better control,” Ryder recalled. “That wasn’t a thing that people did back then. They didn’t have pools. For two years, we dug a hole in the backyard and went swimming in the mud or dog paddling in the mud. It was a couple feet deep. In 1938 or 1939, perhaps, a concrete pool with walls rising 2 feet above the ground was done by Angelo & Frank. And Angelo & Frank were Angelo Queirolo and Frank Geremia. Geremia is a familiar name. A lot of pools in Sacramento are Geremia-built pools.”

The Ryder family’s pool was possibly the first backyard pool in the Land Park area.

Youthful work

Ryder eventually turned his family’s pool into a money-making place, as he charged area youth an admission of five cents each per day to swim in the pool.

He also earned money during his youth delivering The Sacramento Bee and The Sacramento Union and working during the summer harvest season in the Delta.

Dec. 7, 1941

After stating “everybody knows where they were when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor,” Ryder explained where he was at the time.

“I was getting over the mumps and my mother was getting the mumps and I was constantly listening to the radio,” Ryder said. “I was laying there in the chesterfield in the front room, because I was sick. I heard on (the radio) Pearl Harbor had been bombed and it was suspected to be the Japanese, etcetera, etcetera, and so I got the family together on that Sunday morning, so they could hear that.”

Early education

While discussing his education, Ryder explained that he was actually recruited to attend kindergarten at Crocker School at 1740 Vallejo Way.

MEET THE PARENTS. Clark and Mary Ryder moved to Sacramento in 1928 and had their first child, Dick Ryder, during the following year. / Photo courtesy, Dick Ryder

“(Crocker’s) kindergarten teacher, Miss Eunice Tuttle, had to go on a recruiting campaign, I guess, to fill up the relatively new school,” Ryder said. “One of my earliest memories was Miss Eunice coming to our home to talk to my parents to sign me up for school.”

While Ryder was attending Crocker School, the next school that he would attend – California Junior High School at 2991 Land Park Drive – was under construction.

Eventually, he attended McClatchy High School, where he graduated in June 1947.

With his love for snow skiing, Ryder was later drawn to the University of Colorado, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1952.

Insurance career

From 1956 to 1982, Ryder worked in the insurance industry. He established the Insurance Protection Analyst company at Arden Way and Howe Avenue and then he served as the president of Howe-Ryder Insurance Service at 2613 24th Street.

Today, Ryder fills part of his time as an appraiser of collector cars.

CAM founder

His involvement in such work makes perfect sense, when considering that he was the person who decided to create an automobile museum in Sacramento.

“People come up to me and say, ‘You’re one of the guys who founded the California Automobile Museum (originally known as the California Towe Ford Automobile Museum),’” Ryder said. “And I tell them, ‘No, I am the founder of the museum. After Bill Harrah died at the age of 66, his collection of 1,500-plus cars was left without plans. I figured that it was time for the creation of a California car museum located in Sacramento. We never received any cars from Harrah’s collection, but Harrah’s death definitely created the concept for the (Sacramento) museum in my mind and the idea immediately caught hold.”

Outside his time providing assistance for the museum every Thursday, Ryder remains active in his life with the Sacramento Rotary Club and the Fremont Presbyterian Church.

lance@valcomnews.com

Marty Relles

During the last week of school, I carried my yearbook around with me and solicited signatures and comments from my friends and fellow alumni.

When he signed the book, my friend Jim Edwards scrawled, “See you over at Freeport U.”

Yes, that was my plan.

During high school, other kids planned for college, earned top notch grades, took the SAT and applied to attend the best universities.

I hadn’t done that, so Sacramento City College (SCC), also called “Freeport U.,” and also called a “high school with ash trays” was my only option for higher education.

I decided to make the best of it. I enrolled in two classes that summer and earned B grades in both.

When I showed up for fall classes, my friend Mark Lazarotto collared me saying, “I am starting a new political club on campus, want to join?”

I reluctantly agreed.

The club was an ultra-conservative organization: The Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). This was definitely not my politics, but – Mark insisted – so I joined.

The club’s tenure at City College lasted one year. But joining the YAF had a good outcome for me personally. The small membership (five students) voted me vice president of the club. That qualified me to represent our organization on the Inter Club Council, the group of students which acts as a liaison between the entire student body and the administration.

Participating on the ICC affected me in ways I could not imagine at the time. It gave me the opportunity to work with the “best and the brightest” at SCC and to learn the dynamics of working on an important school organization. This experience benefited me immensely later in life.

The ICC met monthly. In addition to planning school events such as dances and the annual Pioneer Day celebration, the organization presented student’s concerns and needs to the administration. To this day, I am thankful for having that experience.

In addition to my participation on the ICC, City College had another benefit for me. I reconnected with a group of kids I knew from Christian Brothers School: Henry Aguire, Joe Cisneros, Pete Sartlidge, Michael McDermott and others such as Jim Hansen (police officer Tiny Hansen’s son) also attended SCC at the time. We hung out together at school.

We formed a bond which lasted well after college. We met in the cafeteria for lunch, had parties, went to dances, and joined in extra-curricular activities such hunting. We were a “band of brothers.” Sadly, I subsequently lost touch with most of these guys, including Mark Lazarotto, the President and founder of the YAF, but the memories of our time together at SCC remain strong.

In the fall of 1966, I transferred to Sacramento State College. My time at SCC had come to an end. It was time to take on more serious educational challenges.

Sac State would prove to be a much greater challenge than City College. Ultimately, it took me another nine years to earn my Bachelor of Arts Degree, counting a two year tour of duty in the U.S. Army.

Now my time at Freeport U. is another unforgettable Janey Way Memory.

marty@valcomnews.com