When is the last time you heard math students singing a popular song as a class during a fraction lesson? Or building an ancient city out of clay during history class? These are just a few ways teachers in San Juan Unified are changing the way their students learn.

The San Juan Unified School District is proud to have preserved the arts throughout its schools. In a quest to continue to find new and effective ways of teaching, Visual and Performing Arts coordinator Craig Faniani has spearheaded an effort called Arts Integration, and it’s already seen a lot of interest from principals, staff, teachers and students alike.

Teachers are using music, sculpting, drawing, drama, technology, movement and a variety of other types of art to engage students and create a different and effective learning environment. Arts Integration is much more than the typical ‘art project.’

Many of us played soccer as youths, whether it was because we showed a genuine interest, a particular knack for the game, or (more likely) our parents just wanted us out of the house in the afternoons. Luckily for local children (and parents), there are numerous places in which to partake in the sport these days.

In fact, soccer is by a wide margin the most popular youth sport in Sacramento, according to Shane Singh, president of the Pocket Area’s very own Greenhaven Soccer Club.

The Sacramento Youth Soccer League (SYSL), had an impressive 7,000+ children ages 4-18 play soccer for its numerous clubs in 2012, according to Singh. The SYSL is comprised of 15 soccer clubs within the Greater Sacramento area, some of which cater to our area.

When asked why soccer is the dominant sport in our area, Singh said “It’s designed for younger kids to play. Four-year-olds can’t really play Little League, but they can play soccer.” He also pointed to the fact that soccer entails constant participation, whereas other sports can have long lulls where some kids don’t do anything, which can lead to boredom.

In addition to keeping the sometimes fleeting attention of younger children, Singh talked about the benefits that soccer and youth sports in general have for youths.

“(Sports) keep kids out of trouble. There have been studies that suggest kids who play sports do better in school and are more focused in the classroom. It also helps them to develop life skills, like how to work in a team environment,” he said.

While there are players in most of the SYSL clubs all the way up to 18 years of age, Singh explained that the majority of the players are between ages 6-12. And while he estimates that 90% of soccer seasons within the SYSL run between August and December, the other 10% play a longer season and some of the competitive teams even play year-round.

Singh also estimated that 90% of kids play on strictly recreational soccer teams. If your child is a soccer star who wants to try his hand (or rather feet) at competitive soccer, many of the clubs within the SYSL offer competitive clubs which are generally more expensive, require more travel and often have longer seasons.

August is still a ways off, but registration for some leagues can begin as early as March. Check the end of this article for information about leagues in your area and find out when each club handles registration.

There is rarely a time when children are turned away from participating, but occasionally it does happen if there are too many kids and not enough coaches. Volunteer coaches are much needed, according to Singh.

While not affiliated with the SYSL, the Carmichael-based Del Dayo Soccer Club offers a wide range of teams for your young soccer star. In 2012, Del Dayo soccer fielded 20 teams and more than 350 players. Del Dayo Soccer Club is affiliated with the California Youth Soccer Association (CYSA). For information about registration and other inquiries, visit deldayosoccer.net.

In the Arden area, check out Fulton-El Camino Youth Soccer. For information about enrolling your child, visit fecsoccer.org. Also in the Arden area is St. Ignatius Soccer Club. The club can be reached at 916-649-9645.

Members of the Sacramento Steampunk Society in costume. // Photos by Connie Ricca

During the day, Jennifer Brown works for a bank, doing a lot of data work and problem solving.

On her off time, Brown has found an outlet for her creativity as a member of the Sacramento Steampunk Society.

“It’s that spirit of never got over Halloween – it’s that love of getting dressed up, combined with a love of history and sci fi, and being able to combine all of that together to have fun,” she explains about attracts people to steampunk. “It’s that aesthetic that draws people in because it’s fun and whimsical.”

And on Saturday, Feb. 16, the Society will host a Steampunk Emporium and Swap Meet in the Arden area that will help introduce others to the steampunk culture.

Steampunk 101

So what exactly is steampunk?

According to Wikipedia, steampunk is “a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century.”

Brown says steampunk is a cross between the Victorian era, when steam power was starting to be used, with modern science fiction. She explains this allows you to take the beauty of the Victorian era and put a modern spin on it. “It gives you free reign to create really anything, from time travel like Dr. Who to anything that Jules Verne would have created in his books,” she says. ““The phrase I hear all the time is it’s a world that never was, but should have been,” she adds.

Lon Lee, a member of the Society for over a year and one of its nine administrators that helps run the group, says adds steampunk is a type of “retro futurism,” where the past is mixed with the future, or the future is mixed with the past. “It’s basically like H.G. Wells’ time machine where you mix the futuristic technology with old values, old styles,” he says. “Anything’s possible.”

Lee says the Sacramento Steampunk Society, which just celebrated its third birthday, is a social group for those interested in steampunk to meet once a month. He says they have more than 1,100 members worldwide – including members in France, Germany, Japan and England – that represent all genders and nationalities and range in age from 4 to 80.

Express Yourself

For those who follow steampunk culture, there’s a variety of ways to express their interest, from literature to art to music. One way many showcase their love of steampunk is through costumes.

A love of Victorian fashion was one of the things that drew Brown to steampunk. An administrator for the group and Society member for more than two years, Brown now enjoys making her own costumes and learning from others in the Society. “There are a lot of people in the group who are excellent at being able to sew and create, so sometimes it’s about finding the right idea and the right person to help you with it, and other times it’s really just finding the great thrift store find that works perfect,” she says.

Lee says most of the Society’s members make their own costumes, jewelry and props. “Some of the costumes, some people spend hours and hours working on just one costume – it’s always interesting to see what somebody comes up with next,” he says. “There are some members that make really exceptional items … It’s inspiring what some of the people do.”

Lee himself was drawn to steampunk due to his artistic background, as a sculptor, painter, photographer and creator of CGI artwork. He says creativity is a main part of steampunk. “It’s individuality – everybody picks and chooses what they like for their style, so nobody looks the same, nobody dresses the same,” he adds.

Letting Off Steam

Although individuality is a big part of steampunk, that’s not to say everyone does not share their tips and tricks on making their own costumes and accessories.

In fact, it’s the willingness of those in the Society to share and help each other out that Brown loves about being a member. She says even if you have an idea that you are not sure how to make, there’s bound to be a member of the group that has the skills to help you accomplish your goal. “Everybody’s just really open about sharing everything, and that has helped me become more creative because somebody sparks an idea that then gives you an idea to do something else,” she adds.

Society members also have an opportunity to learn from each during the group’s monthly meetings, which Lee says are held the first Thursday of every month at the Arcade Library at 6:30pm. While the first half of the meeting is devoted to Society business, the rest of the meeting includes time for members to show-and-tell projects they are working on, plus there is a how-to demonstration lead by a Society member. “So somebody can come in and show how you modify a plastic gun to make it look like a sci fi ray gun, or how you age clothing or make jewelry,” Lee explains.

Members of the Sacramento Steampunk Society in costume. // Photos by Connie Ricca

Brown says the monthly how-to demonstration gives Society members an opportunity to teach whatever they would like, from making photographs sepia tone to teaching swordplay using a walking cane. “It gives everybody an open venue to come in and teach something,” she adds.

Emporium & Swap Meet

Now that steampunk has caught your fancy, how can you learn more?

Lee says the group’s upcoming Steampunk Emporium and Swap Meet on Saturday, February 16, at Great Escape Games on Howe Avenue is a great opportunity to come and see what steampunk and the Society is all about, with about 50 vendors, plus entertainment.

Brown says the Emporium is an artists’ bazaar with a steampunk flair, featuring artisans selling items they have made, including costumes, jewelry, leatherwork, books, and hats.

Entertainment at the Emporium is scheduled to include the Aether Brigade, SwingGoth and Equilibrium Fire Arts. Plus members of a number of groups will be on hand, including the League of Proper Villains, High Desert Steam, Steam Federation, The Great Basin Costume Society, and the Pirates of Sacramento.

And Brown says attendees will have the opportunity to meet New York Times bestselling steampunk author Gail Carriger, who will be holding a book signing from 1:30-3:30 p.m. “We were very excited that she was interested in coming down and hanging out with us since she is a steampunk writer and very well known in the genre,” Brown adds.

Brown hopes those that come to the Emporium and Swap Meet will have the opportunity to find groups the would like to become part of, and will leave with “an understanding a little bit more of what steampunk is and how a lot of it can carry over into normal life,” she adds. “Like a great necklace with gears on it doesn’t have to be just a costume piece – it can also be something you can have in your every day that’s a little different and a little fun.”

For those interested in learning more about the Sacramento Steampunk Society, Brown urges them to join their Facebook group, which can be accessed through their website  http://sacsteam.org/, to stay up-to-date on upcoming meetings and events, and come out to their monthly meetings that are open to the public. “Steampunk is just so welcoming and everybody is so friendly – that’s one of the things that I’m the proudest of our group,” she says.

The Sacramento Steampunk Society meets the first Thursday of every month at the Arcade Library, 2443 Marconi Ave., in Sacramento, at 6:30 p.m. Meeting times and locations may change – visit http://sacsteam.org/ or join their Facebook page for most up-to-date information.

IF you go:

What: The Steampunk Emporium and Swap Meet
When: Saturday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Great Escape Games, 1250 Howe Ave., Suite 3A, in Sacramento.
Cost: Free and open to the public
For more information: sacsteam.org

Seasons 52, the fresh grill and wine bar restaurant known for its seasonally inspired menu, has begun recruiting team members for its new restaurant in Arden Fair. The restaurant is expected to bring an additional 100 new jobs to the Sacramento area.

Seasons 52 will open to the public on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013.

The restaurant has dozens of service team positions available for hire including bartenders, servers and hosts/hostesses, as well as, culinary positions including prep and line cooks. All job seekers must apply online at www.Seasons52.com/careers, where applicants can get more information on the various career opportunities, values and culture at Seasons 52.

“Seasons 52 is seeking the area’s most professional, upbeat and friendly team members who can share their passion for fresh, creative cuisine while delivering an outstanding dining experience for guests,” said Jeff Warren, Managing Partner of Arden Fair’s Seasons 52. “All of our team members receive the proper tools and training to be successful, and the company firmly believes in promoting from within.”

Seasons 52 offers benefits packages to their employees. New team members are eligible for medical and dental insurance on the first day of employment. Other benefits include access to vision plans, meal discounts, 401K plan and even pet insurance.

The clean, contemporary style is highlighted by soft lighting, greenery, rich colors, contemporary art, stone and warm wood accents, which present architectural. A circular piano bar featuring live music nightly, an open kitchen with a brick oven, a chef’s table and a customized, climate controlled wine chateau holding upwards of 2,000 bottles of wine round out the vibrant guest dining experience. The restaurant also will offer two private dining rooms for private and semi- ‐ private business and social events.

Seasons 52 at Arden Fair will be prominently located at the main entrance in front of Nordstrom, with convenient street- ‐side access.

About Seasons 52

Seasons 52, which debuted in 2003, is a fresh grill and wine bar that provides guests with a fresh dining experience, enabling them to celebrate living well. The menu is orchestrated by award- ‐winning Chef Clifford Pleau, and is inspired by the seasons and the fresh appeal of the farmers’ market – 52 weeks a year. The award- ‐ winning wine list created and developed by Master Sommelier George Miliotes – one of over 180 Master Sommeliers worldwide – is consistently praised for its diverse international selection of 100 wines, including more than 52 offered by the glass. Seasons 52 is recognized as a forward- ‐thinking restaurant concept that is “right for the times” and always offers guests something new to discover.

Seasons 52 currently operates 26 restaurants in 13 states across the country. For more information, please visit Seasons52.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

This Tower Records sign once hung inside the business’s north area store. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s note: This is the sixth part of a series regarding the history of the “four corners” of Watt and El Camino avenues.

For nearly 45 years, Tower Records drew music lovers to the northeast corner of Watt and El Camino avenues. And despite this popular record store’s absence, many locals will never forget their fond memories of this location of the business.
The roots of what eventually became known as Tower Records date back to 1941. It was then that Russ Solomon began selling records inside his father’s drugstore in the Tower Theatre building at the southwest corner of 16th Street and Broadway.
The Tower Records on Watt Avenue began drawing people in large numbers on a regular basis in the early 1960s and the love affair with this Tower did not end until the store’s closure in 2006.
Also attracting many people to this site were Tower Books, which also opened in the 1960s, and Tower Video, which debuted in the 1980s.
During interviews conducted at various Arden area sites last week, local residents shared their memories about this former landmark Tower, where a Goodwill Industries thrift store and a Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is now located.
Mary (Parr) Harris, a 1970 graduate of Hiram Johnson High School, said that she was one of the store’s first and last customers.
“That’s where I came (record shopping) was the (Watt Avenue) Tower,” Harris said. “I probably bought The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s (Lonely Hearts Club Band) and Abbey Road albums there (in the 1960s). I was a big Beatles fan when I was a kid. And Herman’s Hermits, I loved them. And of course, then the Rolling Stones came around. It really upset me when they closed (the Watt Avenue Tower). I didn’t like that. I went in there and bought stuff on their last day. There wasn’t much left – it was pretty well picked over – but I’m a shopper, so I can always find something (to buy).”
Also sharing his memories about the north area Tower Records was Steve Nifert, a 1974 graduate of Casa Robles High School.
“I probably went to (the Watt Avenue) Tower Records for the first time in about 1962,” Nifert said. “I used to go to Tower Records all the time. I bought a lot of CDs there. They were the only one in town who had old, big band music from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. I had a lot of rock and roll (albums), but my preference was (big band music). I love the brass bands and stuff. It’s just so much coming at you than a lot of noise. And then when the 1980s came along, music quit making sense.”
Dan Blakkolb, who built a career for himself as a bass guitarist, also shopped at the Watt Avenue Tower Records during the 1960s.
“My memories of Tower Records are that’s where you bought records back in the 1960s,” said Blakkolb, who still prefers vinyl records over CDs. “I knew one girl who worked there, I think in the late 1960s, and her name was Linda Wysocki. But I think she worked at the 16th Street (Tower Records). Linda’s father (Charlie) owned Tone’s Music (House at 1009 14th St.). They carried the early Fenders (electric guitars and amplifiers) and he specialized in accordions, as well. I first came to this (Watt Avenue) Tower in 1964. I believe the first album I purchased there was ‘Surfin’ Safari’ by The Beach Boys. I also bought The Beatles stuff, Kingston Trio albums and a lot of folk albums there. I probably bought more albums than I did (45 rpm records).”
Blakkolb, who graduated from Hiram Johnson High School in 1966, said that it was during that time when he met a guitarist named Steve Samuels, who would play his guitar in front of the north area Tower Records.
“He was out in front playing Bob Dylan tunes,” recalled Blakkolb, who currently plays in the longtime, local party-dance group, the Jay Rolerz Band.

Dan Blakkolb stands in front of the approximate site of the old Watt and El Camino avenues Tower Records, where he began purchasing records in the 1960s. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Blakkolb also remembers spending many hours inside the Watt Avenue Tower Records’ listening booths.
“I remember listening to newly released 45s and albums for general enjoyment and for ideas for my band at the time,” Blakkolb said. “Whether you bought anything or not, you were never pressured to buy records or asked to leave. They were always nice at Tower. Listening to records in the listening booths was a great way to spend a day.”
J.J. Jelincic, who still owns his copy of the British band Cream’s 1969 album, “Goodbye,” which he purchased at the Watt Avenue Tower, remembers the store’s vibrant neon sign.
“(The sign) just dominated the whole place,” Jelincic said. “You could drive down the street and there was Tower Records. The fact that anything else was there, you’d never know. It was terrific.”
Terry Ray, a 1981 graduate of McClatchy High School, said that it was during the late 1970s when she purchased her first album at the north area Tower.
“The first album I bought at that Tower was Janis Joplin’s ‘Pearl,’” said Ray, who first visited the store during her childhood in about 1965.
Jerry Scott, who graduated from El Camino High School in 1985, said that during the early years of his life, he would spend many hours at the northeast corner of Watt and El Camino avenues.
“(Tower) was about a half an hour walk from my house and it was one of the first places I could get away from my parents and they wouldn’t know where I was going,” Scott said. “This was a pretty happening corner when I was growing up. When I was younger, about 12 years, I started coming up here on my own. Before that, my parents came up here bowling at least once a week and I was one of the 5 to 6-year-old rug rats running amuck all around the bowling alley. I learned how to play pinball from guys who smoked cigars and still played pool in the smoky room there (at Country Club Lanes). But when I was a little older, I came up here and Tower Books was here. I was a huge, veracious reader and I would come up here and spend hours. (Tower Books) was like an intellectual haven for me.”
Scott also remembers the Tower Posters store, which operated in the same location where Tower Video later opened.
“(Tower Posters) was my first head shop experience,” Scott said. “My parents were like, ‘We got to get out of here.’ But all I noticed was the rock and roll pins that people could buy.”
And in speaking about the Watt Avenue Tower Records, Scott said, “This record store was where I bought my very first album with my very own money. The album was ‘Fragile’ (by the English progressive rock band, Yes). It was years, of course, after the album came out (in 1971). I had learned most of my music from the radio. I would fall asleep listening to KZAP. I was very sad to see when Tower went away. That is where I discovered music.”
Among the younger people interviewed for this article was Adrian McCoy, a 2003 graduate of Mira Loma High School.
McCoy, who began shopping at both the Tower Records and Tower Books on Watt Avenue in about 1995, said that his favorite CD, which he purchased at this Tower Records location, was “Issues” by the nu metal band, Korn.
Jeremy Peckham, a 1992 graduate of El Camino High, also shared his north area Tower Records-related memories.
“The first record my mom brought home for me in a yellow (and red Tower Records) bag was Devo’s ‘Freedom of Choice’ and a few miscellaneous 45s,” Peckham said. “The next records that I got were Quiet Riot’s ‘Metal Health,’ Def Leppard’s ‘Pyromania,’ and then all these different types of Beatles records.”
Certainly, based on the recollections of the few people who shared their memories for this article, the north area Tower businesses may be gone, but they are certainly not forgotten.

The Fulton Avenue Association decked the halls and brought good cheer to families on a wet and cold Christmas tree lighting ceremony, held annually for the sixth time on Saturday, Saturday, Dec. 1. Santa was there taking notes from children for gifts. And of course children sat in awe looking at the beautifully decorate tree on Fulton Avenue.

bill@valcomnews.com

Curtis Park resident Michael Neumann is a deep gentleman of many talents.
Neumann is the artistic director and conductor for both the Sacramento Youth Symphony and the Folsom Symphony.
For the past nine years, the latter symphony has grown in quality to the delight of audiences throughout the region. Musicians from the symphony hail from every neighborhood in Sacramento: Pocket-Greenhaven, Land Park, Arden, East Sacramento and elsewhere.
Neumann puts a great deal of time into considering each work the symphony will perform. A fine artist himself, he carefully develops concerts of depth and complexity that delight both the newcomer and the jaded audiophile.
This December’s winter concerts are a perfect case in point. The Folsom Symphony will host two holiday concerts that will gladden hearts on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. The repertoire for “Of Fate & Joy” ranges from contemplative to festive to joyous.
According to Webster’s Common School Dictionary of 1892, “fate” is considered to be “a decree; (an) inevitable necessity…supposed by the ancients to determine the course of human life.”
Few would argue that, in its strictest definition, all mortal life is “fated” to have a beginning and an end. Not a jot can be changed about it. Somber, indeed.
Between those fixed points in time are all the things that go into life: good and evil, happiness and sadness.
And that, according to the sages, is where mere mortals have true power and freedom. Because happiness is a choice humans can make along the way.
Composers and poets throughout the ages struggled with these weighty matters. Many chose “Joy” as a personal statement of faith, and as a testimony to freely choosing the good in life. Such choices, they felt, bring out the best in the human spirit. They are heroic.
Appropriately enough, the concerts kick off with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Fidelio Overture.” First performed in 1805 Vienna, this opera was risky, given Beethoven’s political outlook. After all, the Napoleonic Wars were scarcely two years old. “Fidelio” musically tells a tale of personal sacrifice, heroism and eventual triumph…with an underlying struggle for liberty and justice. Ludwig could have lost his head – literally.
Next on the program is George Frederic Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks.” A secular piece of music, it was commissioned by England’s King George II to celebrate a great hope for peace: the 1749 signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle. The music is Handel at his most spectacular.
The treaty? It didn’t quite pan out the way the crowned heads of Europe had hoped. Little was accomplished in the end. Fate stepped in.
The evening continues with powerful works by Rimsky-Korsakov (“Capriccio Espagnol”), Brahms (“Schicksalslied,” accompanied by the Folsom High School Chamber Singers), Johann Strauss Sr. (“Radetzky March”) and his son (“Tritsch Tratsch Polka”). Popular composer Leroy Anderson’s work “Christmas Festival” will put audiences in the holiday mood.
Handel makes another appearance with his magnificent work from “Messiah” – the “Hallelujah” chorus.
Happiness, it is said, is not a destination. It is something one encounters along the way. One can choose to be joyful, or to be otherwise. In celebration of this fact, each member of the audience is invited to sing along to traditional carols near the conclusion of each concert.
Webster’s little dictionary from 1892 defines “joy” as “gladness, delight, exultation…bliss.” Intangible delights that the Folsom Symphony and Neumann specialize in every December.
“Of Fate & Joy” will be performed two days only, on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. Performances are held at Folsom Lake College’s Three Stages Theater. Get your tickets soon…these concerts sell out every year. Call (916) 916-608-6888 or visit  www.threestages.net. Also visit  www.folsomsymphony.com.

Volunteers participated in the 11th Annual Tree Planting and Care event where they planted trees in Arden Park neighborhoods. This is one of dozens of re-greening efforts throughout the county with the Sacramento Tree Foundation’s NeighborWoods Program.
Lunch was provided.

What has 56,000 legs, over 28,000 smiles and is the biggest “happening” in Sacramento every year?
If you guessed the 19th annual “Run to Feed the Hungry” for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, you guessed correctly.
For nearly two decades, members of the Sacramento community – and their friends and families from around the nation – have gathered to give back. Whether they are elite runners, average joggers or simple walkers, this event is one of the most respected 5K/10K events in the nation.
Held every year on Thanksgiving Day, participants agree: it’s a great way to give back to the community…and burn a few calories before indulging in a piece of pumpkin pie. Last year, 26,825 people participated on the event’s first rainy day. This year, more than 28,000 participants are expected.
“Run to Feed the Hungry is a Sacramento tradition for thousands of local families,” said Kelly Siefkin, communications director for the food bank. “The event offers a 5K and 10K course through the beautiful East Sacramento neighborhood. The Run is owned and operated by Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and raises funds to support six programs.”
Need knows no season…and seems to know every neighborhood. SFBFS serves families in need throughout Sacramento County, including local neighborhoods including Land Park, Arden and Carmichael. Some 20,000 unduplicated men, women and children receive free goods and education through SFBFS programs each month. The food program serves 16,000 unduplicated individuals each month.
The run raised $850,000 for the food bank last year – approximately 20 percent of the organization’s annual budget. Founded by Father Daniel Madigan in the basement of his Oak Park church in 1976, SFBFS runs a very lean, grassroots organization with an incredibly efficient, professional staff of 40 and a volunteer workforce of over 5,000 annually.
The Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22) fun begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at approximately 11 a.m. Participants will meet at Sacramento State’s J Street entrance for the start of the run/walk. New exit points from Sac State will improve traffic flow post-race.
Siefkin is excited about a new participant category this year: Virtual Runner.
“Is your spouse dragging you to Iowa for a snow laden Thanksgiving? Do you have 49 relatives descending on your living room around 11 a.m.? Are you more of a napper than a jogger? Then sign up as a virtual participant,” Siefkin said. “Your registration fee supports programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and you’ll still receive your shirt after the event, but you don’t have to run or walk on Thanksgiving morning.”
There is still time to sign up to participate, volunteer or join a team. There is also some new run attire available this year.
“Those who sign up to participate and who make an additional $50 contribution will receive a Run to Feed the Hungry knit beanie this year,” Siefkin said. “Participants are very excited about it – apparently, it’s becoming a hot collectible for those who participate every year.”

Registration for the Run to Feed the Hungry is available online until Nov. 20 at www.runtofeedthehungry.com. Participants can also register via mail until Nov. 10 or at REI from Nov. 17–21. For more information about SFBFS, www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Photo #2 Caption: The old Gottschalks store space at Country Club Plaza has been vacant since 2009. Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s note: This is the fourth part in a series regarding the history of the “four corners” of Watt and El Camino avenues.

Country Club Plaza, as presented in the previous article of this series, began with a supermarket anchor in 1958 and three years later had its first department store, Weinstock’s.
Weinstocks, a very impressive structure
Carmichael resident Bill Ellis, who was the first manager of the Weinstock’s store in the plaza, described the Weinstock’s building, which took more than a year to build, as a very impressive structure.
“When Weinstock’s opened (in the plaza), it was a very unique building,” Ellis said. “It had imported marble and it had all kinds of amenities. It was something like Sacramento had never seen.”
And in describing the store’s interior, Ellis, 89, said, “We imported hardwood floors from Kentucky for certain departments and we had the people from Kentucky come and install them. We had wonderful, full-wall carpeting in certain areas and we had a fine dress department and we had a fine coat department. The showcases, which is what we did in those days, were of fine quality and cost $1,000 a foot. We had china, glass, gifts, sterling silver. It was a very high class store.”
Ellis said that he was named the store’s manager while he was working as a buyer at the Weinstock, Lubin & Co. store at 12th and K streets.
“I was told I would be manager three months before (the plaza’s Weinstock’s store) opened, roughly, and I was in on the last part of the construction (of the plaza building),” said Ellis, who altogether spent 40 years working for Weinstock’s. “I was there to learn what the store was about and what the space was allocated for and to supervise the workmen who were putting things together.”
Also associated with the plaza store were Marion Armstrong, president and general manager of Weinstock, Lubin, and the store’s assistant manager, Ray L. Byers.
As mentioned in the previous article of this series, a Penny’s department store opened at the site of the plaza’s Stop-N-Shop store in the summer of 1971.
Kathy Neutz, who grew up in Fair Oaks, said that she remembers shopping at this Penny’s store and other businesses in the plaza during the 1970s and 1980s.

Photo #3 Caption: Palms line Macy’s parking lot along El Camino Avenue. Photo by Lance Armstrong

The plaza was the place to shop
“I remember going to some of the older stores (at the plaza) like Penny’s and Weinstock’s,” Neutz said. “It was busier back then, because there weren’t as many malls. (The plaza) was one of the malls besides Sunrise Mall (in Citrus Heights) that you could go to. I would come here (to the plaza) with my mom or with friends. It wasn’t a hang out mall though, like Sunrise (Mall) and Arden (Fair Mall).”
After many years of operation at its plaza site, Penny’s was replaced by Gottschalks.
During the summer of 2009, Gottschalks closed its plaza store and the building remains vacant.
Weinstock’s closed in 1996 and was replaced by a Macy’s department store.
In 2003, under its then Scottsdale, Ariz.-based owners, Arizona Partners Retail Investment Group, LLC, the aged plaza was remodeled.
Unfortunately for the plaza, despite this remodel, many stores left the plaza and the mall was left with many empty store spaces.
Among the last businesses to exit the plaza were Subway, American Eagle Outfitters and PacSun Clothing.
Future of the plaza
While recently shopping at the plaza, Neutz said, “There definitely used to be more to (the plaza) than there is now. I just think it’s the area. It has kind of declined a bit and there are other areas that are growing and upcoming and that’s where (people) want to go. Hopefully they can rebuild this area and get it more economically stable. It’s all about the competition.”
For those concerned about the present status and future of the plaza, Peter Morgan, vice president of Laeroc Funds, the private real estate investment company for the plaza and multiple properties from San Diego to Portland, said that this shopping center’s future appears promising.
“When we bought the center in (August 2006), we were really excited about the opportunities,” Morgan said. “The mall was basically full and performing very well. It was just our timing on acquisition by 2006, right before the worst recession since the Depression, to the demise and bankruptcy of our anchor tenant, Gottschalks, in combination with the downturn in the retail market in Greater Sacramento.
“We think we’re coming out of this recession, the letter of intents (for possible new tenants) and the capital improvements that we plan to put up, we truly believe that this is the low point of the center’s life. We’re excited about the opportunities going forward to bring the mall back to its prominence.”

Photo #1 Caption: Ross Dress for Less and Bed Bath & Beyond have both signed leases to be located at Country Club Plaza through at least 2014. Photo by Lance Armstrong

The letters of intent are from Office Depot, which would take about 6,000 feet at the plaza, and a national grocery store, which would use the 92,000-square-foot space at the former Gottschalks site.
Bed Bath & Beyond and Ross Dress for Less leaving the plaza?
In regard to recent local news reports that Bed Bath & Beyond and Ross Dress for Less will be relocating to Town and Country Village, Morgan said, “At this point, both of those tenants have leases and Ross just extended their lease with us. If (the addition to) Town and Country is built, Bed Bath & Beyond and Ross are supposed to open stores in that location. But Bed Bath & Beyond and Ross could make a decision to have a store in both locations. They both have an option that they could exercise to extend their terms (at the plaza).”
Although Morgan would not reveal when these leases end, he did state that the leases are signed through at least 2014.
He also noted that the plaza’s Sports Chalet store has renewed its lease.
Morgan added that remodeling and other enhancements, including façade improvements from La Bou to the old Gottschalks building, are planned for the plaza.
“The grocery store is planning a remodel of the façade and the accompanying parking lot,” Morgan said. “We are planning concurrently an extensive improvement of our parking field in front of the mall, including landscaping, parking lot improvement and repair and a brand new entry façade to the mall.
“Once we get that completed, then we tackle the interior of the mall. It could be as quickly as six months. But we really can’t do any construction work in the mall during the holidays.”
And for those who find confusion in having two shopping centers with similar names at Watt and El Camino avenues, Morgan said that help may be on the way.
“We’re looking at renaming (Country Club Plaza) to reflect that (future) look of the center, although we don’t have a new name chosen,” Morgan said. “When we come up with some names, we’re probably going to float them by the market before we actually (change the name) to see how it’s received.”
In summarizing his feelings about the future of the plaza, Morgan said, “I’m very excited about where this center’s going. I think Sacramento is going to be delighted to see the improvement from where it’s been to where it’s going.”

lance@valcomnews.com