On Thursday, May 10, the Sacramento Elks 6 honored students and educators at their annual scholarship dinner. The event opened with a welcome from Stephen B. Clazie,
Scholarship Chair, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout Troop 259, an invocation by Chaplain Valerie Keyser, and a prime rib dinner served by JFK criminal justice students.

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.

It's of the new Elks Officers for the 2013-2014 year. From left to right it's Ron Domingos (Trustee), Tom Brunette (Leading Knight), Debbie Eto (Exalted Ruler), Gunner Lester (Loyal Knight), Michael Bates (Esquire), Larry Pilgrim (Loyal Knight), Becky Keyser (Inner Guard), Valerie Keyser (Chaplain).

To Debbie Eto, being the first Japanese-American Exalted Ruler of Sacramento Elks No. 6 is an honor. Unlike most previous exalted rulers who have gone “through the chairs” to the highest position, Eto became the Lecturing Knight in December 2012, only holding a Chair for a couple of months before being elected to the position.

“I was honored when I found out Marilyn Facha, who has raised thousands of dollars for Elks charities, nominated me. Even more surprising was being elected. I admit it’s overwhelming, but with this great crew of officers, help from friends, and the Past Exalted Rulers, like Jerry Landreth-Brusato, Ron Brusato, Jack Lewis, Richard Cherry, Bruce Synhorst, John Henmen and Steve Clazie, (who have volunteered to mentor the Officers) we’ll have a great year!” Eto said.

Every Exalted Ruler has a pin for their year and Eto chose the word “kanji” or benevolence in Japanese (kanji) to be written on hers. “It was important to honor my Japanese heritage and the Elks, who are known for being the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,” she said.

As exalted ruler, Eto will be expected to oversee what goes on in the Lodge, appoint the committees, represent the Lodge at clinics and conventions, and most generally supervise all matters with Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6.

Eto said tough economic times have hit the Lodge and so some of the challenges she foresees will be trying to increase membership. “I think Fraternal Clubs overall are facing lower numbers in membership than normal. It’s definitely a concern and a challenge. We will be implementing an exciting, fun membership drive and plan to be more visible in the community,” she said.

Since the building is set back from Riverside Boulevard, many people don’t even know the facility is there.

As the facility boasts a gym, with the heated indoor pool, handball courts, weight room equipped with numerous exercise machines, wet steam, dry sauna, jacuzzi, ballroom, professional kitchen, game room, and bar, those amenities alone would be reasons to join.

But to Eto the Elks Lodge is more than all of that; it’s about the people, the heart of Sacramento. “Elks Lodge No. 6 is the people. Most possess a deep sense of patriotism, fairness, chivalry, and dedication to helping others,” she said.

Over the years, Eto has met some amazing people at the Elks. “Elks want to help each other. They go out of their way to assist, to volunteer, to serve rather than be served,” she said.

One group within the Elks is the PM Crew (Preventative Maintenance), retired people who meet and do repairs on the building. “They are the heart and soul of the lodge … We’re not talking about just changing a light bulb either. These guys install solar panels, repair fire hydrants, build walls, put down floors; there is nothing they can’t handle and they work tirelessly for the lodge,” she said.

Eto wants people to know how much the Elks do for the community and charities.

joined the Elks in 2008.

The Youth Activities Chair, Michael Bates is overseeing the upcoming Soccer and Hoop Shoots. Loyal Knight Larry Pilgrim is in charge of the Essay Contests, PER Steve Clazie is the Chair for the Dictionary Program and Scholarships. Marilyn Hooten is our Elks National Foundation Chair. The Elks National Foundation is a perpetual fund with assets exceeding $400 million that provides millions each year for college scholarships, grants for higher education to children of deceased Elks and other charitable, benevolent endeavors. Bob Van Gundy is the Veteran’s Chair and has much planned for honoring Veterans.

The list goes on, Eto says, but don’t get her wrong. The Elks do have some great social events ahead. They have a Birthday Night every other month, a big Father’s Day barbecue manned by grill-master Ron Domingos. “It will be a day of games, contests, prizes and fun,” Eto said. And The Fourth of July party is not to be missed. Of course we have the weekly Sunday Morning Breakfast and Spaghetti Mondays.

“I would like to extend an invitation to the readers – the next time you find yourself where Riverside meets Florin, stop by and join us. I think you’ll be impressed with the people, the facilities and what Elks do,” Eto said.

http://www.elks6.com/

Monday thru Wednesday 8:00 – 5:30
Thursday and Friday 8:00 – 4:00
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Phone: 916-422-6666
Email: contact@elks6.com

Jane Gallagher, Events Coordinator
Office Hours:
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 9:00 – 5:00
Phone: 916-607-8347
Email: events@elks6.com

Photos courtesy of Lou Coppola

Celia Cottle’s 21-piece J. Street Jazz Cats from Davis gets dancers in a nostalgic and festive mood at the 1-2 p.m. kickoff of the holiday gala ball on Sunday, Dec. 16 at the Sacramento Elks Lodge, No. 6, located at 6446 Riverside Blvd. Following their presentation is legendary bandleader Buddy Harpham, 91, who follows from 2 to 5 p.m. with an array of Christmas songs, plus hits of the 30’s, 40s, and 50’s in swing, fox trot, waltz and Latin tempos.

Cottle’s band of 13-15 year old musicians, who rehearse weekly, will play such holiday treats as “Let it Snow”,  “Jingle Bells”, “Santa Claus”, “Silver Bells”. Celia formed her first “J Street Jazz Band”, renamed the “Cats” by the teen members for Cottle’s SPCA housing more than a dozen cats in her spacious home.

Photos courtesy of Lou Coppola

Harpham’s will be playing these and other favorites like “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”, “White Christmas”, “Chestnuts Roasting”, “Christmas”, and other dance favorites during the three 15-minute segments of ladies’ tags beginning at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. Regular admissions is $12, groups of 10 people are $11 each, with Society’s Gold Card holders for $10. Singles and couples are welcome with dance hosts available. Snacks at 3 p.m., door prizes at 4 p.m. More details are available by calling 444-6138 or emailing  loucopp45@gmail.com.

Fate was smiling.

The Elks Lodge No. 6 needed a Santa for Sunday breakfast on Dec. 16 and he was found.

A vehicle was broken into at the lodge parking lot. A briefcase was stolen. Although there was nothing of value just paperwork, manuals, and some invoices, the owner circled the large parking lot of the store to no avail.

Later, and miles away the briefcase lay along the roadside. Passing by it tweaked the curiosity of Jay Burson and on his return trip minutes later it was still there.

Jay stopped and picked up the brief case, finding a business card inside he took a chance and called Rick Barone Jr. as luck would have it, the owner of the briefcase.

In their conversation that followed Rick mentioned he volunteered at the Elks for their Sunday breakfasts. Jay mentioned he worked with other charitable organizations as Santa Claus during the holiday season.

So yes, breakfast with Santa will be held at the Elks Lodge No. 6 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 16. Enjoy breakfast while a picture of your child with Santa gets printed. It’s $9 for adults and $5 for children under age 12. The lodge is located at 6446 Riverside Blvd. Sacramento.

Joseph Barrett and Mark Matney were honored at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Elks Lodge No. 6 for their work and commitment to achieve Boy Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. / Courtesy of Bill Kirk, Scoutmaster Troop 259

On Sunday, Sept. 9, two Boy Scouts in Greenhaven Scout Troop 259, Joseph Seligo Barrett and Mark Allen Matney, Jr., were honored at an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Elks Lodge No. 6 for their work and commitment to achieve Boy Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.

Joining their celebration were many friends, family and fellow Troop 259 Scouts and leaders.  Special guests included Mamie Yee, Chief of Staff to County Supervisor Jimmie Yee, Former City Councilman Robbie Waters and Darnell Lawrence, the President of Elks Lodge No. 6, and the original Charter Organization for the Troop since 1966.

In Scouting, each Scout blazes his own trail, expressed in the form of the Scouting skills he learns, the leadership positions he chooses to accept and the Merit Badges he earns along the way.  Both Barrett and Matney earned their Eagle Rank in 2011.  Both accepted the responsibility of leading the Troop as the Senior Patrol Leader and other Troop leadership positions.

According to the Boy Scouts of America website, out of the 2.7 million nationally registered Boys Scouts in 2011, only 51,473 Scouts (or about 2 percent) were awarded the Eagle Scout Rank.  Their exceptional effort over several years in the Troop placed Barrett and Matney in rare company.  They have now joined the Troop 259 “Eagles Nest” of 163 Scouts who have earned that rank since the Troop’s first Eagle Scout Rank was awarded in 1969.

A key requirement for the Eagle Scout Rank is completing an Eagle Scout Service Project to demonstrate leadership and to improve the community in which they live.  Each young man chose a beneficial project, each with its own set of challenges.  Barrett and a team of other Scouts added visible curbside street numbers to a wide swath of homes in the Greenhaven area as a way to clearly identify addresses for emergency responders.  Matney and his group of volunteers took a rough, unimproved outdoor area at the Sacramento SPCA and converted it to a raised bed garden, improving the facility for pets awaiting adoption.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of a special resolution from the County Board of Supervisors to each Eagle Scout by Mamie Yee, Chief of Staff to Supervisor Jimmie Yee.  As each Scout noted in their personal remarks, their Scouting experience on the Trail to Eagle established a strong foundation for their futures.  Barret is currently a senior at John F. Kennedy High School and is a long standing member of the Marching Band and Orchestra Ensemble.  Matney graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 2011 and is entering his sophomore year at UCLA.  Congratulations to both of these fine young men.

Elks Middle School Students - Feb 2012

The following students were honored by Elks Lodge No. 6 as “Students of the Month” in February.

Middle school students (at left, left to right): Vichai Thao (Rosa Parks Middle School), Maya Kitt (Genevieve Didion K-8), Brayan Enriquez (Will C. Wood) and Cassidy Saechao (California Middle School).

High School students (at right, left to right): Jasmine Garcia (Valley High School), Meghan Musilli (St. Francis High School), Barthi Maharaj (Sacramento New Technology High School), Kenneth Fulton (Freemont School), Nicholas Dombrowski (Sacramento New Technology High School), Sara Crocker (C.K. McClatchy High School), Reymond Norton (Luther Burbank High School), and Anjanique Johnson (Christian Brothers High School).

Elks High School Students - Feb 2012

Note: This is part one of a two-part series regarding Sacramento resident Lou Coppola.

Many Sacramento area seniors, especially those from the Land Park and Riverside-Pocket areas, are very familiar with the name, Lou Coppola.

BIG ON THE BIG BANDS. Lou Coppola of the Nor Cal Big Bands Preservation Society holds some of his favorite CDs, including a CD with recordings of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

And in addition to being familiar with Coppola, who is a longtime Land Park resident, many of these seniors are very appreciative of him.

This is so, because they understand his role in preserving the music of their era – big band music of the 1920s through the 1950s.

After all, it was Coppola, 84, who founded the Nor Cal Big Bands Preservation Society, which hosts nine or 10 dances per year at Elk Lodge No. 6 at 6446 Riverside Blvd. in Sacramento.

Organization beginnings

The year was 2001 when Coppola and four big band leaders founded the society as a way of preserving a genre of music that was dear to their hearts.

The original bands of the society, which played a mix of tempos from swing to cha chas, were Bill Rase, Orval “Buddy” Harpham, Len Casey and George Bruno.

Today, Buddy Harpham, 90, continues to lead his band at the society’s dances.

The dances’ other main leaders for many years have been 86-year-old Fred Morgan and 77-year-old Warner Seargeant, who was the SwingMasters orchestra’s leader as of this month. Beginning in March, the SwingMasters new leader will be Bob Fry, a retired, 23-year band leader with the U.S. Navy and a graduate of the Navy School of Music.

Also performing at the dances are youth bands consisting of students from Rio Americano, El Camino and Pleasant Grove high schools and a group of Davis area students led by music instructor Celia Cottle.

Although Coppola’s society does not have a committee, he said that the organization receives assistance from sponsors, including the Avalon Hearing Aid Centers, which are owned by Michael Kemp and his wife Betty Voosters Kemp, and other help such as those who provide desserts and prizes.

Commenting about this assistance, Coppola said, “Volunteers and the many dance hosts provide both musical help and great food.”

He added that the society is always in search of additional volunteers and sponsors.

Singing with nuns

Coppola said that his involvement in music basically began when he was 12 years old.

“Music began with me thanks to two nuns at a Catholic church in Concord, Calif.,” Coppola said. “The two nuns said, as they listened to me, ‘You’re 12 years old and you should be singing and you should be singing the Latin Mass. And I said, “But I don’t know Latin.’ They said, ‘We’ll teach you and we’ll practice.’ And that’s what we did after school and I sang the Mass for about two years.”

Coppola, who was a tenor at the time and has been a baritone since he was 14, also sang in the church’s adult choir during the same era.

His early experience with music also included singing in grammar school under the direction of his teacher, Mrs. Davis, who taught her class English, Spanish and Italian songs.

While attending Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, Coppola, who eventually became the high school’s student body president, sang in the school’s choir and attended many dances.

Coppola’s instructor at Mt. Diablo High was Howard Brubeck, the brother of the legendary jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck.

In reminiscing about his early memories of big band music, Coppola said, “It was the music of the 1930s that really was our TV or digital camera of today. The records, if we could afford them, we would go and get and we had turntables – some of us had turntables – and later on we had 45s. And the 45s were even a smaller (media). The 45s became like the later CDs.”

Saturday night dances

Because of his love of the covers of music of the era that was being played by bands at his high school, Coppola was inspired to attend dances at the Masonic Temple in Concord. The big orchestra that played at the venue was Hank Gallagher, a band that Coppola later emceed and recorded every Saturday night at Concord’s Diablo Country Club in 1949.

Coppola said that the Masonic Temple dances furthered his love for big band music.

“(The high school dances) turned me on to go down to the dances put on at the Masonic Temple for 50 cents every Saturday night,” Coppola said. “I went there when I was 16, 17 and 18 years old. Concord had a very active group and it was very well done. It was supervised and there was no liquor, people never got into fights and everybody danced with everybody. The gals didn’t turn you down and you had kind of a gradual friendship gathering.”

Broadcasting beginnings

Through Coppola’s singing ability, he was recruited in 1944 to be the first person to operate a PA system for Mt. Diablo High’s football games.

After high school, from 1945 through 1947, Coppola was a member of the U.S. Merchant Marine, at which time he sailed mostly in the South Pacific.

Toward the end of 1947, Coppola enrolled at San Francisco State University, where he followed the lead of his former social studies teacher, who encouraged him to become involved in radio.

Coppola said that one of his finest memories of attending San Francisco State is his involvement in helping to establish the school’s first radio station.

Radio talent

Although he had planned on graduating from San Francisco State, Coppola said that he was lured away to Pittsburg, Calif., where a new radio station was about to be opened.

“I was hired by the station KECC (representing East Contra Costa) 990 AM to mainly handle sales and sports and live remotes,” Coppola said.

In 1950, Coppola was drafted to serve in the Korean War.

LOU COPPOLA discusses his lifelong love for music. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Within six months of joining the Army, however, Coppola was transferred by Eighth United States Army request to be a part of the new Armed Forces radio network, AFRS (Armed Forces Radio Service) in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The five-station network’s purpose was to bring music, news and sports to roughly 400,000 troops.

His initial 12-month assignment was operating the eight-man vagabond radio station in Seoul.

Following his service overseas and after entering civilian life, Coppola began his major work in radio in Sacramento in 1952 with KGMS 1380 AM.

A year later, he was selected by the owner of radio station KYA 1260 AM in San Francisco to assist in the operation of a small, 1,000-watt station in Oroville. The station, KOMR 1340 AM, covered Butte County.

One of the highlights of Coppola’s time with KOMR from 1953 to 1955 was broadcasting information regarding the critical flood of December 1955.

Coppola recalled how the floodwaters of the Feather River reached within four feet of the top of the levee and less than 50 feet from the station’s building and transmitter.

In January 1956, Coppola returned to Sacramento to work for KCRA AM 1320, which was owned and operated by the Kelly Broadcasting Co. and the Hansen family of the Crystal Cream and Butter Co.

It was also in 1956 that Coppola married one of his co-workers, Betty Groth, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The couple had their only child, Charles “Chuck”, 13 months later.

In 1977, 1320 AM was purchased by Chicago Tribune Properties and became known as KGNR.

KGNR was also affiliated with KSFM 96.1 FM – today’s KYMX, “Mix 96.”

A highlight of Coppola’s time with KGNR was his travel talk show, which aired from 1982 to 1996.

Through his show, “Travel Talk,” Coppola would escort groups to different parts of the world.

On one occasion, he headed a Korean Revisit event, which presented an opportunity for ex-servicemen, who served in Korea from 1950 to 1955, to revisit Korea.

Coppola also traveled to Hong Kong on a food trip with Lena Fat of the local Fat family restaurants and about 30 people in 1992.

Coppola retired from KGNR in 1996, when the station was sold to Henry Broadcasting, which was sold about two years later to Intercom, owner of four other Sacramento stations.

Despite his retirement, Coppola continued working for 1320 AM, voicing commercials and emceeing the station’s big band dances until the formation of the society.

Coppola said that as a “radio man” he was a sort of “a jack of all trades,” since he was versatile in all areas of the radio field.

“I covered sports in Sacramento and Korea (such as the 1952 Olympic Boxing Trials),” Coppola said. “I interviewed various Hollywood, music, sports and political celebrities, including Ginger Rogers, Duke Ellington, Arthur Fiedler, Betty Hutton and Raymond Burr, and I was involved in promotions, commercials and grand openings for local businesses. For me, my life has been filled with good socialization, including sports, information and music of the great era of America’s songbook.”

lance@valcomnews.com

In the early 1850s, Portuguese immigrants began to settle in the Pocket area. They had small, wood-frame houses with basic rooms built for them and their families. And eventually, larger and finer homes began to be constructed in the area as local incomes and families grew.

THE ANTONE LUIZ SILVA HOME in the Pocket area is shown in this 1909 photograph. / Photo courtesy, Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society

In 1909, the Antone Luiz Silva family had a 10-room, Victorian-style home constructed for them in the area by Manuel Valine, a local contractor who was known as “Calisto.”

Because of his knowledge regarding the area’s devastating 1904 Edwards Break flood, Silva had the house built on a knoll against the levee.

During about the same period of time, Manuel Seamas of the Grangers Dairy, which was located at the present site of Elks Lodge No. 6 at 6446 Riverside Blvd., had a similar, fine home constructed on his 100-acre dairy property.

The Silva and Seamas homes were built with an almost identical architectural design, which would cause one to conclude that the Seamas house was also constructed by Calisto.

Manuel Ferreira Dutra, who was known as “Shopinah” and was born in 1876 in Faial in the Azores Islands, immigrated to America when he was about 12 years old.

Shopinah, who was mentioned as a ferryman for the Glide Ferry in a recent Pocket News article about river ferries (Read story at www.valcomnews.com), was best known as the carpenter of the Pocket.

Overall, Shopinah was a carpenter, repairman, barn builder and general handyman, who was known as one who could fix just about anything that needed to be fixed.

Sometime in the mid-1910s, Shopinah, who built small homes in the area, spent three months remodeling the home of Manuel Dutra, Jr.

Pocket residents of the time were known to speak of Shopinah’s work with high regard and they would say that he used so many nails that whatever he built would “never come down.”

As opposed to using professional methods of measuring, Shopinah, who could not read or write, used various lengths of sticks for his measurements.

Another one of Shopinah’s specialties was building small religious shrines – “oratorios” in Portuguese – for family homes.

One Shopinah-built shrine – that of Maria L. Milhomens (Silva) Dutra – was donated to the Portuguese collection of the Sacramento History Museum, appeared in two separate

THE MANUEL SILVEIRA ALVERNAZ HOME in the Riverside/Pocket area was constructed by Terra Bros. builders in about 1928. / Photo courtesy, Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society

Portuguese exhibits at two local museums and is presently stored in the Sacramento History Museum archives.

Among Shopinah’s construction projects was the emergency building of a temporary, shed-type school on the Rogers ranch at the present intersection of Riverside Boulevard and Pocket Road, nearby today’s Garcia Bend Park.

The original Lisbon School, which was a converted barn, was destroyed in the aforementioned 1904 flood.

Shopinah, who was known for his infectious smile and easy going demeanor, died in a tragic accident when his bicycle was struck by a motorist on the dark, narrow Riverside Road (presently Riverside Boulevard) on March 8, 1941.

Following the era of Calisto and Shopinah, a new generation of contractors – who were apprenticed under Calisto – built homes in the Riverside-Pocket area.

Among these contractors were Antonio “Tony” Fernandes Terra and his brother, Frank Leal Terra, who formed a partnership, called Terra Bros., in 1923.

Tony and Frank built Tony’s home at 2940 Freeport Blvd. – the current site of Capital Power Equipment, next to Taylor’s Market – in 1924.

It was also during the 1920s that the Terra brothers built two spacious, brick houses in the Riverside-Pocket area.

One of these houses was the Manuel Garcia home at the intersection of Riverside Boulevard and Florin Road.

The other house was the Manuel Silveira Alvernaz home on Riverside Boulevard, near 35th Avenue. The home, which was built in about 1928 in a large parcel that was later subdivided, is no longer visible from the frontage road, which is Riverside Boulevard.

Sometime after the construction of the Alvernaz home, Tony and Frank ended their relationship as business partners.

Frank continued to work as a home builder on his own until his retirement in 1941.

Tony also worked individually, as he constructed homes until sometime after his son, Alfred, completed his education at Sacramento Junior College (today’s Sacramento City College). Alfred apprenticed under his father and then joined him in his business.

Alfred continued to build under his father’s license until obtaining his own license.

Tony, who moved to Santa Cruz, where he built, resided in and managed the Park Avenue Motel until 1957, died in June 1978.

One of Alfred’s most notable accomplishments as a building contractor occurred after he purchased lots in the Greenhaven 70 subdivision, where he constructed homes that suited the buyers’ specifications.

Due to the May 1964 death of Alfred, local subcontractor Jim Mulhern completed the Vickerman home on Royal Garden Avenue in Greenhaven 70.

THE TONY SEAMAS HOME on the Grangers Dairy property of his brother Manuel Seamas is shown in about the early 1900s. The identity of the woman in the photograph is unknown. / Photo courtesy, Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society

Another local builder was Miguel “Mike” Furtado, who was born on July 6, 1884 in the island of Pico in the Azores Islands.

In 1901, Furtado immigrated to America and was soon afterward residing in Rio Vista.

Furtado obtained his general contractor’s license – No. 40 – in 1918 and he built many homes in Sacramento, including in the Land Park area.

Houses built by Furtado, who apprenticed and worked for Calisto, are easily recognized for their three-valley rooflines, which are focal points over the entrances of these homes.

With the annexation of the Riverside-Pocket area, John Joseph Machado of the Munger Lake area sold the majority of his property, but was able to maintain a lot to build a new home.

Machado selected Furtado due to his reputation as a builder of high quality homes.

Like other Furtado-built homes, Machado’s home included the three-valley roofline and a very functional floor plan.

The well-known contractor Norman Fernandez, who was the son of John Fernandez, the owner of the Sierra Builders firm, also built homes in Greenhaven 70. One of his two-story homes was constructed on Royal Garden Avenue.

The partnership of Ralph and Don Nevis also built homes in Greenhaven 70, one of which was a home on Parklin Avenue.

Upon Ralph’s death in 1966, Don continued to build houses on his own.

These houses included the home of Anthony Dutra, Jr. of the Dutra House – 8144 Pocket Road – family.

With these summaries of local builders, it is evident that the Riverside-Pocket area is a place with a rich, longtime tradition of fine home construction.

lance@valcomnews.com

Fred Morgan and his professional big band will headline at the Pre-Jazz Jubilee Ball at Elks Lodge No. 6 in Sacramento on May 22. / Photo courtesy

Morgan’s song sequence list features hits such as “How High the Moon,” “Sunny Side of the Street,” “Hot Toddy” and “Shiny Stockings;” waltzes such as “Moon River,” and “Alleghany Moon;” and Latin hits “Magic Tango” and “Spanish Eyes.”

Jay Robert’s Swingtime 18-piece band will open at 1 p.m.

Dance hosts, mixers, snacks and prizes will round out this Sunday afternoon lineup that brings music lovers of all ages to the Elks Club No. 6’s huge ballroom. The all-wood floor is perfect for dancing to America’s musical hits of the past century.

The Society has featured five different 15-piece orchestras playing America’s nostalgic songs before crowds from 100 to 9,000 enthused dancers in giant ballrooms, hotels, night clubs, auditoriums, amusement parks and pavilions during the popular 1920-1950 period.

The Pre-Jazz Jubilee Ball will be held on Sunday, May 22, starting at 1 p.m., at the Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6, located at 6646 Riverside Blvd. in Sacramento. Admission is $10 to $12. For more information, call (916) 444-6138.

The Sacramento Marine Corps League Detachment #23 has a new home, or “barracks” at Elks Lodge No. 6 in the Pocket area. Pictured with the veterans are, left to right, PSP John Carvalho, NCD Veteran's Service Committee Chair Jim Wash, DDGER Gerry Landreth Brusato, ER Lona Taggart, PER Ron Brusato, Commandant James Mead, Sr. Vice Commandant Bob Edwards and Pistol Team Coach Bob Huddleston. / Photo courtesy

The lodge Veterans’ Service Committee Chair provides close support to the Leaguers as they reach out to the community with their many charitable events such as Marines Toys for Tots during Christmas.

John F. Kennedy High School’s Marine Corps Junior ROTC members have volunteered at lodge functions for years, fulfilling their community service commitment. Both the lodge and the detachment plan to invite these dedicated students and the Sacramento Young Marines to join in Patriotic lodge events such as Flag Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran’s Day.