Interesting People
Romantic Intentions
Julie Soto didn’t intend to become a published author. But, like the plots of the romance novels she writes, it seemed destined to work out.
“In romance, you’re kind of guaranteed a happy ending,” Soto says. “If you already know how a book will end, you have to make it fun along the way.”
Soto approaches her creative endeavors with a sense of fun. The Sacramento native began in musical theater. She performed in youth and community productions before moving to New York after graduation from Sacramento State.
From The Ground Up
“Everybody talks about having a green thumb, as though that implies it takes something special to make things grow,” Henry Wirz says. “Anyone can have a green thumb. A garden is not that difficult if you do the basics. And once you start, you develop a lot of confidence.”
Wirz uses his green thumbs to beautify the garden and help residents at The Salvation Army’s E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Center. It’s a place where struggling families get back on their feet through structured programs and safe housing.
Living Labs
Living Labs Nonprofit connects neighbors to native plant species By Jessica Laskey November 2023 The next time you see bursts of poppies, lupins and yarrows along the highway and wonder how they grow in such harsh environments, you’re probably looking...
Shared Sustenance
“Everyone should be given the option to feed their baby human breast milk,” says Janel Silva, a lactation consultant and co-founder and director of Human Milk Connection, a new nonprofit that helps families access pasteurized donor human milk.
“There’s a knowledge gap that exists. People don’t know about (donor milk) and think the only option is formula,” she continues. “We’re working on getting the word out.”
Bright And Bold
Tim Collom was in his East Sacramento realty office, a cup of iced coffee at hand, discussing art, his favorite subject.
Collom paints California landscapes characterized by bright colors and a variety of locations.
“I love California and I think it’s been the source of inspiration,” he says. “There are so many things, literally every single thing you think you can paint is here. The Sierras, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento Valley, the Bay Area, Los Angeles. Anything you want is in California.”
Last year, Collom received a commission to create seven paintings for Wells Fargo Center on Capitol Mall. The artworks were painted in oil on wet canvases.
Doctor’s Orders
Anyone faced with a health care crisis has probably experienced how the nation’s health care system doesn’t adequately serve the patients it’s supposed to serve.
“Health care has evolved from a personal, human support network to a rush-through of doctor appointments, a push-through at the pharmacy and fragmented communications with other sub-specialty medicine,” says Dr. Sarah Almilli, founder and CEO of ELAK and a licensed advance practice pharmacist.
