Out & About
By Jessica Laskey
May 2026
SHINE ON
Freshman honored for literacy, eco initiative
Sacramento Country Day high school freshman and literacy advocate Ethan Minton, 15, is the youngest recipient of the SMUD Shine Award.
Minton is recognized for promoting early literacy and environmental awareness through his Earth Heroes Initiative, which teaches students simple, actionable ways to reduce their carbon footprint through storytelling.
“This award is very special to me because it recognizes the importance of bringing eco-friendly initiatives into classrooms and shows that a brighter future is possible through collaboration, belief and action,” Minton says.
SMUD supports the initiative by sponsoring three classrooms with new, eco-friendly children’s books.
Minton founded E Train Talks, a nonprofit that promotes early literacy through a podcast, YouTube channel,
and classroom and community outreach. The nonprofit has donated more than 8,000 new books to underserved communities. For information, visit etraintalks.com.
HALL OF FAME
Nine honorees have joined the California Hall of Fame, celebrating their contributions to civic life, creativity and social progress.
The inductees are lifelong public servant and legislator John Burton; Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian Jamie Lee Curtis; pioneering systems scientist Riane Eisler; Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans; American track and field athlete Carl Lewis; America’s first all-women mariachi ensemble Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles; chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa; author Terry McMillan; and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“This year’s class embodies the very best of California—creativity, resilience and a spirit of community,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom says. “These honorees remind us that innovation and courage flourish when people are lifted up by those around them.”
For information, visit californiamuseum.org.
COACHING WEEK
ICF Sacramento, a chapter of the International Coaching Federation, hosts free events this month to celebrate International Coaching Week, May 11–17.
Participants attend a virtual panel to engage with professional coaches and join group activities, watch a coaching demonstration, and attend networking events to connect with expert coaches.
“By showcasing how professional coaching helps individuals and organizations clarify values, define goals, overcome obstacles and achieve results, we can create positive impacts in our local community,” ICF Sacramento President Carrie Chown says.
ICF Sacramento volunteers will provide pro bono coaching to team members and clients from Transform Health, a Sacramento-based health policy consulting firm.
For information, visit icfsacramento.org.
PERFORMING ARTS
The Sacramento Region Community Foundation has awarded nine grants through the Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists.
The recipients are E. Clare Raley Studios for the Performing Arts, Filipino Community of Sacramento & Vicinity, The Girls’ Jazz and Blues Society, Natomas Charter School, NorCal Arts, Northern California Children’s Chorus, Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Performing Arts Conservatory and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera.
For information, visit sacregcf.org.
CHAMPION WARRIORS
The small but mighty West Campus High School Warriors girls basketball team won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship—their fourth CIF title—and reached the state playoffs, losing to East Union of Manteca 48-45.
Coach John Langston says, “Every day in practice, they just contribute so much to make us better. And once again, everybody here is just amazing.”
SPEAKER SERIES
The Sacramento chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International celebrates wine, sake and sensory discovery at its next speaker series.
“Women in Wine & Sake: Mindful Moments, Soothing Sips” is Tuesday, May 12, from 5:30–8 p.m. at the Milagro Event Center by Bella Bru in Carmichael.
Dames Carrie Boyle and Tayler Pecha—Sacramento’s certified sake sommelier and sake scholar—lead the event, hosted and moderated by Dame Amy Myrdal Miller, Les Dames past president.
Tickets, $50 in advance (plus a $5.20 ticketing fee) or $65 at the door, include a glass of wine and food catered by Bella Bru Café. For information, visit ldeisacramento.org.
SNAKE FEST
This month’s Sacramento Snake Festival, hosted by Save The Snakes, celebrates the world’s most interesting and misunderstood animals. The free, family-friendly event includes live presentations with snakes from around the world, snake safety and snakebite first aid, nature education, kids’ activities, music and food.SnakeFest also features other local nature organizations that support the community and snake-friendly businesses.Save The Snakes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, environmental stewardship, and peaceful coexistence between humans and snakes.SnakeFest is Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova. For information, visit savethesnakes.org.
FILMMAKER GRANTS
Calling all Sacramento filmmakers and production companies. Sacramento Film + Media offers six $10,000 production grants and two $5,000 post-production grants funded by Measure U.
“Continuing to invest in local productions strengthens our creative economy, supports local crews and businesses, and keeps film activity growing in our community,” Sacramento Film Commissioner Jennifer West says.
Productions must film at least 50% of their project in the Sacramento region with at least two locations within city limits. The program supports projects completing at least 75% of post-production in the city.
Eligible productions are feature-length films, short films, episodic television, television pilots, television movies and miniseries, documentaries, docuseries, commercials, music videos and unscripted television.
Applications close May 15. For information, visit filmsac.com.
CITIZEN OF YEAR
Carmichael Chamber of Commerce named photojournalist, author, singer and Inside contributor Susan Maxwell Skinner as 2026 Carmichael Citizen of the Year.
Skinner began her newspaper career as a reporter in New Zealand. She spent eight years with the Buckingham Palace press corps and moved to Carmichael in 1989 with her late husband, bandleader John Skinner.
As a photojournalist, Skinner captures local wildlife and civic celebrations. She authored photographic book, “Carmichael Americana,” and was voted Best of Carmichael for photography every year since the contest began. She is a regular contributor to Carmichael Times and Inside Sacramento.
Catch Skinner singing with an alumni band of John Skinner musicians on Mother’s Day, May 10, at Twin Lotus Thai, 8345 Folsom Blvd. For information, visit twinlotusthai.com.
GOLF REDESIGN
The next time you drive across the Tara O’Sullivan Memorial H Street Bridge, take a peek below. Campus Commons Golf Course reopened after years of renovations.
The 9-hole, par-3 course closed in 2021 for levee repairs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The renovations and redesign maximize the course’s location along the American River.
For information, visit playcampuscommons.com.
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