Out And About
By Jessica Laskey
March 2022
A Bridge to Honor
Community remembers fallen Police Officer Tara O’Sullivan
The H Street Bridge near Sacramento State University has been renamed in honor of Tara O’Sullivan, the Sacramento police officer killed in the line of duty in 2019.
City Councilmembers Jeff Harris and Eric Guerra, members of the Sacramento Police Department, city of Sacramento, Sacramento State and the O’Sullivan family attended a February dedication for the Tara O’Sullivan Memorial Bridge.
“We are here to celebrate someone who we lost, someone who we loved very much,” said Harris, who helped facilitate the bridge naming after hearing from community members.
Pastor Anthony Sadler from Shiloh Baptist Church referenced lyrics from the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which he said was “about providing comfort for those in need.”
“Tara was a bridge,” Sadler told the audience. “She was created by God to help people cross safely through the dangerous crossings in life.”
After thanking the O’Sullivan family for their sacrifice, and their strength and grace in the face of tragedy, Police Chief Kathy Lester called the dedication “bittersweet,” with the bridge serving as a way for O’Sullivan’s life, legacy and memory to live on and inspire.
“When I see this bridge, I don’t think of bad things. I think of all the things the O’Sullivan family has done for our department,” Lester said.
“No one has given more to this city than Tara and the O’Sullivan family,” said retired Police Chief Daniel Hahn. “It’s a debt that can never be repaid.”
O’Sullivan was a graduate of Sacramento State University and its Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars’ program. She grew up in the East Bay and joined SPD in 2018. O’Sullivan was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call.
‘Fertile Ground’
Sacramento has been chosen as the host city for “Fertile Ground,” the 2022 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference running March 16–19 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center and other locations throughout the region.
The 56th annual conference will feature opportunities for learning, teaching, connecting and collaborating around all things clay. The hybrid event will incorporate in-person and remote participation, including lectures, demonstrations, networking opportunities and engagement with vendors, nonprofits, schools and galleries.
More than 80 exhibitions will be on view as part of the NCECA conference at more than 50 local venues, including Archival Gallery, R25 and Shepard Garden and Arts Center.
For the full exhibition guide and program schedule, visit nceca.net.
DIGITAL BOOKS
The Sacramento Public Library reached a record-breaking 3 million digital book checkouts in 2021, one of 20 public library systems in the world that surpassed 1 million digital checkouts last year.
“We’ve experienced tremendous demand for e-books and audiobooks over the past several years,” says Library Director/CEO Peter Coyl. “Readers love the convenience of having free access to thousands of materials on their device. You can take the library wherever you go.”
Through apps like Libby by Overdrive, library cardholders can check out e-books, audiobooks and magazines 24/7, as well as find free online classes on subjects like music, sewing, cake decorating and more in Libby’s Extras section.
For more information and to apply for a library card, visit saclibrary.org/welcome.
SACRAMENTO LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Sacramento City Council has voted unanimously to adopt an official City of Sacramento Land Acknowledgement to be read at the beginning of every meeting.
The Land Acknowledgement honors and recognizes that the city was built on lands of the Nisenan, Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, and Patwin Wintun peoples, whose descendants continue to live here today.
“We cannot make the future better unless and until we acknowledge and reckon with the past, especially the past around discrimination and the taking of land from indigenous peoples,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg says.
At the first reading, Jesus Tarango, tribal chair of Wilton Rancheria, the city of Sacramento’s only federally recognized tribe, said he hopes that Sacramento’s Land Acknowledgement will prompt other jurisdictions to adopt their own. “What we have here is a beautiful land acknowledgement that acknowledges not only the Wilton Rancheria but all the tribes that were here in this region,” Tarango said.
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
State funding of $29 million has been approved to convert a North Natomas hotel, Staybridge Suites, into housing for families experiencing homelessness.
The site on Promenade Circle will become Vista Nueva, a permanent supportive housing community featuring 116 units and onsite services for families and children. It will be run by nonprofit housing developer Jamboree and the Sacramento
Housing and Redevelopment Agency.
City Councilmember Angelique Ashby says families are expected to move in this spring. Vista Nueva will be the city’s second hotel conversion using state-awarded Homekey funds after opening the La Mancha permanent supportive housing complex in a former Woodspring Suites in south Sacramento last year.
VACCINE AMBASSADORS
Sacramento County Public Health has partnered with The Center at Sierra Health Foundation and community-based organizations that are part of Sac Collab to launch a Vaccine Ambassador Program to help increase vaccination rates in under-sourced communities.
Ambassadors live in the communities they serve and are trained by Sac Collab’s network of community-based organizations. As trusted local allies, ambassadors provide culturally relevant COVID-19 vaccine outreach, communication and information through peer support and community events.
Formed in 2020, Sac Collab is a county initiative that supports neighborhoods badly affected by COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, it has provided community case investigators, contract tracers, resource coordinators, business navigators and now vaccine ambassadors to support Sacramento County residents.
To request ambassador support, visit surveymonkey.com/r/vap-eventrequestform.
FREE TAX HELP
Attention Arden and Carmichael residents! You might be eligible to file your taxes online for free via United Way California Capital Region’s Free Tax Prep program through April 18.
Households that earned less than $65,000 in 2021 can file for free and receive up to $8,000 cash back from state and federal credits, including the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Free Tax Prep program provides tax help virtually and in person in multiple languages without a preparer fee. A virtual tax workshop will be held March 12 where certified volunteers will help participants prepare their returns and answer questions before filing. For more information, visit yourfreetaxprep.org.
GROUNDWATER PLAN
The North American Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan, a long-term plan for protecting the groundwater basin underlying parts of Sacramento, Placer and Sutter counties, has been approved after nearly five years of scientific study and public input.
The basin is one of the Sacramento region’s primary sources for drinking water—especially during drought years—and provides more than half of the water supply used for agriculture.
During rainy years, when lakes and rivers are full, local water providers use more river water, which allows the groundwater aquifer to recharge. During dry years, more groundwater is used, which leaves more water in rivers to sustain the environment of the Lower American River and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The sustainability plan provides a roadmap for managing the groundwater basin over the next 20 years to adapt to climate change as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014.
The plan was developed and approved by five groundwater sustainability agencies in Sacramento, Sutter County, South Sutter, Reclamation District 1001 and West Placer. The agencies agreed to implement the plan together and split the $1.15 million implementation cost over the next five years. For more information, visit nasbgroundwater.org.
NEW PUBLIC MARKET
The River District is getting a new community gathering spot. The Alchemist Public Market will include vendors, a farmers market and assistance for young food business entrepreneurs.
APM is one of three Food-Anchored Resiliency Hubs within the city of Sacramento selected to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federally funded program that supports community-led efforts to reinvest in neighborhoods, protect the
environment with energy-efficient utilities and improve health outcomes.
APM will provide underserved entrepreneurs a place to launch their businesses while creating a community gathering place where low-income neighbors can access quality produce from local sellers. For more information, visit alchemistpublicmarket.com.
SAC JAZZ CO-OP
It’s not always easy to take a break, but the Sacramento Jazz Cooperative has decided it’s time. After six years, SJC will scale back live performances in favor of virtual offerings.
“A dwindling membership, along with the ever-present threat of COVID, has just had too great an impact for the organization to sustain,” founding CEO Carolyne Swayze says. “We’re not going away, totally. You can expect to see more virtual performances and you’ll be likely to see some new faces and new places as we attempt to partner with other jazz organizations.”
SJC will produce a couple more shows this spring. To stay apprised, go to thesjc.org. Check out past performances on YouTube. For questions, email Swayze at sjc@thesjc.org. “Don’t forget to keep the music playing,” she says.
SOLID WASTE FEE
The Sacramento City Council has unanimously approved an increase in monthly solid waste disposal rates over the next three years. Beginning April 1, the average monthly solid waste bill will increase by $3.83 each year through 2024.
The rate increase will help cover the additional costs of collecting and composting organic food waste as required by a new state ordinance, as well as growing amounts of household waste due to the pandemic, and rising labor and processing costs.
In 2020, the amount of garbage produced by Sacramento customers rose by 10.9 percent, recycling by 6.4 percent and household junk tonnage by 15.6 percent. The rate increase will also allow for additional benefits, such as more frequent street sweeping and more appointments for household junk pickup.
The organic waste collection program was mandated to help jurisdictions meet climate change goals by diverting organic material that emits methane when buried in landfills. The city estimates that organic waste composting will eliminate 31,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses each year. The organic waste will be processed for use as compost on Northern California farms and may eventually be offered to Sacramento consumers.
Starting in July, city and county customers will put their food waste and food-soiled paper products into their green waste bin. The city will provide free organic waste collection bins and compostable bin liners that can be dropped directly into the green waste bin.
Financial assistance is available for income-qualified households to help with the cost of solid waste fees. For more information, visit cityofsacramento.org/public-works/rsw. For county information, visit wmr.saccounty.gov/pages/curbsideorganics.aspx.
FREE STUDENT MEALS
St. HOPE Public Schools, a free public charter school network, will serve free meals to students under the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program during the 2021-2022 school year.
All students will be served breakfast and lunch at no charge at PS7 Elementary School, PS7 Middle School and Sacramento Charter High School.
Free meals are also available for pick up on the Sac High campus during the summer months for anyone 18 and younger. For more information visit sthope.org or email foodservice@sthopepublicschools.org.
BALLET INTENSIVE
Auditions are open for the five-week Sacramento Ballet Summer Intensive 2022.
The program provides elite-level training in an inspiring, supportive and creative atmosphere to help young dancers become technically proficient and versatile, and to make a successful entry into the dance world.
Auditions are open to students ages 14–20 who have achieved intermediate or advanced levels of ballet training. The next in-person audition will be Saturday, March 5, at the Sacramento Ballet Studios at 2420 N St. If you cannot make the in-person audition, video submissions will be accepted until March 31. For more information, visit sacballet.org/summer-2022.
‘WE CAN DO THIS!’
“We Can Do This! Sacramento’s Trailblazing Political Women and the Community They Shaped,” a new book by author Christine Hunter, takes a deep dive into the stories of women who led Sacramento from the 1970s through the 2000s, and reveals a clear path for young women of today to follow in their footsteps.
Through personal interviews and in-depth research, Hunter uncovered how and why these dynamic women were so important in the development of our fair city—especially at a time when women were still actively fighting for their place at the public table.
All proceeds from the sale of “We Can Do This!” will benefit the Anne Rudin Scholarship, administered by the Sacramento League of Women Voters, which supports young women undergraduates who are pursuing an education in public administration, government or public policy-related programs. For more information, visit wecandothissacramento.com.
NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center has been named one of two 2021 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for its work addressing issues of community health and safety and workforce development.
As a Neighborhood Builder, the center will receive a $200,000 grant over two years, as well as comprehensive leadership training. The center will use the funds to accelerate its Economic Justice Program, which helps LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness obtain and maintain employment, and meet basic needs that increase employment stability and self-reliance.
Pre-pandemic, transgender workers in the greater Sacramento area reported unemployment at three times the rate of the population as a whole. Forty percent of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+, many of whom became homeless due to family and community rejection.
“Bank of America’s commitment and support help raise awareness of our organization and will help more local LGBTQ+
community members chart a path toward economic opportunity and stability,” says Robynne Rose-Haymer, the center’s deputy chief program officer.
ROTARY CLUB DINNER
Support the Carmichael Rotary Club by reserving a to-go dinner for four. Proceeds will support local parks, food closets, schools and children’s charities.
The tri-tip dinner, prepared by Jackson Catering, includes focaccia bread, salad and a baked potato. The cost is $100 for four dinners. An extra $10 buys a bottle of wine.
The dinners will be ready for pick up from 4:30–5:30 p.m. Friday, March 11, in front of the Carmichael Grocery Outlet at the corner of Walnut and Marconi.
To reserve the dinners, send a check made out to the Carmichael Rotary Foundation to 4856 Paisley Way, Carmichael 95608, or use PayPal at paypal.me./tritipdinner4four?locale.x=en_us. Orders and payments must be received by Tuesday, March 6.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
