Healthy Option

Healthy Option

Mar 28, 2025

The last time Dr. Lou Vismara had an idea this big it turned into the UC Davis Mind Institute, a renowned research center for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Vismara, 81 and retired from his cardiology practice, is at it again. He teamed with developer Angelo Tsakopoulos to plan a 2,800-acre project on Tsakopoulos’ property that spans parts of Folsom and two counties, Sacramento and El Dorado.

The development includes what Vismara and Tsakopoulos call a “Community for Health and Independence” that can be replicated elsewhere.

Designed for elder residents and people with disabilities, the plan counts the UC Davis Health Center and Sacramento State University as partners. Although it must survive governmental reviews before anything gets built, the new community is generating excitement and consternation.

Verbal Sparring

Verbal Sparring

Feb 28, 2025

I met Bill at Baylor University. He was a fellow ministerial student who imprinted his fraternity shirt with a mock Latin phrase, “Quid tibi est?”

In 1978, Google was a long way off, so my fellow pledges asked him to translate it.

“What’s it to you?” he asked.

“Oh, come on,” we said. “Just tell us what it means.”

Mocking us as lowly plebes, he weighted the last two words, “What’s it TO YOU?”

Paint The Town

Paint The Town

Apr 28, 2024

David Sobon has overseen the creation of more than 200 local murals with Wide Open Walls, a nonprofit art organization he founded in 2017. His new passion is creating murals for local schools in underserved neighborhoods.

Murals bring social, cultural and economic benefits. They build a sense of community and offer accessibility to art and creative expression without the cost barriers of museums and galleries.

“Outdoor murals have a proven track record to be a fairly inexpensive way to enhance the image of cities,” Sobon says.

Our city’s murals have been featured in widespread media. The cover of Parade magazine recognized one as best in the state.