As a nine-year Pocket area dweller, I grew accustomed to having my 95831 brethren say “hello” or give a smile and a wave as our paths crossed while I was out running and they were running, walking dogs, or pushing kids in strollers. One of my Pocket “friends” sits in a folding chair in his garage and watches the activities at Garcia Bend Park as his American and USMC flags billow in the Delta Breeze. I’d worry when I didn’t see him out there, and we always exchanged pleasantries as I trotted by. I have no idea what his name is, nor he mine, but it feels like we’ve known each other forever just from our ever-so-brief exchanges.

I feel the same way about the people who work at Bel Air on Rush River Drive — it was sad to leave, as many of them have worked there the entire time I’d lived there. Everyday was like the “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland, complete with the line of, “There is just one moon and one shining sun, and a smile means friendship to everyone.”

Now that I’m living and running in a new ‘hood, I’m disenchanted that the people aren’t nearly as friendly.
Continue reading “Who are the people in your neighborhood?” »

Our local traffic reporters have endured many beatings here on the Sac Rag, but I’d like to pile on a bit — not for their lack of timely information, but for the varied pronunciations of our region’s roadways. Please give your input on your preferred pronunciation of these streets and locales:

Seamas Avenue: Most reporters say “See-mus,” but the actual pronuciation is “Shay-mus.” Then again, if we all used the proper ethnic pronunciations, people living 300 or so miles to our south would be inhabitants of “Lohs Ahn-heh-lays.”

Goethe Park: For years I thought this was named after the 18th-19th century German poet/dramatist, but then I read a book on local history, and it’s really named after a Gold Rush-era land speculator.
Continue reading “How to pronounce “Goethe”” »

Plant a Tree, Be a Hero

Over in the Arden/Arcade side of town local folks have been promoting a tree planting program for quite some time. Adopted from the popular program in the oh so popular Arden Park, the Arden/Arcade extension has gone door to door with flyers asking for volunteers to help. This might sound all well and good, but much like a “boo gram” there is a little something else at play. This time, something a bit offensive.

For example, on their website their tag line reads (with photos of streets with and without trees, sure hope you don’t live on of those “belows”:

“Trees Define A Neighborhood. What street would you like to live on?

Another example (#2 on What You Can Do To Help):

ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO PLANT- If you want to be a hero on your block, give away free trees

Continue reading “What defines you?” »

Interesting front-pager today in the Bee about a dispute down in Franklin over a proposed church building. A tiny church (5 people) wants to expand to a whopping 30 and has bought a house in a residential neighborhood to meet in because it was all they could afford. Overvalued much?

Well, local residents won’t have it. They are trying to get the county to deny the church’s permits to use the house based on a local covenant that restricts “noxious or offensive trade” from being carried on in the neighborhood. How dare they worship their god with music and ritual! Won’t somebody think of the children!?

Only problem: the “noxious trade” clause is clause 2. Clause 1 just happens to be “Neither the whole or any part of said premises shall be sold, rented or leased to any person or persons not of the White or Caucasian Race.” Class move, Franklin!