My parents started their 68 years of married lives apart. My father, Shi Chen (Mark) Chiang, worked in Hong Kong while my mother, Kok Pei Chiang, moved to the United States. Yet, once they were reunited, they were rarely apart, even at ACC Care Center where they both resided.
On February 27, 2021, my mother passed away at the Care Center. My father used his last words to call out for her the next morning and passed away the evening of February 28, just 18 hours after his wife. Their amazing story of being together all the way to the end was made possible by ACC.
After serving on the ACC Board back in the day with some of the “originals” like Chewy Ito and Winston Ashizawa, I was excited to see ACC expanding into the senior independent living market and my parents were one of the first couples to move into ACC Greenhaven Terrace after the facility was purchased in 2007. I was grateful to have my parents within minutes of my own home. At the beginning, they were very shy because they were native Cantonese speakers, and their English was limited. But after a couple of years, as more Cantonese-speaking residents moved to GT, they made many friends and could be seen “high-fiving” others in the Community Room.
Activities were a big part of their lives, especially those that were culturally focused. I could tell the activities made my parents feel lively and important instead of old and useless. Although my mom was frail and couldn’t participate in the exercise classes, she enjoyed just being in the room, watching and moving her feet along to the music. My mom started planting and I could tell she was having fun. GT-organized birthday celebrations, trips to Red Hawk, hanging out in the mah-jong room visiting with friends, and free coffee were other highlights. These types of supportive activities are so critical for the elders and really enabled my parents to thrive and flourish during their time at GT.
My parents resided at GT for almost 12 years before moving to the ACC Care Center due to failing health. Their participation in daily activities continued at the Care Center where having employees who speak other languages was essential to their well-being. I consider it a blessing that my parents were able to be cared for at another ACC facility after being unable to continue safely living on their own. They spent their final 2 ½ years at the Care Center.
My family, Joe , Gulnara, Brittany, Marshall and Sophia are so thankful for the wonderful, compassionate care my parents received and all of the happy memories ACC helped to create.
“Photography is …about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. It has little to do with the things you see, and everything to do with the way you see them.” Elliot Erwitt, French-American Photographer
If you’ve walked down the hallways at ACC Senior Services, you’ve probably noticed a gallery of some great photos displayed on the walls near the Program office. These are images of people, places, and moments, captured by your friends at ACC who’ve found great satisfaction in capturing images of the world around them.
One ACC active volunteer who’s found a passion in photography is Jeff Jong. A founding member of the ACC Camera Club, Jeff convinced ACC to allow the Club to set up a gallery at ACC to showcase photos taken by club members. For Jeff, photography is an ideal way for seniors to stay engaged and active. He’s amazed how the camera can lure you into connecting with people and places more closely. As for social interaction, the joys of seeing photos taken by others, and sharing yours on YouTube or Facebook, are hard to beat.
ACC News caught up with Jeff recently via email, and he shared his thoughts about photography for seniors.
Jeff, how did you get into photography?
“Cameras were always around us growing up, but with retirement, I enjoyed a lot more time with it, and found it to be a useful part of my lifestyle. I took some courses at city college and then continued at CSUS. About the same time, I also started getting involved with ACC, first as a volunteer with the Respite Care, and then I got more involved and started to photograph for public relations like images and videos for ACC programs offered to seniors like myself. My wife and I also started to travel more, and I realized what a great and creative documentation tool it was.”
What appeals to you most about photography?
“I like the freedom of creativity photography gives to me – I can record many types of subject matter, events, places, or things, and after touching them up, I could arrange them into an album or video. For me, the ultimate image type is travel. With a camera (or two) on hand, you become more immersed in your surroundings, noticing and appreciating the architecture that other people have put into a place, throughout the ages. You tend to notice the people more so too, as possible subjects – a friendly or helpful face here, the way they talk. And then there’s the food – so tempting and colorful (unfortunately we can’t record the aromas yet!).”
What are some of your favorite photo subjects, events, or locations (especially local)
“Everybody has favorites of what they like to photograph. Past ACC Camera Club members have posted on the ACC Gallery walls images of places, people, pets, flowers, food, and wildlife. Besides traveling, I like all forms of transportation such as cars, motorcycles, airplanes, and boats. There are numerous car and motorcycle shows, and classic wooden boat shows regionally, and airshows at places like McClellan AFB with spectacular flight demonstrations by the Air Force Thunderbirds. For events, ACC’s Annual Golf Tournament and Awards and the My Sister’s House Fun Run have been among my recent coverages.
What’s one of your favorite photos on display at ACC, and why is it so special to you?
“This photo from the Gallery at ACC is one of the four main bridges crossing the waterway that encircles ‘Plaza de Espana’ in Seville, Spain. I took the photo in 2019, with my Canon 6D, using a zoom lens, set at 30 mm, on a trip through Spain. The plaza was built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and is a fascinating mix of Baroque, Renaissance, and Moorish Revival of Spanish architecture. The huge Plaza is situated inside a large park, offers boats to row around its enclosed moat, a grand central fountain, and bridges to cross the moat. While the rest of Seville was also gorgeously beautiful, for me the Plaza de Espana was the crown jewel!”
What advice can you give on getting started in photography?
“You might already have a camera, but with today’s cellphones, getting into photography has never been as easy as now. Most cellphones handle so many of the photographic controls for you automatically, and the photo editing software is usually free and works pretty good. The real question is figuring what subject(s) to shoot. As you shoot more, you may find that you have a preference or ‘natural’ ability with certain subjects, such as people, nature, or travel. Then look at lots of pictures in magazines, on-line, or TV. Notice how the shots are framed to capture the action and background. Put all together, they tell the story of the event, with a beginning, middle, and an end. Eventually, you might invest in a quality camera or lenses, but first figure out the subjects you like and how best to photograph them.
Of course, the traditional method of learning is taking a class. You can take an expensive class, or check out the ones offered at ACC. ACC is lucky to have a computer lab, and the instructors are volunteers who enjoy sharing their knowledge, and classes are small enough where you get personalized attention.”
So, feeling bitten by the photography bug? Want to use your new smartphone for more than just “snapshots?” As Jeff says, it’s so easy to get into photography these days. With the COVID pandemic, ACC has had to put in-person classes on hold, but when we reopen, check out the photo classes and meet others who want to learn. And remember, photography is all about seeing the world around us in new ways – even at our age — and capturing the images that bring our most precious moments back to life. And seniors – be pleasantly surprised if your photos turn out very different from those taken by your Gen-Z grandchildren – even of the same subject!
Editor’s note: Editor’s note: The following article was written by Fusaye Iyeki for “Your Life History, A Guide for Writing,“ a class taught by Lora Connolly at ACC via Zoom. Ms. Iyeki is in her 90s. To sign up for the class, visit accsv.org/online.
I was in the 6th grade when the War with Japan broke out in December 1941. This being the final grade before graduating from Elementary School, students were treated to a special outing. I always watched with envy and longing, with my fingers hanging on the chain link fence, as the buses were leaving for their excursion.
Now that I was finally in 6th grade, I really looked forward to this special trip. But unfortunately, I was taken out of school in April because President Roosevelt ordered that all Japanese, as well as Japanese Americans, were to be evacuated from the Bay Area very quickly, like within two weeks. My older sister May came to take me out of school, which was very embarrassing since it happened in front of all my classmates.
We were allowed to take only a few necessary things. I remember having to give away my new Sonja Henie doll given to me at Christmas. She was beautiful, wearing her bonnet with fur trim around her face. I attempted to give the doll to a couple of friends down the street, but they would not answer the doorbell. I tried several times but got no response, which was hard for me to accept.
We were bused to Tanforan Racetrack, which had been made into an Assembly Center and temporary housing, while permanent barracks were being built in various states.
It was a rainy day when we arrived at the racetrack, which was now fully fenced in. Our housing was in the horse stalls. Our large family was assigned four stalls. It was strange, seeing the swinging partitions in each stall dividing the front portion and the back “bedrooms.” We had to stand in long lines for our meals. I don’t recall what was served, but I do remember that on Saturdays we had hot dogs and ice cream cups.
That summer I attended a class taught by Mr. Sugiyama. He introduced us to the book Les Miserables, a touching story about Jean Valjean. I was so impressed with this book. It became my favorite and still is today. I learned to play table tennis (ping pong) while there, competing at different recreation halls. I loved to play and became quite good at it. I even participated in an all-camp tournament held in the Grandstand. I made it as far as the finals and was runner up to Mary Hidekawa, who won.
When our relocation center was completed, we were transported in very old trains to Topaz, Utah, our new “home” in the desert. Enroute, we were ordered to keep our shades down. Every so often we would stop, and we were allowed to get out and stretch our legs. Soldiers were all lined up facing us, with rifles, standing at attention.
There had been a dust storm shortly before we arrived at the relocation center. Fine powder-like dust was everywhere. It was terrible walking through the dust to our assigned “apartments.” To top it off, all the windows in the rooms had been left open. What a sight it was, thick with dust everywhere! I can’t image what Papa and Mama must have felt at that time.
Our family was assigned to live in Block 7, Barrack 9, Apartments A, B, and C, located along one of the sides of the camp. Each block had 12 apartment barracks, including a recreation hall. There was a separate Mess Hall, latrine and shower facilities, and a laundry room with large tubs, located in the center of each block. Our barrack was close to one of the guard towers, which made me uncomfortable. It was also right next to the barbed wire fence surrounding Topaz.
We slowly adjusted to this new way of life. But it was hard to get used to the fact that the stalls in the latrine were all in rows with no doors in front, which was embarrassing, particularly if you had diarrhea, which often happened after the meals. I also remember seeing wash basins filled with crickets, which frightened me no end! Turning on the faucet was a challenge.
The food wasn’t the best—sometimes Mom was able to get some extra rice from the Mess Hall and we had Ochazuke in our “apartment” with some pickles she had made. I had never seen a dentist during my first 12 years of life even though our next-door neighbor was a dentist. I remember having terrific toothaches before the War, but I never complained because I knew we couldn’t afford the expense. My first experience with a dentist was in Topaz. His name was Dr. Inukai. He looked like a mad scientist, which wasn’t helpful. He decided that much work had to be done. To get started, he put a clamp in my mouth to keep it open. After working a few minutes, he was interrupted by a phone call. So, with the clamp still in my mouth, I waited and waited, wondering if he forgot about me. I think it was a good half hour before he came back. I will never forget my first dental chair experience!
I don’t remember much about going to school, but I do remember having a lot of homework, staying up late at night in the room, while everyone else was asleep. My sister, Matsuko, was a great help when I needed it.
When a French class was offered, I jumped at it! Why? Because my two older sisters, Matsuko and Mikiko, were quite fluent in speaking French with each other, and did so frequently, and I wanted to understand what they were saying. Miss Loomis was an excellent French teacher. However, after only a couple of semesters, she had to leave Topaz due to health problems. There was no substitute, so the French class was dropped.
After living three years at Topaz, I really longed to be on the outside. I hoped and prayed every night to be let out. That time finally came in September 1945, just in time to enroll as a high school freshman. I remember looking out from the back of the bus taking us away from the Camp where we’d lived for three years. That memory will be forever etched in my mind.
Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose 150% last year, many of them targeting the elderly. In January, 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee was on his morning walk in San Francisco when an assailant ran up and shoved him to the pavement. Mr. Ratanapakdee, an immigrant from Thailand, died from his injuries.
Chinese Americans and even those who look Chinese are being blamed for COVID-19. The Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, who is married to a Korean American, recently reported that his wife, three daughters, and grandkids had experienced discrimination. Around the country, racial hate has escalated into violence.
The problem has gotten so bad that President Joe Biden issued a memorandum in January denouncing hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). During his first national address on March 11, the President went straight to the issue, saying there have been “vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans who’ve been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated… It’s wrong, it’s un-American, and it must stop.” What a stark change in attitude from the previous administration.
For nearly 50 years, ACC Senior Services has worked hard to support our seniors’ health and welfare. But we did not foresee the day when we would have to protect them from racial violence.
George Floyd’s death taught us that all groups experiencing racial injustice must stand up for each other; otherwise, the plight of individual groups will be ignored. We quickly saw how a coalition of minorities became a majority demanding an end to institutional racism.
That said, I am heartened to see that more and more companies and organizations (including ACC Senior Services) are practicing “diversity, inclusion, and equity” in their operations and in how they relate to the world. In particular, “inclusion” addresses the need to work with, respect, and appreciate people who are not like ourselves. Perhaps this would have prevented Mr. Ratanapakdee’s death.
I believe that self-interest, the lack of cultural awareness, and the media are among the root causes of racism. If you agree that these are factors, then we still have a lot of work to do.
In the meantime, let’s remain vigilant in fighting all hate crimes. Report them to the police. In addition, you can report AAPI hate crimes to stopaapihate.org, which is run by Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University. They track and respond to hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, and bullying against AAPI in the United States.
When Sacramento City Councilmember Rick Jennings and his wife Cassandra willingly perform their favorite holiday song in public, you know that the cause they represent is a good one.
On Wednesday, December 16, ACC hosted “Home for the Holidays,” two-hour online musical tribute to ACC staff, volunteers, and the family caregivers that got us through 2020 and are preparing us for 2021.
ACC’s Tony Waterford kicked off the program with a big musical number, followed by a heart-warming rendition of Jingle Bells by the 40-member Franklin High School Vocal Ensemble. ACC President Darrick Lam and Board Chair Jean Shiomoto were the emcees for the two-hour extravaganza. They introduced members of the ACC community who performed and gave personal testimonies. The show was broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook from ACC’s Community Room, which was converted to a TV studio.
Aside from musical performances by Asian Pair, ACC Showstoppers, Kabang, Maeley Tom, Rick and Cassandra Jennings, Koichi and Ellie Mizushima, Carla Fontanilla, and many others, other guests appeared on the show to deliver heartfelt messages. ACC Rides Program Manager Virginia Wieneke thanked ACC Rides staff and volunteers, several residents expressed gratitude to ACC staff, and ACC COO Melanie Segar and ACC Care Center Administrator Tamara Kario shared their feelings about the challenging year that was 2020. “With hope there is a tomorrow,” said Tamara.
45 minutes into the show, ACC got word that a $40,000 gift was made to ACC Senior Services by Jim Y Louie And Chau F Louie Foundation in Sacramento. Emcee Darrick Lam made this surprise announcement on air to the delight of the 300+ people watching the program. Darrick expressed his gratitude to the Louie family for this generous gift. In addition, donors who made year-end gifts after November 15, were recognized in the scrolling ticker displayed on the program.
ACC Home for the Holidays was written and directed by Ted Fong with the help of a terrific production team: Nina Fong, Tim Corcoran, and Matt Fong. Special thanks to Lisa Poon, CFO and Interim Chief Development Officer, ACC Senior Services, for her leadership and guidance on this project.
The evening’s program include the following segments:
6:00 PM – Big Opening Musical Number!
6:05 PM – Welcoming Remarks – Darrick Lam and Jean Shiomoto
6:07 PM – Carla Fontanilla
6:16 PM – Metta Mele
6:21 PM – Virginia Wieneke
6:23 PM – Koichi & Ellie Mizushima with Alexi Ishida
6:32 PM – Asian Pair
6:42 PM – Melanie Segar and Tamara Kario
6:49 PM – Asian Pair
6:56 PM – Yesenia Jones and Family
7:00 PM – Maeley Tom
7:08 PM – Alvin Lewis, Jr.
7:10 PM – Joaquin’s Two-Minute Workout
7:13 PM – ACC Showstoppers7:18 PM – Kabang!
7:24 PM – ACC Residents Home for the Holidays
7:27 PM – Josie Blue7:32 PM – Franklin High Vocal Ensemble
7:37 PM – Darrick Lam7:41 PM – Rick and Cassandra Jennings
Prompted by a pandemic, and fueled by a determination to maintain community connection, ACC is taking its programming online.
Before COVID-19, the idea of offering some of ACC’s popular classes, workshops and concerts was considered merely a supplement to existing in-person events; something perhaps aspirational but not necessarily critical. Now, with our community sheltering-in-place and physically distancing, the virtual venue may be the only option our community has to gather for sharing, learning, and connecting.
Mary Nakamura and George Connor gave the first online concert at ACC on October 1, 2020.
ACC’s commitment to Lifelong Learning and Wellness doesn’t take a break while the world is in the throes of this terrible crisis. In short order, ACC has brought a selection of its traditional in-person programming to you online, by way of social media and virtual meeting platforms Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom. Dance and yoga classes offered by Joaquin Ngarangad and Jeanie Kim-Slesicki were the first to test the team’s skills at producing live learning content, followed soon by classes for caregivers with Kris Ritualo, Soojin Yoo and Kim Fujiwara, meditation sessions with Dennis Shimosaka, a Medicare tutorial provided by Carolynn Washington, and cooking demonstrations with ACC’s own CEO, Darrick Lam. Ted Fong, who has been very “instrumental” (pun intended) behind the scenes, stepped in front of the camera himself to host a music class, joined by the fabulous singer Maeley Tom, guitarist Matt Grasso, harpist Carol Ng, and jazz musician Carla Fontanilla.
Joaquin Ngarangad teaches yoga and dance. His classes attract 20-30 student per session.
As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” We thank our class and workshop instructors for helping us continue to fulfill our commitment to providing an environment of lifelong learning and wellness, through these challenging times.
Of course, classes and workshops are not the only kinds of events ACC is known for. George Connor and Mary Nakamura gave us our first live web broadcast feature-length concert, and it was spectacular! Musical delights continued with those brought to us by Pair of Docs Dennis and Janet Fisher, and a truly joyful trio, Koichi and Ellie Mizushima and Alexi Ishida. Gary Yee’s Metta Mele rang in the month of December and we look forward to bringing much more as we head into the new year.
Whether enjoying a virtual concert, or attending a participatory class or workshop, ACC’s live programming serves a very important purpose beyond education and entertainment; we strive to fight isolation by bringing our community together, while safe at home.
Dennis and Janet Fisher demonstrate bluegrass ukulele.
To learn more about ACC’s online offerings, please visit our website at www.accsv.org/online, call us at (916) 393-9026, or email infossc@accsv.org. Your feedback regarding past content, and your ideas for future content are also greatly appreciated. If you are interested in becoming a part of ACC’s online programming, whether as a volunteer providing production support or as our next talented performer or instructor, please contact Susan Sarinas at ssarinas@accsv.org.
Starting next quarter, we are pleased to introduce a new Tai Chi instructor, Robert Nakashima, who will be teaching Tai Chi for Those with Limited Mobility. He has taught Tai Chi and internal martial arts in the Sacramento area for 25 years. Robert is a former gold medalist and Grand Champion in national and international competition, specializing in traditional form and weapons. He holds a third degree black belt in Uechi Ryu Karate and is the co-founder and chief instructor of WarriorHeart, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Tai Chi, Yoga and Qigong instruction to those with chronic illness. Also new to the schedule, is Your Life History — A Guide for Writing, taught by Lora Connolly, Board Member. This is a popular workshop that has been taught at Hart Senior Center.
To view ACC’s complete online class schedule visit accsv.org/online.
By Tamara Kario, MSN, RN, LNHA Administrator, ACC Care Center
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACC Care Center has been focused on quality care and enhancing our residents, staff, and family members’ experience. These efforts came to fruition when we were granted approval for an innovative proposal: convert 16 apartments at ACC Maple Tree Village (MTV) for skilled nursing services as we braced for what many had called the “twindemic.”
The Care Center staff developed an in-depth plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by grouping and locating residents into three Zones – Red (confirmed COVID-19 cases), Yellow (unknown/known exposure and new admissions), and Green (No COVID or recovered from COVID-19).
Chaia Lee welcomes Carolyn Muller to ACC Maple Tree Village.
The ability to extend our SNF license to MTV enabled the Care Center to expand the Yellow Zone for residents who may have had an exposure or where the status is unknown. In October, our staff safely and successfully moved 16 residents to the new Care Center Green Zone at MTV. The 16 residents were excited to move into private suites that came with added amenities. Having a team of dedicated staff assigned at MTV has lessened the residents’ transition trauma. We are grateful to the family members of the 16 residents who have continued to work with us. Through collaboration with them, we have continued to address important topics, including the creation of a VIP lounge similar to the one at the Care Center.
Moving 16 residents to MTV was the first step; the second Herculean step was the internal room moves of 30+ residents at the Care Center. Staff came up with a group called CMP (cleaners, movers, packers), who were assigned to support and assist moving the residents.
On the day of the internal room moves, we were notified of an ancillary staff member who had tested positive for COVID due to a family exposure. We immediately contacted the local health department to see whether the internal room moves could continue as previously planned. The county confirmed the moves could continue since the individual did not have direct contact with the residents. The internal room moves went smoothly, and the galvanizing effects of hard work from the staff spoke volumes.
We are especially grateful to the Care Center families who have unequivocally supported our efforts to fiercely care for our residents and staff. With ongoing scrutiny from regulatory agencies and information changing rapidly, we believe we have firmly aligned our mitigation plans with state and federal regulations.
Kaley Wong and Debbie Williams keep residents active and engaged.
To date, we have had six COVID-19 focused surveys, including a federal survey. We are encouraged each time the surveyors report that we remain in substantial compliance with our COVID-19 mitigation plans. Furthermore, the Care Center has partnered with CVS to be the facility’s COVID-19 vaccine provider. More information will be shared as we learn about the vaccine scheduling and administration process.
As we celebrate the holidays, we echo our appreciation and gratitude to everyone who has continued to support ACC. Thank you for the donations and generosity you continue to show each day. It is because of people like you that we have continued to press on against all odds.
ACC Senior Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Lora Connolly and Paula Mishima to the ACC Board of Directors. Lora and Paula bring a wealth of experiences and knowledge to the Board. Let’s meet them!
When Lora Connolly was getting ready to retire and people asked her what she was going to do, she replied “learn Tai Chi.” Lora found that ACC was offering Tai Chi at ACC Greenhaven Terrace. So she enrolled, and soon Tai Chi at GT became Lora’s Wednesday morning destination!
Lora’s involvement with ACC led her to consider serving on the Board of Directors, which she joined in July 2020. We’re very fortunate to have Lora as a Board member, as she’s been working on aging and long-term care issues for over 30 years. After earning her Master’s in Gerontology at USC, Lora came to Sacramento and worked in positions with the Legislature and various state departments. Lora’s career with the State included many years with the Department of Aging, where she served as the Department’s director under the Brown Administration. ACC will surely benefit from Lora’s first-hand knowledge of many aging issues and strategies to better address California’s increasingly diverse aging population.
For the last two years, Lora has participated in the ACC strategic planning process and, as a Board member, she will also be serving on the Program and Care Center committees. “It is an honor and privilege to have been asked to serve on the Board and focus on direct services and programs right here in this area of Sacramento.”
Lora also shares that “ACC was a very caring home to my mother-in-law, and I have many cherished memories of those visits over those last three years of her life.” And being a life-long learner, Lora surely misses ACC’s class offerings due to COVID-19, but she’s excited about ACC’s move to offer more classes and events on-line. Her latest idea – a hybrid Zoom/outdoor Pocket area birding group!
Paula Mishima was appointed to the ACC Board in September. Paula shares that serving on the Board brings her time in Sacramento full circle. Being new to Sacramento back in the early 1980s, she began volunteering with her Auntie Chiz and Uncle Buro at ACC’s Bingo operation. Then, as a Mom with three daughters, Paula’s volunteer work pivoted to their activities, including Jan Ken Po Gakko, Asian league basketball, and Kennedy High School. Now, with her third daughter finishing college, Paula says, “I’m ready to re-engage in community work. I was drawn back to ACC because I’m often at Greenhaven Terrace (GT) where my Auntie Chiz’s two youngest siblings now live. They have found GT a supportive and caring place to live. I’ve become more aware of the other valued services ACC provides as I listened to the stories of my middle daughter, who volunteered for the ACC Legacy Corps program until she started medical school this past July.”
A native of Berkeley, Paula brings a wealth of public sector expertise and experience to ACC. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Washington. Paula came to Sacramento to pursue a career in public service, first working for the Legislative Analyst’s Office, then moving on to positions in the Legislature and with the California Department of Education (CDE). Paula served as Deputy Superintendent for then-State Superintendent Delaine Eastin and continues to work at the CDE as a special projects administrator for data systems.
Although serving on the Board for just a few months, Paula has been impressed by the dedication and talent of her fellow board members and ACC management and staff. She is currently on the Finance and GT committees, where the skills honed over many years working in the public sector will be of great value!
Please join the ACC Board in welcoming Lora and Paula. We appreciate their dedication to ACC, and look forward to their contributions in helping us achieve our mission and vision!
It was a cold, grey day when I sat down to talk to Karen Weisner and Barbara Breisemeister, Illa Collin’s daughters. Illa, a former Sacramento County Supervisor, lived at ACC Care Center for several years and recently moved into the skilled nursing “Green Zone” at ACC Maple Tree Village.
Illa was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, representing District 2, in 1978. During her 28-year tenure, Illa championed the preservation of Sacramento County’s open space lands. She helped create the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the American River Parkway Foundation. She was instrumental in getting Sacramento’s light rail system established. Former colleagues, including Congresswoman Doris Matsui, describe Illa as “one of Sacramento’s most distinguished citizens and an extraordinary woman.”
At age 2 in Wyoming
Illa had a great working relationship with ACC’s then President, Chewy Ito. Recalls ACC former Board Chair Winston Ashizawa, “Illa helped clear the way for ACC to use Bingo as a fundraising method. She was deeply interested in the Asian community and always found time to attend ACC fundraisers and other events. It’s just amazing how her friendship with Chewy has come full circle, as both are now residents at ACC Maple Tree Village!”
Illa retired in 2007, but stayed busy with other personal projects, such as volunteering with Rebuilding Together (a nonprofit that helps low-income homeowners with necessary repairs). Her dedication to the Sacramento community is evident as several sites in the region bear her name: the Illa Collin Preserve (Mather Field), Illa Collin Early Learning Center (a Head Start school), and the Illa Collin Park in South Sacramento.
Illa Collin was born January 24, 1932, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. After her father passed away in a mining accident, her mother moved the family to Portland, Oregon. She attended the University of Oregon, where she met her husband, Don. “My mother must have been really smitten, because she broke off her engagement to another fellow, to pursue Dad,” said Karen.
Illa and Don’s wedding on July 12, 1957. They have been married for 63 years.
After graduation, Illa taught school in Portland. Even though Don was involved with the Young Republicans and Illa was a staunch Democrat, theirs is a lifelong love story. They got married on July 12, 1957, in Portland. After their honeymoon, the couple moved to California. Don attended law school at Cal Berkeley, and Illa taught school in Piedmont. They raised their three young daughters (Karen, Anne, and Barbara) in Berkeley, Oakland and El Sobrante before settling down in Sacramento in 1968.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the family’s “fourth daughter,” Clarabelle, the family cat. Illa found Clarabelle, then a flea-ridden kitten, in a park after leaving a business meeting. The cat still holds a special place in Illa’s heart. Clarabelle lived a long (18 years), happy life with the Collin family.
It was clear from the family photo albums that Illa was the consummate community volunteer – from school PTAs, Girl Scouts, to local politics. She worked on several local political campaigns. She was active in the Women’s Movement and from 1973-1975, led the League of Women Voters in Sacramento. She strived to improve social service programs, especially to underserved areas of the county, before her stint as a County Supervisor.
Both Don and Illa had busy work and community meeting schedules. There were many times that they forgot to pick up their daughters from school. “We often tell people that we were the original latch-key kids…without the key,” said Barbara. The sisters erupted in loud laughter as they recalled, “When we got older and could walk home by ourselves, we’d wait in the garage for mom or dad to come home. Thank goodness there was a bathroom in the garage!”
Even though Illa was busy with her civic duties, she carved out time for her daughters. She planned their birthday parties and sewed all of their holiday outfits and Halloween costumes. To this day, all the Easter bonnets she made for the girls are safely stored away. Illa read to her girls most nights. Barbara recalls, “I had three favorite books. I made my mother read them to me night after night. This is my fondest memory of my mother.” Now the grandchildren have inherited these childhood books, as well as Illa’s vast collection of Beanie Babies (over 100).
In recent years, Illa has experienced health issues. But she still has her famous beaming smile, even during these challenging times when visits from family and friends are very limited. Linda Revilla, now Director of Programs at Meals on Wheels, recalls a touching story about one visit from Don Collin. In keeping with safety protocols, the couple couldn’t be in the same room or hug each other. But they lovingly “touched hands” through a window. There wasn’t a dry eye among the staff.
Today, Collin spends her days watching the NHK channel, old movies and listening to music. Illa’s favorite musicians? Gene Autry, John Denver and Johnny Cash to name a few.
Barbara adds, “She loves any black and white movie – a good whodunit or comedy. She is a MAJOR fan of Star Wars – she’s seen all the movies.” In fact, the family home has a dedicated ‘Star Wars Room’ that now houses almost 100 figurines and movie paraphernalia. Illa’s entire collection actually numbers closer to 500 pieces, but most of it is in a large storage container and several pieces are in Illa’s Maple Tree Village apartment. Last year, Illa convinced ACC to have a Star Wars Halloween party. The family loaned a lot of their collection to ACC for the event. Illa had planned to attend the party as Darth Vader. Unfortunately, she got sick and spent that night in the hospital. But the family draped the costume over Illa, so she didn’t miss out on the festivities.
Barbara insisted I drink the special green tea from Frank Fat’s – the family’s favorite restaurant – as I listened to more stories that revolved around food. Don was the chef of the family, as “Illa just didn’t seem interested in learning how to cook”. As soon as they returned from their honeymoon, he began studying Julia Child’s cookbooks. This came in handy as the couple often entertained family and business associates. But Illa had some cooking skills. Karen said, “Mom was the worst cook in the world, but she always made and decorated our birthday cakes.” Illa often whipped up family favorites like Chicken Bits & Pilaf, French Breakfast Puffs, and Chugwater Chili. Try this famous Wyoming-based recipe, which includes Illa’s secret ingredient (V8 juice):
Ingredients:
2 lbs. of lean ground beef
2 (15 ounce) cans of pinto and/or kidney beans, undrained
2 – 3 (5.5 ounce) cans of V8 juice
3 Tbl. Of Chugwater Chili Seasoning
Instructions:
Brown the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
Add in Chugwater Chili Seasoning; mix well.
Add in the V8 juice.
Give the mixture a good stir; now add the beans.
If you want a thicker chili, drain the beans first. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. And if you happen to run into Illa at Maple Tree Village, let her know you made her chili recipe. She’ll be thrilled and thank you with her beaming smile.
“Busking” is the activity of playing music in the streets or other public locations. Volunteers at ACC recently organized two groups of ukulele players to do just that for the residents of ACC Greenhaven Terrace and ACC Maple Tree Village.
“Arnie’s Angels” and “Robbie’s Rascals” staged several outdoor performances at these locations to the delight of ACC residents looking for fresh air, good music, and great company. This project began with a general concern among ACC staff and volunteers that volunteers would disconnect from ACC during the pandemic. ACC Chief Operating Officer Melanie Segar met with them and came up with a list of ways volunteers could help remotely during the pandemic. Among them are:
Making wellness calls
Helping with language translation
Editorial writing for print and online newsletters
Production assistance for online streaming content
Remote clerical assistance
In September, the Volunteer Services Committee proposed the idea of forming two small teams of ukulele players to serenade ACC residents outdoors. Committee co-chair Linda Cabatic forwarded this idea to Melanie, who immediately emailed the managers of ACC Care Center, Greenhaven Terrace (GT) and Maple Tree Village (MTV) with the offer. The offer was accepted, and thus began the process of recruiting performers. Eight players from ACC Pocket Pickers signed up immediately. Life Enrichment Coordinators Stephanie Lue and Liana Ma arranged dates and times for performances at GT and MTV.
The First Serenade — Arnie’s Angels was the first to serenade the mostly assisted living (AL) residents from the central courtyard at GT. It was a balmy 80°F, and the residents gathered on their balconies and in the AL Activity Room with the sliders open to listen and sing along with the Angels. We chose songs that were favorites of the in-house GT-AL Happy Strummers singing group (that I started in 2014). They happily swayed, tapped their feet and sang along with our 45-minute playlist.
The MTV Double Header — MTV wanted two shows, one for their Memory Care residents (MC) and one for their AL residents. On Thursday, November 5, another 80°F afternoon, the Angels played for the AL residents seated on the sidewalk surrounding the main entrance and an hour later, the Rascals performed for the MC residents in the same locale. And, like we did at GT, we sang the favorite songs from MTV’s in-house singing group, The Songbirds (that Elsie, Nami, Frank (Yamanaka) and I started in January of 2020), so the residents could sing along. Doreen Wong, whose mother resides at MTV, danced a graceful hula to our song, “Tiny Bubbles.”
Temperatures Drop — The Rascals also performed on November 14th and 21st at GT, and it was barely 58°F. Even though their balconies were in the shade, some of the AL residents wore hooded down parkas and sat or stood on their balconies for our 45-minute show. Talk about a tough audience!
2021, Here We Come — Now that we have two experienced teams, we are starting to look at creative performing opportunities for next year. Of course, we will continue to observe the ever-changing COVID-19 safety guidelines, but these dedicated ukulele players feel optimistic about the future ahead.
