Dear friends,

As we approach the zenith of our anniversary celebrations on May 6, it is important to communicate clearly about all we are working on at Parkview this year…

1. We are focusing on beautification and updating of our facilities.  Al Maich has made two beautiful stained glass windows which will be backlit and built into boxes that will hang on either side of the chancel area.  Gary Summers and Barbara Hiyama-Zweig have provided us with a beautiful new deck in the courtyard.  Marilyn and Jerry Champa have hired a designer to develop new landscaping around that deck. Gary Summers has agreed to start work on finishing the wooden Japanese window guards on our courtyard windows after meeting with Stan Umeda.  The Yee’s will be providing new large numbering on the front of the church.  A Scout troop will be staining the fence and the deck.  Furthermore, we have begun taking bids on securing our facilities from further burglaries.  The Mariners group is looking into donating additional inside motion sensor lighting  for when our members need to enter the church after dark. Thanks for Phil Chew for his coordinating work.
2. We are planning a series of concerts with well known local music groups of high quality, the first to take place February 10. For your tickets see the committee members Haruko Sakakibara, Wade Tambara and Cathy Nishizaki.  Also I hope you have noticed that Ben and Wade keep introducing new choir members.
3. Titus and Donna Toyama are heading up a “green” group that will be taking initiatives throughout the year.  They already welcome your used printer cartridges for recycling and fundraising for the church.
4. We will be celebrating a rich Parkview culinary tradition. By May an attractive creative  multicultural Parkview cookbook should be printed and for sale. Committee members include Donna Komure-Toyama, May Lee, Carla Hart, Marilyn Champa and Chris Sasaki-Matsuoka. We will hold our banquet at Asian Pearl in South Sacramento on May 6.  Thanks to Victor Yee for taking the lead on this.
5. We plan to celebrate and enhance our service to the community. May Lee is coordinating with the California State Legislature on resolutions celebrating our contribution to the Sacramento Community.  Jennifer Chmura, one of the attorneys in our midst, is helping us develop an anti-abuse policy for vulnerable groups (children and the aged among others).  Maurine Huang, Joyce Uyeda and May Lee are investigating the possibility of a community outreach project to mark Parkview’s hundredth year.

Did you notice something?  Did you notice the new names in this list (which by no means is exhaustive)!  We have been blessed in the last year or so to have been joined by new faces and new names.  These are people willing to step up and contribute. For this we are deeply grateful. Actually, for the first time in possibly three decades our Parkview family has grown significantly.  What a way to enter a new century!  Please make sure to put the faces of these good people to their names.  May God bless a resurgent ministry in this milestone year.  Aart