LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Let ’ s Toast a Return to Prosperity for These Two Industries
PHOTO BY TERENCE DUFFY
Before I joined Comstock ’ s two years ago , while enjoying eight months of being unemployed ( my longest stretch without a job since I was 14 ), I discovered a new favorite pastime , wine tasting , and I also traveled frequently . Both of those industries have suffered greatly during the coronavirus pandemic , but both are poised for dramatic comebacks , as reported in this month ’ s stories “ A Blend for Success ” ( page 34 ) and “ Smoother Ride Ahead ” ( page 54 ).
Napa and Sonoma counties have earned a worldwide reputation for producing excellent wines . That region also is known for large crowds and expensive wines , and going there takes most of a day ( or more ) for visitors from the Capital Region . But , as writer Daniel Barnes points out in this issue , oenophiles from our region can stay close to home and still enjoy exceptional wine . Within an hour drive of downtown Sacramento , wine lovers can visit a handful of wine regions , including the Shenandoah Valley , Lodi , Clarksburg , Placer County and Fair Play .
On a beautiful spring day , the drive to Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys or Helwig Winery in Plymouth is serene . The buildings and grounds at Ironstone match almost anything Napa has to offer , and the view at Helwig is breathtaking . Clarksburg , just 20 minutes from downtown Sacramento , is home to the Old Sugar Mill and its 14 tasting rooms , plus more than a handful of other wineries , including Scribner Bend Vineyards and nationally known Bogle Vineyards . And about 35 miles south of Clarksburg , Lodi has more than 80 wineries .
Eric Johnson ’ s story about Sacramento International Airport points out the dramatic decline of passengers due to the pandemic , but it also details ways airport officials have lessened the financial pain . In my experience , the best thing Sacramento International has going for it is how easy it is to get to and park there , and it draws travelers from across Northern California . As the shutdown due to the pandemic slowly eases , Sacramento International will likely return to its busy ways with people eager to travel again .
Sears ’ sad farewell
When Sears announced in February it was closing its only remaining full-line store in the Sacramento area , it brought back a flood of memories . No matter where you were raised , you likely grew up with Sears . And if you didn ’ t have one in your town , you most likely ordered through its immense catalog , which seemingly was delivered to every home in the country during Sears ’ heyday .
One could buy nearly anything at Sears , which was a bigbox store before that term existed : appliances , tools , clothing , lawn and garden equipment , sporting goods , auto parts , and more . And from 1908 to 1940 , Sears sold about 70,000 kit homes in 447 styles through its Modern Homes catalog . One of those homes is in the unincorporated Franklin area of Sacramento County southwest of Elk Grove . According to Dennis Buscher , a board member of the Elk Grove Historical Society , the Smith family purchased the Maytown model , No . 167 in the 1913 Sears Modern Homes catalog , listed for $ 823 , which included everything except labor , cement , brick and plaster . Buscher says the home was shipped by rail to the Franklin Western Pacific Railroad station , and the Smith family had to haul everything to the building site .
Even the biggest of today ’ s most successful big-box stores , such as Walmart , Costco , Target and Home Depot , don ’ t sell kit homes .
Readers ’ responses are in
In January , we published a reader feedback survey on our website , comstocksmag . com . Here are some interesting highlights :
• More than half ( 53.4 percent ) of respondents say they visit our website at least monthly .
• According to the respondents , the most appealing topics are food and drink , arts and culture , nonprofits and philanthropy , and agriculture and environment .
• Annual themes that interested our respondents the most are Innovation , Women in Leadership , Housing and Family Business .
• We were surprised by the number of respondents who don ’ t receive our weekly newsletter or listen to our podcasts . We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter at comstocksmag . com / newsletter . And each month , our podcast , “ Comstock ’ s Talks ,” features audio versions of two or more stories . Check it out at comstocksmag . com / podcasts .
Thanks to all of those who participated , and the editorial team will use the results to help shape some of our coverage this year . Two respondents , Lorretta Laslo and Heather Foreman , were randomly selected to receive $ 100 gift certificates to the Mexican restaurant Mayahuel in Sacramento . Congratulations , and thanks to everyone for reading .
What do you think ? Let me know at tcouzens @ comstocksmag . com .
Tom Couzens Executive Editor
April 2021 | comstocksmag . com 17