On February 27, 2026, ACC Senior Services was filled with vibrant color, joyful music, and the warmth of community as we gathered to celebrate Lunar New Year. This FREE community event welcomed residents, families, staff, and neighbors for an afternoon that beautifully honored tradition, culture, and togetherness.
ACC Maple Tree Village has received a remarkable gift of an original oil painting from local artist and community supporter Linda Louie. This westward-facing landscape captures the “cool, crisp beauty of Northern California as a cloudy day sets a reflective mood along the Sacramento River.”
In Louie’s painting, the bronzy foliage of the trees lining the west bank of the river gracefully complements the swirling brushstrokes of the river, which envelop the city’s iconic landmark, The Ziggurat, a ten-story, stepped-pyramidal office building once known as The Money Store. The artist’s use of light along the riverbank creates shimmering reflections of the structure’s brutalist geometry, while the setting sun casts a warm, golden-hour glow that mirrors across the water.
This evocative piece is inspired by a photograph taken from Old Sacramento’s east bank and serves as a heartfelt tribute to ACC’s longtime friend and renowned architect, Edwin Kado. Kado, designer of The Ziggurat, described his original concept:
“I originally designed a building that cantilevered toward the river, so it was a pyramid upside down. It was twelve stories, and when you got to the top floor, it was 120 feet toward the river. The president of The Money Store thought it was interesting, but he wanted a symmetrical building. So, I suggested this shape as it connotes stability.”
The painting, gifted to ACC Maple Tree Village in Kado’s honor, celebrates his legacy as ACC’s “$1.4 million man.”
His architectural vision helped shape ACC’s many buildings including the design of Maple Tree Village itself, the renovated Park City building that now houses Meals on Wheels, several assisted living units at ACC Greenhaven Terrace, and both classrooms and offices across the ACC campus. Beyond ACC, Kado’s architectural footprint spans Sacramento, including Union Bank, the Almond Growers Visitor Center, CSU Sacramento facilities, Crossroads Shopping Center, Oto’s Marketplace, and Mahoroba Japanese Bakery.
Louie, an emerging Sacramento artist and active member of ACC’s Folk Guitar Club since 2019, originally showcased the piece during the 2025 Big Day of Giving Livestream. Her donation was made on behalf of ACC’s Music Programs and its dedicated music leaders, combining her love for art and music in a gesture of gratitude to the ACC community.
“I wanted this painting to reflect not just Sacramento’s landscape,” Louie shared, “but the creative spirit and stability that ACC and its people represent.”
The full interview with Linda Louie can be viewed on YouTube: ACC Senior Services Big Day of Giving Telethon 2025 (May 1 | 45:34).
This extraordinary gift now graces Maple Tree Village, a timeless reminder of art, architecture, and the enduring connections that make ACC a home for creativity and community.
Pickleball enthusiasts at ACC have even more to celebrate thanks to the generosity of Peter and Ruby Chin, who recently donated four brand-new, high-quality pickleball nets to the ACC Senior Services Campus. Designed for durability and easy setup, these nets will be enjoyed by players for years to come.
After spending five minutes with Kaori Sakauye, you feel her energetic spirit and compassion for helping senior adults in our community. She retired from the City of Sacramento in 2019 and still maintains a busy schedule.
Kaori loves her role as a Friendly Visitor for ACC’s Friendly Visitor/In Home Respite Program. Nationwide, Friendly Visitor programs connect older adults with volunteers for regular social interaction.
She explains why she volunteers, “There’s a similar program in Japan that’s helping my 93-year old mother. I signed up two years ago to be an ACC Friendly Visitor volunteer.” She spends two hours, once a week with her program participants. “One of my seniors is a retired attorney and loves to chat about politics while we stroll through her garden. My other senior has a progressive disease, and we play board games during weekly visits.”
In between her senior visits, the rest of her week is consumed with teaching and performing taiko drumming. Kaori was born in Saitama, Japan, but didn’t take up taiko until she moved to California and joined the Sacramento Taiko Dan in 1993. “One day, my Sensei, Tiffany Tamaribuchi, asked me to help teach taiko at Koyasan Temple. She suggested I train with a professional instructor in Japan. I studied there for two years.”
Kaori also leads a Drum Circle for memory care residents at McMahon Terrace twice a month; and teaches taiko at the Hart Senior Center twice a week.
She learned that taiko drumming could be beneficial to individuals living with Parkinson’s. She approached the Parkinson’s Support Group at ACC with the idea of introducing drumming to their members. The Tuesday afternoon class only started six months ago, but it’s already popular with participants like Dennis Wong. He adds, “As a recently diagnosed person with Parkinson’s, I understand the importance of physical activity. I’m glad that ACC offers this special activity for us. Kaori exudes patience and warmth as she teaches us the fine art of taiko.”
Kaori also teaches two other taiko classes at ACC on Wednesdays.
Her longtime passion is Hello Kitty. Kaori shared an interesting factoid with me: the cat doesn’t have a mouth. The design choice is deliberate, allowing people to communicate through their heart rather than words.
She loves the outdoors. “In my younger days, I completed 10 marathons and more than 70 half-marathons. Now I just walk around my Pocket neighborhood. We try to fit in standup paddle boarding at Lake Natoma when we have free time,” says Kaori.
Kaori is devoted to her family. She met husband David during their years of performing taiko. They married in the Koyasan Temple in 2002. Their son, also David, will soon graduate with a degree in Anthropology from Sacramento State. Kaori makes an annual trip to Japan to see her relatives. Kaori adds, “I appreciate the help my mother gets in Japan. I’m happy to do the same for others in our ACC family.”
If you or someone you know would like to volunteer for ACC’s Friendly Visitor program, call 916-503-5386 or send an email to: resources@accsv.org to get more information.
On the evening of September 30, 2025, ACC Senior Services was filled with the sounds of harmony and the warmth of community as guests gathered for a very special concert featuring Asian Pair. This lively event was not just about beautiful music—it was also about giving back.
On Friday, September 12, 2025, the ACC Senior Services campus was filled with laughter, strategy, and friendly competition as players gathered for the 2nd ACC Mahjong Tournament. Following the resounding success of the last inaugural event, this tournament was even bigger, drawing participants from across Sacramento and beyond.
The Summer Concert Series has received rave reviews! Over 350 attendees braved the 100+ degree weather for a Summer Concert on the lawn at ACC Senior Services.
The very first “ACC Mahjong Tournament” was held on Wednesday, May 21st, 2025. There were 48 players that participated in a fun filled morning of competition, culture, and community. There were prizes awarded for categories such as: most points, most wins, most losses, and the “Legacy Player” (the oldest player, which in this case was 101 years old!). The feedback was positive, and we hope this is the first of many Mahjong tournaments in the future.
On Saturday, 33 cheerful volunteers showed up with tools in hand and spent a sunny Saturday morning outside of the Care Center freshening up the planters behind the garden gazebo. Powered by donuts from Manley’s and BBQ pork buns from Dim Dim Bakery, these volunteers pulled weeds, pruned rose bushes, tilled the soil, laid mulch, and planted geraniums, marigolds, begonias, lemon thyme, and pineapple basil donated by Green Acres Nursery and Supply in Elk Grove.
Recently, volunteers and participants gathered together at the ACC Senior Services campus to celebrate a milestone for the program. The Senior Escort Program has coordinated over 2500 individual walks throughout the Sacramento region.
