VOLUNTEER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY

The 10th annual Community Service Day takes place Saturday, September 16. This major citywide event mobilizes thousands of volunteers to complete dozens of service projects throughout Folsom.

Volunteer registration is open.

Community Service Day needs more than 1,000 volunteers to complete projects throughout the city. Most of the projects don’t require any special skills other than a willingness to pitch in where needed and a desire to make a positive and lasting impact in the community. Early registration is encouraged as project teams fill quickly. Learn more and register to volunteer at www.folsomcommunityservice.org.

Community Service Day is organized by the City of Folsom, local businesses, and community organizations. The annual event is made possible thanks to generous sponsorship support from Intel, Dignity Health, Folsom Times, Lennar, Style Media Group, Lakeside Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Rotary Club of Folsom, and other members of the business and service community.

BLUE RAVINE ROAD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT TO BEGIN

A pavement rehabilitation project on Blue Ravine Road between Prairie City Road and East Bidwell Street will begin mid-August. 

The project will improve the local roadway's rideability, longevity, and safety. The project will begin August 7 with daytime work between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Starting the evening of August 17, nighttime work will occur between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The overnight work is expected to last between 6 to 10 non-consecutive nights, depending on production. The project will incorporate cold in-place recycling, a timesaving and environmentally-friendly technique for rehabilitating aging and distressed asphalt pavements.

This project will integrate safety enhancements into the road design, including ADA pedestrian upgrades, radar/video vehicle detection, and upgraded wet-weather reflective striping. 

The pavement rehabilitation portion of work will occur during nighttime hours to minimize significant traffic delays and provide construction crews with a safer working environment. The city does not anticipate the road closures will create significant traffic delays, but the work may cause some noise disturbances. 

For more information and a current schedule, including which nights work the will occur, visit www.folsom.ca.us/BlueRavinePavementProject. Contact the City of Folsom Public Works Department at 916-461-6713 or rchance@folsom.ca.us for questions or concerns.

TRAFFIC ALERT: WORK ON THE FOLSOM BOULEVARD PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CONTINUES 

The first phase of a four-month pipeline construction project is underway, and nighttime construction will continue at the intersection of Folsom Boulevard and Blue Ravine Road and on Folsom Boulevard south of Parkshore Drive through August 8.

Beginning August 10, Folsom Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Blue Ravine Road to Bidwell Street. Folsom traffic engineers will modify signal timing to alleviate traffic congestion during the project. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes whenever possible. The city has installed message signs to alert motorists about closures and detours.

The Folsom Boulevard Pipeline Construction Project is being implemented in phases, and traffic restrictions will change throughout each stage of the construction project. The project will cover a one-mile stretch of Folsom Boulevard from Blue Ravine Road to Bidwell Street. 

Stay informed about the project schedule and traffic impacts at www.folsom.ca.us/FolsomBlvdUpdates. For more information about the project, call 916-461-6177 or email ewradmin@folsom.ca.us. 

FREE FAMILY SWIM AND MOVIE NIGHT SATURDAY

The Steve Miklos Aquatic Center hosts an evening of family fun Saturday, August 5. Guests can cool off before the movie from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with free access to the pools, diving boards, water slide, and play structure. Those who dare can test their skills on one of the giant inflatable obstacle courses. The outdoor screening of “Luca” begins after dark (approximately 8:30 p.m.). Guests can bring their own picnic (note: no glass allowed in the facility) and blankets/lawn chairs to spread out on the lawn for movie viewing. The Poolside Café and a visiting food truck will also have a variety of tasty beverages, treats, and other food items available for purchase. This free family event is made possible with the generous sponsorship support of Rondo & Nate Real Estate | EQ1 Real Estate.

The aquatic center’s summer season continues through September 4 with daily recreation swim from 1 to 5 p.m. The Steve Miklos Aquatic Center is located at 1200 Riley Street; call 916-461-6640 for more details.

LET SACRT TAKE YOU BACK TO SCHOOL FOR FREE

All transitional Kindergarten through 12th-grade students can ride Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) for free through the RydeFreeRT program. With RydeFreeRT, students can ride the entire SacRT transit network, including SacRT buses, light rail, and SmaRT Ride on-demand microtransit service for free!

RydeFreeRT is available all day, any day of the week, all year, during regular SacRT service hours.

To ride free, students need to show a valid RydeFreeRT card. The new card is valid from through June 30, 2024. Youth experiencing homelessness or participating in foster programs are also allowed to participate in the program, regardless of current residence or school address.

RydeFreeRT cards are available at school locations or the SacRT Customer Service Center at 1225 R Street (adjacent to the 13th Street light rail station) and Sacramento Public Libraries. 

Learn more about the program at rydefreert.com.

Photo: Bill Sullivan, Folsom Times

FOLSOM UNITES FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

The Folsom Police Department and the Folsom Fire Department extend their heartfelt gratitude to our neighborhood hosts and residents for making National Night Out 2023 a success! On Tuesday, August 1, hundreds of residents came together with Folsom police officers, firefighters, and city officials at multiple events across the city.

National Night Out has been celebrated for over 20 years in Folsom, promoting involvement in crime prevention, police-community partnerships, and neighborhood community building. National Night Out will return August 6, 2024. Stay informed at www.folsom.ca.us/NNO.

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS FROM THE FOLSOM POLICE DEPARTMENT

As students head back to class, it is important to remember that it is everyone's responsibility to help make sure that they get there safely. Here are a few safety tips from the Folsom Police Department:

Use Caution on the Roads

• Drive slowly and always be aware of your surroundings, especially around the time that children are walking along streets and sidewalks to and from school.
• Watch out for school zones and drive the posted speed limits. Typically these areas are marked with flashing signs and other signals to identify the area and the reduced speed limits.
• Be alert when making right-hand turns.
• Be especially careful in school or childcare parking areas.
• Don't drive distracted.

Remind Children to Be Safe While Walking or Riding Their Bikes

• Look up! Avoid reading or using a phone while walking.
• Always use marked crosswalks when crossing the street and always look both ways twice. Don't just assume drivers see you.
• Watch for driveways when walking on the sidewalk and be aware of vehicles that are turning or backing up.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard.
• Walk bikes across busy intersections.
• Always stay on sidewalks or paths. When walking, if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic and stay as far to the left as possible. When riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard, ride in the same direction as traffic, in a bike lane if possible, and stay to the right.

FREE WORKSHOP: MANAGEABLE MAINTENANCE

Landscaping without grass? Do you have drip irrigation, unfamiliar plants, or is poor maintenance resulting in a weedy mess or failing trees and shrubs? Water-efficient landscapes require a different approach.

The City of Folsom Water Conservation Division hosts “Manageable Maintenance” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, August 10, at the Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma Street.

The workshop covers:

• Tried and true practices to address sustainable landscapes.
• Dos and don’ts for tree and plant care.
• Selecting the best trees for your landscape.
• Creating healthy soil, managing weeds, and making every drop count.

Space is limited. To reserve your seat, call 916-461-6177 or email waterconservation@folsom.ca.us.

NATURAL SCIENCE SEMINAR: GOING BATTY!

Join Corky Quirk, founder of NorCal Bats, to learn about bats and the vital role they play in our natural world. Corky will share her vast knowledge gained from her years of work to rescue and rehabilitate bats. She will have live California native bats for attendees to view and discuss. These ambassador bats have been rescued but have sustained injuries that prevent them from surviving in the wild. The seminar will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 23 at the Rotary Clubhouse, 7150 Baldwin Dam Road. Ages 10 through adult are welcome to attend; learn more and register online.

BIRDWATCHER'S GUIDE TO TREES: ATTRACT MAJESTIC BIRDS TO YOUR HOME!

Calling all bird lovers! If you're eager to attract beautiful birds to your yard, consider planting a tree! With just a little research, you can discover the perfect tree that will entice local birds to visit your home.

Not only will you increase your chances of spotting your favorite birds, but you'll also provide them with essential resources and expand their habitat.

To delve deeper into the world of birds and learn how to attract them, use resources from the National Audubon Society. When selecting the right tree, consider the nesting preferences, favorite foods, and local habitat of the birds you wish to attract. Opt for native trees as an excellent starting point!

Are you ready to welcome local birds to your home? The City of Folsom partners with the Sacramento Tree Foundation and SMUD to provide residents with free trees for their homes and businesses. Visit the Sacramento Tree Foundation's website to apply.

City of Folsom Communications Director

Christine Brainerd | cbrainerd@folsom.ca.us | 916-461-6013 (office)

Get connected. Stay informed.

City of Folsom | 50 Natoma Street | www.folsom.ca.us