On the Road in November – Events in Our Community

What:  Florin Historical Society’s Soup Luncheon.  Choice of 4 soups, homemade rolls, dessert, coffee and punch.  $6.00 for the 1^st bowl, $4.00 for the 2^nd bowl.  To go available.
When:  Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Where:  7145 McComber Street, Old Florin.
How:  Call 916-383-6392 for more info.

What:  Friends of the Sacramento Public Library “All Friends” board meeting.
When:  Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at 6:30 pm.
Where:  Southgate Library, 6132 66th Ave., Sacramento.
How:  Call 916-264-2920 for more info.

What:  24^th Annual Asian Community Center Craft & Bake Sale.  Featuring crocheted and sewn items, garden plants, bentos, fruits, chili, hot dogs, and more.
When:  Friday, November 11, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Where:  ACC Greenhaven Terrace, 1180 Corporate Way, Sacramento.
How:  Call Khonnie at 916-393-9026., x. 325 or email volunteer@accsv.org.

What:  College Workshops.  Get help with your essays and personal statements and info on financial aid and scholarships. Workshops for parents, too.  Sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities and African American Future Achievers. 
When:  Saturday, November 12, 2011, 9:00 am to noon.
Where:  John Still Middle School, 2250 John Still Drive, Sacramento.
How:  Call Dr. T at 916-607-1913 for more information.

What:  Season of Peace anti-violence campaign featuring a parade and community fair.  Hosted by the Mack Road Partnership.
When:  Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10:00 am.
Where:  Raley’s on Mack Road at Franklin Blvd., Sacramento.
How:  Visit http://www.MackRoadPartnership.com or email kfowler@MackRoadPartnership.com.

Calling All Ghouls and Goblins!

Southgate Recreation & Park District will host its annual Halloween Carnival on Monday, October 31, 2011 from 5pm to 8pm at the Jose P. Rizal Community Center (7320 Florin Mall Drive, Sacramento). 

The event includes a costume contest, haunted house, monster photo shoot, carnival games, candy walk, and bounce house.

Admission is $4 (adults are free when accompanying children).  Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. 

For more information, please call 916-395-0601.

“Trunk or Treat” Returns!

Living Hope’s 5^th Annual Parkway Harvest Festival will be Monday, October 31, 2011 starting at 6 pm at the church, 7486 Center Parkway, Sacramento.  There will be live music, games, food, a prize for the best costume, and of course, candy distributed from the trunks of participating cars.

Call 916-424-4673 for more information.

Don’t Flush Your Meds!

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Dept. Central Division is partnering with the U.S. Dept. of Justice-Drug Enforcement Administration for the 3^rd National Take Back Initiative.

This event will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Central Division Substation, located at 7000 65^th Street, Sacramento (behind Burlington Coat Factory).

Help protect our landfills and waterways by bringing your unwanted, outdated legal medications to be disposed of properly.  NO questions asked!  Needles will NOT be accepted.

For more information, please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Laura Grossman at 916-876-8322.

Park-N-Play Coming to Franklin Boulevard

The City of Sacramento is constructing a new park on the west side of Franklin Boulevard, between Mack Road and Brookfield Drive.  Grading and drainage improvements are in progress.  Construction of Phase 1 of the Franklin Boyce Park is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2012.  This will include on-street parking along Franklin Boulevard, three bantam-size soccer fields in the West detention basin, seating areas and landscaping.  The East detention basin will not be developed at this time due to a lack of funds.

Funding Cuts = Reduced Hours at Sacto Libraries

Funding cuts have resulted in reduced hours at all of the Sacramento Public Library’s 28 branch locations, effective October 8, 2011. 

The new hours for The Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (7340 24^th Street Bypass, Sacramento):

Tuesday and Wednesday – 10 am to 6 pm
Thursday – noon to 8 pm
Friday – 1 pm to 6 pmSaturday – 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday and Monday – closed

The new hours for the Southgate Library (6132 66^th Avenue, Sacramento):

Tuesday and Wednesday – 10 am to 8 pm
Thursday – 10 am to 6 pm
Friday – 1 pm to 6 pmSaturday – 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday and Monday – closed

Library managers will monitor patron use during the next six months to evaluate the new schedules for possible adjustments.  Patrons can also visit the library’s website at www.saclibrary.org for 24/7 access to services such as catalog searches, book renewals, and payments of fines.

Dollar Drive for Foster Kids

Sleep Train’s “Dollar Drive” is on now through October 30, 2011 to raise money for fun, healthy, and educational activities for foster children. 

Donations are being collected in store or online at www.secure.sleeptrain.com/donations.aspx.  Visit the Sleep Train in our district at Florin Towne Centre.

EBT Cards Now Accepted at Florin Farmers Market

Participating Sacramento-area farmers markets have begun accepting EBT payments for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.  The Florin Farmers Market is one of the participants, starting October 6, 2011.  They have a “benefits booth” where EBT users can swipe their cards in exchange for coupons to use at the market. 

Visit the farmers market in the front parking lot of Sears at Florin Road and 65^th Street on Thursdays, from 8:00 am to noon. 

MLK, Jr. Library Seeks Volunteers

The Friends of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library invites the public to attend their next meeting on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 10 am.  Find out how you can promote literacy in our community by volunteering to help with book sales, spelling bees, essay and public speaking contests, and more. 

The library is located at 7340 24^th Street Bypass, Sacramento.  For more information, please speak to a librarian at the branch or call Gwen Fleming at 916-525-3535.

Free Child Car Seat Safey Inspection

When you're driving to your favorite store or restaurant (or anywhere else for that matter), be sure that your child car seat is properly installed.  You can have it checked for FREE at the following locations:

California Highway Patrol (CHP), 6 Massie Court, Sacramento.  Call 916-681-2300 for an appointment.

Methodist Hospital Sacramento, 7500 Hospital Drive, Sacramento.  Call Julie Brown at 916-854-5779 for an appointment (open 2 days per month).

Oct. 15th E-Waste Event to Benefit SSD Crime Prevention Unit

Wondering where you can safely dispose of all those old, broken electronic gizmos? 

Take 'em to the E-Waste Event on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department-Central Division.  They're located at 7000 65th Street, Sacramento (behind Burlington Coat Factory).

Your donations will benefit the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Unit and the South Sacramento communities they serve.

Acceptable e-waste items are:
TVs (all sizes and types)
Computer towers & monitors
Laptops
DVD players & VCRs
Printers
Stereos & Radios
Telephones & Cell phones
Video games
Microwaves

No appliances or batteries, please!

For more details, call On-Site Electronics Recycling at 209-234-7994.

Florin Multi-Cultural Festival on October 15

The Florin United Methodist Church is holding its annual Multi-cultural Festival to benefit the church’s outreach programs, including the Interfaith Food Closet, Loaves and Fishes, Wellspring Center for Women and Children, and the Florin Career Center.

The festival will be on Saturday, October 15, 2011, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the church.  All are invited to attend.  A $10 donation for adults and $5 donation for children under 12 is suggested.  This includes performances at 3 pm and 4:30 pm and dinner from 4:30 pm to 6 pm.  American, Chinese, English, Fijian, Filipino, German, Japanese, and Scotch-Irish cultures will be represented in the entertainment.  There will also be raffle prizes, a costume parade, and appearances by the Fijian Choir and the Sacramento Sinag-tala ensemble. 

Event tickets may be purchased at the Florin United Methodist Church office at 7560 Florin Road, Sacramento, between 9 am and 1 pm, Monday through Friday, or by calling 916-421-1876.  Tickets are also available at the Elk Grove Citizen newspaper office at 8970 Elk Grove Boulevard, Elk Grove.

October 11th Free Florin Flu Clinic

Free injectable and intranasal flu vaccines will be available to anyone 6 months of age and older on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Central Division Substation, 7000 65^th Street, Sacramento (behind Burlington Coat Factory).

For more info, please call the Sacramento County Immunization Assistance Program at 916-875-7468 or visit http://www.scph.com.

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Wellness Rolls Into Town on October 8

The AARP/Walgreens Wellness tour bus will be at Walgreens at 7155 24^th Street, Sacramento, on Saturday, October 8, 2011, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

They will offer six free screenings for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index. 

Walgreens is also distributing flu shot vouchers to uninsured persons on a first-come, first-serve basis.  The vouchers can be redeemed at a Walgreens pharmacy or Take Care Clinic.

Be Smart(phone), Be Safe

Since 2007, Sacramento County has required any business that sells or serves food (even gas stations) to display placards showing that the business has passed a food safety inspection. 

Green placards indicate a pass, yellow placards indicate a minor food safety or code violation, and red placards indicate a major violation resulting in the business being shut down until the problem is fixed.

Now a new application for smartphones allows you to search a map of all restaurants in Sacramento County to see their status.  You can even download the most recent health inspection to your phone.  Get the app at m.ffi.saccounty.net.