May 15th Neighborhood Summit

Save the Date for The Neighborhood Summit,
on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. 

This FREE event will be held from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Pannell-Meadowview Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento.  Check-in and complimentary continental breakfast are from 7:30 am to 8: 15 am. 

The opening session is from 8:30 am to 9:30 am with keynote speaker Tige Watts, president of Neighborhoods USA.  Workshops with lunch included run from 9:40 am to 3:30 pm.  Topics include Community Leadership, Effective Communication, Public Safety, Well-being and Healthy Living, and Inclusive Communities. 

This event is presented by The City of Sacramento's Neighborhood Services Division.  For more information, call 916-808-6525 or visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/ns.  To register, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/neighborhoodsummit2012.

April 19th E-Waste Event at McDonald's

Recycle your e-waste for FREE for Earth Day! 

On Thursday, April 19, 2012, between 8 am and noon, you can recycle your e-waste for FREE at 28 McDonald's locations across Northern & Central California.  Proceeds will support Keep California Beautiful.  The McDonald's location at 4124 Florin Road in Southgate Plaza is participating.

All hard drives will be physically destroyed by California Electronic Asset Recovery.  For more information on the event, drop-off locations, and what items can be recycled, please visit http://www.keepcabeautiful.org/programs/earth-day.html.

Shred Those Pounds!

Looking for a way to safely shred old financial documents, checks, tax returns, bills, etc.?  Your local Staples Copy & Print store can help.  Now through March 31, 2012, you can shred up to 5 pounds free!  For more information, or to find a participating store, visit http://www.staples.com.

Don’t Be a Crash Test Dummy!

The Sacramento Police Department is offering a FREE driver safety class to teenage drivers and their parent or guardian.  Participating teens must be 15 to 19 years old and must bring a parent or guardian to the class. 

The next classes will be held on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, and Wednesday, March 28, 2012, from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at the Police Central Command Station, 300 Richards Blvd., 2nd Floor, Sacramento. 

Space is limited and pre-registration is required by calling 916-808-6126. 

Spring Into A New Career

The Sacramento State Career Center is hosting a Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 10 am to 2 pm in the University Union Ballroom at 6000 J Street, Sacramento.

This FREE event is open to current students, alumni, and the public.  Find out about full-time, part-time, internship, cooperative education and volunteer work opportunities.

Tax Time Doesn’t Have To Be Taxing

The City of Sacramento in collaboration with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is offering FREE certified tax assistance and preparation to income-eligible families and individuals (families earning less than $50,000 year).  

These services are available at the Pannell Meadowview Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento.  Walk-ins are welcome on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from February 1, 2012 through March 7, 2012, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.  Assistance is also available on Saturday, February 18 and 25 and Thursday, March 8 from 9 am to noon. 

For more information, visit www.cityofsacramento.org/volunteers/vita.html

Jan. 27th Senior Scam Stopper Event

Learn how to protect yourself from financial fraud, identity theft, home repair scams, and more at a FREE seminar on Friday, January 27th from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Sam Pannell Meadowview Community Center (2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento).

The event is presented by Senator Darrell Steinberg and the Contractors State License Board.  For more information and to RSVP, please contact Senator Steinberg's office at 916-651-1529.

Be Red Cross Ready

Get the knowledge and skills to Be Red Cross Ready at FREE disaster preparedness workshops:

• Thursday, January 12 at 6:00 pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Library at 7340 24th Street Bypass, Sacramento
• Tuesday, January 17 at 6:30 pm at the Colonial Heights Public Library at 4799 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento
• Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm at the Southgate Public Library at 6132 66th Avenue, Sacramento.

For more information, please contact Amanda Barker at the American Red Cross at 916-993-7065 or visit http://www.redcrosscrc.org/.

Dollars & Sense - College Financial Aid Workshops

Is your head spinning trying to make sense out of college financial aid programs and forms?
Don't stress - help is available! 

The Sacramento Public Library is hosting two FREE workshops that will explain the basics of grants, scholarships, work study and loans.  You will also learn about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  This is the one financial aid application form that ALL college-bound seniors should fill out.

The workshops will be presented by Marilyn Van Loben Sels, a certified college counselor with more than fifteen years experience.  The workshops will be held on Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 pm and Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm at the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive in Sacramento.

Registration is required by calling the Sacramento Public Library at 916-264-2920 or by visiting http://www.saclibrary.org/

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).

Cars + Crafts + Cuisine = Family Fun!

Here's two weekends worth of autumn activities
and fall fun in our area:

"Celebrate Sacramento" on Saturday, October 1 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Florin Road Light Rail Station.  This FREE family-friendly event will feature live music, arts & crafts, local cuisine, kids' activities, a legislative update from Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, and more!  Call 916-446-7600 or visit http://www.celebratesacramentofestivals.com/.

October 1 is also St. Luke's Fall Festival, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, at 7595 Center Parkway, Sacramento. Their White Elephant Sale will include arts and crafts, books, and a country store.  Breakfast will also be available.  Interested vendors can call 916-421-5039 for more information.

The Florin Historical Society is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, October 8 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.  The location is 7145 McComber Street in Old Florin.  All-you-can-eat pancakes along with sausage, coffee, juice and fruit will be served for only $5.  (Did someone say "pancake eating contest"???)  Call 916-383-6392 for more information.

My Sister's House will hold English High Tea on Saturday, October 8 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, at the Chinese Community Church, 5600 Gilgunn Way, Sacramento.  Proceeds benefit their domestic violence prevention programs.  Tickets are $35 per person by September 30, then $45 per person on or after October 1.  Call Corrine at 916-930-0626 or visit http://www.my-sisters-house.org/.

Enjoy Picnic at the Park on Saturday, October 8 at Depot Park, Sacramento.  Sponsored by the Power Inn Alliance, this event features games, prizes, clowns, magicians, a rock-n-roll band, jump houses, a hay maze, food and more!  Tickets are $15-$35 for individuals, with discounted ticket packages available.  Visit http://www.powerinn.org/ for more info.

Sunday, October 9 is the Annual Hispanic/Latino Parade sponsored by the North Franklin District Business Association.  This FREE event will feature horses, classic cars, dancers, and the Wells Fargo Stagecoach.  For more info, call 916-455-2124 or email northfranklindistrict@gmail.com.

C’mon Baby, Light My Fire

This Independence Day, support the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum by purchasing from their Phantom Fireworks  booth.  They will be selling fireworks from Tuesday, June 28^th through Monday, July 4^th in the parking lot at 2251 Florin Road (at the corner of Tamoshanter Way, next to Quality Tune-up). 

With a purchase of $20 or more, you’ll receive two FREE tickets to the upcoming Sacramento Banana Festival.  What a great deal!

For more information, please visit http://www.sojoarts.net or http://www.bananafest.org

Have a Safe and Happy 4^th of July!

June 28 FREE Phone Bill Review Clinic

Learn ways to save money on your phone bill with a FREE review from the TEAM Program (Telecommunications Education and Assistance in Multiple Languages). 

On Tuesday, June 28, 2011 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm you can drop-in for a review at the Asian Community Center (ACC) Park City, 7375 Park City Drive, Sacramento. 

To schedule an appointment at a different time, please call Susan Sarinas at 916-393-9026, ext. 339.

FREE Finance Workshops for Teens

Teen Center USA and Junior Achievement of Sacramento are hosting FREE finance workshops in Elk Grove, California, this summer for teens ages 11 to 18.

For more information, or to register, please call Laurie Kobliska at 916-690-2092 or visit http://www.teencenterusa.com/.