Thursday, April 30, 2009
Picnic Activities
We plan to get a band, clown, etc. for this year's SONA picnic just like last year. But is there anything YOU want to contribute? Do you want to perform? Paint faces? We are open to all ideas! Thanks.
SONA Picnic Is Just 5 Weeks Away!
The annual SONA picnic will be held the afternoon of Sunday, June 7th at Oak Meadow Park. This year's picnic will be bigger and better than ever before. We hope to see you there!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Golf Tournament
This comes from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. (click on images for complete details)
We are striving for 36 foursomes and sponsors on every hole. We had 18 foursomes last year. The tournament is on Monday June 29th at Morgan Creek Golf and Country Club near Roseville. I have attached our tournament flyer with all of the information.The money goes to our non-profit K9 Association that covers vet bills for our retired K9 partners. Our website explains much more about our association (www.ssdk9.com)Hopefully the neighborhood could get a couple foursomes together.
Theft Alert
This comes from a neighbor on ARD.
I wanted to pass along some information I recently acquired which will be of interest to our neighbors and off-duty sheriff. It concerns a different, though less noticed aspect of crime in our neighborhood. It's well known that a large proportion of our neighbors utilize gardening services for their lawn maintenance, and consequently we see a number of gardeners working in Sierra Oaks throughout the day and early evening. I, too, have employed a gardener, and he services a number of lawns in Sierra Oaks. He reported to me that a few weeks ago, on a Thursday evening at around 6 pm, his pickup truck with his equipment loaded in the back was parked in front of my house on the 3000 block of American River Drive, and while returning to the front yard from the back yard he noticed that a black Ford Expedition had pulled up next to his truck. Four African-American youths (described as being in their late teens to early twenties) were reaching into the back of his pickup truck and tried to remove the edger and blower machines, though they were unsuccessful because the equipment was locked down with a cable. The gardener then ran toward the young men, one of whom grabbed a loose container with several gallons of gasoline for the lawn movers. They jumped back in their vehicle and sped off with the gasoline container. The gardener also informed me that his gasoline container was stolen from the back of his pickup truck while he was working in the back yard of a home on Hathaway Court. He has spoken with other gardeners in the area who report similar experiences. It has now become almost standard practice for gardeners to lock their equipment to the truck floor with security cables, and most gardeners who work in pairs split up so that one is always in the front yard while the other works in the back yard. Occasionally, however, a piece of equipment will be left unlocked on the back of the truck and thieves will quickly run away with a blower machine, edger, or even a lawn mower when they pull up with a large truck of their own. These expensive items are now apparently highly coveted by thieves, so everyone should be alert and instruct their service people to do the same.
I wanted to pass along some information I recently acquired which will be of interest to our neighbors and off-duty sheriff. It concerns a different, though less noticed aspect of crime in our neighborhood. It's well known that a large proportion of our neighbors utilize gardening services for their lawn maintenance, and consequently we see a number of gardeners working in Sierra Oaks throughout the day and early evening. I, too, have employed a gardener, and he services a number of lawns in Sierra Oaks. He reported to me that a few weeks ago, on a Thursday evening at around 6 pm, his pickup truck with his equipment loaded in the back was parked in front of my house on the 3000 block of American River Drive, and while returning to the front yard from the back yard he noticed that a black Ford Expedition had pulled up next to his truck. Four African-American youths (described as being in their late teens to early twenties) were reaching into the back of his pickup truck and tried to remove the edger and blower machines, though they were unsuccessful because the equipment was locked down with a cable. The gardener then ran toward the young men, one of whom grabbed a loose container with several gallons of gasoline for the lawn movers. They jumped back in their vehicle and sped off with the gasoline container. The gardener also informed me that his gasoline container was stolen from the back of his pickup truck while he was working in the back yard of a home on Hathaway Court. He has spoken with other gardeners in the area who report similar experiences. It has now become almost standard practice for gardeners to lock their equipment to the truck floor with security cables, and most gardeners who work in pairs split up so that one is always in the front yard while the other works in the back yard. Occasionally, however, a piece of equipment will be left unlocked on the back of the truck and thieves will quickly run away with a blower machine, edger, or even a lawn mower when they pull up with a large truck of their own. These expensive items are now apparently highly coveted by thieves, so everyone should be alert and instruct their service people to do the same.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Armed Robbery Alert
A woman was robbed at gunpoint, in her own garage on Thor (near Fair Oaks & Walnut). She was apparently followed home from Arden Hills Country Club at 9p on Monday eve.
When she pulled into her garage, she was trapped in by a car with 2 men. It was a 2-door white car, no plates. One man was white, one was darker complexioned, both wearing hooded sweatshirts. One held a gun to her stomach, both shouting demanding money. Her 6 year old daughter was in the car with her and witnessed the whole thing. She gave them all her cash plus her diamond wedding ring, and they fled.
Please watch your mirrors – the sheriff said it can happen anytime of day, so if someone follows you for more than 2 or 3 turns, do not go home or anywhere else you could be trapped.
When she pulled into her garage, she was trapped in by a car with 2 men. It was a 2-door white car, no plates. One man was white, one was darker complexioned, both wearing hooded sweatshirts. One held a gun to her stomach, both shouting demanding money. Her 6 year old daughter was in the car with her and witnessed the whole thing. She gave them all her cash plus her diamond wedding ring, and they fled.
Please watch your mirrors – the sheriff said it can happen anytime of day, so if someone follows you for more than 2 or 3 turns, do not go home or anywhere else you could be trapped.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pancake Breakfast
Sierra Oaks school will be hosting their first annual Pancake Breakfast this Saturday April 25 from 8-10am in the Sierra Oaks MP room. Tickets are $5 at the door and include pancakes, sausage, juice , milk or coffee. All proceeds benefit the Sierra Oaks PTA. We would be thrilled to see lots of neighbors!
Thank you so much, Cheryl Chamness (283-6234)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
April 21 Patrol Report
We took a burglary report from the 2900 block of Latham today. The woman stated she had left her garage door open on Saturday. Sometime during the day someone stole a mountain bike out of the garage. No suspect was seen. We also contacted the UPS driver in the area of Westcott and I advised her of the package theft issue. She told me she was not aware it was a problem in our area, but would pass the info on to the other drivers in the area. We contacted a female resident on Crocker who said her husband's 1902 steam car had caught on fire Saturday, after a short drive in the neighborhood. The fire was only on part of the seat and a side panel. It was pretty amazing to see that car. We did all the vacation checks and checked on the vacant residences. A very beautiful day in the neighborhood, with all the flowers blooming.
Zig-zag lines being painted on purpose
LOUDOUN -- Behind the wheel, you want the least amount of distraction possible. So why is a local transportation agency painting crooked lines on the road on purpose?
The Virginia Department of Transportation says it's part of a safety campaign to get drivers to slow down in a high pedestrian and bicycle area. The 500 feet of zig-zagging lines are painted on the ground on Belmont Ridge Road, where it intersects with the Washington and Old Dominion trail in Loudoun County.
"It is a low cost strategy to get motorists to slow down as they approach the bike trail and pedestrian path," says VDOT's Mike Salmon. "While at first motorists may be a little disoriented, the main point is to get them to pay attention and slow down through that area."
There are plans to also paint the crooked lines on Sterling Boulevard where it intersects with the W&OD trail.
VDOT says similar programs have been successful in the United Kingdom and Australia. The transportation agency will study the zig-zagging lines for a year and see if they actually reduce speeds.
If the lines prove effective, you can expect to see more of them on the ground.
The Virginia Department of Transportation says it's part of a safety campaign to get drivers to slow down in a high pedestrian and bicycle area. The 500 feet of zig-zagging lines are painted on the ground on Belmont Ridge Road, where it intersects with the Washington and Old Dominion trail in Loudoun County.
"It is a low cost strategy to get motorists to slow down as they approach the bike trail and pedestrian path," says VDOT's Mike Salmon. "While at first motorists may be a little disoriented, the main point is to get them to pay attention and slow down through that area."
There are plans to also paint the crooked lines on Sterling Boulevard where it intersects with the W&OD trail.
VDOT says similar programs have been successful in the United Kingdom and Australia. The transportation agency will study the zig-zagging lines for a year and see if they actually reduce speeds.
If the lines prove effective, you can expect to see more of them on the ground.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Suspicious Car
If you see a Black Acura TL (license plate #4LVY500) driving slowly through Sierra Oaks, call the police immediately and report it as a suspicious vehicle. This car was spotted cruising the neighborhood last night.
For non-emergencies, call the Sierra Oaks off-duty deputy at (916) 243-9452. The email address is sona4@sacsheriff.com. You can also call Sacramento County Sheriff Non-Emergency at 874-5115 and Sacramento City Police Non-Emergency at 264-5471.
For non-emergencies, call the Sierra Oaks off-duty deputy at (916) 243-9452. The email address is sona4@sacsheriff.com. You can also call Sacramento County Sheriff Non-Emergency at 874-5115 and Sacramento City Police Non-Emergency at 264-5471.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Book Fair
SPRING SIERRA OAKS BOOK FAIR!
Special neighborhood hours!
Books for all ages at great prices!
Open to all on Saturday, April 25th, 8am – 10am
At the Sierra Oaks School Library
All proceeds benefit the Sierra Oaks PTA
Special neighborhood hours!
Books for all ages at great prices!
Open to all on Saturday, April 25th, 8am – 10am
At the Sierra Oaks School Library
All proceeds benefit the Sierra Oaks PTA
Little White Birds?
Does anyone know what the little white birds are that hang out near Oak Meadow Park and Breckenwood? I have seen about 20 of them. They look like miniature egrets.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Census Takers in Sacramento
Who’s that unknown person walking around, knocking on doors, and calling on you? It could be a U.S. Census worker as they begin to canvas neighborhoods in Sacramento.
The Census Bureau has launched a massive address canvassing operation to verify and update more than 145 million addresses as it prepares to conduct the 2010 Census. The Address canvassing began on April 6 and will run until June 12. In most cases, census workers will knock on residents’ doors to verify addresses, and to determine if there are additional living quarters on the properties.
The U.S. Constitution requires that everyone living in the United States be counted every 10 years. "The goal of the census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place," said Ralph Lee, Seattle Regional Director from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Census workers can be identified by the official blue and white Census Bureau badge, and carrying an electronic hand held computer and a black canvas bag with the Census Bureau written on it. Census workers will never ask for bank or social security information, and will not ask to come into your home. Census workers will be out during daylight hours, seven days a week. Residents can contact the Census Office at (209) 235-3471 if they want the identity of the worker verified.
The Census Bureau has launched a massive address canvassing operation to verify and update more than 145 million addresses as it prepares to conduct the 2010 Census. The Address canvassing began on April 6 and will run until June 12. In most cases, census workers will knock on residents’ doors to verify addresses, and to determine if there are additional living quarters on the properties.
The U.S. Constitution requires that everyone living in the United States be counted every 10 years. "The goal of the census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place," said Ralph Lee, Seattle Regional Director from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Census workers can be identified by the official blue and white Census Bureau badge, and carrying an electronic hand held computer and a black canvas bag with the Census Bureau written on it. Census workers will never ask for bank or social security information, and will not ask to come into your home. Census workers will be out during daylight hours, seven days a week. Residents can contact the Census Office at (209) 235-3471 if they want the identity of the worker verified.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Package Theft Alert
This comes from one of our regular deputies.
Dear Mr. Dodson, Today I came across a suspicious cardboard box on Mertice Ct, it turned out to be a stolen package from ____ American River Dr and also inclosed was a plastic mail bag from ___ El Chorro. I made contact at both residences and advised the peolpe to make a report with out service center. Both packages were UPS parcels. So I think we all need to watch the area when the UPS truck is around in case they are being followed by a suspicious package thief! Thefts occurred during the morning. Other than that it was a beautiful day in the Sierra Oaks neighborhood.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Children's Art Festival
Both Country Day School and Sierra Oaks School are participating in a Children's Art Festival at St. Michael's Episcopal Day School on April 26. For complete details, click on the image below.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tent City Perspective
The following information is from the spring newsletter of the American River Parkway Preservation Society.
The Tent City & Parkway Advocacy
The entire incident of the tent city that has been allowed to form on open private land
adjacent to the American River Parkway.which in terms of preserving the Parkway.s
natural resources is .in. the Parkway.the international publicity arising from it, the
reaction and non-reaction of homeless advocates, public leadership, and Parkway
advocates, has provided important lessons for us all.
We saw, in the sudden outpouring of help that made its way to the tent city, the great
compassion Sacramento residents feel for those who are without the basics any decent life
requires food and shelter.and that says something very good about our community.
What we didn.t see is much of a call to protect the Parkway from the obvious stress being
placed on it by unrestricted camping, even though technically on private land, but so close
to it that the environmental damage impact of a large campground without any facilities
normally available, can only be imagined, but one can assume it will be significant.
From our perspective, the event is a pointed reminder.with the emergence of the tent city
as a public policy tool, and the Parkway as the de facto location (as it has been for many
years in the North Sacramento area of the Parkway) for camping by the homeless.that we
need a governing entity whose sole dedication and public advocacy is focused on protecting
the Parkway.
Looking at the development of this media/public policy event shows how misinformed all
of us were by the tsunami effect of its sudden bursting into prominence through exposure
on the major daytime television program, the Oprah show.
That initial exposure led to media reports from around the world.many of the reporters
traveling to Sacramento for first-hand stories.which then continued to feed the media
coverage with information, some of which was inaccurate.
The initial story on the Oprah show was primarily presented as being symbolic of the
housing crisis, with the focus being that the tent city was a direct result of people being
evicted from homes and having nowhere to go but Sacramento.s tent city and the other tent
cities around the nation.
As it turned out, local homelessness experts later noted that fully 90% of the residents of
Sacramento.s tent city were the chronic homeless, those folks who have been homeless for
years and are resistant to any offers of help.
It was also initially reported, and picked up by the media, that the population of the tent
city was over 1,200, which later turned out to be the total of the homeless population
currently in all local shelters, including the tent city. (Sacramento Bee excerpts on p. 3)
It is our contention that had a governing entity been in existence whose sole priority was
the American River Parkway, the results may have been quite different.
We have called for a Joint Power Authority (JPA) to be created to govern the Parkway and,
had a JPA been in place, the permanent management staff would have surely been on top
of this situation from the beginning, considering the direct and destructive environmental
impact it was.and is.having on the Parkway.
It is crucial that we give the Parkway a voice that has more public resonance than that of
the relatively small and inadequately staffed resources that the Parkway advocate groups
are able to bring to bear, when events of this magnitude arise that have the potential to
cause great harm to the Parkway.
____________________________________________________________________
(From the Sacramento Bee 3/14/09)
Across the country and around the world, newspaper readers and television viewers are
being introduced to the sprawling campground where 100 to 200 homeless men and
women sleep each night.
.The huge wave of media attention that followed a recent Oprah Winfrey program
featuring the tent city has spurred donations, ideas and volunteers. But it also has
complicated things for officials who suddenly have found themselves in the spotlight for all
the wrong reasons.
.But even advocates acknowledge that some of the reporting has been misleading or
downright inaccurate. Various media outlets have reported that 1,200 people live at the
camp, four to five times higher than the actual population of the tent city on any given
night, they said. The larger number represents the total number of homeless people living
in shelters, camps and other places in the Sacramento area.
.Some news organizations are erroneously portraying the tent city "as a refugee camp" for
formerly middle-class people who have been hit by the recession, said Tim Brown of the
Sacramento Ending Chronic Homeless Initiative.
"While it’s very true that we are seeing increasing numbers of middle-class families hitting
the streets, it’s still a very small percentage," Brown said. "At tent city, 90 percent of the
people are chronically homeless." (Some feel burned as media spotlight falls on
capital.s homeless camp, Cynthia Hubert, Sacramento Bee, March 14, 2009, p. 1A)
(Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1698796.html
____________________________________________________________________
The Tent City & Parkway Advocacy
The entire incident of the tent city that has been allowed to form on open private land
adjacent to the American River Parkway.which in terms of preserving the Parkway.s
natural resources is .in. the Parkway.the international publicity arising from it, the
reaction and non-reaction of homeless advocates, public leadership, and Parkway
advocates, has provided important lessons for us all.
We saw, in the sudden outpouring of help that made its way to the tent city, the great
compassion Sacramento residents feel for those who are without the basics any decent life
requires food and shelter.and that says something very good about our community.
What we didn.t see is much of a call to protect the Parkway from the obvious stress being
placed on it by unrestricted camping, even though technically on private land, but so close
to it that the environmental damage impact of a large campground without any facilities
normally available, can only be imagined, but one can assume it will be significant.
From our perspective, the event is a pointed reminder.with the emergence of the tent city
as a public policy tool, and the Parkway as the de facto location (as it has been for many
years in the North Sacramento area of the Parkway) for camping by the homeless.that we
need a governing entity whose sole dedication and public advocacy is focused on protecting
the Parkway.
Looking at the development of this media/public policy event shows how misinformed all
of us were by the tsunami effect of its sudden bursting into prominence through exposure
on the major daytime television program, the Oprah show.
That initial exposure led to media reports from around the world.many of the reporters
traveling to Sacramento for first-hand stories.which then continued to feed the media
coverage with information, some of which was inaccurate.
The initial story on the Oprah show was primarily presented as being symbolic of the
housing crisis, with the focus being that the tent city was a direct result of people being
evicted from homes and having nowhere to go but Sacramento.s tent city and the other tent
cities around the nation.
As it turned out, local homelessness experts later noted that fully 90% of the residents of
Sacramento.s tent city were the chronic homeless, those folks who have been homeless for
years and are resistant to any offers of help.
It was also initially reported, and picked up by the media, that the population of the tent
city was over 1,200, which later turned out to be the total of the homeless population
currently in all local shelters, including the tent city. (Sacramento Bee excerpts on p. 3)
It is our contention that had a governing entity been in existence whose sole priority was
the American River Parkway, the results may have been quite different.
We have called for a Joint Power Authority (JPA) to be created to govern the Parkway and,
had a JPA been in place, the permanent management staff would have surely been on top
of this situation from the beginning, considering the direct and destructive environmental
impact it was.and is.having on the Parkway.
It is crucial that we give the Parkway a voice that has more public resonance than that of
the relatively small and inadequately staffed resources that the Parkway advocate groups
are able to bring to bear, when events of this magnitude arise that have the potential to
cause great harm to the Parkway.
____________________________________________________________________
(From the Sacramento Bee 3/14/09)
Across the country and around the world, newspaper readers and television viewers are
being introduced to the sprawling campground where 100 to 200 homeless men and
women sleep each night.
.The huge wave of media attention that followed a recent Oprah Winfrey program
featuring the tent city has spurred donations, ideas and volunteers. But it also has
complicated things for officials who suddenly have found themselves in the spotlight for all
the wrong reasons.
.But even advocates acknowledge that some of the reporting has been misleading or
downright inaccurate. Various media outlets have reported that 1,200 people live at the
camp, four to five times higher than the actual population of the tent city on any given
night, they said. The larger number represents the total number of homeless people living
in shelters, camps and other places in the Sacramento area.
.Some news organizations are erroneously portraying the tent city "as a refugee camp" for
formerly middle-class people who have been hit by the recession, said Tim Brown of the
Sacramento Ending Chronic Homeless Initiative.
"While it’s very true that we are seeing increasing numbers of middle-class families hitting
the streets, it’s still a very small percentage," Brown said. "At tent city, 90 percent of the
people are chronically homeless." (Some feel burned as media spotlight falls on
capital.s homeless camp, Cynthia Hubert, Sacramento Bee, March 14, 2009, p. 1A)
(Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1698796.html
____________________________________________________________________
Monday, April 6, 2009
Friday Night Stop
This is from one of our off duty deputies.
I stopped a man in his thirties riding a bike at around 10pm. I stopped him at Huntington & Mills. He was wearing all black clothes and a black beanie cap. He was not wanted nor was he on probation or parole. My senses told me he was up to no good because he lived in the Rancho Cordova area and his story was that he was out riding his bike for exercise. I ID'd him and sent him out of the area.
I stopped a man in his thirties riding a bike at around 10pm. I stopped him at Huntington & Mills. He was wearing all black clothes and a black beanie cap. He was not wanted nor was he on probation or parole. My senses told me he was up to no good because he lived in the Rancho Cordova area and his story was that he was out riding his bike for exercise. I ID'd him and sent him out of the area.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Daytime Theft
This comes from one of our SONA members.
My address is 2690 Morley Way and on Thursday,March 26, at 4:30 P.M., daylight, someone driving a white van stole my ivy topiary in a very nice black pot from my front porch, right next to my doorway. Just thought SONA should know.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Sacramento Burglaries Rise At Alarming Rate
Burglaries jump in Sacramento's south area
blindelof@sacbee.com
Published Wednesday, Apr. 01, 2009
Sacramento's south area has seen a big spike in home burglaries -- a 59 percent increase since February.
Most of the burglaries happen during the day when homeowners are at work. Burglars first knock at the front door, and when they get no response, they go to the back of the house and break in through a window or door.
In response, the Sacramento Police Department is using special units to target the neighborhood crime. However, officers said the best defense are neighbors who spot suspicious activity and telephone the department.
In the past month, 17 burglars or prowlers have been arrested in the South Area with some of the suspects linked to several break-ins, police say. Some suspects -- many of them minors -- have been arrested for breaking into residences.
Police offer these tips to prevent burglaries and help recover stolen items:
• Keep a list of serial numbers for electronic devices.
• Install a burglar alarm
• Lock the gate to the back yard.
• Make sure all windows and doors are locked.
• Join a Neighborhood Watch group.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• Keep landscape bushes trimmed to reduce cover for possible burglars.
• Close blinds or curtains so prowlers can't see inside.
The Sacramento Police Department asks anyone with information about the recent burglary spree in South Sacramento to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-4357.
blindelof@sacbee.com
Published Wednesday, Apr. 01, 2009
Sacramento's south area has seen a big spike in home burglaries -- a 59 percent increase since February.
Most of the burglaries happen during the day when homeowners are at work. Burglars first knock at the front door, and when they get no response, they go to the back of the house and break in through a window or door.
In response, the Sacramento Police Department is using special units to target the neighborhood crime. However, officers said the best defense are neighbors who spot suspicious activity and telephone the department.
In the past month, 17 burglars or prowlers have been arrested in the South Area with some of the suspects linked to several break-ins, police say. Some suspects -- many of them minors -- have been arrested for breaking into residences.
Police offer these tips to prevent burglaries and help recover stolen items:
• Keep a list of serial numbers for electronic devices.
• Install a burglar alarm
• Lock the gate to the back yard.
• Make sure all windows and doors are locked.
• Join a Neighborhood Watch group.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• Keep landscape bushes trimmed to reduce cover for possible burglars.
• Close blinds or curtains so prowlers can't see inside.
The Sacramento Police Department asks anyone with information about the recent burglary spree in South Sacramento to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-4357.
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