Sierra Oaks School Country Fair

Sierra Oaks School Country Fair will be held on Saturday, October 2nd from noon until 5 pm. Head on over to the school to enjoy food, games and family fun!

Weed Abatement at Vacant Properties

If you have vacant properties in your neighborhood where weeds are growing out of control, did you know you can contact the County for assistance? Call 916-875-5656 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm or report the nuisance online and Code Enforcement will investigate. If the weeds are determined to be a fire hazard, Code Enforcement will work with the Fire Department to ensure a timely removal of the weeds. If it is not a fire hazard, Code Enforcement will respond within six days. The property owner will be billed for the service of weed abatement.

SONA Annual Potluck Picnic

Join your neighbors at Oak Meadow Park on Sunday, June 13th from 4 pm to 7 pm to enjoy SONA's annual potluck picnic. Hot dogs, burgers and drinks will be provided. Please bring a side salad or dessert to share as well as a blanket or chairs for lounging. This is a great opportunity to get out and meeting some of your fellow Sierra Oaks neighbors and learn more about our community. We hope to see you there!

SPRING GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Please join us for our Annual Spring General Membership meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at Sierra Oaks School from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sierra Oaks Soccer 2010 Registration

Sierra Oaks Soccer will hold in-person Registration at the Sierra Oaks School Multipurpose Room on Thursday May 6th from 1:00 to 7:00 pm and on Wednesday May 12th from 2:30 to 7:00 pm. The Club will also be offering on-line registration on the website starting on May 1st (May 1st to June 1st is the Club's Priority Registration Period). Full registration information, costs and other details (including new League photo requirements) are on the Club website, www.sosoccer.org. If you have any questions, contact Rob Sandman @ robsandman@sosoccer.org.

Sierra Oaks Garden Tour May 1st & 2nd

Tour six exquisite Crocker Road gardens, including one designed by famous landscape architect Thomas Church, on Saturday, May 1st from 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, May 2nd from 11 am – 4 pm. Proceeds benefit Sierra Oaks School, where a garden boutique and café dining will be available during tour hours. Tickets are $20 when purchased in advance at Sierra Oaks School, Ivy House, Posh Shoppe, William Glen, Gifted Gardener or Bushnell’s Nursery. Tickets will also be available at the event for $25. For more information contact sierraoaksgardentour@yahoo.com or visit www.sierraoaksgardentour.com.

Sacramento Sheriff’s Department Community Meeting

The Sacramento Sheriff’s Department will be hosting a community meeting at the Marconi Station House (2500 Marconi Avenue, Ste #100) on Tuesday April 27th@ 6:30 p.m. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies will be present to address any suspicious or criminal activity occurring in your neighborhoods. California Highway Patrol Officers will be present to address any traffic related concerns. If you live or work in the areas described by these boundaries, we encourage you to become actively involved in the pursuit of making our community a safer place to live and work. For further information call Crime Prevention Specialist Cindy Burdette @ 876-5717.

Sac Sheriff: Public Safety Suffering --McGinness Says Department 'Reactive'

Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said in the face of deep budget cuts, public safety in the county is suffering. "We are no longer proactive at all. Our operation is overwhelmingly reactive. We get the call after something horrible has happened. We do the best we can to pick up the pieces," McGinness said. McGinness said department is not throwing up its hands, but said it's a matter of numbers as there were 122 sheriff's deputies laid off last year due to budget cuts. "Well, I certainly don't share this message with the law-offending public, with an encouragement for them to do so. But I've got to be honest with you and everyone else within the sound of our voices … we are experiencing the effects of a unilateral disarmament of criminal justice and law enforcement resources in the county," McGinness said. The sheriff said his department is doing all it can, but unfortunately, what it can do is "insufficient to combat the crime problem." Auburn attorney Nina Salarno worries about the cuts. Her sister was killed years ago, and said as a parent, it's scary to think of children playing outside without proper law enforcement. "And when the criminals know, especially in the impacted areas, in the inner city areas, they know that there's going to be less law enforcement. They're going to take advantage of it," Salarno said. http://www.kcra.com/mostpopular/23130578/detail.html

Closure of Eastbound Hwy 50 on Tuesday, April 20th

On April 20 from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., all eastbound lanes of U.S. Hwy 50 will be closed for road construction. The closure will be from Watt Avenue to Bradshaw Road with the detour route being Folsom Blvd. Drivers can expect delays of up to 20 minutes. Inclement weather could postpone this closure, check roadside message boards for the latest information. The work is part of a $108 million project by Caltrans, Sacramento County, the City of Rancho Cordova, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and the Sacramento Transportation Authority that will help unclog traffic congestion and reduce air pollution by adding 15 lane miles of new bus/carpool lanes on U.S. Highway 50 between Watt Avenue in Sacramento and Sunrise Boulevard in Rancho Cordova.

Sacramento Tree Tours

Join the Sacramento Tree Foundation for a walk under Sacramento's tree canopy. Learn about identifying trees by leaf, bark and growth habits and get an idea of the great varieties of trees over our heads. Insect and disease issues will be discussed as well as watering needs for our particular environment of clay soils and hot weather. For additional information, including planting opportunities, please visit www.sactree.com

Sunday April 25th, 10am-12pm
Southside Park, 8th and T Streets 95814
Meet at the amphitheater

Saturday May 1st, 10am-12pm
Capitol Park,
Meet on the West Steps

Saturday, June 19th, 10am-11:30am
CSUS Arboretum,
Meet at the Northeast pathway to the arboretum

Car Theft Alert

A homeowner who lives on Sierra Oaks Drive reports that her vehicle was stolen from her driveway on Wednesday evening.

Your car alarm: Not just for your car!

A clever idea, passed along by one of our neighbors.

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbours, your parents, your doctor's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across: Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the person won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough, the criminal won't want that.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.

Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

Sheriff: Beware door-to-door solicitors

By Kim Minugh, Sacramento Bee

Responding to an influx of reports from residents concerned about suspicious solicitors, law enforcement officials are warning people to be skeptical of just about anyone at the door.

Except when it comes to U.S. Census workers and maybe cookie-peddling Girl Scouts, legitimate neighborhood salesmen are pretty much a thing of the past, said Sherrie Carhart, a crime prevention specialist for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

"It's past the time. People shouldn't be going door-to-door soliciting," she said. "It's not something that's accepted these days."

Instead, Carhart said, many of the modern-day "solicitors" likely are prospective burglars, looking for empty homes.

Carhart's warning comes after she's received a number of calls from residents asking about aggressive solicitors pushing everything from cleaning supplies to electronics to assistance for veterans.

Some have been so aggressive that the solicitors have walked into homes uninvited, residents report.

Roger Berkenpas, a community activist in Fair Oaks, said some of his neighbors have talked about a "very smooth, pushy" vacuum salesman who promises Wal-Mart gift cards to anyone who will listen to his sales pitch.

The couple of takers have been disappointed to find the gift cards were worthless, Berkanpas said.

Carhart said sales people are required to carry a copy of the county permit they must obtain for door-to-door solicitation, as well as a copy of their business license.

(A small group of folks are exempt from the required county permit, Carhart said, including non-profits, churches and federal government workers, including those carrying out the U.S. Census.)
But before asking for that paperwork, residents should be wary of even opening the door, Carhart said. She suggests making your presence known by talking through the door or a window.

If you notice the person skipping homes on your street, trying doorknobs, looking through windows or going to back fences, call your local law enforcement agency's non-emergency line, Carhart said.

If it looks like someone is in the act of breaking into a home, call 911, she said.

Authorities have tried in recent months to alert residents about tactics sometimes used by prospective burglars, such as knocking on the door and asking for someone who doesn't live there.

An elderly woman in Meadowview opened her front door Monday night to a young man saying his dog was in her backyard - and then was ordered to the ground at gunpoint. Her house was ransacked and three men fled with cash and jewelry.

Carhart said Sacramento's communities are full of people of "good-natured, helpful people" - and, unfortunately, many that want to take advantage of those good Samaritans.

"People are interested in scamming other people," she said. "There are a lot of bad people out there."

Construction begins on new HWY 50 bus/carpool lane

Caltrans broke ground on a $108 million project that will add 15 miles of new bus/carpool lanes on U.S. Highway 50 between Watt Avenue in Sacramento and Sunrise Boulevard in Rancho Cordova.

Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and passed by voters in 2006, is providing nearly $55 million in funding for the project. More than $5.2 billion in Proposition 1B funding has been allocated to improve California’s transportation system during the past three years.

"This Proposition 1B funded project will improve safety, help stimulate the economy and decrease traffic congestion in the area," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "The people of California spoke loud and clear when they voted for Proposition 1B because they wanted investment in California's infrastructure and to put people to work immediately."

Sacramento County’s Measure A, a half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation improvements, contributed $37 million in funding for the project, which is a partnership between Caltrans, Sacramento County, the city of Rancho Cordova, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and the Sacramento Transportation Authority.

In addition to new bus/carpool lanes, the project also includes:

More than four miles of new sound walls at a dozen locations.

Community enhancements, such as improved lighting and landscaping.

Replacement of two bike/pedestrian overcrossings at Manlove Road and White Rock Park to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

New ramp meters, changeable message signs, and traffic cameras.

"Under the governor’s leadership, Proposition 1B is paying for vital transportation projects that relieve traffic congestion,” said Caltrans Director Randy Iwasaki. “Extending this bus/carpool lane will have an immediate impact for more than 180,000 drivers commuting on the Highway 50 corridor,”

Bus/carpool lanes typically carry 2-3 times more people at peak traffic hours than conventional mixed-flow lanes. There are currently 68 miles of bus/carpool lanes in the Sacramento region on U.S. Highway 50, Interstate 80, and State Route 99. When the bus/carpool lane project between Sunrise Boulevard and Watt Ave is completed in 2013, there will be continuous bus/carpool lanes on U.S. Highway 50 between Bass Lake Road and Watt Avenue, a distance of approximately 21 miles.

Feb. 23: Come to Sheriff's Community Meeting

Sacramento Sheriff’s Department
North Patrol Division- North Central Area
Zone 41&43 Community Meeting

Tuesday February 23, 2010 @ 6:30 p.m.

Sheriff’s Marconi Station
2500 Marconi Avenue, Ste #100
Marconi Room

The Sacramento Sheriff’s Department will be hosting a community meeting at the Marconi Station House. This meeting is for the neighborhoods encompassed in the North Central Division, Zone’s 41&43.

Zone 1 is bounded to the north by Hwy 80, to the south by Arden Way, to the east by Watt Ave. and to the west by Ethan Way

Zone 3 is bounded to the North by Arden Way, to the South by the American River and the City of Sacramento, to the East by Watt Avenue and to the West by Howe Avenue and Ethan Way.

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies will be present to address any suspicious or criminal activity occurring in your neighborhoods.

California Highway Patrol Officers will be present to address any traffic related concerns.

If you live or work in the areas described by these boundaries, we encourage you to become actively involved in the pursuit of making our community a safer place to live and work.

For further information call:

Crime Prevention Specialist, Cindy Burdette @ 876-5717

Sheriff's association backs Arden Arcade cityhood

By Robert Lewis, Sacramento Bee, Jan. 20, 2010

Proponents of cityhood for Arden Arcade, a 90,000-resident community in Sacramento County, just got an influential supporter in their effort to incorporate: the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association.

The association's board of directors voted unanimously today to support cityhood and encourage a new Arden Arcade municipality to contract with the Sheriff's Department for law enforcement service, according to an association statement. Other young cities including Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova and Citrus Heights also contracted with the sheriff's department after breaking away from the county. Elk Grove and Citrus Heights have since formed their own police departments.

"We have had very strong relationships with the residents of Arden Arcade for many years. We know the community and we look forward to many more
years of working with and serving the residents in Arden Arcade," association President Kevin Mickelson said in a prepared statement.

The group pressing for Arden Arcade cityhood is close to raising enough money to complete the studies necessary to bring the issue before the voters, said Joel Archer, Arden Arcade Incorporation Committee chairman. The group has a $25,000 payment due Feb. 1 to the Local Agency Formation Commission. With that money the group will have finished paying for an environmental study and financial feasibility report. Both are necessary before LAFCO will approve putting the issue on the ballot.

Archer said the group still needs to raise about $10,000 for the effort.

Smash & grab near Oak Meadow Park

On Sunday, January 10 at 9:45am a vehicle stopped alongside a car parked on Kadema (across from the American River access ramp) and a passenger exited the vehicle long enough to smash the back seat window of the parked car and steal and bag from the car before speeding away on Clunie. Remember to never leave personal belongings visible in a parked vehicle. They may not be there when you return to your car, no matter where you are parked. The SONA Off-Duty Patrol officers are on the lookout for the vehicle and perpetrators. Both were carefully identified by a witness who immediately report the crime.

Sierra Oaks Discovery Club Teacher Arrested

This post was taken directly from the Sierra Oaks School website: Shane Vicars, a child development permit teacher in the Sierra Oaks K-8 Discovery Club program was arrested Jan. 6 on 15 counts of lewd acts with a child and child annoyance. The arrest comes after an investigation by the Sacramento Sheriff's Department of allegations that Vicars had inappropriate contact with multiple victims who were students in the Discovery Club program. The safety of students and staff is the top priority of San Juan Unified and Sierra Oaks K-8 school."We have worked closely with the Sacramento Sheriff's Department during the course of this investigation and will continue to do so," said Trent Allen, director of communication for the District. "We are encouraging parents to talk with their student and report any items of concern." Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Detective John Linke at (916) 874-5964. Counselors will be available at Sierra Oaks K-8 school on Thursday, Jan. 7 for students to talk to if needed. Additional staff will also be on site to support the school. Vicars previously worked at Gold River Discovery Center's Discovery Club program and as a substitute child development assistant previously. All District employees undergo a background check before working with students.