May is an important month in Rancho Cordova! From Small Business Week to Bike Month to Building and Safety Month, we recognize and celebrate many aspects of our community. Also in this issue, you'll learn about a new program to increase our City's urban tree canopy, how you can make a difference by volunteering, and free community events you can take part in.
We hope you enjoy our May edition of Fresh News!
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CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESSES
Did you know more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business? Small businesses create about two out of every three new jobs in the United States each year.
This is why they are recognized annually during National Small Business Week, which this year is from May 2nd - 6th, and is hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Rancho Cordova is celebrating small businesses by hosting FREE events for its small business community and going social to promote outstanding businesses.
If you own a business or are considering starting one, you probably have many questions. What business segments would be successful in my community? Is there enough demand for an additional location? What merchandise mix or menu items should I offer? How do I create marketing materials that resonate?
Learn more in a FREE presentation from Buxton, a market research firm, on Thursday, May 5th from Noon - 1:30 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive. Light lunch will be provided. Reserve your seat here.
Rancho Cordova's Facebook page will highlight our businesses! Learn about local small businesses that are innovating and helping Rancho Cordova grow. LIKE our Facebook page at Facebook.com/RanchoCordova to receive all the latest news this week and throughout the year.
Businesses can also stay up-to-date on the latest in news, resources, and incentives by visiting SelectRanchoCordova.org. You can even schedule a business visit with one of our team members, so we can meet your team, learn about your work, and find ways to partner.
Questions? Contact the City's Economic Development Business Liaison Meghan Huber at
[email protected]
or (916) 851-8782.
KEEP CALM AND DO YOGA
Pilates Heartcore is a studio built on results. Located in Rancho Cordova, Pilates Heartcore is a boutique-style fitness studio offering apparatus Pilates (reformer, EXO chair), mat Pilates, yoga, and private sessions. Owner Katie Prior is building healthy lifestyles, pain-free backs and tight butts, one person at a time.
Coming up in May, Pilates Heartcore is hosting an outdoor yoga series right down Zinfandel Drive at Mather Golf Course. Classes will be held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Classes are 4 for $40! Come take advantage of the great weather and a chance to get your workout in close to work or home.
Skip the traffic and come enjoy a nice flow yoga class with your friends. There's even a on-site cafe that serves sandwiches, salads, beer, and wine! Relax after class and watch the sunset over the green. And for those living local, the Saturday class will refresh and start your weekend off right. All experience levels welcome!
Also, its fully equipped Pilates studio is right down the road. Evening classes open now with morning and l
unch express classes starting in June. Come try our 11:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. Pilates reformer classes! Never tried Pilates on the reformer? No worries, your first class is free!
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MAY IS BIKE MONTH
May 4th: National Bike to School Day
Bike to School Day gives schools in the Sacramento area the opportunity to celebrate the energy and fun of May Is Bike Month. Get your kiddos moving in the morning and have them ride their bikes to school with the neighborhood kids. Make sure they wear helmets!
May 12th: Mayor's Ride to the Capitol
Join Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sander for this group ride to rack up miles for the May Is Bike Month website. The ride starts with a light breakfast at Karen's Bakery in Folsom, near the entrance to the American River Parkway. You'll be on your way around 8 a.m., riding along the scenic parkway to Hagan Park in Rancho Cordova where you can stop, regroup, and refresh at the 50 Corridor energizer station. The next stop is Discovery Park where lunch will be served and you'll hear from community leaders and cycling advocates. At 11:45 a.m., the group will ride to Old Sacramento and down Capitol Avenue to join the Regional May Is Bike Month Rally on the steps of the Capitol. Your return trip to Rancho Cordova can be made by bicycle or light rail - just request a light rail ticket on the registration form. Register now!
May 16th: Basic Cycling Skills
Join instructor Elle Steele at Rancho Cordova City Hall to brush up on some bicycling skills. The presentation is from 6 - 7 p.m. at 2729 Prospect Park Drive. After the presentation, you'll have the knowledge to be safe and confident on your biking adventures. See you there!
May 20th: National Bike to Work Day
More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a fun and easy way to get to work. Have you heard? From 2000 to 2013, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 62 percent. Let's raise that percent this year. Log your miles here
and see how our community is doing compared to the other cities in our region!
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MAY IS BUILDING & SAFETY MONTH!
Building & Safety Month, sponsored by the International Code Council, is a campaign that hopes to raise public awareness for sustainable construction, and safety in the businesses and homes we work, play, and live in. It also highlights the essential role that building codes and standards play in decreasing the damaging effects that natural disasters and structure fires have on the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
The campaign also reinforces the need for adoption of modern building codes, a strong and efficient system of building code enforcement, and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain public safety.
This year's theme for Building Safety Month is
Building Codes: Driving Growth through Innovation, Resilience, and Safety.
Each week in May, focus is given to a unique topic that highlights one facet of what Building Code Professionals like those at the City of Rancho Cordova do to serve their communities:
Week One May 2nd - 8th:
Building Solutions for All Ages
Week Two May 9th - 15th: The Science Behind the Codes
Week Three May 16th - 22nd: Learn from the Past, Build for Tomorrow
Week Four May 23rd - 29th: Building Codes: A Smart Investment
Beginning the week of May 9th
, the City of Rancho Cordova will be hosting a Building and Fire Safety Trivia Contest on the City's Facebook page. We will be posting a trivia question that will be related to the four weekly themes of Building Safety Month. Everyone who responds with the correct answer by May 31st
will be placed into a drawing to win an emergency disaster kit and gift card!
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TRAVEL THE GLOBE - NO PASSPORT REQUIRED
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9TH ANNUAL iFEST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL RETURNS
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Take a trip around the world without even packing a suitcase as the 9th
Annual iFest International Festival returns to Village Green Park from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 14th. Admission is free of charge, as are all children's attractions and cultural experiences.
It's a world of good tastes, great performances, and exceptional experiences for all ages during iFest. Be sure to come early and stay until the end to watch an exciting line-up of cultural performances that will transport you on an international adventure. The event is produced by the Cordova Community Council and an amazing army of volunteers.
With the approaching Olympics, the international spirit is running high, and nowhere more than at iFest. Children can visit the Olympic Village for a wide variety of cultural experiences, ranging from Mexican piñatas to scrambling through a Brazilian rainforest.
Catch a free Pedicab and take a ride down Capital Village Drive. Get a henna tattoo, have your palm read, or pose for a photo in some exotic foreign locale. Learn about animals from around the world and visit the more than 40 exhibitors who will be at iFest.
This event is an artful experience beyond the stage. Seek and you may find small treasures created by local artists participating in the Abandoned Art Project at iFest. Find it and it's yours!
Artists will be offering a "Chalk Walk" - beautiful art in chalk! Sign up for this fun event here,
and join other local artists in creating something special on your own concrete canvas.
Also new this year is "Wines of the World," an adults-only venue where a $20 ticket allows you to taste wines from a dozen different countries. Learn about vintages from around the globe from the experts at Raley's and Bel Air, who will be on hand as wine guides. Purchase tickets here
and take in performances while sipping wines from across the continents.
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PENCIL THIS IN
Join Rancho Cordova's most active arts volunteers for a "Live Drawing" event on Monday, May 9th at 6 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive.
Bring your own dry materials - pencils, pens, crayons, laptop or tablet and RCAFE (Rancho Cordova Arts for Everyone) will supply a pair of live models and still life, plus all the moral support you need to be part of this fun art experience. Sorry; no paint, pastels, airbrush, photography, or wet materials allowed.
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DANCE INTO SUMMER
Rancho Cordova's spectacular volunteer orchestra brings music to the marketplace with "Dance into Summer," presented at KP International Marketplace, 10971 Olson Drive, on Saturday, May 21st.
Conductor Pete Nowlen conducts the orchestra in this most unusual setting! Violin sensation Ray Anthony Trujillo will perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Also on the program are the overture from Merry Wives of Windsor, music from Fiddler on the Roof, Carmen, and more.
The KP International performance is free of charge and fun! Come early and order up an international late lunch or early dinner, and enjoy it all along with the show. The orchestra prides itself on its open approach to providing excellent music in unexpected venues. Showtime is 4 p.m. See you there!
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COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND UPDATE
The Rancho Cordova City Council and City staff have been hard at work reviewing more than 100 applications for Community Enhancement Fund grants for the Fiscal Year 2016/2017.
At last night's City Council meeting, the Rancho Cordova City Council made significant progress in identifying some of the projects and programs to be funded. The City Council focused primarily on two community grants categories: arts, culture, history, and entertainment category and sports category. The school garden projects were also discussed.
At the upcoming May 16th City Council meeting, the Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Community Enhancement Fund will be discussed again with the primary focus on two additional categories within the community grants: other category and education/after school programs category.
Questions? Contact Community Enhancement Analyst Stacy Delaney at (916) 851-8878 or [email protected].
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100 TREES IN LINCOLN VILLAGE
You will soon see 100 new trees in Lincoln Village! The City of Rancho Cordova and the Sacramento Tree Foundation are coordinating with the "It Takes a Lincoln Village" neighborhood group to identify locations to plant 100 trees in the neighborhood.
As they grow, the new trees will provide shade canopy for energy conservation, clean air, and beautify the neighborhood. Plus, tree canopies help keep essential water in the soil and require little water during the drought.
According to
USDA Forest Service i-Tree, large size trees provide a positive net gain return on investment from every dollar invested in the Sacramento Region. A large size tree five years after planting returns $22 to $23 dollars a year. That same tree 40 years after planting returns $63 to $73 dollars a year. This means the 100 trees in Lincoln Village will add from $2,200 per year to $7,300 per year as the trees increase in size!
The neighborhood will come together on Saturday, May 21st
for the tree planting event. Volunteers are needed to help plant the trees from 8 a.m. - Noon. Lunch will be provided to all event participants as a special thank you. Interested in volunteering?
Sign up by May 16th
We look forward to coming together as a community and helping to increase the urban tree canopy in Rancho Cordova, one neighborhood at a time!
If you have any questions about Rancho Cordova's trees, please contact City Arborist Gordon Mann at (650) 740-3461 or
[email protected]
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THIS YEAR'S RANCHO CORDOVA LEADERSHIP PROJECT GOES TO THE DOGS
Enhancing the current dog park at Hagan Park in Rancho Cordova is Leadership Rancho Cordova Class X's project. The revitalization will include adding play equipment for dog visitors and benches for their owners and is expected to be finished in June. Hagan Community Park, located at 2197 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova, is the largest park within the Cordova Recreation and Park District (CRPD).
In May, more than 25 trees, donated by the Sacramento Tree Foundation (STF), will be planted by Leadership Class members in the dog park and surrounding area. Sarah Saetern, STF Community Forester, selected the types of trees and where they should be planted. Rodney Fernandes, Heritage Community Credit Union's Assistant Vice President of Operations and a member of this year's Leadership Class, is coordinating the planting with Hagan Park and CRPD officials.
The current dog park includes three side-by-side fenced-in areas - one for large dogs, one for medium dogs, and one for small dogs. "There is a drinking faucet in each of the areas and space for the dogs to run in, but that's it," said Horacio Oropeza, CRPD Park Services Supervisor and a member of this year's Leadership Class. "Our class project will add shade, equipment for the dogs to exercise and play on, and places for their owners to sit."
Dog parks are becoming more popular all across the United States. Although they're not for everyone, dog parks can benefit both people and their pets. According to its website, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals "supports the development of community dog parks as a means for urban dogs in particular to exercise off leash and socialize with other dogs."
To fund the project, Leadership Class members have participated in several fundraising projects but are also asking for donations from companies, businesses, and the public.
There are five donation levels: $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, $1,000, and "you name the amount". "No amount is too small," stressed Dana Grossi, Storm Water Quality Program Coordinator for the City of Rancho Cordova and a member of this year's Leadership Class. She added that all donations are tax deductible as Leadership Rancho Cordova is part of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit tax exempt organization. For more information regarding donations, contact Grossi at (916) 851-8897 or at
[email protected].
Donations can also be made at Leadership X's YouCaring website.
Leadership Rancho Cordova Class is sponsored by the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce to identify, develop, and inspire community leaders. Each year's class undertakes a project that benefits the Rancho Cordova community.
For more information about the dog park project, please contact Jacobe Caditz, SMUD's Energy Education and Technology Center Supervisor and chair of the Leadership X dog park project, at (916) 732-5066 or at
[email protected].
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EXPLORE RANCHO CORDOVA PROGRAM LAUNCHES
It's here! The Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce's brand new welcome program "Explore Rancho Cordova" has launched. They're about to welcome the first round of new residents to town.
If you're a business, be one of the first to get in front of hundreds of new residents and households.
There are two ways a business can participate:
- Provide giveaways to be included in the welcome bags.
- Offer a free gift when new residents visit your business (brick and mortar businesses only).
Are you a new resident yourself? The program will be featured at two special New Resident Receptions in May at Rancho Cordova City Hall. The Chamber will be
distributing welcome bags full of great information about Rancho Cordova and gifts from local businesses.
For more details, contact Bea Lopez, Explore Program Manager, at (916) 273-5711 or
[email protected]. This program is supported by a grant from the City's Community Enhancement Fund.
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NEW MOBILE APP PROVIDES RANCHO CORDOVA DEALS AND HAPPENINGS
Did you know there's a mobile app that can show you up-to-the-minute goings-on in Rancho Cordova? It's called "dealsnapt".
Text the word
EXPLORE to 63975, and you'll have immediate access to "Explore Rancho Cordova". Accessing it through your device (Apple, Android, and web browser) is easy.
You'll be able to access great deals and information on dining, recreation, retail, activities, and local events for FREE and right at your fingertips.
All deals are up-to-the-minute, so checking the mobile app a couple of times a day is key. You never know when your favorite restaurant or retail store is going to offer something special just for an hour or two that day.
And event information is also immediate. The robust calendar shows you exactly what's happening in town and when. Finding something to do is just a click or two away.
The mobile app is interactive so you become a part of the community. Communicate with your favorite businesses and organizations, earn rewards as you take action around the mobile app, play in-store games, and more.
dealsnapt is free and can be downloaded by texting
EXPLORE to 63975. If you have any questions, please contact Bea Lopez, Explore Program Manager, at (916) 273-5711 or
[email protected].
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Check out the City of Rancho Cordova's social media pages by following, liking, or tweeting us.
Like our Facebook page to stay up-to-date with everything going on in Rancho Cordova, from fun events to traffic conditions.
If you're more into photos,
follow us on Instagram for pictures from our historic archives and fresh ideas of what to do on your days off.
Find us on Twitter, where you can talk to us directly with messages fewer than 140 characters. We love to hear from you!
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EVENT CALENDAR
Yoga on the Green - every Wednesday at 6 p.m. & every Saturday at 8 a.m.
Mather Golf Course, 4103 Zinfandel Drive
Get outside and stretch! Pilates Heartcore is bringing a new outdoor yoga class to Mather Golf Course. Learn more in the feature article above.
Register Here
Cordova Meadows Elementary School Fundraiser - Wednesday, May 11th, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Pielogy Pizzeria, 2350 Sunrise Boulevard
Vetstock - Saturday, May 14th, 5 p.m.
Elks Lodge #2484, 11440 Elks Circle
Support Vetstock and stand up for homeless veterans! Come out for a BBQ cook-off, live music, and good times to support those who have served our country and need our help. Tickets are $25 each and 100% of the proceeds go to support Homeless Veteran Projects of the VA Northern California Health Care System.
Learn More
Mayor's Walk - Saturday, May 14th, 8:30 a.m.
Williamson Elementary, 2275 Benita Drive
Do you have a question for the Mayor? Now's your chance to have a one-on-one conversation with Mayor David Sander at a neighborhood walk. Get fresh air, talk about upcoming projects, ask questions, learn about the neighborhood, and meet your neighbors!
Rancho Cordova City Council Regular Meeting - Monday, May 16th, 5:30 p.m.
Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive
Blight Busters Plus Community Meeting - Wednesday, May 18th, 6 p.m.
Cordova Villa Elementary School, 10359 S. White Rock Road
Attention South White Rock, Stone Creek, and Capital Village residents! The City of Rancho Cordova is coming to your neighborhood. We are holding a community meeting to update you on our new program - Blight Busters Plus! As part of the program, our team will help identify ways to beautify and improve safety in your area this month. We want to partner with you to improve the quality of life in Rancho Cordova. You're invited! Join us for a neighborhood gathering and free light dinner snacks. There will be activities for the kiddos, and the opportunity to win a fun prize in our drawing.
Learn More
Rancho Cordova Luncheon - Friday, May 20th, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive
Join us in welcoming Assemblyman Ken Cooley to the Rancho Cordova Lu
ncheon! Ken Cooley was on the first City Council when it formed in 2002 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008. He also served as the City's mayor in 2005 and again in 2010 when Rancho Cordova was recognized as an All-America City. Tickets for the luncheon, Rancho Cordova's largest and longest running civic forum, are $12 for members and $20 for members.
Purchase Tickets
Mediterranean Jerusalem Food Festival - Saturday, May 28th, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. & Sunday, May 29th, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
St. Stephen Orthodox Church, 11055 Hirschfeld Way
The 4th Annual Mediterranean Jerusalem Food Festival is back! The two-day festival is sure to entertain with live music, good food, vendors, family fun, and a raffle with big prizes. Admission is only $3 and children 10 and under are free.
Memorial Day Ceremony - Monday, May 30th, 9:30 a.m.
Memorial Plaza, 10535 Hospital Way
"In Peace and War - Remembering our Veterans & Honoring the United States Merchant Mariners" is the theme for the 10th
Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sacramento VA Medical Center. We honor and acknowledge the unique sacrifice the United States Civilian Mariners played in World War II and in many wars and campaigns thereafter. In peace and war, the Merchant Marines have been called upon to deliver military personnel and materials to the military.
Pre-program entertainment begins at 9:30 a.m. and the commemoration program starts at 10 a.m. This ceremony is being brought to us by the Department of Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System, City of Rancho Cordova, Alphagraphics Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cordova Elks Lodge, and Republic Services.
Please note Rancho Cordova City Hall will be closed in recognition.
Now Showing through July 16th - Weekdays 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive
Creatures with feathers, fins, or fur are all captured by the artist's brush or photographer's lens during this fun show now on display. See more than 100 works by 55 artists during "CRITTERS: Aardvark to Zebra."
Admission to the art exhibit and art reception is free of charge.
Save the Date: Summer Moonlight Movies
Keep your Friday nights open this June as the Cordova Community Council flashes back to the best of the 1980s with a blockbuster Moonlight Movie line-up.
Moonlight Movies kick off June 3rd and continue every Friday night at 8:30 p.m. at Village Green Park, 3141 Bridgeway Drive. Snack vendors and food trucks will be on site beginning at 7 p.m. so come early and get dinner, or grab some take-out from a local restaurant. You supply the lawn chairs or blankets, and the Cordova Community Council and sponsors provide the show.
The June line-up features favorites from the 80s: Back to the Future (June 3rd), Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (June 10th), Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 17th), and Footloose (June 24th).
Admission is free of charge. Watch for special pre-show events that arise to make it a real night out. C'mon 80s babies: bring your kids back to the future. Learn More
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CALLING ALL CARS
Do you have a vintage car? If so, put Sunday, October 9th on your calendar and join us as we commemorate the "Rancho Cordova Heritage Corridor," unveiling a monument honoring the proud heritage of the Historic Lincoln Highway Route along Folsom Boulevard.
You don't have to own a show car to participate in this celebration of the Great American Road Trip, which kicked off in 1914 with the opening of the first Coast to Coast Highway from New York Times Square to San Francisco's Golden Gate.
Learn how the Lincoln Highway shaped our country, our region, and the City of Rancho Cordova. We're pulling out all the stops to celebrate...and we are recruiting car display participants NOW.
Sign up by August 31st
and receive a limited edition Dash Plate commemorating the dedication of the Rancho Cordova Lincoln Highway Monument. Learn More
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CALL FOR ARTISTS: FARM TO FORK
Rancho Cordova artists explore the wonderful world of food and where it comes from during "Farm to Fork" - a new gallery exhibit at Rancho Cordova City Hall in July.
The show does not open until July 21st, but artists need to be working now to enter this juried show. Submission day for art is June 20th from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive, so now is the time to be creating! Learn More
The show will run from July 21st through October 9th and is organized by Rancho Cordova Arts and the Cordova Community Council.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY VOLUNTEERING
The purpose of Volunteers in Neighborhood Services (VINS) is to promote and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Rancho Cordova. Their goal is to instill community pride through a series of volunteer activities in partnership with the City of Rancho Cordova's
Growing Strong Neighborhoods Initiative.
The Rancho Cordova VINS, working in partnership with City staff and the community, are committed to enhancing Rancho Cordova's quality of life by:
- Providing our voices as ambassadors/liaisons to the City in our combined efforts to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods
- Educating our neighbors about community resources
 Being community leaders by setting a positive examples- Participating in community events
- Empowering neighborhoods by being involved
- Celebrating our successes
- Suggest to City staff changes and ways to strengthen codes
- And, accepting of all members of the community that want to be involved
VINS next meeting is Thursday, May 5th from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive. Guest speaker is Scott Sparks from Neighborhood Services to discuss Code Enforcement's role in graffiti abatement.
Learn More
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