ENTER THE FOLSOM HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST

Let’s light up Folsom with holiday cheer! Enter your home, neighborhood, or business into the 3rd Annual Folsom Holiday Lights contest. Prizes will be awarded to the winners and provided by the Folsom Times.

Categories include:

• Holly Jolly Residence – Best overall residence.
• Clark Griswold – Best use of holiday lights (residential).
• Hollywood Christmas – Best use of theme and/or fictional characters (residential).
• Merry and Bright Business – Festive commercial business display (includes window painting).
• Illuminate the Block – Best multi-house display.

Register by December 8 at www.folsom.ca.us/HolidayLightsContest. Learn more about prizes at the Folsom Times.

The Gallery at 48 Natoma hosts a free public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 17 for the traveling exhibit from the Monroe Wheeler Archive featuring holiday cards by celebrated artists. The exhibit includes cards by such luminaries as Jean Cocteau, Ben Shahn, Miguel Covarrubias, Rufino Tamayo, Robert Andrew Parker, Roberto Montenegro, Herbert Bayer, and Max Weber. The adjacent Community Gallery features work by members of the FolPho Photography Club.

The reception includes live guitar music by Daniel Roest and light refreshments. Also, during the reception, the public is invited to browse the Holiday Craft Sale featuring a variety of unique gifts priced under $50.

The professional art gallery is located in the 48 Natoma Senior and Art Center; the gallery’s regular hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The art exhibit continues through January 18.

SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Local shopping and dining supports the local economy, promotes a thriving community, and contributes to Folsom’s high quality of life. Dollars you spend in Folsom help fund vital public services, such as police, fire, schools, trash collection, recycling, and road maintenance—plus amenities such as parks, the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, and the Folsom Public Library. A smaller percentage of the sales tax is invested locally when you shop online. Make sales tax dollars work for you and your community this holiday season!

Saturday, November 25, is Small Business Saturday—a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for the Folsom community.

KEEP FOOD WASTE IN ITS PLACE OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Have Your Food Scrap Collection System Ready as You Prepare Your Holiday Meal.

The biggest food holiday is one of the biggest days for food waste. Help keep food waste out of the landfill and in your Green Bin by having your food scrap collection system ready for the holidays. When preparing your workspace, place your collection system in a convenient location in your kitchen to easily toss in your food scraps and food-soiled paper. Your collection system can be as simple as repurposing one of your food storage containers and lining it with a clear plastic or compostable bag. You can also purchase a specialized container or pickup a free kitchen pail at the Folsom Public Library, 411 Stafford Street, from 1 to 5 p.m. December 5.

Tips to Reduce Holiday Food Waste

Over one-third of the food produced in the U.S. is never eaten, wasting the resources used to produce, transport, and handle our food, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This waste generates a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint; yet preventing and reducing food waste is a relatively easy way to help curb GHGs and the most sustainable use of food. Before you toss your food scraps and leftovers in your Green Bin, consider the following ideas and solutions to reducing your food waste:

• Plan ahead. Make enough food based on your guest count. Take inventory of items you already have at home to avoid buying duplicates.
• Use your scraps. Turkey bones and bits, vegetable scraps, and leftover herbs can be made into a turkey stock. You can use the stock with your turkey leftovers to make a soup or freeze it for future use.
• Make something new out of your leftovers. Transform your holiday leftovers into an entirely new reimagined meal. For example, make sandwiches out of leftover rolls, turkey, and cranberry sauce.
• Save leftovers. Freeze leftovers to enjoy weeks later.
• Share leftovers. Send guests home with leftovers.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR WILD NIGHTS AND HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT THE FOLSOM ZOO SANCTUARY

This annual family event returns for the 13th year with thousands of bright lights, sparkling ornaments and trees, lighted animal figures, and displays transforming the zoo sanctuary with holiday spirit. Local caroling groups and musicians provide the merry sounds of the season, and the Folsom Valley Railway miniature train provides special nighttime rides.

Wild Nights and Holiday Lights is open from 5 to 8:30 p.m. December 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15-22 (weather permitting; heavy rains will cancel). All proceeds from the event benefit the zoo sanctuary animals.

Event details:

• Tickets are available at www.folsom.ca.us/HolidayLightsTickets
• Admission and train tickets are only available online; no onsite ticket sales
• Event admission is $10/person and train tickets are $5/person; free for ages under 2 years
• Special treats and beverages are available for purchase from Fisher’s Beastro and from visiting food trucks

Early ticket purchase is encouraged since many nights of the event sell out quickly. Follow Facebook.com/FolsomParksandRec for event updates; call 916-461-6601 with questions.

RESIDENTS SECURE DONATION FOR FOLSOM PUBLIC LIBRARY

Four residents from Folsom participated in a contest with Jeff Kinney, the author of the "Wimpy Kid" book series. The event, sponsored by Wild Sisters Book Company in Sacramento, was part of a promotional tour for Kinney's recent book "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer." The contest resulted in a $1,850 donation to the Folsom Public Library. In a statement regarding the donation, Kinney emphasized the importance of libraries in supporting community development. The 'Wimpy Kid' series has been a mainstay in the library's top 10 youth books since 2007 and has been adapted into films and a musical.

FROM THE MOUNTAIN LION’S EYE

Through photographs and stories, take first cautious steps alongside a moun­tain lion kitten and discover how her senses differ from your own. Under­stand the challenges that face young lions, and the social cues that guide this majestic cat into adulthood and old age. Presenter Lynn Cullens will bring her 30 years of experience immersed in mountain lion science and conservation to the ques­tion of how best people can live near mountain lions without endangering themselves, their pets, and their live­stock. With California mountain lions facing increasing threats and scientific studies showing dwindling popula­tions, it's up to us to decide and act–to determine how truly wild we want our wildlands to be.

The seminar will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 29 at the Rotary Clubhouse, 7150 Baldwin Dam Road. Ages 10 through adult are welcome to attend; the registration fee is $5/person. Learn more and register online.

DON’T POUR FATS, OILS, AND GREASE (FOG) DOWN THE DRAIN

Every day is a good day to practice proper disposal of grease products, but hosting gatherings and holiday cooking often means that fats, oils, and grease may be in our kitchens more than usual. The City of Folsom reminds residents that it’s important not to pour fats, oils, and grease down the drain, which could lead to clogged pipes and sewer spills. To help prevent backups, properly dispose of FOG with these four easy steps:

• Can It - Pour solidified fats and grease into a sturdy container and place it in your garbage.
• Scrape It - Before washing, scrape fats, oils, and grease from pots and pans into your garbage.
• Trash It - Put fatty and greasy food scraps in the garbage.
• Recycle It - Place cooled cooking oil back into the original container and make an appointment to pick it up through the City of Folsom Door-2- Door residential household hazardous waste program.

For more information, call 916-461-6177 or visit www.folsom.ca.us/FOG.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE RETURNS 

The Folsom Citizens Assisting Public Safety (CAPS), in partnership with the Folsom Police and Fire departments, are collecting holiday toys and gift items for Folsom families in need. The program ends December 8. Here are two ways you can help:

• You can select to fulfill the specific wish of a child from the Virtual Christmas Tree, choose to receive an Amazon Wish List, or shop for the item locally.
• Bring a gift of your choosing for a child, teen, or adult. New, unopened, and unwrapped toys, as well as new clothing or gift cards, may be dropped off at designated gift drop-off locations.

Visit folsomtoydrive.com for additional details and designated gift drop-off locations. Contact Jessica Hess at 916-461-6516 or jhess@folsom.ca.us for more information.

CITY OF FOLSOM THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY CLOSURES

City administrative offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 23 and 24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. For urgent city issues, call 916-461-6400. Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies.



• Garbage service will be provided as usual; please place your cans curbside by 6 a.m. on your regular day of service.
• Transit services will not be available through the Folsom Stage Line operated by SacRT on Thanksgiving Day, November 23.
• The Folsom Fire Department administrative services located at 535 Glenn Drive, will be closed Thursday and Friday.
• The Folsom Public Library will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 23.
• The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day for the annual Feast for the Animals event, and regular hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
• The Andy Morin Sports Complex is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, and closed Thursday through Sunday.
• The Steve Miklos Aquatic Center is closed Thursday and Friday, and open regular hours from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday for lap swim.
• The FIDO Field Dog Park will be open from 7 a.m. to one hour after sunset.
• The Folsom Skate and Bike Parks are closed Thanksgiving Day, and open from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, and regular hours Saturday and Sunday.
• The Folsom Senior Center, Folsom Art Center, and Gallery at 48 Natoma are closed.
• Fun Factory, Kindergarten Readiness, and the after-school CAVE programs are closed.

City of Folsom Communications Director

Christine Brainerd | cbrainerd@folsom.ca.us | 916-461-6013 (office)

Get connected. Stay informed.

City of Folsom | 50 Natoma Street | www.folsom.ca.us