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Kids trick-or-treat at Spooky Hall 2009

On Friday, October 30, 2009, the Neighborhood Services Department sponsored Spooky Hall, a fun and safe trick-or-treat event for children at City Hall.

Children were able to visit the various decorated areas of City Hall and get candy from the numerous staff members who dressed up for the occassion. Various offices throughout the building decorated for the occassion. A little over 300 children participated in the hunted festivities.

Thanks to all of the participants and departments for making this year's Spooky Hall a success.

Danny Williams, with daughter and grandson.

Trick-or-Treaters

Accounting serves candy

Staff in costume (left to right): Lorrie Lowry, Vincene Jones, Luby Mitrovich, and Noreen James

Mariano, the Humpback of City Hall

The chef and the lobster-baby.

On Sunday, October 11th the 4th Annual Hispanic Parade hit Franklin Blvd.  The boulavard was filled with excitement and cheers from community lining the sidewalks to give a warm smile and wave to the parade participants.  This years grand marshals were Los Hijos de la Manana from Ke Buena 94.3FM which included Juan Gonzalez, Pedro Ramirez and Karly Hurtzig.  They were joined by a variety of local politicians including Vice Mayor Lauren Hammond, Supervisor Roger Dickinson, Supervisor Jimmy Yee, a representative from the Mexican Consulate and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerace.

If you were hoping to see a variety of low riders, convertible corvettes and a classic cadillac this was the place to be on Sunday.  The event included horses from our very own Sacramento Police Mounted Unit along with the Rancho Sta. Maria group.  Live music from Lorena Chavez & Los Acuarios, Jr. Mariachi singers, and Aztec dancers entertained everyone  along the boulavard.  The Campbell Soup Kids come to join in the fun plus McGruff the crime fighting dog made an appearance.

Big thanks goes out to all of this years participants.  We look forward to an even bigger and better 5th Annual Hispanic Parade 2010 next year.

4th Annual Hispanic Parade 2009 Begins

Hispanic Queen and Princess 2009

Lorena Chavez & Los Acuarios, Jr. Mariachi singers

Campbell Soup Kids join in the fun

Neighborhood Services Department was one of the participants at the Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 10, 2009. 

The Harvest Festival 2010 Census Event was sponsored by the 2010 Complete Count Committee, City of Sacramento and Vice Mayor Lauren Hammond.  The census is a count taken every 10 years of people across our nation.  The count determines how much federal money our community will receive over the next 10 years.  The event not only included a Neighborhood Services Resource Table, but also included live entertainment, free hay rides, free arts and crafts activities for children and free pumpkins.  Over 500 people attended this great kick off event for Census 2010 in Sacramento.

Vice Mayor Lauren Hammond, chair of the event, enjoys the festivities.

Councilmember Robert King Fong welcomes festival visitors.

Yvonne Reidlinger helps visitors at the Neighborhood Services Booth.

The Tongan Soldiers entertain at the festival.

Retired analyst Gary Ziegenfuss volunteers at the event.

The grand opening celebration of the newly constructed George Sim Community Center and Events Center took place on Saturday, September 26th. 

Residents from the South East Sacramento area came together to enjoy the day with an early morning parade, a ribbon cutting ceremony, tours of the newly constructed facility, performances from local entertainers and family-friendly activities throughout the day. 

Not only is the George Sim Community Center the largest community center in Sacramento but the new facility brings a variety of firsts to the area including a library book dispensing machine, a 15,696 sq. foot Events Center housing a collegiate size basketball court and  LEED Silver certification for the entire center.  The expansion of the community center also includes a new fitness center, computer training center, a resource room, a teen center and abundant meeting space.

Tallac Village Neighborhood Association Members Prepare for the Parade

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Events Center Basketball Demonstration

NSD Booth and Interns

Despite the record breaking heat, hundreds of North Sacramento neighbors came to the Kinney Police Facility on Saturday, September 26th for the 2nd Annual Cops and Community celebration.

The celebration recognized the continued partnership between the Police Department and the community to make it a better place to live, work, and play. Lots of free activities were offered such as face painting, tours of the police station, a K-9 demonstration, a Nascar race car, children’s fingerprinting, car seat information, a Kids Make-it workshop (courtesy of Home Depot), booths with crime prevention and community information (including Neighborhood Services!) and a special robot demonstration.

Free food including hot dogs, hamburgers, and snow cones was also provided. The celebration was also a great opportunity for neighbors to connect with one another to create safer, vibrant neighborhoods.

On Saturday, September 26th, Neighborhood Services Department along with Council Member Sandy Sheedy had co-sponsored Annual Back to School Community Cleanup at Saca Community Learning Center on Rio Linda Boulevard.

This event provided great opportunity for over 200 children and their parents to directly contribute to the improvements of their neighborhood. These kids had devoted their time and effort to remove litter from surrounding streets. At the end of this worthwhile event, free backpacks filled with school supplies were provided for all kids who participated at the clean up.

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Celebrate Natomas 2009

Thousands of Natomas residents enjoyed the mild weather at the South Natomas Community Park on Saturday, September 12th for the 8th annual Celebrate Natomas Festival sponsored by Councilmember Ray Tretheway. This year drew hundreds of vendor booths including but not limited to small local businesses, non-profit organizations, children's activities, and local government organizations including your very own Neighborhood Services Department! Two stages provided entertainment from local bands, youth dance groups, and youth martial arts groups. The event even included a slide made of real snow! To top it off, the event ended with a live fireworks show.

First 9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance

On Friday, September 11, 2009 more than 200 volunteers came together to commemorate the first annual 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance by providing assistance with community clean-ups and beautification projects throughout the city.  The Neighborhood Services Department in partnership with Hands On Sacramento and along with hundreds of participants including families, corporate teams, individuals, and neighborhood associations helped with litter, weed and graffiti removal throughout the Sacramento region.  At the conclusion of the days event, volunteers were recognized for their community service efforts with a lunch celebration at Northgate Park.

W/X Freeway Cleanup

W/X Freeway Crew

Woodbine Treka Alley Crew

Brentwood Alley Crew

Susan B. Anthoney Park

Northgate Park

Councilmember Sandy Sheedy

Vice Mayor Lauren Hammond

John Mackey Park

The Neighborhood Services Department, in conjunction with the Alkali & Mansion Flats Historic Neighborhood Association (AMFHNA), hosted the first Central City Community Partnership Meeting.  More than fifty residents from the area attended the meeting to discuss issues or concerns impacting the Central City community but also the City at large.  Representatives from a variety of City departments included the Police and Neighborhood Services, the Office of Public Safety Accountability along with a representative from the US Census and the Charter Review Committee Chairperson.  Topics for discussion included procedures on reporting homeless camps, central city crime stats information, the Office of Public Safety – 2008 Report, the U.S. Census 2010, the City Charter Review Committee update and a Neighborhood Services update.

On Saturday, August 22nd, Neighborhood Services teamed up with SMUD and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) for a lightbulb exchange at the Twin Rivers public housing complex at 12th and Eliza Streets.

To promote energy efficiency, SMUD provided compact flourescent lightbulbs (CFLs) in exchange for the less efficient incandescent bulbs to all residents in the Twin Rivers community who wished to participate. With the help of Neighborhood Services, over 15 volunteers went door-to-door to exchange lightbulbs and to provide information about energy efficiency. Volunteers were given a brief presentation regarding energy efficiency to share information with residents (see picture below). After the door-to-door walk, SMUD and SHRA staff provided a free BBQ lunch for residents and volunteers.

For more information about CFLs and how they save both energy and money, visit SMUD's website at http://www.smud.org/en/rebates/compact-fluorescent-bulbs/pages/index.aspx and find retailers who offer a low price on CFLs.

As the summer comes to a close, Councilmember Bonnie Pannell concluded her rounds of neighborhood park days with a backpack giveaway at Meadowview Park. Kids played in the playground and jump house and enjoyed games, free hot dogs, chips and drinks. The adults hung out in their lawn chairs and were entertained by live musical performances. To top it off all the neighborhood kids received free backpacks to help start the school year on the right foot.

Several City Departments hosted resource tables including Police, Solid Waste, Code Enforcement, Sacramento Library and Neighborhood Services. A representative from each department made a brief presentation informing residents of current information related to city services and programs. Councilmember Pannell has sponsored eight other park days during this summer in different neighborhoods throughout the district. All the food and activities were free and the events provided residents a perfect opportunity to get engaged in various ways. There is no doubt that the neighborhood park days are the place to be!

2009 Mayor’s Summer Reading Camp

From August 10 to August 21, the Neighborhood Services Department managed the 2009 Mayor’s Summer Reading Camp. 

The Reading Camp was a huge success at all five sites.  The Camp helped advance children’s reading skills and prepared the children for the upcoming school year.  During the camp, students who struggled with reading received aid to increase their level of reading and comprehension.  There were many fun activities for the students from arts and crafts to mathematics. In the end, 100 students walked away with a backpack full of goodies and most importantly the basic fundamentals of reading. 

The sites were at Phoenix Park Community Center, Colonial Heights Library, Boys and Girls Club, Pannell-Meadowview Center, and Lemon Hill. 

Back 2 School Community Picnic

Summer vacation is almost over and time has come to start preparing to go back to school.  This past Saturday the Neighborhood Services Department partnered with Vice Mayor Hammond, the La Familia Counseling Center, and the North Franklin District Business Association to bring the City Farms community a day filled with fun and excitement.  There were carnival games, a jumphouse, Mimo the Clown, a Magic Show and a BBQ lunch for everyone.  Resource tables provided a wide array of information including resources from the US Census 2010, the La Familia Counseling Center and your very own Neighborhood Services Department.  At the end of the day more than 200 backpacks filled with a variety of school supplies were distributed to the youth attending the event. 

After receiving over 200 surveys over the course of three special events during the summer, City residents have spoken clearly: the Neighborhood Services Department is doing a great job performing its duties.

Participants indicated the primary services provided by the department - connecting residents with information, with resources, facilitating resolutions, promoting involvement, and developing partnerships - are very important, and that they are very satisfied with the department's efforts to carry out those duties. Participants' average opinion held about the department was also very good.

In all, it is evident the department should continue providing their primary services and continue its activity in the various communities of Sacramento.

In case you missed the Open House on July 23, 2009, it was a roaring success. Over 210 residents, business leaders, community leaders attended. Along with meeting various members of the department, visitors were able to pick up the latest information regarding changes within the City and view the results of the programs the Neighborhood Services Department provides them. An opportunity meet the newest collaboration with our department was the American Heart Association, who gave out information regarding stroke prevention and overall good heart health. People were also able to cool down with root beer floats.

Stay tuned for the NSD Holiday Reception, slated for December 10, 2009. Details to follow.

Neighborhood Services reached out to the community this past Saturday as part of the free neighborhood park day sponsored by Councilmember Bonnie Pannell. Paid summer youth interns with Neighborhood Services provided information and answered questions on neighborhood associations, community meetings, and city services like the life jacket loan program. Several residents spoke Spanish with our bilingual intern.

Last Saturday, July 25th, Neighborhood Services Department joined twenty other service providers in Council District 2 at Saca Community Learning Center for “Fun in the Sun” Resource Fair. It is annual event where hundreds of North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights residents come to spend time together, connect with resources, enjoy food and celebration of cultures. Neighborhood Services booth was very popular for community members to stop by and learn about City’s sponsored events and services. Council Member, Sandy Sheedy was special guest of the event. During difficult times it is highly important for us to be in touch with neighborhoods and be a source of "positive energy".

People were jumping and jiving to the Jazz music at Seymour Park this past Saturday, July 26th. Cool ice cream treats were provided by the office of Councilmember Robbie Waters. The well attended and lively event was part of the Jazz in the Park Sunday Concert Series the City holds during the summer season.

North Franklin District Business Walk

The City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Department partners with Economic Development, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, SHRA and the North Franklin District Business Association to ‘business walk’ the North Franklin business corridor.  Small groups walk both sides of the Franklin Blvd. business corridor surveying local business owners on how business was going, what can be improved, & how everyone can help. The survey results help business groups develop strategies to improve the business climate. The North Franklin District Business Association sponsored a tote bag filled with valuable information and gifts for all the businesses.  The pictures below show the Neighborhood Services team handing out door hanger reminders to local businesses about the business walk. 

The "Topping Out" Ceremony for the new Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library was a very memorable event. This informal event marked the placement of the final steel beam in the steel superstructure of the new library, which will serve the Greenhaven-Pocket area. "Topping Out" reflects a long history of significance in the construction industry and signals a milestone in the construction sequence. Many of the attendees were encouraged to sign the final steel beam before it was lifted by the construction crane to it's final destination. The library is due to open in mid 2010. It will be 15,000-square-foot in size and slated for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification. The library branch will feature a 100-seat community room, teen room, two group study rooms, preschooler ready-to-read room, quiet reading room, and more than 50,000 books and digital materials. The library is a joint-use facility with the Sacramento City Unified School District’s School of Engineering and Sciences, City of Sacramento’s Parks and Recreation Department, and the Sacramento Public Library. Neighborhood Services provided the support for refreshments at the event.

Councilmember McCarty’s Neighborhood Appreciation Night

District 6 neighbors, business owners, and their families all came out on Thursday evening to celebrate Councilmember McCarty’s annual Neighborhood Appreciation Reception. Neighbors donned their flowered shirts and leis for the Polynesian BBQ theme, which included a delicious dinner.  Honorees, nominated by their association members, were recognized for their hard work and dedication in their neighborhoods. Each was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Councilmember McCarty, who sponsors this event every year to acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of community members.  Neighborhood Services Director Vincene Jones served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.

Neighborhood Services Department supports the 5th Annual Fortune Festival

On June 20, 2009, Neighborhood Services Department participated in the 5th Annual Fortune Festival at the Fruitridge Shopping Center parking lot in front of Asian Resources. 

The Fortune Festival featured a health and safety fair and showcased different cultures and communities.  The Festival had events and cultural entertainment such as Vietnamese Fashion Show and Martial Arts to Polynesian dances.  It also included many different events for children such as the jump house and paintings.  The Neighborhood Services Department supported their theme which was related to “health and safety” issues by supplying on how to start the Neighborhood Watch Program, Life Jacket Safeties, and “Four Simple Steps” when dealing with an emergency.

The City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Department is proud to share our new department newsletter, The Bridge. The goal of the newsletter is to highlight department services and recent successes. Download the current newsletter!

If you're interest in viewing previous newsletters from the Neighborhood Services Department, please follow this link.

As you may be aware, Neighborhood Services holds meetings in your area to facilitate broad communication between the City and the community on issues, policies and priorities. These meetings, formerly known as Area Leadership, are now the bi-monthly Community Partnership meetings.

Why the name change, you ask? Neighborhood Services is committed to being the bridge between the community and City government. A partnership between community members (including those who are members of a neighborhood association and those who are not) and the City is essential to keeping neighborhoods strong. Neighborhood Services is constantly looking to get more neighbors involved, hence the more inclusive name change.

Click here to see the calendar for all meetings in 2009.

Hope to see you there. Be sure to tell your neighbors and bring a friend