As one recent gourd enthusiast commented, “The Gourd Festival was such a blast! Set in such gorgeous scenery. With so much to do, so many beautiful works of art to see, entertainment, and food. Can’t wait to visit again this year.”

“People travel from all the way across the country for this event, some even from outside the U.S.,” says Marketing Director, Phoebe Welburn. “There is definitely a group of ‘hard core’ gourd-ers, as we call them, who will travel any distance for this event. These are the people who have been involved with gourds for many years, and the biggest attraction for them is to see the art itself and also to take gourd art classes from some of the top instructors in the industry.”

Many fantastic artists will also make their way across the country to participate in this year’s event. Artists such as Mark and Karen Klay from Tucson, Arizona, Gloria Crane from Hesperia, California, and George Nan from Socorro, New Mexico and 40 others will be exhibiting their incredible work.

Many artists also do double duty as instructors, making the event even more attractive for serious gourd-lovers who want to learn directly from the artists. A total of 38 gourd art classes are scheduled for the 21st, 22nd and 23rd, the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before the festival. “The classes are full-day classes,” explains Laura Cunningham, Project Coordinator at the farm, “so we cannot have them run at the same time as the Festival because people would miss out on enjoying all the attractions at the event.”

If you are interested in signing up for gourd art classes, you can review the descriptions and photos on the Gourd Art Festival web site at www.GourdFestival.com or by calling the Welburn Gourd Farm at 760-728-4271.

Gourds, which were once considered only for making birdhouses and craft items, have now emerged as a popular canvas for fine artwork, some selling for upwards of $25,000, and the Gourd Art Festival is the place where artists showcase their work.

For festival admission, adult tickets are $12 at the gate or $9 when you buy in advance on the web site. Children 12 and under are admitted free. General parking is free, and VIP parking is $20 per car. Dogs are not permitted except for handicapped assist animals. To purchase tickets and get more information, visit www.GourdFestival.com or call 760-728-4271.

See Also:
Folsom Gourd and Arts Festival – Day One Photos

The Citizens Academy is an educational program designed to create a greater understanding and trust between public safety agencies and the residents of Folsom. Guest agencies participate in the program to provide information on their services.

The academy is the basic training requirement for the CAPS (Citizens Assisting Public Safety) Volunteer Program. Over 380 residents have attended the academy classes and there are currently 80 members in the CAPS program.

The Folsom Police Department covers topics such as Use of Force, CSI, Identity theft, 9-1-1 reporting, SWAT, Narcotics, and K-9 and Mounted Demonstrations. The Folsom Fire Department teaches classes on EMS and Disaster Preparedness.

Topics such as Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Water Management and Traffic Safety are taught by other city departments. Further training for applicants of the volunteer program includes a ride-along with both Police and Fire, and a sit-along in the Communications Center.

The Citizens Academy is held annually and is open to Folsom area residents 21 years and older. Beginning January 10th applications will be available at the Folsom Police Department lobby (46 Natoma Street).

Classes are held for 10 consecutive weeks on Wednesday evenings at 6:00PM. Reservations are required and class size is limited. For further information, please check our website: www.folsompd.com, or call the CAPS desk at 916-351-3536.

My Folsom is a discussion board where you can make posts about things you care about, make friends, spar with them, tell jokes, post pictures and videos, carry on discussions, and solve the problems of the world.

On Saturday night John and Annie Gladding held court at the Qbole restaurant in Historic Folsom, with friends who helped the site and the concept expand and thrive over the years. The service was great, the food excellent and a good time was had by all.

Always looking for the fun in everything, John suggested a “tacky gift exchange” and that was a lot of fun. Gifts included some strange but beautiful Christmas tree decorations, a set of “get rich in real estate” VHS tapes, a carton of much needed TV remote control units, a packet of biscuits, a bottle of wine, together with a pink boa and one lucky friend landed a pair of electronic drumsticks.

We don’t know what will happen in the next ten years, but we know one thing for sure, John and Annie Gladding will keep us all amused and working together.

Happy Birthday, MyFolsom!

Long envisioned as a critically important element for Folsom Lake College, the visual and performing arts center was initially conceived as a facility to instruct, develop, and guide talented students to become actors, musicians, dancers, visual artists, and behind-the-curtain technicians.

The scope and size of Three Stages at Folsom Lake College expanded significantly with a 2003 objective feasibility study by an outside consultant which validated the need for a facility that could also serve as a regional arts center for the greater community.

In 2004 the project proposal approved by the Los Rios Board of Trustees was submitted to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for final funding approval in the 2005-06 budget year. Construction of the $50-million project began in July 2008 and is being supported by a State Educational Facilities General Obligation Bond, Local Measure A Bond, other District resources, and donations to the Folsom Lake College Foundation.

curtis owyang

Curtis Owyang said “Our history here goes way back. We have been fortunate to design this entire campus, from scratch. … This center is clearly the crown jewel, not just of this campus, but the district. It was designed for openness and front door to the community, as well as being a teaching facility for the students.”

Design Features

• Flexible space, ample floor space, windows and skylights throughout
• Massive slate wall, glass and wood paneling throughout

1. Main Lobby

• Spacious lobby for receptions, public art, etc.
• Manager’s Office
• Concessions Area
• Coat Room
• Box Office
• Donor Wall

2. Art Gallery

• 2500 sq. ft. of high-tech space
• Outstanding art display and event space

3. & 4.  Director’s Studio and Drama Lab

• Supports instructional areas; available for community events
• Overflow spaces for large music and theater productions

5.     Full Scene Shop, Touring Office and Backstage Support

• Support scene building and technical needs
• Dressing Rooms
• Green Room
• Office Space

6.     Studio Theater (Black Box)

• 200 seats with multiple stage and audience configurations
• Small theatrical performances, spoken-word events; etc.

7.     Recital Hall

• 100 seats with flexible stage and audience configurations
• Small musical ensembles, plays, speaker’s series, business meetings, etc.

8. & 9.  Recording Studio

• Control Booth, Ensemble and Practice Rooms
• Professional recording equipment for simultaneous recording in all three public theatres

10.    Instructional Space – (separate from performance space)

• Two Lecture Halls – can be used for community events
• Art Lab
• Set and Costume Workshops with supporting laundry area
• Ensemble and practice rooms

11. & 12.  Upper Lobby

• Founder’s Room – (for small conferences, meetings and VIP receptions)
• Reception Space
• Faculty and Management Offices
• Conference Rooms
• Foundation Office Space
• Storage
• Workrooms
• Building Infrastructure

13.  Main Theater – 1^st Floor

• Proscenium Theater:  850 seats (600 at 1^st level; 250 at balcony level with box seating)
• Full orchestra pit with hydraulic lift
• Full fly tower (94 ft. including 20 ft. height basement/storage beneath full stage
• Full Screen for film viewing

Main Theatre – 2^nd Floor

• Proscenium Theater – Balcony Seating (250 including some box seating)

Curtis Owyang Designed Three Stages Performing Arts Center

Curtis Owyang Talking to FolsomLocalNews.com.

The Folsom Lake College Regional Visual & Performing Arts Center was opened for a special media day. The Center aims to nurture the next generation of performing artists; to open up a world of culture to the region and to present the best in live performances from diverse traditions and disciplines.

Fundamental elements to the vision of the center are artistic excellence, quality education and public accessibility. Funding for the center included Local and State bond funds earmarked for this project by the Los Rios Community College District and a $4.3 million capital campaign conducted by the Folsom Lake College Foundation.

Approximately $44 million was spent in the construction phase, with the total budget being $50 million.

The Center is beautiful, as you will see in the videos below, and the program for the first year is a delight. The Center officially opens in February next year and is known as the “Three Stages Regional Performing Arts Center.”

Look for more stories soon.

The Guided Tour

Dr Thelma Scott-Skillman introduces Dr Brice Harris

Dr Brice Harris Soundbite

Dr Thelma Scott-Skillman Soundbite

Michael Neumann, Folsom Symphony Orchestra Conductor

Stan Dunn, BYU Management Society at the opening

Sam, Technical Director

Curtis Owyang, Designer of Folsom Lake Visual & Performing Arts Center

In 2009, over 720 families received baskets and over 900 children received toys. Even with the increasing number of families requesting baskets, the help of local businesses, community organizations, schools, and residents make the “Christmas Basket” a huge success!

Beginning November 22nd, non-perishable foods and/or new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Folsom Police Department. Residents needing a food and/or toy basket will have an opportunity to apply at the Police Department, and at Twin Lakes Food Bank beginning Monday, November 29.

christmas baskets

The City of Folsom’s executive management team, city employees, CAPS volunteers, along with local scouts, and many other community members support the “Christmas Basket” by lending a hand on donation pick up day and on basket distribution day.

The Folsom Police Department will hold a community TOY DRIVE-DROP-OFF on Saturday, December 11th in front of the Folsom Aquatic Center, 1200 Riley Street.

Officers and Volunteers will be there to accept new toys from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Food, toys, and monetary donations will be gladly accepted through Friday, December 17. Baskets are distributed on Monday, December 20.

For more information, contact the Christmas Basket Hotline at (916) 492-8607 or the Twin Lakes Food Bank at (916) 985-3292.

YourCommunityPlace.com is your local solution for Social Media! The website is focused on local events, local news and local topics of interest. Major benefits include the ability to post your business information to both Facebook and Twitter simultaneously, streamlining this process will reduce the time it takes to post to all your social media sites.  With more time on your hands, you can focus on what you do best – running your business.

Other benefits include:

·         Stay up to date on local news and events with one click of your mouse

·         Add your events (business or personal) to our event calendar.

·         Receive feedback from local residents on potential promotions.

·         Create your own group or join others for business, hobby or pleasure.

·         Blog posting – Promote you business events, charity events & company achievements.

It’s local, it’s social and best of all, it’s free.  Follow this link to sign up today at www.YourCommunityPlace.com

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary needs your help to create an enchanted forest of lighted trees as part of a new Wild Nights, Holiday Lights event that kicks off December 2.

“We will turn the entire zoo into a winter wonderland with tens of thousands of beautiful, energy efficient LED mini lights,” says Sandy Hilton of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Parks and Recreation Department are teaming up with Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary staff.

Enchanted Forest of Holiday Lights

Parks and Recreation is recruiting local organizations, businesses and families to adopt a tree in an enchanted forest of 80 trees. The zoo will supply the trees, one for each of the zoo animal residents. Volunteers who adopt a tree will be asked to donate LED lighting and decorations, and to decorate their tree.

Wild Holiday Lights

At least one member of each volunteer group must attend a Holiday Lights preview day at 10 a.m. Saturday. November 13. Staff will supply directions and an approved list of lights and decorations. Tree decorating will take place on Saturday, November 27 and December 4.

“In addition to the enchanted forest of trees and sparkling lights lining pedestrian corridors and the animal exhibits, this new event will feature holiday caroling, seasonal food and drinks, Zoo animal presentations and special visitors from the North Pole,” says Hilton. “The Folsom Valley Railway miniature live steam train will be in full operation to provide winter wonderland train rides for children and adults.”

Wild Nights and Holiday Lights at the Zoo will open December 2 and continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through December 23 (weather permitting).

Discuss in the forums

Visit www.folsom.ca.us or call (916) 355-7285 for more information about the Holiday Lights.

Benefiting Food Bank of El Dorado County and Twin Lakes Food Bank, the Food Bank Blitz is on this Sunday.

Hands4Hope is looking for volunteers in this campaign to fight hunger. You can volunteer for a 2-hour shift to collect donations of food, cash, and gift cards to benefit those in need in El Dorado & Sacramento Counties.

The food banks and their support organizations do much-needed work in our communities.

Register Now To Volunteer at the website

Twin Lakes Food Bank
327 Montrose Drive
Folsom, CA 95630
916-985-6232: Phone
www.twinlakesfoodbank.org

Food Bank of El Dorado County
6230 Enterprise Drive
Diamond Springs, CA 95619
tel: (530) 621-9950
tel: (916) 939-6774
tel: (530) 541-9950
foodbankedc.org
info@foodbankedc.org

Jennifer Bassett
Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference
916.919.5695
www.hands4hopeyouth.org

foodbank blitz at shopping center

foodbank blitz helper

Water Conservation Garden

The City of Folsom and Intel Corporation are seeking volunteers to plant a new water conservation demonstration garden at the Hinkle Creek Nature Center on the afternoon of Saturday Oct. 2.

Intel Corporation provided a grant to fund the project through a community based environmental program.  Intel employees will work alongside City employees and community volunteers to install the landscaping at the Hinkle Creek Nature Center, 7100 Baldwin Dam Road.

The water conservation demonstration garden is designed to educate residents and school children on the importance of water conservation in landscape design.  The garden will feature drought tolerant ornamental and native plants, the latest in low-volume irrigation, and irrigation controller technology that will track water use in landscape.

Water conservation garden

An estimated 5,000 students and residents are expected to visit Hinkle Creek Nature Center next year to learn about ways to maintain beautiful gardens while using less water, a vital natural resource.

Water Conservation Garden Volunteers Wanted

Interested volunteers, for the water conservation garden, 13 years and older, should call Folsom’s Water Management Program at (916) 355-7252.