Sacramento County Families & Children Digest

Rio Linda Library Branch Supervisor Sally McGrath is transferring to the South Natomas Library for what she calls “a bit of a promotion.”

Jayvyn Thwaites, a 6th grader at David Lubin Elementary School, contributed to a Grammy Award-winning album by Indian musician Falguni Shah, better known as Falu.

Natomas spray parks officially opened this weekend and will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day weekend.

Local children’s book author JaNay Brown-Wood, who’s “Imani’s Moon” was released by Penguin Random House is releasing a jaw-dropping 10 books in 2022.

The new Edie Macdonald Park includes two playgrounds, two adult fitness areas, a shaded picnic area, and a basketball half-court. Each amenity was requested by neighbors when the CSD designed the renovated park.

Nearly 600 girls and 260 adult volunteers from an 18-county region descended on Lake Camanche in Calaveras County to learn or improve their skills in archery, fishing, paddling, and horseback riding.

Asian Pacific CultureFest will feature live performances as well as foods and crafts from 80 AAPI-owned small businesses. The event takes place on Saturday, May 7 in Elk Grove.

Volodymyr Androshchuk, of Auburn, flew to Poland in March and traveled to Ukraine to rescue his grandson. The boy arrived in California with his grandmother a few weeks later, while Volodymyr stayed in Ukraine to help with humanitarian efforts.

The Natomas neighborhood now has a new water park and community center, after the grand opening event for the North Natomas Aquatic Complex. Amenities include a community center, water slides, a kids’ splash zone and several pools.

For the first time in three years, the California State Fair will return. This Sacramento tradition of food and carnival rides is now four months away.

The Elk Grove City Council on Feb. 23 unanimously approved a $9.5 million purchase agreement for 100 acres of land for the potential relocation and expansion of the Sacramento Zoo in Elk Grove.

Assembly Bill 1728, introduced by Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), would exempt single parents receiving CalWORKs benefits from “welfare-to-work” requirements for the first three years of their child’s life.

The Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District marked the opening of the new Gum Ranch Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 13.

The Galt Youth Commission held its first in-person regular meeting after more than 18 months of meeting online. For many of the commissioners, it was their first opportunity ever to sit at the council dais.

It was reported last year that nine census tracts in Sacramento had large numbers of children below age 6 test positive for lead poisoning, and the Capital City has also one of highest number of positive tests in the state.

Once a fixture at elementary school assemblies, a Citrus Heights husband-wife duo are now producing virtual puppet shows, as schools continue to not allow outside groups on campus due to the pandemic.

The Citrus Heights Police Department is hosting a drive-thru “reverse” Trunk or Treat event. Residents are invited to dress up and drive through a series of tents at the police station between 4-8 p.m. on Oct. 28.

While the capital experienced a barrage of thousands of parents against the school vaccine mandate, Galt had its own protest on Oct. 18 as approximately 100 people lined C Street.

Some Sacramento parents pulled their children out of school today to protest the upcoming vaccine mandates for school-aged children.

Two gatherings were recently held to allow the public to provide input on a new library coming to Elk Grove in 2023.

The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center is holding its annual Fall Festival on Oct. 23. This is a much-anticipated event each year with food and games ranging in price from $1-$6.

The Folsom Soap Box Derby, founded in 2018, is once again welcoming young soap box racers. Competitors are expected to come from all over California.

Once again, Effie Yeaw Nature Center will offer a registration-only spin on their traditional fall festival. Children will have the opportunity to meet a horned owl along with bats and other critters native to the region.

The City Life Sayonara Center, which opened in 2006, is thriving and healthy despite COVID restrictions and other challenges through the years. Every day the center serves approximately 45 children, who receive a meal along with homework help and fun activities.

A 10-year-old deaf girl who lives in Sacramento is now officially a sign language interpreter for Disney. Her first gig is working at a Cinderella celebration.

Elk Grove’s Giant Pumpkin Festival is back and the community was more than ready to welcome the tradition again. The festival featured vendors, musicians, and of course the pumpkin contest.

Children aged 12-19 are one of the least vaccinated demographics in Sacramento, which is of concern to health officials as these young people are attending in-person school again.

A mom’s determination for girls to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) futures last weekend inspired a career day at the Aerospace Museum of California.

Negotiations have begun to move the Sacramento Zoo to Elk Grove. This news comes after years of planning potential relocation sites throughout the Sacramento region.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Northern Sierra and Sacramento agencies raised nearly $40,000 with a fundraiser that featured donors rappelling down the side of the Residence Inn by Marriott.

Students at Merryhill Preschools in Natomas and the Pocket area recently donated school supplies to help local children prepare for the new school year. Students at the two schools worked together to collect a variety of school supplies to be distributed to the disadvantaged community.

After remaining closed for the first time during the 2020 season, Bastiao Farms is expected to reopen at the end of September for a full season of corn mazes, pumpkins and more.