May is Bike Month – Thursday, May 15, 2008 is Bike-to-Work Day on the American River Parkway. Bikers can park for free and enjoy breakfast at entrance locations. A Bike Fest at the west steps of the Capital, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., will offer information on bicycling, walking and transit. The event will feature a raffle for commuter bikes. View the flyer for more information.

Sacramento Regional Parks' Annual Passes Now Available – Purchase your County Parks "PASSPORT" online, and take advantage of free parking and unlimited day use to all regional parks and facilities for one calendar year. Purchase a pass before July 31 for a chance to win a custom-fitted Trek 7000 bike! Visit the Regional Parks website or read the press release for more details.

Congratulations to our Environmental Management Department – EMD has been recognized with one of the most prestigious awards in the food industry for a variety of its food protection programs. Find out about more in the Food Packaging Institute news release. 

Sacramento County Honored During National Foster Care Month - Achievements in programs and services to help abused and neglected foster children in Sacramento County will be recognized at the State Capitol on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. You're invited to the resource fair that begins at 10 a.m. Read more about National Foster Care Month.

Public Safety & Community Appreciation Breakfast – Join the celebration as public safety leaders and citizens give thanks to one another for contributing to the safety of our communities and present the Outstanding Citizen Award. The event will be held at the Radisson Hotel on Monday, May 12. Visit the District Attorney website for more information on how to register.

Sacramento County Addressing Climate Change – Sacramento County leaders are working together to develop a coordinated, comprehensive approach to managing the effects of climate change. Find out how you can help, offer your comments and suggestions or be notified of new developments at the County’s Climate Change website.

Town Hall Meeting Postponed – Residents in the eastern portion of Sacramento County should watch their mail and online for information regarding a new date and location. Due to scheduling conflicts, the May 15th Town Hall meeting has had to be postponed. For more information, please contact Leslie Burgett.

Bright Futures – Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 29, free health and developmental screenings will be provided to children (5 years or younger). Get answers from health professionals and get a hold of free resources at the community booths. Visit the First 5 Sacramento website to find out more.

District Attorney’s Outstanding Citizen Award – In honor of National Crime Victim’s Week, ten Sacramento resident crime victims and/or witnesses were recognized for their courage in bringing criminals to justice at the ninth annual award ceremony held on April 18th, 2008. Read the press release for details on this year’s award recipients.

Managing Climate Change – Many local governments are trying to find ways to become more "green," but Sacramento County is stepping up to the plate with actions rather than just words. Find out more at the Climate Change website.

Free Gardening Workshop – Attend Sacramento County Stormwater’s free River-Friendly Landscaping workshop. Learn healthy gardening practices that reduce pesticide, green waste, and water pollution. The workshop will be held on Sunday, April 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the McMillan Center in Fair Oaks Park. To sign up please contact Suman Kumar at 874-8326.

Healthy Kids Day – Join the fun and entertainment, plus get information about free or low cost health coverage for children and teens on Saturday, April 19, at the South Natomas Community Center. Find out how to register early.

Celebrating National County Government Week – Counties throughout the nation are in the spotlight the week of April 6 – 12, showcasing services and programs we provide for the community. This year’s theme, “Protecting our Children,” was given top billing at a resource fair highlighting a wide range of people and programs, including the Department of Human Assistance’s Opportunity Knocks Program, a truancy intervention and prevention program, former foster youth from the Independent Living Program, and Child Protective Services’ Parent Leader Program. View the pictures.

Board Meetings Cancelled – Regularly scheduled meetings of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will resume on Tuesday, April 22. Meetings for this week and next week have been cancelled. Board meeting information.

Request for Proposals – Sacramento County is soliciting proposals for Dispute Resolution Services and the Good Neighbor Hotline. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2008. For more information, visit the Countywide Services Agency website.

Foreclosure Workshops and Resources - For those facing the possibility of losing a home, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) provides community meetings and workshops to educate homeowners about avoiding foreclosure, and a resource list of local housing counseling agencies.

Property tax payments – The second installment of secured property taxes is due by April 10, 2008. Use e-Prop-Tax to make your payment online.

Help Shape Future of Eastern County - A series of workshops will be held in March and April to seek public input on the future of two areas in the eastern region of the County: Grant Line East and Jackson Highway. For detailed information, visit the Planning and Community Development website.

Orangevale Library Reopens – Entertainment for readers of all ages will highlight the grand “reopening” of the Orangevale Library Thursday afternoon, April 3. The Orangevale branch on Greenback Lane has undergone extensive improvements and expansion. Read more about the event plans in the Library’s press release.

Child Support Services Joins Statewide System – The Department of Child Support Services is converting to a new statewide computer system on April 1, 2008. The office will remain open but limited walk-in and telephone services will be available on Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Cash payments will still be accepted during normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the conversion, visit the Department of Child Support Services website.

County Children’s Resource Fair - Join us on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 to celebrate National County Government Week’s theme “Protecting Our Children.” Learn about programs and services that serves Sacramento County children and youth. Visit the Countywide Services Agency website to find out more.

Make the Employment Connection – Brush up your resume and grab the chance to meet over 40 employers seeking workers at the Spring Job Fair on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. Read the press release for time and location.

As the weather warms, the mosquito swarms – The risk of infection from West Nile Virus greatly increases in the summer and continues into the fall. To learn about mosquito bite prevention, symptoms and how WNV spreads, visit the Fight the Bite website.

Seeking Nominations for "Creating Healthy Environment" Award - Nominate a deserving person, business or organization for this special award recognizing those who are making contributions towards reducing childhood obesity and creating healthier environments for our kids. Find out more at the Health and Human Services Department web site.

Interstate 5 Renovations to Impact Traffic – Months of lane closures and detours along I-5 from Richards Blvd. to R Street will make downtown driving more challenging in the months ahead. Find out the latest information on how your commute might be impacted at the “Fix I-5” website.

C. M. Goethe Park to Be Renamed! – Join the community in choosing a new name for C.M Goethe Park located along the southern bend of the American River. To find out how you can help the Naming Committee, visit the Regional Parks website. Read the press release for more information.

California Capital Airshow – Mark your calendars for March 15 and 16 when the California Capital Airshow returns, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Purchase tickets and find out more about the airshow.

District Attorney Hosts Town Hall Meeting in Oak Park – You are invited to attend a special meeting Thursday, March 13, 2008, regarding juvenile justice issues and concerns raised by community members. Read the press release for more information.

Bicycle Master Plan Public Workshop – Sacramento County is updating its Bicycle Master Plan and invites you to join in on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. Learn more about the workshop. Take the Sacramento County Bicycle Master Plan Survey.

Online Property Tax Payments – Need to look up or pay your property taxes? Using your parcel number you can do that online at e-Prop Tax. If you need to find your parcel number, look it up on the Parcel Viewer.

Participate in the District Attorney’s Citizens Academy – District Attorney Jan Scully, in partnership with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s and City Police Departments, will lead another ten-week session for residents who want to know more about the inner workings of our criminal justice system. The unique program kicks off in April. Learn more about the Citizens Academy.

Daylight Saving Time Reminder - Daylight Saving Time begins March 9th. The Sacramento County Public Health Division has a special message for residents: When you reset your clocks, check your stocks--of emergency supplies, that is!

Natomas Building Approval - Pending changes to the FEMA regulatory floodplain in the Natomas area will freeze building permits. Anyone planning to build a new structure or substantially improve an existing one in the unincorporated area of Natomas will be required to obtain approval from the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources Floodplain Management Office.

Results of the February 5 Election - Sacramento County’s Registrar of Voters continues to oversee ballot counting from the February 5th record-turnout Presidential Primary. The process of verifying signatures and certifying eligibility on returned Vote by Mail and provisional ballots is a time consuming process. Official final results will not be available until the canvass of the election is completed. Preliminary results can be found at the Elections website.

High Efficiency Washing Machine Rebate - Sacramento County Water Resources Department customers who replace their old washing machine with a high efficiency washer may be eligible for a rebate worth up to $100. Find out how you can take advantage of this rebate.

Envision the future of Fair Oaks Boulevard’s "Main Street" – Join us for an informational workshop before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to learn more about the stretch of Fair Oaks that runs through Carmichael. Find out about options for land use, main street district roadway and urban design concepts at the Fair Oaks Boulevard Corridor Plan website.