Mulch Madness

This coming Monday, September 8, is the last Mulch Madness of the season at McKinley Park. So if you haven't had a chance to help out yet, now is the time. It's very satisfying to clean up around McKinley's many trees and protect their roots from, keeps weeds down and retain moisture. Plus you get to meet with your neighbors and enjoy the lush park setting.

Volunteers will meet up at 6pm near the Shepard Garden and Arts Center and--with their own tools, wheelbarrows and gloves, or supplies already on hand--will spread mulch rings until about 8pm. For more information and to register, go to the Sacramento Tree Foundation website at www.sactree.com or call (916) 974-4333.

Volunteer Day at McKinley Rose Garden

Those gorgeous flowers don’t prune themselves. So, from 7-11am this coming Saturday, September 6, volunteers are encouraged to come on by--clippers and gloves in hand--to the McKinley Rose Garden for some light pruning and weeding.

Volunteers will congregate near the garden benches, and they will be led in their efforts by an expert rosarian. RSVP’s ahead of time are encouraged, but drop-in help will also be appreciated. For more information and to RSVP, call (16) 452-8011 or send an email to friendsofeastsac@aol.com.

Glenn Hall Park Volunteer Day

This Saturday, August 23, volunteers are needed from 9am-12noon to help keep Glenn Hall Park looking neat and tidy. Tasks will include pruning hedges, weeding and planting flowerbeds. While some equipment will be available, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, hat, clippers, rakes, etc. Coffee and snacks will also be available. 

While RSVPs are preferred, drop-in help will not be turned away. For more information, email cadence@surewest.net.

Mulch Madness

It's been a long, hot summer so far, and there's plenty more to come. Mulch Madness, organized by the Sacramento Tree Foundation, will help protect the trees in McKinley Park from the dry conditions. The mulch rings applied around the bases of new and established trees throughout the park will help keep the soil cool, retain moisture and prevent weeds.

This Monday, August 4, from 6:30 to 8pm, volunteers of all ages are encouraged to help out--with or without their own gloves, wheelbarrows and rakes. For more information and to fill out the Volunteer Release form, go to www.sactree.com.

38th Street Annual Blood Drive

For the 6th year, Alice McAuliffe and her husband Pat will host a blood drive outside their home at 1141 38th Street, complete with refreshments and East Sac neighborhood camaraderie. On Thursday, July 17, from 3 to 7pm, two bloodmobiles from BloodSource will be taking donations. This year, the goal is to collect 45 pints of blood to help patients and hospitals during the busy summer months. 

A set appointment during the hours of the event is required to donate. To do so, go to bloodsource.org/drives and enter location code M597. For more information, you can also call Alice directly at (916) 451-5507 (she is a wonderful lady to talk with, so you might want to call instead of going online)

I regularly give blood at the downtown BloodSource location at 16th and Q and this will be my first year of joining my neighbors in the local blood drive. I've already set up my appointment to go and give blood and I hope to see a lot of you there!

Mulch Madness

What better way to unwind after a hard day’s work than getting your hands dirty at the first Mulch Madness of the season? From 6:30 to 8pm this coming Monday, June 9, volunteers will apply root-protecting, water-conserving mulch around the trees in McKinley Park.

If you have your own wheelbarrow, gloves and rake you can use, great. If not, you’re still welcome; equipment will be available. For more information, and to register as a volunteer, call (916) 974-4332 or visit www.sactree.com.

McKinley Park Volunteer Day

This coming Saturday, May 3, Friends of East Sacramento and the McKinley Park Volunteer Corps will host a volunteer day at McKinley Park. But before work begins, volunteers will be treated to a volunteer appreciation breakfast at 8:80am. At 9, a rose deadheading training session for new volunteers will be followed swiftly by pruning rose bushes in McKinley Rose Garden and trimming, raking and otherwise tidying up the park.

Some supplies will be provided, but volunteers are still asked to bring their own pair of gardening gloves, and clippers and/or rakes if they have them. While drop-ins are appreciated, RSVPs are encouraged. To sign up or get more information, either email friendsofeastsac@aol.com or call (916) 452-8011.

Click on the tab at the top of this blog to see all the East Sacramento Homes for Sale.

St. Jude Fundraiser

My wife and I are going to be hosting a block party BBQ and fundraiser. While I can’t make the invitation open to everyone who reads my blog, I wanted to share what we are doing and hopefully inspire others to connect with their neighbors and/or give to a good cause. 

This fundraiser is in honor of our next door neighbor, Mike Keating, who lost the battle against cancer on February 8, 2014. While he was an East Sac resident living on the same block for over 35 years, we only knew him for the 9 months that we lived next door to him. In that time he touched our lives deeply. We will miss him and he will be in our hearts forever more. 

He loved kids so we thought St. Jude's would be a wonderful organization to do a fundraiser in his honor. St. Jude's focuses on treatments for childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. You can learn more about them at www.stjude.org.

If you had the honor of knowing Mike or ever enjoyed a Murder Burger in Davis (he was an owner at one time) and would like to make a donation in his name or if you just want to give to a great cause, you can do so at www.stjudeevents.org/sherman.

As the weather turns to spring and everyone starts to get outside more, I encourage you to get to know your neighbors, pull the BBQ into the front yard, share some wine and beer and hang out with the amazing people that make up our community. Then make a habit of it! 

Glenn Hall Park Volunteer Day

From 9am-12noon this Saturday, March 15, volunteers are needed to help tidy up Glenn Hall Park. Projects will include pruning, weeding, planting the flowerbeds and otherwise getting the park ready for spring. Some tools will be provided, but if you have your own, that's great. You are also encouraged to bring you own gloves and a hat. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

While drop-in help is certainly appreciated, R.S.V.P.s are preferred. If you are interested in participating or have other questions, send an email to cadence@surewest.net. The only thing that could potentially delay the volunteer day is heavy rain.

35th Annual Great American River Clean Up

This coming Saturday, September 21, the American River Parkway Foundation will be conducting the 35th Annual Great American River Clean Up. From 9am to 12 noon, volunteers will walk the shores picking up, bagging and hauling away debris. While of course unsightly, garbage along the river can also harbor pollutants that are potentially dangerous to wildlife and recreational users, both along the river as well as in the ocean into which it flows. So getting the litter removed is of the utmost importance.

Participants in this worthy cause will receive bags, gloves, water, snacks and a thank you gift. For more information about the event and to register, visit the American River Parkway Foundation site at www.arpf.org/garcu.shtml, or call (916) 486-2773.

Click on the tab at the top of this blog to see all the East Sacramento Homes for Sale.

6th Annual Fab 40's 5K Run/Walk

If you're anything like me, you'll come up with any excuse to wander through the Fab 40's and admire the amazing homes there. So what better excuses could there be than supporting the Alzheimer's Association and getting some exercise?

This coming Saturday, July 27 is the 6th Annual Fab 40's 5K Run/Walk. According to the event website, "We want to increase the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and its devastating effect on families. We feel the need to provide an opportunity for affected families to meet and interact with one another." In order to help those afflicted with the disease, their caregivers and families, all proceeds from the event will go directly to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).

Registration begins at 7am at East Lawn Memorial Park (4300 Folsom Blvd.). Starting at 8:30amd, the 5K route will take participants through the Fab 40's neighborhood along M Street and back through the park. And just in case that isn't enough for you, custom event T-shirts, refreshments, music and awards will also be provided. And while you're in the park, be sure to visit the new Alzheimer's Memorial Wall, the first of its kind in the nation, modeled on the Vietnam Wall.

Entry fees are $35 for adults (the early discounts have passed); $16 for all Kid's Fun Run participants. For more information and to register, call (916) 492-8966 or visit fab40s5k.org/.

Click on the tab at the top of this blog to see all the East Sacramento Homes for Sale.

5th Annual 38th Street Blood Drive

Despite a disease that kept her from producing enough white blood cells, Alice McAuliffe's mother was able to live for several years with regular blood transfusions. After seeing firsthand how vital blood transfusions are, McAuliffe decided to host an annual blood drive in front of her home in East Sac. She chose July because it can be a particularly difficult month for getting enough blood donated.

This year, BloodSource bloodmobiles will be parked in front of McAuliffe's home at 1141 38th Street from 3-7pm on Thursday, July 18. The atmosphere will be anything but somber and clinical, as donors can also expect to keep up their energy with barbecued sausages, beer and lively conversation.

For more information, call Alice McAuliffe at (916) 451-5507. You can also schedule an appointment (recommended, as slots can fill up fast) at bloodsource.org/drives, location code M597.

Click on the tab at the top of this blog to see all the East Sacramento Homes for Sale.

Mulch Madness at McKinley Park

This coming Monday, July 15, the Sacramento Tree Foundation is hosting Mulch Madness, a mulching party at McKinley Park. Volunteers (and some wheelbarrows) are needed to apply mulch rings around the bases of trees near the McKinley Park pond. The project is expected to run from 6:30-8pm.

Even if you don't have gloves or a wheelbarrow you can bring, you are still more than welcome; there will be some wheelbarrows, rakes and gloves available. McKinley Park is big, so there will be two more mulching events this summer to care of the whole place: August 12 and September 9. For more information, and to register as a volunteer, visit www.sactree.com/.

Click on the tab at the top of this blog to see all the East Sacramento Homes for Sale.

Glenn Hall Park Volunteer Day

One of East Sac's beloved parks--GlennHall Park--needs a little TLC to keep looking its gorgeous self this summer. From 9am to noon on May 18, volunteers are needed for some light landscaping: pruning hedges and planting flowerbeds.

The only things requested that you bring are your own garden gloves, a hat and a water bottle. Garden tools, coffee and other refreshments will be on hand. Coffee and donuts for just a few hours work out in the fresh air? Sounds pretty good to me.

To RSVP with your assistance or to request more information, send an email to cadence@surewest.net.

Book Donations Needed

The Friends of McKinley Library will be holding a book sale on Saturday April 14^th from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm in the Clunie Community Center.

You can drop off donations of good or like new condition of books, CD’s, DVD’s and magazines at 601 Alhambra Blvd. All funds raised will go to support special programs at McKinley Library.

To volunteers to help with the event or become a Friend of the Library, call 264-2920.

Volunteer Opportunity: The Great American River Clean up!

I've sent this out to the MENA members and now I've received it as a member of the Sacramento Association of Realtors. Looks like it's time to put in on my blog too.

Volunteer Opportunity: The Great American River Clean up!
Saturday, September 17th  |  9:00am - 12noon
Along the American River

Last year, 2028 volunteers removed over 15,000 pounds of debris from the American River Parkway in three short hours! Be part of the crew that makes the Parkway shine this year!

There are multiple clean up site locations – pick one near your home! Follow this link to register as a volunteer