A new group of cyclists is forming just in time to enjoy the spring weather in Folsom CA. For those of you haven’t been on a bike in years or are just learning about the trails in Folsom this will prove to be invaluable in many ways.

First of all, it will teach you about the trail system along the river and get you acquainted with  the area from a hands-on point of view.  Second, you will meet other cycling enthusiasts who share your excitement and who are about the same skill level. And third you will get the benefit of an experienced guide who can show you the ropes and make suggestions to enhance your ride.

Even though this ride is not technically a part of the Cycle Folsom group it is overseen by one of it’s experienced members. They schedule daily rides for the weekend warriors to day long distance rides for the seasoned cyclist. Another feature of this new riding group is that the pace is set by the slowest rider so there is no fear of not keeping up.

It meets at Bicycles Plus in Folsom, next to Karen’s Bakery at 10:30AM and will start at 11:00AM. It is scheduled to meet every Sunday and is open to all kinds of bicycles (except recumbent) and you must have a helmet and be 18yrs of age. Enjoy the spring weather and meet a new cycling friend!

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The return of Second Saturday  last night was a hit with local merchants enjoying the crowds and beautiful weather holding until this afternoon’s rain storm. The rain cleaned the air and left a beautiful double rainbow hovering over Sutter St. in historic downtown Folsom.

Another amazing feat is that parking on Sutter St. is possible. I actually found a place to park in front of  Hop Sing Palace last night! The rennovation  is starting to take shape and I’m looking forward to the finished product.

This will be the 2nd year that Cyclebration will happen in Folsom CA and is widely anticipated! Last year’s event was a great success and featured timed trials, circuit racing, mountain biking, opportunities for families to ride across Natomas Crossing and a variety of vendors willing to teach you some new tricks. To participate in the events just go to the website and register beforehand or call 916-355-7366 for more info…you do get a break for family registration.

You can count on plenty of fun things to do and if you don’t have a bike go see Travis at Bicycles Plus where you can rent a bike and helmet for about $40 a day. There’s even a Treasure Hunt ride sponsored by REI where you follow the treasure map course to find the prize. Friday night at Cummings Park is the FAM JAM which features daredevil BMX at it’s best. This is a weekend event so check out the site and mark your calendar!

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Time again to teach the basics to our children and California Family Fitness is hosting a Safety Fair for that very reason. This is an opportunity to have your children finger-printed by the Folsom Police Dept. and meet the men in blue who ride on horseback and work with the canine unit. The Folsom Fire Dept. will also show up with one of their units and teach your children about how to protect themselves and others. Flu shots will be available from Med 7 which is welcome news especially with the advent of the bird and swine flu.

Even though Folsom is a great town it still has big city problems evidenced by the crime reports available on the police news city website. You can also check for registered offenders in Folsom at the same site. Another great site I found to help make parents more aware features Joe Rosner, Director of Best Defense of Illinois    Click here to view the embedded video. and author of “Street Smarts & Self Defense for Children.” His basic maneuvers list is simple to follow and helps keep you focused on the goal of staying safe.

Cybercrime is rampant and another standard in parenting procedures. Social media has opened up new avenues where predators can stalk children without their ever being aware of it happening. Watch this video put on by the Social Media Club of Sacramento to help you identify areas of vulnerability. This is a great reminder to check your children’s MySpace and FaceBook accounts because you never know who is posing as a friend. One last resource to check is the Netsmart Workshop which offers a variety of websites and free safely publications. This event should help parents remind their children to be leery of people who seem a bit too friendly and prevent tragedies.

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Time to cowboy up!  The annual Folsom Pro Rodeo starts Thursday night July 2nd at 6pm with the cattle drive on Wednesday July 1st on Sutter Street followed by live music in the historic district. There is also the 1 mile footrace called the Bullipedes which starts at 5pm just before the cattledrive.

This year with July 4th falling on a Saturday you’ll need to get your tickets early. Look for the Family Discount Package online and don’t forget to register your little ones for the Muttin’ Busting contest.

One of the great things about going to the rodeo over the 4th of July is the fireworks  display put on each night at the conclusion of the rodeo. Since this time of year is so dry and dangerous and the types of fireworks considered “safe & sane” are getting in the words of my children “boring” having the option of seeing a great show is just another bonus to a night of family fun.

Just remember to get to Lion’s Park early since the area once available has been taken by the new library and seating is limited. You can pay the extra to park close by as some of the local businesses will be charging to use their parking lots or you can pay to shuttle from Wal Mart.  Remember to bring your cooler’s full of drinks and lawn chairs and spray bottles…it’s gonna be hot!

One of the great advantages of living in the Sacramento valley is the great weather coupled with people who like to have a good time. The El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts concerts every Thursday night starting in June through to August which proves my point. The great part is that it’s FREE and in today’s economy that’s something everyone can afford.

The town center is a relatively new addition to the sleepy suburb of El Dorado Hills but is quickly making a name for itself with the variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment available. The new movie theaters offers IMAX and the Nugget Market has everything the gourmet could hope to find in a grocery store. Nestled in the foothills this area south of Hwy 50 is expanding with new home subdivisions, commercial and professional space all without losing it’s country charm.

Other events hosted here include an Art Fair in May, various holiday fairs with photos and a Wine Tasting in the fall. Events held at the Mercedes Benz dealership are usually advertised throughout the local business community for a variety of non-profit organizations. If you would like to know more about securing this venue contact the business center for a schedule and fees.

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This weekend you can catch a glimpse of the future of tennis right here in Loomis CA! The Futures Tournament semi-finals are today 6/13/09 starting at 10am and the second round will start right after at Del Oro High School    There are exciting tournaments the focus on the up and coming players to establish their ranking  and determine their career paths.

This past week players have competed to win a spot in the finals and we get to see the best compete tomorrow. The rankings and order of play are available at RWI Pro Circuit  The top prize is $15,000 but the ATP ranking is what fuels these players.  This is the entry into professional tennis and we are blessed to have such great play available to us free and close to home.

For related articles:

http://folsomlakehomes.com/2008/10/02/folsom-tennis-teams-growing-as-population-ages/

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This Tuesday, May 12th at the Elk Grove Community Library  there will be a seminar hosted by two local attorney’s who specialize in real estate  mortgage matters. The most impressive part is that it’s FREE and one of the speakers, Davie Pereira is a “court qualified expert in mortgage finance.” 

The reason I am promoting this seminar is because as a real estate broker I am not afraid to ask the tough questions and to defer to the experts when I don’t know what I don’t know. I’ve met with Mr. Pereira and I believe his knowledge of real estate mortgage law is impressive and his willingness to share his expertise with the public is refreshing.

According to the flyer there are no commercials for his or his companies products and there will be a question and answer session after the presentation. Additionally he has told me that he does offer a free consult so if you have further questions or don’t want to discuss your situation in a public setting that is an alternative solution.

You must pre-register at 916-275-0907as seating is limited and if you have any questions concerning  mortgages, credit, foreclosures, bankruptcy or other financial questions I would advise you write them out and bring them with. Opportunities for the public to ask relevant questions of mortgage professionals are rare and given his knowledge of contracts any insight he might offer is well worth the time spent.

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Related articles:

http://folsomlakehomes.com/2009/05/06/foreclosures-fixer-scams/

http://folsomlakehomes.com/2009/04/28/short-sales-impact-on-credit-scores/

http://folsomlakehomes.com/2009/04/14/california-prevention-act/

http://folsomlakehomes.com/2009/02/16/loan-modifications-vs-short-sales/

Actors and extras auditioned yesterday for a new movie to be filmed on location in Folsom and Sacramento CA this summer. Power and Pride  starring Stephen Baldwin and Eric Roberts is a story about a politician about to make a poor decision…what’s that old adage about life reflecting art or is it supposed to be the other way around?

This G rated movie has already had auditions in Sparks NV last February. The goal of the casting agent is to try to provide as many non-union jobs as possible so expanded the search outside the production location area. The cool part is that you can be updated on the production via email simply by enrolling at 315 Entertainment Group on the Power & Pride website. 

Kudos goes to those in charge for bringing an action packed movie (and jobs) to our area given the fact that the Sacramento valley ranks 20th on the worst housing markets chart which is better than Stockton at fifth place. The additional revenue will certainly be a boost not to mention the thrill of seeing famous people in our small town. The real excitement will be when we see some of the locals on the big screen!

YoungBiz  is coming to Folsom and I would encourage parents of teenagers to get their teenagers involved. This workshop is designed to teach basic financial skills and offer aspiring entrepreneurs the structure and encouragement to pursue their dreams.  According to the Young Americans Center for Financial Education nearly one third of high school seniors use credit cards. Another statistic: the average college student graduates with $22,500.00 of debt and that is not counting those who don’t actually get their diploma! I wish they had this workshop around when my teenagers were in high school because they could have benefited greatly.

The format is designed for high school students and encourages creative thinking while developing fundamental financial skills coupled with real time examples of peer success. The venue is the Folsom Public Library  (Stafford St.) and begins at 4:30 until 7PM.  Students will have the opportunity to meet successful business people (their own age!) and find out how they succeeded. Some of the ideas are as basic as breakfast cereal! Seating is limited so call 916-806-3989 to reserve your seat. For more information contact: mariehall@youngbiz.com