All American EXCLUSIVE! Speedway to LeAnn Rimes Brings Launch 60th Country to the Capital City Season Page 12 Page 7 Grapevine ndependent VOLUMEI 47 • ISSUE 15 PROUDLY SERVING RANCHO CORDOVA & SACRAMENTO COUNTY April 10, 2015 Cordova CRPD Makes Baseball Goes 2-2 in Easter Effort to Conserve Tournament Ahoy, Mateys, Water in Parks RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - In California, the ideal amount of water needed for landscaped areas equals one acre-inch of water per week. One acre- It’s Kids Day! inch of water is equivalent to 27,155 gallons applied onto an acre of land. During last year’s drought conditions, Cordova Recreation and Park District (CRPD) reduced the amount of water used within the parks and on the ball Page 14 fields by 15% to 20%. That translated to using 4,100 to 5,500 gallons less water per acre per week. This year, the Park Services staff is River Cats implementing a strategy of inspecting, testing, and retrofitting the irrigation systems within the park and streetscape 2015 Opening areas for water use efficiency and effectiveness. The retrofitting strat- Day Roster egy includes replacing older nozzles in existing irrigation heads with more water-efficient nozzles, replacing worn- out solenoid valves, replacing drip irrigation lines with low-flow sprinkler heads, and adjusting irrigation heads to target green spaces and not hard surface areas like sidewalks and asphalt areas. Through most of spring, CRPD will be watching the weather reports and reduc- ing water usage for irrigation by 20%. Page 14 For player safety, the ball fields will receive more irrigation, but there will still be a 20% reduction of water being used on the fields. CRPD is currently Annie’s Attic Voted experimenting with other conservation practices that will hopefully be useful in Best Hair Salon their water conservation efforts. Those practices include aerating the lawn pan- els more frequently, fertilizing with a polymer coated fertilizer, applying more organic matter to the soil structure, and using plant growth regulators. The spray parks and the splash park will remain open throughout the sum- Come to Hagan Park on April 25th for a pirate-themed Kids Day and enjoy a variety of fun, free activities. mer. The water used at those facilities is cycled through intricate filtration and RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - It’s time for out the Kids Stage, which will feature per- The event will feature more than 100 treatment systems and reused on a con- the 26th annual Kids Day in the Park! formances by Caption Jack Spareribs. If exhibitors offering various free crafts and tinuous basis. On Saturday, April 25th from 11:00 a.m. you’re brave enough, visit the pirate ship games, and food and drinks will be avail- CRPD encourage the public to call to 3:00 p.m., the Cordova Community bounce house, “The Kracken,” and see if able for purchase. Visit PAL’s Bike Rodeo (916) 842-3300 or email customerser- Page 13 Council will host a fun, free day for kids you are quick enough to escape from the to be eligible to win a free bike. [email protected] whenever they see any at Hagan Park, 2197 Chase Drive, Rancho tentacles of the giant squid. There will also be free parent resources water-related issues within the parks Cordova, CA. Admission to Kids Day is Be prepared for swashbuckling because as well as vision, hearing, and dental such as a broken irrigation head or water free, parking is free, and there will be a pirates will be roaming throughout the checks for the kids. running down a sidewalk. variety of free activities. event, and you might be challenged to a Source: Cordova Community Council Source: Cordova Recreation and This year, the kid-centric event will duel. Kids will also have the opportunity H Park District H have a pirate theme. Make sure to check to board real pirate ships. Route 28 Re-Opens in Rancho Cordova RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Bus Route 28 is now running again and making stops between the Mather Field/Mills light rail station and the Butterfield sta- tion. Route 28 was shut down in 2009 and was re-opened on April 6th, 2015. The bus will now stop on the corner of Paseo Rio Way and Folsom Boulevard, which is directly across the street from the Rancho Cordova Library. Thanks to collaboration between Sacramento Regional Transit, the City of Rancho Cordova, and Friends of the Rancho Cordova Library, Bus Route 28 will now connect thousands of Rancho Cordovans to the beau- tiful library. Councilmember Linda Budge, Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, Library Director Rivkah Sass, James Drake from Sacramento Regional Transit, and many more attended a short presentation and rib- bon cutting ceremony on the morning of April 6th. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova Source: The City of Rancho Cordova H www.RanchoCordovaIndependent.com 2 • The Independent April 10, 2015 Enjoy a Sunset Equestrian Ride at Deer Creek Hills Preserve Home Prices and Values SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento Valley Conservancy (SVC) invites you on Steady Climb to saddle up for a guided eques- By Chris Gilbert trian ride at sunset at Deer Creek Hills on Saturday, April 11th from RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - There will likely never be 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the home market boom we once had. But prices and val- Riders and horses alike will ues are finally on a steady climb again, which should explore more than 4,400 acres mean steadier, longer-term industry and economic growth, of the preserve’s open space in including in Rancho Cordova. the late afternoon light. Views of In Rancho Cordova, the February median home price the sun setting from the eastern was $224,500 dollars, up $8,500 from a year ago. Zillow. Sacramento County foothills will com describes the market temperature as “neutral.” be enjoyed by those attending. Sacramento Association of Realtors President Ron This outing is suitable for only Greenwood said the city has more properties to clean up to intermediate and advanced riders reduce the criminal element, but they are making progress. and is not suggested for novice “They’re attracting commerce in there with stores,” said riders. All public outings are led Greenwood. “I think they’re good.” by docents and travel through a In February, 36 homes were sold, compared to 35 in working cattle ranch. January and 26 a year ago. But as the market recovers, it Approximate ride time is 2.5 also means affordability is dropping again. Zillow.com says hours, and you will ride through buyers must now make at least $78,000 a year to be able open country over a variety of to afford the statewide median price. And more than two- terrain, including water cross- thirds of households make less than $70,000. In Rancho ings and climbing and descending Cordova, income needs to be at least $51,000. hills. Horses should be accus- But Greenwood says prices are going up much more tomed to riding in groups and in modestly than in the boom years. He also is not expect- open fields. Most groups are from Riders and horses alike will explore more than 4,400 acres of the preserve’s open space in the late afternoon light. Photo by Cynthia Eyler ing looming interest rate increases to scare off a significant 10 to 20 people in size and travel number of buyers. “We had gas prices go down, which at a walk. Taking in the evening’s stillness register online at www.sacramen- over 24 years of protecting open gave them more disposable income,” he said. “And the job Deep shadows and rich colors in Sacramento’s largest open tovalleyconservancy.org/calendar. space and accreditation by the market seems to be improving gradually. All that bodes will embrace those traveling the space preserve is a very unique asp. Land Trust Alliance Accreditation well.” blue oak woodland hills. The sun experience. Directions to Deer Creek Hills Commission. The SVC is a pri- Although homebuilding is picking up again, Greenwood is scheduled to set at 7:39 p.m. To attend the Guided Sunset Preserve from Sacramento: vate, non-profit land trust founded admits inventory continues to lag. “We would like to see and participants will be arriving Equestrian Ride, you must be Take Hwy 50 to the Bradshaw in 1990 on two basic principles: somewhere between four and six months’ supply,” he said. back to truck and trailer in com- over 16 years old and provide exit, turn right (South) onto that open lands are necessary for “In reality, we’re more like half that. The problem is the plete darkness, so don’t forget to your own horse. The cost to Bradshaw, turn left (East) onto quality of life and that we must good properties that are priced right are going quickly. If pack a headlamp or flashlight! attend is $20 per person; please Jackson Road (Hwy 16), continue save land today so future gen- we look at the selling time, it’s been reduced almost in half. East past Sloughhouse, and turn erations may enjoy its benefits It used to be 60 to 90 days to close a house, now it’s closer left (North) onto Latrobe Road. tomorrow. The SVC buys land to 30 to 60 days.” After you pass Scott Road, travel only from willing sellers and A double-digit decline in home foreclosure activity is 1/8 of a mile to a severe right turn works cooperatively with pri- reported in California by Realty Trac: 11% in February onto Stone House Road; do not vate landowners and public and compared to last year.