Elk Grove’s only dedicated Veterans Hall is located inside District56 on Civic Center Drive. It honors and serves the estimated 9,000 veterans within the city and offers a place for fellowship among those who have served our country. Offices for the American Legion Posts 55 and 233, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Marine Corps League coordinate meetings, programs, and services there. The Veterans Grove, an outdoor space available for rent, has picnic tables and BBQ grills at the base of flagpoles representing the branches of service. If you are a Veteran, we thank you for your service to our country and encourage you to connect with other former military service members. Learn more at district56elkgrove.com/veteranshall
Attend the Veterans Day Parade on Monday, November 11. Ceremonies start at Cosumnes CSD Administration Building (8820 Elk Grove Blvd.) at 10 a.m. Visit elkgrovepost233.com for details.
Send a Smile
Shop at local Elk Grove businesses this holiday season!
The Elk Grove Local eGift Card features 80+ participating businesses, making it the perfect gift for anyone! The eGift Card not only allows for flexible spending, but you are also supporting local business owners in the community. Purchase an eGift Card and watch testimonials from your favorite breweries, restaurants, and shops at SupportLocalEG.org
The holidays can be a lonely time for older residents without family. The City partners with senior living facilities to identify seniors who could use some holiday cheer. Since 2020, the Send a Smile project has distributed holiday greeting cards to nearly 3,000 Elk Grove seniors. Here’s how you can help:
• Pick up a card-making kit at City Hall between November 12-December 16, or while supplies last. Kits include everything you need to craft a special holiday wish—pre-addressed stamped envelope, cardstock, and stickers.
• Decorate and customize your card and drop it in the mail to do its magic.
Teachers and service clubs can request up to 35 cards. Contact Tamara Clarke, our Send a Smile Head Elf, at tclarke@elkgrovecity.org for questions or more information.
YOUR MEASURE E DOLLARS AT WORK
City to Open Year-Round Shelter
A new year-round shelter for adults experiencing homelessness will open in November at Calvary Christian Center on East Stockton Blvd. The shelter is scheduled to operate from this location for 3-4 years while the city works to identify a permanent shelter location.
The facility will provide a safe place for as many as 35 residents through a referral-only program managed by the City’s Homeless Services Navigators, in partnership with The Gathering Inn, the same non-profit organization that successfully operated the City’s Enhanced Winter Sanctuary last year. That program helped 22 unhoused individuals find permanent housing and we’re expecting even greater results with the year-round services now available.
The new shelter will offer more than just a roof—it’s designed to provide wrap-around services to help residents get back on their feet and transition into stable housing. While Elk Grove represents less than 3% of the region’s homeless population, efforts like the shelter, combined with transitional housing and other service programs, are making a difference for our community.
Funding for the shelter comes from a mix of state and federal dollars and Measure E funds. If you’d like to learn more about the shelter or explore volunteer opportunities, visit elkgrovecity.org/shelter
Protect Yourself From “Porch Pirates”
With the holidays here, Elk Grove Police Department is sharing some tips to help ensure that your packages aren’t intercepted by “porch pirates”. Package thefts increase during the holiday season, but there is a way to make sure that your “treasure” doesn’t fall into the hands of these criminals. If you are expecting packages to be delivered to your home, the tips below can minimize your risk.
• Schedule your package delivery for a time that you are home, or have your package delivered to your work during business hours.
• Have packages delivered to a trusted neighbor or have a neighbor pick up the package from your front porch and keep it for you until you get home.
• If you are an Amazon user, take advantage of Amazon Locker, where you can pick up your package from local pickup locations.
• Ask the shipper to require a signature confirmation of delivery to prevent packages being left when no one is home to sign for them.
• Provide delivery instructions so packages can be left out of sight from your yard or the road.
• Sign up for delivery alerts from the shipper.
• If something is stolen, file a police report IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait.
• Watch out for vehicles following delivery vans through neighborhoods. Some thieves will shadow delivery drivers and go from house to house stealing newly delivered packages.
Report all suspicious activity to the Elk Grove Police Department at (916) 714-5115 (non-emergency) or 9-1-1 for a crime in progress.
Anticipate Rain: Maintain Your Drain
Some of our region’s biggest storms roll in between December and February. Now is the time to check your storm drains to help prevent flooding around your home and on our streets. Here’s what you can do:
• Keep storm drains clear of leaves and debris – never wash debris down the drain.
• Place leaves and other yard debris in your green waste container – not in the street.
• Call Republic Services at (916) 635-2500 to request an additional cart, residents can have up to three green waste carts without additional charge.
• Green waste can also be taken to the Recycle Area at the Special Waste Collection Center (9255 Disposal Lane) free of charge.
• Report a clogged storm drain or stormwater drainage problem to the Public Works 24-hour hotline at (916) 687-3005
Visit elkgrovecity.org/storm to learn more about flood preparedness or check water levels in the creeks and channels by visiting the City’s online Creek Monitoring Station at elkgrove.onerain.com
Service in the Saddle: Disability Committee Honors Project RIDE Volunteer
The City’s Disability Advisory Committee named Danny Ford the recipient of this year’s prestigious Above and Beyond award. Ford was nominated for his exceptional dedication to Project R.I.D.E., a local non-profit that provides therapeutic horseback riding instruction to over 600 individuals with disabilities and special needs.
For more than a year, Ford has been an integral part of Project R.I.D.E., serving as a leader, side walker, and board member. His commitment goes beyond the classroom, as he dedicates additional time to help care for the barn, ranch, and horses. Ford is also working towards becoming a certified therapeutic riding instructor, reflecting his passion for improving the lives of others.
Community members who nominated Ford described him as having a positive attitude and a contagious enthusiasm. The award, presented at the City Council’s October 9 meeting, recognizes individuals or organizations that go “above and beyond” in their efforts to support the disability community.
Ford’s hard work and generosity have made a lasting impact on Project R.I.D.E. and the Elk Grove community, making him a deserving honoree of this year’s award. Learn more about the work of Project R.I.D.E. and volunteer opportunities with their organization at projectride.org
Illumination Holiday Festival Saturday, December 7 3-8pm at District56 Ice rink, vendor village, holiday carnival games, inflatable zone, food court, giant snowglobe and photos with Mr. Clause. The Holiday of Lights Parade begins at 6pm, followed by the Ribbon Tree lighting.
Food Truck Mania
Wednesday, November 6
5-8pm at Old Town Plaza
American Vintage Market
Saturday, November 9
10am-2pm at Old Town Plaza
Veterans Day Parade
Monday, November 11
10am at CSD Administration Building
Elk Grove Gobble Wobble
Thursday, November 28
8am at Longleaf Drive
Dickens Street Faire
Saturday, November 30
10am-5pm at Old Town Elk Grove
Food Truck Mania
Wednesday, December 4
5-8pm at Old Town Plaza
Old Fashion Christmas
December 6-8, 13-15, 20-22
3-7 p.m. at Heritage Park Museum
Flannels and Flapjacks
Saturday, December 7
8am-12pm at Laguna Town Hall
Holiday of Lights Parade
Saturday, December 7
6pm at District56
American Vintage Market: Polar Express
Saturday, December 14
10am-2pm at Old Town Plaza
Santa & Sirens Parades
December 3,4,5
7-9pm
Various locations: cosumnescsd.gov
(916) 478-2254
683-8726
(916) 687-3023
(916) 478-2228
Danny Ford Above and Beyond Award Recipient
Holiday festival
City of Elk Grove
8401 Laguna Palms Way
Elk Grove, CA 95758
PRESORT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID ELK GROVE, CA PERMIT # 173
8401 Laguna Palms Way Elk Grove, CA 95758 (916) 478-2206 elkgrovecity.org
Kristyn Laurence Public Affairs Manager klaurence@elkgrovecity.org
Lupe Murrietta Graphics & Multimedia Program Manager lmurrietta@elkgrovecity.org
SCAN ME with your smart phone for up-to-date information about the City of Elk Grove.
The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. Questions, concerns, or complaints may be forwarded to the City’s ADA Coordinator.
holidays
City Hall will be closed in observance of the following holidays:
Veterans Day (observed)
Monday, November 11
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 28
Day After Thanksgiving Friday, November 29
Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25
New Year’s Eve
Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Day
Wednesday, January 1
REDUCE FOOD WASTE
Be a waste warrior and make a difference with mindful sorting. Together, we can create a sustainable tomorrow.
Scan code for meeting calendar or visit: elkgrovecity.org/ citymeetings
The Elk Grove City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, unless noted otherwise. City Council and Planning Commission meetings are livestreamed online and archived on the City’s website at elkgrovecity.org/watchlive
Recordings of City Council meeting broadcasts are also available on Metro Cable Channel 14. Links to all meeting agendas are available at elkgrovecity.org/councilmeeting
city council city meetings
Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen bsinghallen@elkgrovecity.org
Vice Mayor Rod Brewer | District 2 rbrewer@elkgrovecity.org
Councilmember Darren Suen | District 1 dsuen@elkgrovecity.org
Councilmember Kevin Spease | District 3 kspease@elkgrovecity.org
Councilmember Sergio Robles | District 4 srobles@elkgrovecity.org
Elk Grove Restaurant Owner is Committed to Sustainable Business Practices
Elk Grove restaurant Todo Un Poco owner Marie Mertz has set a goal of producing zero organic waste, and her efforts include regular visits to a local farm that uses the eatery’s food waste for chicken feed and soil amendments.
Scan code to learn more about the effort to reduce food waste and increase organics recycling throughout the region.
Food Fact: Americans waste around 305 million lbs. of food on Thanksgiving – about one pound per person. That’s roughly triple the amount of food wasted daily in a residential household.* Visit elkgrovecity.org/organics for tips on reducing your food waste over the holidays.
*Source: ReFed, a New York-based food waste research organization.
