This is my first article for the new Folsom Times. I’m so glad to be a part of the evolution of news delivery in Folsom. I will admit, I love holding an old-school newspaper, flipping pages, glancing at headlines, choosing what to read with a relaxed focus and a warm cup of coffee. But times change, and thankfully, so do the people and community that I live in. One leg up for technology and the evolution of the way we get news. I admit, I already subscribe to two “papers” that are based out of big cities further away, and I’m happy with those publications. So thankfully, Folsom has folks in place who are keeping up with the times, and creating a business that brings us not only our local news, but in doing so, generates a hometown pride in Folsom that is so important.
My writing for the Folsom Times, will be to focus on the Historic District: the goings-on, the events, the important developments, the people, and the stray tidbits that are important for folks to know. Someone once called the Historic District “Folsom’s Living Room,” but we’re not all there everyday (unlike our own living rooms) so it’s good to have a pipeline to provide that information.
As has been the case for some time now, the Historic District is a place rich with events and community happenings. I can list so many things that are coming right up….The Twilight Concert series starts June 1st (Thursday evenings 7:30-9:30), Shakespeare in the Amphitheatre is back for its sixth year (June 5, 6, 7), The Powerfest Taps and Tunes and the Art Hop are both on June 10th, the original Saturday Farmers Market should be bursting right now as the exciting produce season really starts to hit its stride, and there is a new Sunday Farmers Market, focusing on health related products on the 700 block…. The place is hopping. Need more information? Details for any of these events can be found at www.historicfolsom.org.
There are a few events and/or happenings that are worth a special mention…..
The Hometown Parade is happening on June 24th. This event returned six years ago and has been wildly popular. It’s really fun to see the streets lined with spectators in lawn chairs, propped on posts, or draped over balconies, all decked out in red, white, and blue, and celebrating our county and our community, as the best of Folsom parades by. We have so many talented, creative, festive, and organized folks in the community…it’s a blast to see them bring out their work, and their pride on parade day. The parade is still looking for a few more entries, so if you have any thoughts about jumping in, contact krissyfhda@gmail.com , who will give you the details on what it takes to be a part of the big day. But don’t hesitate…. the parade is just around the corner!
If you’re a visitor to the Historic District on the weekends, chances are good you’ve seen the Historic District Shuttle Service that works from 4:30-10:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. The shuttle service was made possible by a grant from the City of Folsom and is an effort to solve some of our congestion and parking problems on the weekends. One of the great things about the Shuttle service is that there is an app that can be used to hail the shuttle, whether you are going to your destination or coming back from it. The app is like any app you may have used for ridesharing…it locates where you are, you punch in where you want to go, and it gives you real time updates on when you should expect the shuttle. Because our district is relatively small, the wait time is short, usually 1-3 minutes. Best of all, it’s a FREE service (but you can tip the driver from the app)! There is a group of dedicated folks who have been working very hard to make this happen and are so excited about this shuttle. Picture this: when driving into the Historic District on Friday or Saturday evenings, the light rail lots off of Leidesdorff are always empty. Head straight to those lots, park, hail a shuttle, and be taken anywhere you would like within the Historic District. At the end of your evening (provided it is before 10:30) hail the driver once more, and voila, back to your car lickety-split! So easy. Businesses in the district all have stickers in their front windows with the shuttle QR code, which will take you straight to the app. Download the app when you’re in town or from the comfort of your own home-it doesn’t take more than a moment. Once the app is in your phone, it’s as simple as can be.
Last bit of fun news: for the last six years, Folsom has been home to Soap Box Derby races in October. For a myriad of reasons, the October events are the START of the SBD season, with the season ending in May. Winners of local rallies are champions in their region and are eligible to go on to the World Championships in Akron Ohio. Two of our racers, Kira Vessels and Evelyn Lacoste, are both going on to the World Championships this July. How exciting is this?!!! Super proud of our Folsom racers and looking forward to good results from the Akron event! Go, girls, go!
As I write this Memorial Day weekend is upon us…hope you had a great weekend, and start enjoying the summer. It’s here!
Karen Holmes has been a longtime Folsom business owner and the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for the FHDA.
