Name that fits: Folsom the city and Folsom Cordova the school district often struggle with names – see Folsom Lake Crossing and Vista del Lago High School.
But they got this one right. The Norman R. Siefkin Public Library at Vista del Lago will open at 5 p.m. Aug. 6 with a ribbon-cutting, hopefully brief comments from school trustees and City Council members, some entertainment and light refreshments.
Norm, of course, was a huge part of Folsom Cordova from 1973 until 2005. He was superintendent for the last seven of those years and earlier was vice principal and principal of Folsom High School. He also was one of the truly good guys.
Norm died in September at age 62.
He certainly would love the joint-use, 13,000-square-foot library – complete with a 36-station computer lab, children's reading room and special activities for kids – that will serve Vista del Lago students and the community around the school.
City spokeswoman Sue Ryan said the library will be open until 8 p.m. the night of its debut and will reopen the next day for regular use.
Nice job. …
FIDO's big day: In the words of Folsom dog park ramrod/publicity maven Denise Hamma: "The sod is laid, the fences are up and a grand opening date is set. Yay! It only took eight years."
It's true. FIDO Field, the pet project, pardon the expression, of Folsom Independent Dog Owners, will open Aug. 16, next to Cummings Family Park on Creekside Drive.
The 1.7-acre park features separate play areas for small and large dogs, double-gated entrances, a three-tier wheelchair-accessible drinking fountain, a shade area, poop bags and a dog-wash area.
As a prelude to the long-awaited opening, Denise said, the Aug. 14 Thursday Night Market on Sutter Street will be FIDO Night. The event, which opens at 6 p.m., will feature special "canine-centric" events along with vendors offering pet products and services.
Cheers. …
Burger cult: Until the whole Johnny Cash/bridge topic surfaced – more on that next week; it just gets funnier, sort of – I continued to get more calls about In-N-Out Burger than any other Folsom-related topic.
Faithful reader Ryan Senior has been asking about it for two years, and Phil Vertullo chimed in not long ago.
And it's not just my readers.
"Every time I make a presentation, that's what people want to know about," said Joe Luchi, Folsom's economic development director (who also has a semi-new title, director of intergovernmental affairs; gotta ask him what that means, but I digress).
Anyway, the restaurant, which is not so rare any more but maintains its legendary following, is planned near Costco at East Bidwell Street and Highway 50.
And Joe said it's getting closer. City staff is working on the plans with the project's architect and engineer and a building permit should be imminent.
Meanwhile, developer John Saca, who sold the In-N-Out land and two adjacent hotel sites, said a Starbucks building is under construction. He also is negotiating leases with restaurants for two sites near the burger joint and the Chevron station that is under construction.
Stay tuned.
Call The Bee's Bob Walter, (916) 608-7448. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/walter.
