Iron Point eyesores: This just in – if you like the Mojave/Scorched Earth style of "landscaping" on the medians along Iron Point Road in Folsom, from Intel west to Black Diamond Drive, be very happy.
In any event, get used to it.
Folsom reader Jon Chase was the latest to ask about the medians: "To this day, it remains Folsom's top landscaping disgrace!" he e-mailed. The issue also was raised about 18 months ago by John Gladding, reader and head honcho of myfolsom.com, and others.
The answer is the same: The landscaping is the responsibility of Intel, one of Folsom's MVCN's (Most Valuable Corporate Neighbors; see below).
When Intel won city approval for its FM 8 project, a 415,000-square-foot building on the west end of the 214- acre campus, the company agreed to landscape the medians when a building permit is issued.
Unfortunately, the $100 million project was put on hold about 18 months ago. The good news, Intel spokeswoman Teri Munger said, is the project has not been canceled.
Teri said landscaping the medians in the meantime would cost more than $100,000, mostly for a water supply.
Don't look to the city for a median bailout either – not "in these economic times, " spokeswoman Sue Ryan said.
Stay tuned. …
Potholes aplenty: This also just in – our Worst Pothole contest drew too many entries to pick a winner just yet.
My boss, bureau chief Bill Enfield, who dreamed up the contest, reports strong entries from El Dorado County to Rancho. He also has not had time to buy the prize – a shovel and sack of asphalt. Watch for the winners next week. …
Rancho goes global: Food and entertainment – mariachis and Dragon Dancers to Ukrainian Bandura players – from across the world will be featured Saturday during the first Rancho Cordova International Festival.
The festival also marks the opening of Rancho's newest oasis, Village Green Park, 3141 Bridgeview Drive in the Capital Village neighborhood.
The free festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dedication (and free ice cream) of the park – the largest of three planned for Capital Village – is at 11. For more info, contact Brenda Hicks at (916) 337-5347 or admin@RCFestival.org or visit www.RCFestival.org. Cheers. …
Intel, Part II: Nobody questions the invaluable role that Intel and its employees play in town and the region.
For the company's 40th anniversary celebration, spokeswoman Teri said, Intel is expanding its employee-volunteer program and its grant program for schools and nonprofits.
The goal is for Intel workers to volunteer a million hours worldwide. Through April, Teri said, Folsom workers have logged more than 8,000 hours in activities from coaching baseball to serving meals at soup kitchens.
In addition, Intel will give schools and nonprofits $10 for every volunteer hour that is logged, up to a cap of $10,000 per agency. One local nonprofit, the Children's Receiving Home, already has reached the $10,000 mark, and others are close, Teri said.
Maybe there is a solution to the median problem here. Why not use some of those volunteer hours to landscape and maintain them (maybe with a watering truck)?
Either that or buy some nice silk palm trees. We just got a silk ficus for the front porch – very low maintenance.
Call The Bee's Bob Walter, (916) 608-7448. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/walter.
