North Natomas residents will get a surprise windfall starting next month if the City Council votes Tuesday to approve tree planting rebates of $100 per house. Homeowers with a corner lot will get $200.
The refunds come from the city’s tree planting fund for North Natomas, which has a surplus of $1.67 million. State law forbids the city from spending the money on anything other than tree planting or refunds to property owners.
During North Natomas’ building boom, the city collected fees from developers to plant trees. But the developers – despite paying to have the city plant trees – planted their own instead.
“They had a vision for what they wanted to create for North Natomas,” said city Public Works Director Jerry Way.
Since the city never had to plant many trees, the money piled up. A city staff report says 14,814 parcels – all of those in planned unit developments – are eligible for rebates. Way said checks will go out over a four- to -six week period starting in early April.
“I think it’s fantastic; it’s totally unexpected,” Way said.
Mary Lynne Vellinga
‘Artful Learning’ on tap at Orangevale elementary
Ottomon Elementary School in Orangevale is the setting Thursday for the unveiling of a new “Artful Learning” curriculum created by the Leonard Bernstein Center in New York. Fewer than two dozen schools nationally have adopted the learning strategy, which uses theater, dance and music as tools to teach the Common Core subjects. In theater, students might re-create a scene from a book, for example. Or they may use art to explore questions in history. The curriculum starts in the fall. Ottomon’s open house will focus on information for parents about the program, which will be the first in Sacramento. The event at 9460 Ottomon Way in Orangevale starts at 6 p.m. Thursday in the multipurpose room.
Info: www.sanjuan.edu/ottomon
Egg hunt planned Saturday at Southside Park
Sacramento City Councilman Steve Hansen’s office is sponsoring a Southside Park egg hunt beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. There will be carnival games, face painting and candy-filled Easter eggs at the park, 2115 Sixth St.
Info: (916) 808-7004
‘Indy’ will come to Crest Theatre’s big screen
The 1981 Indiana Jones action favorite “Raiders of the Lost Ark” will be shown twice on the big screen Saturday at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K St., Sacramento. Harrison Ford stars in the adventure, directed by Steven Spielberg, which will be shown at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Doors will open one hour before each showing.
Info: www.crestsacramento.com
Ethnic dances to be showcased at Sac City
The Camellia International Folk Dance Concert, featuring ethnic dances and music for the whole family, is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday. The show will be performed at the Sacramento City College Performing Arts Center, 3835 Freeport Blvd.
Info: www.folkdancesac.org
Buzz on over Sunday for beekeeping open house
Bees will be the buzz Sunday at the Sacramento Area Beekeeping Association Open House. Visitors can listen to an introduction to beekeeping, watch bees in an observation hive in a sealed plastic glass box, taste local honey and more at the event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UC Cooperative Extension Building, 445 Branch Center Road, Sacramento.
Info: (916) 875-6913
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