Sophia plays for St Ignatius. All games take place at Fremont Presbyterian near Sac State. Sophia #15, gold jersey at far right. The only girl on the team.
She’s got the ball!
LGA audit of W El Camino bike trail crossing
7:15 am: it was early and chilly. Treats and hot chocolate helped.
When exiting the bike trail on the north side
the expectation is the driver/walker will go 100 feet east and cross at the crosswalk
then go 100 feet west to rejoin the trail on the other side of a divided 4-lane road with heavy 50-mph traffic.
Observations:
1. 50% of the users from 7:15-8:15 crossed illegally.
2. No students used this route to get to school.
3. Cars don’t stop for anyone waiting at the crosswalk.
4. Neither teacher nor students were late for school.
Auburn Elementary Bike Club
We practiced the difference between riding in a group like a train versus riding as individual drivers of vehicles.
We also practiced arriving at a stop sign individually, doubling up at the limit line, then taking off together and stringing back out to single file. On our first club ride, we must negotiate a lighted intersection across Hwy 49 with a relatively short straight-across lane. I want our group to get through the light quickly and efficiently. Practicing ahead of time is essential.
There was also a figure eight to practice yielding and bicycle control.
Groundhog Day in E Nicolaus
While walking around the block. 
At E Nicolaus High School:
When I do a post like this, I always think of my Canadian relatives who won’t see bulbs blooming or baseball practice for a few months yet.
Professional Bull Riding
Something different for me. Phyl actually knows way more about this sport and the bull riders than I do.
Another bonus, our cousin Cynthia, two grandchildren, and daughter Trina, sat one row ahead of us.
TRUSD Annual Food Show
Approximately 130 elementary and high school students and their parents were invited to North Ave School today to taste more than 30 new items the district is considering offering next year as part of the school breakfast and lunch programs and providing feedback.
I drove the fire truck – a rather chilly open-air ride by the way. Digger, from the River City Cats:
You can see more pictures at
rlehs.wordpress.com
Broadcasting Golden Poppy seed
Today, I broadcast some poppy seed at the Dry Creek Ranch House. It was fun. The guys had everything ready. You can read more about it at rlehs.wordpress.com.
Favorite moment: We were done and everything was being stored in The Shop. Ralph wanted to make sure everyone signed the Volunteers Hours sheet on the shop clipboard. I told them that’s ok but I keep all my hours on a sheet at home and I’ll put today’s hours there. But no, they all thought I should the clipboard in the shop. I just had to smile, it seemed important. And I wrote my name and hours on The Shop clipboard.
LGA Bike Club meeting
At 3:15, most students head for the gate
but an intrepid few stay after school and go for a quick fun bike ride. Along the way, we stopped for a bit to appreciate the recent improvement to the bike trail on the west side of I-5 just north of W El Camino Ave. L-R: Staff advisor Ms McManus, Xavier, Jack, Andrew.
The skill we practiced several times was entering a roadway safely. We did this as individual drivers and crossed one at a time. I went first, Megan reinforced good choices and crossed as the last rider. This was Xavier and Andrew’s first ride, we were extra careful. Reward! Baskin-Robbins.
Yum!
Time to head back. One last time carefully across 5 lanes of busy traffic. We had a great time!
Auburn Elementary Bike Club
An exciting day, there were many more students who came to this club meeting! 
We are creating a Bicycle Garden. At the next club meeting, there will be 7 more bicycles ready for planting.
Outside, students learned how to make a proper left turn and began practicing. Staff advisor Luke Brownell is great about helping kids with inflating tires, checking on mechanical difficulties, and helping at all the skill stations. Today Calf Roping was an extra activity. Our parent volunteers were also a big help. Brian took pictures of all students who needed a Bicycle Garden picture. Here Cindy organizes the start line
while I provided feedback at the other end.
50 Bikes for 50 Kids
Elle Steele and I were asked by North Natomas Transportation Management Associatian to volunteer as LCIs to provide a new component to this year’s event: a skills course and fun bicycle activities for new bike owners. H Allen Hight School:
About 50 Bikes for 50 Kids: on Monday, January 19, 2015, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the National Day of Service, community volunteers joined forces in North Natomas to help 50 kids transform bike parts into 50 ready-to-ride bicycles. Students were nominated by teachers and other community members for the content of their character. The day was made possible by generous donations from businesses and organizations, as well as volunteers that give their time to mentor local youth.
At 10 am (and again at 1 pm), 25 students arrive, check in, and meet their team members who will help them build their own bike.
Mechanics in red t-shirts (like Bike Mike from Natomas Bike Shop) checked everyone’s bike before leaving the gym for the next a set of stations.
Each student was announced by the DJ and everyone stopped for a moment to clap as they entered the cafeteria.
There were many proud parents and happy students.
At the various stations, students received a new helmet and had it properly fit, received a U-and-cable bike lock and learned how to use it correctly, wrote a thank-you note to their sponsor, registered their bike with the police department, and had their official picture taken.
Finally, the new bicycles and riders came to our bicycle skills stations. Here Elle taught a student about the best position for a strong start. We call it power pedal.
We had a wealth of volunteers to help us and to make our hazards course more colorful.
We also had a Group Riding station and an activity called Calf Roping: throwing a hula hoop over a chair as you ride by.
What a privilege to be a part of this event. Abbey Harding (below in red shirt) of North Natomas Transportation Management Association did a great job of organizing this event.
