Many people who have lived in Rancho Cordova for a long time remember the waves of refugees from all of the Southeast Asian countries related to the Vietnam War. Beginning 15 or 20 years ago, we were joined by people leaving the Soviet Union for a variety of reasons as it was breaking up.

Each of these events has brought about that change in the languages spoken in our schools. But it has also brought us a variety of different business and retail opportunities, and a cultural richness, as new traditions have been added to our festivals and celebrations. Many years ago, our school districts began to send printed materials home in English, Russian, Spanish, and Hmong. For a time, there were so many residents from at least 14 countries where Russian had been the official language, that they dominated the language picture. Today, the number of English language learners from those countries has declined and is down by 10%, partly because their English language fluency has increased.

Today, the number of English language learners, for whom Spanish is their primary language, has increased by 10%, mirroring national trends.

Want to experience the wonderful melting pot that is Rancho Cordova? Visit the Koreana Plaza/KP International on Olson Drive. Not only will you find a grocery store that is feeding the world with an international variety of products, but you can eat freshly prepared food and baked goods from seven or eight different countries. Then for another equally delightful world excursion, come to the International Festival (I-Fest) next Spring and enjoy the mix of music, dance, food, clothing, handwork, and traditions on display.

Who knows? You might just meet your next door neighbour sharing their family traditions in a way you have never seen before! That’s Rancho Cordova!

It truly took the dedication and perseverance of Library staff and Friends, combined with the creativity of Public Works staff, to give Don and myself the technical information that made an irrefutable case to restore this service as a stand-alone item in a shorter time frame than originally proposed. RT Planning staff had lumped it into a group of changes that would be reviewed and implemented based on the opening of the Blue Line to Cosumnes River College. Of course, Route 28 on Folsom Boulevard has nothing to do with the Blue Line, but that was the proposal. 

And so, necessary studies will be conducted, noticing deadlines will be met, and a public hearing held on 12/8/2014. That enables the extension to become part of the drivers’ bid process in time to begin service in April 2015, six months earlier than originally planned. 

This is what should have happened all along, and I am exceedingly thankful that we are all able to celebrate this small success!