Local leader in foster, adoption and kinship care for area youth, Lilliput Children’s Services, was recently awarded the Federal Family Connections Discretionary Grant of 1.25 million dollars to engage family members of foster youth, and help children exit foster care and enter permanent homes with relatives. For more information, visit lilliput.org.

You can still catch the Victorian Christmas scenes, antique decorations and artifacts of the “An Enchanted Christmas” exhibit at the Folsom History Museum through February 7, at 823 Sutter Street. Visit folsomhistorymuseum.org for extended hours and admission fees.

Bring your kids to the Folsom Public Library for Storytime Fun, Tuesdays at 10 a.m., and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Starbucks introduced a line of reduced-calorie snacks last month, including all-natural potato chips, fruit snacks, nuts and granola mixes, and also plans to offer 10 new calorie-free Tazo Teas.

Congratulations to Folsom’s Lukas Fletcher! Fletcher recently graduated from U.S. Army Infantry Training at Fort Benning Georgia, and has begun Airborne Training at Fort Benning. Fletcher is a Folsom High School graduate.

Division Chief David Kennedy recently retired from the El Dorado Hills Fire Department after spending nearly 34 years in service, 13 of which were in El Dorado Hills. Thank you and congratulations Chief Kennedy!

Style also gives kudos to El Dorado Hills Eagle Scout Matthew Ricks, whose four-month Eagle Scout project will be a great asset to Grace Foundation, a horse shelter that also offers riding therapy for children with disabilities. Ricks created a series of 15 activities and built corresponding wooden mailboxes to house the instructions and completion documents.

Congratulations to the Oak Ridge High School freshmen boys’ basketball team for winning the Trojan Toss-Up defeating Bella Vista 37-33.

Mercy Hospitals has awarded $576,374 in grant funding to 31 area non-profit organizations. The grants range from $5,000 to $25,000, and will impact local health issues including mental illness and chronic disease management, and will also support community-based programs. The recipient organizations provide services to local ethnic communities and aim to impact multiple generations from infants to the elderly.

Folsom Lake College’s Falcon’s Eye Theatre has announced auditions for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee production, to take place February 8 at 7 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis at the College. Rehearsals will take place February 22-April 29; for requirements and more information, call their hotline at 916-608-6800.

Want to train for the 2010 Parkway Half-Marathon scheduled for May 1, then join the Folsom Road Runners and be a part of their training program. Structured and personalized, the group offers numerous ways to increase endurance and socialize at the same time. For more information, visit folsomroadrunners.com.

That’s all for now, but be sure to see what’s up next month in our annual Food & Drink feature issue!

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