Week in Review, March 12: Civil Rights, Census Data, Italian Cuisine, Tsunami Relief and More

The week was busy with a variety of goings on, including U.S. Census information, school district budget cuts and earthquakes, but that wasn’t all that was happening in and around the community. Let’s take a look back on the week ending, Saturday, March 12.

1. – In honor of Women’s Awareness Month, columnist Terry Meier offered insight related to local long-time activist and author, Sherie Holbrook Labdeis.
2. – Ralph Carhart lends his opinion to a local business owner’s battle to keep her pet boutique in the Quail Pointe Shopping Center against encroaching competition and how the community has rallied behind her cause.
3. – The Fair Oaks Village Enhancement Committee’s commitment to improving the area in and around Fair Oaks Village, but incremental improvements are made all the time. Columnist Dante Fraittini examines how not every advancement is obvious, but is all contributing to a better Village for tomorrow.
4. – Resident police, fire and crime reporter Raheem Hosseini checks in with Fair Oaks’ weekly rogues’ gallery in the latest crime blotter.
5. -  Though Bella Vista’s lady Broncos fought a valiant through an exciting season, its run ended Tuesday evening in the Division-II State Championships at Pleasant Valley High School, 61-52.
6. S – San Juan Unified voted Tuesday to layoff library staff and school nurses in the latest effort to close a $36.7 million budget gap.
7. – Statistics released by the U.S. Census shows many trends remain unchanged as the community’s population continues to grow.
8. – Fair Oaks’ newest restaurant offers traditional Italian fares with flare and fun.
9. – In the wake of tragedy local elected officials and residents mobilize in an effort to bring resources and aid to a country rocked by disaster.
10. – Take a virtual tour of Nimbus Dam and find out the many ways it provides resources in many capacities for the Fair Oaks community and others throughout California.

This is just a sampling of everything going on throughout the community this week. Be sure to check out all the news by clicking here for a larger list of everything local.

Office hours (and free Patch swag!) on March 16

Have a question for me? From noon to 2 p.m. on March 16 you can find me at . Let me know what’s on your mind, or if you know of something we should look into. And as always let me know how we can improve our coverage within the community.

Fair Oaks wants to hear from your Whiz Kids!

If your kid made the honor roll for the fifth straight year, hit a record number of little league home runs, or even built an awesome tree house, we want to feature him or her. for more information or check out some of Fair Oaks Patch’s other .