Mountain Democrat, Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Sinkhole repairs $360K

Odin Rasco

Staff writer

The city of Placerville is sinking $359,280 into two projects to repair sinkholes that appeared in town last month.

The storms which saturated the state in the first half of January led to significant damage, including a sinkhole that developed underneath the intersection of Bedford Avenue

and Spring Street and another which opened between Raley’s and Placerville Drive.

The sinkhole beneath Spring and Bedford was determined to be caused by a backed-up pipe that subsequently burst as rainwater inundated the area, according to a Jan. 24 report from City Engineer Rebecca Neves. The sinkhole caused significant damage beneath the road and also some erosion on a

Kiley pushes for Grizzly Flat

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer

Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) spoke with President Joe Biden at the White House Jan. 25 regarding the president’s promise to provide federal relief to Caldor Fire victims.

property next to the road, which will also be attended to by the repair crew.

Repair costs were estimated to be around $274,650 by Doug Veerkamp General Engineering. Because repairs are taking place next to Highway 50, it was also decided that ADAaccessible ramps will be built for pedestrian use as part of the

Kiley, along with other new members of Congress, was invited to the White House for a reception where he took the opportunity to remind the president of the promise he made in September 2021 while the Caldor Fire raged in El Dorado County.

According to Kiley’s communications director and senior advisor Tyler Tate, Biden expressed surprise that aid had not been granted yet despite the county’s numerous attempts to plea for federal assistance.

“(Biden) was receptive and troubled that aid had

n See kiLey page A3

Cameron Park Lake reopens to foot traffic only

Jana Rossi

Staff writer

Cameron Park Lake and its facilities were hit with severe weather on New Year’s Eve that closed the lake and surrounding area for nearly a month.

At the January Cameron Park Lake meeting Cameron Park Community Services District Parks Superintendent of Parks Mike Grassle provided an update regarding the status of damages and

PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE

repairs.

Cameron Park Lake received 9 inches of rain within a 24-hour period during that New Year’s Eve storm. The fierceness of the storm led to a broken waterline and a missing 12-foot by 12-foot chunk of the parking lot. In addition, utility lines below the surface were washed away, leaving the park with no electricity or running water.

Cameron Park Lake is currently closed to all but foot traffic. The kiosk will not be staffed until repairs are made, the bathrooms

are closed but portable toilets are available and pickleball and tennis courts as well as the disc golf course are accessible by walking around the lake, notes a CPCSD Facebook post. Grassle said the CSD hopes to begin major repairs by the end of February. He and his crew worked with PG&E to get the utility repairs under way and Doug Veerkamp Engineering was hired to repair the roadway. Veerkamp estimated repair costs between $95,000 and $100,000 and said it

n See repairs page A3 n See

Obituaries on this page are written and paid for by the families or funeral homes. They are edited minimally by the Mountain Democrat. To submit an obituary, call (530) 622-1255, e-mail obits@mtdemocrat.net, fax (530) 344-5092, or visit mtdemocrat.com under “Submission Forms” at the bottom of the website. Include contact information with all submissions.

Samuel Lee Norris

Mar. 2, 1992 – Jan. 8, 2023

Samuel Lee Norris, 30, born on Mar 2, 1992, in Carmichael, Calif., passed away on Jan 8, at his home in Diamond Springs, Calif. Samuel was a unique man who sought for peace and happiness. Samuel embraced a true relationship with Jesus Christ his savior and friend who knew his heart. He was a talented and credentialed Merchant Mariner. Samuel’s gentle soul and joyful spirit will be dearly missed. He is survived by his fiance, Amanda Hammond, Mother, Toni Scheu, Father, Daniel Norris, Step-father, Robert Scheu, Sisters, Sarah Norris and Rebekah Scheu, and aunts, uncles, cousins, step-family, and numerous friends.

Gloria Edwina GrayMarshall

Jan. 26, 1941 – Jan. 18, 2023

Our mom, grandma, greatgrandma, sister, aunt, friend and dog momma passed peacefully, Jan 18, to her heavenly home surrounded by family. She was born in Tonganoxi, Kan. on Jan 26, 1941 to Edwin and Georgia Gray.

During the war her family relocated to Rodeo, CA and later during her early high school years they moved again to Hercules, Calif. Gloria graduated in 1958 from De Anza High School. She married in 1960 and had three children during the course of her marriage. After her divorce she moved her family to the Fresno area where she went to work for L’Eggs as a delivery driver. She later went to work for UPS as the first female driver in Fresno and made many friends along her routes. This is where she learned to back any size of truck with exact precision a talent she possessed until the end. This career ended due to an injury and Gloria later went on to work for PG&E where she retired in 2003.

In 1992 Gloria moved to her beloved mountain home in Pollock Pines. Life in the Sierra’s isn’t for the faint of heart but she thrived. In her retirement she enjoyed bowling with her Knotty Pines Bowling League friends whom she considered family. She also fancied herself as an animal rescue and left behind 5 dogs and 2 cats. She is survived by 3 children, sons Kelly (Deborah) and Corey, daughter Stacy, eight grandchildren, and four great-grand babies with one on the way, her sister Glenda, brother Jerry, several nephews and nieces, friends, and her ‘Big Yellow’ lifted Chevy truck.

The family wishes to thank Snowline Hospice and her wonderful caregiver Shelsea. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in mom’s name to the American Cancer Society or Snowline Hospice. A memorial service will take place March 23 at 1 p.m. at Green Valley Community Church. Come celebrate with us and bring your best Gloria story.

Nila Jo Long (Mrs. Long)

June 26, 1939 – Nov. 15, 2022

On November 15 , Nila Jo Long, a beloved mother and grandmother, passed away. She was eighty-three years old. Born in Jonesboro, Ark. and grew up in Truman, Ark. Nila moved to central California with her loving husband, Rodney Dale Long, and two children, in the spring of 1975 they moved to Grizzly Flats, Calif.

She is survived by her son, Randy Long; her grandchildren, Jessica Munoz and Rodney Long; and her many great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Rodney Dale Long and by her daughter Sandra Jean Long. Nila loved to travel with her husband. They loved to camp, shot in archery tournaments, and display their handmade wood carvings in art shows together.

Nila worked as a teachers aid at Pioneer Elementary School. She loved her career, and she was dedicated to helping students in need. If any student was in need of anything, such as a winter coat, she made sure they had one. One of her main roles was helping students with special needs. She worked for Pioneer school for many years, as well as volunteering for multiple years after her retirement.

She spent all her free time with her family. Nila went above and beyond to make sure her family was happy and comfortable. Her door was always open for anyone who needed care. Nila was a devoted Baptist Christian and taught her family the love of Jesus Christ.

She spread warmth and comfort to those around her with her kindness and infectious smile, so please join us for a celebration of life, where we will remember Nila Long for her patients, kindness, and generosity. The service will be held on February 16 at Green Valley Community Church, Placerville at 1 p.m.

In remembrance of Nila’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Evelyn Mae Morris

Sept. 10, 1932 – Jan 21, 1932

To those of you that were blessed to know and love Evelyn Mae Morris - She passed to a heavenly place on Jan 21, after 90 years beautifully spent loving on her 3 Children, 10 Grandchildren, 16 Great Grandchildren and 9 Great-Great Grandchildren.

We are abiding by her wishes to not have a funeral.

Her world was Stew and their love for one another was a living testimony of a beautiful marriage; “SOUL MATES” they often said lovingly. She found joy in holding many babies close to her chest, often closing her eyes and savoring those precious moments. Her hugs and unconditional love have been passed down 5 generations!!

That love is passed on each time we hug our children and their children and their children…

We, her family, never knew a day without love.

“Knowing that it’s only for a while that we will be apart, and then together again when we are also… Welcomed Home”

Michael Neal Atwell

Jun 21, 1942 - Dec. 23, 2022

Michael Neal Atwell died after a short illness in Folsom, Calif., December 23. He was surrounded by his family. Mike was born in Chicago, Illinois to Olin and Janice Atwell and moved to Los Angeles, Calif. when he was 6 years old. The family later moved to Burlingame, Calif. where Mike graduated from Burlingame High. He attended San Jose State and the College of San Mateo before graduating from San Francisco State. The College of San Mateo was where he met the love of his life, his wife Barbara. He attended Hastings School of Law and after graduation and passing the bar, he joined the Merced County District Attorney’s O ce. He was then hired by the San Francisco Public Defenders O ce. Life long fans of the Lake Tahoe area, Mike and Barbara decided to move their family to the South Shore in the early 70s where Mike went into private practice. In his long and successful career that he loved so much, Mike would be a county conflict attorney, assistant DA and assistant public defender for El Dorado County. He was active with the law library, Sunrise Kiwanis and the local theater and arts community including being a founding member of the Tallac Association. Mike had recently retired from his dream job as the District Attorney of Alpine County, Calif.

Mike is survived by his wife of over 55 years, Barbara, his two daughters, Lara and Sara, and his son, Duncan, daughter in law Charity and his grandchildren, Emma and William in addition to an extended group of family and friends. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Valhalla Arts Association.

WEATHER

Linda Wagner Azevedo

Apr. 24, 1950 - Jan. 15, 2023

Linda passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family. She was born to Fred and Olga (Hove) Wagner in Kalispell, Montana. Her favorite early memories were gathering and working cattle on horseback at her family ranches and contributing to the homesteading life. Linda was a natural leader during her school years in Tacoma and Olympia, Washington and continued to be highly engaged in social, academic, and extra-curricular settings throughout high school in Battleground. Any extra time was spent riding and training her saddlebred for dressage and hunter competition.

Linda’s equestrian achievements didn’t go unnoticed and she became the professional trainer at a saddlebred barn in Montana, then moved to the California Bay Area to work as a trainer at a renowned Morgan horse stable. Linda was an inquisitive spirit and always wanted to learn. She was encouraged by her optometric technician colleagues to apply to optometry school. At UC Berkeley she met her husband Loren, and after graduating they started a life together on California’s North Coast.

As an industrious, resourceful, fun-loving woman, she became involved with the community while growing a family and building a successful business. Linda enriched her children’s lives with a sense of adventure and wonder of nature. She adored her children and provided a grounding and loving home.

Linda was an enlightening influence on anyone she met. Just a short conversation would leave one with a sense of clarity, confidence, and direction. She was a brilliant asset to organizations where she volunteered. She did not require recognition and never shied away from di cult decisions. Linda listened to what was important to others, valuing their ideas, and creating a space of inclusion. She radiated warmth, support, and inner strength with friends and strangers alike.

After retiring from their optometric business (first Azevedo and Azevedo, and now A to Z Eyecare), Linda and Loren moved their ranching passions to the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills in 2016. Linda brought her favorite horses, cattle, cow dog, and pioneering spirit along with her.

Linda is survived by her husband Loren Azevedo; son John Azevedo; son Thomas Azevedo; daughter Katie Cole and her husband Michael Cole; and her cherished granddaughter Bryn Cole. Momo: We will always love you and we hope to carry your internal light of kindness, dignity, and wisdom forward with us as inspiration to ourselves and others.

For those of you who knew Linda, you are invited to do the same by keeping her wonderful qualities in your hearts and minds. If you would like to make a donation on her behalf, they will be accepted at a nonprofit organization founded by Linda: Oak Hill Area Fire Safe Council, PO Box 75, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.

A Jan. 25 article published on page A8, “Supplies brimming,” identified Westlands Water District as the target of sales of excess water by the El Dorado Irrigation District. While Westlands has purchased the majority of EID water for sale, the district has sold water to different buyers in the past and no buyer was identified by Operations Manager Dan Corcoran during his board presentation on water supplies Jan. 23.

Ski and board races hit the slopes

Mountain Democrat staff

After too much snow one week and then too much wind the next, competitive skiers and snowboarders from El Dorado County’s West Slope high schools

Repairs

Continued from A1

repair process. Due to the proximity to the highway, Neves stated it was possible the repair costs would be reimbursed by either state or federal emergency relief funds.

City Council voted 5-0 to approve a $310,000 budget appropriation of Measure L funds to pay for the repairs.

Repairs on the Spring Street sinkhole started Monday. The stretch of Spring Street between Bedford Avenue and Pleasant Street will be closed as repairs take place, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 13, according to a social media post from city officials.

The ground between Placerville Drive and the parking lot outside Raley’s has also become home to a sizable hole, which Neves said was caused by a storm drainage system failure. Repairs were quoted at $35,000 by Doug Veerkamp General Engineering. Councilmembers unanimously approved budget appropriations of $49,280 to go toward solving the sinkhole problem.

“It is a pretty awesome sinkhole, though,” Placerville Mayor Michael Saragosa joked.

“Please do not stand too close to it, ” Neves replied.

Due to the damaging and dangerous nature of

Kiley Continued from A1

not been granted and said he would get to the bottom of that,” Tate wrote in an email to the Mountain Democrat. “President Biden then directed his staff to look into the matter further and follow up with Rep. Kiley.”

The Caldor Fire charred more than 220,000 acres mostly in El Dorado County, nearly destroying all of Grizzly Flat and burning hundreds of buildings and Eldorado National Forest land.

However the Federal Emergency Management Agency twice denied the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ request for individual assistance. Benefits of the program include providing recovery to individuals, businesses and communities affected by an emergency or disaster, which many county and state leaders say would help recovery efforts for the community of Grizzly Flat.

Kiley also spoke about the denial of aid for Caldor Fire victims on House Floor Jan. 26, where he reiterated the fire’s destructiveness.

“The community of Grizzly Flat was leveled, 800 hundred homes were destroyed and with 20,000 residents under mandatory evacuation orders, further devastation was only narrowly avoided,” Kiley said. “Americans may remember the surreal images of ski slopes set aflame, smoke billowing from the foothills and ash reigning down on cities across the Sacramento Valley.”

In the midst of the disaster, Biden traveled to California in September 2021 to survey the damage with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and had an aerial tour of the smoldering remains of Grizzly Flat and the surrounding area.

In a promise to El Dorado County’s Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton Biden stated, “We are going to take care of them. There is a lot we can do and it starts with being a federal responsibility, in my view.”

More than a year and a half later, the aid has not come.

“President Biden has yet to fulfill that promise and provide individual assistance through FEMA to hundreds of people, hundreds of my constituents who lost everything,” Kiley continued.

FEMA officials stated that not enough damage occurred to justify giving aid. Aid was provided to victims of other 2021 fires, including the Dixie and River fires.

Congressman Tom McClintock and Sens. Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein got into the fray of trying to get the much-needed federal aid by sending letters to FEMA to no avail.

Padilla introduced the FIRE Act and the Disaster Equity and Fairness Act in November 2021 to redesign the federal government’s response to wildfires and provide additional resources, ensuring equity for communities experiencing disasters. The legislation would direct FEMA to pre-deploy assets during higher risk times such as red flag warnings, improving relocation assistance for public infrastructure affected by fires and examining ways to speed up FEMA assistance processes, among others.

Kiley told the House of Congress the president was “receptive and seemed genuinely troubled” that aid had not been provided to Caldor Fire victims.

“The reality is that the president has the power, with the stroke of a pen, to grant this aid to the residents of Grizzly Flat,” Kiley beseeched. “In fact, just a few years ago, President Trump did precisely that, providing

were finally able to take their races to Sierra-at-Tahoe Friday, Jan. 27.

The South 1 Division of the California-Nevada Interscholastic Ski and Snowboard Federation includes El Dorado, Oak Ridge,

Podium finishers

Women’s varsity ski:

1. Greta Aronowitz, Oak Ridge (1:02.0)

2. Kathleen Holtrichter, El Dorado (1:05.8)

3. Andie Chandler, El Dorado (1:09.1)

Women’s varsity ski team:

1. El Dorado — 380

2. Oak Ridge — 378

3. Ponderosa — 351

men’s varsity ski:

1. Owen Phillips, El Dorado (1:00.3)

2. Markus Hirsbrunner-Reist, El Dorado (1:03.2)

3. Henry Soetaert, El Dorado (1:05.3)

men’s varsity ski team:

1. El Dorado — 394

2. Oak Ridge — 374

3. Ponderosa — 348

Women’s varsity

snoWboard:

1. Olivia Holtrichter, El Dorado (1.08.1)

2. Ashlynn Hayman, El Dorado (1:17.1)

3. Haylee Ribolin, El Dorado (1:17.3)

n See finishers, page A7

Mine high schools, as well as Amador County’s Amador and

high schools. Some 203 racers participated in race No. 1, with two timed runs combined to rank competitors.

Dr. Little’s Dental News

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sinkholes, it was determined both would require immediate repair so competitive bidding for the contract and California Environmental Quality Act requirements were bypassed to begin the work more quickly.

individual assistance to victims of another fire — the Creek Fire.

“I am calling on President Biden to keep his word and to give victims of the Caldor Fire the relief that they deserve,” he said.

Kiley added that fires in California are not inevitable and the result of failed policies and neglect. The U.S. Forest Service had a mitigation plan, announced in 2013 as the Trestle Project, to create a 15,000 acrefuel reduction buffer east and south of Grizzly Flat.

The project began in 2014 and was scheduled to be completed by 2020, a season before the Caldor Fire hit the county. Delays reportedly on the Forest Service’s end resulted in only 14% of the work being completed. Kiley further stated the Forest Service exaggerated the amount of work that had been completed by about twice. The revelations were unearthed by Sacramento-based media outlet Capital Public Radio in a nine-month investigation.

Former Eldorado National Forest District Ranger Duane Nelson said if the Trestle Project had been completed there would have been a high probability Grizzly Flat would not have burned in the Caldor Fire, CapRadio reported. “It could have meant survival,” Nelson told CapRadio.

“So even though the damage was caused in part by negligence, we still have not gotten federal aid,” Kiley continued. “That is what makes this such a bitter pill to swallow for my constituents — that it was neglect on the part of the federal government that led to the fire and then after the fire, the promises of federal government relief have gone unfulfilled.”

He went on to say action needs to be taken to ensure other communities do not suffer the same fate as Grizzly Flat, which includes managing federal forests, clearing underbrush and dead trees, conducting controlled burns and selectively harvesting mature trees for logging to ensure healthy forest density.

“Those are just the beginning of the steps we can take to make sure that this doesn’t keep happening again and again,” Kiley said. “I am calling on all of us to work together across the aisle to take the steps to do the work that needs to be done. In the meantime, I am calling on the president to please today, tomorrow, as soon as he possibly can with a stroke of a pen to make good on his promise and give the residents of Grizzly Flat the relief they deserve.”

District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo, who has been working closely with Kiley on this matter, said he is hopeful the president will honor his word now that Kiley has spoken to Biden. Turnboo’s district includes Grizzly Flat.

“It is really sad for the Grizzly Flat residents that they didn’t get the individual assistance they needed from our federal government, especially when the president promised them,” he told the Mountain Democrat. “With that money, they could be able to maybe help them with the rebuild process, especially the people who have no insurance. I’m going to do everything I can to help those people.”

Turnboo has been an advocate for utilizing pallet or “tiny” homes for uninsured residents who lost their homes to the Caldor Fire, a direction the Board of Supervisors supported looking into in August 2022.

Kiley represents California’s Third Congressional District encompassing the northern Sierra Nevada and parts of El Dorado County such as Lake Tahoe and Grizzly Flat.

Day Hiker

Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco

Shoring up a sinkhole along Placerville Drive is estimated to cost $49,280.

Courtesy photo

Finishing for El Dorado in third place in giant slalom was skier Henry Soetaert, left, and in first place snowboarder Myles Stowe.

2021-22 Board President Outgoing Remarks

By Adam Anderson,

WealthGuard Advisors

It has been a great honor to serve as the President of the County Chamber over these last two years.

Honestly, when I was rst approached about serving as the President, I wasn’t too sure I wanted the responsibility.

We had just gone through a divisive and controversial national election, COVID-19 policies and regulations were being hotly debated, BLM protesters were coming from Sacramento to protest at our County courthouse and it seems like we have the perennial controversy with some local group of people.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted or needed that kind of drama in my life.

I was concerned with whale syndrome, you know, where you rise up and spout off only to get harpooned.

But I do care that small business has a voice in the county and that by working together with local government, non-pro ts, faith groups, corporations, and everyday citizens we can

have a more vibrant and healthy community.

El Dorado County is where I live and where I do business, it’s where I raised my kids and have seen my grandkids born. (At Marshall Hospital, I might add.) I care about its future.

My presidential theme was, “invested in the future”. We become invested in our future by caring about what’s going on and participating.

I had a colleague that

had a motto on a plaque in his of ce that read, “if it’s to be, it’s up to me”.

Although faced with uncertainty, I accepted the responsibility with a determination and hope that I could make our world just a little bit better because of my service and efforts.

I probably should have gone with the theme, “getting back to normal”, because in January of 2021 life was anything normal. We were on our 10th month of “ attening the curve” social distancing and online meetings.

I would like to acknowledge my predecessor Gordon Helm, our CEO Laurel Brent-Bumb and the Chamber staff for holding it all together during those challenging times, for being present and for being “relevant” to the times.

The Chamber’s life blood is networking. We lead the way for getting back to normal by starting up our luncheons and business ribbon cuttings despite being called, “super-spreader events”. We took precau-

February Business Luncheon

Our speaker — Sheriff Jeff Leikauf

Our newly-elected sheriff began his career with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer working in our jail. During his 31 year career, Jeff has also served as a Patrol Deputy, School Resource Officer, Detective in Investigations, Court Services Supervisor, Patrol Sergeant, Special Enforcement Detail Unit Supervisor, and Narcotics Unit Supervisor. Some of Jeff’s other assignments have included: Jail Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member, Custody Emergency Response Team Leader, Sheriff’s Explorer Post Lead Advisor, STAR Academy Instructor, Off-Highway Vehicle Unit and Public Information Officer.

tions and excused those of higher risk.

Eventually the masks came off and the hugs and handshakes came back.

Even some of the controversies came back.

We had a luncheon with our county school Superintendent, Ed Manansala as the keynote speaker. Policies around COVID were very hot in the schools and a group of parents showed up to libuster our meeting. Ed handled it like the champion he is, and I dismissed them to talk privately with the Superintendent.

Another fun experience was when I got to recognize the County Democratic party as new members at a luncheon sponsored by the County Republican party.

It turned out to be a lovely event and despite all the national divisive rhetoric that we hear about on the news, everyone got along wonderfully.

Investing in our future is not about getting invested when times are good and getting out when they are

not. It’s about staying the course. That’s when the dividends of connections and relationships are paid. That is what puts you in the right place for when the growth comes.

I’m glad I didn’t let my doubts and fears keep me from the opportunity to serve the Chamber and community over this last two years.

I really did have a lot of fun and made lifelong friends.

I look forward to supporting our new president, Leonard Grado. He is such a great guy and I know we will continue to grow, prosper, and have fun under his leadership.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Thank you to Gordon Helm for being there and supporting me as the Past President and for Laurel and the Chamber staff who are the unsung heroes who behind the scenes keep everything going.

Thanks to the Board of Directors and my wife and family for all the support.

Art & Wine

The County Chamber and MORE have a special relationship of mutual support and our Chamber Staff, Directors and Diplomats always enjoy attending and helping out at MORE’s Art & Wine event. This year’s event was all the more sweet as it had been on hiatus for a couple of years. Despite the wet weather the room was full, with many folks costumed in the suggested roaring 20’s theme.

State Minimum Wage Reminder

Beginning January 1, 2023, the California state minimum wage will be $15.50 per hour for all employers. Currently in 2022, minimum wage for employers with 25 or less employees is $14.00 per hour, while for employers with 26 or more employees, it is $15.00 per hour. The new 2023 minimum wage of $15.50 per hour applies to all employers, regardless of size.

This state minimum wage rate is also used to determine the salary threshold for the administrative, executive and professional exemptions — the threshold is two times the statewide minimum wage. This means, for 2023, you will need to ensure all exempt employees earn at least $64,480 per year.

Photo courtesy Tricia V Photography

Pictured: Cathy Zuber, Dir. of Member Services; Laurel Brent-Bumb, C.E.O.; Sylvia Rubio, Information Specialist; and Sol Nisbet, Chamber Board of Directors.

Chamber Champions: FEBRUARY 2023

Mountain Democrat

Cathy Zuber, Membership Director (left end) and Adam Anderson, Board President (Right End) welcomed the following new members at our December luncheon: Corky Stephens, luxurious

1) Tell me about yourself.

Opening with this question eases the interviewee into what could otherwise feel like a stilted question-and-answer session.

It allows you to show interest in the candidate as a person, and you can learn a lot based on their answer.

Listen for what the interviewee deems important to share when answering a general question. If they stumble or their response feels too short, you can offer guidance by following up with questions about their professional achievements and their future career goals.

2) What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Listen for whether the candidate’s greatest strengths align with your open role or ll a skills gap on your team. Their word choice and tone can also hint at their level of humility and teamwork.

As the candidate shares what they view as their weaknesses, you’ll get an idea of how honest they are and whether their shortcomings can be easily overcome by training and on-the-job learning.

3) How did you hear about this position?

While this may not give you much insight on the candidate, it can inform your future recruiting efforts. Track where your candidates come from to identify trends. You may nd that

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the poorest matches typically come from a certain agency or online job search board. Or, perhaps you’ll discover that most of your best candidates ow in from a certain hiring manager‘s referrals.

4) Why do you want this job?

The right candidate is one who ts the requirements and who wants the job. Otherwise, you may have to contend with an unengaged employee or hiring and training a replacement sooner than you want.

When the candidate answers this question, listen for evidence that they have not only read the job description but also feel they’d be a good t for the role. If they explain that the job will help them pursue their intended career path, they’re more likely to be an engaged, productive employee and a great t for your team.

5) Tell me about a challenge you’ve previously faced at work and how you dealt with it. This question will give you insight into what the candidate nds challenging, especially if they weren’t entirely forthcoming about their weaknesses. You’ll also learn about the candidate’s approach to problem solving and overcoming interpersonal con icts.

When you ask these sorts of behavioral interview questions, encourage candidates to share actual situations they’ve

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encountered to learn how they navigated challenges. According to LinkedIn, 75% of professional recruiters report using this method to assess candidates’ soft skills.

6) Describe your work style. Ask this question to ensure a candidate’s working style will align with the styles of others who already work at the company. Your crew most likely has a de ned culture and expectations, so consider sharing that information with the candidate. This will help them assess whether they might be successful at your business.

For instance, if you have a highly collaborative crew, it may be dif cult for someone who likes to work in solitude to join the team.

7) How do you deal with stressful situations?

Depending on how you ask this question and follow up on the candidate’s answer, it could become another behavioral interview question. You may even choose to share a hypothetical situation likely to arise at your business to see how they would manage and overcome their stress.

8) How do you stay organized?

If you prefer to hire self-sufcient people who don’t need to be micromanaged, this is an important question. Listen for how they keep their space organized also how they manage

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their time and prioritize day-today tasks.

9) What salary are you looking for?

Be careful when discussing pay during an interview. More and more states and cities are banning salary history questions— but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask a candidate about their salary expectations.

Prior to interviewing candidates, research salary data based on your area, the job, and the experience level you’re hoping to nd. This will help ensure you’re offering a realistic salary range based on fair market compensation.

Then, ask candidates for their target salaries. See whether their expectations fall somewhere within your range. If not, you may save yourself and the candidate some time by dis-

closing your range and asking whether they’d still consider the job.

10) Do you have any questions for me?

It’s always a good idea to give candidates the option to ask questions in an interview. Their inquiries can reveal whether they’ve done their research on your company and its needs. You may learn whether they’re future-focused, big-picture thinkers ready to make an impact on your company’s success. Questions could also reveal red ags.

When you turn the table and let the interviewee ask the questions, be ready to share information on pay, vacation time, development opportunities, company culture, a typical day, and next steps in your hiring process.

Dining. Red Hawk Resort + Casino is excited that soon we will be offering 18-lane ultramodern bowling, Virtual Reality Arcade, Golf Simulator, Multi-Level Karting Track, Sports Bar, Apex Grill and more! Check back soon for details. www.redhawkcasino.com

MTB Coloma Femme Trail Rippers

Looking for a passionate motivator to get you on your mountain bike? Whether you’re a beginner or long-time rider, you can nd a t for you. No electric bikes permitted. MUST know how to x a at. Adults only please. Meeting locations in Cool and Pilot Hill. FREE. A detailed email will be sent once you register online. Second and fourth Tuesdays. Http://arconservancy.org/events

Feb 4 Labryinth Wander

Join Labyrinth builder David Blonski to learn about the history and uses of this meditative pathway. Bring your New Year’s resolutions or set a new intention to create a fabulous new year. Quiet 8-year-olds+ w/adult supervision welcome. This is an easy 1-mile walk. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Rain postpones. Meeting location in Georgetown. Suggested donation $10/members, $15/non-members. A detailed email will be sent once you register online.  www.arconservancy.org/events

530-621-1224

Feb 4 – 5 Buck Stop Gun Show

Mark D. Forni Building, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive.

Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. For more information, contact Sam (530) 306-6011

Feb 4 – 5 Australian Shepherd Club of America Dog Show El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive. Vicini

Pavilions A & B

9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Feb 11 Zen Meditation and Qigong in the Wakamatsu Garden

Join local mindfulness instructor Berry Crawford for a peaceful and relaxing event at the beautiful and historic Wakamatsu farm. This event will include sessions of Qigong, mindfulness meditation and walking meditation. Come learn to relax, recharge, and let go with these ancient and effective practices. Responsible/quiet

12-year-olds+ welcome. Meeting location Gold Hill/Placerville area.

Suggested Donation: $5/members, $10/non-members. 1:00 p.m.2:30 p.m. A detailed email will be sent once you register 530-621-1224 www.arconservancy.org/events/

For more information on these and other events, visit www.visiteldorado.com Event date, time, cost or locations are subject to change. Prior to attending an event please con rm the information.

Feb 12 Homemade Quilt Silent Auction

Co-hosted by Sierra Wildlife Rescue and the Placerville Shakespeare Club.. The sale will be held at the Placerville Shakespeare Clubhouse at 2940 Bedford Ave. Silent Auction bidding will begin at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. Lahana/530-644-4565. www.placerville-shakespeare.com

Feb 15 Chamber Business Luncheon

Guest Speaker, Sheriff Jeff Leikauf. Cameron Park Country Club. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $30.00 for Members/$35 Non Members RSVP.

Feb 17 Honey Bees and Flowers to Feed Them

Presented by the Sierra Renaissance Society. Diamond Springs Lion’s Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission free for members; public invited to attend 2 meetings/year free. For more information, please visit srsedc.org. 1 – 3 p.m. Cheryl Purgett, Purgettory@gmail.com

Feb 17 Dine in the Vines

Combine this with an experience of perfectly paired food by our estate culinary team with our estate wines and it’s a formula for a magical evening with old and new friends.

Greetings come with a glass of sparkling wine, while you relax and get acquainted with the other guests enjoy the sunset and the sights, smells and sounds of the vineyards and gardens surrounding the tasting room. Dinner will include a pre x four-course wine centric meal, each course expertly paired with one of our estate wines. These dinners are limited to 16 people. 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Admin@ element79vineyards.com 530-497-0750 www.element79vineyards.com/Events.

Feb 18 - 19

Holly’s Hill Vineyards French Rhone

Pairings By Allez!

El Dorado’s Allez! Restaurant will be presenting Provence inspired pairings. Tastings will include paté, sausages, tapenade, cheeses & French inspired desserts all paired with HH wines. Think French Picnic! No cost for club members (four tickets per membership), $10 per person for the public. Food sampled will be available for sale so come to picnic. Advanced Tickets Required. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Winery@hollyshill.com , 530 344 0227. hollyshill.com/events

Feb 18 4th Annual Battle of the Badges Chili Cookoff

This festive First Responder chili cook-off has over 20 rst responder agencies and Veteran Groups competing for the Best Culinarian trophy! Over 20 vendors, auction & raf e items, kid’s activities, local beer, wine, music, live entertainment and hosted by KCRA’s

Ty Steele. Proceeds bene t Snowline Hospice. Tickets $30. Kids under 12 are free. 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. info: 911chili.org

Feb 19 Sogetsu Ikebana Class Using Flowering Branches. Classical Japanese Ikebana prizes the owering branches of early spring. One has only to look at an old scroll or painting to see the graceful arrangement of owering Quince or fruiting trees. Various methods for xing the branches will be highlighted in this class. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. julie@arconservancy.org www.arconservancy.org/events/

Thru Feb 19 Imagination Theater Presents: Inherit the Wind Tennessee schoolteacher Bertram Cates is on trial for violating the Butler Act, a state law prohibiting public school teachers from teaching evolution instead of creationism. Drawing intense national attention in the media with writer E. K. Hornbeck reporting, two of the nation’s leading lawyers go head-to-head: Matthew Harrison Brady for the prosecution and Henry Drummond for the defense. The dramatized account of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial which resulted in John T. Scopes’ conviction for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law. www.itplacerville.org

Feb 25 Swap Meet 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free admission and parking. Swap meet will be held in plaza at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. (In case of Inclement weather Pavilion A, B, D) https://eldoradocountyfair.org/ swap.html

Feb 25 Snowshoe Tour with a Forester

Join Luis Vidal for an easy-moderate introductory snowshoe hike through the woods. This hike will start on a well-used route and may traverse into the surrounding off-trail areas. Hikers will learn about the ecology of forests environments in the winter and basic winter back country awareness. Fit 13-year-olds+ welcome. Meeting location Foresthill area. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (weather and snow-dependent) Suggested donation: $10/members, $15/ non-members. A detailed email will be sent once you register online.  www.arconservancy.org/events/ 530-621-1224

Feb 25 Element 79 Vineyards Divining experience

Our Estate Chef, Brian Overhauser brings his extensive experience and talent in creating unique and memorable food and wine experiences. Each divining will feature 4 of our award-winning wines paired with an expertly prepared culinary treat.

Tickets - $65 per person includes tip. 11:30 a.m. Admin@element79vineyards.com 530-497-0750 www.element79vineyards.com

For more information on these and other events, visit www.visiteldorado.com Event date, time, cost or locations are subject to change. Prior to attending an event please con rm the information.

For more information on these and other events, visit www. visiteldorado.com Event date, time, cost or locations are subject to change. Prior to attending an event please conrm the information.

California Matters

Add another to California’s botched projects list

Gov. Gavin Newsom often boasts that California is a “nation state” that is — or should be — a model for the nation.

However, when it comes to implementing largescale projects and programs, California is more a model of bumbling incompetence.

The list of failures to deliver what was promised on time and on budget is endless, but here are a few obvious examples:

• A bullet train was supposed to be whisking passengers up and down the state by now, but the state is still building an initial stretch in the San Joaquin Valley that is probably a decade away from working, if ever, while cost estimates have nearly tripled.

• The reconstruction of one-third of the earthquake-damaged San FranciscoOakland Bay Bridge took a quarter-century to complete and cost 25 times as much as the original estimate.

• The Oroville

Dam on the Feather River nearly collapsed in 2017 when sections of its main spillway gave way and an emergency spillway eroded the base of the dam. In seeking re-licensing of the dam 12 years earlier, state o cials dismissed concerns about the emergency spillway’s integrity. Later it also was determined that the main spillway had been poorly engineered.

• When the COVID-19 pandemic erased the jobs of two-plus million California workers, the

Letters to the Editor

The American Dream EDITOR:

Itravel with my dad a lot and I tend to use Airbnb and VRBO houses more than hotels because I believe that I get more for the dollar in a house than a hotel room.

I’ve noticed the quality of these two-bedroom, one-bath homes (roughly 800 square feet). They seem to have been recently renovated and I couldn’t help but wonder what the rate of return is on these homeowners’ investment. After a little digging I discovered that most of these homes are purchased by corporations for investment.

So I ask that if corporations are buying homes that used to be for first-time buyers and retirees, where are those people to live?

The American Dream’s foundation is for the family to own a home. If that dream is being jeopardized by corporate greed then it is up to the government to make changes to help the American family.

The last thing America can a ord is for the family home go the way of the family farm.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

The

lunacy EDITOR:

Mr. Garon writes of the GOP controlling the House that the inmates are running the asylum. Unfortunately, your “inmates,” the GOP, only control the House.

When what you describe as the inmates were more in charge circa 2016 to 2020, we had inflation around 2%, wages rising faster than inflation, net energy independence, low fuel prices, low interest rates, lower grocery prices and a booming economy. Now we have runaway inflation at a 40-year high, high fuel prices, high grocery prices, high interest rates with a recession in the o ng, open borders with human tra ckers and cartels like the one that probably brutally killed that family, including a toddler, recently and rampant crime in many parts of the country.

Mr. Garon, I think that many thinking people would rather have the country and economy and lower crime we had the last time the “inmates,” as you call the GOP, running things than the country President Senility and his merry men are giving us.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

The Rural Life Useful tips for taming a tenacious Advice Monster

Are you an Advice Monster? I’m pretty sure I am. I think of it as sharing good information and it’s partly why I love writing this column. I get to relay tips and ideas that others might find useful.

But it’s dicey. I’ve noticed, as I’m sure you have as well, that people tend to resist being told things. It’s human nature.

Everyone wants to be the teller; no one wants to be told.

With that in mind, I did a little digging to discover what the experts say about advice-giving in general. The consensus seems to be, give advice only if asked. Why? Because unsolicited advice is too often received as criticism, even if the advice giver didn’t mean it that way at all.

There’s also an inherent power dynamic that implies, “I know more than you.” Or, “I’m not sure you’re competent to solve your own problems.”

Now, well-meaning advice givers will protest this interpretation. I know, because I’m among their ranks. “Only trying to help!” we say. And that may well be true. But if you frequently pro er unasked-for advice to your friend, relative or coworker it can damage your relationship or even turn into nagging.

Here, for my benefit as much as anyone’s, is a summary of the best recommendations experts have regarding how, when and whether to give advice.

• First, listen. Don’t assume, even if someone comes to you with a problem,

that they want you to solve it for them. Often what people most need is an audience, not advice. Sharing out loud helps them bring issues into focus, discover how they really feel about them and explore options.

Listen closely, without interrupting. This is challenging, because our natural human inclination, again, is to be the “teller.” Your role now, however, is to let the other person do the telling. Limit your input to repeating key points back to them, to make sure you’re fully grasping what they’re saying.

If you’re afraid you’ll forget a brilliant insight that pops into your head as your friend is talking, jot it down. As the discussion progresses you can decide whether or not to make use of such notes.

• O er encouragement. Let your friend know you understand why they’re feeling as they do. Remind them of their positive qualities to give them a sense of their own potential to solve the problem. Did they deal successfully with a similar issue or situation in the past? Point that out.

If the person is especially emotional, your role in this particular discussion may be simply to provide support and cheering. Leave any exploring of options to a time when they’re in a better frame of mind to accomplish it.

• Practice curiosity. Make it your key goal to fully comprehend your friend’s issue. Stay focused on helping them get to core of the problem and discover what they genuinely want.

The way to do this, says author and

… if you frequently proffer unasked-for advice to your friend, relative or coworker it can damage your relationship or even turn into nagging.

coaching guru Michael Bungay Stanier in his excellent TEDx talk (“How to Tame Your Advice Monster”), is to replace the advice-giving habit with a stay-curious habit.

When you’re interacting with your friend, “stay curious just a little bit longer,” he says, noting that questions are “the kindling of curiosity.”

Use the basic who, what, when, where and how questions, but be aware that why questions may imply judgment, which you want to avoid.

“What happened next?” and “How did you feel about it?” and “Where would you like things to go from here?” are all helpful, but “Why did you do that?” might not be.

Bungay Stanier’s favorite approach is to start with, “What’s the real challenge here for you?” Let the person talk for a bit and then ask, “And what else?” Repeat the “what else” question a second or even a third time to help the person bore down to the real root of their issue.

Then ask, “What do you want now?”

At this point, if you think you might have something helpful to say ...

• Ask permission. This is key! By now, your friend may well have worked things out for themselves, with the help of your questions. But if not, and if you do think you have information that might be useful, ask their permission to share before proceeding.

Avoid using the word “advice” altogether. Better is to say, “I don’t have all the answers, but I’d love to brainstorm options with you.” If at that point the person is reluctant to receive

your input, stand down, period. (Even if it hurts.)

If they agree to hear what you have to say, keep to your word and help them consider options for resolving their issue, rather than leaping to your idea of the best solution.

If you have personal experience that’s relevant, you can say, “This worked for me; might you be able to adapt something like this for yourself?”

Don’t drone on; favor concise vignettes over lectures. Above all, don’t shift the emphasis to yourself. Keep bringing the discussion back to the person and their issue by asking, “What do you think?”

• Let them be the solver. Ultimately, of course, you want the person, now or in near future, to come to their own conclusion about what to do. That’s how problem solving works best, so that’s what we should want for our friend, relative or coworker.

I think I can use these techniques to begin taming my own Advice Monster. If the urge to “tell” makes me want to skip over the steps, I’ll channel Will Rogers, who said, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.”

And if that doesn’t work, I’ll remind myself what the little schoolgirl wrote: “Socrates was a wise Greek philosopher who walked around giving people advice. They poisoned him.”

Jennifer Forsberg Meyer is a columnist with the Mountain Democrat and the author of “Friends With Four Legs.” Leave a comment for her online or, for a reply, reach her at jfmfeedback@gmail.com.

JENNIFER FORSBERG MEYER

state government has a sorry history of botched projects and programs and long-term care insurance is another example.

DAN WALTERS

Walters Continued from A6 Employment Development Department suffered an operational meltdown in handling legitimate claims for unemployment insurance, but gave as much as $30 billion in cash to fraudulent claimants.

• Although California is the global center of information technology, the state has run up an almost perfect record of botched projects to use it, with long delays in implementation and immense cost overruns.

Again, this is only a partial list. A book could be written about how state and local governments have spent untold billions of dollars on homelessness without making any visible headway. Another could be written about how California reduced its prison population by dumping more felons into overcrowded county jails and/or releasing them to prey upon the public.

One massive failure that developed largely under the media radar deserves a place on the list — a completely bollixed program to provide long-term care insurance to California’s public employees and retirees.

In 1995 the California Public Employees Retirement System received legislative approval to provide such insurance. Thousands of public workers signed up on promises that premiums would remain affordable.

However, when the program proved to be actuarially unsound, CalPERS began sharply increasing premiums, finally leading to a class

action lawsuit alleging that promises were broken.

“These people were completely, completely misled,” Michael Bidart, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told the Sacramento Bee in 2019, just before a trial was to begin.

“We raised rates to sustain the plan and we believe they were properly increased in accordance with our contract,” CalPERS General Counsel Matt Jacobs told the Bee, the only media outlet that has followed the case.

Negotiations led to a tentative settlement of $2.7 billion in payments to the plaintiffs. However, last spring CalPERS pulled out because too many individual plaintiffs rejected the deal and a new trial is scheduled later this year.

Clearly, CalPERS didn’t know what it was doing. Were it a private insurer, the Department of Insurance would have probably cracked down but CalPERS is exempt from such oversight.

Many managerial debacles have been ignored by the Legislature and the long-term care insurance is one of them. But the affected workers and retirees are now pressing the Legislature to order an investigation by the state auditor and it’s sorely needed to get the bottom of a multi-billion dollar mess.

Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 334-2970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot. comt

AmeriCAN AssOC Of UNiversity WOmeN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 417-7138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

el DOrADO COUNty AmAteUr rADiO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

LeArN & PLAy CriBBAGe Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress)

**Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-768-4452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at the Moni Gilmore Sr Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Ready for real change?

CeLeBrAte reCOvery meets Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at Bayside Church of Placerville, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing and recovery from our hurts, habits, and hangups. Email elebratercovery@ baysideplacerville. com. Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ CRBaysidePlacerville.

Struggling with life? CeLeBrAte reCOvery is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues

and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@ greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/

DemOCrAts – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems. org for more information.

GOLD rUsH CHOrUs now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing fourpart harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

Hangtown Women’s teNNis Club. Join fun-loving women Wednesdays 9am-11am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $35/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

seNiOr Peer COUNseLiNG of El Dorado County is seeking volunteer counselors. Do you possess such qualities as warmth, empathy and nonjudgement, as well as having varied life experiences, and being over the age of 55? If you do and would like to help and listen to fellow seniors who are dealing with age related issues such as loneliness, isolation, health and grief, we would love to talk to you. Counselors receive training and are supervised by a professional in the field. SPC Clinical Supervisor Jayann Askin, MFT, shares “We are looking for volunteers who are interested in psychology, counseling, and mental health and would like to be a part of a supportive group of ongoing learners in this field.” For more information on this greatly rewarding volunteer opportunity, please call 530-621-6304

CP Lake Continued from A1

11 Buckeye State sch.

12 Vancouver Island city

13 Contended

14 ___ mountain dog (breed named for its origins near the Swiss

will take approximately two weeks to complete once work has begun. CPCSD General Manager André Pichley is working with the county to obtain FEMA funding.

Grassle asked residents to report to him anything they come across needing attention either around the lake or in any of the other CSD parks.

Clarity and splash pad

New fountains promised during the October lake meeting will be installed in the lake after spillway boards are put in place, according Grassle. These larger fountains — expected to be operational by the first week in April — will provide better aeration to help improve the water quality. The lake’s water quality has been diminishing, residents and lake users have noted.

During the upcoming board meeting in February, the proposed splash pad at the lake will be addressed. Grassle is asking for residents to once again attend the board meeting and voice their concerns and opinions on this hot topic.

The next board meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive. All are welcome to attend and/or make public comments. Each individual speaking at the meeting will be given three minutes to address the board. The agenda can be accessed 48 hours prior at cameronpark.org.

Finishers Continued from A3

Women’s varsity snoWboard team:

1. El Dorado — 394

2. Oak Ridge — 372

3. Ponderosa — 357

men’s varsity snoWboard:

1. Myles Stowe, El Dorado (1:02.9)

2. Tate Hall, Oak Ridge (1:04.3)

3. Ethan Bain, Oak Ridge (1:10.2) men’s varsity snoWboard team:

1. Oak Ridge — 388

2. El Dorado — 380

3. Union Mine — 359

In the KNOW

Congratulations to the following local students who made the fall 2022 University of Alabama

Dean’s List: El Dorado Hills — Grace Geeting, Hudson Hannaman, Cameron Mahanke and Ashlynne Suder; Shingle Springs — Ashley Dull

Congratulations to Lily Magda of Shingle Springs, who made the fall 2022 Utah Tech University Dean’s List.

Feb. 1

The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business Builder Buffet, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hills Church in El Dorado Hills. The speaker will be Phillip Chan from the Law Offices of Buchalter, discussing the new 2023 labor laws. RSVP at eldoradohillschamber.org.

Join El Dorado County Poet Laureate Lara Gularte for a poetry reading, open mic and workshop at the El Dorado Hills Library for the latest stop on the Laureate Trail, 5:30-8 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Library, 7455 Silva Valley Parkway.

Feb. 2

The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, presents

Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II, Feb. 2 through March 25, For more information visit rcmacc.org.

Musician Ed Wilson will perform at Back Bistro, 5-7 p.m.

The Placerville Area Chess Club meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Denny’s in Cameron Park, 3446 Coach Lane. For more information call Neville Arroues at (530) 642-9043.

Feb. 3

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts Daddy & Me Valentine’s Dances Feb. 3 & 4 in the EDHCSD gym. Registration is now open. Visit eldoradhillscsd.org.

Feb. 4

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts

Can We Plant? Master Gardener Darla Mills will introduce and demonstrate two useful websites and databases to aid in choosing the appropriate plant. Class runs 9 a.m to noon at 311 Fair Lane in Placerville. Seating is limited. Register online at ucanr.edu/can-we-plant.

Sierra Wildlife Rescue hosts a New Volunteer Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Shingle Springs Community Center, 4440 South Shingle Road. Learn about Sierra Wildlife Rescue and how local wildlife gets rescued, rehabilitated and released.

The Buck Stop Gun Show takes place Feb. 4 & 5 at the Mark D. Forni Building at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville.

For more information contact Sam at (530) 3066011.

The ASCA Dog Show takes place Feb. 4 & 5 in Vicini Pavilions A & B at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For more information visit asca.org.

See the engaging biopic “The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis” at 4 p.m. and enjoy a delicious ham dinner immediately following at Church of Our Saviour, 2979 Coloma St. in Placerville. All are welcome to this free event.

a century plus one

Community gathers to celebrate veteran’s birthday

Odin Rasco Staff writer

On Aug. 11, 1944, a B-17 named “Luck of Judith Ann” flew from northern London as part of a 36-plane detail to conduct a bombing run on targets in Germany.

The plane encountered heavy German resistance, taking flak that caused all but one of its engines to fail, but successfully delivered its payload of 10 500-pound bombs. Despite the efforts of the crew to keep the plane aloft, they began to lose altitude rapidly and had to parachute out of the aircraft and into occupied France.

The crew spent days evading German forces, eventually making contact with members of the French Resistance who helped them make their way back to London.

Seventy-nine-and-a-half years later, the bombardier from that crew celebrated his 101st birthday in El Dorado Hills with the help of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Warfighter Overwatch and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. The group gathered and sang happy birthday to Thomas Matassa in recognition of his long, full life and his 20 years of service to his country. Matassa’s daughter, Kris Matassa, was touched by the kindness the community showed her father on his birthday.

“It was amazing that they all came out and sang happy birthday to Dad,” Kris told the Mountain Democrat. “He had a wonderful day and he saluted right back when one of the veterans saluted to him.”

Thomas was born in Worcester, Mass., Jan. 12, 1922, and moved to Shingle Springs and built his own home shortly after leaving the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s. He has been an El Dorado County resident since. When asked what he attributed his longevity to, Thomas laughed.

“I don’t know,” he responded jokingly. “Good whisky.”

Kris added that her dad has lived a very active life, building his own home and making many back-and-forth trips around his large garden as he watered and tended plants. Thomas’ preference for fresh fruits and vegetables and very little processed food probably hasn’t hurt, either.

His military service began when he received notice that he was soon to be drafted into the Army as the United States ramped up efforts in World War II; not interested in being an infantryman, he took a trip to a neighboring county in Massachusetts and enlisted into the Army

Air Corps, the predecessor to the Air Force, before his drafting went through. Thomas loves music and was adept with technology, so he at one time had juryrigged a system to play Frank Sinatra recordings on a reel-to-reel player as his aircraft flew missions over Vietnam.

Thomas stayed on with the Air Force until 1968, and went on to study at California State University, Sacramento where he received his bachelor’s degree in health education. He would continue

n See Birthday page B5

Unicorn fans rally for Cadee

Noel Stack

Managing editor

Awhimsical request from 7-yearold Cadee Minnick couldn’t be denied.

El Dorado County Animal Services

Chief Officer Henry Brzezinski became friends with the little girl after she wrote a letter asking permission to have ... a unicorn.

“(I) would like your approval, if I can find one, to have a unicorn on my back porch (apartments don’t have yards),” reads the El Dorado Hills youngster’s request written on pink paper complete with unicorn and other colorful stickers.

How can you say no to that?

Brzezinski couldn’t.

The Animal Services chief invited Cadee and her family to the

Placerville shelter last week where he gave her Pixy and Harmonie, two stuffed unicorns complete with engraved licenses (free of charge, of course). Brzezinski wished her good luck in her search for one of the extraordinary creatures. “They are very rare and so hard to find,” he notes in the written response he shared with Cadee. That letter was signed by “fellow unicorn fans” — and that includes Brzezinski.

Cadee’s mom and her brothers Remington and Magnum joined Brzezinski and Cadee on a tour of the Animal Services facility currently housing more traditional pets looking for their forever homes before the determined little girl, wearing a unicorn horn headband, headed off to begin her unicorn quest. Good luck, Cadee!

Courtesy photo

Veterans, first responders and family members gather to celebrate Thomas Matassa’s 101st birthday in El Dorado Hills last month.

Courtesy photo

El Dorado County Animal Services Chief Officer Henry Brzezinski shares his response and two special gifts with Cadee Minnick after she asked permission to keep a unicorn on her porch.

Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco

Thomas Matassa relaxes in his home. The retired educator and Air Force veteran has lived a full 101 years.

News release

NEVADA CITY — Paul Emery presents A Thousand Kisses Deep: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, a reprise of the triumphant tribute to one of the most fascinating and enigmatic singer/songwriters at the Nevada Theatre Feb. 3 & 4.

The lineup includes stellar northern California musicians — Paul Emery, Anni McCann, Kimberly Bass, Eleanore MacDonald, Kellie Garmire, Pat Jacobsen, Mark McCartney, Perry Mills, Brady Mills, Peter Wilson, Stephen Holland, Arthur Gould and Randy McKean.

A Thousand Kisses Deep: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is the successful creative production of foothills promoter/ musician Emery. In 2011 the group assembled for three sold-out evenings at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley and went on to perform at the Nevada Theatre, the Crest Theater and 24th Street Theatre in Sacramento. The musicians have since performed the show a total of 19 times. The eight-piece band and six singers bring the instrumentation of Cohen’s most recent touring band with woodwinds, strings, guitars and keyboards and back-up singers.

Featured will be San Francisco light show pioneer George Holden. In 1960s and ’70s he created light shows at the Fillmore and Maritime Hall. Vintage images and footage of Cohen will be part of the mix.

Four decades after he emerged as a public literary figure and then a performer, Cohen remains one of the most compelling and fascinating

musical figures of his era and one of the very few from that time who still commands as much respect and attention, and probably as large an audience, in the 21st century as he did in the 1960s.

“For some people Cohen’s music is just beginning to resonate,” Emery said. “His melodies are timeless. His poetry is deep and profound and constantly offers new insights and reactions years after their first hearing. The lyrical depth and beauty of Leonard Cohen’s music is an endless well of inspiration to those who love his music. The songs never grow old and each performance reveals a new layer of inspiration to the audience and players alike.”

Singer Kimberly Bass added, “His music has a richness that stirs the soul. For me, it’s the way he looks at the world and our humanness, our nakedness in this harsh yet beautiful world.”

The idea to organize the tribute show came to Emery after traveling with local musician Anni McCann to see Cohen on his 2010 World Tour.

“Paul and I had both just seen his live show, where you could say he quite literally levitated his audience,” said McCann, who sings iconic Cohen songs such as “Dance Me to the End of Love” and “Joan of Arc” with Emery during the show.

“When Paul asked about doing a show to celebrate Cohen’s music, at first I thought, ‘What the heck are you thinking Paul? Leonard is still touring!’ Then I began combing through his extensive list

n See ConCerts, page B6

children may not have the opportunity to participate if a fee is charged.

— new or used — for music lessons for lowincome, homeless and foster students. The Family Resource Center works with homeless, low-income and foster students to make sure there are no barriers to their education. Because of this, in running the after-school enrichment classes for elementary schools in the district (Sierra and Schnell), the registration fees are waived so that there are also no barriers to students experiencing enrichment classes in art, music, dance and more. Some of these

With their district at a 57.3% low income rate (Schnell at a 71%), it is likely that these students will not be able to purchase an electric piano for the class — but if the program has pianos available for ready use, it will open the door for the students to begin their appreciation of music.

The pianos are needed by April, before summer break, so that preparation for fall classes can start.

Anyone who wishes to donate is asked to contact Kim Kahn, PUSD Family Resource/after school enrichment director, at kkahn@ pusdk8.us or (530) 622-6244 ext. 6614.

“Coupled with the richness of Leonard Cohen’s writing, your arrangements, and the seasoned musicianship each of you bring, the show left me deeply touched ... ... one of the most rewarding evenings of entertainment I can remember, not just here, but anywhere.”

— Jordan Fisher Smith

Preserve it!

Planning your canning garden

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as well as things you want to eat fresh out of the garden.

How to plan the best canning garden:

List the produce each family member likes to eat on a regular basis. There is no point in preserving produce that no one in the family will eat. Don’t like canned green beans? Then plant only enough to eat fresh.

Are there safe, science-based recipes and methods to preserve the produce you want grow? The National Center For Home Food Preservation (nchfp.uga.edu) and Ball/Bernardin (bernardin.ca) are two great online resources for safe preserving information and recipes. Check them out and see what recipes are available. A successful home preserver has a

variety of safe, sciencebased canning books on hand. “So Easy to Preserve” from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, the “USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning,” the “Ball Blue Book Guide To Preserving” and Ball/ Bernardin “Complete Book of Home Preserving” are books that are highly recommended as safe sources for recipes.

Do you have the right equipment?

A boiling water method, either water or steam, may be used for canning high acid foods. What are high acid foods? Most fruit (but not all) are high acid and may be canned using a boiling water method. Low-acid foods, vegetables and meat, must be processed using a pressure canner. Vegetables that are highly acidified like a pickle may be safely canned in a boiling water canner or steam canner. Choose hardy and prolific varieties. Many seed catalogs, but not all, will mention if a product is suitable for canning. Heirloom varieties taste great fresh but are not always the best choice for canning. Many have small crops; some are delicate and cannot hold up to the harsh conditions of

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ARIES (March 21-April 19). Things like dripping water and piles of mail are not so dangerous to ignore for a time but disastrous to let go for too long. You’ll take care of small nuisances so you have plenty of attention to take on the big things.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re more acutely aware that when you commit to one thing it takes away the option of doing other things. It’s easier to see this with commitments that don’t seem fun. Today brings an opportunity worth sacrificing for.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Attractions are complex and often involve reasons and aspects unknown. People like what they like. It might evolve, but it probably won’t change just because other people want it to. You’ve a high tolerance for differences of taste.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Maybe you would rather be known for something other than what people tend to notice about you. Let this be a signal to do more of what you enjoy and let your unique talents be known.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s not a day to hope for the best, nor should you worry about what you should be doing. Instead, it’s a day to give what it takes to get a thing done or decide not to do it at all. Whichever way you go, feel fantastic about it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If love was money, today would be a payload. It turns out that being rich in love means you are rich in the way that really matters, so you are immeasurably wealthy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Sometimes people don’t see excellent opportunity because it doesn’t match what they had in mind. Be on the lookout because luck will come in odd packaging. It may stand out in a strange way or blend into the scenery.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You wondered what your life would be like and now you’re in it. Rate this last experience and decide what’s next. It’s also a good day to plan for the maintenance and excellent keeping of what you have.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re understanding, empathetic and present with people. It will be easy to treat everyone the same because you’re just being who you are. Those you know well and those you hardly know will get the benefit of your kindness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The communication between you and someone important to you is both stated and implied, obvious and subtle. You get the broad strokes, but the nuanced details might take a while to soak in. Take your time responding.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll be successful because you handle problems before they are urgent. You pride yourself on being organized, knowing your values and taking care of business. This means being proactive wherever possible.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). For many hours at a time, your mind will be a sharp, focused laser, illuminating precisely what you need to know. You’ll make good on a potential you saw in a situation when others couldn’t.

Summer brasuel

UCCE Master Food Preserver of El Dorado County

Photo by Summer Brasuel

n sHOe by Jeff MacNelly

n tUNDrA by Chad Carpenter

n rUBes by Leigh rubin

n sPeeD BUMP by Dave Coverly

HOrOsCOPe by Holiday Mathis

Day hiker

Mount Tamalpais

On a clear day the views from the trail and from the top of Mount Tamalpais in the Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County are breathtaking. The challenge for us was the drive to the city. If you can just accept the traffic, knowing you will see the city from a new point of view, it may be easy to leave our foothill homes to make the trek.

The deep canyons and oak woodland will remind you of home as you hike to the top of the 2,571-foot east

peak and Gardner Fire Lookout Tower. About 100 miles from Auburn puts you on the road for two-and-half-hours. Take I-80 west toward Sacramento. Stay left at the split toward San

Maggie’s House Cleaning

Francisco. Take exit 33B for CA-37 W, look for signs for US-101

S, merge onto 101 S. Take exit 447 onto E Blithedale Avenue, left on Nelson Avenue, right on Sycamore Avenue, left on La Goma Street, right on Montford Avenue, right on Molina Avenue.

Continue straight onto Edgewood Avenue, then left on Sequoia Valley Woad with a sharp right onto Panoramic Highway. Next head right onto Pan Toll Road and right onto E. Ridgecrest Boulevard to the parking area on the left.

Or just head for Stinson Beach and follow signs for Mount Tamalpais.

Once you’ve parked, pay your $8 fee. East Peak, Pantoll and Bootjack trailheads have parking fees ($8, cash only). Once beyond the office and vending machines you start out on 50 miles worth of trail in the park.

The Plank Walk Trail will get you to the East

Peak lookout tower with 261 feet elevation gain in just over half a mile. My family made the trek for my husband Micah’s birthday. I was amazed we had a clear day. The Bay Area fog is legendary and beautiful in its own way. But after several trips we were thrilled to have clear skies.

Mary West is author of the book series

Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide

I, II and III (second edition available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern

California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 Craft Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the Day Hiker series by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Photo by Mary West

the hike up to Mount Tamalpais offers spectacular Bay Area views.

birthday Continued from B1

on at Sacramento State, later receiving master’s degrees in health and safety studies and healthcare administration. Prior to retirement, Thomas taught at Armijo High School in Fairfield, American River College and Sacramento State and later did social work. He raised four children and now has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. These days, Thomas has difficulty hearing and dementia, and his daughter Kris communicates with him much of time by writing on a whiteboard. While Kris wrote out a long question asked during the interview, Thomas’ sense of humor bubbled up as he made a “talking too much” gesture and pointed to his daughter, then winked and let out a big laugh. The teasing of his daughter clearly comes from a place of love; when Kris asked him what his favorite memories from his life were, he only needed one word to respond: “You.”

Preserver Continued from B3

pressure canning.

Decide how much to plant; have a strategy. How much room do you have? Crops like peas, tomatoes and green beans can be prolific producers and worth the space. If you have a small space, corn may not be the best choice as it takes a lot of room and only produces one or two ears per plant. Also, think about growing varieties that are expensive in grocery stores or unique varieties such as pickling cucumbers and gherkins, unique pepper and squash varieties. Also, consider canning some foods every other year, like tomatoes and green beans, making room for other things in other years. Be prepared for bumper crops or crop failure.

Paste tomatoes are best for canning. There are two kinds of tomato plants, determinate and indeterminate. Indeterminate tomatoes ripen a few at a time throughout the growing season. Determinate tomatoes ripen all at once, which may be more convenient for canning purposes. Another advantage is once determinate tomatoes are done producing, they can be removed from the garden and something else can be planted.

Consider mixing flowers and herbs in your garden that attract bees and other pollinators. Choose early bloomers such as flowering quince, rosemary and spring peas. Then plant a succession of bloomers throughout the growing season. Some early bloomers will help attract pollinators for your fruit trees that bloom in early spring.

Planning is key. Take the time and you will see the results and be very happy with all the jars of preserved food in your pantry.

The UC Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County are a great resource for answers to your food safety and preserving questions. Leave a message at (530) 621-5506 or email edmfp@ucanr.edu. For more information about programs, events and recipes visit ucanr.edu/edmfp. Sign up to receive the eNewsletter at ucanr.org/mfpcsenews. Master Food Preservers are also on Facebook (UCCE Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County).

Know Continued from B1

Feb. 5

Miraflores Winery in Placerville hosts Soup Sundays. Stop by for wine tasting, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and enjoy a complimentary cup of soup prepared by Chef Tara Martinez every Sunday through March 26.

Feb. 7

Placerville FamilySearch Center, 3275 Cedar Ravine Road, hosts Basic German Research classes at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Where can you look to find German records? What resources are there that will help you get started and move forward in finding more about your German ancestry? Class will discuss the basics and share ideas. For more information call (530) 621-1378.

Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday, 4-7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.

Broadway on Tour presents “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Feb. 7-12 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, 1301 L St. in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit broadwaysacramento.com or call (916) 557-1999.

Feb. 8

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Gardening in Small Spaces. Join Master Gardener Mike Pavlik in a discussion that will cover site location, design, raised bed options, container gardening and other methods that will allow anyone to have a vegetable garden in a small backyard setting. Class runs 9 a.m to noon at the Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive.

The Sons in Retirement – Gold Country branch meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Cameron Park Country Club. Check out the club and be a guest for a complimentary lunch. Contact Branch 95’s membership chairman at SIRBranch95@gmail.com for more details.

Now

The El Dorado Roses are searching for candidates to run for the 2023 El Dorado Rose. Candidates must be at least 60 years old, have lived in the county for 10 years and have many hours of volunteer service to her community. The El Dorado Rose dresses in period clothing from 1849-1910 and then becomes the official hostess of El Dorado County for one year. For more information call Carole Burnley at (530) 626-4949.

Imagination Theater on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville presents “Inherit the Wind” through Feb. 19. For tickets and more information visit itplacerville.org.

Capital Stage presents “The Chinese Lady” through Feb. 26 at the theater, 2215 J St. , Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.

B Street Theatre at The Sofia, 2700 Capitol Ave. in Sacramento, presents “The Last Wide Open” through Feb. 28. For tickets and more information visit bstreettheatre.org.

Feed El Dorado and the Placer Food Bank host food distribution events throughout the year in Cameron Park, Pollock Pines, Placerville and Georgetown. For a complete schedule visit placerfoodbank.org/pantrytogo.

The Master Gardener public office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon at 311 Fair Lane, Placerville. Have a gardening question or problem? Come in and chat. Bring a cutting or insect in a Ziploc baggie or a picture. Can’t come in person? Call (530) 621-5512 and leave a voicemail or go online to the “Ask A Master Gardener” tool mgeldorado@ ucanr.edu.

Gold Bug Park & Mine in Placerville is open Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit goldbugpark.org.

Send items for publication in In The Know to Managing Editor Noel Stack, nstack@mtdemocrat.net.

Courtesy photo

Thomas Matassa joined the Army Air Corps during World War II and served his country until 1968.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously voted to approve Net Energy Metering 3.0 (NEM), slashing payments for excess solar production sent to the grid by 75%.

CPUC voted to cut the average export rate in California from $0.30 per kWh to $0.08 per kWh, making the cuts effective on April 15, 2023. Customers who have new systems installed and approved for grid interconnection before the effective date in April will be grandfathered in to NEM 2.0 rates. During the vote, the Commission said the balancing of costs and benefits continue to be “quite generous” under the decision. Currently, average net metering rates range from $0.23 per kWh to $0.35 per kWh, and the new proposed decision cuts those rates to an average of $0.05 per kWh to $0.08 per kWh. This is set to be the largest cut of export rates in U.S. history, in a market that represents roughly 50% of the nation’s residential solar market.

Key takeaways

• The California Public Utility Commission made their final deci sion on the new NEM 3.0 policy in December 2022.

• The changes to California’s net metering policy will cut the value of solar energy credits by about 75 percent for PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E customers.

• This is a big one: existing solar customers – and people who go solar before NEM 3.0 goes into effect (through April 14) –will be grandfathered into their original net metering policy.

• Solar shoppers who submit interconnection applications after Ap ril 14, 2023 will be under NEM 3.0 and could miss out on 60 percent of solar savings, unless you add battery storage to your solar installation.

• Californians considering solar should go solar as soon as possi ble (and definitely by April 14) to lock in more favorable net metering credits.