Mountain Democrat, Wednesday, March 22, 2023

wildland experienCe Forest Service digs in on fire line training

As winter comes to a close, the U.S. Forest Service is preparing for the next fire season, putting students looking to get permitted to fight on the fire line to the test.

More than 30 students could be seen last week on a parcel of land on Echo Lane near Diamond Springs wielding firefighting equipment, digging fire lines and hacking through vegetation in a mock-fire scenario. Trainees learned how to operate a fire engine, lay hoses, create dirt

Fired up

Trip to Green heads to the starting gate

Odin Rasco Staff writer

Following a series of test runs in 2022 and plan presentations in January and February, Placerville’s Trip to Green project is shaping up in the form of gates and possible tolls.

trenches and more during the required 40-hour training. After students complete the training, which is a mix of classroom and field lessons, they obtain the necessary certification to be able to apply for work with

n See fire training, page A8

Trip to Green was taken on by the city of Placerville and the El Dorado County Department of Transportation to combat the surge in traffic on busy weekends exacerbated by the city’s three stoplights on Highway 50.

The findings from the trial runs last year and public workshops were presented at the March 14 Placerville City Council meeting. The plan has been honed to its close-to-final shape, with public comment at workshops and survey responses

n See trip to green, page A8

the city of Placerville. The event welcomed approximately 200 visitors with more than

participating agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations and elected officials.

Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian

Service firefighter trainee works to build

fire

during a hands-on training session March 16 near Diamond Springs.

Lidia Cardoza

March 6, 1964 – Feb. 25, 2023

Beloved wife and mother, Lidia Cardoza, 58, of Diamond Springs, California passed away suddenly on February 25, due to complications that arose after having undergone a liver transplant.

Lidia was born on March

6, 1964 to Delfina Maria Montes Murillo & Jose Ernesto Rodriguez in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. In 1974 the family moved to Los Angeles, CA where they lived for a few years until their move to Stockton, CA in 1977. While living in Stockton

Lidia attended John Marshall Junior High and John Edison High School.

That same year, Lidia met the love of her life and future husband, Rafael Cardoza at The Turnpike Apartments where both of their families resided. On April 25th, 1981 they were married and moved to Placerville, CA. Together they went on to raise three children, Erica (1982), Jennifer Maria (1987), and Rafael Edgar (1989). Lidia spent the first ten years of her marriage as a housewife caring for her family.

In 1991, Lidia’s creative nature led her to the Cosmetology Program at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, CA. She received her Cosmetology License in 1993 and worked as a licensed Cosmetologist for several years before opening her own beauty salon in Diamond Springs, CA where she worked alongside her daughter, Jennifer.

In 2015, Lidia retired and spent her time visiting family and friends alongside her husband Rafael, spoiling her grandchildren, cooking the most delicious meals for her family, and tending to her “babies” in her garden.

In 2018, Lidia was diagnosed with liver disease. Along with the assistance of her family, she battled her disease as a true warrior and patiently waited for her chance at a healthier life via a liver transplant. In 2021 she lived one of her greatest joys when her long-awaited first granddaughter was born. Her battle had many ups and downs and in late January (2023) her health took a drastic turn and by the end of the month, she had undergone her liver transplant. After fighting incredibly hard for a few weeks she was released from the hospital and able to go home. At home, she was surrounded by the love and comfort of her close family and friends and was healing well. Throughout all of this, she remained strong, vibrant, and caring and never stopped worrying about those around her.

Tragically, a short nine days later she began having complications that she was not able to recover from.

Lidia is survived and missed by her mother Delfina; her husband Rafael; her children Erica, Jennifer, and Rafael Jr.; her grandchildren Angel, Sebastian, Julian, Mason, and Olivia; her brothers and sisters Bertha (Aurelio), Joe, Juan Carlos, Silvia, Carmela, Isabel, Rosie (Joseph), Jose Ernesto, Raul, Oscar, Sergio, Lupe, Edilberto, Issac, Cynthia, Maria Isabel, Maribel, and her many nieces, nephews, and beloved relatives and friends.

Lidia is preceded in death by her father Jose Ernesto, dad Fernando, brother Manuel, and grandson Rafael Aiden.

Lidia will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her giving nature, her keen sense of humor, and primarily for her love, selflessness, and protectiveness over her family.

Services for Lidia are as follows: A visitation with rosary on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Chapel of the Pines located at 2855 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, Calif., A funeral mass on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Patrick Catholic Church located at 3109 Sacramento Street, Placerville, Calif., followed by a reception at Gurnell Hall (St. Patrick Church).

David Anthony Sauvé

Sept. 9, 1945 – Jan. 23, 2023

David Anthony Sauvé was born to parents Francis and Irene Sauvé on September 9, 1945 in Bay City, Michigan, and passed away on January 23, 2023 in Placerville, California.

He leaves behind his wife of 36 years Julie, and daughter Lindsay and spouse Peter, son Daniel and spouse Christina, and son Benjamin, as well as his siblings Paul Sauvé, Kathy Smock, Thomas Sauvé, and Jeanne Sharpy, numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends, colleagues, and comrades.

Dave is best remembered for the fullness of the life he lived, accruing a vibrant range of interests, experiences, and talents that he loved to share with those important to him in life, of whom there were many. As a child and young man in Detroit, Dave grew a passion for cars (the “Motor City”), a love for music (“Motown” and later Detroit Rock n’ Roll), and a fandom for baseball and ice hockey. Dave was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam, a formative experience from which he took with him a lifelong dedication to duty, service, and compassion for all people. Dave remained active as an enthusiastic and essential life member of VFW Post 10165. He served as a board member of several veteran’s service organizations, and was honored as the 2023 El Dorado County Veteran of the Year.

Following his military service Dave completed his degree in fine arts at Wayne State University, where he developed his passion and talent for photography and journalism, and appreciation for art of all forms. Fed up with the frigid winters of Michigan, Dave struck out west for California, settling in Venice Beach, where he was able to live his dream with an apartment on the beach, sunny days playing volleyball, and trips to his favorite place to be in nature, Death Valley.

In his 32 year career with the U.S. Postal Service, he formed lifelong friendships with co-workers from Michigan to Venice to Shingle Springs where he retired in 2004. Dave was so skilled at so many of the tasks he put his mind to that he forayed into a variety of “side gigs,” including work as a handyman in Santa Rosa, California, where he met his wife Julie in 1982. Dave and Julie moved with daughter Lindsay to El Dorado County in 1985 where he found a community that he was proud to call home and raise a family in. He loved the open road, taking the family on weeks long car camping trips throughout the American west, and eventually visiting all 50 U.S. States; he loved sunsets over the fields and oaks of the gold country, and sunrises soaking in his hot tub. He was sharp and intellectual until the end, a dedicated Jeopardy fan and voracious reader, routinely consuming three newspapers per day. He was kind, caring, thoughtful and generous, always remembering “those less fortunate than us” at every family meal.

As Dave would say for all the service men and women, friends, and family that went before him, he is “gone but not forgotten.”

A Celebration of Life will be held at Shingle Springs Community Center on May 13, 2023 at 11 a.m.. Remembrances may be made to the charity of your choice.

Christine G. Ferris

July 27, 1952 - Dec. 13, 2022

Christine G. Ferris from Placerville, California passed away December 13, 2022.

Chris was born July 27, 1952 in Fresno, California to Dewey and Myrtle Poe. She was raised and educated in Rescue, California and graduated from Ponderosa High School.

Chris had a variety of interests. She was an Oakland Athletics fan and listened to many of the games on the radio. Other interests included Ballroom Dancing-Reading-the ocean and meditation-working with plants and traveling. She traveled to various places. Her last trip was to Vietnam. She spent many enjoyable hours pursuing family history and the study of genealogy. Her results were amazing!

Chris was always interested in healthcare and helping people. She volunteered as a candy striper after high school, assisted many to medical appointments, and eventually became a live-in caretaker for the elderly.

Chris is survived by her Son: Jason (Sue) Ferris of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Grandchildren: Sofi, Madison, and Ethan; Sisters: Linda (Bob) Keller of El Mirage, Arizona, Kathy (Alan) Elliott of Minot, North Dakota, and Charlene Muniz of Placerville, California.

She was preceded in death by her Parents and Brother-in-law Joe Muniz.

Chris will be cremated and her ashes will be scattered in San Francisco, a place that she enjoyed.

Betty Lou Lucy

Aug. 29, 1933 - March 14, 2023

Betty Lou Lucy, 89, died March 14. “Betsy”, daughter of Elsie and Alexander Craig passed away peacefully in her home in the Gold Hill area of Placerville, Calif. She is survived by her partner, Brian Lemley, her two sons, Scott Lucy and Brian Lucy, her daughter, Sharon Lucy, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Betsy Lucy was a homemaker for most of her life. She lived in many places across the country, but after arriving in the Placerville area with her (now deceased) husband, Jim Lucy, in 1983, she created and operated an antique furniture store, “Betsy’s Place”, in Diamond Springs. Betsy loved to reminisce about her childhood which included weekend trips with her parents to visit her grandfather’s (Noble Rhinesmith) farm in upstate New Jersey. She enjoyed restoring old furniture, cooking, reading, gardening, dancing, painting, and traveling. Her travel adventures took her across our country and all over the globe. Everyone who met her admired her spirit, her style, her beauty, her sense of humor, her kindness, and her willingness to experience all that life o ered to her. She is already greatly missed by family and many friends near and far.

Lawrence Joseph Gaschler, Sr.

Feb. 23, 1927 – March 2, 2023

Our dad, Lawrence Joseph Gaschler Sr., passed away on March 2 in Sterling, Colorado. Every year he made it a goal to reach his next birthday. This year wasn’t any different. His 96 years far exceeded his expectations. Our dad was a proud Navy Veteran who served in WWII as a Naval Petty Officer. He loved America and was honored to serve his country.

Larry was born on February 23, 1927 in Fort Lupton, Colorado, to Anton and Marie Gaschler. The early years of the depression took its toll on the German family of 12, as it did with so many families during that time, but dad managed to play sports through high school, which gave him his lifetime love of football. When dad was 17, he signed up for the Navy and spent two years in the South Pacific.

When Dad left the Navy, he found his future as a barber and owned several barber shops during his working years. Dad was a hardworking man and not being able to sit still, built and remodeled many houses throughout his life. His passions included gardening, (often giving his vegetables to friends and neighbors), playing harmonica and watching sports on television, particularly during son Randy’s UCLA days.

Larry is survived by his children: Randy & Wendy Gaschler; Starr (Gaschler) & Jim Palumbo; Monica (Gaschler) & Keith Whitworth. Larry left quite a legacy with 21 Grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. He was also an uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Dad is now at peace and reunited with his parents, sisters, brothers, sons; Lawrence Joseph Gaschler Junior and Barry Anton Gaschler, grandchildren; Barry Junior and great grandchildren; Emmanuel and Evalee, as well as many friends who have gone before him. While we know he is at peace, our selfish side wishes he was here with us to see his grandchildren grow up and to know their accomplishments. He will be missed by all of us. Funeral arrangements are being made by Chaney-Reager Funeral Home and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please support your local Veterans.

criMe log

The following was taken from Placerville Police Department’s records:

March 6

2:16 p.m. Damage to government vehicles was reported on Broadway.

March 7

12:51 p.m. A bicycle was found on Placerville Drive.

7:06 p.m. Officers arrested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of being drunk in public and carrying a concealed knife on Placerville Drive.

7:06 p.m. . Officers arrested a 60-year-old man on suspicion of being drunk in public on Placerville Drive.

March 8

10:50 p.m. Officers arrested. 39-year-old woman who allegedly refused to leave a facility on Marshall Way

March 9

8:36 a.m. Officers cited a 41-yearold man suspected of trespassing on Lane Court.

12:46 p.m. Officers arrested a 40-year-old man who had warrants on Ray Lawyer Drive.

March 10

4:23 p.m. Officers arrested a 43-year-old parolee who reportedly cut off his ankle monitoring device. He called to turn himself in and was taken into custody on Main Street.

4:38 p.m. Officers arrested a 33-year-old man who had a warrant on Mosquito Road.

10:47 p.m. Officers cited a 37-year-old man who was reportedly spotted on a security camera inside a closed an fenced business’ property on A and A Road.

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office records:

March 12

5:41 a.m. Burglary was reported at a medical marijuana business on Alhambra Drive in Cameron Park.

5:14 p.m. Deputies assisted with a person reportedly drunk in public on Vista Mar Drive in El Dorado Hills.

March 13

6:50 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 36-year-old man suspected on being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a controlled substances for sale on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $472,500 bail.

10:32 a.m. Burglary was reported at a mobile home park on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville.

12:04 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a business on Merchandise Way in Diamond Springs.

12:14 p.m. Grand theft was reported on East Road in Placerville.

4:41 p.m. Burglary was reported on Carson Road in Camino.

4:43 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Diamond Springs Parkway in Diamond Springs.

March 14

2:47 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 38-year-old woman suspected of burglary, vandalism, battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest on Gypsy Way in Placerville. She was listed in custody on $35,000 bail.

9:54 a.m. Vandalism was reported at a veterinary clinic on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

9:55 a.m. A vehicle burglary was reported at Browns Ravine on Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills.

4:34 p.m. Grand theft was reported on East China Hill Road in El Dorado.

11:06 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 23-year-old woman suspected of DUI, DUI causing bodily injury and driving on a suspended license due to a previous DUI on Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills. She was listed in custody lieu on $20,000 bail.

11:27 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 31-year-old woman suspected of burglary and receiving stolen property. She was taken into custody at a Sacramento hotel and was listed in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.

March 15

8:36 a.m. Burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Panther Lane in Diamond Springs.

10:18 a.m. burglary was reported at a business on Stage Court in Placerville.

11 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Spring Street.

March 11

12:36 a.m. Officers arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct on Broadway.

8:03 a.m. Officers arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of trespassing on Lane Drive.

5:02 p.m. Shoplifting was reported at a Placerville Drive business. The unidentified male suspect was not found.

7:53 p.m. A possible assault was reported on Broadway.

March 12 10:19 Officers investigated a vehicle theft and recovery on Prescott Avenue.

1:39 p.m. Officers arrested a 62-year-old man on suspicion of illegally selling marijuana and a parole violation on Cold Springs Road.

March 13

1:08 p.m. A residential burglary was reported on Airport Court.

4:06 p.m. A stolen RV was recovered on Lane Way.

March 14

3:44 a.m. Officers arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of being under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol on Broadway after the suspect allegedly called the police and hung up.

8:21 p.m. Officers arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance on Broadway.

9:30 p.m. Officers cited a 58-yearold man on Spring Street who was allegedly driving without a license and without an interlock devise required due to an earlier DUI.

10:49 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Forest View Drive in Georgetown.

10:52 a.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

8:21 p.m. Battery was reported at the high school on Garden Valley Road in Garden Valley.

8:57 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 28-year-old man suspected of indecent exposure on Marshall Road in Garden Valley. He was later released.

11:01 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 50-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Fairway Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

11:16 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

March 16

12:30 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 19-year-old man suspected DUI on Knollwood Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

1:41 a.m. battery was reported on Green Glen Road in Cameron Park.

8:13 a.m. Battery was reported at the high school on Garden Valley Road in Garden Valley.

8:18 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old woman suspected of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful drug paraphernalia and probation violations on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. She was listed in custody in lieu of $16,000 bail.

8:24 a.m. Battery was reported at an apartment complex on Knollwood Court in Cameron Park.

3:41 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Belle Court in El Dorado Hills.

6:06 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a business on Enterprise Drive in Diamond Springs.

6:09 p.m. Vehicle burglary was reported on Howard Circle in Diamond Springs.

6:22 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Highway 49 (location not listed).

6:35 p.m. Battery was reported on Cold Springs Road in Placerville.

March 17

2:09 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 31-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license on White Rock Road in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $30,000 bail.

10:25 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Pine Street in Pollock Pines.

10:25 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

10:55 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Highway 49 in Cool.

10:57 a.m. Vandalism was reported on String Canyon Road in Grizzly Flat.

obituAries

Janet Joanne Valladao

Swart

May 1, 1944 – Feb. 23, 2023

Janet is survived by husband Ralph Swart; daughters Kimberly Swart Embree (Gary); and Melissa Swart Weikel (Mark); grandchildren Andrew Swart (Heather), Jordan Embree, Mariah Embree Hildebrandt (Eric), Logan Embree & Bethany Embree; brother David Blalock; & sister Roxine Johnson. Read full obituary & leave remembrances @ greenvalleymortuary.com

Gerald Solt

July 19, 1940 - Feb. 25, 2023

Gerald Solt of Cameron Park passed away February 25 at the age of 82. Gerald (Jerry) was born in 1940 in Seattle, Wash. to Cletus and Alma (Dahl) Solt. Jerry spent his childhood raising hell in the Greenwood area as well as Indiana with his cousins. He owned a small gas station before enlisting early into the US Army. He went on to Civil Service with the US Air Force as Regional Commissary Manager in Colorado, Germany and then California where he later retired.

Jerry’s hobbies are too many to list, however, he loved to travel in his RV, play cards, tennis and pickleball. His friends would describe him as a loyal friend with a love of his Sunbeam Tiger.

He was predeceased by (brother) Richard, (Uncle) Ray, and his parents Alma & Cletus.

He was survived by his wife Doris, his daughters Laura (Wills); Sheree (Doss), and grandchildren Ian (Solt), Donovan & Nicholas (Doss).

Memorial service will be held on April 15, 2023, TBD as to the location. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society. He will be missed by all, especially his dry sense of humor. We love you.

Jack Fenton

Williams

Aug. 16, 1929 – March 8, 2023

Jack Fenton Williams passed away March 8, he was 93.

Jack was born August 16, 1929, in San Diego, California to Paul Fenton and Alethia Gooch Williams. He was the second child, joining sister Betty. His brother Bob followed 2 years later and sister Patricia 6 years after that. The family lived in Ramona except for short periods in San Diego. His parents divorced when Jack was 14 and his mother married Mac McKenzie in 1947.

When he was 16, Jack and a friend hitch-hiked to Louisiana with the intention of joining the Navy. The Navy wouldn’t accept him because of his age, so he lied about his age and was able to join the Merchant Marines. He was put on a “cattle boat” and sent to Europe. He eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Navy July 1, 1949. He served as an electrician and was stationed all over the world. He was discharged December 13, 1956, with the rank of E6 Petty Officer First Class. Jack married Barbara Pennoyer July 4, 1951. He adopted her son Varnel, and another son Kirk was born later in 1951. In early 1954 Jack was assigned to the base in Millington, Tenn. The family lived there 2½ years, but returned to Ramona before daughter Terry was born in 1956.

After Jack’s discharge, the family moved to the Los Angeles area in 1957 where Jack worked for General Telephone for many years. His claim to fame was that he installed Elizabeth Taylor’s phone - and that of many other legendary stars of the time!! They moved to La Habra and he worked for Armstrong Flooring. Daughter Terry remembers wild, almost-tipping-over wheelbarrow rides while her Dad was putting in the yard and landscaping at their new house. And the whole neighborhood always knew when Jack got off work because he would come squealing around the corner in his 1961 MGA sports car.

Varnel remembers when Jack bought a well-used 1959 ½ ton, short box pickup from General Phone. He put a camper on it that was so huge, it made the vehicle sway back & forth as it went down the road. On one trip they were traveling through the desert; it was over 100°. Jack had put retread tires on the pickup, and lo and behold the tread came off out in the middle of nowhere. But Jack hitched a ride into the nearest town, came back with a used tire, and got them back on the road in no time.

He and Barbara divorced in 1964.

Jack met Judy Perry in 1966 when they were both working at the Los Angeles County Department of Hospitals. They got married June 7, 1969, in Las Vegas. She had 3 boys: Ronald, Troy, and Mark. Jack & Judy lived in Long Beach for 18 years. Judy’s sister-in-law, Marianne Bramlett, was very impressed when she met Jack for the first time and found out he was raising rabbits in a fenced area in the backyard (Cub Scout project).

Jack was an electrician and worked with a prominent cardiologist and another research doctor developing lasers during the very early stages of lasik surgery. He retired from the hospital in 1986.

All his life Jack was interested in rocks and rock formations, a love shared by his Uncle Stewart with whom he lived after his parents’ divorce. His interest in lapidary was rekindled when he and Judy lived in Long Beach. They joined a rock club in Glendale and were active, going on many rockhounding trips. Jack started cutting and

polishing rocks and gems and making jewelry.

After his retirement, Jack and Judy moved to Placerville, Calif. to be nearer to his mother and siblings. Jack became very active in the El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society. He was vice president and president for several terms. Jack taught jewelry making at rock and gem shows throughout California. He also collected a huge assortment of rocks. For any rock you would pick up in his shop, he could tell you what it was, how it was formed, & where he got it. He made and sold a large assortment of jewelry. His granddaughter Kyla remembers that when her now-husband Tim spontaneously proposed in Hawaii after her Dad’s memorial service and feeling blessed by Kirk’s spirit, Grampa Jack pulled a beautiful turquoise ring out of his bag and gave it to Tim for the proposal - a ring Kyla wears to this day. Jack also made Kyla’s wedding ring out of one of Tim’s Mom’s diamonds.

Jack loved to travel. He and Judy bought a Ford extra cab V-10 pickup & a 32-foot fifth wheel and traveled around in search of rocks. He also visited relatives on the Oregon Coast and his and Judy’s kids in California, Washington, and Idaho. Grandchildren Ali and Tim remember Jack taking them to rock shows and that he always brought a big bag of oranges when he visited.

Jack and Judy had a time share in Hawaii and spent many delightful vacation days there with family and friends. Grandson Chad remembers biking down Haleakala Mountain with Jack, then sitting on the beach for hours listening to Grampa’s stories.

Jack’s grandchildren all remember his wicked, slightly risqué sense of humor. Granddaughter Jenyne loved connecting with his artistic side and loved looking at his dazzling gemstones. Granddaughter Julia remembers how excited he was to show her the deer that came to eat in their backyard every morning; she loved connecting with his quieter side. Grandson Jeremy enlisted in the Navy, with Jack’s encouragement and blessing. Jeremy’s favorite memory was when Grampa Jack pinned on Jeremy’s new rank at his commissioning ceremony at the University of Washington.

Jack is survived by his wife Judy, his son Varnel (Linda) Williams of Moscow ID, daughter Terry (Steve) Zike of Yakima WA, sons Ronald (Deanna) Perry of Boise ID, Troy (Lori) Perry of Lake Forest CA and Mark (Donna) Perry of Corona CA. He is also survived by 25 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren, his sister Patricia (Gil) Little of Albany OR, sister-in-law Sherry Williams of Placerville, and several nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his son Kirk, grandchildren Brandon and McKenzie, siblings Bob and Betty, and brothers-in-law Bob Lee and Bruce Fuhrman.

Funeral services will be Friday, March 24, at 11:30 a.m. at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif. He will be buried with full military honors.

Dr. Little’s Dental News

Presented by Jeffery Little, D.D.S.

HOW DENTURES ARE FITTED

Teeth lost to gum disease or decay can be replaced with partial or full dentures, but the process of getting permanent dentures takes time. Most dentures require one or more tooth extractions, and the gums need three to six months to heal before permanent dentures can be created. In the meantime, your dentist can fit you with temporary dentures, made to last six to eight months. Once your mouth heals from extractions, the dentist will take impressions of your mouth and jaw, which are used to custom-mold the permanent dentures to the precise shape of your mouth. You’ll receive temporary dentures the same day as extractions, and these will help protect your gums while they heal.

Dentures have been in use for more than 2,000 years, and today these substitutes for missing natural teeth have never been more comfortable, effective, easy to use, and appealing. However, you still need to take care of them as well as your oral hygiene with regular professional checkups and scrupulous home care. Complete dental care for all members of your family is available here at our office, where we utilize only the latest in dental technology for your care and comfort.

P.S. Temporary dentures, also called immediate dentures, are not custom molded to your mouth and may slip or move as your mouth heals from extractions.

California’s ghostly Tulare Lake will be revived in 2023

Spanish soldier and California explorer Pedro Fages was chasing deserters in 1772 when he came across a vast marshy lake and named it Los Tules for the reeds and rushes that lined its shore.

Situated between the later cities of Fresno and Bakersfield, Tulare Lake, as it was named in English, was the nation’s largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. It spread out to as much as 1,000 square miles as snow in the Sierra melted each spring, feeding five rivers flowing into the lake.

Letters to the Editor

Champions

EDITOR:

SUMMARY

Its abundance of fish and other wildlife supported several Native American tribes, who built boats from the lake’s reeds to gather its bounty.

When the snowmelt was particularly heavy, the lake rose high enough that a natural spillway would divert water into the San Joaquin River and thence to the Pacific Ocean through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.

It was a fairly common phenomenon in the 19th century, but the last time it happened naturally was in 1878. With the arrival of the railroad, the region was becoming an agricultural center and farmers were diverting water from Tulare’s tributaries for irrigation.

As those diversions expanded in the 20th century, Tulare Lake gradually shrank and disappeared altogether after World War II, when Pine Flat Dam blocked the Kings River, its major tributary, and levees channeled natural flows.

Once dry, the lakebed became the site of immense cotton farms, principally those of the Boswell and Salyer families. However, every few decades nature would reassert itself, piling up so much snow in the Sierra that the dams and levees were unable to contain the Kings and other rivers and Tulare Lake would be recreated.

I personally witnessed one such recreation, in the spring of 1970, as editor of the Hanford Sentinel. The Kings River runo was so intense that Pine Flat Dam came within a few feet of being overtopped. I visited the dam during that period to report on what was happening and was taken inside the

■ See WALTERS, page A5

Guest Column

Champions don’t feel like champions because they win. They feel like champions because they held their ground during the storms, the humility, the struggle and the disappointment. They didn’t let life push them around. They held out. With constant pressure, they held firm. When the odds looked grim, they began to push even harder.

True empowerment is walking through the struggles, pain and adversity with a smile on your face. It’s knowing that no matter what life throws at you, you will keep walking forward. You will stay in the storm with both feet planted. That no matter how much it hurts, you will keep your feet planted. It’s about being an unshakable warrior.

Just remember, winning comes from continuing to fight the losing battle. Sometimes you have to show the world what you are made of. The best feeling in the whole wide world is knowing that you are unshakable. Walk into every room knowing that no one can damage you. Now, show me how you live your life.

RILEY SMITH El Dorado Hills

Navigation center facts

EDITOR:

The El Dorado County Republican Central Committee, through the leadership Chair Todd White, continues to assassinate character and spew lies about the referral-only navigation center. This does our community a great disservice.

In his letter to the editor, White once again alleged the unanimous action of the Board of Supervisors to open the referral-only center at the old juvenile hall site was to “move some of the homeless away from (my) family’s properties on Broadway.” As you may remember, the BOS was in final deliberation about how we were going to address homelessness in El Dorado County when I was slapped with an anonymous complaint to the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging a conflict of interest. It delayed our action for several months as I answered those fraudulent allegations with the FPPC and awaited its ruling.

After a thorough review of the facts, the FPPC

threw out the anonymous complaint as baseless and gave me the green light to act. The EDC Republican Central Committee is fully aware of this outcome, yet members throw out those baseless allegations again to whip up fear and discontent while continuing to impugn my reputation.

The navigation center was always meant to be a solution to illegal encampments, not to solve other housing challenges in our county. Not only have encampments become places not meant for human habitation, they pose extreme fire risks. Broadway was targeted first because it was the largest camp on the West Slope, with more than 70 people living in squalor. The Broadway camp was also identified as part of a larger, statewide operation to remove homeless encampments from state-owned properties near highways. On Feb. 27 the Broadway camp was one of 1,200 camps in California eradicated and cleaned up because it was causing damage to Highway 50 and was unsafe for the unsheltered residents. Thankfully, El Dorado County had a shelter option available and our dedicated Health and Human Services sta , the EDC Sheri ’s Homeless Outreach Team and the Placerville Police Department worked hand-in-hand to properly notify the unhoused campers and refer them into the navigation center.

As extreme weather and snow pummel our county, I remain extremely grateful we have an option for the unhoused.

As to how the Navigation Center is going, it has only been open a month and will certainly continue to evolve. As of Feb. 28, we had 41 guests, five dogs and two cats at the shelter. As far as reports of overdoses or incidents, they will happen. They have been happening all around us, they just haven’t been visible. Fortunately, we can get a better handle on it and address issues as they come because we have supportive services in place.

As for success stories, two men have enrolled in Marshall Hospital’s CARES program for substance abuse, several guests are working on their documentation which is critical for self-su ciency and another guest applied for CalFresh, Medi-Cal and has secured employment. None of that would have happened if they were living in an illegal camp.

We should work together to support our farmers

Ihave enjoyed the pleasure of representing El Dorado County Farm Trails, a nonprofit advocacy group for agricultural businesses in our county for two years. Our organization’s goals are to encourage respectful land use and stewardship and to enable the creation of economic value from appropriate uses of the county’s agriculturally zoned land.

Farm Trails operates the Wednesday night Bell Tower Farmers Market in Placerville. In recent weeks that market has been asked to move in an apparent breach of a contract that has been in place since 2014. As an organization, we lack an understanding of the motives of this forced move to another parcel in the city of Placerville. Nevertheless, we are open to focused e orts to make a new location work for the market and the farmers who depend on the market for substantial portions of their livelihood.

At the very least, the city should

agree to guarantee basic services and safety at the newly proposed location — the Mooney Lot — on upper Main Street. The city should also consider the contribution of a modest amount of signage and advertising support as a way to assuage breaching a long-standing contract. Yes, there are people economically harmed by this decision. Our county calls them farmers and they have a right to farm by law here.

One way our organization addressed our goals for 15 years has been a partnership with the city of Placerville to operate the Wednesday night Bell Tower Farmers Market. For those 15 years, there have been some 25-plus farmers and other vendors selling locally grown and sourced products to El Dorado County residents. The market was deemed essential during the pandemic and provides key advantages to our disadvantaged residents by actually doubling the value of EBT funds used by customers. Our farmers have business

licenses and comply with all state and county regulations to grow, create and sell their produce and products to the public. That contractual partnership has been unilaterally severed by the city in an apparent breach of the existing contract. Another unilaterally forced aspect of the market instilled in the last two weeks is the city’s requirement of 100% agricultural products at the market. Farm Trails has asked the county Department of Agriculture to weigh in, but the definition is quite broad. Does anyone remember the freeze of 2022 when very little produce was grown?

The market was invited onto the Main Street location by the city in 2008 as a way to create a community gathering place and to create enhanced foot tra c for the merchants in downtown Placerville. By all accounts, it has been successful at this goal. Our organization has been operating the market under that contract signed in 2014, which

automatically renews on a yearly basis unless specific and timely communications are exchanged.

In 2023, after 15 years of creating desired foot tra c and community for downtown Placerville, the City Council has determined the market is an expensive menace and prevents hospice patients from getting medicine and competes with downtown merchants.

I am writing this letter out of concern for the market, the economic health of the farmers and an apparent waning support for the ag community that our county singles out as an important element of our local culture.

City o cials communicated their displeasure with the location of the market but delivered no written notice or instructions. Farm Trails suggested a survey of downtown merchants be conducted to determine

■ See OWEN page A5

WENDY THOMAS Placerville

MIKE OWEN

California was once home to the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, but Tulare Lake disappeared as water was diverted to irrigate crops. This year, however, the lake will once again re-emerge.

DAN WALTERS

Yes, there are people economically harmed by this decision. Our county calls them farmers and they have a right to farm by law here.

Four forest RAC posts to be filled

UsDA forest service

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill openings on the 15-member El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee.

Applications are requested by April 30.

The Resource Advisory Committee is established under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act to review and recommend projects that benefit national forest lands in El Dorado County. Funding is provided under Title II of the act for projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems and restore and improve land health and water quality.

Current representative openings are for:

• Wildlife, hunting or watershed organizations

• A state elected official or their designee

• A county or local elected official

• The affected public at large Committee members are appointed by the

n See rac, page A6

Walters Continued from A4 concrete structure, which was groaning and slightly leaking — a bizarre and somewhat eerie experience.

Pine Flat Dam held but water roared down the mountains in the Kings and other rivers and very quickly, or so it seemed, Tulare Lake reappeared.

The Boswell and Salyer families, which had feuded for years, battled over whose lands would be flooded. Guards with shotguns patrolled the Tulare Basin Water Storage District’s levees as rumors spread about clandestine plans to dynamite them. That didn’t happen, but the Salyer holdings were inundated and the two agribusiness giants waged a legal battle that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The most spectacular re-emergence of Tulare Lake in recent years occurred in 1983 as record snows in the Sierra once again overcame human efforts to control its rivers. The lake was so high that two men, Bill Cooper and John Sweetser, kayaked 450 miles in 11 days from central Bakersfield to San Francisco Bay. They paddled down the Kern River, across Tulare Lake, up the Kings River and through the Fresno Slough into the San Joaquin River for a downstream run into the Delta and San Francisco Bay.

This bit of California history is offered because

1-800-972-3550

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Edited by Will Shortz No. 0215

snowfall in the watersheds of the Kings and other rivers that flow naturally into the Tulare Lake basin is surpassing the record level of 1982-83. It’s almost certain that Tulare Lake will once again spring to life.

The probability is even generating some hopeful, if unrealistic, speculation that state and/or federal governments could buy up the lakebed’s fields and bring back Tulare Lake permanently.

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

Owen Continued from A4

sentiment among businesses most affected by the market. An overwhelming 73% of responses were positive regarding the Wednesday night market.

Our organization has met with and attempted to work in good faith with city managers to resolve this situation, retain a farmers market presence in Placerville, support local agriculture and ensure the economic health of the farmers who depend on the market as a meaningful component of their yearly income. These good faith efforts and mutually suggested solutions have been rejected outright by the City Council at its last two meetings.

This is a conflict that our organization did not desire or initiate. Nonetheless, the City Council has designated the Mooney Lot on Main Street near the Druid Monument as a place where the market could continue. It is difficult to move a farmers market and retain business momentum. Indeed, the change has caused several longtime farmers to pull out of their participation.

Our organization is willing to contemplate the move of the market to the Mooney Lot, but the following list of concerns would need to be addressed to ensure the proposed location would be operated in a safe and legal manner and support long-term use:

• Electrical connections need to be available for use on Wednesday evenings.

• Trash receptacles will need to be available.

• A mechanism for clearing the Mooney Lot would need to be devised for Wednesday afternoons.

• Signage directing customers to the new market location would need to be posted on the Bell Tower on Wednesdays for two market seasons.

• The city would need to offer a renewable contract with a five-year term for the Wednesday night market with terms similar to the existing contract.

• The city would make funds approximating several years of the identified city cost of market operations available for the market to advertise its new location.

Farm Trails is committed to bringing healthy and affordable local produce and farm products to the residents of Placerville and El Dorado County. Farm Trails is also committed to discussing this potential move in good faith with the city decision-makers in the hopes of continuing what has been a positive element of Placerville’s culture for 15 years.

Mike Owen is president of El Dorado Farm Trails.

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 $50/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

seNiOr Peer cOUNseLiNG

Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)6216304 to leave a message and get started.

tAxPAyers AssOciAtiON Of eL DOrADO cOUNty

Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public except the first Monday of each month. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a nonpartisan organization

PUZZLE

COMiCS

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

Sanders wins a thriller at Placerville speedway

Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Justin Sanders and Shane Golobic have been a part of some classic battles over the years in California and on opening night at Placerville Speedway, the pair provided the crowd on hand with a show they won’t soon forget.

At the end it was Sanders who came out on top by just inches at the checkered flag, following 25 hard-fought laps of competition with the winged sprint cars. It marked the 22nd career winged 360 triumph at Placerville Speedway for Sanders, giving him sole possession of ninth all-time.

Sharing victory lane on opening night were Josh Young with the wingless sprint cars, Nick Baldwin with the pure stocks and Matt Micheli with the limited late models.

The winged 360 sprint car feature came to the line with Lincoln’s Tanner Carrick and Roseville’s Colby Copeland sharing the front row. Things got off to an exciting start as the pair went three wide with Fremont’s

SUDOkU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9

n TODAy

Solutions to puzzles in Classified section of newspaper.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll reach one checkpoint and be up, the next you’ll be down. These measurements are a matter of tradition, though less important than you might imagine. What matters is not how you’re counted on arrival but that you arrive at all.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Each family is its own country with customs and language foreign to outsiders. You will interact with those from another family. Tread lightly, as it’s easy to cross boundaries you don’t realize exist.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Because you are so open and approachable, where you go is very important. If you’re in a place where like minds and upbeat people are, you’ll probably get more out of the interactions you’re bound to have.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Self-care is different for everyone. For some, silence is self-care, and for others a long conversation is self-care. Exposure to a variety of experiences will teach you what nurtures you. It’s not always what you expect.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There’s not one style of being that’s better than another, though there are styles more or less suited to the moment. What suits you best today will be poetic and organized aesthetically rather than logically.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Don’t expect the breakthrough to come to those who are ready for it. Luck goes by its own rules. Often, opportunity arrives at the same time as problems, challenges and setbacks. Good fortune has many faces.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your mood turns social just in time to make some key connections. You’re like a hitchhiker in that you’ll get where you’re going because other people going the same direction could use a little company.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are those who would be more comfortable if you were to stick with the way it’s always been done, but you’re not living for them. Get on your own side. Do it your way. Experimentation is both necessary and fun.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your attraction to the exotic leads you to new people and realms. You will come bearing gifts, and you will not stay too long in one place. When the mystique has worn off, you will move along.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You get the feeling that it’s all going to be different just as soon as you get to the other side of this barrier, which could break open at any moment. This belief is the key to your persistence. Keep going.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Loved ones will tell you exactly what they want, though not in words. So it’s mighty convenient that you’re paying close attention today and are even more sensitive than usual to the subtleties of interaction.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Relationships will be like a rubber band. When pulled a distance away from the other person, energy will build in the bond. At a certain point, this will cause you to come quickly and forcefully back together.

Shane Golobic, prior to a caution waving after a lap was complete.

Once things got into a groove it was Carrick holding command as heavy duty lapped traffic came into play, which bunched up the front runners. Carrick, Golobic, Copeland and Aromas throttle masher Sanders raced inches from each other through traffic, zig zagging their way around the quarter mile. Golobic, last year’s winner on Legends Night, would slice his way to the inside and snag the lead on 13, only to have Carrick

return the favor a couple circuits later.

The relentless Golobic kept at it and drove back by Carrick for the top spot on lap 19. Sanders also followed along, jumping into the runner-up position. A green-white-checkered restart set up the thrilling conclusion in which Golobic and Sanders battled back and forth to decide the winner. With the duo racing off turn four to the checkered flag, Sanders executed a picture-perfect cross

n See SPEEDwAy, page A7

Chalet shut down

RAC

Continued from

Secretary of Agriculture for a fouryear term. Members must reside in California, and to the extent practicable in El Dorado County. The committee meets several times each year in Placerville, typically once a month or less. Members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel to meetings.

Nominees will be evaluated based on their experience with the interest area they represent, knowledge of forest resources, demonstrated commitment to collaborative decision-making and contribution to the balance and diversity of the committee.

Visit the RAC committee page on the Eldorado National Forest website at bit.ly/ENFresourceadvisory for more information about the duties and the two forms needed to apply for membership. A letter describing the applicant’s interest in serving on the RAC should also be provided. Applications must include original signatures and be mailed to:

ATTN: Michelle Wolfgang, RAC Coordinator, Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667. For more information contact Michelle Wolfgang at michelle. wolfgang@usda.gov.

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis

Photos courtesy of Tim Holland Photos

Justin Sanders and team out of Aromas celebrate their winged 360 win at Placerville Speedway.

Roseville’s wingless sprinter Josh Young sped his way into victory lane.

Shingle Springs athlete ‘Elite’

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer Ponderosa High School alum

Liam Egar has done everything he wanted to do with the sport of water polo, but not before being awarded one of the NCAA’s most prestigious awards — the Elite 90.

Egar, currently an assistant coach for the American River Water Polo Club, was celebrated for his athleticism and academic prowess, earning a 3.95 GPA while attending University of the Pacific.

One award is given in each NCAA sport every year to the athlete participating in the organization’s final tournament who has the highest cumulative GPA out of all participating athletes, a rewarding experience for the Shingle Springs man. “A lot of times in athletics, academics can get overlooked especially at that high of a level,” Egar told the Mountain Democrat. “Practice schedules are insanely stressful and the time commitment is gigantic, so finding time and balancing your responsibilities I think is huge. Getting recognition for that has been really rewarding for me personally.”

In this case, the finance and pre-law graduate had the highest GPA over Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley and Los Angeles and University of Southern California athletes, whose teams went to the 2022 National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Final Four.

The UOP Tigers attacker began his journey at Ponderosa High School before graduating in 2019. He played for the Bruins for three years and two years with the American River Water Polo Club in Sacramento before diving into the waters of collegiate-level competition at UOP. Egar decided to not play for the Bruins during his senior year, focusing on club water polo.

“I wasn’t ready to be done. Not playing my final year at high school made me realize that I wanted to do more with the sport,” Egar said. “I didn’t want to leave the sport feeling like I left things on the table, so I

took the best college o er I could get, which wasn’t too far from home.”

Having to travel to Sacramento to practice with the water polo club due to a small demographic of water polo players in the foothills, his e ort paid o .

The transition from high school to college competition came easier for Egar, who knew athletes at UOP.

The Bruins alum chose UOP due to its prestigious water polo program.

“Out of all their sports, they don’t really have a program that wins as much as water polo program, which is mostly due to the coaches,” Egar commented. “My freshman year, we got second in the NCAA losing to Stanford at the championship game. Then my senior year, we finished top four, losing to Cal Berkeley in the semi-finals round. We’re pretty consistently in top five in a good year and top eight in a bad year.”

Egar played all four seasons for UOP then graduated in December 2022. He is currently in the application process to go to law

Liam Egan’s academic and athletic achievements were recognized with the NCAA’s Elite 90 award.

Speedway Continued from A6

over move to nip Golobic at the line by 0.026 seconds.

Copeland, Carrick and Modesto’s Tony Gomes rounded out the top five. Finishing sixth through 10th were Sean Becker, Kaleb Montgomery, Dylan Bloomfield, Shane Hopkins and Andy Forsberg. Heat race wins during the night were pocketed by Becker, Golobic, Gomes and Carrick, while Forsberg won the B-main. Copeland began the night by earning the Fast Time Award with a lap of 10.684, pacing the 25-car field. The always exciting wingless sprint cars made their first of six appearances this season on opening night. In the end it was Roseville’s Josh Young who parked it on the front stretch for his first career Placerville Speedway victory. Oakley’s Jacob Tuttle and Placerville’s Shane Hopkins made up the front row for the 20-lap contest. Several movers and shakers were seen in the main event as multiple cars had a shot at victory.

Young, DJ Johnson, Trey Walters and more fought it out to bring home the win during the opening show of 2023. Once Young carved his way to the point he cut smooth and consistent laps ahead of Johnson, Walters, Mark Hanson and Brent Steck.

Oakley’s Nick Baldwin has been the dominant force in recent years when it comes to the pure stocks. Opening night saw him start from the outside of the front row and drive to his 21st career Placerville Speedway win, which places him in a tie for eighth all-time with Bob Briggs.

Diamond Springs racer Kevin Jinkerson did keep Baldwin honest during the 20-lap feature though, as he stalked his rear bumper every step of the way. Jinkerson came home second followed by Micky D’Angelo, Kenny Bernstein and Shaun Bennion in the top five.

school in the fall, hopefully USC or UCLA for their well-known law programs. After competing in swimming sports most of his life, Egar will hang up his swimming gear as he prepares for a career in financial law or securities regulation.

“My wife and I couldn’t be more proud of Liam and his accomplishments at Pondo and Pacific,” said Patrick Egar, Liam’s father. “Water polo provided Liam with the opportunity to develop stamina, endurance, resilience and a finer sense of individual contribution toward team goals and objectives. We’d love to see the sport grow in El Dorado County and the foothills in general.”

Placerville Speedway fans don’t have the opportunity to see Matt Micheli as often as they used to but the Live Oak driver returned in triumphant fashion Saturday night, racing to his 25th career limited late model win at the track. The victory puts him nine wins away from Ryan McDaniel, who holds the most all-time in the division.

Auburn’s Ray Trimble stayed within striking distance, before settling for a runner-up result. Matt Davis, Dan Jinkerson and Tyler Lightfoot completed the top five.

Placerville Speedway is right back at it this coming Saturday, March 25, with the season opener for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. The Spring Fever Frenzy also showcases the Bay Cities Racing Association Lightning Sprints.

Mountain Democrat file photo by Mark Studyvin Liam Egan takes aim in a penalty shot while playing in a match for Ponderosa High School in 2017.

Courtesy photo

Fire training

the Forest Service.

Continued from A1

“We try to set it up around the time the Forest Service is doing their hiring for the season so that way it is easy to hire these folks,” said Ben Gotts, 17-year Forest Service patrol officer. “This particular training that we put on is easily one of the best in California with a mixed bag of in-classroom and outof-classroom scenarios to really get the training sunk in as far as what they will be doing this season.”

Pink ribbon acting as a mock fire could be seen scattered throughout the area as trainees hiked up a steep slope. Radio communication and commands from trainers helped emulate the intensity of the type of situations firefighters go through.

Students additionally learned to respond to fire spotting and how to use a fire shelter. In a fire shelter drill trainees deploy a protective tarp in case they find themselves trapped by flames.

The inclusion of these field training scenarios became a reality in 2017, which Recruitment Coordinator Kaleena Lynde said has helped with recruitment.

“Before it was mainly a classroom setting and we had a lot of people that would come do the training, then we would get them out in the field only for

Trip to Green

them to struggle,” said Lynde, who has been with the Forest Service 19 years. “We started developing this field-based training to show them what the job is really like, how labor intensive it is, how steep we go up, the different tactics we use, how to use the tools and more. Our success in maintaining employees since doing it this way has gone up drastically versus just doing the classroom setting, especially since they would show up for work, then quit when we need the employees.”

Justin Freidais, a 19-year-old trainee from Roseville, said learning how to use the fire shelter was the hardest part at first.

“It’s definitely good to have information of knowing in an emergency situation how to deploy, what to look out for and what to keep on you when you’re in an event like that,” Freidais said. “It’s something you need to be constantly ready for.”

Evan Bell, a 20-year-old trainee from Red Bluff, said the training has been a good indication of how tough the job can be and how resilient the employees need to be.

“The running with the weight on the back was probably the toughest part but the training is important for this kind of work,” Bell said.

Continued from A1

from locals and merchants helping determine the course of action that will be pursued. A potential plan presented to the community previously would have seen the construction of a two-lane elevated expressway passing above the rest of the highway through town; seeing little to no positive feedback from residents, that option has been tossed aside.

City and DOT staff, following feedback from residents, have determined the “small infrastructure” plan to be the best option. This option would incorporate gate arms and possibly hydraulic bollards to close off certain turning lanes along Highway 50 and include dynamic signage that would change to provide accurate navigation information for motorists when Trip to Green is in effect.

Consultant Brian Gant explained the plan would allow for a more reactive Trip to Green, where it could be easily implemented or ended at varying times depending on traffic instead of the more rigid 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. structure seen in the trial runs.

The implementation schedule for Trip to Green would open as well — multiple holiday and busy weekends have been identified as potential days. With the limited survey responses from Main Street merchants, as well as other stores in Placerville not polled, potential economic impacts will need to be considered in the program’s larger rollout.

“We’re talking up to now, what, 12 holidays of implementing this?” Council member David Yarborough asked following the presentation.

“That is a revenue loss when it comes to our Main Street businesses. We’ve got a can of worms no matter which way we go.”

The team assembling the Trip to Green plan has reported a majority

of positive responses from the community, with 70% of residents supporting the project and 60% reporting positive or no impact from the test runs.

One point of contention that remains is the mixed reception from residents and members of the Placerville City Council to proposed tolling. City Engineer Rebecca Neves spoke to the rationale behind the tolls, explaining that some of the money raised is intended to go toward upkeep of the Trip to Green infrastructure. With raising/lowering gate arms and possible hydraulic bollards on the road, Neves stated it was inevitable some motorist would drive into them, necessitating repairs.

Neves noted revenue projections from tolling would pay for the cost of the tolling gantries in as short as two years.

The discussion as to who would or would not be considered a local for the purpose of toll exemption is still on the table; with 88% of traffic on Trip to Green days coming from outside of El Dorado County, the easiest answer may be exception for all county residents.

The Trip to Green project has received some acclaim outside of Placerville as well, with Neves’ leadership helping to secure the 2022 Innovative Project of the Year Award from Women in Transportation Sacramento.

The final draft of the action plan will be open for public comment until Friday, according to Gant. The plan can be found at cityofplacerville.org/ TriptoGreen.

The final version of the plan is to be adopted in early April, at which time city and county staff will await direction from City Council and work to coordinate next steps with Caltrans and other agencies.

Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian

A U.S. Forest Service firefighter gives instruction on how to cut a fire break.

Trainees set up their fire shelters in a firefighting drill March 16.

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 bene ts 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 fi nal decision 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 April 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 possible (and defi nitely by April 14) to lock in more favorable net metering credits.

IN THE KNOW

March 22

The Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber of Commerce hosts a luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with guest speaker Auditor-Controller Joe Harn at Los Pinos, 3420 Palmer Drive in Cameron Park. For more information call (530) 677-8000 or visit sscpchamber.org.

March 23

Oak Ridge Theatre Arts presents “Clue: On Stage” March 23-25 at the ORHS theater in El Dorado Hills. For tickets and more information visit ortab.org. Dust in My Coffee will perform 7-10 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club, 251 Main St. in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Swell Productions and the Sacramento Blues Society present the second annual Little Charlie Baty Celebration Concert featuring Rick Estrin & The Nightcats with special guests Anson Funderburgh and Rusty Zinn. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. at Harlow’s in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit harlows.com.

March 24

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open again every Friday and Saturday for open garden days, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on-site to assist with any questions regarding

nation’s wine garden and wine cellar and Amador Vintners Association’s Behind the Cellar Door event is a great way to discover the fruits of this garden.

In a 2023 survey conducted by LawnStarter to discover the best counties in wine-related categories, Amador County scored third place out of California’s 58 counties in the Highest Average Consumer Rating for Wine Tours category (see all ranking at lawnstarter. com/blog/studies/best-california-wine-counties).

Experience why March 25 & 26, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, when Behind the Cellar Door reveals the art of winemaking by sharing the secrets of blending wine and how to pair wine and food plus o ering winery tours or meetings with award-winning winemakers. More than 40 wineries in Amador Wine Country will give guests exclusive opportunities to go behind the scenes while enjoying flights of world-class Amador wine, small bites and barrel samples.

Guests may select up to five winery experiences

per day from the participating wineries list. A limited number of single-day and designated driver passes are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at cellarpass.com/events/behind-the-cellardoor-2023-9524 for this rain or shine event. Follow Amador wineries on Instagram @AmadorWine or sign up for the newsletter for additional information.

Winery experiences

24 Brix will o er an educational talk with winemaker/owner Paul Schmitz discussing “How to Make 90 Point Fine Wines” with a special barrel tasting in the production room during the talk. Four 90+ wines will be poured and paired with a cheese and cracker specifically meant to complement each of the four varietals.

Amador Cellars will o er a flight of six awardwinning wines paired with pasta puttanesca and live music. Join winemaker Michael Long to learn the art of writing tasting notes. He will describe his thought

■ See CELLAR DOOR, page B3

Native Plant Society goes to the birds

Kathleen Barco EDC-CNPS Communications Chair

The March general meeting of the El Dorado Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will take place 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28 via Zoom. After chapter business is taken care of, participants will hear a live talk: Creating Bird-friendly Landscapes by Nancy Gilbert of the Redbud Chapter of CNPS.

Gilbert will cover essential information on how to create bird-attracting gardens and landscapes, illustrated by numerous photos of birds interacting with native plants.

Items she will address include:

• Essentials for creating good bird habitat: food, water, protective cover and shelter, sentinel, and preening perches;

• Places and resources to rear young;

• The benefits and drawbacks of feeding wild birds;

• How to maximize nesting opportunities and bird house basics; and

• How to design your garden to create habitat diversity for maximum bird benefits.

Gilbert has a master’s degree in science education and is the former owner of the California native bulb nursery, Far West Bulb Farm. The meeting is free of charge, but all participants must register in advance. To register for the Zoom meeting, visit tinyurl.com/3-28-23-EDC-CNPS-mtng.

Grow for it!

Perennial practices in sustainable gardening

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. Share the botanical bliss of gardeners through the ages, who have

cultivated philosophies to apply to their own — and our own — lives: Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.” From “The Glory of Gardening” by Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, 1896-1913. What would Austin have to say about today’s popular topic of sustainable gardening? Perhaps he would say, show me a sustainable garden and I’ll tell you of a garden, and a gardener, that gives back.

A sustainable garden is a garden that helps restore the environment. Specifically, the University of California states, “Sustainable gardening … involves selecting plants that are adapted to your climate and microclimate and implementing maintenance practices that reduce water waste, protect water quality, nurture soil, recycle organic matter, incorporate integrated pest management, protect and encourage desirable wildlife and conserve energy.”

Sustainable gardening is a process that takes practice. A perennial approach is helpful. Merriam Webster explains that perennial means: “Present at all seasons of the year, persistent, enduring, continuing without interruption and regularly repeated or renewed.” Master Gardeners teach that a perennial produces several cycles and “continues growing for several years.”

How can we repeatedly nurture our gardens, the environment and ourselves? Here are a few perennial practices for sustainable gardening:

Perennial practice 1. Create compost

If you want a garden that gives back, feed your soil. A great way to improve and nurture your soil is by adding compost. Compost will help conserve water, replenish nutrients and improve soil tilth, structure and drainage — all of which gardeners in El Dorado County will appreciate. As you alchemize organic matter from your yard and kitchen, you may also find a transformation in yourself.

Perennial Practice 2. Use mulch

We are experiencing drought conditions and rising temperatures. Mulches aid in weed and erosion control, buffer soil temperature and help conserve water by reducing evaporation and runoff. As you replace weedy areas with mulch, you may find yourself reworking some of those weedy areas of life.

Perennial Practice 3. Plant California natives

California native plants are the superstars of a sustainable garden. They are well-suited for our climate, tend to be drought resistant and require less water, encourage beneficial insects, provide shelter and food for native wildlife and encourage native pollinators to visit. Native bees and other pollinators play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and food supply. As you integrate California native plants into your garden, you cultivate a garden, and a gardener, that gives back.

Join local Master Gardeners for a free public education class, Tomatoes: from Seed to Table, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 25, at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District’s Teenz Center, 1021 Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills (next to the skate park). Master Gardeners will team with El Dorado County Master Food Preservers to help you learn everything from harvest to canning, dehydrating to freezing.

Don’t miss the annual Plant Sales on April 15 for edible plants and April 29 for everything except edible. Shop for trees, shrubs, native plants, succulents and perennial plants with all proceeds benefitting upkeep and programs at the UC Master Gardener Sherwood Demonstration Garden. The sale will be at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden at 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville, behind Folsom Lake College.

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open every Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Master Gardeners will offer tours, answer questions or guests can just enjoy the garden during weekly open garden days on Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for further information about the Sherwood Demonstration Garden at ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_ Gardeners/Demonstration_Garden.

Master Gardener classes are offered monthly throughout the county. Find

Heidi Broadbent

UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County

Photo by Lisa Couper

A bluebird plucks a berry from a plant. To learn how to attract birds to your yard, hop on Zoom March 28 for

Day hiker

Cabrillo National Monument

With one blizzard behind me and another in the forecast, the Cabrillo National Monument is San Diego sounded like a great retreat.

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th-century exploration, the Cabrillo National Monument and Park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources.

Different scenery, ocean air and a new story to call my own — a trip out of the area, experiencing new trails, is a joy.

The fee is $20 for day use for a

process and go over key descriptive characters. See how you stack up and try writing your own.

Andis Wines will host a discussion on managing the yield of its vines, by pruning, green harvesting, effeuillage and more as guests taste through a flight of the highly acclaimed wines, including unique estate-grown varietals. Guests will leave with a vine cutting and propagation instructions and the knowledge to start their own vineyard. There will be delicious bites provided by Flora & Fauna Provisions.

Avio Vineyards and Winery is one of Amador’s hidden gems that people love to discover. Work up an appetite during the drive around the vineyard that leads to the Italian piazza and winery. There will be a guided fourcourse food and wine pairing with estate wines. On this culinary journey guests will learn the art of pairing and can take notes home. In the barrel room experience an educational, guided vertical tasting of multiple vintages of the same wines directly from the barrels.

Bella Grace Vineyards will start the visit with a stroll through the underground wine cave, with guests learning key elements of barrel aging along the way. Inside the cave, taste the 2021 Barbera from the 30 hectoliter (792 gallon) French oak barrel. Back outside, enjoy a combination of award-winning Bella Grace wines, perfectly paired with small bites by Chef Robert. Also enjoy the spectacular, panoramic views of the vineyards.

Belledor Vineyards presents a Celtic-themed event. Get ready for Celtic music, award-winning Belledor wines and a Tater Tot Bar (Irish nachos anyone?). Give the suggested tater tot and wine pairings a try or mix it up and create your own. Wear your Celtic best for an added discount on any wine purchases. Slainté!

Bray Vineyards will have barrel tastings of its 2021 Primitivo and 2021 Nebbiolo. Learn about the wine aging process from barrel to bottle. Sample recent releases, including the award-winning barbera, sangiovese, primitivo and nebbiolo. Savor robust lasagna soup, a fan favorite, and get special discounts as well.

Cooper Vineyards will present a delectable journey through the past, present and future with a rare vertical tasting of its bottled 2017, 2018, 2019 vintages of St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel and a barrel tasting of the 2020 St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel. In addition the winemaker will discuss the differences between vintages and the factors that may cause these variations such as weather, brix and maturity. A complementary light bite will be included.

Convergence Vineyards will have Alaskan halibut and roasted corn chowder topped with sourdough croutons. All its estate and awardwinning wines will be poured by the rockstar winemakers.

Deaver Vineyards will have a flight of five wines plus a barrel sample and chili bar.

Di Arie Winery will offer a session with winemaker Chaim in “Growing World Class Cabernets in the Sierra Foothills; the Challenges and the Successes.” There will be a special tasting of a vertical selection of award-winning cabernets, from barrel to bottles, and a delicious food pairing to go along with an excellent selection of “tour-de-force” wines. There will also be great discounts.

Di Stasio Vineyards will pour the following estate wines — 2021

single vehicle and all occupants. Visit the museum, the many overlooks, the lighthouse and tidal pools. The Bayside Trail is 2.5 miles around the monument. Add in all the rock hopping on the beach and you will easily get your steps in. The sky is blue, the breeze is mild and the flowers are blooming.

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.

Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Heritage blend, 2020 Barbera and 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel — and serve appetizersized house-made lasagna bolognese and a vegetarian option as well. Dianda Vineyards is at the top of the Shenandoah Wine Trail. Venture up for five tastings of your choice from the selection of white, rosé and red wines or enjoy a side-by-side comparison tasting of the barberas and learn about the variances. Take a winery tour, try a surprise barrel tasting paired with Zuppa Toscana sausage potato soup to keep you warm inside while enjoying the treasures of outside.

Dobra Zemlja Winery (meaning “good earth” in Croatian) will give guests a peek behind the cave door with an educational barrel and vertical tasting experience of the signature port-style wine Kikas, mali “little” bites that pair perfectly with a select flight of the “Big Amador Reds, No Lightweights” and wine specials.

Driven Cellars will offer an unsurpassed selection of hand-crafted wines, including the 2019 Petite Sirah, 2018 Alicante Bouche, 2022 white blend called Trio and two of the premium wines — the 917-Can-Am and RU39. There will be a selection of delicious cheeses and chocolates with several wines.

Drytown Cellars will pour a twoyear vertical tasting. Try the wines in the bottle, then taste the same varietals, a year younger, in the barrel. Each varietal will be paired with a unique dish prepared to optimize the flavors of the wines. Join one of the winemaking teams on a tour of the production and barrel facilities and get an overview of the estate vineyards. Winemakers are available all day to answer questions about the winery’s history and the wine business.

Feist Wines will pour a flight of six wines, including three barrel samples. Susan Feist, winemaker, will guide patrons through a wine pairing with a focus on expression of terroir and understanding and identifying wine aromas.

Helwig Winery invites guests to take in the breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley and Sierra mountains from its back deck while enjoying award-winning wines. Sample small bites that elegantly pair with the flight. Enjoy exceptionally aged library vintages exclusive to Behind the Cellar Door. Chat with the winemaker and discuss the different nuances of each vintage as well as the impact of barrel aging, weather and terroir.

Iron Hub Winery asks each guest to embrace their inner winemaking desires as they create a wine blend with Iron Hub’s father-son winemaking team, Tom and Spencer Jones. Barrel taste and blend on the lovely patio with gorgeous Sierra views. The Iron Hub team will also guide guests through a progressive sampling of estate grown white and red wines. Sample elegant pasta with rich sauce paired with the premium wine and end on a sweet note with Iron Hub’s famous zinfandel brownie.

Il Gioiello Winery/Morse Wines’ visitors will experience the unique terroir and beautiful estate only minutes above the Shenandoah Valley. Learn, smell, taste how the winemakers evaluate and blend the signature Three Popes GSM. Weather permitting, sip two Estate Mourvedres while learning how to prune the mourvedre vines. Try the 2016 and recently released 2017 Three Popes

vintages with classic French cassoulet. Sip the Italian varietals and the Super Tuscans Sottovoce and Triumphe paired with vegetarian and meat sauce lasagna.

Jeff Runquist Wines will have its knowledgeable and friendly staff pouring tastings of its award-winning wines paired with savory bites to welcome spring.

Karmere Vineyards and Winery introduces winemaker Soeren Zimmermann and guests can get educated with Mark “the barrel guy” while tasting four different varietals of future vintages from the barrel. Sample hearty fare and enjoy live music on the patio Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.

La Mesa Vineyards is one of Amador’s newest tasting rooms. Taste a special flight of some of the most innovative wines: Sparkling Primitivo, Barbera Blanc, Gamay, Tierra and La Notte port. Owner and winemaker Côme will circulate to answer questions about how grape clones, terroir, technology and handcrafting

all combine to make superior wines. Join a tasting room expert to build a case of your favorite bottles to take home for an event special discount.

Le Mulet Rouge Vineyard + Winery owners Tracy Hart, the winemaker and Randy Hart, the vineyard manager, will be at the tasting room in Sutter Creek pouring the estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fiddletown AVA. After a tasting of estate wines sauvignon blanc, viognier and Liberté (syrah/ cabernet sauvignon blend), explore three vintages of cabernet sauvignon (2017, 2018 and 2021), comparing vintages and barrel aging. Chef Jason Clevenger will create a perfect wine and food pairing.

Linsteadt Family Winery will have three flights of its wine to choose from, charcuterie paired with the wines and barrel samples of the ’21 red blend. See where the grapes for each of the wines are grown in the vineyard. Paul will talk about the various types of vine training in the

n See Cellar Door page B4

Hangtown Kennel Club

Wednesday,

More info visit www.hangtownkc.org or call Cathy 622-6909 eves, Pre-registration is required.

Cellar door Continued from B1

Mary West

Outdoor columnist

Photo by Mary West

The Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego is full of history and beautiful scenery.

vineyard, irrigated vs. dry farmed blocks, and other aspects of growing grapes and making wine.

Lusso Della Terra will have winemaker Edward Cholakian walk guests through the steps of making sparkling

associated with wine and food pairing while experiencing signature pairings. Sip Bite Sip Catering will be on site offering caviar, oysters, lobster rolls, French dips and much more available for purchase.

Paul J. Wines

with pulled pork sliders from The County BBQ catering. There will be sales and specials on all wines.

PleinAir Vineyards will have a flight of five wines plus a barrel sample of an upcoming vintage to be bottled.

a blend of rustic warmth and country elegance. The “Scale House” Tasting Room boasts one of the most striking views in the Amador Wine Country. Enjoy an educational tasting and learn how to pair artisan cheese and wine like a professional. Savor farm-to-fork bites, a seasonal soup and listen to live music featuring Jessie Hendricks on the Spanish guitar. Live music is from noon to 4 p.m. each day.

most exciting varietals. Join the class on both Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. as Scott Harvey and winemaker Mollie Haycock lead a fun and educational blending seminar. Fabulous prizes will be given to the best blend in each class.

Sera Fina Cellars will offer a flight of four, two white wines and two red wines, paired with a charcuterie skewer and raw organic honey on artisan cheese.

Shenandoah

syrah or barbera? Is the wine youthful or bottle aged? The wines will then be revealed and prizes awarded. Enjoy the bistro lunch and special discounts.

El

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Rombauer Vineyards will have members from its production team welcome guests to the winery. Exclusively as a guest of Behind the Cellar Door, you will experience a winery tour, a light bite from a local restaurant designed to pair with the sauvignon blanc and a rare barrel sample, all while enjoying a flight of four of the worldrenowned wines.

Rubidoux Ridge Vineyard will be close to bottling a new vintage of its Petite Sirah and Malbec 2021. These varieties are filled with textures and tannins for those looking for rich red wines from Amador. There will be coconut curried pumpkin soup with focaccia bread. Darcel Trio Band is playing on Saturday. Scott Harvey Wines will offer delicious food pairings with some of its

The Public Square

sudoku

solutions

to Puzzle 2

Vineyards asks what wine would you pair with a pulled pork slider from Back Forty BBQ?

Zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, barbera ... decide for yourself or learn from the winemaking team what factors make for a great food and wine pairing. Enjoy barrel samples from some upcoming releases, try new limited release grenache and enjoy other Shenandoah Vineyards favorites. Take advantage of Behind the Cellar Door exclusive discounts and wine specials.

Sobon Estate asks what wine would you pair with a cup of smoked brisket chili from Back Forty BBQ?

Zinfandel, cabernet, syrah or barbera? Decide for yourself or learn from the winemaking team what factors make for a great food and wine pairing. Enjoy barrel samples from some special upcoming releases alongside the awardwinning red, white and dessert wines. Take advantage of Behind the Cellar Door exclusive discounts and check out the Shenandoah Valley Museum on the property.

TKC Vineyards will have cabernet sauvignon, syrah, zinfandel, a cabernet mourvedre blend and barrel tasting of its syrah port. There will be salmon chowder, crostinies, Italian appetizers and cheeses. Meet the winemaker and learn the art behind the science of winemaking.

Turley Wine Cellars will offer a retrospective tasting of Rinaldi Vineyard Zinfandel, with vines from original plantings in the 1860s and 1910. Enjoy classical acoustic guitar by Nicholas Lefler from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and pairings by Table Nectar. Reservations are required.

Vino Noceto offers a taste of Italy. Did you know that Italy is home to more than 300 different grape varieties? The winery’s WSET-certified staff will taste guests through the history and flavor profile of six Vino Noceto wines, from Italian mainstays like sangiovese and barbera to the relatively obscure like teroldego and sagrantino. Weatherpermitting, 10:30 a.m. will include a vineyard tour with the owners or winemaker. Music is by Slade and Elky on Saturday.

Wilderotter

Story Winery will offer five tastings, which includes Story legacy wines as well as Old World Georgian style wines made in qvevri (500 gallon clay pots), small bites of Georgian food and live music. Also it will offer a tour of the winemaking site with huge clay pots where the winery makes Georgian Amber wines. Guests will taste Story’s unique amber wines and learn how the wines are made.

Tanis Vineyards will pair five wines with custom chocolates to go with each wine. There will also be a sneak peek of the 2017 Zinfandel.

Vineyard is a family owned and operated winery since 2004. Taste six of its award winning, estate grown wines. Each handcrafted varietal will be accompanied by an artisanal pairing. Enjoy the experience in the tasting room or on the patio nestled in the vineyard.

About the Amador Vintners Association

are available

1400

per El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking: For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

when hired. Construction & Maintenance Worker I/IIDrinking Water (Vegetation Management) Salary: I: $28.29-$34.39/hr.; II: $31.26-$37.99/hr. FFD: Open until filled. First review of applications on April 6, 2023. The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Construction & Maintenance Worker I/II in the Right-of-Way Reinforcement Program to fill one open position in the Drinking Water Division of Operations. This position will work with a team in increasing vegetation management efforts within District rights-of-way and District-owned properties throughout the District’s 220 square mile service area. Construction & Maintenance Workers conduct physical control and removal of vegetation through the use of mechanized equipment and hand tools on a daily basis. The ideal candidate will possess one or more years of similar experience in the use of chippers, masticators, and/or chainsaws on vegetation similar to western El Dorado County (oak woodland, chaparral, and mixed pine coniferous forest).

Seasonal NOW HIRING ASSEMBLY WORKERS $200 SIGN ON BONUS AFTER 90 DAYS Apply at5480 Merchant Circle, Placerville, CA 95667 Kitchen Help needed Duties include pizza cooking, prepping, bussing, some dishwashing. $16 per hour plus. Must be 18, 21 plus preferred. Please apply on our website hwy50brewery.com or in person at 3544 Carson Rd. Camino. (530) 556-5060 2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

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Terra d’Oro Winery offers samples of its best wines for entertaining this season paired with artisan cheese bites. Learn about the art of blending with the winemaker Emily Haines and take home a handcrafted blend.

Terre Rouge and Easton Wines will have Taste it Blind. We learn the most about wine when we have no preconceived ideas about what we are tasting. Participate in a seated tasting experience where guests will try six wines blind (hidden in bags). Can you guess the varietal and vintage? Is it zinfandel, grenache,

The Amador Vintners Association is a membershipbased organization representing over 45 extraordinary vintners who craft wines within the Amador County AVA. The mission of the Amador Vintners Association is to showcase the region’s award-winning wines and promote the region’s rich winemaking heritage. One of California’s original wine regions and home to the country’s oldest recorded zinfandel vineyard, Amador Vintners Association is dedicated to educating consumers and media on the unique, worldclass terroir of this pioneering region and regularly hosts events and tastings to highlight Amador County’s stunning terroir. Learn more on the AVA website at amadorwine. com or by following the group on Instagram at @amadorwine.

Guitarist and band toss music lovers a blues fireball

News release

SUTTER CREEK

— Rising guitar and lap steel player Selwyn Birchwood calls his original music “electric swamp funkin’ blues,” defined by raw and soulful musicianship played with fire-andbrimstone fervor. His gritty, unvarnished vocals draw his audience deep inside his unforgettable tales of love, passion, pain and pleasure. No other band on the current blues scene is built quite like Birchwood’s. In addition to Selwyn’s electrifying guitar and lap steel playing, the other featured instrument is Regi Oliver’s driving baritone sax. The group is rounded out by bass, drums and, for the first time, keyboards. Hear the funkin’ group live at Sutter Creek Theatre Friday, March 24.

Wanting to capture the power of the now larger band, Birchwood wrote and arranged 13 new songs for his latest album, “Living In A Burning

House,” and brought in famed Grammy Awardwinning musician Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Susan Tedeschi) to produce. From the rocking opener “I’d Climb Mountains” to the sweet soul of “She’s A Dime” and “One More Time” to the hairraising “Revelation,” “Living In A Burning House” features some of the most vividly striking writing on today’s blues scene. Birchwood’s voice and vision are clear, his sound is edgy and compelling and his stories are memorable and lasting.

Since the 2014 release of his Alligator Records debut, “Don’t Call No Ambulance,” Birchwood’s meteoric rise from playing small Florida clubs to headlining international festival stages is nothing short of phenomenal. The album received the Blues Music Award and Living Blues Critics’ Award for Best Debut Album of 2014 and he won the 2015 Blues Blast Rising Star Award plus rave

reviews.

“A powerhouse player and emotive performer … his band, his material and both his skilled guitaring and soulful vocals are the essence of fully-formed. Birchwood is a major player. Highly recommended.” — Rolling Stone

Doors open at 7:30 and the show begins at 8 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre, 44 Main St. in Sutter Creek. Open seating. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. The historical venue is an intimate, 215-seat former silent film theater with superb sound. For tickets and more information visit suttercreektheater.com.

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Selwyn Birchwood’s edgy and compelling music will draw in the audience. Experience it live this Friday in Sutter Creek.

Know Continued from B1

Sherwood Demonstration Garden or your personal garden. May be closed for inclement weather or poor air quality. Check the website before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

Theatre at the Mine presents “Be More Chill” at Union Mine High School in El Dorado March 24 & 25. For more information visit facebook.com/TheatreUMHS.

Oak Ridge High School hosts TrojanJam, 5-7 p.m. in the ORHS large gym. Staff (old school) with face off against students (new legacy) in a basketball game and 50% of proceeds will go to MJ’s Project, which supports local, at-risk teens. Admission is $5.

The Neon Moon Band will perform 5-8 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery, 3544 Carson Road in Camino.

Live music at Red Hawk Resort + Casino continues every weekend in March at the Stage Bar. Bands will perform every Friday, 8 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. March 24: Hill Street Band (Top 40/classic rock), March 25: American Mile (country rock) and March 31: Ariel Jean (country). Visit redhawkcasino.com for more details.

Harris Center For the Arts presents Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel, performing American pianistic treasures, at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

March 25

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a free Nature Walk at Bass Lake, 9-11 a.m. Meet in the Sellwood Field parking lot. All ages welcome; wear comfortable shoes.

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County and Master Food Preservers host Tomatoes: from Seed to Table, 9 a.m. to noon at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Teenz Center, 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. Master Gardeners will show you how to choose the right varieties, deal with insects and diseases, care for and harvest your tomatoes. Master Food Preservers will talk about what you can do with your tomato harvest: canning, dehydrating and freezing.

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts All About Roses, 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville. Join Master Gardeners who will cover the basics of what you need to know about these flowering favorites — from selection and planting to pests, care

and pruning. Many gardeners are intimidated by the beautiful rose plant and think they are harder to grow than they really are. But the truth is, with just a little care and knowhow, you can grow gorgeous rose bushes that will produce perfect blooms for you to enjoy and others to marvel at season after season.

Element 79 Vineyards in the Fair Play area hosts the Divining experience, a unique food and wine event at 11:30 a.m. For reservations and more information call (530) 497-0750 or visit element79vineyards.com.

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera presents two performances in Rancho Cordova — 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sacramento Children’s Museum, 2701 Prospect Park Drive, and 2-5 p.m. at KP International Market, 10971 Olson Drive. All performances are free.

Island of Black and White and Red Dirt Ruckus will perform 8 p.m. to midnight at The Green Room Social Club, 251 Main St. in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Harris Center presents Voctave, an a cappella group, at 8 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

See folks group The Trials of Cato, 7 p.m. at The Sofia, 2700 Capital Ave. in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

March 26

Oakstone Winery in Somerset hosts Paint & Sip, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jamie Nowell with The Healing Palette will guide guests through a beautiful scenic nature painting. For tickets and more information visit thehealingpalette.org/event-details/oakstonewinery-paint-sip-in-fair-play.

The Neon Moon Band will perform 4-7 p.m. at The Torch Club, 904 15th St. in Sacramento.

March 27

Vitalant will host an El Dorado Hills community blood drive, noon to 4:30 p.m. The Bloodmobile will be located in the parking lot near the baseball fields at the EDH Community Services District, 1021 Harvard Way. Donors will be entered into a drawing to win one of two $10,000 pre-paid gift cards from Vitalant, which can be redeemed by email. Make an appointment at donors.

Public Notices 

be relied upon and will not be binding or legally effective. Addenda will be uploaded in PDF format to Quest’s website. To receive notification of addenda, interested bidders must be included on the planholders list.

CONTRACTORS LICENSE

CLASSIFICATION: Bidders shall be properly licensed to perform the Work pursuant to the Contractors’ State License Law (Business and Professions Code section 7000 et seq.) and shall possess a California Class A – General Engineering Contractor’s License at the time the bid is submitted, and shall maintain a valid license and certification through completion and acceptance of the Work, including the guarantee and acceptance period. Failure of the successful Bidder to obtain proper adequate licensing shall constitute a failure to execute the Contract and shall result in the forfeiture of the Bidder’s security, and may result in legal penalties.

CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION: No contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project or awarded a contract for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code sections 1771.1(a), 1725.5. Bids will not be accepted from unregistered contractors except as provided in section 1771.1.

vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM019 or call Vitalant at (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

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.

The Gilmore Senior Center in El Dorado Hills is seeking volunteer art teachers to teach seniors two-day art lessons. The lesson can be in any art medium and will take place between May 1 and Sept. 30. Duration can be as long as needed: a week, month or quarterly. The center is open all week days and the lesson time slot is 2-4 p.m. For more information or to volunteer contact Chelsie Harrison at (916) 292-193 or charrison@edhcsd. org.

Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons issues a call to artists to submit works for the 45th annual AWASH with Color juried membership show. All paintings must be entered online at client.smarterentry.com/WASH. Entry deadline is March 24 and the show runs March 28 through April 15 at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center.

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 through March 25. For more information visit rcmacc.org.

B Street Theatre presents “Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson” through April 16 at The Sofia, 2700 Capital Ave. in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre. org.

“Heroes of the Fourth Turning” runs through April 16 at Capital Stage Theatre, 2215 J St. in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.

British artist and Camino resident David Yapp will exhibit a selection of his fine art prints, reproduced from his original oil paintings, at Gold Country Retirement Community in Placerville through May 5. To discover more about the artist and to see a selection of his paintings go to davidyapp.com.

with this digital project information. To access the electronic bid form, download the project/request documents and click the online bidding button at the top of the advertisement screen. Physical paper copies of the Contract Documents, including Plans, may be examined by appointment at the County of El Dorado, Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts Division located at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, California 95667; however, the Chief Administrative Office will no longer issue paper copies of the Contract Documents to bidders. To view the Contract Documents in person, contact Tyler Prince by phone at 530-621-6438 or by

PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENTS: In accordance with the provisions of Labor Code section 1770 et seq., the general prevailing rate of wages in the county in which the Work is to be done has been determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. These wage rates appear in the California Department of Transportation publication entitled General Prevailing Wage Rates. Interested parties can obtain the current wage information by submitting their requests to the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Statistics and Research, P.O. Box 420603, San Francisco CA 94142-0603, Telephone (415) 7034708 or by referring to the website at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlsr/PWD. The rates at the time of the bid advertisement date of a project will remain in effect for the life of the project in accordance with the California Code of Regulations, as modified and effective January 27, 1997. Copies of the general prevailing rate of wages in the county in which the Work is to be done are also on file at the Chief Administrative Office, Facilities Division, and are available upon request.

In accordance with the provisions of Labor Code section 1810, eight (8) hours of labor

using unauthorized subcontractors or by making unauthorized substitutions. An inadvertent error in listing the California Contractor license number on the Subcontractor List will not be grounds for filing a bid protest or grounds for considering the bid non-responsive if the Bidder submits the corrected Contractor’s license number via email as noted above within 24 hours of request. The corrected Contractor’s license number must correspond to the submitted name and location for that subcontractor. BUY AMERICA: This Project is subject to the “Buy America” provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, as amended by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Contractor agrees that it will comply with all of the applicable “Buy America” provisions and will hold County harmless, pursuant to the Indemnity provisions set forth herein, for any violations of these laws. BID SECURITY: A bid security shall be provided with each bid. Bid security shall be in an amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the total amount bid for the Work and shall be cash, a certified check, or cashier’s check drawn to the order of the County of El Dorado or a Bidder’s Bond executed by a surety satisfactory to the County of El Dorado on the form provided in the Proposal section of these Contract Documents. Bidders are required to submit either an electronic Bidder’s Bond through Surety2000 or a PDF copy of a hard copy Bidder’s Bond with their bid. If a bid security other than a Bidder’s Bond is being used, Bidders must upload a PDF copy of the bid security with their electronic bid submittal. If a PDF copy of the bid security is uploaded, the original bid security and acknowledgment must be provided to the Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts Division, after the bid opening but before the end of business on the first business day after the bid opening. If the Bidder chooses to utilize Surety2000, by submitting their bid, Bidder hereby agrees to hold the County of El Dorado harmless from and waive any and all claims against the County of El Dorado for any claims or damages that arise from or are related to the Bidder’s use of Surety 2000.

PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS: The

estate of the decedent.

requests authority to administer the estate under

Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: May 8, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 9 at 3321 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the