IN EL DORADO HILLS
APRIL 1, 2020
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CARING WITH CAUTION
Photos courtesy of The Gift of Kids
The Gift of Kids teacher Margarita Skelton pushes Maya Quintana on the scooter toy during some outdoor time at the El Dorado Hills day care and preschool, which, like many others, has stayed open to help working parents. Extra precautions have been taken to protect the children, teachers and parents/caregivers during this COVID-19 crisis.
Daycare/preschool teachers on the job
Courtesy photo
The Placerville Police Department posted this photo of hand sanitizer donated to its officers by Dry Diggings Distillery in El Dorado Hills. The fine spirit maker has switched gears to produce sanitizer instead.
Sel Richard Staff writer
Dry Diggings is distilling a solution
W
hile residents hunker down following statewide shelter-in-place orders, there are those who risk their own safety to get the community through the current COVID-19 pandemic ... and there are those who are caring for these heroes’ children. While healthcare professionals, firefighters, law enforcement and other essential employees are on the job, daycare/preschool teachers are in the classrooms. The Gift of Kids owner Jennifer Tommasini is operating her El Dorado Hills daycare/preschool at one-third capacity but her doors remain open. She told Village Life she laid off 23 teachers out of her original staff of 34. “I had just enough teachers who knew the risk and decided they wanted to stay open with me,” she said of her skeleton crew. “Financially it’s been hard
Jana Rossi Staff writer Until recently, one wouldn’t necessarily associate a distillery that dispenses brandy, vodka and rum with one cranking out 5 to 300 gallons of hand sanitizer a day, but that was before COVID-19 entered the world. Across the country it isn’t such a far stretch that places known for their 60- to 80-proof alcohol are now adding ingredients such as glycerin and hydrogen peroxide to their stock, trying in the best way they know how to be a small part of a solution to an enormous worldwide problem. Cris Steller, owner of Dry Diggings Distillery is an El Dorado Hills community hero doing just that. Steller’s hand sanitizer and disinfecting sprays are going to local emergency rooms, nurses, senior care centers, ambulance workers, police and fire departments — the front line workers who unfortunately are sometimes the least protected.
Sade Abebe, left, gets some help with her schoolwork from Sarina Brown while the two enjoy some fresh air outside The Gift of Kids facility. because we’ve had to spend all this extra money when we don’t have any extra money,” Tommasini said in regards to extra supplies such as cleaning products. “I had to pay $800 just
(for) hand sanitizers.” To help with lost tuition revenue, she has asked parents to meet her halfway voluntarily. n
See CHILD CARE, page A5
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See SANITIZER, page A4
Frustrated Serrano residents take board members to task Sel Richard Staff writer The Serrano El Dorado Owners’ Association Board of Directors faces a recall by its homeowners, the aftermath of a letter to county agencies regarding Parker Development’s Central El Dorado Hills Specific Plan, which could be voted on by the El Dorado County Planning Commission as early as this spring. A portion of the CEDHSP hinges on an El Dorado County General Plan amendment to redesignate the old executive golf course from open space/ recreational to residential zoning. Sent on behalf of the Serrano board and signed by Serrano Board President Donald Sacco, the letter was written “submitting its position on the CEDHSP
application before the Planning Commission and to eventually come before the Board of Supervisors.” It outlines the desire for lower density and the approval of the open space designation within Village D1, but refers to the current undeveloped condition of the property as unattractive. The letter further states, “The association believes the applicant has a unique opportunity to ensure continuity with architectural design consistent with neighboring communities.” Serrano homeowners told Village Life they were not consulted regarding this communication, many posting their ire on social media over the misrepresentation of their views. Serrano resident Donn Neher, one in a group of homeowners who spearheaded the recall petition
efforts, said the letter served as a catalyst to bring to light a systematic lack of representation the Serrano board has shown for the community it serves. “This was the frosting on the cake,” he said, pointing out that the letter was submitted on the day before the final public hearing without notice to homeowners. Resident and recall petitioner Jeff Baker also takes umbrage with the board’s lack of objection to a transfer of lots belonging to the HOA to the CEDHSP. “This matter was under legal review by association counsel for compliance with CC&Rs,” he said. In less than three weeks the recall petition garnered more than 400 signatures. n
See RECALL, page A4
INSIDE NEWS VOL. 27
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ISSUE NO. 14
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