Mountain Democrat, Friday, April 14, 2023

New Homes for Active Adults 55+

Battle over Rassmussen Pond development begins

Staff writer

Battle lines and property lines are being drawn as a development company has submitted an application to bring a residential project to the

land encompassing Cameron Park’s Rasmussen Pond. The developer wants to “allow for coexistence” with nature and neighbors but a local group is working to stop construction entirely.

The True Life Companies

Lake Tahoe blues a positive note

filed a formal development application for a project in Cameron Park with the El Dorado County Planning and Building Department March 13. The project, called Cameron

n See rasmussen Pond, page A3

Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center

News release

For the last five months of 2022, Lake Tahoe was the clearest it had been since the 1980s. That is due in part to a resurgence of the lake’s native

n See clarity page A6

Half-sisters make their lives whole after 50-plus years

Sel Richard Staff writer

“Iknew I had a sibling out there,” said El Dorado Hills resident Sherie Tobin. “Alora didn’t. She thought the man who raised her was her father.” Alora Rothafel Steele is Tobin’s half-sister and now, more than 50 years later, they have just discovered each other.

As a child of hippie parents, Tobin grew up knowing her father had had another child. “My father and I talked over the years about this sibling that we thought was a boy,” she said.

Tobin spent her childhood on a New Mexico commune with her brother and parents, but when Tobin was 5, her mom and dad separated. “My father left and went to California with my brother and my father asked my mother to drop some money off with Alora’s mother,” said Tobin. “My mom and I went and brought $29 to this woman. I have a memory of this baby

sitting in a high chair. She would have been about 8 months old.”

Little did she know that the baby was her half-sister and it would be a lifetime later before they would meet again.

Steele’s mother went by her hippie name Quanu, her father by the name of Zol. Quanu and Zol had agreed to raise the girl. “So my father kind of went about his business,” said Tobin.

Tobin’s father, Daniel Baginski Allen, subsequently had two more marriages, each with two more children. Tobin has kept in touch with her four other half-siblings along with her full brother over the years, but the mystery of the seventh child remained obscured.

Initially, Tobin was merely interested in her Lithuanian grandparents who had immigrated to the United States around 1910. She uploaded her DNA information to Ancestry.com in

n See sisters, page A7

Alora Steele, left, and halfsister Sheri Tobin met earlier this year after more than 50 years apart. Tobin, who lives in El Dorado Hills, found her long-lost sibling on Ancestry. com. Courtesy photo

UC

Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum

Cameron Park’s Rasmussen Pond and the surrounding acreage, while privately owned, has been open for public recreation for decades. The Cameron Meadows housing development is proposed for the 104-acre site.

Odin Rasco

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

Earl (Trey) Washburn

M.D.

June 18, 1947 - Dec. 20, 2023

Please join the Washburn family as we honor the life of Earl (“Trey”) Washburn M.D. on Sunday, April 23rd, at 3:00 p.m. at Placerville’s Federated Church, Thompson Way. Reception to follow.

Florence Andre (Andy) Ishmael

Aug. 23, 1933 - March 15, 2023

Florence Andre (Andy) Ishmael, of Placerville, passed away at her home on March 15, 2023. Andy was the daughter of Brunhilde Kohler Woods Petosa and Bryan Morrill Woods. She was born in San Francisco and lived in Sausalito where she went to Tamalpias High School and met the love of her life, Don Delano Ishmael at a Valentines Day school dance.

She and Don married June 23, 1951, one week after she graduated from High School. They moved to Arizona where Don served in the Air Force during the Korean War. They were married 4 months shy of their 50th anniversary; he preceded her death in 2001. After Don’s discharge from the Air Force, they moved home with their 3-year-old son, Don Ishmael to Tiburon, Ca where they settled with their new family. A few years later they moved their family to Lucas Valley, Ca where they had deLysa (Ishmael) Touey and Scott Ishmael. In 1975 they built a house in Diamond Springs and moved their family to the foothills where they enjoyed the country living.

Both Andy and Don went to work for Pacific Telephone & Telegraph, where they both had long careers and retired from. Andy continued her career at Blue Shield of California in the Placerville o ce when it opened in 1982 and retired from there as well in 1992.

She and Don loved to travel, spend time in their boat, swimming in the backyard and camping with their family up the Pacific Coast across the western United States and down to Baja Mexico. Most of all they both loved to just spend time with their kids and grandkids any chance they could.

Andy loved people, she could work a room like no other and leave a person smiling. She volunteered at Marshall Hospital, at her kids and grandkids school. She was an amazing seamstress, she could make any kind of clothing, Halloween costumes, quilting, crocheting and famous for her knitted Christmas stockings for the family.

Andy is preceded in death by her mother Brunhilde, father Bryan, her beloved husband Don, grandson Brian David Ishmael, daughter in law Kimberlee Ishmael, brother Leslie Bender and sister Henrietta Francard.

Andy is survived by and will be deeply missed by her children Don Ishmael, deLysa Touey (Rick) and Scott Ishmael (Becky). Her Niece, Janine Bender and many nephews. Grandchildren Brenda Brown (CJ), Katie Ishmael, Brett Touey (Hilary), Michelle Haley (Colby) and Amanda Satterfield (David). Her 12 Greatgrandchildren Bella, Austin, Maddy, Mack, Prudence, Zoey, Cash, Cooper, Pierce, Jameson, Juniper and Brett Brian. Private services will be held with the family.

Willis E. Nelson

July 24, 1932 - April 8, 2023

Will E. Nelson was born in the small town of Winner South Dakota on July 24, 1932. He was the middle son of Walter and Elsie Nelson who raised turkeys and grew wheat on the homestead. After his service in the Korean War, he moved to Nebraska where he married Jane (Irene) Wilcynski in 1956. While attending the University of Nebraska, they welcomed their first child Nancy and 1 1/2 years later, another daughter Joanie into the family. Will graduated with a degree in Business Administration and the family moved to California.

After Will’s job with the Internal Revenue Service in the Bay Area, the family moved to the Sacramento area where he began his mortgage and real estate business. Will enjoyed flying his airplane and later the helicopter, riding snowmobiles, fishing and camping with the campers group. Will and Jane built a new home and moved up the hill to Shingle Springs and later another home in Cameron Park. They became founding members of the Light of the Hills church where they were very active and enjoyed fellowship with their church family.

The Lord called Will to his eternal home on April 8, 2023. He is survived by his daughters Nancy Nelson and Joanie McCreary (Tom); grandchildren, Jessica Wallace (Chad), Ali Smith (Andrew), Jake Ward and Tommy McCreary; and great-grandsons, Hunter Wallace and Jackson Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and wife Jane, of 63 years.

Memorial donations can be made to the Light of the Hills Fellowship Fund.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Light of the Hills, 3100 Rodeo Road, Cameron Park, CA at 11:00 am.

Barbara Ann Mahach

Aug. 5, 1934 - March 29, 2023

Barbara Ann Mahach was born in Mt. Vernon, New York on Aug. 5, 1934 to Robert and Eleanor Whiffen. Barbara spent most of her early and teenage years living in White Plains, New York. Following her education in Business Administration she worked in New York City until she heard the call of the west. In her early twenties she and a girlfriend took a bus to San Francisco where she found work at the Union Oil Company.

It was in San Francisco where she met her first husband, Robert Hall. Together they raised three children and lived in various Northern California cities until they settled in San Bernardino, California. With her children now in their teenage years, Barbara began work as an Administrative Assistant with the San Bernardino School District. It was also in San Bernardino where she met and married her second husband, Colonel Tom Mahach in 1982.

Shortly after their marriage Tom was assigned to a three year tour at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. While in the Philippines Barbara was able to visit Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Barbara loved travel, documenting the various trips in numerous scrapbooks, gardening, and reading a book under an umbrella on a warm beach. Following Tom’s retirement in 1986 they settled in the Sly Park area of Pollock Pines, California. Barbara then began a second career working for the El Dorado County School District and eventually the County Health Department retiring in 1997. Her co-workers will remember her smile and her pleasant and positive demeanor. Following her retirement, she and Tom continued their travels to various parts of the world. Barbara was also a long-time member of the Dogwood Garden Club of Pollock Pines.

In 2019 Barbara suffered a partially paralyzing stroke and moved into a board and care facility. In early 2022 she experienced a second stroke and relocated to the Western Slope Health Center in Placerville, California. It was there while receiving excellent care, she passed on March 29, 2023.

Barbara is survived by Colonel Tom Mahach, her loving children, Michael Hall, Suzanne Hall Fassio, Mark Hall, her granddaughter Crystal Hall, her great-grandson Jervon Duncan and her stepchildren Melinda Pfeifer, Thomas Mahach and Marla Mahach. The family will morn in private with no planned services.

Instead of honoring Barbara with flowers or contributions, give something to or do something for someone that will make them smile.

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

March 31

4:36 p.m. Battery was reported at a store on Bass Lake Road in El Dorado Hills.

7:57 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Cosumnes Mine Road in Somerset.

8:20 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old man suspected of possession marijuana for sale on Crystal Boulevard in El Dorado. He was later released.

10:16 p.m. Battery was reported on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

April 1

3:23 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 52-year-old man suspected of a felony parole violation on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. He was later released.

5:24 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 29-year-old woman suspected of possession of narcotics for sale and illegal drug paraphernalia, transporting/selling narcotics and conspiracy to commit a crime on Bancroft Drive in El Dorado Hills. She was listed in custody in lieu of $225,000 bail.

10:29 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Fairway Drive in Cameron Park.

11:53 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Mt. Murphy Road in Placerville.

2:30 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 40-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on La Crescenta Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

4:52 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Mortara Circle in Placerville.

7:42 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 66-year-old man suspected of destroying/concealing evidence, possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance and driving without a license on Highway 50 at Bass Lake Road in El Dorado Hills. He was listed in custody in lieu of $5,000 bail.

10:47 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 24-year-old man suspected of DUI on Highway 50 at Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs. He was later released.

April 2

12:04 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 48-year-old woman suspected of obstruction and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia on Rock Barn Road in Shingle Springs. She was released on $3,000 bail.

12:39 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia and destroying evidence on China Garden Road in Diamond Springs. He was released on $5,000 bail.

1 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 37-year-old woman suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia on Rock Barn Road in Shingle Springs. She was later released.

1:47 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old woman suspected of child abuse and being under the influence of a controlled substance on Racquet Way in Diamond Springs. She was listed in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.

8:10 a.m. Burglary was reported at the post office on Highway 49 in Pilot Hill.

10:44 a.m. Burglary was reported on Audubon Drive in Camino.

2:18 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 42-year-old man suspected of possession of stolen property, driving with a suspended license and a probation violation on Pollock Avenue. He was listed in custody in lieu of $306,000 bail.

5:48 p.m. Illegal entry was reported on Wagon Master Road in Placerville.

9:06 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 49-year-old woman suspected of disorderly conduct on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. She was later released.

11:04 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 31-year-old woman suspected of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. She was later released.

11:09 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 42-year-old man suspected of tampering with a vehicle, grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of a controlled substance, illegal drug paraphernalia and burglary tools on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $6,500 bail.

11:42 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Outrigger Drive in El Dorado Hills.

April 3

1:08 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 33-year-old woman suspected of possession of illegal drug paraphernalia, battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. She was listed in custody in lieu of $32,500 bail.

Learn about fire-resilient landscaping strategies

Mountain Democrat staff

The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council will lead a workshop April 17 on how to create defensible space around a home that is fire resilient and water wise.

The workshop begins at 7 p.m. at the Gold Trail Grange, 319 Highway 49 in Coloma and may also be attended virtually on Zoom at bit.ly/ Firesafeworkshop.

Workshop topics include an

explanation of defensible space zones and how they apply to different properties, as well as how to create defensible space that is aesthetically pleasing.

Presenters will also cover plant characteristics that make them more resistant to burning and how defensible space can be wildlife friendly and water wise.

For more information about the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council visit edcfiresafe.org.

A map of the proposed development submitted to the county in 2022 shows around 60% of the 104acre plot would be left undeveloped and designated as a public access easement, according to The True Life Companies Executive Vice President Aidan Barry.

Meadows, would see construction of 161 single-family homes in a currently undeveloped area. The site of the proposed development is cause for considerable consternation for many locals, however, as the 104-acre parcel where TTLC plans to place its project is home to a popular pond and nearby nature trails.

In an effort to protect the undeveloped space that borders Pine Hill Preserve and El Dorado Countyowned land — both parcels established as preserves for rare plants that grow in the gabbro soil — a grassroots opposition to the development named the Rescue Rasmussen Pond Alliance has come together. The group began to coalesce in 2021 when “for sale” signs in the area began to appear, a potential portent of development on the horizon. RRPA website registrations show more than 700 people aligned with the cause, according to Rob Harris, a representative for the alliance.

“Our main concern is to stop any development at this beautiful, unique place that people have been using for a long time,” said Harris. “People have looked after this place, cleaning and maintaining the socially-developed trails for 20 years. If you go to other natural parks in Cameron Park, they’re basically just utility easements and you’re just staring at other people’s backyards.”

The current owner of the land has allowed the public to freely access the pond and trails for decades. Trails on the land connect to other trails in the area, creating a network of paths that total 6 miles in length. TTLC has an agreement in place to purchase the property and is currently in escrow, according to David Leibowitz, a communications specialist associated with the development.

Aidan Barry, an executive vice president at TTLC, has spent three years working on Cameron Meadows so far and considers it his passion project. Barry’s plan for the development is a bit of a balancing act, he said, with the goal of making more housing available in an area that needs it while keeping more than half of the land open and available for nature-loving neighbors.

“I don’t want to see or refer to these other people as the opposition,” Barry said of RRPA. “These people are our neighbors and they are passionate about the land next to them. They have concerns and it’s my job to attempt to answer those.”

Tentative plans for the development show around 60% of the 104 acres will remain undeveloped and openly accessible for the public. Barry said his ideal is to “allow for coexistence” between the natural area, new houses and the Cameron Park community as a whole.

“It’s a really cool piece of dirt, with a nice pond and all these trees around,” Barry explained. “People have embraced it as their own. So I spoke with our design team and asked, ‘How do we protect those trees and trails and the pond?’ And the development can become an economic engine to be able to maintain those things.”

Language in the project description notes 62.64 acres of the 104-acre property would be classified as a public access easement. In order to make room for the easement, the planned

residential lots measure in at 8,400 square feet on average, smaller than the 10,000 square feet for similar developments in the area. According to the RRPA, the land is not currently zoned for that level of density, meaning TTLC will have to request the zoning be altered for the plan to move ahead.

The current phase of the project involves working with consultants to make certain the project will meet California Environmental Quality Act requirements and awaiting the county to schedule a scoping meeting. Barry said TTLC has already done duediligence groundwork studies, planning around elements such as the potential for the pond to flood as it did during this winter’s heavy rainstorms.

Barry anticipates it will be a nine- to 12-month process to get to an approved tenant map and certified environmental report. That process may be lengthened depending on community input and pushback; though, he said, TTLC will be utilizing a newer piece of legislation to expedite the road to construction as much as possible.

“There is a drastic need for marketrate housing within all segments of the state of California and El Dorado County is not immune to that,” Barry explained. “It needs housing, it needs market rate housing. The state has been creating some tools that developers or the state itself can use to encourage local jurisdictions to build housing, so we are using one of those tools, called SB 330.”

Senate Bill 330, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in late 2019, sets limitations on how counties can process applications that meet legal requirements, including allowing only a maximum of five public hearings. The bill additionally “requires a court to impose a fine on a local agency under certain circumstances and requires that the fine be at least $10,000 per housing unit in the housing development project on the date the application was deemed complete” if a development application that met applicable zoning and general plan requirements were to be denied.

Barry said the Cameron Meadows development is the first application in the county to utilize SB 330 as a tool.

Harris thinks the fight for the pond is one locals can win and points to prior TTLC applications as proof.

“We’ve got a lot of people behind us and have raised a considerable amount of money to hire experts to help in this fight,” Harris emphasized. “This or any development in that area would destroy the entire ambiance and we’ve already spotted a number of shortcomings in their initial surveys and studies. This company has had two other proposed developments, St. Stino and Dixon Ranch, fall through because of community opposition and we’re looking to make the record 3-0.”

The RRPA has collected visitor data for Rasmussen Pond and claims the area sees as many as 600 visits a week, with some locals walking the trails daily. Their access would potentially be impeded for multiple months if/when construction on the project begins, though Barry said efforts would be made to minimize such impacts.

If the application process goes smoothly for TTLC, Barry anticipates construction of the Cameron Meadows project to begin in April 2025.

NEUROPATHY IS A PROGRESSIVE CONDITION!

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and may also lead to serious balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood ow to the nerves in the hands and feet. If not properly treated this lack of blood ow may cause the nerves to degenerate.

Healthy Nerve

Healthy Blood Vessels

Diseased Blood Vessels

Nerves Shrivel when Blood Vessels Weak and Disappear

As you can see in Figure 1, as the blood vessels surrounding the nerves become diseased they shrink and shrivel. This process hastens the ow of vital nutrients to the nerves required to remain healthy. When these nerves begin to “die” it could lead to balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling and burning symptoms in the hands and feet.

Figure 1

In order to effectively treat your neuropathy 3 factors must be determined.

What is the underlying cause? 1

How much nerve damage has been sustained? 2

How much treatment will your condition require? 3

Our advanced treatment method has 3 main goals

Increase Blow ow 1

Stimulate small ber nerves 2

Decrease brain based pain 3

The treatment to increase blood ow utilizes a specialized low-level light therapy (not to be confused with laser therapy) using light emitting diode technology. This technology was originally developed by NASA to assist in increasing blow ow.

The low level light therapy is like watering a tree. The light therapy will allow the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients to heal and repair. It’s like adding water to a tree and seeing the roots grow deeper and deeper.

The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation.

“My feet hurt so bad after sitting I could barely take the rst few steps. I have had 11 treatments and no longer feel sharp or shooting pains and most of the tingling is gone. I now have full balance and can walk without pain. As Dr. Mooney explained the treatment is not painful, nothing uncomfortable, and is actually very relaxing.” –

Pain Patient

Rasmussen Pond Continued from A1

Courtesy photo

Fences, guns and guards in American schools

Eventually every school system in America will have to fence in every school and put an armed guard at every gate. Inside the school building cameras will have to be focused on doors and vulnerable glass windows and someone will have to monitor all the cameras. Some school systems will be slow on adding such security but lawsuits from teachers will eventually bring more stringent security into reality.

GLENN MOLLETTE

The Nashville shooting of three children and three adult workers was another heinous act carried out by a deranged person. Someone who commits such an act is beyond mentally ill; they have become mentally deranged. Sadly, the individual waited too long to get psychological help.

I don’t want to mention the shooter’s name because too much attention is given to people who kill innocent school teachers and children and even people in houses of worship. They prey on places that are typically gun-free zones filled with people who are often trapped with no way of escape. Newspapers and media sources should eliminate mentioning the name of such killers. As evil as it is, these mentally ill people see such acts as a way for them to get massive negative attention and to go out in what they perceive to be a moment of glory.

The idea of such security at all our schools is di cult to embrace but we have no choice. This adds to the financial challenges facing school systems. A fence is not aesthetically appealing. It looks third world but that’s where we are in America. I’ve traveled to enough third world countries to have viewed walls around average homes, churches and schools. In Brazil many walls are erected around homes because of the high crime rate. Thieves are everywhere in

■ See MOLLETTE page A5

The Not So Weekly Daley

Letters to the Editor

Project Frontier

EDITOR:

There is a good watch about some of what is really happening with Project Frontier on YouTube. This project, one of Amazon’s largest fulfillment center in the world, is nearly three Disneylands large and being pushed through the county on a conditional use permit, which is essentially a checkbox approval.

The only checkbox that did not get this approved without any public hearings, Planning Commission evaluation and environmental impact study is the height. It is 110 feet tall and 4.8 million square feet. The tra c study was done during the height of COVD, May 2020. So far the height is the only piece that is stopping this checkbox approval.

The height will be reviewed by ministerial process, one person, Karen Garner the zoning administrator who built an Amazon warehouse in Gilroy along with several other warehouses. She is new to El Dorado as of January of last year. This land is not zoned for heavy industrial use; it is zoned research and development. Even by El Dorado Hills zoning, this is not allowed even by conditional use permit. Seem strange to you? It’s strange to us.

KATHY WILLIAMS El Dorado Hills

Credit card profits

EDITOR:

Why isn’t anyone looking into why credit card companies are allowed to charge 15% to 30%-plus interest rates on credit card balances? The current prime rate is 8%.

One company reported its gross profit margin of 97.5% and net income of $14.96 billion, ending September 2022. This is more than most of the oil companies.

Everyone is complaining about high gas and food prices. Every time some people purchase these products they use their credit card.

An internet search came back with information that the average household has an average credit

card balance of $7,279. The average American has four credit cards.

RICK GROVE Shingle Springs

Comedic talent

EDITOR:

Mr. Garon’s letter on Trump’s so called COVID-19 crime is a ludicrous hoot from end to end. It should be featured on Comedy Central.

Let’s look at some of his more hilarious points. He says nobody may ever now the origin of the virus. Let’s look at that. It breaks out right next to a Chinese lab partially funded by Dr. Fauci whose primary goal was to research the creation of exactly that type of virus. Saying we’ll never know the origin of COVID is like finding a body outside a Nazi concentration camp and saying we’ll never be able to guess what happened.

Then, like many lefties, he complains that Trump didn’t take drastic action on COVID. Gotta love the hypocrisy of the left, who at the time called Trump a xenophobe for taking immediate and drastic action by shutting down travel to the U.S. from China.

As to the drugs that Mr. Garon complained about, saying that Invermectin supposedly killed some people, the vaccine did the same thing to some people. People are di erent; the same drugs don’t always have the same e ect on everybody. But having a government Ministry of Truth telling doctors what they can say and prescribe is not the answer unless you’re in Russia.

Like I say, Garon is a comedian. The tragedy is that the left’s misguided lunge toward authoritarian rule a ects real people.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

WANT TO SEE YOUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR? Visit our website at mtdemocrat.com, click on “Submissions” and then click on “Letter to the Editor” to submit your letter.

Enduring yet another taxing situation this year

So, we have until Tuesday of next week to fi le state and federal tax returns — three days more than usual — because the 15th and Ides of April are tomorrow, and we shouldn’t have to taint an otherwise glorious, spring Saturday waiting in line at the post o ce.

OK, I know there are other ways to accomplish the odious annual tax-fi ling burden than having to go in person and drop the papers o at the nearest USPS facility. I’ve done it numerous di erent ways mostly clear cut and above board. A few have been a tad on the i y spectrum, but I’ve generally given them up in favor of clear cut and above board. It’s no longer worth the alternative.

It never was a question of refusing to pay taxes in opposition to “government” in the abstract or even in the specifi c. Most times it was because we weren’t very organized and didn’t get around to meeting the deadline on time ... or didn’t have enough cash on hand to cover what we owed.

The solution then was to acquire and work on the documents,

scrounge up the relevant receipts, put them somewhere safe, forget them and fi le for one or more threemonth extensions.

Easy. Simple. Legal. Worry about it in July or October, whichever came later. Unfortunately, if you owe something it’s still due on the 15th or a couple days after, like this year.

I’m good with paying my fair share for aid to Ukraine and support for friends and allies. And I’m good with paying my fair share for many of those in need at home and around the world. You could call me a globalist (small g).

National security is important to me as it is to most of us. And although I cringe when I hear the cost of Patriot missiles, nuclear submarines, combat arms and equipment, MREs and jet fuel, I trust that enough of our on-duty civilian and military folk are looking out for our interests and doing their jobs the best they can. And they should be paid accordingly and proudly by us.

I don’t begrudge the less fortunate among us and wish we as a society

could and would do more for them.

Having worked in more than one local public social-educational system, I know theres are always careless practices along with wasteful programs and operations. Regardless of their fl aws and defects, however, I’ve never been directly aware of or harmed by misguided or misapplied human error.

On the other hand, a few incidents in recent days have virtually pushed me into rethinking my optimistic view of government. The federal judge in Texas, Matthew Kacsmaryk, who ruled to ban the sale of and access to mifepristone and related medications has stepped way beyond the boundaries of fair jurisprudence. How dare one government functionary make universal life and death decisions that could directly impact more than half of this country’s population.

Not so far away and north of Texas, the Republican majority in the Tennessee State Legislature voted to expel two young fi rst-year representatives. They are Black and broke some traditional protocols

in the government center while protesting gun violence in general. Gloria Johnson (not Black), Justin Pearson and Justin Jones were joined by hundreds of local students who had conducted formal and widespread school-walkouts that day. Johnson, Jones and Pearson admitted befouling the House’s “decorum” when they challenged colleagues openly with bullhorns and raised fi sts in the wake of the murders of three 9-year-old kids and three sta members in a nearby Nashville elementary school. Johnson was not expelled, as I noted, she is not Black.

The grotesque assault on democracy by Kacsmaryk and the Tennessee Republican legislators puts me in mind of Arlo Guthrie’s classic ’60s anti-war adventure “Alice’s Restaurant.” Guthrie said “If you want to end war and s**t, you gotta sing loud.” I think Arlo would consider updating his poetry to better refl ect 2023.

Chris Daley is a biweekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat.

CHRIS DALEY

I’m good with paying my fair share for aid to Ukraine and support for friends and allies. And I’m good with paying my fair share for many of those in need ...

I don’t own a semiautomatic rifl e but if China or Russia invades us, I want one. Actually, I want one for my wife, children and grandkids. We need at least a chance to defend ourselves.

Speedway remembers Al Hinds

Gary Thomas

Placerville Speedway

Since opening in 1965 Placerville Speedway has been a favorite among fans throughout Northern California.

Saturday night

Placerville Speedway will pay homage to a man who had a key role in making it all possible with the 20th Tribute to Al Hinds taking to the red clay.

The event began in 2004 following the passing of early track promoter and mentor Al Hinds, a longtime Placerville resident and true race fan who touched the lives of many.

Hinds was the second promoter of Placerville Speedway. He took operation of the track with business partner Richard Hirst from its founder Bruno Romani in 1968.

The operator of a local machine shop by trade, Hinds loved the community where he lived. In his final years of life, he enjoyed sitting with some of his best

friends every night in the grandstands at Placerville Speedway and loved watching young talent make a name for themselves in the sport.

“From the day he set foot on the red clay at Placerville Speedway to the very last race he attended, Al Hinds continued to display his true love for auto racing and the community,” commented former track announcer and publicist Bill Sullivan. “Even in his final years he continued to help young drivers, entertain fans and most importantly he spent a great deal of time talking to and mentoring those that helped in speedway operations. “

Modesto’s Tony Gomes heads into the Tribute to Al Hinds fresh o his second career winged sprint car victory last Saturday. Gomes will face sti pressure from Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, Hanford’s Michael Faccinto, Indiana native Brinton Marvel, Placerville’s Shane Hopkins,

Dunnigan’s Luke Hays, Suisun City’s Chance Grasty and others.

The pure stocks make their third appearance of the season as Oakley’s Nick Baldwin looks to make it three in a row to start the year. Last weekend he had all he could handle from Diamond Springs’ Kevin Jinkerson and Placerville’s Russ Murphy. Rounding out the card will be the limited late models and the Bay Cities Racing Association Lightning Sprints.

For more information log onto placervillespeedway.com.

SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE

April 22: Tri-State Pro Stock Series, limited late models, pure stocks, mini trucks and vintage hard tops | Tilford Tribute

April 29: Winged 360 sprint cars, limited late models, pure stocks and mini trucks

Mollette Continued from A4

Brazil. There are many wonderful people in Brazil but also plenty of thieves.

We didn’t grow up with fences and walls. We don’t want them today, but do we have a choice?

Many believe eliminating semi-automatic rifles is the answer. A killer with two six shooters could still kill someone and probably several in a classroom filled with children. If we outlaw guns in this country, then evil people will find a way to smuggle them into our country to other evil people who aren’t concerned about keeping the law. We will be defenseless and at their mercy. Fentanyl is illegal but more than a 100,000 people died in 2022 from fentanyl and synthetic opioids.

I don’t own a semi-automatic rifle but if China or Russia invades us, I want one. Actually, I want one for my wife, children and grandkids. We need at least a chance to defend ourselves.

By all means we must stop the mentally ill from having such weapons but that’s hard to do when someone has no record of any psychotic episodes. There is nothing wrong with a waiting period for buying a gun and a background check.

Obviously private and religious schools are targets like any other school. Everyone is vulnerable.

Every school and board of education must be in serious planning stages for implementing the best security possible for our children. This is something that has never happened to most schools or churches in America but everyone is vulnerable. It only takes one such act next month or 10 years from now to kill people and devastate a community.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is a national columnist and the author of 13 books.

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

SavetheDate

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.

MARSHALL HOSPITAL

AUXILIARY is looking for volunteers. It is a rewarding opportunity to do something for the community. We will be holding interviews on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Please contact Linda Grimoldi at 530-6202240 or call the Auxiliary Office at 530-626-2643.

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

AL HINDS

zooplankton that provided a natural clean-up crew to help restore the lake’s famous blue waters.

The findings are reported in the 2022 “Lake Tahoe Clarity Report” released April 10 from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

Clarity sinks in

In 2022 Lake Tahoe’s average annual clarity was 71.7 feet compared to 61 feet in 2021. The key finding from 2022 was the great improvement in lake clarity from August through December, when the average Secchi depth was 80.6 feet. This coincided with the highest numbers of the zooplankton Daphnia and Bosmina.

California and Nevada, which share a border at Lake Tahoe, are actively working to restore lake clarity to its historic 97.4 feet.

Zooplankton a clear factor

The primary factors affecting lake clarity are the concentration of particles in a specific size range, such as silt and clay, and tiny phytoplankton, or algae. The phytoplankton Cyclotella, a singlecelled alga is in this size range and has impacted clarity in most years.

Zooplankton are small, microscopic animals. Some zooplankton, particularly Daphnia and Bosmina, are specialized to consume particles in that critical size range.

“Daphnia and Bosmina largely disappeared from the lake after they were grazed down following the introduction of the mysis shrimp in the 1960s,” said Geoffrey Schladow, director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. “In late 2021 the mysis population unexpectedly crashed and it took 12 months for the Daphnia and Bosmina to build up their numbers and start their natural cleansing.”

Other factors are known to influence year-to-year changes in clarity. These include the magnitude of runoff, the warming of the lake surface and the depth to which the lake mixes in the previous winter. The report examined all these factors and concluded that only the change in the zooplankton community could account for the magnitude of this year’s change.

For a limited time only

Researchers emphasize the process is still in its early stages and they expect clarity improvement to continue

through 2023.

Clarity is measured as the depth to which a 10-inch white disk, called a Secchi disk, remains visible when lowered into the water.

“We expect the impact of Daphnia and Bosmina to grow over 2023 and clarity may return to 1970s levels — despite the expected large runoff from this year’s record snowpack,” TERC boat captain and Secchi disk observer Brant Allen said. “These events support the hypothesis we put forward several years ago that the food web is a major factor in controlling lake clarity.”

However, the assistance provided by Daphnia and Bosmina may be only short-term. Mysis shrimp populations are expected to rebound.

“Future management actions should explicitly look at incorporating ways of controlling the mysis population,” Schladow said. “We have a brief window of time to monitor the lake in the absence of mysis and then track the impacts of their return on lake clarity.”

This would be in addition to efforts taking place to keep fine particles and nutrients out of Lake Tahoe. Management agencies in the Tahoe Basin report more than 500,000 pounds of fine sediment and other clarity-harming pollutants are being kept out of the lake every year through roadway maintenance and erosion control projects.

TERC scientists are currently monitoring zooplankton communities through donor funding. They are also working with local fishing guides to monitor changes to fish. Kokanee salmon, for example, are expected to be larger in 2023, as Daphnia are their preferred food source.

Protecting Lake Tahoe

UC Davis has measured clarity and other health indicators at Lake Tahoe since 1968.

In 1969 Nevada and California created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to lead the collaborative effort to protect and restore Lake Tahoe and better manage growth and development in the region.

The emerging trend is welcome news for Lake Tahoe, according to TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan.

“We will continue to work with regional science partners to better understand the role native species play in promoting clarity,” Regan states. The clarity report is funded by TRPA.

2019. Two years later Tobin received a message from Ancestry alerting her of a close match. “At first it said first cousin and eventually it said half-sister, which I thought was weird because I thought I had a brother out there somewhere,” said Tobin. Nevertheless, she sent several messages through Ancestry.com, which at first went unanswered.

On the other end, Alora Steele was doing her own research but had no idea she had any half-siblings, much less six of them. “I had the same notification that I had some close relatives and I thought, ‘Oh this is just wrong; they must have used a dirty swab when they were testing my DNA,’” Steele laughed. “I just thought it was a mistake.”

However, upon speaking with her brother about her findings, he revealed their father had previously admitted to the possibility that he was not her biological father. Steele’s mother then told her that she was also uncertain as to who her biological father was. Because of the lack of DNA testing at the time, it was impossible to prove which of two men fathered Steele.

Steele returned to her Ancestry page. “Maybe it’s not wrong,” she thought. As she reviewed the results and specifics about Tobin’s life that Tobin had posted, some details began to add up. She decided to contact Tobin through Facebook.

“My first question was what was your mother’s name,” Tobin recounted, and discovered that it was Quanu. “That’s when I realized that she was the sibling that I had been looking for. I’ll never forget that day. I still wasn’t sure if it was real.”

Steele, who lives in Arlington, Wash., hopped on a plane down to El Dorado Hills and met Tobin for the first time in mid-January this year, getting to know her sister over breakfast at Milestone Restaurant. “It was great,” Tobin said, tears welling up with the memory. “I

wanted to keep her right there and study every inch of her face.”

Some of Tobin’s siblings aren’t ready to meet Steele, but other siblings as well as Tobin’s uncle and sons are looking forward to meeting their new family member.

“I wish my dad had lived to meet Alora,” said Tobin of their father who passed away in 2020. “He wasn’t the most responsible parent but he did love all of his children very much. He always told us what wonderful people we were and just lifted me up.”

For Steele, the discovery of not only a whole new family but the truth about her father is complicated. “My dad hadn’t really been involved in my life. I had a lot of abandonment issues,” she admitted. “But when I heard Sherie’s life story I knew if she could forgive and let the past go, I surely could. And what I got out of it? I got six brothers and sisters and one of the neatest people I’ve ever met.”

For others researching their ancestry, Steele pointed out her biggest challenge was navigating name changes. To this, Tobin chuckled. Their father had changed his name from Baginski to Allen when she was a baby. “Growing up he told me he changed his name because he wanted to dabble in politics,” she said. “It wasn’t until my aunt told me that it was because it was cheaper to change his name than it was to pay his parking tickets.”

Tobin and Steele are already planning more visits in the coming months. “I just want to get to know my sister more and just be sisters,” said Tobin. “But I wonder what life would have been like, going through that craziness together.”

“She’s got such a great heart. Even though we just met, she is someone who understands me very deeply. What makes me, me, I feel like Sherie gets that,” said Steele. “Maybe this was just the way it was supposed to happen.”

April 14

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on-site to assist with any questions. Check the website before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

Ponderosa High School Foundation hosts the Green & Gray Gathering, 6-9 p.m. at Saureel Vineyards in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit pondofoundation.com/ events.

Live music at Red Hawk Resort + Casino continues with live music at the Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

See Violin on Fire (Latin/ rock) April 14 and Fast Times (dance) April 15. Visit redhawkcasino.com for more details.

Falcon’s Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College presents “Antigone,” April 14-30 at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom.

For tickets and more information call (916) 6086888 or visit HarrisCenter. net.

April 15

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts its annual plant sales with edibles and herbs April 15 and ornamentals April 29, 8 a.m. to noon both days at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville. check the inventory preview at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu a week to 10 days before the sale.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a Nature Walk at Bass Lake, 9-11 a.m. Meet at the Sellwood Field parking lot. The walk is free and all ages welcome. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes.

The El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society present the Rock & Gem Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 15 & 16 at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For more information visit edcmgs. org/activities-events/rockgem-show.

Third Saturday Art Walk takes place 4-8 p.m. in downtown Placerville. This month’s theme is “Flower Power” and the free raffle prize is a Paul Cockrell framed photo of the Anza

D. Lee Reyes Special to the Mountain Democrat

Gold Country Artists Gallery, an awardwinning artists’ cooperative in Placerville, features in April the exceptional work of Deena Reyes, Terrie Gray and Nataly Tikhomirov. Meet the artists during Main Street’s Third Saturday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. April 15.

Art therapy

Reyes grew up in L.A. during the 1960s and ’70s. Her mother took her to local galleries and museums where Reyes encountered art styles that would influence her own future work. An art show featuring original Norman Rockwell paintings and canvases created in hyperrealistic style made a deep impression on her. M.C. Escher, H.R. Giger, the art of Walt Disney and frequent trips to Disneyland along the way nurtured her imagination and desire to be an artist.

Reyes attended art classes throughout high school and college, where she also earned a nursing license.

After a back injury she wove together her artistic skills with her knowledge of anatomy to create a unique way of dealing with ongoing pain. Finding it difficult to describe her back pain to her doctors, she

drew a picture for them of what the inside of her back “felt” like.

This image became the first in a series of drawings Reyes calls Backstracts, or abstracts of her own back, rendered in colored pencil, ink and gel. “I discovered a healing state occurred within my body whenever I created any style of art, but especially when I drew these images,” Reyes explained. She became interested in art therapy and laughed when she said she turned pain into an art form, quite literally. But more importantly, through the healing benefits of art therapy she feels she “harnessed a positive outlet for expressing my feelings both physically and emotionally.”

An example of her unique style is a Backstract called “ValsaLisa,” where the central structure of her image is a curving line down the middle representing the spine. The other loops and whorls, curves and curls happened as the result of her “hand telling the lines where to go, until they were just right. Any incidental missteps became incorporated into the finished creation.” The titles of her images are abstract as well, leaving the viewer to interpret as they wish. However, for this title, the “Lisa” is a fellow artist who randomly selected the handful of colored pencils from the pencil

box Reyes used to create this work.

Reyes explained her artistic process often uncovers an element of surprise. Her creation, Backstract “Aire Terjan,” for example, started out in one direction, but something happened along the way that transformed the image. “Somehow, water and earth elements made their way onto the canvas, like a waterfall twisting around a rainbow and cascading onto rocks. Or perhaps a swath of cobalt fabric wafting in the breeze?” Some viewers may see birds in her images, while others perceive certain anatomical features. In the Backstract “Faa Quimon,” textured patterns fold in on themselves in jewel colors like a twirling geisha. Turn the picture upside-down and you may see a boat caught mid-wave.

The character of Reyes’ amazing artwork can be described as lyrical or perceptual abstractionism, or even a fanciful category like neuroemotive abstractionism; however, her imaginings encourage the mind’s eye to freely interpret patterns and envision its own stories.

“Art saved my life,” she shared, “and it helped to elevate me to a place where even pain may possibly be exquisite. Art in any form adds to the beauty of the world, and I am grateful for its gift.”

Stories to tell Gray’s desire is to widen her viewer’s appreciation of the natural world through her photography and inspire others to help her protect wildlife and its habitat. She refined her craft through a series of local, online and field-based learning opportunities, including certification as an underwater photographer. Gray upgraded her camera to a professionalquality Nikon, with her underwater and macro photos winning numerous photographic contests and accolades.

As Gray’s photography gained recognition, her photos were published and included in a book produced by the World Best Top Photographer Association.

Gray’s artistic process begins before she ever commits to the shot. Her research includes creating opportunities to acquire wildlife and nature images; for example, traveling distances on photo adventures, using her vast knowledge of camera and lens equipment to obtain the best image, along with a deep understanding of timing for the assurance of “good light.” With

selective application of her digital software to remove distractions and focus attention on the subject, she is finally ready to print the work for display.

Of her photographic subjects, Gray shared, “If it’s alive, I’ll take pictures of it!” She finds it wonderfully compelling that herds of wild mustangs still exist and can be found within driving distance of her home. So far, her favorite places to view and photograph wild horses are near Mono Lake and by the Salt River near Mesa, Ariz. In 2021, Terrie’s photo “Making the Turn” took the first place award in the Terry & Hyon Bixler Image of the Year competition. She describes another award-winning image, “Mono Lake Sunrise,” a long-exposure shot she snapped on a visit to the South Tufa area of Mono Lake. With her tripod and camera angled toward the east, she seized the shot as the sun rose, resulting in a striking effect with the colors of the dawn and the white limestone “tufa” towers reflected in the smooth-water.

“I capture a lot of reflections in my

photo art hangs at green room

Special to the Mountain Democrat

Kenneth E. Mahar’s beautiful photography will be shown at The Green Room Social Club through May 16. A reception will be held 4-6 p.m. Saturday, April 15, to coordinate with Placerville’s Third Saturday Art Walk so people can talk with Mahar about his work and enjoy music performed by Tamra Godey.

Mahar grew up in the Bay Area of San Francisco and has been displaying photography for over a decade. His love of travel has led him to many foreign countries and throughout the USA, capturing the beauty and culture of these lands and their people.

All aspects of photography intrigue Mahar, but capturing wildlife with his camera is probably what he enjoys doing most. Being outdoors, observing animals and their behaviors in their natural habitat stirs his soul. He loves Africa where he has been on safari twice in Kenya and once in Tanzania and his latest adventure to Antarctica.

Enjoy Mahar’s diverse photography including macros, landscapes, architectural abstracts and wildlife photography at many shows throughout the Sierra foothills and on his website.

Mahar is active member and past-president of the El Dorado Hills Art Association. He is a member of the Placerville and Folsom arts associations and his work can be found at various art shows and

ICEE (A152045)

Photo by Ken Mahar

Two penguins snuggle up on a cool day in Antartica. n See Green room page B5

Your beliefs are unusually powerful, regardless of where they lie within the realm of probability. So, you may as well believe fun things, for instance, that you are at the beginning of a cycle of prosperity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There are a lot of things you need before you embark, for instance, shoes and your house key. A fool-proof plan isn’t on the list. You don’t have to know what you’re doing to venture, create and explore.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Is it fair to rank your days against a single metric, such as staying on a diet, making a certain amount of money or sticking to a routine?

There are many beautiful aspects to your experience to celebrate outside the world of your goals.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your body doesn’t always cooperate with you the way you would prefer. It could just be a communication issue, as the body and mind have their own distinct languages. Call on intuition to be your translator.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your dreams will not follow the rules of your waking existence; rather, they will cross fanciful boundaries into a poetic realm where time is different, the dead and living intermingle, and invisible forces find expression in the whispering wind.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Don’t let uncontrollable bits of life make you doubt yourself. If you fail these little tests, it won’t bring your grade down. No one said you have to be all-powerful. It’s enough to be capable and willing to learn.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll guide others without making them feel managed. You’ll point the way instead of pushing. They’ll feel the trust you instill in them, and they’ll work to earn it. You’ll act because you’re driven to do what you think is right and necessary.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Socially, it’s better to break the ice than wonder if you should. And if you fell out of touch with someone, you can easily fall back in now. A short interaction is all it takes to get the ball rolling again.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). One of the many things you have going for you now is that you defy definition, play against assumptions and challenge categorizations. Your uniqueness will keep someone coming back.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It’s not what you do, but how you time it that matters. The same gesture can be seen as weak or strong, graceful or clumsy, controversial or appropriate considering the speed in which it occurs. Master pacing and you’ll rule the scene.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). “Self-taught” is a misnomer. No one really learns alone. First, you’ll learn through other people’s experiences, then you’ll learn through your own, and finally you’ll learn by comparing, contrasting and ultimately blending the two.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Someone new has you doing what you normally wouldn’t. It’s the power of outsiders. An outsider’s influence is automatically boosted by virtue of all that is unknown about them. The unknown, being a human’s biggest fear, has great energetic potential.

by

Gallery Continued from B1 photography,” she said. “I like the symmetry of the images and the stories they invoke.”

Her photos also capture stories. “I think of my photographic journeys as adventures and that I’m exploring,” Gray said. “I love being outside and discovering beautiful scenes and being able to observe wild animals in their natural settings.”

She tells the story behind her image, “Dancing Elephant,” taken near a river in Tarangire National Park, in Tanzania, Africa. “We saw so many elephants there that we wanted to stay all afternoon. The elephant in my photo seems to dance as he spreads dirt over his back for a dust

The Worship Directory runs each Friday in the Mountain Democrat.

Call Elizabeth Hansen at 530-344-5028 regarding advertising information and to place your ad.

bath, and the reddish dirt may be from the termite mound visible in the background. Maybe he danced from exuberance? Soon after this moment, he ran across the road and joined a herd in the river.”

Gray’s award-winning photographs appear in many galleries and private collections, as well as in print and online. What she finds most rewarding about her photography is capturing images that convey her personal delight in what she sees, especially when people tell her, “Thank you for being my eyes! I will never go where you went, but now I can experience the beauty of it through your photography.”

Beautiful boxes

Tikhomirov has been painting since she was toddler growing up in Russia. As a young woman, she earned a master of fine arts degree and became a professional artist. She is a phenomenal watercolorist as well as an art restorer and her years of experience in creating lacquer miniatures provided the expertise needed for the ornamented boxes she creates.

It takes a long time to create each box and she relies on artisans in Russia to construct the basic boxes. Traditionally, Russian lacquer boxes may take three to six months to prepare, including the application of several coats of lacquer, both inside and out. At this point, the box is ready for Tikhomirov’s ingenuity and skill to turn each one into an objet d’art.

She creates the patterns on the boxes with her own, stenciled designs. She then applies a layer of molding paste and after it dries, she sands specific areas to achieve a variety of raised textures. A layer of acrylic color is applied as a base coat and she paints the small details with other eye-catching colors to achieve an astonishing 3D effect.

buttered and salty

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’

HHH PG, 1 hour, 32 minutes – Animation, Comedy, Adventure Now playing in theaters

One thing dawned on me as the lights went down and the faces of my 6and (almost) 4-year-old boys lit up at the opening Nintendo logo that followed the Universal and Illumination title cards; this movie, the first motion picture with heavy influence of Nintendo and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamato (not counting 1993’s awful, but bizarrely entertaining live action “Super Mario Bros.”), is going to be massive with its generation-spanning reach. How could it not be?

Donkey Kong landed 42 years ago with its namesake arcade machine eating up quarters and with it came Mario as the protagonist (simply called “Jumpman” then). Once Nintendo decided to enter the home video game console market Mario got his own platform game bundled with all Nintendo Entertainments Systems. You could make the argument Nintendo, Mario and

Green Room

Democrat correspondent

their hundreds of other video game characters and stories are some of the most known IPs in the world. The success and desire for this film shouldn’t really surprise anyone. The film itself perfectly captures the world and

tone of the Mario games in a fun, energetic, hour and a half. Some have been critical of the screenplay, which I think completely misses the point. This film’s story is as effective as the modern video games that bear its name. We pretty much all know the story by now; after a freak incident Mario and his brother Luigi are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom where they need to battle the evil forces of Bowser and his Koopa Troop forces. That’s pretty much it. Do we really need more? The animation

by Illumination looks fantastic. Both the games as well as the movie may have been produced on a computer, but even my kid commented on how realistic Mario and company looks. The voice cast is good as well, with the unlikely casting of Chris Pratt (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) as Mario bearing much better than expected results. Jack Black (“Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny”) plays the big anthropomorphic turtle Bowser and he is, well, Jack Black. He may be underneath some heavy reverb but it’s hard to not recognize Black’s inflection or the singing voice when he belts out an eventual tune.

Judging from the opening weekend box office, Universal Studios and Nintendo know they have hit the jackpot. The video game behemoth has five decades of IPs at its fingertips to pull from. The question is not what

the next project will be, but when. Is Zelda far behind?

Move aside Marvel, the Nintendo Universe is upon us.

Joshua B. Porter is a writer/director/producer. His most recent project, the feature film “No Evidence OF Man,” won Best Original Screenplay of a Feature

Film at the 2022 Madrid International Film Festival. He finally received his award from the Royal Mail. He can be reached at @joshuabporter or joshuabporter@ mtdemocrat.net.

Read Porter’s review of “Star Trek: Picard” (Season 3) online at mtdemocrat.com.

Freelance Reporters Wanted

The Mountain Democrat, California’s oldest newspaper, and Village Life newspapers are looking for community-minded reporters to take freelance assignments. Assignments will range from news coverage to features. Freelance reporters must have interviewing skills and photography experience and be able to meet deadlines. Journalism experience preferred. Interested candidates should email a résumé, writing and photography samples and a brief cover letter to Krysten Kellum at kkellum@mtdemocrat.net.

The Public Square

Employment

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galleries. View his diverse subjects and current display locations on his website, ken-mahar-photos.com.

On stage

The Steelin’ Dan Six-Piece Band, featuring six members of Steelin’ Dan, Northern California’s award-winning 10-piece Steely Dan tribute band, comes to The Green Room at 8 p.m. Friday, April 14. Steelin’ Dan has been performing throughout California and

Gallery

Continued from B4

Some of her boxes are embellished with crystals and stones, along with gold, silver and aluminum metallic paint. For her more elaborate boxes, she uses gold leaf and silver. Some of her boxes sit flat, while others have small feet attached. Her boxes have distinctive sizes and shapes, including one with a blue shell motif and a lid shaped like a scallop. Another resembles a miniature treasure chest, glowing sumptuously with gold and adorned with jewel-tone colors. Bright blue bird designs vibrate with energy against the gold. Other boxes feature fanciful creatures like griffins or dragons, designs from her imagination. A golden dragonfly, a bright scarab, an elegant koi, a courtly rooster and even an Indian elephant may find its way onto Tikhomirov’s boxes.

Many of her Russian boxes are decorated with geometric designs like fleur-de-lis, interconnected rings, rays, scallops and star designs made

Northern Nevada for more than 20 years and has developed a large and enthusiastic fan base.

“It’s all-American music” said The Coffis Brothers’ co-frontman Kellen about the band’s 2022 release, “Turn My Radio Up.” The band plays April 16 at The Green Room. Local musician Jonny Mojo opens the show at 4:20 p.m.

The Green Room is located at 251 Main St., Placerville. For tickets visit tickets.clubgreenroom.com.

complex by the artist’s attention to detail and interiors richly painted in a vermilion color. She applies several coats of lacquer to her boxes to produce a shiny, gem-like finish and, like gems, each is a stunning one-ofa-kind work of art, worthy of holding small treasures and keepsakes.

Although her work is exhibited around the world, and many reside in museums and in private collections, she remains humble about her art and speaks lightly about her abilities.

Gold Country Artists Gallery features the work of award-winning regional artists working in fields as diverse as fine jewelry, photography, fused glass, wood turning, pastels, colored pencil, scratch board and watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. The gallery, 379 Main St. in Placerville, is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on the third Saturday of each month until 8 p.m. For more information call (530) 642-2944 or visit goldcountryartistsgallery.com.

For

El Dorado Irrigation District is seeking:

Senior Information Technology Analyst

Salary: I: $8,736.92-$10,619.78 per month

FFD: Open until filled.

First review of applications on April 24, 2023.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of a Senior Information Tenchnology Analyst.

For a complete job description and the REQUIRED application, please visit our website at www.eid.org or call 530-642-4074.

2890 Mosquito Road Placerville, CA 95667 Fax: (530) 622-1134

Cafeteria Assistant

If you enjoy the beautiful outdoors and working with children, we currently have an amazing opportunity as a Cafeteria Assistant at our Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center near Pollock Pines.

Starting Hourly Rate: $17.23

Click here to apply today: http://www.edjo.in/1746010

Maintenance Custodian

If you have experience performing custodial and general maintenance services and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, we currently have an amazing opportunity as a Maintenance Custodian at our Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center near Pollock Pines.

Starting Hourly Rate: $20.47

Click here to apply today: http://www.edjo.in/1745652

For more information, contact Sacramento County Office of Education Personnel Dept. 916-228-2332

■ SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

Solution to Puzzle 1

Solution to Puzzle 2

UPCOMING EVENTS

Taylor Dayne & Sheena Easton

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

9 Grammy Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 2 Billboard Music Awards, 1 American Music Award, 6 Platinum albums, 5 Gold albums, 39 Billboard top 20 singles, and 11 Billboard #1 singles.

Kingdoms and Empires of Ice

THURSDAY, May 11

Discover

Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys, The Mothers of Invention, and more.

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Asleep at the Wheel

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

Founded in 1970, Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. The band became a cornerstone of the Austin, Texas, scene upon its arrival in 1973. Inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has accrued 10 Grammy Awards.

Photo by David Grenier

David Doubilet & Jennifer Hayes Coral

National Geographic Live!