Mountain Democrat, Friday, May 19, 2023

EDH hits pause on effort to incorporate

Noel Stack Managing

editor

A $1 million price tag and not enough information proved too much for the El Dorado Hills Community Services Board of Directors, which made the decision last week to hold off kickstarting an EDH incorporation effort.

EDHCSD General Manager Kevin

Loewen presented the cost estimate of $970,000 to $1.2 million to launch an environmental analysis, cover Local Area Formation Commission expenses, send out communications to the public and utilize legal counsel to help with the process.

“That price tag for me right now is just a little high,” EDHCSD board Chair Noelle Mattock said.

She and other directors, while seeing the merit of El Dorado Hills becoming a city, noted the community doesn’t have enough information or apparent enthusiasm for the CSD to make this effort to get cityhood on the ballot — at this time. Results from a public opinion survey released last month, for which nearly 650 likely voters in EDH responded, found that 47% supported incorporation.

n See incorporation, page A8

years. Central

for May 16, according to Department of Water Resources data — and the subsequent

long

runoff is changing the game for El Dorado County rafting companies that faced challenges due to drought years.

Deric Rothe, 16-year owner of Sierra Whitewater Inc.,

n See river, page A8

Fire drill helps Mosquito residents prepare

Odin Rasco Staff writer

The Mosquito Fire Protection District is working to keep Swansboro and Mosquito fire ready by holding a community fire drill Saturday, 10-11:30 a.m.

— Taffy Warner, Mosquito fire drill organizer

For the third year in a row Mosquito

Fire personnel and community volunteers will coordinate the drill at the Swansboro Airport. Firefighters, aided by support group members, will simulate the staging and set up of the airfield evacuation site.

In case of an actual emergency the airfield site is a holdout position

where community members will gather if the region’s two main access roads — Rock Creek Road and Mosquito Road — are blocked during a fire. Residents are encouraged to participate in the drill; in addition to an evacuation site for people, there will also be a simulated evac site for large animals and RVs. Mosquito’s unique geography with limited routes in and out poses a specific challenge if a fire were to come through. Though the limited

n See Fire Drill, page A9

“Prior to the King Fire we’d had discussions about fire drills but after how we were affected we knew we had to act.”

“If it should fail, which the last one did fail, we spent $1 million potentially for nothing …”

— Richard Ross, El Dorado Hills resident

OBITUARIES

Michael Kokinos

Nov. 27, 1927 – April 26, 2023

On Wednesday April 26, 2023, Michael Kokinos passed away in Shingle Springs, Calif. at the age of 95.

Mike is survived by his wife Theresa, daughter Janice Gustin and her husband Jim Gustin, daughter Debi Kokinos, and his only granddaughter Michele Meeks. He is also loved and remembered by his one remaining sister Mary McGee, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike was predeceased in death by his parents, and twelve siblings.

In 1912, Christodoulos Kokinos and Erini Hious Kokinos immigrated from Samos, Greece through Ellis Island to Peabody, MA. Mike was born on November 27, 1927, as the thirteenth of fourteen children. He lived in Peabody, MA until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1945 and was stationed in Long Beach, Calif. until he was discharged in 1947. This is where he met and married his predeceased wife, Aileen on February 9, 1947. They raised two daughters, Janice and Debi. On April 22, 1989, he married Theresa, his wife of 34 years.

After his military service, Mike entered the accounting field, and spent most of his career with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) regional offices in Long Beach, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles. In 1974, Mike moved to the main FTB office in Sacramento where he was manager of the Exempt Organization Audit Division until his retirement in 1991.

Mike devoted his time outside of work to his family, numerous mineralogical organizations, the Santa Barbara Masonic Lodge, as well as a member/treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Deer Hills Property Owners Association (where he made his home for the last 46 years). His achievements were many and noteworthy.

In 2014, a mineral, Kokinosite was named after Mike for his years of service. He was also inducted into the Micromounters’ Hall of Fame in 2010.

In 1995, he received the Golden Bear Award from the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS). The CFMS Golden Bear Award is a very special honor presented to a member who has contributed outstanding services to the mineralogical community.

In 1962, Mike began attending organized group meetings of micromounters. He was an original member of this group that, in 1966, evolved into the Southern California Micro-Mineralogists (SCMM). Mike developed a strong interest in mineral identification techniques and was introduced to the petrographic microscope.

In 1966, Mike moved to Santa Barbara, and worked with Bill Wise, then the professor of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Their work was to verify the identity of two Zeolites from Agoura in Los Angeles County. The results were published in 1969 and were to have significant importance to Zeolite science. The continued and long-time collaboration with Bill led to a future article Famous Mineral Locality: The Gold Hill Mine, Tooele County, Utah in the Mineralogical Record in 1993 and was an excellent contribution to the community.

At this time, Mike began tackling mineral identification using the X-ray Diffractometer and petrographic microscope. He honed his skill of mineral identification by taking the UCSB course in Optical Mineralogy.

In the early 1970s, Mike’s job transferred him to the Sacramento area where he joined an informal group, which was to later become the Northern California Mineralogical Association (NCMA). As part of the pre-NCMA activities, Mike started study group meetings to demonstrate the concepts of mineral identification through optical mineralogy and continued to hold these group meetings in his home. Over the last 30 years, he has taught or tutored many collectors in the use of these methods of mineral identification techniques. He was a life member, past president, treasurer (more than 10 years), federation director and board member of NCMA.

Mike was also past president of the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) (1967-1968), and had acted as tax advisor to the federation for many years, as well as assisting member societies with their Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board tax problems.

He attended the first meeting of the Friends of Mineralogy in 1970 and was treasurer of that organization from 1993-1995. https://www. friendsofmineralogy.org/who-we-are/history-ofthe-friends-of-mineralogy/

Mike was also a member of the local El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society serving as President and Treasurer.

Mike will be missed by all who knew him. At this time no service will be held, per his request.

Have something to say??

Email your letter to editor to editor@mtdemocrat.net

We do not publish anonymous letters so don’t forget to include your first and last name and where in El Dorado County you live.

John C. Williamson

Feb. 5, 1945 – May 10, 2023

It is with great sorrow that John C. Williamson passed away on May 10, 2023. John was born in Montebello, Calif., to Nelson and Virginia Williamson. He was adopted by Gordon Williamson at a young age. John spent his youth in Southern California and moved to Northern California at age 13 yrs. He graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1963. He played football all of his high school years and at Sierra College. He married Karen Williamson in 1966 and they had 4 children together. John joined the National Guard and afterward, started his career as a fire fighter at the Florin Fire Department in Sacramento. He then became a Fire Captain at Incline Village and next, a Battalion Chief at Kings Beach in Lake Tahoe. John then became the Fire Chief for Pleasant Valley (in El Dorado County) at age 28 where he remained until his retirement. He is preceeded in death by his special grandparents William and Stella Brown, parents Gordon and Virginia Williamson, Nelson and Naydeen McMann, and his daughter Kasey Williamson-Konan, and his brother Tom Williamson. He is survived by his wife Karen, his daughter Kristen Williamson-Pott (Jay), his son’s Johnny II (Kimberly), Bill (Sondra), and Kurt (Beth), grandchildren Angela, Jack, Michelle, Alexandra, Landon and Kaiden; sisters Marilyn (Hugh) Douglas, and Susan (Craig) Jacobsen. He will be dearly missed by all his family. Services will be held at Westwood Hills Memorial Park on May 22 at 10am.

Marcella Darlene

Thomas

Nov. 7, 1932 – April 4, 2023

In loving memory of Marcella Darlene Thomas.

Maracella passed April 4, 2023, of natural causes. Marcella was the second daughter born to Claude and Pearl Shenk from Polk, Nebraska. Born November 7, 1932, moved to Bellflower California as a young girl. Later in life she met and married Frank C. Thomas. They had two sons, moved to Placerville in 1960. She worked with her husband at the family business, while raising her two sons. She was a loving and fun loving woman and left a warm positive feeling with all she came into contact with.

She is survived by her sons Scott M. Thomas,and Craig C. Thomas and daughter-in law Rita Thomas. Four grandchildren Ty Thomas, Scott M. Thomas Jr, Kelly Moreno and Todd Thomas. Six great grandchildren who she loved with all her heart.

A celebration of Love will be held in June. Rest in peace mother, we all love you!

Jane Henderson

Oct. 15, 1954 – May 5, 2023

It is with deep sadness and much love that we mourn the passing of Jane Henderson. Jane was a loving partner, an incredible mom of four, and an even better grandmother of 10.

Jane passed away peacefully May 5th with her family by her side. Jane was born in Chicago IL in 1954. She grew up in Elmhurst IL surrounded by her parents, aunts and uncles and 6 siblings. She lived a great life with many adventures all over the country. She especially loved going on road trips in her RV, beach trips with her grandchildren and lake days for Kayaking and a BBQ.

Her greatest joy was her grandchildren. Jane was outgoing, social and always willing to lend a hand. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, as we all loved her very much in our own special way.

Jane is survived by her partner Scott, her children Tania, Pat, Amanda and Amber. Her grandchildren, Mariah, Adrianna, Christian, Landon, Parker, Jaxson and Brennan. A memorial service will be held Friday May 19th from 2-4pm at Green Valley Mortuary & Cemetery in Rescue.

We ask for guests to wear Blue in memory of Jane.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Dale Lambert

Oct 28, 1959 - Apr 17, 2022

Dale Lambert, a resident of Placerville, was born on October 28, 1959 and passed away on April 17, 2022. A celebration of life will be held on June 24th from 2 - 4 pm at 159 Spring Canyon Drive, Markleyville, Calif 96120. Please bring a folding camp chair.

CORRECTION

In the column “Bud Light becomes a heavy burden” published May 15, it was stated Coors and Miller were InBev brands. InBev acquired SABMiller, an English company, which included 58% of Coors and Miller brands. But a year or so later the DOJ required the divestiture of those brands from INBev and they were acquired by a Canadian brewing company, MolsonCoors.

WEATHER

PLACERVILLE 5-DAY FORECAST

Snow S hoe thomp S on touch-up

Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian

The Snowshoe Thompson mural in downtown Placerville gets a fresh layer of paint Wednesday morning from its creator, local artist Oran Miller. Located off Sacramento and Main streets the mural preserves the history of John A. “Snowshoe”

Veerkamp ready to serve third term in District 3

News release

Brian K. Veerkamp has announced his intention to run for El Dorado County District 3 supervisor, a seat he previously held 2013-20. Current District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas recently announced she would not seek a second term during the 2024 election cycle. Veerkamp, 65, is a fifthgeneration resident of El Dorado County and a descendant of the pioneering families of Wagner and Veerkamp. Born and raised in El Dorado County, attending local elementary schools and El Dorado High School, Veerkamp then pursued his higher education goals. He

crime log

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff's Office logs: May 7

1:55 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 27-year-old woman suspected of driving with a suspended license on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. She was released on $5,000 bail.

3:36 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 45-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Missouri

holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in economics. He also earned two associate degrees and many advanced

Flat Road in Placerville. He was later released.

1:38 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 61-year-old man suspected of unlawful possession of a tear gas weapon and manufacturing/ selling leaded cane on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. He was listed in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.

3:17 p.m. Battery was reported on South Pine Tree Lane in Pollock Pines.

5:56 p.m. Battery was reported on

leadership, governance, management and finance training certificates.

Veerkamp retired in 2011 from the fire service after 30-plus years in public emergency services that began as a volunteer/paid call firefighter and culminated in his last position as fire chief of the El Dorado Hills Fire Department. In 2012 he was elected to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors District 3, serving two full, four-year terms. In 2020 he was elected and is currently the board president for the El Dorado Irrigation District. He also just completed two years as an El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority director (Ambulance Services

Marshall Road in Garden Valley.

6:29 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 36-year-old woman suspected of identity theft and unlawful possession of a tear gas weapon on Highway 50 at Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs. She was listed in custody in lieu of $80,000 bail.

10:50 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 40-year-old man suspected of DUI and driving with a n See crime log page A7

JPA). He has served many committee assignments, including and currently serving as chair of the El Dorado County Local Area Formation Commission.

Veerkamp’s service to the community previously included 14 years as an elected board member with the Camino Union School District, three years as a board member of the El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority JPA and 25 years as Emergency Medical Services Training program director for the El Dorado County Fire Chiefs Association. He also served 17 years as a Rotarian plus 12 years as a member of the Placerville Kiwanis Club

(past president) and sits on the Marshall Medical Center Board of Directors and El Dorado County Community Foundation Board. He’s a Marshall Foundation for Community Health board member emeritus and also maintains affiliations with the Boys and Girls Club, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Cold Springs Golf and Country Club, the USGA and the NRA, to name a few.

Brian resides in Placerville with Lori, his wife of 42 plus years, He has two daughters, two sons-in-law, two granddaughters, two grandsons and many other family members who call El Dorado County home.

Thompson, who famously traversed the Sierra Nevada mountains to deliver mail, medicine and other supplies from the very building on which the mural is set to settlers in Genoa, Nev. The artwork has greeted visitors to downtown Placerville since 2003. The last time the mural got a facelift was in 2014. The city of Placerville, in conjunction with the El Dorado County Historical Society, helped fund the artist’s restoration project this year. Miller plans to work on the mural through Friday, with it’s brighter hues expected to be complete for Third Saturday Art Walk.

BriAN K. VEErKAMP

Danger — government digital currency

President Joe Biden and the media are excited about something new: a Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC. It’s a currency like Bitcoin, except controlled by the federal government.

Not everyone is a fan.

“Sometimes government does things that may appear to be benevolent but really are kind of like a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” says Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “This is a wolf coming as a wolf.”

For months, I’ve tried to get DeSantis to sit down for an interview. What finally got him to agree was government’s plan for digital money.

“If you don’t trust central authority,” DeSantis says, “then you should see this immediately as something that is very problematic.”

Of course, a lot of people do trust central authority. The Biden administration says a CBDC will “protect consumers, investors ... and the environment.”

“That last one’s a tell,” laughs DeSantis, “they would impose ideology certain criteria ... ‘You’re filling up too much (with gas). Wait a minute — climate change. You can’t be doing that!

You bought another firearm? No, no, no.’”

Canada’s government used its banking system to control people when truckers protested vaccine rules. The government blocked their bank accounts.

That stopped the protests.

DeSantis is so upset about the Fed’s and Biden’s plan for a CBDC he just got Florida’s legislature to ban its use in the state.

I ask, “This will be a national issue. Why is it the business of a governor?”

“This is part of our role,” he responds, citing federalism. “There’s a back and forth between the federal government and the states. We’re pushing back about things we don’t think are good.”

DeSantis questions the CBDC’s legality.

“The Federal Reserve has come out and said, We would only do it after ‘consulting with the legislative and executive branches. Ideally, we’d get specific congressional authorization.’ Wait a minute! It’s not ideal that you get Congress.

That’s what the Constitution requires!”

Of course, the media is enthusiastic about a government-controlled CBDC.

CNBC says it will be “as trusted as cash, as convenient as a payment app, yet also benefit

Guest Column

Letters to the Editor

An appreciative ‘thank you’

EDITOR:

The Camino Community Action Committee would like to thank all those who recently participated at the Camino Clean Up Day held Saturday, April 29. The community turnout was great! We were able to send 10.26 tons of trash, 3.44 tons of metal and 3.20 tons of yard waste dumpsters to the dump. Thank you to all that participated including El Dorado Disposal/ Waste Connections, volunteers from the LDS church and the LDS church in Camino where the event was held, Jim from the church and, of course, committee members of the CCAC. e may be a small group but we do get things done!

TINA HELM President, CCAC

What is a cake?

EDITOR:

There’s an ongoing discussion in the baking community about what constitutes a cake. Half the chefs say it’s after mixing and putting it in the oven. The other half say it’s not a cake until it’s fully baked. Anything else is just a mixture of flour, sugar, and eggs ripped out of the oven and thrown on the floor. The argument is that the cake wasn’t fully cooked. But clearly, if the cake was left in the oven to cook it would be. Think about it.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

Project Frontier application withdrawal

EDITOR:

As I reflect on that last several months in the life of local government, I would like to congratulate the residents of Blackstone, Heritage, Four Seasons and folks from all over El Dorado County for successfully opposing Project Frontier (Amazon) on Latrobe Road. The project application was withdrawn by the developer for consideration by the county Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

impact fees than a young couple trying to build a home for their lives together in El Dorado County. Let that sink in — the largest corporation on the planet may have been responsible for less tra c impact fees than a family of four trying to build their dream home. This is all because county sta in 2017 stated that the applicant may not have to make road improvements. The situation was further exacerbated when the Board of Supervisors approved a non-disclosure agreement with the developer in 2021.

If it wasn’t for local citizens bringing this issue to light, the largest project in our county’s history would have been approved largely behind closed doors. What is disheartening about this process is that high-level county sta have almost complete disregard for local taxpayers and their quality of life.

I would like to thank county Republican Party Executive Director Terry Gherardi for highlighting in two letters to the newspaper how Project Frontier process violated our voter-approved general plan. I would also like to thank District 1 representative EDC GOP Kelley Nalewaja for helping educate and galvanize the support of residents in understanding that our local bureaucracy was perverting our right to have input on issues that we end up having to pay for.

Going forward, local citizens need to remain ever vigilant in watching out for backdoor government. Supervisors Wendy Thomas and John Hidahl were outright cheerleaders for this project. Supervisor Parlin privately said she was in favor of it, until the issue became more public. Fortunately, Supervisor Hidahl is termed out and Supervisor Thomas has decided to not run again for personal reasons. The EDC GOP would like to thank Supervisor Turnboo for pushing for the project to be heard by the Planning Commission.

TODD WHITE Chairman, EDC Republican Party The

smell test

EDITOR:

Mary Elliott-Klemm wrote a massive response to Kevin Kiley but it was basically just promoting this administration over the last. But when you examine even on a cursory level some of her arguments they fall apart in an almost comical fashion.

Just a couple of brief examples: she says that those 87,000 IRS agents that they want to hire and that Kiley is opposed to are just to make sure the millionaires and billionaires pay their taxes. But

■ See STOSSEL page A5 ■ See LETTERS page A5

It is extremely unfortunate that the project was able to get almost approved, with practically no input from local taxpayers. The proposed 4.8 million-square-foot project would have been approved with no updated environmental impact report, no hearing by the county Planning Commission and no community meetings. Due to a letter that CAO Ti any Schmidt signed in 2017, the project may have been subjected to less tra c

Stop the invasion before the U.S. ship sinks

Your threebedroom house might accommodate 10 to 12 guests on holiday weekends, but it’s not easy. Even If you have two bathrooms, shower time has to be coordinated. You enjoy the gathering but after a couple of days you are ready to resume normalcy. America may never resume normalcy. We are now living our new normal.

Millions of people are invading America. They are entering the country anyway they can cross the border. They are paying life savings to thugs to help them navigate the long trips from Central and South America. Some are being used by the Mexican cartel to transport

dangerous drugs such as fentanyl into our country. We don’t know who these people are. Many are surely people who just want a better life. How many of these people will come to America to steal, tra c drugs, work for the Mexican cartel and terrorize our country? Who knows because we don’t know anything about these people.

Our cities and towns are becoming flooded with people who are hungry. They have serious medical needs. They need shelter. They have children who need schools. They need clothes. They need money. Our government has a $ 32 trillion debt. The answer has always been to raise the debt limit and borrow more

money. Now we are hearing about the potential of the government defaulting, which will only wreck our economy, retirement checks, military, stock market and much more. Adding millions of people to our country is only pushing our country into third world status. Poverty, homelessness and people begging for help every day on American streets is only going to grow. I used to love walking on Michigan Avenue in Chicago but now such a casual walk is di cult as you have to face an onslaught of hurting, begging people. The same is true for so many other American cities and the problem is growing.

Your community is not immune. They have to go somewhere. They will sleep on the steps of your church, your city park, your courthouse and maybe your yard. What will you be able to do about it?

Congress and President Joe Biden must wake up and take a break from their lives of luxury and fix this problem. Washington, D.C., has a growing homeless problem. You now have to look over your shoulder and hold on to your wallet if you take a casual stroll in D.C. Surely, our government sees this problem right in their own faces? Not really. They hide in their gated townhouses or Arlington residences and ignore America’s new normal. Their main priority is reelection, not our problems.

It’s time to call for a moratorium on all Southern border entries. We need at least a year to assess and process the masses of people who have already crossed into our borders.

Regardless of the size of any ship it has a limited capacity before it sinks.

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

… cash is private. So is cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin. People can buy gas and guns without using government money at all. Advocates of government digital money don’t like that.

GLENN MOLLETTE

Feedback needed on Tahoe Basin wildfire plan

News release

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team is requesting public feedback on the Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan survey. These plans aim to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and increase the resilience of communities to natural disasters. To complete the survey visit arcg.is/8zKGr0.

“This survey is an opportunity for fire districts to hear from community members about concerns and priorities related to wildfire risk reduction,” states CWPP Program Coordinator Cheyanne Neu er with the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. “Community input will help guide the update of community wildfire protection plans and ensure that they reflect the needs and values of communities in the Lake Tahoe Basin.”

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District also manages the Fire Adapted Communities Program and has assisted neighborhoods throughout the region to become certified in the program. Contact the district for more information at fire@tahoercd. org.

■ See FEEDBACK page A7

Stossel Continued from A4

from the same blockchain technology which underpins cryptocurrencies.”

“When I started talking about some of the dangers from privacy,” DeSantis tells me, “the corporate press ... all of a sudden (said) ‘DeSantis is trying to promote conspiracy theories!’” MSNBC even called it “ unhinged conspiracy theory.”

DeSantis wonders why the media even care. “Is it really because they are really that invested in cross-border transactions?” he asks. “Of course not. It’s because this is something that could help them advance their ideology of having more central authority ... over the average American.”

I push him, “America’s going to fall behind!”

The Wall Street Journal says America’s financial system is outdated and CBDCs will modernize it.

“Oh, please,” DeSantis sneers. “They want to move to a cashless society, which would basically mean the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department would have supervisory jurisdiction over all of your transactions.”

“Cash is independence,” adds DeSantis. “You have the cash in your wallet ... It’s not dependent on somebody else.”

In other words, cash is private. So is cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin. People can buy gas and guns without using government money at all.

Advocates of government digital money don’t like that.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren says, “Legitimate digital public money could help drive out bogus digital

private money.”

“She clearly would be somebody that rejects any type of digital asset that’s not controlled by a central authority,” DeSantis responds.

The federal government, says DeSantis, wants “to displace all cryptocurrency because they can’t control that,” telling me, “the dangers so far outweigh any proposed benefits.”

DeSantis and I then talked about many other things, like sex education and what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law, Florida’s anti-mask mandates, America going broke and his flying migrants to Massachusetts.

I will cover those topics in a future column.

John Stossel is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

Letters Continued from A4

look at the application forms for those jobs. They ask applicants if they are willing to carry a firearm and use deadly force, basically kill people.

Ms. Elliott-Klemm is telling you that 87,000 gun toting IRS agents are there to audit millionaires tax returns? Really? If you believe that, you believe that those things in Dachau really were showers.

She also rails about energy companies getting so-called breaks. Nothing brings our energy situation home faster to the average person than looking at the gas pump total up your bill. Just compare what you paid per gallon in the last administration to what you pay in this one and you won’t need to read six paragraphs of liberal propaganda to know the truth.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

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.

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

Speedway remembers Padjen in Kids Bike Night

“When it comes to the future of our sport the younger generation is extremely important, so we hope everyone can bring their kids and maybe even some of their friends this weekend,” commented track Promoter Scott Russell.

As

Speedway Schedule

Speedway will remember former track Promoter John Padjen, who passed away in December 2021. It was Padjen’s idea that brought about Kids Bike Night, which continues to be a mainstay at both Placerville Speedway and Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway to this day.

“John always had Kids Bike Night at West Capital Raceway, so he decided to bring that over to Placerville and Chico when he started running both venues,” said past Placerville Speedway Promoter Alan Padjen. “The bike nights have always been a hit with the families. It’s great that Placerville Speedway continues that tradition and it’s a perfect event to remember my dad at.”

In the early 1980s John came aboard Placerville Speedway to help rescue the community icon that was beginning to struggle in the way of management efforts. Already a successful motorsports promoter in Sacramento, Dixon and Chico, he moved in and helped mold the foothill

suspended license on Lotus Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $40,500 bail.

May 8

4:11 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 37-year-old man suspected of smuggling drugs into the jail on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was later released.

4:13 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 26-yearold woman suspected of DUI on Mosquito Road in Placerville. She was later released.

10:07 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Rosecrest Circle in El Dorado Hills.

10:38 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Voltaire Drive in

Cameron Park.

1:58 p.m. Burglary was reported at a salon on Robin Lane in Cameron Park.

3:04 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 48-year-old woman suspected of felony vandalism and resisting arrest (arrest location unclear). She was released on $28,000 bail.

5:37 p.m. Vehicle burglary was reported on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.

May 9

8:05 a.m. Vandalism was reported on Alvarez Lane in Placerville.

10:27 a.m. Burglary was reported at a business on Highway 49 (town not specified).

Forest health is one of the focus areas of the Environmental Improvement Program, a collaborative partnership of more than 80 public and private organizations committed to achieving the environmental goals of the region. Since the EIP’s inception in 1997, TFFT data shows partners have treated more than 92,000 acres of forest to reduce hazardous fuels. The full list of projects is available at eip. laketahoeinfo.org.

“These fuel treatments have proven themselves invaluable. During the Caldor Fire we saw flames 150 feet tall in untreated areas that shrunk to 15 feet tall when they reached a treated area in Christmas Valley,” said Capt. Martin Goldberg of Lake Valley Fire. “This meant that our firefighters could engage the fire and protect the nearby homes. If that area hadn’t been treated, we may have seen a very different outcome.”

This year TFFT partners plan to exceed the 2,500 acres treated in 2022, especially near power lines and neighborhoods. On the east shore, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team will be treating about 450 acres near Marlette Lake, which will complement the work by NV Energy to create resilient corridors along NV Energy’s electrical lines on all lands. Liberty Energy will be doing similar resilience corridor work throughout their service area on the south shore. Crews will be working to reduce hazardous fuels in Van Sickle Bi-State Park this summer and South

11:03 a.m. Forgery was reported at a café on Park Drive in El Dorado Hills.

12:32 p.m. Petty theft was reported on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

2:04 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 40-year-old man suspected of a probation violation on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $20,000 bail.

4:55 p.m. Vandalism was reported at a gas station on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.

May 10

3:52 a.m. Residential burglary was reported on Knobcone Lane in Placerville.

Tahoe Public Utility District will be conducting projects to protect water infrastructure in case of wildfire. The North Tahoe Fire Protection District will reduce hazardous fuels on at least 300 acres within North Tahoe and Meeks Bay Fire Protection Districts.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team is stressing the importance of wildfire preparedness throughout the year to continue protecting communities and Lake Tahoe’s environment from the increasing risk of wildfire.

“After decades of fire suppression the Tahoe Basin’s forests are overstocked and highly vulnerable to insects, disease and catastrophic wildfire,” said TFFT Incident Commander and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Division Chief Isaac Powning. “We rely on firefighters, land managers and the public to all work together to protect our communities and ecosystem from damaging wildfires.”

In 2022 TFFT partners reduced fuels on more than 2,500 acres and completed a record 7,962 inspections to help property owners create defensible space around homes and businesses.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue will host the 6th annual Wildfire Safety Expo Saturday, May 13 — a fun, free, community event to provide information on how to be fire-safe during this upcoming wildfire season.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Tahoe Middle School, 2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe.

Complete

Solutions to puzzles in Classified section of newspaper.

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can’t help how you feel, but managing those feelings is a skill you’re determined to master. It will make you powerful. Anything you can understand in yourself, you can understand in others.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you can’t articulate what a thing means, that doesn’t make it any less meaningful; it only indicates that you may need more time. You will have a strong feeling and a connection to a physical item and be unsure why.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your specialty this year is finding emotionally rewarding work that feels more like fun and adventure. It’s almost not fair you get to be paid for it.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Fear is nothing but an idea crying out for recognition. To acknowledge fear and confront it directly is to lessen its power over you. Take a moment to listen to and examine your fear. Say “I understand your concern and will take it into consideration.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have something to express and the more people you reach, the better you’ll feel. Someone with a remarkable life force is coming into your world. This one has the potential to sweep you off your feet.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll have fun building your network -- a very productive way to use your time, even though it looks, from the outside, like a lot of fun. The more people you know, the more access you have to the world.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Culture’s impact on an individual is like water to the fish; a given that is only noticeable when it changes significantly or disappears. You’ll slip into a state of objectivity and inquiry to better understand the invisible forces shaping your experience.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Today features your talent for assessing people accurately. Your intuition never fails you and you have a keen sense of who you can trust. You are quick to feel negative vibes and avoid them like the plague.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are a force to be reckoned with and your impact is not limited to verbal communication. At times your stillness speaks volumes, leaving those around you in awe of your powerful presence.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). To organize yourself around pleasing and performing for others might bring short-term benefit but is emotionally unsustainable in the long term. The more pretense you can drop, the more energy you’ll have.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your unique perspective will be embraced by people with different views who recognize the soundness of your logic and respect the intelligence behind your process.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Try not to let peer pressure sway you. Your gut feeling about things will be accurate, so you’ll do well to make decisions independently, regardless of what others think.

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

predicts the season will easily go into October.

The length of any season can vary, according to Rothe. In drought years the window of when water is released is only a few hours a day and some years no water is released Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Other years are so dry come September no water is released during the week.

This year Rothe said water will be released 24/7 into the American River and its three forks.

All-Outdoors California

Whitewater Rafting owner Scott Armstrong noted the South Fork of the American River will be especially prime for rafting. AllOutdoors has been operating on the water more than 60 years.

“The North Fork also is going to have a lot longer season than normal, which usually runs April into May but it is going to go into June this year,” Armstrong said. “The South Fork is going to have really fun flows for springtime, and then will extend into October with just a slightly longer season.”

“The rivers are going to be really healthy and alive,” he added.

Rafting company management is anticipating much this season but with that comes caution.

More water means those recreating on the river should take caution and be extra prepared if rafting without a guide.

“This is not the year to go out beer drinking and without a life jacket, especially if you don’t know how to swim. But if you go out with a professional company that knows what they are doing, it should be great,” Rothe said.

Companies licensed and certified by California State Parks that have experienced guides with first aid and river rescue experience are recommended.

“People need to understand the seriousness of whitewater and to be safe and smart about it,” Rothe said. “It is very cold and there is a lot of water this year.”

Rothe’s guides have been conducting extra training in the high water.

The South Fork of the American River clocked in a flow of more than 7,000 cubic-feet-per-second, according to May 17 SMUD readings. Compared to last year, that is about seven times more volume. More rocks are submerged as a result of the heavier flows and that means less chance to get stuck, according to John Skosakowsky, owner of River Runners, in business since 1974. His company takes measures to make sure the experience is safe for everyone.

“It is always best to go with a company, but it is more true this year, especially in years with a bump in snow crop,” Skosakowsky said. “For example, every time someone rides with us, you’re wearing a life jacket 100% of the time.”

Those who are more cautious might want to wait until later in the

season for a whitewater experience.

“If you want some big action and big waves, May and June and even to July is the time to go. If you want a little mellower trip, then go July or August through October,” Armstrong suggests.

Armstrong also advises folks who want to ride inner tubes to wait until the end of July. The slower stretch of the South Fork between Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and HenningsenLotus Park has long been popular for those who just want to float.

“That was fine for easy floats, but this year, there’s going to be fast currents going,” Armstrong said. “It’s just no place for an individual in the inner tube or floating device to get on the water until middle to late July.”

Outfitters rate experiences by class – I being less intense and V being more intense.

The South Fork of the American River is generally considered a class III, great for beginning rafters. Adventurers can get a class III experience during most of the summer season going into fall on this fork of the river this year.

The Middle Fork is expected to run too high until around June. Planning for that section of the river, considered a class III-IV experience, is recommended in July through September.

Lastly on the North Fork, considered the most difficult of the forks at class IV, folks should plan their trips from now until mid-June, according to Armstrong.

But how might a run down, say the South Fork, feel different this season?

“The rock obstacles are covered up by the water and bigger rapids like at Troublemaker will get a lot swifter and have bigger, rollercoaster-like waves, which is what rafters like the most,” Armstrong noted.

Either way, the inherent risks of rafting remain the same regardless of water flow. To Skosakowsky rafting is approached every day with the same principles that allow the outfitters to raft in low or high water.

“The rafting industry is really invested in creating great outcomes because otherwise we fail as an industry,” Skosakowsky said. “We’re doing something that people perceive as dangerous and when we do it wrong more people think it’s dangerous and there’s less business. We’re really a self-governing organization much like your favorite restaurant. If they get you sick, you’re going to quit going in there. We approach it like that.”

When Memorial Day hits whitewater outfitters expect to see an influx of people seeking a splash of adventure. There are more than a dozen whitewater rafting outfitters in the Coloma/Lotus area. For the full list, go to coloma.com/ whitewater-rafting.

Firefighters urge caution on the water this summer

you enter the water and avoid areas where the current is too strong.

4. Never swim alone: Always swim with a friend or family member and never let children swim unsupervised.

5. Check for hazards: Look for potential hazards in the water such as sharp rocks, logs or other debris, and avoid those areas.

of the American River, American River Confluence or Cosumnes River, emergency responders with the El Dorado County Fire Protection District offer these tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

1. Always wear a life jacket: A life jacket is essential when swimming in a river as it can help keep you afloat in case you get tired or encounter a strong current.

2. Check the depth of the water: Before entering the water make sure you know the depth of the water as there may be shallow areas, hidden rocks or sudden drop-offs that could cause injury.

3. Be aware of the current: Rivers can have strong currents even if they appear calm on the surface. Make sure you know the speed and direction of the current before

6. Watch for signs of hypothermia: Even in warm weather rivers can be cold and prolonged exposure can lead to hypothermia. If you start to feel cold, get out of the water and warm up.

7. Stay hydrated: Swimming can be a workout, so make sure you drink plenty of water before and after your swim.

8. Know your limits: Don’t push yourself too hard and listen to your body. If you start to feel tired or uncomfortable, get out of the water and rest.

9. Pay attention to weather conditions: Rivers can be affected by weather conditions such as rain or storms, which can cause the water level to rise or the current to become stronger. Check the weather forecast before going swimming and be prepared to change plans if necessary.

“This is my call for people who want to support this, come and show us,” Director Ben Paulsen said, noting that support should include financial donations to the effort.

If individuals and community groups stepped up to help the CSD, Hansen added, “It would make our decision for us,” and tell the board, “They’re willing to put their money where their mouth is.”

Longtime incorporation advocate Steve Ferry, who serves on the CSD board, touted the benefits of cityhood, i.e. shutting down a proposal like Project Frontier — a now withdrawn application for 1.7 million square feet of warehouse space in southern EDH — before it even made it through the door.

Decision-makers and residents need to look at the return on investment, Ferry said. If EDH became a city it could net a lot of tax revenue. The proposed Costco within what would be the city limits, is anticipated alone to bring in $1.2 million annually.

“If it goes to El Dorado County, I would make a large bet we would not get much of that money,” Ferry said.

But fellow directors and community members remained unconvinced that now is the best time to launch an incorporation effort.

“If it should fail, which the last one did fail, we spent $1 million potentially for nothing … and our tax dollars could have gone to something much better for this community, for all of us,” said El Dorado Hills resident Richard Ross.

“There’s a lot of money at stake and it’s all at risk,” concluded Paulsen before making a motion to table the item until July, which gives directors more time to do their own research — a LAFCO educational workshop is scheduled later this month — and better gauge the public’s interest.

“Another couple months isn’t going to hurt,” Ferry conceded. The motion passed 5-0.

Speedway Continued from A6

race facility into the competitive track it is today.

Tackling the high banked quartermile May 20 will be the winged 360 sprint cars, the limited late models, the pure stocks and wingless sprints.

Modesto’s Tony Gomes, Auburn’s Ray Trimble and Oakley’s Nick Baldwin sit atop the sprint car, late model and pure stock standings,

Fire drill Continued from A1

means of egress has long been known, the King Fire in 2014 made it clear to the community that preparation for a worst-case scenario was vital, according to one of the drill’s organizers, Taffy Warner.

“Prior to the King Fire we’d had discussions about fire drills but after how we were affected we knew we had to act,” Warner explained. “Rock Creek Road was suddenly exclusively for the use of fire personnel and that was a big eye opener for us.”

Mosquito Fire Chief Jack Rosevear shared he thinks the drills are particularly important for fire response as the keep residents and first responders aware of what to do and plan around.

“The biggest priority is bringing information to the community,” Rosevear said. “Information (such as) always having at least two escape routes; we as people often stick to a routine and a certain way, but in an emergency those may suddenly not be an option. Knowing that the airfield is a temporary resource while

respectively, going into the last point race until June 24.

The pit gate will open at noon, with the front gate opening at 3 p.m. The pit meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. with cars on track at 5:15. Hot laps, qualifying and racing will follow.

For more information on Placerville Speedway log onto placervillespeedway.com.

roads out are blocked, giving MFPD time to help with initial preparation and firefighting before the higher authorities come in, managing that chaos, it’s important. We’re planning ahead for the worst-case scenarios, like if the fire would impact the area directly near the airport itself.”

The Community Emergency Response Team will aid in the drill, setting up road signs and directing the pretend-evacuees. Last year’s drill saw around 50 households participating, not counting the many volunteers, according to Warner, and it is hoped with the weather being cooler this time around more residents will get involved.

Efforts like this fire drill show why Mosquito has the distinction of being designated a Fire Wise USA community. The Fire Wise designation stems from the collective work by MFPD, Sawnsboro Country Property Owners Association, Mosquito Fire Safe Council and residents to reduce fuel loads and keep the area prepared.

MICKEY (A152706)

Calicos & tortoiseshells like this female are a patchwork of gene expression 2yr.

CHIMERY (A152646)

ROBERT (A152342)

One of several puppies available this week, ‘BOB’ is a DobieX with short black fur. Only 13 wks old.

Chloe is a large kitty looking for a nice owner with a nice sunny couch. orange & white DLH F 10 yr.

CHLOE (A152959)

In the KNOW

Now Studio 81 Performing Arts (El Dorado High School Drama) presents “The Little Mermaid” through May 21 at the Carl Borelli Amphitheater in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit studio81arts.com/tickets.

The Stage at Burke Junction in Cameron Park presents “Short Cuts” through May 21 with performances on Saturdays and Sundays.

For tickets and more information call (916) 9471010 or visit stageatburke. com.

El Dorado County Certified Farmers Markets have begun Saturdays at Placerville Cinema on Placerville Drive, 8 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays at Burke Junction on Coach Lane in Cameron Park, 8 a.m. to noon; they El Dorado Hills Town Center market begins May 21, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m..

May 19

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open every Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on-site to assist with any questions. May be closed for inclement weather or poor air quality. Check the website before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

The Sierra Renaissance Society presents America’s HomeGrown Denominations:

Understanding Mormons, Christian Scientists, Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses by Keith Atwater, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road in Diamond Springs. Admission free for members; public is invited to two meetings each year free. For more information, visit srsedc.org.

The Amani Center 2558 Greenwood Drive in Cameron Park, hosts a Spring Fling Concert, 6-9 p.m. featuring Random Strangers, craft booths, food and fun. For more information visit theamanicenter.org.

Red Hawk Casino + Resort hosts live music at the Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

May 19; Get Down Tonight (‘80s dance) May 20; and Audioboxx (rock) May 26 & 27.

May 20

FamilySearch Center, 3275 Cedar Ravine Road in Placerville, hosts an open house, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tour the center and talk with consultants on site, who will demonstrate how to use the center’s

drive artists to create masterpieces Beauty & devotion

Lee Reyes Special to the Mountain Democrat

Gold Country Artists Gallery, an awardwinning artists’ cooperative in Placerville, features the work of Roger Lanzini, Phil Lachapelle and John Peck in May. Meet the artists on Main Street’s Third Saturday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m. May 20.

In the saddle

Lanzini is a skilled craftsman who tools leather into practical and artistic objects. Lanzini was born into a family of artisans who have worked all over the world designing and restoring churches, providing him the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, giving him the experience of studying masterworks up close. In addition to being a teacher, an art restorer and a talented watercolorist, his passion for art fuels his investigations into the many different kinds of media that interest him.

“I began working in leather to create sheaths for the outdoor knives that I make,” he said. His knives are beautifully crafted, and the leather knife

sheaths, the traditional way to carry a knife safely, are enhanced with intricate designs and unexpected details. Over time, he had many leather trimmings left over. Inspired by a horse-loving family member, he had a flash of brilliance about how to put those bits to use.

“I poked around one of her saddles to see how one is constructed,” he explained, adding he set out to create a miniature version of the saddle in precise detail. He went on to construct many more, designing all the saddle blankets, bedrolls, coloring,

accessories, and leather tooling and naming each handcrafted miniature cowhide saddle according to its theme. “Fire Chief,” “Trail Rider,” “Bounty Hunter” and “Lady Rancher” all reflect El Dorado region’s rugged history. Lanzini has also made many one-of-akind, genuine cowhide leatherworks, including business card and playing card holders, watchbands, bracelets and bolo ties. He has also made an unusual assortment of other practical items like a cover for an oldstyle razor, key chains

and necklaces with a magnifying glass encircled by a protective leather rim and a leather case for a pocket dart set.

In addition to his passion for art, Lanzini has an unconventional worldview and quirky sense of humor leading to interesting ways to present his artistic vision.

Driving influences

Lachapelle began sketching at an early age, inspired by the

natural beauty of his childhood home in Rhode Island and influenced by his mother’s artistic talent. A passion for automobiles drove him to sketch car designs, a skill that requires depicting ideas realistically, something Lachapelle has great affinity for. After submitting his portfolio of auto designs and being accepted to the Art Center College of Design, a premier school

Artists bring lifetime of passion to Placerville gallery

D. Lee Reyes Special to the Mountain Democrat

Gold Country Artists Gallery welcomes artwork by its newest member artists, painter Claudia Bennett and jewelry artist Diana Erickson.

Stitching together an art career

Bennett said her love for art began in childhood, inspired by her mother and aunt, both artists who painted with watercolors and acrylics. She recalled many fond memories of family time spent painting, which contributed to her desire to become a proficient painter and artisan. With an interest in sharing what she learned from these early family interactions, she took classes in drawing, watercolor and oil painting throughout her school years, including summer breaks, and well into her career as a high school home economics instructor.

Bennett’s artistic knowledge

and ability isn’t strictly limited to painting, however. An artist with many creative endeavors, she taught sewing and pattern making to adults and children for many years. She published a book about sewing with easy projects targeted for a young generation of seamstresses titled, “Sew

What? Sew Anything!”

After 23 years of educating children in the public school system, she retired to pursue other interests including photography, travel and tending her garden where she grows the flowers she loves to paint. In 2017 she renewed her

passion for painting by taking classes to learn acrylic painting at Once Upon a Canvas, an art gallery and studio in Benicia. Under the tutelage of artist Charles White, she learned many new and interesting acrylic techniques that she happily applies to her current artwork. “Continuing my art studies helps me to grow into a more confident and talented artist,” she explained, expressing appreciation and gratitude for the artistic community that continues to nurture her creativity. Bennett applied what she

n See GAllery page B5 n

n See New Artists page B5

Fresh Food & Local Eats

D.

“Corvette on Main” by Phil Lachapelle

“Bag End” by John Peck

Butterfly necklace, fine silver with enamel, by Diana Erickson

“South Fork” by Claudia Bennett

talented poets to converge at camino winery

News release

Poetry of the Sierra Foothills hosts two exceptional poets and an open-mic event at Chateau Davell Sunday afternoon.

Poets William O’Daly and Lois P. Jones will join poetry lovers at 2 p.m. May 21 at the winery, 3020 Vista Tierra Drive in Camino. For more information call (530) 6442016.

O’Daly has translated eight books of the late-career and posthumous poetry of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda and most recently Neruda’s first volume, “Book of Twilight,” a finalist for the 2018 Northern California Book Award in Translation.

O’Daly’s chapbooks of poems include “The Whale in the Web,” “The Road to Isla Negra,” “Water Ways” (a collaboration with JS Graustein) and “Yarrow and Smoke.” His first full length volume of poems, “The New Gods,” was published by Beltway Editions in September 2022. This March the Los Angeles Master Chorale included three poems from “The New Gods” and one from “Water Ways” in the world premiere of Reena Esmail’s “Malhaar: A Requiem for Water,” at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. A National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, O’Daly was a finalist for the 2006 Quill Award in Poetry and

in September 2021 received the American Literary Award from the bilingual Korean American journal Miju Poetry and Poetics. A fourtime Pushcart Prize nominee and co-founder of Copper Canyon Press, his poems, translations, essays and reviews have been published in numerous journals and as part of multimedia exhibits and performances. He has received national and regional honors for literary editing and instructional design and served on the national board of Poets Against War. Currently, O’Daly is lead writer for the California Water Plan, the state’s strategic plan for sustainably and equitably managing water resources.

Jones is a finalist in the annual Mslexia Poetry Competition judged by Helen Mort and will be published in this spring. She is currently shortlisted for the 2023 Alpine Fellowship, which this year takes place in Fjällnäs, Sweden. In 2022 her work was a finalist for both the Best Spiritual Literature Award in Poetry from Orison Books and the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Other honors include a Highly Commended and publication in the 2021 Bridport Poetry Prize Anthology Jones awards include the Bristol Poetry Prize, the Lascaux Poetry Prize for a single poem, the Tiferet Poetry Prize and winning

finalist for the Terrain Poetry contest judged by Jane Hirshfield. In collaboration with filmmaker Jutta Pryor and sound designer Peter Verwimp, her poem “La Scapigliata” won the 2022 Lyra Bristol Poetry Film Competition. Her work appears or is forthcoming in the Academy of American Poets – Poem A Day, Poetry Wales, Mslexia, Plume, Guernica Editions, Terrain, Vallentine Mitchell of London; Verse Daily,

Narrative and others. Jones’ first collection, “Night Ladder,” was published by Glass Lyre Press and was a finalist for the Julie Suk Award and the Lascaux Poetry Prize for a poetry collection. Since 2007 Jones has hosted KPFK’s Poets Café, and acted as poetry editor for the Pushcart prizewinning Kyoto Journal. She is a screening judge for Claremont University’s Kingsley-Tufts Awards.

r ing in spring with sweet songs

News release

GRASS VALLEY

— What better way to welcome warm Spring days than with great choral music? InConcert Sierra presents the Sierra Master Chorale, conducted by Alison Skinner, with two performances.

The Sierra Master Chorale and chamber orchestra will explore the variety of sounds, textures and effects

n See ConCert page B3

Free arts event celebrates veteran artists

Arts

Local veteran artists will display their work to the public at Arts HQ, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in the upper parking lot of the Veterans Memorial Building in Placerville. The free arts event — which takes place on Armed Forces Day during Mental Health Awareness Month — will raise awareness about veterans’ mental health issues and include resources for veterans and their caregivers. Arts HQ is part of a series of pop-up community creative arts cafés being presented throughout California, resulting from a partnership between California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and VETART, a San Diego-based arts non profit. MHSOAC and VETART have partnered with Arts and Culture El Dorado to

produce Arts HQ, the El Dorado County pop-up café.

“The pop-up cafés empower, uplift and promote veterans’ voices so that they can be heard and seen in the community,” explained Steven Dilley, founder and executive director of VETART.

At VETART, military-connected individuals receive art instruction and gain access to resources that support them as artists. After decades of work with military-connected individuals, Dilley has seen firsthand the powerful impact art can have on mental health. “People gain agency by being able to express themselves through non-verbal means,” he explained. “The outcome is that we see people’s wellness go up, their participation avoidance goes down and that translates into their life.”

n See Veterans, page B3

Courtesy photos

Meet renowned poets William O’Daly, above, and Lois Jones, at right, during a poetry-inspired event this Sunday in Camino.

Photo courtesy of ValleVisions Photography

Sierra Master Choral performs music through the ages at two concerts next week.

Colorful artist opens show at The Green Room

News release

Painter Polly LaPorte will show her works at The Green Room Social Club through June 13. An art reception for LaPorte will be held 4-6 p.m. Saturday, May 20, with music by Deb Smith, coordinating with Main Street’s Third Saturday Art Walk.

LaPorte, a California fine art painter was born in San Francisco 1959, grew up in Placerville and currently lives in Sacramento. Her earliest exposure to art was as a young girl. LaPorte’s grandmother, Ethel Pierce Nerger was a San Francisco artist and collected by the Crocker Art Museum.

LaPorte said she remembers spending time with her grandmother making art. Art supplies were kept nearby in a special drawer both at home and at

grandma’s house.

Life in Placerville shaped her art life, starting in grammar school with winning a blue ribbon at the El Dorado County Fair Art Show. Awarded an art scholarship, she attend Sugarloaf Art Camp, where she returned each summer as a student. She became a teacher at camp, then the art director.

She was inspired by the simple act of painting and drawing straight from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that moved her most.

LaPorte graduated with a bachelor’s of fine art at University of California, Davis, taking several classes from Wayne Thiebaud. It was while she was taking a figure painting class with Thiebaud that she became focused on capturing the human figure and how to

use dynamic color. Graphic design and broadcast design became her profession, leading to her position as art director at the ABC affiliate television station, News10 in Sacramento. While working in television she won an Emmy award for animation, a Sacramento Ad Club award, A PBS Gold award and a Telly award for graphic design.

The daily painting movement captured her interest in 2014 after leaving her job in television. Her dedication to improve her painting skills led her to study with Terry Miura Studios and to take master painting workshops by Craig Nelson, Sarah Sedwick, Bobbi Baldwin, Victoria Brooks, Philippe Gandiol, David Shevlino and John Poon.

LaPorte shares her joy and used her fine art skills to create colorful paintings and drawings that tell a story. She also teaches private art classes in her studio. Her intention is that the artwork would be a messenger of happiness and inspiration to others — a message to slow down, appreciate the little details in life and to look for beauty in the world around us. For more information about the artist visit pollydailypainting.com.

Shows scheduled this weekend at The Green Room, 251 Main St. in Placerville, are Ryder Thieves, 8-11 p.m. Friday, May 19, and a two-year anniversary party with Main Street Collective, 8 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, May 20. Sunday, May 21, is Family Trivia Pizza Night, 6-9 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Acoustic folk sounds conclude MOTD spring season at IOOF

Lynn Schardt Music on the Divide

Music On The Divide presents Rob and Christine Bonner with special guest Joe Craven for an intimate afternoon of acoustic music, 3-5 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Georgetown IOOF Hall.

Folk harpist Christine is a stunning harpist, performing concerts throughout the West Coast and Mexico. From lullabies to flamenco, her heartfelt compositions are a unique blend of Celtic, Latin, jazz and classical styles. She draws inspiration from her early California ancestors, the Berryessa family, and her love of art, history and nature.

Rob is the founding member of The South Loomis Quickstep, a Bluegrass band that performed for many years at concerts and festivals all over the U.S. and Europe. He is a professor at Sierra College teaching popular guitar classes, along with classes in music appreciation and the history of rock ‘n’ roll. He and Christine co-own Rainbow Music Company, a teaching studio in Colfax, where they have been inspiring students for more than 30 years.

The Bonners will be joined by their longtime

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produced by choral composers over the centuries. From the enchanting, single-line chant, “Karitas,” by the first known woman composer of Western music, Hildegaard von Bingen (1098-1179), the choir and orchestra journey reveals great works through the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th century eras and into the current time.

Exemplary works on the program include two excerpts from Vivaldi’s “Beatus Vir” for string orchestra with oboes: “In Memoria” and “Paratum cor Ejus,” Mozart’s “Sancta Maria,” Beethoven’s “Elegischer Gesang,” Bruckner’s “Tantum Ergo,” Nance’s “Set me as a Seal” and Ola Gjeilo’s “Sacred Heart” for string orchestra and eight-part choir.

“We will conclude our musical journey with a mid-century anthem, ‘O How Amiable,’ by famous, mid-20th century English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, for string orchestra and choir. Beautiful and satisfying chord progressions make this song a fitting ending to our journey through the ages,” said Skinner.

Concerts take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 12889 Osborne Hill Road in Grass Valley. For tickets and more information call (530) 273-3990 or visit inconcertsierra.org.

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Dilley said he hopes that pop-up cafés like Arts HQ might serve as a floating community arts center, a mobile space for arts instruction, creation and appreciation that can move from one community to another, serving veterans throughout California.

Jordan Hyatt-Miller, Arts and Culture El Dorado’s Program Coordinator, said he sees Arts HQ as a unique opportunity to promote veteran artists, forge new connections in the community and kickstart dialogues about mental health, art-making, the veteran experience in El Dorado County and their many intersections.

“Arts HQ will fold in many different perspectives and even artistic practices, from the literary arts to painting to music,” Hyatt-Miller shared. “We are grateful to our partners in the city and county government here in El Dorado County, as well as VETART and MHSOAC. But, above all, we’re grateful to the veteran artists who are the real focus of this special event.”

At the same time Arts HQ takes over the upper parking lot , VFW 10165’s Veterans Coming Home event will be in the lower parking lot. Both events are free and open to the public. At Arts HQ, county representatives from Veteran Services and Behavioral Health will be there to support veterans and the public with mental health resources. In addition, the event will feature several interactive discussions and demonstrations, including a drum circle and a listening session, as well as opportunities to meet and have conversations with local veteran artists. For more information about Arts HQ visit artsandcultureeldorado.org/arts-hq.

friend and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Joe Craven. The result will be an exciting and alluring mixture of acoustic instruments and percussion.

Tickets are on sale at eventbrite.com for $22.85. Tickets will also be available at the door, as space allows, $20 for adults and $5 for students. Children 5 and younger are free with a parent.

Doors open at 2 p.m. for MOTD members and online ticket holders, and 2:30 p.m. for the public. Refreshments will be available at intermission.

This will be the last MOTD concert for spring and summer 2023. Visit musiconthedivide.org to see the lineup of fall entertainment brought to the Divide by MOTD.

“Callas on Fire” by Polly LaPorte

Courtesy photo

Christine and Rob Bonner will bring their acoustic sound to the Divide May 21. Joe Craven will join in the musical fun.

Pub hosts blues legend

FOLSOM — Award-winning San Francisco Bay-area blues band Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, two-time winners of the prestigious Blues Music Award for Band of the Year, will perform live at the Powerhouse Pub Sunday, May 21. Their latest Alligator Records release is 2019’s “Contemporary.” The limitless combined talents of blues harmonica virtuoso and sly, soulful singer Estrin, guitar mastermind Kid Andersen, keyboard wizard Lorenzo Farrell and endlessly creative drummer Derrick “D’Mar”

Martin take Estrin’s inventive, original songs to new and unexpected places. With these musically fearless players kicking everything up a notch, “Contemporary” explores some di erent sounds, instrumentation and grooves from their previous releases, as they continue to reinvent traditional blues styles. On stage, the band’s ability to deliver an unpredictable, no-holdsbarred show is unmatched. Forbes. com called them “America’s Greatest Showmen” and noted, “Estrin is a world class musician … the most

Photo by Mark Herzig

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats play at Folsom’s Powerhouse Pub Sunday afternoon.

of design near L.A., he completed courses in automobile and product design, art techniques, color theory, perspective and illustration toward earning his degree in industrial design, majoring in transportation.

An economic recession necessitated a career diversion, leading him into commercial television sales and video electronics. But Lachapelle is an automobile designer at heart and while he may not have fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, his passion for sports cars remains unabated. “Corvette on Main” is his loving tribute to a sleek blue Corvette that parked on Main Street one afternoon.

“I saw the ’Vette in front of Cascada and felt an immediate desire to paint the extraordinary detail of the scene,” he said. His choice of acrylic gouache for the paint was tricky, he explained, but it is very opaque and especially good for reflections. There are many reflective surfaces in his painting, not just on the car, but also on the restaurant windows. His attention to the details — from the lights inside the restaurant to the old brickwork, including the decorative picture tiles, to his choice of gold paint for Round Tent Store signage — elevate this image into an homage to a special breed of automobile.

After retiring in 2000, Lachapelle

became a full-time oil painter.

He calls his artistic style “realistic impressionism,” imparting a quality of dreamy realism as seen through an impressionistic eye. His beautiful oil paintings reveal his deep love of art and his expression of that love, reflecting his New England heritage, landscapes, textures and foliage with color, richness and contrast evident in the variety of subjects he is drawn to.

One day on his way to join a friend with whom he paints, he crossed Hangtown Creek just outside of Placerville and the scene inspired him to capture it with his paints. All of his favorite elements are joined together in this image. Subtle ground colors, textures of the trees and rocks, the colors, patterns and perspectives that evoke feelings of calm and warmth are juxtaposed with cool shadows and glistening reflections in the water.

“It took a long time to delineate the water flowing toward the viewer,” he shared. “The flow of water comes from the horizon over a small waterfall from which distinctive micro-wavelets are formed. It was important for me to get that right.”

Lachapelle feels well-equipped to paint the surroundings and colorful landscapes around his home in Camino. “My studio is surrounded by

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learned and progressed to creating many awardwinning paintings. In 2022, she earned Best in Show award at Once

Upon a Canvas for her painting “South Fork.” Rolling hills dot the painting with lush trees and brush reflecting on the river rippling gently through the foreground. The scene feels calm and serene, as though captured by her brushes and paints in a special moment of time. Of the many flowers she fashions within her paintings, iris take center stage as her favorites, many of which she discovered flourishing at an iris farm in Somerset as well as those growing in her own garden. She created several eye-catching images of the blossoms she clearly loves.

She enjoys participating in local craft fairs and selling her art, collecting books about sewing, as well as creating her own sewing patterns. She said she especially loves meeting and talking with people who express an interest in her painted artwork and the stitched items she proudly creates.

Painting with glass

Born in Southern California, a move to Yosemite National Park when she was a teen was life-altering for jewelry artist Erickson. Completely enamored with the nature surrounding her, she would go on to share her passion through her art and career choices. Her first job was with the Yosemite Natural History Association, where she combined her love for nature with her artistic talent by writing and illustrating a guide to trees for children entitled “What’s Your Name, Mr. Tree?”

In college she took art classes, including ceramics, woodworking and fiber arts. She also studied landscape architecture, a field in which the “architect” plans and designs areas that benefit human and environmental health. After earning her bachelor’s degree in 1980, she spent 35 years working as a landscape architect for the Eldorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the Chugach National Forest in Alaska. Erickson’s interests have been varied and

exciting; marriage and motherhood opened new opportunities for her along the way. Through her daughters, she became involved with community theater, creating sets and scenic paintings on a large scale for many productions. Spending time in Alaska, Guatemala and Italy inspired personal connections to those places.

An interest in metalsmithing led her to the art of cloisonné and plique-à-jour. For cloisonné, metal strands of gold or silver are arranged onto a backing to form “cells” she then fills with vitreous glass or glass-like enamels. Plique-à-jour is similar, but without the backing to create a stainedglass window effect. She approaches this media with passion,

beauty,” he said. “Every day I enjoy the spectrum of different seasonal colors, from the early morning glistening of ice crystals in the trees and their subsequent melting with an early spring sun, to the ponderosa and sugar pines, cedars and black oaks that cover the forest floor with an array of pine needles, bark and fallen leaves.”

A view through his kitchen window one late afternoon inspired him to create his work “Sunset Thunder,” a somewhat haunting image of intense evening sunlight breaking through the clouds, touching on the twilight mists, a powerful scene of a place caught on the cusp between storms moving from day into night.

Lachapelle’s award-winning work has been exhibited at art association shows, outdoor exhibits and national shows. He maintains affiliations with several local art associations.

Confidence and skill

Self-expression, art and oil painting were always a passion for Peck. Public acceptance of his body of work — land, city and seascapes, human and animal portraits, still life and some quirky takes on traditional themes — validates his confidence in his skill as an artist. The self-taught Peck explains that sketching is the

honing her craft through experimentation and hard work, before teaching her skill in this art form to others.

“What a perfect marrying of my varied interests,” she said, adding she loves the idea of “painting with glass.”

Erickson works with copper, silver and gold metals to create her jewelry. Acorns, leaves, ladybugs, flowers, mushrooms and myriad

structural essence of his art and it helps him achieve harmony between hyperrealism and impressionism.

Peck describes his artwork as a multistage process, from sketch to color study, to blocking in, painting and evaluating. He favors a palette of brilliant, saturated colors over darker backgrounds with the judicious application of black varnish to create interesting intensity in many of his scenes. He is inspired by impressionist artists such as John Singer Sargent and admires the artwork of Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot and Edouard Manet, all of whom he memorialized his in his portrait of the “Three Impressionists.” But Peck goes deeper by implying emotional connections beyond the image itself. In his portrait of Abraham Lincoln, he combines simple forms and strong colors to express the dignified character of the president. However, it’s title, “Abe,” implies that Peck sees a man everyone might call a friend.

Many of Peck’s favorite subjects reflect his fondness for his home in Sutter Creek, an area rich with history, charming street scenes, lush landscapes and abundant vineyards and wineries. His still-life scenes often celebrate wine culture, as with

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of other natural forms grace her wearable art. She fabricates her own designs, as well as uses reproductions of handcarved steel hydraulic dies from the 1800s for her small copper “trinket dishes” and other objet d’art.

“As an artist, I find that I am always studying the details of my surroundings — the shapes, blending of colors and how

light creates the tone or feeling,” Erickson said. “My method of creating art is a process of relating to my environment, capturing that experience and passing it along to the viewer so they may also experience it. It is my love and passion for designing and handcrafting pieces that brings me joy and hopefully to others as well.”

The Public Square

■ SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

Solution to Puzzle 1

Placerville, CA 95667

established

facility with

and retail store in Cameron Park.

coffee roasting, packing equipment, espresso café equipment, retail coffee merchandise, and book of business of loyal customers. Sale price is $59K CASH. I will only speak and divulge records with people that are serious and show proof that they have the money to purchase business. Call (916) 759-9960.

The City of Placerville is currently accepting applications for the position of full-time Assistant Finance Director. Annual salary range: $96,312. – $117,060. Please visit the City’s website at: www.cityofplacerville.org for a detailed job description and to apply online. Applications may also be picked up at City Hall, 3101 Center Street, Placerville, CA 95667. Recruitment will remain open until the position is filled.

Help WAnted

Administrative Specialist

The Mountain Democrat is seeking a candidate for the position of administrative specialist. The right person needs to be proficient in accounts receivable and accounts payable. Additional responsibilities include processing payroll, account invoices, banking needs, collecting expense data and other general office tasks. Must be comfortable working in a deadline oriented environment and provide friendly customer service to both internal and external customers. Excel and Word experience a plus.

The Mountain Democrat — 2889 Ray Lawyer Drive Full time position — Monday thru Friday 8-5 p.m. Hourly position with paid time off and holidays. Medical benefits available. Pay based on experience.

Please email your qualifications and cover letter to: Rpietrowski@mtdemocrat.net

(No telephone calls or walk-ins accepted.)

For Rent

Solution to Puzzle 2

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/1762537

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/1762538

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

•shorty’s Donuts 8-10:30

•Betta Toss

•Bounce House

•chick-Fil-A 11-3

•Breyer Figure Painting 11-1 (first 60 kids)

•Petting Zoo 8:30-12

Estrin Continued from B4

colorful and entertaining showman around.” “People don’t go out to see people who look like themselves. They want to see something special,” Estrin said. “I was schooled in this business to be a showman and that’s what you get when you come to see us perform. We know how to put on

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his almost surreal representation of two lovers created in a splash of wine from a pair of stemware and appropriately named “Wine Pairing. “His painting-within-a-painting titled “Gift of the Vines” presents a luscious red outpouring from a bottle within the frame of one painting into a goblet placed in the foreground of another framed painting. His attention to detail on the wall of cracked plaster in the background allows the brickwork to show through, adding an interesting touch to this somewhat rustic scene.

Inspiration for many of his landscapes arises from his lifelong experiences as an avid backpacker and nature enthusiast, generously translating what he sees and feels onto canvas with balanced presentations of light and perspective. He caught a tranquil moment “By the Pond,” where a glimpse of a small body of water richly gleams with hues of blue — turquoise, teal and blue-green — framed by trees wearing early fall colors, evoking a feeling of summer’s end breathing across the last of its sumptuous greenery.

On a trip to New Zealand, Peck came across Bilbo Baggins’ home — a lovely Hobbit Hole built for the films. He photographed it with

a show. I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow us.”

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats take the stage at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Powerhouse Pub, 614 Sutter St. in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 355-8586 or visit powerhousepub.com.

his daughter in mind, who was enamored with Tolkien’s world at the time. His detailed painting of “Bag End” reflects his own love for the scene. From the multitude of tiny flowers peppering the house and hillside, to the stone steps leading up to a round blue door and tiny round windows, Peck captured all the details that make this one of fantasy literature’s a most recognizable homes.

Although he said that he was initially “terrified by walking into a gallery,” Peck’s love for painting and self-expression gave him the confidence to become an awardwinning artist whose work not only graces the walls of several galleries, but are also found at numerous exhibitions, art shows and in private collections.

Gold Country Artists Gallery, 379 Main St. in Placerville, features the work of many 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 is open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month. For more information call (530) 642-2944 or visit goldcountryartistsgallery.com.

Public Notices 

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resources. For details call (530) 621-1378. Narrow Gate Vineyards in the Pleasant Valley area hosts a biodynamic vineyard hike with lunch and wine. For more information call (530) 6446201 or email wine@narrowgatevineyards.com.

This month’s Third Saturday Art Walk will celebrate families with the theme “Viva La Familia.” This is a month of family celebrations: Mother’s Day, graduations, recitals and more. Restaurants are offering discounts, there will be live music at The Green Room Social Club and The Wine Smith, Cappelli Wine will have a $5 tasting flight, six galleries will offer specials and demonstrations and retailers will offer discounts.

For more information visit the Placerville Art Walk – 3rd Saturday Facebook page or pick up a bingo style flier downtown at Art Studio 360 and qualify for a free raffle prize necklace/earring set from Placerville Art Gallery.

The Greater Cameron Park Area Fire Safe Council & Cameron Park Community Services District host a Wildfire Defense, Suppression and Safety town hall meeting, 5-7:30 p.m. at the CSD assembly hall, 2502 Country Club Drive in Cameron Park. Speakers include Congressman Tom McClintock, State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil and El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf. Smith Flat House in Placerville hosts Comedy Night. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more information call (530) 621-1003.

May 21

El Dorado Western Railroad offers train rides at the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St., beginning at 10 a.m. the first and third Sundays of each month. Trains leave on the hour 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. Call ahead to ensure trains are running at (530) 663-3581.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

The Boxmasters is an Americana R&R band featuring actor-musician Billy Bob Thornton and Grammy Award-winning engineer J.D. Andrew. Their craving for ‘60s beats has produced an impressive catalogue touching on a wide array of musical influences.

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.

Lonestar

SUNDAY, JULY 30

Multiple-award-winning Lonestar’s charttopping country hits started with the rockedged “No News,” followed by “Come Cryin’ to Me” and “Everything’s Changed.” The band’s quadruple-platinum album Lonely Grill spawned four No. 1 hits, including the beloved global smash “Amazed.”

Boz Scaggs –Summer 23 Tour

TWO NIGHTS! AUGUST 22 & 23

It’s appropriate that Boz Scaggs’ new album is Out of the Blues, since the blues is what first sparked his five-decade musical career. His catalog of hits includes “It’s Over,” “Lido Shuffle,” and the Grammy-winning “Lowdown.”

Photo by David Grenier