The long awaited independent investigation into former El Dorado Hills Community Services District general manager Kevin Loewen confirms a clear conflict of interest.
Released last week, the confidential investigation report completed by sta with law firm Van Dermyden Makus notes, “Loewen’s agreement with DTA created a situation where his personal, financial interests could conflict with the district’s interests.”
The report’s author also accuses Loewen of withholding information and misleading investigators.
The report’s findings include:
• During the same time Loewen was acting as the district’s general manager, from 2016 to Dec. 13, 2023, he engaged
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
in outside business activity by working for DTA as a part-time business development consultant/senior manager.
• EDHCSD board members did not have su cient information to meaningfully consent to Loewen’s work for DTA. Instead, the evidence demonstrates that since at least January 2022 through July 2023, Loewen deliberately withheld material information from the board that would have been relevant to their consideration in consenting to his outside consulting work for DTA.
• One of Loewen’s business decisions for the district was improperly influenced by Loewen’s conflict of interest.
• Loewen conducted outside business activity for DTA during the district’s ordinary business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Loewen violated the district’s Conflict of Interest Policy (Policy 3010) and the
Odin Rasco Senior sta writer
Some Placerville residents found themselves quickly packing and evacuating from their homes as a wildfire near Lions Park and the Placerville Airport began to spread, ultimately engulfing 77 acres in flame.
The Pay Fire was first reported at around 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6. Multiple homes and other structures were threatened, prompting an immediate response from firefighting agencies across the county. The
Pay Fire burns away 77 acres in Placerville
sky above the fire Saturday afternoon was abuzz with activity as helicopters hauled buckets of water, air tankers made strafing runs as they dropped pink fire retardant and other planes carved around a growing plume of smoke to maintain a bird’s-eye view of the situation.
The fire initially worked its way uphill at a moderate rate. The spread was stopped in the backyards of some homes along Duden Drive mere feet from buildings, where crews fought back the blaze and cut perimeter lines and laid hoses.
Though forward progress was stopped at 77 acres in the first day, firefighters continue e orts to contain the blaze; as of press time, Cal Fire is reporting the fire is 65% contained.
As the fire spread, evacuation warnings were upgraded to orders, with hastily-packed cars driving away from the area within an hour of the fire first being spotted. Displaced residents were sheltered at Union Mine High School until final evacuation orders were downgraded Monday
Bursting in air
Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
Firefighters hose down hot spots. They stopped flames just behind a home on Duden Drive
El Dorado County celebrated Independence Day in style last week, Above left, Valeria Rodriguez, 9, right, and her niece, Evelyn Sanchez, 7, left, both of Diamond Spring view fireworks from their vantage point on the bridge on Town Center Boulevard during the Fireworks & Freedom celebration. Fireworks also exploded from the pond behind them and up near the theater, making a spectacular showing for the crowd on July 3. Above right, fireworks light up the night sky above the El Dorado County Fairgrounds during the 4th of July Family Blast.
Sacramento based country cover band Locked-N-Loaded, above, cranks out country and classic rock songs prior to the start of the Placerville fireworks show. At right, Reagan Rothwell, 6, of Placerville, right photo, is all smiles surrounded by bubbles from a bubble machine while 14-month-old Ainsley Smith and mom Jenni of Shingle Springs, right, leave the bubbles to check out another venue at the Kids Zone in Town Center.
Photo by Shelly Thorene
Photo by Shelly Thorene
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
KEVIN LOEWEN
ESSENTIALS
Jean Bollman Rulison
March 13, 1925 – June 30, 2024
Jean Bollman Rulison Born March 13, 1925 in Rochester, Minnesota; died June 30, 2024 in Cameron Park, California. Predeceased by her husband, Ted Rulison and survived by her children, Sally, John and Lisa. Jean graduated from University of Minnesota. She was a bridge Life Master. She travelled extensively with her husband. Jean was noted for her generosity and wit. Remembrance donations to: American River Conservancy
Connie Gallegos
March 25, 1926 – June 8, 2024
Mother, Grandmother, godmother and Aunt, Connie Gallegos passed away at the age of 98 on June 8, 2024 in Placerville, California with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren at her side.
Born on March 25, 1926 to Angela and Silverio Vallez, Connie grew up in Los Angeles with her three brothers: Hank, David and Ray.
Connie’s favorite job (from which she retired) was as a cook for the Los Angeles City School District. Her menus became so popular with the faculty and sta that she brought the cafeteria budget out of the red and into the green! She was also bilingual and was happy to translate for friends and family at school and at home.
Connie met her husband Al in Los Angeles where he owned a barber shop for many years and finally In 1992 they moved to Placerville to be with her daughter and son-in-law.
Connie liked to shop, cook for her family and friends, and read biographies and novels. Both Connie and Al’s faith was important to them and they were active members for many years in the Knights of Columbus in Gardena, California – Al as a Fourth Degree Knight and Connie as member and president of the Knight’s Wives. After moving to Placerville in 1992 they became active members of St. Patricks Catholic Church until Connie’s death. When Al had a stroke, Connie was his caregiver for over 20 years until his death in 2019. Her final reunion with family and friends was in Long Beach, California to celebrate her 98th birthday!
Besides her husband, Connie was preceded in death by her son Bobby, her three brothers and her parents. She is survived by her daughter Paula Grady, son-in-law Joseph and her grand-children: Andrea (Je ), Valerie and Robert. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Patricks Church in Placerville, California on Monday July 15 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the church hall. Connie will be laid to rest with her husband Al and their son Bobby at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Doris Beers Beemer
May 25, 1926 – May 24, 2024
In loving memory of Doris Beers Beemer who passed away on 5/24/24 Doris was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, James G. Beemer in 2005. She lived a most wonderful life surrounded by her devoted family. She leaves children Patsy Stoneking (Sam), Jean Beemer, Rebecca Beemer (Kent Fickett) and David Beemer (Patti). Grandchildren Penny Castillero Smart (Steve), Diana Castillero Kantola (Kelly), Gina Stoneking Gray, Kimberly Stoneking Hewel (Chris), Ellena Fickett Chen (Nick), Aaron Beemer, Kevin Beemer, and Daniel Fickett. Fourteen great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Doris’s greatest love, pride and joy was being the matriarch of five generations. Both she and Jim loved nothing more than to point out that they “started all this.” It gave her great joy to attend every and all of her children’s and grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s school and sports events. Doris grew up on a ranch in Wabuska, NV, and in Fair Oaks, CA. She married the love of her life, James, at 18 in the middle of WWII. They were stationed in Georgia for a while, then back to CA where they spent most of their life together.
Of all her myriad interests and talents, Doris loved most the family homes she and Jim lived in so comfortably. There she could create award winning quilts, sew, bake every cookie known, but mostly chocolate chip, and throw together incredible family meals for everyone. Only their curiosity to see the world could get them out. And see it they did: Europe, South America, Africa, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, and almost all 50 states. Because of her love of history Doris also thoroughly enjoyed being a volunteer docent in the El Dorado County Historical Museum. Rest in peace mom/grammie. You are missed. Per her request there will be no services. Please honor her memory by loving your family with all your heart, just as she did.
Craig Michael Stender
April 28, 1956 – June 22, 2024
Craig Michael Stender passed away June 22, 2024 surrounded by his immediate family. He was born in Southern California to Bruce and Jill Stender. A few years later the family moved to Lake Tahoe’s North Shore then to El Dorado County in 1968, ending up in Diamond Springs, where he graduated from Ponderosa high School in 1975.
He was a member of El Dorado Gem and Mineral Society working every year at the El Dorado County Fair setting up their exhibits. He spent several years in Montana working and digging for Sapphires at a Sapphire Mine near Helena. He loved his gem work and hanging out with his friends.
Moving to the town of El Dorado you would see Craig riding his bike everywhere, with a smile and a wave. His funny character will be missed by all who knew him.
He volunteered his time at the El Dorado Western Railroad when it first opened.
He loved anything that had to do with dirt track racing and NASCAR and once had his own pure stock car at Hangtown Speedway.
Craig is survived by his mother Jill Baker, his brother Je Stender and Je ’s children Nathan Stender & Laura Esperson, his sister, Sandy Stender and her daughter Vallean Marshall, plus great niece Peyton Humphreys, as well as other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews in Southern California, Georgia and Florida.
We would love you to join us for a Celebration of Life at Green Valley Church in their little Chapel on September 26th at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. Please bring your stories of Craig to share.
CONTACT US
Richard B. Esposito Publisher (530) 344-5055 / resposito@mtdemocrat.net
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LEGISLATORS’ ADDRESSES
PLACERVILLE CITY COUNCIL
City Hall 3101 Center St., Placerville (530) 642-5200
Mayor Michael Saragosa msaragosa@cityofplacerville.org
Vice Mayor Jackie Neau jneau@cityofplacerville.org
John Clerici jclerici@cityofplacerville.org
Nicole Gotberg
ngotberg@cityofplacerville.org
David Yarbrough dyarbrough@cityofplacerville.
org ElL DORADO COUNTY SUPERVISORS EDC Government Center 330 Fair Lane, Placerville
District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl (530) 621-5650
District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo (530) 621-5651
District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas (530) 621-5652
District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin (530) 621-6513
District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine (530) 621-6577 (Placerville) (530) 621-6577 (South Lake Tahoe)
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR Gavin Newsom 1021 O St., Suite 9000 Sacramento 95814 (916) 445-2841 U.S. SENATE Laphonza Butler SD-G10 Dirksen Senate Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3841 Alex Padilla 112 Hart Senate O ce Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3553 Sacramento O ce 501 I St., Suite 7-800 Sacramento 95814 (916) 448-2787 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Tom McClintock Constituent Service Center 4359 Town Center Blvd., Suite 210 El Dorado Hills 95762 (916) 786-5560 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Kevin Kiley Constituent Service Center 6538 Lonetree Blvd, Suite 200 Rocklin 95765 (916) 724-2575 5TH ASSEMBLY
(530)
Moccasin Fire 100% contained
Firefighters have 100% contained the Moccasin Fire, which started July 2 as a structure fire and burned 51 acres of wildland.
All fire fighting resources have been pulled from the blaze but crews continue to patrol and monitor the area west of Somerset in southern El Dorado County, according to Cal Fire o cials.
Only one structure was destroyed and no injuries were reported, according to Cal Fire Public Information O cer Wendy Oaks. The cause of the residential fire is under investigation.
The July 2 fire prompted evacuations of nearby residents in the afternoon during triple-heat, lowhumidity weather in the hilly and rural area.
Many first responder agencies — Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado unit, U.S. Forest Service –Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County Fire Protection District, El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District, Garden Valley Fire Protection District, Tribal Fire – Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and Rescue Fire Department, along with assistance from the El Dorado County Sheri ’s and Placerville’s California Highway Patrol o ces — worked to quell the fire which was spreading at a moderate to dangerous rate of speed.
It marks the third wildfire to reach double-digit acreage numbers in a 30-day span, o cials noted.
The following information was taken from Placerville police reports:
June 9
12:19 a.m. O cers booked into jail
a 45-year-old man on suspicion of threatening crime with intent to terrorize on Placerville Drive. He was listed in custody in lieu of $90,000 bail.
12:07 p.m. Battery reported on Main Street.
1:20 p.m. Vandalism reported on Marshall Way.
1:06 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 35-year-old woman on suspicion of trespassing and obstruction on Placerville Drive. She was released on $3,000 bail.
June 11
1:42 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 27-year-old man on suspicion of battery on Schnell School Road. He was released on $57,500 bail.
3:22 p.m. Battery reported on Broadway.
5:47 p.m. Petty theft reported on Lee Court.
June 12
10:08 a.m. O cers booked into jail
a 40-year-old man on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on Marshall Way. He was listed in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.
2:51 p.m. Vandalism reported on Cedar Ravine Road.
7:23 p.m. Battery reported on Fair Lane.
June 13
8:08 a.m. Petty theft reported on Main Street.
9:32 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 45-year-old man on suspicion of use of a controlled substance on Paci c Street. He was later released.
10:16 a.m. Suspicious subject reported on Bedford Avenue. Arrest was made.
1:48 p.m. O cers booked into jail
a 48-year-old man on suspicion of obstruction and disorderly conduct on Highway 50. He was later released.
June 14
1:17 p.m. Suspicious subject reported on Paci c Street. Arrest was made.
3:23 p.m. O cers booked into jail a
31-year-old man on suspicion of use of controlled substance and possession of unlawful paraphernalia on Cedar Ravine Road. He was later released.
7:22 p.m.
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Fire crews douse water near the edge of the Moccasin Fire July 2.
Eric Jaramishian Senior sta writer
PLEASANT VALLEY CELEBRATES FREEDOM
Flames burn land, property in EDH
Two homes were damaged in a fire on Archetto Way in El Dorado Hills on July 7.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit responded to a reported vegetation fire in the Serrano neighborhood.
“Upon arrival, crews found a fence between two homes on fire, with flames extending into one of the homes,” an EDH Fire social media post notes. “Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack and quickly contained the fire.”
The primary home suffered
significant damage, while the neighboring home sustained moderate exterior damage. Damage to both homes is approximately $250,000, EDH Fire officials reported. In video posted by the fire department neighbors could be seen using the garden hoses to extinguish some of the flames as crews arrived and set up. Battling the fire was especially challenging due to the 109-degree heat, officials reported.
“Fortunately, no one was home at the primary residence and the occupant next door was alerted by neighbors,” the EDH Fire post continues. “No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.”
CATCH & RELEASE
Teeth
achieve a higher level of bleaching in just over an hour. For many people, the ease and convenience are worth the extra cost. Alternatively, a dentist can dispense a professional take-home kit, sometimes referred to as “trays and gels.” This option takes one to two weeks to achieve the desired whiteness level. The trays are custom molded to your teeth and the dentist can fine-tune the peroxide concentrations,
offering some advantages to over-the-counter whitening kits. Improving the look, health, and function of your smile is our primary focus. From cosmetic dentistry to general family dentistry to preventive care, we are dedicated to working with our patients toward the goal of achieving the healthiest, most attractive smiles possible. Are you curious how today’s dental procedures can virtually change your life? We’d be glad to tell you about the many ways we can help make your smile a dazzling one. Just call us for an appointment.
P.S. Teeth whitening treatments offered at a dental clinic use higher concentrations of peroxide, allowing them to produce whiter teeth than overthe-counter options.
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack
The Sisterhood of the Synchronized Rolling Pins, left photo, modified their routine at this year’s Pleasant Valley 4th of July Parade, using umbrellas to shade themselves and entertain the crowd that lines up along Pleasant Valley Road. Decked out with American flags, a Jeep rolls down Pleasant Valley Road during the annual parade, right photo .
Photo courtesy of EDH Fire Smoke pours from the roof of an El Dorado Hills home during a fire Sunday, July 7.
Noel Stack Editor
HistoriCorps and Eldorado National Forest are seeking volunteers of all skill levels to help rehabilitate the historical Bunker Hill Lookout Tower, with week-long volunteer opportunities running July 28 through Sept. 6. Those interested in volunteering can visit historicorps.org to register for the project and learn more about other HistoriCorps volunteer opportunities.
HistoriCorps is a national nonprofit dedicated to engaging volunteer workforces to preserve historical places and provide free mentorship in the preservation trades. There are four volunteer sessions available at Bunker Hill Lookout Tower, but volunteers are particularly needed between July 28 and Aug. 2, and again Sept. 1-6. This summer,
HistoriCorps will also be partnering with the Great Basin Institute’s Nevada Conservation Corps as a pathway to inspire and mentor young people in the preservation trades.
The Bunker Hill Lookout is a key historical site within Region 5, symbolizing its expansive fire management e orts during the Great Depression. Constructed as part of a broad administrative and infrastructural campaign, this unique facility was designed by Region 5 architect Kepler Johnson in 1939. Today the Bunker Hill Lookout retains a high degree of historical integrity and stands as one of the most distinctive and important Forest Service buildings in California, reflecting the architectural ambition and functional necessity of its time. As part of its work project this year, HistoriCorps
will be replacing the roof of the lookout tower, deconstructing and restoring the historical integrity of the brick chimney, and addressing other water damage issues and exterior repairs.
More volunteers are still needed to ensure the success of Bunker Hill Lookout Tower project. HistoriCorps welcomes but does not require any experience in the trades; mentorship and all necessary tools are provided. Volunteer sessions are scheduled Sunday evening through Friday morning, and volunteers can expect all meals to be provided by expert field sta . Participants will have access to camping accommodations for tents, truck campers and camper vans. For more information visit historicorps.org or email info@ historicorps.org.
UC team offering post-wildfire education for forest landowners
Odin Rasco Senior sta writer
The University of California Forest Stewardship team, part of the UC Cooperative Extension, is set to begin a five week post-wildfire workshop for landowners in El Dorado, Amador and Placer counties, as well as anyone who has experienced fire three or more years ago.
The Post-Fire Forest Resilience Workshop is intended to help landowners navigate options while they work to steward a new forest as new growth begins to return to the land. Attendees will gain access to information, resources and professionals, which can help them manage their post-wildfire land.
Workshop meetings will highlight information from local resource conservation districts, UCCE forestry advisors, Cal Fire, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other natural resource community leaders. A variety of topics will be
discussed over the five weeks, including post-fire forest management, competing and resprouting vegetation, financial and professional assistance programs and ongoing forest maintenance. The workshop will also provide access to online resources participants can use on their own time to complete learning modules.
Beginning July 16 and going until Aug. 6, the workshop will meet once a week over Zoom, 6-7:30 p.m. Participants will also have the option to gain practical experience Aug. 10 during an in-person field trip to a forest area impacted by the Caldor Fire in El Dorado County. The trip will allow guests the opportunity to observe fire impacts and the e ects of post-fire management e orts.
Enrollment in the workshop costs $25, and registration information can be found at ucanr.edu/ post-fireworkshops. For additional information or questions contact Katie Reidy at Kkreidy@ucanr. edu.
Tribal land now has broadband technology
News release
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and Cal.net recently announced the completion of a fiber-to-the-home project on the Shingle Springs Rancheria. This significant milestone, achieved through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, marks a major advancement in broadband infrastructure for the Tribal community. “Access to reliable broadband is vital for our community’s development and well-being,” noted Tribal Chairwoman Regina Cuellar. “This project equips our members with the necessary tools for education, health care and economic growth, reinforcing our commitment to improving the quality of life for all.”
The Tribe, a sovereign nation in rural El Dorado County, independently operates its own government, services and businesses. The installation of reliable broadband technology is a momentous advancement that will significantly
enhance educational opportunities, emergency response services, health care delivery, digital learning and economic development for Tribal members.
Cal.net’s fiber-to-the-home service delivers up to 10 Gbps internet speeds, with the capability for future expansion to meet the growing needs of the Tribal community. The completion of this project underscores a collaborative commitment to providing essential technological resources.
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to bring this advanced technology to the Shingle Springs Rancheria,” said David A. Murray, TBCP program manager. “This project represents a significant step forward in our ongoing e orts to support and uplift the community.”
“The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians has been a valued Cal.net customer for many years,” added Mark Herr, VP of Corporate Development at Cal.net. “We are honored to have played a role in this transformative technology upgrade and appreciate the trust the Tribe has placed in us to deliver dependable internet service.”
Photo courtesy of HistoriCorps
Bunker Hill Lookout stands as one of the most distinctive and important U.S. Forest Service buildings in California. Volunteers are needed to assist with its onging preservation.
Oak Ridge tight end lets the tide roll
Malachi Parker
Sta writer
Four-star tight end recruit out of Oak Ridge High School Kaleb Edwards has decided that Tuscaloosa, Ala., will be his new home as he committed to play at the University of Alabama Monday, July 1. Edwards held 19 o ers and chose Alabama over the likes of schools such as UCLA, Oregon, Auburn, Washington and Texas. In his junior season, Edwards played both sides of the ball and compiled the o ensive stat line of 44 receptions, 828 yards (18.8 yards per catch) and seven o ensive touchdowns. Those stats brought him the honors of Sierra Football League Co-Lineman of the Year, Sac-Joaquin Section first team and voted team co-MVP by his teammates.
Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge head coach Casey Taylor Kaleb Edwards poses for a photo in University of Alabama gear during his recent official visit.
On the defensive end, Edwards finished last season with 6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and one touchdown on this end with an interception return.
The 6-foot-6 tight end has been a key part of the school’s program since his sophomore year and now enters his final campaign with his
Forsberg, Faccinto, Ferolito and Baldwin claim speedway wins
Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway
Auburn’s Andy Forsberg snagged the lead on an early restart and dominated the remainder of the way to grab his 72nd career Placerville Speedway Winged Sprint Car triumph on July 6.
biggest football decision behind him and another chance to make a run at section championship that the Trojans came so close to capturing last year.
July 4th
Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway
races brought the heat
Fremont’s Shane Golobic made the move by Dylan Bloomfield on lap 13 and went on to claim his 15th career Placerville Speedway Winged 360 Sprint Car victory on Independence Day. A large and vocal crowd during the 4th of July special also witnessed Diamond Springs’ Kevin Jinkerson and Martinez driver Anthony Slaney scoop wins with the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks and Mountain Democrat Late Models, respectively.
Oakley’s Bloomfield set the early pace in the 25-lap Thompson’s Winged Sprint Car feature. The action was hot and heavy in the opening stages of the contest as drivers battled on every square inch of the quarter mile.
Golobic, however, ran smooth and calculated laps, until turning up the heat by moving into second on lap 11, before snatching the lead around the outside on lap 13. Once in front the former World of Outlaws winner at Placerville dominated things and grabbed the checkered flag for victory. By doing so he tied Billy Wallace and Colby Wiesz on the all-time Winged 360 win list at the track.
Bloomfield crossed the stripe in second followed by Tony Gomes, row 9 started Michael Faccinto and
Austin Wood in the top-5. Completing the top-10 were Dominic Gorden, Bubba Decaires, Justin Peck, Ashlyn Rodriguez and Tyler Thompson.
In the Mountain Democrat Ltd.
Late Model finale, it was Auburn’s Ray Trimble who jumped out front.
Trimble led for a couple laps until Slaney powered by to grab the point.
After that it was all Slaney, who pulled away for his third victory of the year at the track.
Dan Brown Jr. came home in second followed by Jay Norton, Kiely Ricardo and Tyler Lightfoot.
The Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks provided an entertaining 20-lap feature on Independence Day. The Jinkerson brothers, Kevin and Dan, battled for the lead early with Nick Baldwin right there with them every step of the way.
Kevin took the point and had Baldwin all over him right down to the wire. Kevin picked up the win for his second straight triumph at Placerville Speedway and in doing so, took over the point lead. Baldwin finished second ahead of Tommy Sturgeon, Wayne Trimble and Jason Ramos.
Placerville Speedway returns with Red Hawk Casino Night on Saturday. The program will start one hour later than usual with the warm temps forecasted. The front gate will open at 4 p.m. with cars on track around 6:15.
Sharing victory lane on Red Hawk Casino Night were Michael Faccinto with the USAC/BCRA Midgets, Josef Ferolito with the BCRA Lightning Sprints and Nick Baldwin with the Pure Stocks.
The 25-lap Thompson’s Family of Dealerships Winged Sprint Car main event saw current point leader Bubba Decaires jump in front after battling Oregon driver Tyler Thompson on the opening circuit. The pilot of the Morrison Concrete No. 94 set the pace as racers battled for position behind him.
Forsberg climbed into second on lap seven however and took advantage of a restart to rocket past Decaires for the top spot. Once out front the nine-time track champion pulled away from the field with ease. Forsberg ran the cushion to perfection and went on to cross under the Ron Stahl checkered flag for his third win of the season at Placerville Speedway.
Placerville’s Shane Hopkins continued his stellar start to the campaign by finishing in the runner up spot, followed by Decaires, Sacramento’s Austin Wood and Thompson. Rounding out the top 10 were Justin Peck, Michael Faccinto, Ashlyn Rodriguez, Izaak Sharp and Blaine Craft.
The USAC Western States/ BCRA Midget feature came to the line with husband-and-wife duo of Michael and Danika Jo Faccinto
sharing the front row. M. Faccinto moved out front at the waving of the green flag. Around lap five though all eyes were glued to current USAC point leader Cade Lewis, who ran the cushion like a veteran.
Lewis charged by Faccinto to snag the lead on lap nine, with Arizona racer Drake Edwards following along for second a few circuits later. Edwards then attempted a super slider with four laps remaining but got sideways and resulted in Lewis climbing over him, ending in a nasty set of barrel rolls. Luckily, Lewis was OK but done for the night, as was Edwards. Michael Faccinto then inherited the lead and led the final four laps for the victory o ver Brandon Wiley, Dane Colver, Dalten Gabbard and Robby Flock.
Modesto’s Ferolito brought home his second straight Placerville Speedway victory with the BCRA Wingless Lightning Sprints on Saturday. Dakota Albright ran second, followed by Matt Land, Hunter Kinney and Greg Dennett. The Red Hawk Casino Pure Stock feature saw Placerville’s Tyler Lightfoot blast his way into the lead at the start. Lightfoot set the early pace but had five-time track champion Baldwin coming like a house of fire.
Baldwin made the move on lap seven and went to score his 28th career Placerville Speedway win. Lightfoot tallied a runner-up finish at the checkered with Kevin Jinkerson, Tommy Sturgeon and Anthony Vigna completing the top-five.
Placerville Speedway returns to action with Burger Night presented by Kings Meats on Saturday, July 13. All burgers will be half price during the evening.
In Loving Memory
Karen L. DeBerry (Cameron) 75, of Diamond Springs, passed peacefully on January 9th, 2024, surrounded by her family. Karen was born in Artesia, CA in October of 1948, and preceded in death by her parents Hugh R. and Anna L. Cameron, her brother Robert Pell.
Karen was a resident of El Dorado County for over 65 years, a graduate of El Dorado High School, Class of 66. She had worked as a Beautician for many years. Later in life, she owned Diamond Springs video in Diamond Springs.
Karen was a strong individual, who had dealt with several bouts of cancer throughout her years. She remained strong no matter what the circumstances. Survived by her loving husband
Oct. 22, 1948 – Jan. 9, 2024
of 47 years, Brian, their sons Randy (Cerita) and Tim (Joel), and her loyal dog Elmo.
Karen was very active and a proud member of the local Rebekah’s Lodge and served as a state officer representing Northern California. With this, she traveled throughout the state. Karen was also a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Parlor 12. She will be remembered with love, smiles, and laughter. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to UC Davis Cancer Center at give.ucdavis. edu.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 10:30am at New Hope Fellowship Church, 3838 Ponderosa Road, Shingle Springs.
Photo courtesy of Tim Holland Racers celebrate after a great showing at Placerville Speedway on July 6. Actio on the track
Photo courtesy of Petersen Media
Shane Golobic races on the Placerville Speedway dirt track during the 4th of July event. He took home the top trophy.
OPINION
California Matters
State shift will imact gas prices
California’s taxes on gasoline, already among the nation’s highest, increased by another 1.7 cents per gallon last week. Republicans blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom for increasing the state’s sky-high living costs.
“Gavin Newsom just made living in California even more expensive by raising California’s gas tax once again while refusing California Republicans’ calls to suspend it,” Jessica Millan Patterson, state GOP chairwoman, said in a statement. “Californians continue to pay the highest gas prices and endure some of the worst roads in the nation.”
Newsom can be fairly criticized for many things he’s done or not done over the last five years, but this one is a bum rap. The tax increase was simply an annual inflationary adjustment by the state Department of Tax and Fee Administration, required by a law that predates Newsom’s governorship by many years.
The state’s most recent big jump in gas taxes occurred in 2017, when the Legislature passed a bill aimed at increasing revenues by $5 billion a year to finance highway improvements. Opponents tried to cancel the tax increase through a ballot measure the following year, but voters rejected the repeal.
The tax increase then and the inflationary adjustments since have pushed California’s total tax to nearly 70 cents per gallon — by most accounts the nation’s highest. Yet the state’s motorists still must contend with high levels of congestion and relatively poor pavement conditions.
The tax increase then and the in ationary adjustments since have pushed California’s total tax to nearly 70 cents per gallon …. Yet the state’s motorists still must contend with high levels of congestion and relatively poor pavement conditions.
As of 2020 California had the fourth worst roadway conditions of any state with just 67% of its 26,406 miles of pavement in “acceptable” condition, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Revenues from the gas-tax law are being spent to improve those conditions, but given the size of California’s roadway network and its long-
■ See WALTERS, page A7
The Balancing Act
Richard B. Esposito Publisher
Letters to the Editor
Criminals and guns
EDITOR:
Mel Chapman’s letter is a case study in pejorative terms and a lack of knowledge of the subject. He rails against Donald Trump and the Supreme Court overturning the ban on bump stocks. Mr. Chapman is obviously ignorant to the fact that it was Donald Trump that promoted the 2018 ban on bump stocks.
So which is it, Mr. Chapman? Do you think Donald Trump is right and bump stocks should be banned or do you think Trump is wrong and bump stocks should be allowed?
Whoever said a little knowledge is a dangerous thing must have known Mr. Chapman. And for your information, Mr. Chapman, the court did not say bump stocks should be legal; they said the ban is a legislative function and was not covered in legislation.
The court’s job is not to make law and fix what should have been done in Congress. Mr. Chapman rails against court tyranny and yet supports the making of law by the court. That’s the kind of thinking that would only make sense to whoever is loading Biden’s teleprompter.
And as to Mr. Chapman’s opposition to guns, we’d be safer if he had an opposition to criminals. The Democrats release thousands of violent felons from prisons and turn loose parolees arrested with guns and ammo after just 10-day timeouts in jail and guns are the problem?
No, it’s the Democrat’s pro criminal policies that are the problem. Policies that have led to one kid’s rape and murder by illegals after another. And all for just the crass motive of flooding the country with millions of potential future Democrat voters.
GEORGE ALGER Placerville
Homeless high rise
EDITOR:
I’m outraged as I was watching the news and saw the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, is having a high rise building in downtown L.A. that will house the homeless.
The 19-story development is known as the Weingart Tower. It is intended to help folks who
are currently without shelter on Skid Row and it will be L.A.’s largest permanent support housing project.
This high rise will have a gym, art room, music room, computer room and a library. Residents will enjoy six common balconies and a café.
Each unit costs nearly $600,000 and it’s being funded by taxpayers. This is crazy.
Why do the homeless need a fancy high rise to live in? They do not need all the amenities. The homeless need a bed and a roof over them.
Mayor Karen Bass, I do not feel this is right as taxpayers should not have to pay for this. I am all for helping the homeless but not something like this. There are hardworking folks who work their butts o and cannot a ord anything like this. The mayor will only help to make more homeless. When (people) hear about this everyone will want to live there. What is the incentive? The homeless will not want to leave this high rise as they’re living better than hardworking folks. This does not make sense.
CONNIE ROSEN Pollock Pines
To all the mothers
EDITOR:
What is one of the hardest and most thankless jobs? I’d say it’s being a mother. Mothers almost never get their flowers but hopefully this makes you feel more appreciated.
Thank you for the sleepless nights taking care of us when we are ill. Thank you for the painstaking homemade meals. Thank you for being a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for the small acts of kindness like washing the clothes so they are ready for school the next day. Thank you for making us feel loved.
Thank you for making our childhoods full of priceless memories. Thank you for sacrificing your time. Thank you for sacrificing your needs. Thank you for being selfless. Thank you for letting yourself fade so we could be bright. We will forever be grateful. Thank you for worrying about us on late nights out. Thank you for waiting up to
■ See LETTERS, page A7
Blatant efforts to destroy democracy continue
Alandmark decision came down from the Supreme Court of the United States, granting (as expected) partial presidential immunity for o cial presidential acts during a president’s term of o ce. It was a 6-3 decision with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the 120-page opinion; several justices wrote concurring opinions along with two justices who wrote dissenting opinions.
LARRY WEITZMAN
The remarks of the dissenters are troubling for democracy. As provided by our Constitution, there are three co-equal branches of government. Each with certain responsibilities and duties that divide government to create checks and balances against one branch becoming dominant. An example is all spending originates in the House of Representatives, sometimes known as the “People’s House,” and from no other place. Or the president is the commanderin-chief of the military, not the
speaker of the House. All treaties, while negotiated by the President, must be approved by a twothirds majority by the Senate. It is the president who swears to uphold the Constitution and execute the laws passed by Congress and signed by the president.
In 1803 SCOTUS decided the case of Marbury v. Madison, wherein the court struck down the Judiciary Act of 1789, calling it unconstitutional as it violated the Constitution. It created the process of judicial review. Since that fateful day, the Supreme Court became the arbiters of all laws, a principle that has been with this country for 221 years.
The framers wanted all federal judges to have appointments for life so never to be influenced by politics and to act independently of all outside pressures. However, politics enters decisions all the time and sometimes it distorts their judgment — as with the dissenting opinions on
One of the functions of the Constitution is to protect the people from the government and to protect the minority from the majority; that’s why we are not a pure democracy.
presidential immunity.
This decision prevents lawsuits or prosecution against the president in the performance and execution of his duties. As with judges, o cers of the United States must be free of coercion in performing their duties.
Troubling are the recent remarks and writings of Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She writes in her dissent: “It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of government, that no man is above the law.”
Unfortunately, Sotomayor is not much of a constitutional scholar. The Constitution of the United States specifically provides for immunity for representatives and senators in Article I, Section 6, in performing their o cial acts. So obviously there are men “above the law” as provided therein — sometimes called immunity. Most states have similar provisions in their constitutions and immunity
is granted to the acts and speech of various o cers and elected o cials of the hundreds, if not thousands, of government jurisdictions and agencies throughout the United States. The reality is the current government is acting “above the law.” The appointment of the special prosecutor is without Constitutional and government authority. It hasn’t been litigated yet, but it may well be if these prosecutions go forward against Biden’s political enemy. And even constitutional non-scholar AOC wants to impeach the Supreme Court for not deciding to her liking.
Judges are supposed to be completely independent from political influence. Now who is the real threat to democracy?
As recently ruled by the Supreme Court, the charges brought against Biden’s enemies have been ruled not applicable as they relate to Enron
■ See WEITZMAN, page A7
DAN WALTERS
Continued from A6 neglected condition, it could be years before improvements become evident.
A more fundamental issue is what will happen to gasoline prices and gas tax revenues as the state attempts to wean Californians away from gasoline-powered cars and make zero-emission vehicles the norm. Transportation, particularly autos and light trucks, is California’s largest single source of greenhouse gases as vehicles burn billions of gasoline each year. Therefore, reducing or eliminating those emissions is regarded as the key to achieving the state’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
Last September the California Air Resources Board published a report on the effects of intensifying adoption of its Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, which is aimed at providing “the economic incentives to produce cleaner fuels like electricity, hydrogen and biofuels that are needed to displace fossil fuels and reduce transportation sector emissions.”
The report describes the potential health and economic benefits of conversion, but also notes the costs to consumers during
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD
the transition, including sharp increases in the cost of gasoline.
It projects an immediate increase in gas prices of 47 cents per gallon from adoption of a revised program and then, “on average, from 2031 through 2046 the proposed amendments are projected to potentially increase the price of gasoline by $1.15 per gallon, potentially increase the price of diesel by $1.50 per gallon and fossil jet fuel by $1.21 per gallon.”
This is just an early projection of advancing the conversion, and is already undergoing revisions. So the eye-popping numbers are by no means inevitable, but it is a stark reminder that the massive effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California won’t come cheap and motorists will be hit hard.
Also, it’s fair to say that the millions of Californians who already live in poverty or near-poverty and depend on cars to earn their livings will feel the impact most keenly.
Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Weitzman Continued from A6
legislation law known as Sarbanes-Oxley, which had to do with the obstruction of business evidence during the prosecution of the Enron scandal and nothing to do with the capital protests. It probably will stop most further prosecutions and cause the release of many innocent people wrongfully charged. I wonder what that’s going to cost the taxpayers when the lawsuits start coming from the wrongfully convicted defendants.
Even the Kangaroo Court in New York City conviction will be overturned on the hundreds of judicial errors that occurred during the trial. It now has another issue — presidential immunity. Sentencing has already been delayed. All the cases will be overturned.
Who got rich as a result of all these “legal” maneuvers? Prosecutors and defense lawyers. Who got poorer? The public, who paid the court system, prosecutors and all the expenses incurred in these bogus prosecutions.
And for what? It was an incompetent dictator’s attempt to destroy his political enemy and retain power. Yet at least two of the three dissenting judges chose to say the Supreme Court has changed the balance of power among the three branches of government. Nothing has changed. One of the functions of the Constitution is to protect the people from the government and to protect the minority from the majority; that’s why we are not a pure democracy. One of the functions of judges is the interpretation of the laws and Constitution. The Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter. Decisions are decided by a majority of judges. It is right in the Constitution; read Article III, Section 2. Larry Weitzman is a former El Dorado County resident.
Letters
Continued from A6
make sure we are safe. Your sacrifices will not go unnoticed.
Thank you for saving up so we could get the present we always wanted. Thank you for burying the tree with presents when you knew it was too expensive. Thank you for making our days magical. Thank you for treating us with grace when we were not so graceful. Thank you for loving us regardless. Thank you for always reassuring us when life seemed damned. Thank you for always holding the light for us in this dark world.
You allowed us to blossom. You taught us how to live. You taught us what it means to give your life to something. Thank you for showing us our true self worth.
You showed us what true unconditional love is. You showed us that true strength comes from not hiding imperfections. You showed us what it means to have humility. Thank you for showing us that no matter what, you’d always be there.
I adored you when you were the invincible superhero but I can’t describe the unfathomable admiration I felt when I realized you are human too. I can’t begin to imagine how strong you are, how selfless you are and how a person can be so graceful.
Thank you for always taking care of us even when there are thanks needed. Thank you for sacrificing your story so ours could be perfect. Thank you, Mom.
RILEY SMITH
El Dorado Hills
Announcements
AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com
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) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net
AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org
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 916-212-2465 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday, 12 noon at Steve’s Pizza, 3941 Park Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762
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 four-part 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. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Cindy 805-540-8654. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and have a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held at 11:30AM on May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18,2024 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.
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)621-6304 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. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.
Pay Fire
morning.
Continued from A1
Some onlookers gathered at the Placerville Airport, standing on the tarmac and watching as an approaching pillar of smoke began to darken as the fire approached rows of hangars. The wife of one of the smoke-watchers called to her husband as the smoke grew, warning him to move back before the fire grew too close.
“I have such bad memories about the Paradise Fire,” Penny Solano remarked.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Agencies working together to
protect the public and extinguish the blaze are Cal Fire – Amador El Dorado Unit, U.S. Forest Service –Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, El Dorado County Fire Protection District, Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District, El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Rescue Fire Department, California Highway Patrol – Placerville, Georgetown Fire Department, Garden Valley Fire Protection District, Pioneer Fire Protection District, Cal Fire –Nevada, Yuba, Placer Unit, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and California State Parks.
district’s Authorization for Outside Employment Policy (Policy 2380.60).
DTA assisted the CSD with its landscaping and lighting districts’ assessments, among other tasks, for several years. The board ended that partnership last fall, a few months after it was brought to the attention of CSD directors that Loewen listed DTA as an employer.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll be even more observant than usual, and this will be key to the new systems and circumstances you’ll create going forward. You’ll gain an understanding of something you missed before. It’s easier to solve problems when you have a fuller context.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your keen instinct will bring you good luck. Sometimes, it will keep you from being impulsive, and other times, it will have you making the move before you’re conscious of it, which is the very essence of impulsiveness. Either way, you can trust it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When words and emotions are withheld, they act like logs jammed in a river, causing blockages and turbulence. You’ll speak your feelings and it removes obstructions, restoring a peaceful sense of flow to the scene.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The way you operate in the world brings cheer to all. You slip into the sort of mood that is sure to lead to uplifting conversations, playful interactions and extremely satisfying exchanges.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re looking for a respectable game and your sportsmanship is on point. This applies to relationships as well, especially romantic ones. You prefer not to think of love as a game, but you must admit there are more and less effective ways to play it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You will collaborate very well with someone with complementary skills, strengths and weaknesses, too. Learning to depend on others will be part of this, or more likely learning who you can depend on and weeding out the flakey ones.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Self-consciousness is an invisible
weight pressing on your mind. But you are not the best one to observe how you appear and act. This is why a camera needs distance from its subject. Greater distance means more of the subject can get into the frame.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Because you set your own limits and live within them, your success will be sweet, swift and honorable. Even so, it can take some time to figure out exactly which actions and rhythms are sustainable.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your life is not a solitary journey but an adventure you share with countless others, some of whom you’ll never meet. Understanding that you belong to something larger and are part of a complex, interconnected web of relationships will be profoundly liberating.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It’s said that attitude is everything, and it will be proven today when your mindset and approach to a problem will make all the difference in the outcome. What you do for your body and mind will contribute to your attitude.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You know that relationships are give-and-take, but you really don’t feel like taking. Of course, you’ll only be able to give until the supply runs out. So if you want to
Attorney Michael S. Biggs on behalf of Loewen recently sent a statement to the media noting, “Mr. Loewen’s position is that he simply overlooked a clause in his initial contract with the district that denied ‘outside consulting.’ Mr. Loewen resigned from his position without fighting the allegations as it was the right thing to do avoiding needless escalation into controversy.”
Loewen left the district in December 2023 after months of public criticism aimed at his and the board’s actions.
“What further compounded Mr. Loewen’s misunderstanding of his ‘independent at-will contract with the county’ were emails by Mr. Loewen’s supervisors that expressed awareness and ratification of his outside consulting activities,” the release continues.
Loewen, via his attorney, had previously threatened to sue if the EDHCSD released the report but later backtracked on that threat. In the June 28 statement the former general manager apologized “for any missteps on his part in pursuing expanded employment and experience.”
Prior to releasing the investigative report, available online at eldoradohillscsd.org/about/general_ manager_corner.php#outer-2263 (select “other documents”), the EDHCSD Board of Directors held a special meeting July 2 to discuss and approve the district’s response to an El Dorado County Grand Jury report published earlier this
year that addresses, among other topics, Loewen’s outside professional activities.
The response states, “The district agrees the former general manager’s undisclosed relationship with the DTA consulting firm was a serious conflict of interest and an inexcusable ethical breach. However, the former general manager did not disclose his economic interest in the DTA firm on his Form 700, nor had the former general manager ever disclosed his relationship to any member of the Board of Directors or member of the district staff. Although the former general manager had apparently listed this relationship on his LinkedIn page, district personnel did not have any occasion to contemporaneously review that page, as the general manager was then a longstanding district employee, not a prospective candidate for employment.”
The board approved the investigation’s release 4-0 with Vice President Ben Paulsen absent.
“Transparency and accountability are essential parts of how we serve the community,” states Board President Noelle Mattock in a release sent out after the July 2 meeting. “The release of this investigative report into the activities of the former general manager and the board of directors elected at that time demonstrates our commitment to these principles.
“Our community members have expressed frustration relative to transparency and releasing this report is another step toward keeping people informed (and) engaged, and rebuilding trust after some of the challenges we have faced. The future’s bright for El Dorado Hills,” she continues.
The EDHCSD’s response to the grand jury report is available at bit. ly/3LcO1Mt.
n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly
n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
n RUBES by Leigh Rubin
n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
Video still courtesy of Cal Fire Flames tear through the brush as a bulldozer creates a dozer line to assist with containment of the blaze that started Saturday afternoon.
Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
A dark plume from the Pay Fire rises into the sky over the Placerville Airport.
Loewen Continued from A1
Replace the missing words.
fter performing in a local summer show, kids waited around the ______ lobby to get his autograph. He has danced for Ben the Bachelor and the bachelorettes on television’s popular _______, The Bachelor. He has been asked to dance for a local teacher retirement party and other events.
Luis watched YouTube videos of Jackson dancing and he thought, “I can do that!” That was when he set the _______ of learning a Michael Jackson dance number.
Luis kept pausing and rewinding the videos to watch each dance _______ over and over. Then he’d try it.
Who is this popular dancer? Is he a movie star, a TV star? Has he trained for years under the best ________ instructors?
He is Luis Contreras, a 6th grader in Sonoma, CA. He taught himself to dance just like Michael Jackson and amazes audiences of all ages with his incredible imitation.
amazes s of all ages ncredible Luis would st Jackson’s dan too nutes to m
“I first heard about Michael Jackson when the _______ reported his death,” recalls Luis. “I asked my sister, ‘Who’s Michael Jackson?’”
One of Michael Jackson’s most amazing dance moves was called the Moonwalk. It makes you appear to be floating backwards across the floor. Follow these steps and practice a lot to perfect this cool illusion!
If Luis danced two hours a day six days a week for one year, how many hours has he danced? 52 X 6 = _________ X 2 = _________ pp
Luis would study Michael Jackson’s dances one step at a time. “It took about ten minutes to master one step. I had to _________ it about 50 times.”
“He drove us a bit crazy,” says his mom. “He kept playing the same music over and over and over. But he wouldn’t give up until he got it right.”
“He drov says his playin over. until parent
Luis’s parents are proud of his dedication and the hard work he has undertaken to achieve his goals. His mom ________ sequins onto a pair of socks, one sequin at a time. Each one sewn by ________ with love.
Dancing isn’t the only thing Luis does. He also studies hard, earns good grades in school and plays basketball. But, he does fit in dancing every day. He even dances down the aisles of the grocery store! His parents don’t let him practice dancing until his homework is finished. But after that, with only a break for supper, he dances until his mother says to stop or he is just too tired to go on. Luis is starting to study the dance moves of Justin Bieber and is looking forward to joining the school choir in 7th grade.
Start with your feet together. Bend your left knee and lift your left heel.
Look through the newspaper for pictures of people who look determined. Cut these out and make an “I’m Determined!” poster.
Can many socks are here? Have a friend try. Did you find the same amount?
Push down on the ball of your left foot and slide your right foot backward.
Place your weight on your right leg and slide your left leg back with your heel still raised. Switch legs and repeat, and soon you’ll be “gliding” across the dance floor!
This week’s word: ACHIEVE
The verb achieve means to accomplish or fulfill something.
Hard work pays off when you want to achieve something.
Try to use the word achieve in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.
Compound Words
Think of three goals you would like to achieve in your future. Is there anything you could do now to help you prepare?
the words in the puzzle. Then look for each word in this week’s Kid Scoop
Discover the Most Spacious Senior Apartments in El Dorado County
e spacious Independent Living apartments at Ponté Palmero mean you can continue your independent lifestyle, with access to all the community services and amenities we o er to make your retirement easier and more enjoyable.
Floor plans up to 1,482 square feet | Private, attached garage | Full kitchen | In-suite laundry
You can continue to cook and entertain in your own home, or enjoy our chef-prepared meals in the community dining room with friends. We take away the worry of housekeeping and home maintenance, and provide social opportunities all month long. You can relax and spend your days with friends and family, and doing the things you enjoy most.
INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES FEATURES
• Kitchen with full-size appliances and granite counters
• Private patio
• Attached garage
• In-home washer and dryer
• High ceilings
• Housekeeping, laundry, and trash service
• Utilities and basic cable included
• Air conditioning
• Pets welcome!
COMMUNITY SERVICES & AMENITIES
• Restaurant-style dining
• Swimming pool, hot tub, and outdoor grills
• Clubhouse and tness center
• Library and full-service beauty salon
• Activities, clubs, outings, and celebrations
• Transportation services
• 24-hour emergency maintenance
• Gated electronic entrance
We also o er Assisted Living Villas & Memory Care apartments for a full continuum of care.
Celebrating wilderness with art, poetry and sound
Jordan Hyatt-Miller
ForestSong, Arts and Culture El Dorado’s latest exhibition at Switchboard Gallery in Placerville, opens Thursday, July 11, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 11.
The show is an exhibition of work from lead artist Andie Thram’s collaborative art project ForestSong, which investigates grief, beauty and interconnection, shares images and science, invokes the sacred while bearing witness to the e ects of
natural disasters and invites action to preserve, protect and celebrate natural wonders.
The exhibition includes eight giant forest prayer flags painted by Thrams, whose work weaves together art and contemporary ecology to explore the natural world and our relation to it, as well as eight additional flags painted by community members who attended events in Georgetown, South Lake Tahoe, Placerville and Markleeville. The giant forest prayer flags will be accompanied by more than 70 smaller flags featuring
original poetry from community members who participated at each ForestSong event; the poetry flags, which were created with the help of poet Moira Magneson, were hand-painted by Thrams and visual artist Laurel Ferreira.
“Once folks tap into their feelings and transpose them into written form, they are invited to ink their words onto a small prayer flag,” explained Magneson. “Together, their words, fluttering and dancing in the wind, act as a collective
THIS IS NOT ANOTHER ‘CHEESY’ STORY
It’s a delicious nod to the master cheesemakers abroad and at home
Rebecca Murphy Mountain Democrat correspondent
While traveling in Italy, this longtime El Dorado County resident couldn’t help but notice the country’s climate, agriculture and much of the terrain resemble parts of home. A Mediterranean climate that helps vineyards and other crops thrive, the rich soils and accessible water are commonalities between parts of Italy and parts of California.
A Mediterranean climate is a common thread shared not only by Italy and El Dorado County, but by 13 different regions worldwide. For Italy and this part of California — from the coast to South Lake Tahoe — it’s uncanny how similar two distant regions can be.
Influenced by the Pacific Ocean, Sacramento and American rivers and the surrounding Sierra Nevada, California’s capital area climate provides ample sunshine and water to grow forests and a wide range of crops, including grapes, almonds, fruit trees, rice and hay.
Italy is surrounded by ocean on three sides; field crops, tree crops, pasture and forestry are all important agricultural land uses. The country receives a vital supply of snowfall and snowmelt to its rivers and lush valleys, making it a major producer of not only grapes, but of wheat, rice, corn, tomatoes, lemons and olives.
As in California, different regions of Italy are noted for different foods or fruits. Campania, where Rome and Milan are located, is best known for cherries, apricots, nectarines and hazelnuts; while Naples and EmiliaRomagna specialize in tomatoes, the most important crop for domestic and export markets of Italy.
Cheese also is a product in common between Italy and our state. California boasts 45 cheesemakers statewide. Italy’s Salerno region is the country’s major cheese producing area, located at the northeastern base of Mount Vesuvius.
A visit to Tenuta Vannulo, the water buffalo cheese farm in the Salerno region, explained why “buffalo” cheese is the country’s nearly exclusive product. Tenuta Vannulo is a Certified Organic Farm ICEA, which certifies that agricultural products, processed agri-food products, feed and pet food, aquaculture products, algae and microalgae (spirulina) and yeasts conform to productions obtained with organic methods at all stages of the production chain, from the field to the table, in compliance with European Union regulations (Reg. EU 848/18). Growing its own fodder to feed more than 600 buffaloes, Tenuta Vannulo produces mozzarella cheese completely made by hand.
Of course, extreme cleanliness is practiced. The cheese is made just from milk produced at the farm, and although the company distributes to many places, including area “truck stops” (quite different from American truck stops), the only store for the cheese is located at the farm.
Brought to Italy from India in 7 BC, the water buffalo provide approximately 400plus kilograms of cheese per year, with each buffalo giving 9 liters of milk per day. Each buffalo is microchipped allowing one of four highly sophisticated milking robots to identify whether the animal is ready to be milked. If not, the door to the feeding paddock opens rather than the door to the milking area.
Each animal is treated with homeopathic remedies only and has its own paddock with a rubber mattress. Showers and brushes, along with
massage, also are part of the buffaloes’ daily lives. They are treated to classical music by Mozart and milk-quality is safeguarded by highly technical milking techniques, which also guard the animals’ welfare and hygiene. In entering the facility for the tour, all visitors are asked to dip their shoes into an antibacterial/antimicrobal solution.
While Tenuta Vannulo produces fabulous mozzarella, yogurt, pudding and ice cream, it also offers chocolate products and breads and features a leather store. Tenuta Vannulo also has a museum of rural cultural tools and utensils of different eras, which were used in everyday life.
Jollity Farm in Garden Valley is a one-of-a-kind cheese-producing farm and the only dairy in El Dorado County. Certified and licensed through the California Department of Food and Agriculture, owner Charley Cornell has been an official cheesemaker since 2011. He and his wife MaryLisa met because of their common interest in goats, and both have produced awardwinning cheeses. Charley has been making cheese unofficially since 1988.
MaryLisa’s Slate Creek Farm produced a Gold Ribbon bleu cheese at the El Dorado County Fair in 2015.
Unbeknownst to them at the time, they were married on National Raw Cheese Day and Earth Day, April 22, 2017.
MaryLisa added her goats to Charley’s herd when they married.
They have 60 heads of three different breeds — mini-Nubian, Alpine and Saanen. All have names and are registered with either the American Dairy Goat Association or in The Mini Goat Registry.
The couple currently milk 25 of their herd 10 months out of the year, providing two months for the animals to be pregnant and rest from the milking. The “off” time also provides badly needed rest for the Cornells from the cheesemaking process.
Similarly to Tenuta Vannulo, Jollity Farm also grows its own fodder for its animals.
“When I moved my goats here from the town of El Dorado, they had been used to browsing,” said MaryLisa, who has been a vet technician and retired in 2019 as an environmental scientist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Charley mostly had forest, so it wasn’t as easy for them to browse. We planted the garden primarily for the goats.”
As it is parallel with Greenwood Road, the garden is a great landmark
for turning into the farm. The animals particularly enjoy pumpkins, sunflowers and comfrey, but the couple include onions, garlic and (this year) potatoes. They also grow what is needed for the cheeses they produce, which include plain chèvre (a soft cream cheese) and flavored cheeses — garlic, dill, habañero, strawberry, cranberry and everything bagel.
On nearly 15 acres, Jollity Farm also produces awardwinning feta, marinated feta and El Dorado Jill, a semi-hard cheese “kind of like Monterey Jack,” said Charley, who has won many awards from the El Dorado County Fair and has also been a Gold Medal winner at the California State Fair (2015), along with several silver and bronze medals.
Ricotta and cajeta also are part of Jollity Farms’ inventory of products. Cajeta is a caramelized milk product suitable for icecream topping. The Cornells produce an Italian Farmhouse (hard cheese) and Goata, a
gouda-still hard cheese as well. Much to the chagrin of local cheese fans, all the cheeses made at Jollity Farm are seasonal. Both the ricotta and cajeta require a boiling process so they are made in the winter; while feta requires warmer temperatures to produce and is made during the summer.
Milking each goat requires help. Deb Aldrich has worked for the couple since 2022, and knows her duties and responsibilities in extracting approximately 15 gallons of milk each morning from the lactating herd. The goats’ two teats are attached to a vacuum pump with a pulsator. The milk is pumped directly into a stainless steel bucket and immediately put into the walk-in cooler. The stainless bucket is immersed in ice water until milking is finished for the day and then transferred to a larger steel bucket ready for the cheesemaking process.
The Cornells’ milking process requires no pipeline system to carry the milk, lessening agitation of the
product and resulting in better flavor. Temperature and agitation of the milk result in a breakdown of protein and a build up of caproic acid, resulting in less flavorful cheese. All their cheeses are made by hand and are usually ready from milking to aged in three days. They go from liquid to solid in approximately two hours. In keeping with California state regulations, samples of milk from each goat are required by the state each year to check for pathogens and antibiotics. Unlike Tenuta Vannulo, Jollity Farm does not have a museum, but there is The Tiny Store and the Farm Stand, which provide products for purchase, including the soaps and lotions that MaryLisa first began to make in 1997. In The Tiny Store, food for the goats also is available, so adults and children alike can feed them. The goats love it. And local cheese lovers can find what they love in their backyard if they can’t make it to Italy just yet.
Photos by Rebecca Murphy
Tenuta Vannulo produces water buffalo cheese in Italy’s Salerno region.
Water buffaloes at Tenuta Vannulo eat a special diet, which helps the cheese maintain an excellent flavor.
Goats on Jollity Farm in Garden Valley enjoy a meal of greenery that is grown on site.
Hills Branch, 7455 Silva Valley Parkway, El Dorado Hills. 916-358-3500
2nd Friday ArtAbout at the Pence Gallery @ 6pm Enjoy viewing all new art exhibits at the Pence's reception on July 12! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pencesocialmedia@gmail.com, 530-758-3370
Myles Weber @ 8pm The Hollywood Room, 2485 Stock‐ton St, Napa
DJ Manifesto @ 8pm Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Lake Tahoe, 50 US-50, Stateline
Michelle Musial @ 9pm Shelby’s Rooftop, 250 4th St, San Francisco
Duserock @ 9:30pm Monarch, 101 6th St, San Fran‐cisco
Dj M3 aka Makes Me Move @ 9:30pm Monarch, 101 6th St, San Fran‐cisco
Eddie C @ 9:30pm
Re�ecting
Banda Machos @ 2pm Solano County Fair Associa‐tion, 900 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo
The Treacherous French: Bastille Day Twang Sunday @ 4pm Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St, San Francisco A Study in Strings @ 6pm We Care Animal Rescue, 1345 Charter Oak Ave, Saint Helena
J.Rob The Chief: IKIGAI Tour w/ Futuristic
MAL "Come To Light"
Tour 24 @ 7:30pm Placerville Public House, 414 Main St, Placerville The Band Ice Cream @ 8pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco
Sedona Rose @ 12pm California State Fair, 1600 Expo‐sition Blvd, Sacramento Rotary Club of Davis Weekly Lunch & Program @ 12pm See website for details. ro‐taryclubofdavis.com Davis Com‐munity Church, 421 D Street, Davis. teainsworth@gmail.com Fat Daddy Special Live @ Cal Expo @ 6pm Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento Amelia Ray @ 7pm Nickie's, 466 Haight St, San Fran‐cisco The Cathouse Band @ 8pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San
Clubs make big donation to Brooks Brothers fund
Chris Ringnes
El Dorado Community Foundation
Members with the Placerville Emblem Club No. 287 and Placerville Elks Lodge No. 1712 were happy and excited to deliver the final cashier’s check for the Brooks Brothers Support Fund of the El Dorado Community Foundation.
Emblem President Cindy VanOrder and Elks Exalted Ruler Sharon Miller, along with Emblem members, presented Wyatt Brooks and his family with the funds raised at the spaghetti feed held at the Elks Lodge in April. Many thanks to all the volunteers, businesses and the community for making this fundraiser an amazing success, collecting more than $25,000.
The Placerville Emblem Club was formed in 1955 as the official auxiliary of the Placerville Elks Lodge. The Placerville Elks Lodge 1712 was also founded in 1955. Through the years, members have dedicated their time, efforts and monies to the betterment of El Dorado County, as well as nationally.
The clubs’ mission is to raise funds to help those less fortunate and develop projects that better the community. Programs include those that support veterans, award scholarships and educate about the dangers of drugs. New members willing to work hard to make a difference in the community are always welcome. For more information visit placervilleelks.org.
Marshall cancer patients receive warmth and support
Shingle Springs Subaru and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society have teamed up to elevate the experience of those receiving care at Marshall, El Dorado County’s largest healthcare provider.
On June 20, for the ninth consecutive year, Subaru and LLS donated soothing blankets to the Marshall Cancer Center, a UC Davis Health affiliate. Organized as part of Subaru Loves to Care Month, the donation brings comfort and support to the community’s cancer patients.
During Subaru Loves to Care Month Subaru retailers across the country are partnering with LLS and local hospitals to provide these plush blankets. Subaru is LLS’s largest automotive donor, supporting nearly 350,000 cancer patients nationwide by the end of 2024.
“Shingle Springs Subaru values our vibrant local community and is committed to being an active and involved neighbor,” said Tom Rockenbaugh, general manager of Shingle Springs Subaru. “We are proud to partner with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to do our part to provide comfort and support to our area’s cancer patients and their families.”
Along with the blankets, the
prayer, scattering blessings for the community and forest, honoring and healing the beautiful broken world we call home.”
The exhibition will also feature sound art generated from data related to California wildfires by Zack Dowell and Dustin Koupal of the Laika’s Last Wish performance collective.
The piece, titled “Burn Scar,” evolves with each performance at ForestSong events; in Switchboard Galllery, it will provide a meditative musical space as visitors contemplate the artworks.
The ForestSong art project, which was created as a response to recent devastating wildfires, has two additional events after the exhibition in Switchboard Gallery:
Updates and more information about the collaborative art project can be found at AndieThrams.com.
The project is funded by the California Arts Council’s California Creative Corps grant program, with support from the city of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture and Arts and Culture El Dorado. The California Creative Corps provides funding directly to arts organizations for work that creates awareness around one of several themes: public health; water and energy conservation and climate mitigation, emergency preparedness relief and recovery; civic engagement; and social justice.
“We are all so excited to display the art, poetry and sound created by ForestSong artists in collaboration with wildfire-impacted residents of El Dorado and Alpine counties during our recent gatherings” said Thrams. “Since the ForestSong project began with my own private creative explorations, it has been deeply moving to witness how empowering
donation included personal care kits containing items such as eye masks, ChapStick, drink bottles and lotion. Cancer center staff report that for the patients who are the beneficiaries of this generous donation, the impact is both immediate and heartwarming. The blankets are tangible symbols of the support each patient receives from their personal network of care.
“A cancer diagnosis and the treatment regimen that follows can be an especially difficult journey,” said Timothy Garcia-Jay, Marshall’s director of Cancer Services. “A donation like this, coming from the community, is an important reminder that there is a wide network of comfort and support for each of our patients. I’m grateful to Shingle Springs Subaru and LLS for their caring gesture.”
Through its affiliation with the UC Davis Cancer Care Network, Marshall’s nationally accredited cancer center makes leading-edge cancer care and the latest clinical trials available in El Dorado County. Marshall oncologists work directly with UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center oncologists, eliminating the need for patients and their families to travel hours to receive first-rate, comprehensive and compassionate care. For more information visit marshallmedical.org
these same processes are for those who attend our community events.”
The public is invited to an opening reception for the exhibition, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Switchboard Gallery with refreshments and a live performance from Laika’s Last Wish. The gallery is located at 525 Main St. in downtown Placerville.
Arts and Culture El Dorado is a catalyst for good works throughout the region, serving as the statelocal partner to the California Arts Council and providing targeted programs and services. It also curates a vibrant gallery exhibition series and focuses on initiatives that support and sustain the region’s cultural life. Founded in 1984 as El Dorado Arts Council, the organization offers programs for veterans and students, families and young people, artists and arts organizations and residents and visitors to the region. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org.
Courtesy photo
Placerville Emblem Club No. 287 and Placerville Elks Lodge No. 1712 raised more than $25,000 to help the Brooks family.
Courtesy photo Marshall staff accepts generous donations from Shingle Springs Subaru and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Fernando Diaz Marshall
ForestSong Continued from B1
Courtesy photo ForestSong guests help paint a banner at one of the outdoor events.
Demonstration Garden visitors might see one of these critters.
GROW FOR IT!
Animal VIPs at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden opened in 2015. The goal of the garden is to provide the public with a hands-on, interactive experience using researched based information regarding sustainable gardening specific to our growing area. The garden entertains approximately 1,200 human visitors from March through October each year.
of
with its wings, that is enough motion to pollinate the flower. Pollen also sticks to their bill and body, causing the flowers to be pollinated as they move from plant to plant. Hummingbirds can pollinate up to 2,000 flowers per day and bees can visit around 1,500 flowers per day.
In addition to these very important people, we have other VIPs — very important pests — that are permanent residents of the gardens and have an active role in keeping it in balance. Ladybugs or beetles feed on the aphids: Ladybugs can eat up to 75 aphids per day. They also eat white flies, scales, mealybugs and thrips. In turn, lizards in the garden feed on the ants, grasshoppers, spiders, wasps, beetles and aphids. Hover flies are little helpers in the garden by eating aphids, and they also pollinate vegetables. Spiders are spinning their webs hoping to catch a fly, bee or some other unfortunate insect.
Very important pollinators are awake early in the morning and you can hear them buzzing. They feed and hydrate as they suck up nectar and keep pollen moving from one plant to another. These VIPs come in all shapes and sizes too, from ants, flies, wasps, honeybees, butterflies, beetles and moths to bats and birds. Some of these pollinators visit the flowers in search of shelter, nest building materials and sometimes a mate. Birds, butterflies and bees seem to be the busiest.
Some bees have a “honey stomach” which transfers pollen. They bite the plant’s anthers, hold on tight and buzz to shake out the pollen. Butterflies land on a flower to drink its nectar, then the pollen from the flower becomes attached to its body as it moves from flower to flower, transferring the pollen just as birds do. When a hummingbird nudges a flower with its bill or creates a breeze
Know Continued from B1
caregiving strategies and sharing in a welcoming, non-judgmental space and promote emotional and physical health, awareness of resources, problemsolving, stress reduction, and personal growth. Call (530) 621-6820 if respite care is needed for a caregiver to attend this group.
The Crocker Art Museum hosts ArtMix: Lei, an ages 18+ event featuring dance performances, tropical cocktails and colorful flowers. For tickets and more information visit crockerart.org.
Vices to Virtues will hold an album release event at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center presents Length x Width x Depth: A Multidimensional Exhibit through July 27. For more information visit rcmacc.org.
July 12
The Triple Threat Band will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.
Moonshine Crazy will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
The Pride in the Vines Drag Show takes place at The Green Room Social Club in downtown
Butterflies and moths lay their eggs on the leaves of plants and when they emerge as caterpillars, watch out because they love their greens. Ground squirrels, moles, voles and, yes, those pesky rabbits just love to burrow their way into those beautiful flower and vegetable gardens.
Very important passersby include peahens with her peachicks. These little family groups also visit and reside in the Sherwood Demonstration Garden. They eat mostly plant parts, seed heads, insects, reptiles and amphibians. They are right at home in the garden, pecking their way around plants, under bushes and roosting in surrounding trees. There’s also a Monarch Way station at the gardens that is visited each year by the monarchs.
Come by and visit our VIPs.
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for further information at ucanr.
Master Gardener classes are offered monthly throughout the county. Find the class schedule at mgeldorado. ucanr.edu/Public_Education_Classe s/?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/ Public_Education/Classes. Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on the website, mgeldorado.ucanr.edu, or leave a message on the office telephone at (530) 621-5512. To sign up for notices and newsletters visit ucanr. edu/master_gardener_e-news. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
July 13
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Gardening with Native Plants, 9 a.m. to noon at the Pilot Hill Grange. Kit Veerkamp will teach students how to choose and add colorful, easycare native plants to the garden. Registration is requested at surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=42882.
Hot Summer Wheels takes place at Burke Junction in Cameron Park, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. See classics, sports cars and more.
The Apple Hill Growers Job Fair takes place at Grandpa’s Cellar, 2360 Cable Road in Camino. Regional farm representatives will meet with applicants for a variety of positions, including bakers, food servers and runners, dishwashers, baristas and some field workers. The fair takes place 9 a.m. to noon July 13 and 2-5 p.m. July 18. No appointments necessary. For more information call (909) 917-2138.
Hidden Star Orchards in Camino presents the Summer Cider Festival, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy 24 hard ciders on tap, baked goods, live music and children’s activities. For more information visit
n See KNOW, page B6
Photo by Judy Hobbs
Rabbits love to burrow their way into flower and vegetable gardens. Sherwood
Judy Hobbs
UCCE Master Gardener
El Dorado County
Bioblitz comes to Sagehen Creek
For those who love plants, bugs and other animals and have a sense of exploration and a thirst for discovery, participating in a bioblitz is the perfect opportunity. A bioblitz is a one-day event where participants explore a specific area to search for and count unique species of plants, animals, bugs and birds. The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science is again hosting this year’s Truckee-area BioBlitz at the Sagehen Creek Field Station in Truckee on July 13.
What makes the BioBlitz at Sagehen so
unique is the diversity of species and the opportunity to discover organisms that aren’t often found elsewhere. Due to Sagehen’s status as a protected research site as part of the UC Reserve System, there are forests, meadows and riparian habitat, along with a number of fens; all of which support a unique diversity of plant and animal life. Species that participants may get to see include mountain birds at the peak of their breeding season, dozens of flowering plants in full bloom, colorful butterflies and jumping spiders, parasitoid wasps, two species of
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carnivorous sundew plants and the primitive black petaltail dragonfly. Each has a fascinating life history to learn about. For example, the larvae of the petaltails are not fully aquatic like other dragonflies, but instead tunnel into the moss at spring-fed mountain bogs and fens (making Sagehen the perfect place to encounter this unusual insect).
There will be naturalists, scientists and other experts on hand to lead groups of 5-10 participants as they search and record the biodiversity they observe. The main event will be on the morning of Saturday, July 13, starting at 8 a.m. Participants will head out into the field and make observations until noon, at which point everybody will reconvene at the field station for lunch and a quick taxonomic tally. An optional afternoon session will be available. For more information visit tinsweb.org.
Know Continued from B5 hiddenstarorchards.com.
Stone Planet will perform at 4 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.
Join 1850 Wine Cellars and Myka Estates for the monthly concert series featuring live music and a pre fixe dinner menu by Chef Lisa Scott: Shrimp boil with the band Allegedlies. For tickets and more information visit 1850winecellars.com/ pages/events.
Gun Owners of California – Gold Country hosts a dinner fundraiser to support youth programs that focus on firearms education, safe gun handling and shooting sports. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit gunownersca.com/shop or call (916) 984-1400.
Gotcha Covered will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Take an 11 a.m. guided tour of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, 2001 Nimbus Road, Gold River. Learn about the amazing life cycle of salmon and steelhead, walk along the American River and discuss hatchery operations. Participants may see fish and other wildlife, such as migratory birds, signs of mammal activity and cool insects. Tours are canceled in heavy rain and the maximum group size is 25 people (first-come, first-served). The tour is ADA accessible and suitable for all ages. For more information call (916) 358-2884 or email molly.shea@wildlife.ca.gov.
California Stage presents Bob Stanley’s Extra Innings Band as part of its Second Saturday Bandstand. For more information visit calstage. org.
July 14
Yoga in the Park will be held at Blackstone Park in El Dorado Hills from 9-9:30 a.m. Join this 30-minute family-friendly introduction to yoga postures and flows. Enjoy a morning at the park with sun salutations, standing and balancing postures followed by a brief cool down and meditations.
El Dorado Western Railroad offers excursion rides with trains running on the hour, 10 a.m. through 1 p.m., weather permitting, at the El Dorado Station. For more information visit facebook.com/ElDoradoWesternRailroad.
Competition K9 hosts a free kid’s camp, ages 6-17 welcome, at the indoor climate-controlled facility, 7533 Green Valley Road in Placerville. The camp is held 2-4 p.m. Sundays, July 14 through Aug. 4. Kids will learn basic skills in obedience, dog grooming and care plus try out sports like agility, rally and scent work. For families with more kids than dogs, Comp K9 has loaner dogs available so everyone can take part. Registration is open at CompK9.net/Events. For more information call (530) 620-3000.
Now
El Dorado County Certified Farmers Markets offer fresh fruit and vegetables and much more: Burke Junction in Cameron Park, 8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays; Placerville Cinema, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays; and El Dorado Hills Town Center, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. For more information visit eldoradofarmersmarket.com.
Olde Coloma Theatre presents “The Whirling Dervish of Coloma” or “Ladies, Gentlemen and Others?” through Aug. 11. For tickets and more information visit oldecolomatheatre.com.
A culinary resurgence brings tasty adventures to Tahoe
News release
outh Lake Tahoe’s
Snewest gem is a culinary scene with dozens of new restaurants and locals’ favorites that appeal to an eclectic collection of tastes sure to please any discerning gourmet. While a single style of cuisine is not representative as Tahoe, the variety of food, the people to meet, the locations and experiences are what make it memorable. For more delicious details visit visitlaketahoe.com.
Iconic lake views & milestones
Camp Richardson Resort, celebrating 100 years, recently opened The Grove Restaurant, a nod to its rich past and original name, Copeland’s Grove Resort, (formerly the Beacon Bar & Grill). Menu highlights include a miso salmon; fried chicken and ricotta beignets and coleslaw, spicy agave, and powdered sugar; a bison barbecue bacon burger. Signature cocktail choices range from a barrel-aged Whistle Pig Maple Old Fashioned; The Kokanee made with Hendrick’s gin, house made cucumber cordial, soda, with lime garnish; and, of course, The Rum Runner. This summer Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino is observing 80 years and showcasing two celebrity chef restaurants: Lisa Vanderpump’s Wolf by Vanderpump which opened in April, and Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen that just opened an expansion with 56 additional seats, new bar and new entry due to overwhelming popularity. As guests enter Wolf, a magical realm unfolds, transporting diners to a surreal setting, similar to outside under trees — a scene filled with twinkle lights, straight from a romantic fantasy movie. Popular items include goat cheese balls, smoked bourbon boneless bites, Wolf signature double smash burger, paired with Vanderpump Frosé, Sheep’s Clothing, Pumptini or Peter Rabbit a Herb Garden Margarita.
The remodeled Edgewood Tahoe’s Brooks Bar overlooking the golf course and Lake Tahoe features additional bar seating, all new lighting fixtures, tables, chairs, countertops and more. Outdoor seating/lake views with firepits for cooler evenings are always popular. New entrées include panseared salmon, spiced barbecue meatloaf and slow-roasted chicken breast along with favorites like mahi mahi fish tacos, fish & chips, sandwiches/burgers, on the green salads and full bar with beer, wine, cocktails and mocktails.
Locally owned Elements Eatery & Bar opened in May and provides MexicanAmerican fusion with chilaquiles, avocado toast and sourdough pancakes for breakfast, plus tacos, burgers, pastor reuben, enchiladas and Mexican hot dog (baconwrapped with grilled onions and homemade special sauce) for lunch and dinner. Chef Gabriela Chavez has put her years of experience and passion for food into the menu and most sauces are made in-house. Musttry items include their cold-pressed juices (add alcohol if desired) — which originated as a juice stand at the local Farmer’s Market in nearby Meyers — and the fried chicken sandwich. Also, try
morning yoga on the outdoor lawn or sip cocktails and dance to a live DJ under the lights in the evening overlooking the lake.
Maggie’s inside of Desolation Hotel highlights a slow braised short rib with crispy polenta cake, broccolini, short rib jus and micro greens as well as a grilled octopus with quick pickled cucumber frisee salad, lemon cilantro oil, grilled lemon wedge, micro sorrel. Clara’s Got Kick is the most popular cocktail — a spicy combination of reposado tequila, honeydew & jalapeño housemade sweet & sour fresh jalapeño or Thierrys lemon & berries featuring Meyer lemon and lemon infused vodka, like an adults strawberry lemonade. Fun fact: all of their cocktails are named after employee pets.
Coffee & cocktails
Jump start the morning with several options including co ee/pastries shops include Drink Co ee Do Stu , Three Pines and TV Donuts. Drink Co ee Do Stu opened its South Lake Tahoe location (flagship shop is in Incline) in 2022 with a shop that feels like a cozy home and is walking distance from the Heavenly Village. Three Pines is located on Harrison Avenue
near the middle of town by Lakeview Commons Beach. Breakfast menu includes fair trade co ee, pastries both savory and sweet, empanadas, and hearty/ healthy wa es with an assortment of board games and a modern vibe. TV Donuts located at the “Y” near Raleys opened a second location TV Donuts Stateline, adjacent to Maya’s Mexican Grill across from the Heavenly Village o ering favorites like maple bacon, fruit loops, smores plus classics along with boba teas and mochi. At the Heavenly Village, explore a sandwich shop during the day but at night find the secret entrance to enter a classy, intimate Speakeasy with craft high-end cocktails for the perfect way to kick o the evening. All within walking distance of the Speakeasy, visitors can explore an array of breweries including South of North, Libation Lodge (South Lake Brewing Company second location) wine/cocktails and an impressive menu at the Loft Theatre as well as margs/topical
drinks at the recently opened Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe.
The Cocktail Corner, located at the south end of town within the Crossings at Tahoe Valley has absorbed the Bistro at the Corner to provide more seating to serves up brunch, lunch and dinner with chicken & wa es, strawberry French toast, chilaquiles, oysters, sliders, burgers and salads.
Fuel your adventures
Tahoe has an array of delicious burger spots with creative concoctions to load up before or after seeking outdoor thrills. Locally owned Tahoe Bros Burgers, located near Whiskey Dicks, opened in late-May o ering charbroiled burgers with a twist that will resemble those of Izzy Burger Spa (two individuals who previously ran Izzy’s before it closed in fall 2023 have partnered with the owner).
Barbecue chicken, all-beef hot dogs and wings will be available with an extensive list of customized fries, onion rings and pretzel bites. Other popular spots
include Cali Burger (classic bacon burger and adult milkshakes are a must), Fox ’n Hound (featured on “Man vs. Food” — spoiler alert, he lost), McP’s Taphouse (beef chuck patty with corned beef), Tahoe Burger Lounge (add an egg or even peanut butter) and MacDu ’s (bacon, blue cheese) and so many good beers on tap. Chicken in a Barrel moved its location to the middle of town next to Whole Foods and still o ers barbecueHawaiian fusion mouthwatering chicken, ribs, pulled pork, Po’ Boy with all the sides. Carb load with Primo’s handmade pasta dishes, traditional red sauces, brick oven pizzas at their original location just past Tahoe Keys Boulevard or try the new second location, the former Lake House o of Highway 89 near the “Y” (intersection of Highways 89 and 50). Primos o ers a latenight menu at the bar, 9-11 p.m. with bruschetta topped with crab, avocado; burrata with strawberry, honeycomb, watercress sponge and saba; mussels and patty melt. Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine located on lower Kingsbury Grade recently opened and o ers traditional Italian cooking with pasta, veal, filet mignon and salmon along with soups and salads.
Other top Italian dining spots include: Cafe Fiore for intimate high-end dining with eight tables and outdoor tables during warmer months; Gastromaniac homemade pasta and pizza along with cheese boards, salads and sweets; Scusa with upscale atmosphere and traditional entrées shrimp scampi, ravioli and eggplant parmesan. For more information, events, promotions, packages and weather conditions explore VisitLakeTahoe.com.
