Mountain Democrat, Wednesday, July 20, 2023

EDH cityhood back on ice

Noel Stack

Managing editor

Citing a delay in getting stakeholders’ meetings set up due to summer vacations and need for additional public support, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District’s Board of Directors once again delayed a decision on pursuing EDH incorporation.

“We still do have a lot of work to do on our part,” said Board Chair Noelle Mattock. “Right now I don’t think it’s clearly defined what kind of city we want to be … and we haven’t had those conversations.”

Director Steve Ferry, who ran for the board on a pro-incorporation platform, said the EDHCSD needs to move forward and applauded the newly formed Citizens for Cityhood, which has begun a fundraising campaign. However, Ferry noted, more outreach must be done before the board initiates a comprehensive analysis and the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission process.

“I’m not going to make that motion tonight,” Ferry told the audience.

EDHCSD General Manager Kevin Loewen earlier this year presented the cost estimate of $970,000 to $1.2 million to launch an environmental analysis, cover LAFCO expenses, send out communications to the public and utilize legal counsel to help with the incorporation process.

Speakers at the July 13 meeting were split on whether the EDHCSD should take on the effort.

“There’s overwhelming support for this in the community right now,” said Blackstone resident Marcus Worthington. “The appetite is there.”

“We need to take control of El Dorado Hills,

n See eDH CityHooD, page A7

RV up in flames

Odin Rasco

A motorhome became a ball of flames on the side of Highway 50 Monday afternoon, leading to an hour-long road closure.

Flames were first spotted spreading along the vehicle at 12:05 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol records; the vehicle continued eastbound along the highway’s slow lane for an additional three minutes before coming to a stop east of the Bass Lake Road exit. The two occupants of the vehicle, both men, were traveling home from a trip, according to El Dorado Hills Fire Department Deputy Chief Michael

Lilienthal. Both exited the vehicle with no injuries.

As EDHFD crews worked for 45 minutes to keep the fire contained, traffic was diverted along the Bass Lake Road on- and off-ramps. The detour, which lasted for close to an hour until normal traffic resumed at 1:13 p.m., reportedly led to a traffic backup that stretched down the hill past the Silva Valley Parkway exit and lasted over an hour and a half.

Investigation determined a mechanical issue sparked the fire, leading to the destruction of the vehicle; the loss is estimated at $350,000 for the RV and an additional $75,000 for its contents, according to Lilienthal.

NBA star Steph Curry kisses the American Century Championship trophy Sunday at Edgewood Tahoe after close competition with former pro tennis player Mardy Fish on the last few holes.

tahoe celebrity tourney win a dream come true for steph Curry

Laney Griffo Tahoe Daily Tribune

STATELINE, Nev. — Golden State Warriors

Guard Steph Curry won the American Century Championship with a knucklebiting last putt.

At Edgewood Tahoe’s lakeside course Curry led the field Friday and Saturday before teeing off with Mardy Fish and Joe Pavelski Sunday.

The NBA legend fell behind Fish on the ninth hole Sunday and continued to trail by 1-2 points. On the 18th tee Fish led Curry 72-69.

A fan yelled at Fish during his drive, leading to a less than satisfactory shot.

“You have to acknowledge it was an unfortunate situation … Mardy is such a class act and I compliment the way he bounced back,” Curry said. “At that moment I felt embarrassed for all the other fans because there is so much great love for the other 99.9% people who come into this environment.”

Fish then missed his first putt that would’ve secured his win. Following the missed putt, Curry said Fish told him to make his putt.

n See Celebrity golf, page A3

Michael James Loken

Nov. 14, 1951 – June 21, 2023

Mike passed away the morning of June 21. His final days were spent surrounded by the family he loved so much.

Mike was born on Nov 14, 1951, the first of two boys to Erling and Marina Loken in Inglewood, Calif. He went home to be with the Lord and his wife, Connie, of 48 years. He is survived by his brother, his four sons, two daughters, their spouses, nine grandchildren, his wife, Camela, one stepson, two stepdaughters, their spouses, one step grandson, and everyone who has been touched by his presence.

Join us to honor Mike and how he blessed the lives of so many. A Celebration of Life service will be held soon. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to MLokenFamily@gmail. com. In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory can be made to The Shepherd’s Church by checking the box “In Memory of Mike Loken” on their webpage - https://theshepherdschurch. givingfuel.com/giving

George Amo

April 13, 1931 – July 3, 2023

George Amo, former long-time resident of Placerville, Calif., passed away on July 3, 2023 in Sparks, Nev. where he lived the last few years of his life with his daughter and son-in-law.

George was born on April 13, 1931 in Ft. Dodge, IA to George Amo Sr and Etta Mae McBride Amo. He moved with his parents to Lodi, Calif. in 1943. He served in the Air Force for 2-1/2 years.

George was married to Eileen Sears in 1950 in Stockton, Calif. They had three daughters.

He relocated to Placerville in 1971 where he worked as a manager of the local furniture store.

George was voted by the merchants to be the President of the Downtown Merchants Association. He served on the Placerville City Planning Commission and was a member of the El Dorado High School ROP Board of Directors and later appointed to The El Dorado Commission on Aging.

George was a proud member of El Dorado County Sheri STAR program for 10 years.

Remarried in 1979 to Joan Re Ashcraft and children. George and Joan bought Hangtown Florist in 1980. Opened a second flower shop, Flowers by Joan, sold the shops in 1999 and was appointed general manager by the Board of Directors for Greenstone Country CSD. For 18 years he enjoyed working with the board and Greenstone residents. He left this job to care for his ill wife.

Preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Warren, Bob, Rose and his wife Joan. Survived by his daughters Linda (Philip) Siders, Pamela Amo and Michele (Don) Barbeau and his stepchildren Kimberly (Robert), David (Diana) and Robert (Debbie) and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. You will be greatly missed, We Love You.

Mulch in El Dorado Hills backyard spontaneously combusts overnight

Odin Rasco Staff writer

High heat and home improvement proved a volatile combination this weekend when an El Dorado Hills backyard was burnt by a case of spontaneous combustion.

Mike Wise was startled Sunday morning when waking up only to see that flames were burning beyond his backyard window. Wise, an El Dorado County resident for close to 20 years, rushed outside and fought the fire using a garden hose.

“It was certainly a surprise,” Wise said. “It’s truly fortunate that it didn’t spread. The flames got pretty high, it’s good that they didn’t spread to the canopy of the trees nearby or spread to our neighbors.”

Curious to see how the fire had started, Wise reviewed his security camera and was surprised to see that the fire had started itself the evening prior at around 10:30 p.m. Wise had just had new mulch placed in his backyard the day prior, and the

The following is from Placerville Police Department logs:

July 6

7:33 a.m. Officers cited a 59-yearold man allegedly trespassing on Forni Road.

12:55 p.m. Narcotics were reportedly found on Coloma Court.

3:38 p.m. A cell phone was reported lost on Bee Street.

5:36 p.m. Officers cited a 47-yearold man allegedly trespassing on Broadway.

9:23 p.m. Officers arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance on Main Street.

hot day appears to have kick-started the process that caused the material to later self-ignite. The flames slowly spread in the small backyard near Green Valley Road until Wise woke the next morning.

The damage from the fire appears to be limited. “Just going to cost a few hundred dollars and some sweat equity to get fixed,” Wise estimated.

Though spontaneous combustion is often

July 7

12:26 a.m. Officers cited a 26-year-old man allegedly in possession of illegal drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop on Old Depot Road. The suspect’s vehicle was towed for expired registration.

4:08 p.m. Officers arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance on Center Street.

6:28 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Reservoir Street.

7:13 p.m. Officers arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of public intoxication on Clay Street.

9:53 p.m. Officers arrested a man who had an outstanding warrant and another man on suspicion of possession of controlled

presented as a myth or something out of cartoons, information from the National Fire Protection Association indicates that around 14,070 fires are started annually by the natural phenomenon. The National Parks Service explains such combustions can be caused by chemical, biological or physical processes that cause combustible materials to self-heat to a temperature high

substance and illegal drug paraphernalia following traffic stop on Cold Springs Road.

July 8

7:17 a.m. Officers cited a 51-yearold woman and a 68-year-old man allegedly trespassing on Village Lane. They also arrested a 66-year-old man who had an outstanding warrant.

8:35 a.m. A stolen vehicle was recovered on Reservoir Street.

8 p.m. Officers cited a 55-year-old man allegedly driving a vehicle with a stolen license plate on Conrad Court. The vehicle was towed.

10:43 p.m. Officers arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition on Highway 50.

enough to cause ignition.

In an interview with Homes and Gardens, Charles Moore, a fire chief for Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue in Nevada, indicated that he had seen a number of mulch fires resulting from spontaneous combustion in his career.

Moore suggested that high temperatures, breezy days and mulch piled too high can all contribute to a potential fire risk.

July 9

1:52 a.m. Officers arrested a 22-year-old woman allegedly driving a stolen vehicle on Highway 50.

6:28 a.m. A flip phone was found on Main Street.

8:22 a.m. Officers cited a 47-yearold man allegedly in possession of methamphetamine on Broadway Court.

9:23 a.m. Officers arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of a parole violation and trespassing on Schnell School Road. A 51-year-old woman was cited for allegedly trespassing.

5:48 p.m. Officer arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance on Mosquito Road.

Courtesy photo

Footage from Mike Wise’s security cam captured a fire in his backyard that started when freshly placed mulch self-combusted.

Changes aim to prevent misuse of Tahoe beaches

Mountain Democrat staff

Recent news stories showed shocking images of volunteers removing thousands of pounds of litter from one Lake Tahoe beach following the Fourth of July holiday.

Media coverage caused public outrage and drew widespread attention to the challenge of preventing litter at the iconic Sierra Nevada destination, according to o cials with the League to Save Lake Tahoe and U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, who note those same stories overlooked the good news: the vast majority of sites cleaned as part of the Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue July 5 Beach

Next court date set for suspect in infant death

Odin Rasco

Staff writer

The next pre-pretrial date for Kevin Van Streefkerk, the Cameron Park man suspected of assault that resulted in the death of an infant in June, has been set. Judge Mark Ralphs set the next hearing for Aug. 18 at 8:30 a.m. in El Dorado Superior Court Department 2. Van Streefkerk, 37, was arrested June 20 by El Dorado County sheri ’s deputies following a child abuse made from a local hospital to the Sheri ’s O ce June 17. His 5-week-old daughter was admitted into the hospital with numerous injuries that appeared to be caused

by physical assault and she eventually died from the damage inflicted, according to EDSO Sgt. Alexander Sorey. Ralphs ruled Van Streefkerk was ineligible for bail and he is being held in El Dorado County Jail as he awaits trial. He faces charges for heinous and intentional murder in the first

degree and assault of a child resulting in death, inmate records show.

The El Dorado County District Attorney’s O ce has not yet announced if it plans to pursue the death penalty in the case.

Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for the California Governor’s O ce of Emergency Services, issued a statement confirming Van Streefkerk has been a state employee working on telecommunications tech since 2016. The San Juan Unified School District also confirmed that Van Streefkerk had been a tennis coach at Mesa Verde High School in Citrus Heights from August to November 2022.

Celebrity golf

Continued from A1

Curry sunk an 18-foot putt that clinched the win, before throwing his hat and running to embrace his wife Ayesha Curry. He credits his experience competing in various championships for helping him keep focus and trust his form during that putt.

Steph made history Saturday after scoring the first hole-in-one on Hole 7 in tournament history, the fifth ace in tournament history.

“Hearing the roar on the eighth green from Steph’s hole in one-

Cleanup were far less impacted.

Land managers and stewards say this continues a multi-year trend toward cleaner beaches at many locations around the lake, thanks in large part to improved management and more responsible use by the public. Yet, the state of that single stretch of trash-choked shoreline at Zephyr Shoals, and the fact that League to Save Lake Tahoe volunteers still find hundreds of pounds of beach litter, shows more must be done. The League to Save Lake Tahoe and U.S. Forest Service are working both independently and collaboratively to stop the scenes of July 5 from

Fire consumes garage on Smith Flat Road

garage, vehicles and a half-acre of vegetation o Smith Flat Road early Friday morning.

Crews from El Dorado County Fire Protection District, Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit and Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District quelled the blaze in the early hours

Friday, according to a social media post. The responders were able to contain the flames before they spread to neighboring properties or buildings, the post states. No injuries resulting from the fire were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Dr. Little’s Dental News

Presented by Jeffery Little, D.D.S.

FLOSS PICKS VERSUS STRING FLOSS

Flossing is essential for oral health; it helps remove bacteria-causing food particles and plaque from in between your teeth, preventing plaque build-up, tooth decay, and gum disease. There is no toothbrush that cleans these areas as well as daily flossing does. Floss picks are convenient and allow you to carry these single-use items in a wallet or purse for flossing on-the-go. They are typically easier to use than string floss, but they don’t clean those hard-to-reach places as well. Another downside is floss picks use the same piece of floss for every tooth, while string floss allows for

Day Hiker

fresh floss on each tooth or section. Most dentists agree that the best floss is the kind you’re most likely to use.

Although brushing and flossing take the lead in the fight against food and plaque build-up, the main causes of decay and gum disease, it is equally important to perform these regimens correctly for maximum results. Your family dentist can show you the most effective way to brush and floss your teeth. Remember, a sure investment in your future is a visit to your dentist today. P.S. First used in the 1800s, string floss was originally made by twisting together strands of silk.

The Gold Country Trail Guide

in-hole on seven … you know eight points on one hole is a lot of points,” Fish commented.

Following the ace, Curry said he got on the phone to arrange for his wife and son to travel up from the Bay Area to watch the final round.

Curry has played in the American Century Championship for nearly a decade and said winning this tournament has been a dream of his. Still, he told reporters he has

no plans to retire from basketball to pursue a golf career anytime soon.

“Life is good in the NBA,” Curry said.

In addition to his wife and son, his father Dell Curry and brother Seth Curry were present to watch his win.

Curry finished the round at 75, Fish at 73 and Pavelski at 66.

Tony Romo, who was favored to win, finished eighth

51 points.

A collection of Day Hiker columns can be seen the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in the Mountain Democrat

A collection of Day Hiker columns first published in the Auburn Journal between 2016 and 2018

with

Steph Curry reacts after sinking an 18-foot putt on the 18th hole.

Tahoe Daily Tribune photos by Rob Galloway

Dallas Stars hockey pro Joe Pavelski, left photo, watches his tee shot as the second day of the American Century Championship kicked off July 13. Pavelski placed third overall in the celebrity golf tournament. New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, right photo, signs autographs for fans.

Photo courtesy of The League to Save Lake Tahoe

The League to Save Lake Tahoe hosted a cleanup July 5 at Zephyr Shoals.

Courtesy photo

A detached

KEVIN VAN STREEFKERK

Annual crime report shows Californians’ fear of crime increasing is justified

Political officeholders at all levels and of all ideological stripes habitually pursue a time-dishonored practice when releasing data.

If it’s positive, politicians try to maximize its importance with lavish news conferences and self-congratulatory declarations.

If, on the other hand, the data have a negative cast, they will be released quietly, often late on a Friday afternoon, to minimize media coverage.

summary

California’s annual report on crime was released this year on the Friday before what for many would be a four-day, Fourth of July holiday weekend. That’s a tipoff that it would not be good news — and, in fact, it received minimal media attention.

The 2022 report revealed that the state’s violent crime rate increased by 6.1% since 2021 and property crime was up 6.2%. Homicides dipped very slightly, but robberies jumped by 10.2%.

Very quietly, California’s Department of Justice released its annual report on crime, revealing that violent and property crimes spiked in 2022.

Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a low-key statement with the data release, saying, “While crime rates remain significantly below their historical highs, property and violent crimes continue to have devastating consequences for communities across the state and gun violence remains a major threat to public safety.”

One can be certain that had California seen a drop in crime in 2022, Bonta would have trumpeted it as loudly as possible.

Let’s be clear: Neither Bonta nor any other attorney general can have more than a marginal effect on crime rates. Nevertheless, their campaigns often depict themselves as the state’s

n See Walters page A5

Guest Column

Letters to the Editor

Notice the good EDITOR:

In a July 7 letter to the editor, the Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County said its was “looking for information you’d like to share about your experiences with any department within the county” and went on to say it was “looking for feedback related to negative experiences.” The plan is to gather information and then pass it onto those departments and the Board of Supervisors.

I invite you to think deeper about this request. We have become a society that feeds on the negative. Negative speculation and gossip spread quicker than wildfire in most of our communication channels and we are quick to jump to conclusions that generally assume the worst of our neighbors and fellow man. And what has that gotten us? El Dorado County has always been the model of a caring, connected community where kindness rules. We need to get back to that.

El Dorado County government has many touch points on your daily life. If you have had a truly unacceptable experience that needs attention, as chairman of the Board of Supervisors I invite you to let us know directly at cob@edcgov.us. I also invite you to notice the good. We have close to 2,000 employees who have dedicated themselves to serving you. Have you noticed our road crew members who worked tirelessly during the winter storms to clear the roads and are now hard at work clearing vegetation and maintaining the roads after the impacts of a harsh winter? Have you noticed that our Planning and Building Department has implemented a new window area that expands over-the-counter permit reviews for quick turnaround service? In fact, in the first quarter of this year more than 1,450 permits were approved in two days or less. That’s something worth noticing. Have you noticed that our libraries are inspired in their outreach and impact, whether it is enriching children’s programs or the Community Hubs that are meeting family needs?

The end of the Taxpayers Association letter reads, “Thanks for your support in making El Dorado County the best place to live in California.” We

all want that! And the men and women in local government, whether at El Dorado County, the city of Placerville or the city of South Lake Tahoe, are dedicated to doing just that.

While the rest of the world is doing backflips in the cesspool of negativity, let us challenge ourselves to deal with what needs to be adjusted while also committing ourselves to noticing and promoting the good. That is how we will ensure El Dorado County is the best place to live in not only California, but in the nation.

WENDY THOMAS EDC Supervisor, District 3

Experts at racism

EDITOR:

The Democratic Party has long been a main promoter of racism. Up to the ‘60s it was overt with the promotion of segregation and people like Joe Biden giving a moving eulogy at the funeral of Sen. Robert Byrd, who had been a Grand Kleagle of the KKK.

One should also remember our fearless leader Biden saying he didn’t want his kids going to school in a “racial jungle,” his words.

Now, however, the left has gotten much more sophisticated in the promotion of racism. Chris Daley’s recent article complaining of the Supreme Court doing away with the discrimination of affirmative action is a good example. The Democrats don’t want minorities to achieve on their own as then they would lose their dependence on the party. In this regard the Democrats are like the drug pusher who wants to keep his addicts hooked and dependent on him

That’s why the Democrats fight hard against school choice. School choice would allow minority parents to send their kids to good schools, like the governor does, and not the failed schools they are trapped in.

The last thing the Democrats just like the drug pusher want is for their voters or customers, if you will, to be able to prosper without their help. The

n See letters page A5

The disastrous decline of our nation is crystal clear

Using statistics from the Department of Labor, The Wall Street Journal reports that real hourly wages during the Biden presidency have declined.

When Biden took office in January 2021 the average hourly wage adjusted for inflation was $11.39. Now, 29 months later, it stands at $11.03, a 3.16% decline.

Stephen Moore of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity reports that the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that in the month of June, the largest growth in employment in the U.S. economy came from government.

Government net increase in employment in June was 60,000 workers, almost 20,000 more than the second-highest increase in the healthcare sector.

The economic legacy of the Biden administration, which they call Bidenomics, is expansion of government at the expense of the private sector along with massive spending, which has produced the

worst inflation in 40 years, resulting in erosion of the pay of American workers.

But what should really be worrying every American is that the Biden administration experience is not a departure from an otherwise healthy trend that can be quickly turned around with a Republican victory in 2024.

Biden is taking the nation down a dangerous path that began years ago and is in a long-term destructive trend that will take the boldest kind of leadership to turn around.

Economist John Cochrane of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution notes, “Creeping stagnation is the central economic issue of our time.

“Economic growth since 2000 has fallen by half compared with the last half of the twentieth century,” continues Cochrane.

From 1950 to 2000, the U.S. economy grew on average 3.56% annually. Since 2000 the annual growth rate averages 1.96% per year.

What does this mean? “The average

Government net increase in employment in June was 60,000 workers, almost 20,000 more than the second-highest increase in the healthcare sector.

American’s income is already a quarter less than under the previous trend,” notes Cochrane.

The latest projections from the Congressional Budget Office takes this bleak picture and projects into territory that is even bleaker. More government, more debt, less growth.

First, a little perspective. In 1950, federal government spending as a percent of GDP stood at 15.3%. In 2000 it stood at 17.7%.

CBO projects that in 2024 federal government spending will be 23.6% of GDP; by 2035 it will reach 24.9%, rising to 26% by 2040 and 28.3% by 2050.

Corresponding CBO projections for the federal debt held by the public as a percent of GDP: 2024, 100%; 2035, 120%; 2040, 134%; 2050, 181%.

And the projected real growth rates for the U.S economy: 2022-33,1.8%; 2034-43, 1.6%; 2044-54, 1.5%.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has returned from a trip to China out of concern for China’s aggressiveness

on the world stage.

China does indeed pose a threat to us. But the first order of business in dealing with threats from abroad is making our own country as strong as possible. And this is where our failure is taking place.

Biden’s approval rating has actually increased over recent weeks. And polling shows a presidential contest with Biden running against the leading Republican candidates basically too close to call.

This should not be the case.

The decline of our nation is crystal clear for any clear-thinking and honest observer.

We need Republicans who are ready to deliver a clear message to the American people about how we will shrink the massive growth of government that is destroying our national vitality.

Our entitlement programs — Social Security and Medicare — drive some two-thirds of our federal expenditures.

n See Parker, page A5

Star ParkEr

DaN WaLtErS

Walters Continued from A4 top cop and imply that they do have such authority. Why crime rates ebb and flow is the subject of never-ending academic and political debate — and is colored by equally erratic public concerns about being victimized.

At the moment, Californians’ worries about crime appear to be on the upswing, as indicated by one of the Public Policy Institute of California’s periodic polls, conducted just before last fall’s election.

“Californians’ perception of crime spiked during the pandemic — as did certain types of crime,” PPIC found, adding, “nearly two in three Californians call violence and street crime in their local community a problem. This includes 31% who call them a big problem, a noticeable increase from February 2020 (24%).”

The poll found that among racial and ethnic groups, Black Californians expressed the highest level of concern about crime, women were more concerned than men and Republicans more than Democrats or independent voters.

The data released on June 30 imply that those concerns are rooted in fact. Crime did increase sharply last year, particularly robberies, and it has not gone unnoticed in the media.

The proliferation of cameras in stores and in the hands of cellphone owners has produced a neverending supply of crime video snippets, such as smash-and-grab invasions of stores, for television

newscasts, which then reverberate on YouTube and other online outlets.

Just a few days after the crime report release, for example, a San Francisco TV station aired video of criminals breaking into a Bay Area visitor’s rental car in broad daylight, stealing the contents and driving away.

Bonta and the man who appointed him attorney general before he won reelection in November, Gov. Gavin Newsom, have pursued somewhat ambivalent postures about crime. They lament its effects on victims and take some public crime-fighting steps while championing criminal justice reform to reduce traditional punishment of those caught breaking the law.

A day before the crime data were released, Newsom dispatched more California Highway Patrol officers to battle open air drug dealing in San Francisco, a city he once governed as mayor.

In decades past spikes in crime have had major impacts on California’s political atmosphere — helping Republicans become dominant in the 1980s, for example.

Were crime to continue its currently upward path, it could once again become a game-changing political factor.

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

In summer heat, ‘Look Before You Lock’

Over the past 25 years, 940 children have died of heatstroke due to being left or trapped in a hot car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As temperatures rise this week, the California Office of Traffic Safety and California Department of Transportation remind families and caregivers of the Look Before You Lock campaign that aims to prevent deaths and injuries of loved ones.

Since 1998 the majority of these tragedies occur when a child is “forgotten” by a parent or caregiver and left in a hot car and more than half occur at a home, states a news release from OTS and Caltrans. A busy parent or caregiver may unintentionally forget that a quiet or sleeping child, who may also be facing the back of the car, is in the back of the vehicle. Nearly one-third of these accidents occur with children younger than 1. Thirty-three children died due to vehicular heatstroke in 2022.

Heatstroke, also referred to as hyperthermia,

n See Look, page A6

Parker Continued from A4

These are systems that are dinosaurs, with Social Security going back to 1936 and Medicare to 1965. Reform needs to take place, not in the form of cosmetic changes, but deep and real change in the way of personalization.

Republican primary voters must demand a clear and bold vision from candidates about how they plan to restore an America that will once again grow at 3.5% per year.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.”

Letters Continued from A4

other insidious thing about the discrimination of affirmative action is that it unfairly tarnishes the achievements of those who worked hard, studied hard and made it on their own in fair competition. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamt of the day when people would be judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. Amazes me how many Democrats revere MLK Jr. while apparently not listening to a word he said.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

Announcements

JENNIFER

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 334-2970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot. comt

AmericAN AssOc. Of UNiversity WOmeN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 417-7138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

el DOrADO cOUNty AmAteUr rADiO cLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

LeArN & PLAy criBBAGe Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-768-4452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at Steve’s Pizza, 3941 Park Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Ready for real change?

ceLeBrAte recOvery meets Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at Bayside Church of Placerville, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing and recovery from our hurts, habits, and hangups. Email elebratercovery@ baysideplacerville. com. Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ CRBaysidePlacerville.

Struggling with life? ceLeBrAte recOvery is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@ greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/

DemOcrAts – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems. org for more information.

GOLD rUsH cHOrUs now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing fourpart harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

Hangtown Women’s teNNis club. Join fun-loving women Wednesdays 8am-10am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $50/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654. mArsHALL HOsPitAL AUxiLiAry is looking for volunteers. It is a rewarding opportunity to do something for the community. We will be holding interviews on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Please contact Linda Grimoldi at 530-6202240 or call the Auxiliary Office at 530-626-2643.

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. For more information, call (530) 622-1180.

seNiOr Peer cOUNseLiNG

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

tAxPAyers AssOciAtiON Of eL DOrADO cOUNty

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

1-855-916-4853

Local gymnasts tumble to the top at nationals

Eric Jaramishian Staff writer

Nine athletes from Cameron Park’s Tumble Time Gymnastics became top finishers at the National Gymnastics Association National Championships in New Orleans.

Twenty-eight competed at the New Orleans Convention Center June 17-21 against more than 2,000 of the nation’s finest in youth gymnastics.

Many of Tumble Time’s athletes were top-10 finishers in their areas of competition.

Eleanor Clapson, competing at Level 2, placed first on beam, floor and scored enough points to become the overall Level 2 national champion.

Also in Level 2, Everly Gillette scored 9.775 on bars, which earned her first place.

Lillian Oby scored 9.75 for Level 3 beam and is now the national champion for the event.

Kari Huntley is the national champion for the Level 4 floor competition.

On the boys side, Level 1 competitor Henry Darby scored big, placing first for vault, high bar, pommel horse, floor and all around in the boys 4×4 competition.

Davis Brown also competed in Level 1 and is the national champion for high bar and parallel bars. Brown tied with Jacob

Summerton for first on parallel bars; both scored 8.9 points.

Ryder Garrido earned first place in Level 2 vault and parallel bars. Hudson Boston matched Garrido’s score of 9.5 points in vault to tie him for first. More results from the National Gymnastics Association National Championships:

Girls

2nd on bars and in the all around.

Lillian Oby – 9th place on bars, 7th on floor, 4th on vault and 2nd in the all around. Ellie Nichols – 10th place on vault, 5th on bars and beam, 4th on floor and 7th in the all around.

n See Tumblers page A7

Courtesy photo

Capital Crew rowers rugged

Special to the Democrat Capital Crew U16 rowers came in sixth in the nation at the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals held last month in Sarasota, Fla. Two Oak Ridge High School students — Ava Lafontaine and Avary McBrayer — are on the Sacramento-based team, which practiced six days a week for 10 months (sometimes twice a day)

Look Continued from A5

can escalate quickly in a hot car. Temperatures can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. At 70 degrees outside, a vehicle can reach a temperature higher than 115 degrees. Individuals, particularly children whose body temperatures rise three to five times faster than an adult’s, can overheat in minutes. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, heatstroke occurs when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees.

OTS and Caltrans officials encourage parents and caregivers to take extra precautions to make sure a child is not left or forgotten in the back seat:

Always lock your vehicle and keep the keys out of reach. About 25% of hot car deaths are a result of children getting into unattended vehicles. Teach the child that a car is not a play area.

Never leave a child alone in a car for any reason. Rolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle. Make it a habit to look in the back

to reach this skill level. To qualify for youth nationals the team had to place in the top four at Southwest Regional Championships (all teams from California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, Utah). The Capital Crew came in third in that race.

Capital Crew is a no cut sport and open to anyone in the Sacramento area. For more information visit sacstateaquaticcenter.com/capitalcrew-youth-rowing.

seat before you exit the car. Keep a stuffed animal, purse, phone or wallet next to the car seat as a reminder.

Check in with a spouse, childcare staff or caregiver when there is a change in schedules to verify the child was picked up or dropped off.

Know the warning signs of heatstroke, which include red, hot and moist or dry skin, lack of sweat, dizziness, nausea, confusion, as well as being irritable or strange behavior.

Heatstroke prevention also applies to pets, who face the same risks for heatstroke when left in a hot car. Keep pets safe by leaving them at home unless you need them with you. If you see a child or pet alone in a hot vehicle, make sure they are OK and responsive. Act immediately and call 911. A child or pet in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.

For more information on vehicle heatstroke, visit nhtsa.gov/campaign/ heatstroke. For current data visit noheatstroke.org.

Capital Crew U16 teammates made a splash at nationals last month.

Courtesy photo

Tumble Time athlete Eleanor Clapson celebrates her win at the 2023 National Gymnastics Association National Championships.

Culvert Clean-up

COMiCS

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

U.S. Forest Service photo by Rocio Espinoza

An Eldorado National Forest road crew prepares to replace a culvert along Wrights Tie Road. When water didn’t drain away the pavement deteriorated. This section of road was repaved the week of June 24. The replacement of this culvert is a part of an ongoing effort to repair roads in the forest damaged by storms this past winter.

Tumblers Continued from A6

Kelsie Martin – 10th place on bars, 9th on vault, 5th on floor, 4th on beam and 7th in the all around.

Lina Collins – 9th place on vault, 5th on bars, 3rd on floor and 8th in the all around.

Amelia Macdonald – 9th place on vault, 8th on bars and floor, 6th on the beam and 7th in the all around.

Lorelei Thayer – 9th place on bars, 5th on beam and floor, and 7th in the all around.

Level 4:

Jillian Bundesen – 6th place on vault, 3rd on bars and floor, 2nd on beam and 3rd in the all around.

Kari Huntley – 8th place on bars, 5th on vault, 4th on beam and 4th in the all around.

Tahoe beaches

happening again.

Level 5: Callie Yoast – 6th place on floor.

Level 6: Lauren Peters – 7th place on vault, 5th on beam, 4th on floor and 10th in the all around.

Level 7: Avery Mackay – 10th place on vault.

Boys

Level 1: Davis Brown – 3rd place on rings, 2nd on floor, pommel horse, vault and all around. Jacob Summerton – 3rd place on floor, pommel horse, vault and high bar, 2nd on rings and 3rd in the all around.

Continued from A3

“What happened at Zephyr Shoals was absolutely unacceptable,” said Forest Supervisor Erick Walker, naming the National Forest location hardest hit with litter on July 4. “Lake Tahoe is a national treasure, with 155,000 acres of public land that are open for everyone to enjoy. You wouldn’t empty a trash-filled cooler on your living room floor; it’s just as unthinkable to do it on a Tahoe beach.”

Over the last decade land managers for many of Tahoe’s popular recreation sites have taken steps to prevent user impacts, like adding more trash receptacles during busy days, improving developed recreation facilities and enforcing alcohol prohibitions. That has squeezed irresponsible partygoers into smaller, less intensively managed sites, concentrating the impacts there. Zephyr Shoals, located on the lake’s southeastern shore, is a prime example.

To better serve the public and protect natural resources Forest Service officials announced Zephyr Shoals will be managed by a concession beginning this fall for the first time, similar to other developed National Forest sites around the Tahoe Basin. With a concessionaire managing day-to-day operations under a permit with the Forest Service, the public will continue to have access but can expect changes like managed parking, enhanced trash management, signage, sanitation services and staffing.

Working in partnership, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Forest Service and other stakeholders are going further to raise the bar for beach management across the Tahoe Basin, according to a news release. The organizations have made a multi-year commitment to Tahoe Blue Beaches, a new model that centers around:

• Education — Proactive outreach prior to and during high-use times, combined with physical signage that gets people’s attention and clearly communicates the “Tahoe way” to responsibly enjoy the outdoors and prevent the impacts of bad behavior.

• Engineering — Adding trash cans, dumpsters, restrooms and the staffing required for upkeep, along with

EDH cityhood

Level 2:

Ryder Garrido – 2nd place on the rings and high bar, and 3rd for all around.

Gordon Brown – 8th place on pommel horse, 7th on high bar, 5th on rings and vault, 4th place on parallel bars and 8th place for all around. Hudson Boston – 10th place on the pommel horse, 9th on floor and parallel bars, 8th on rings and 10th for all around.

Level 3: Mason Brown – 10th place on vault, 9th on pommel horse, 8th on high bar, 5th on rings, 4th on parallel bars, 2nd on floor and 8th for all around.

designing access points that fit the natural contours of the site, because paved roads and buildings are not right for everywhere in Tahoe.

• Enforcement — Enforcing rules and regulations to ensure public lands aren’t misused or abused, following education and engineering.

The elevated management will define what it means to be called a Tahoe Blue Beach, a place where the environment is respected, protected and enjoyed. The League to Save Lake Tahoe will publicly recognize beaches and businesses that take these extra steps to Keep Tahoe Blue.

“As the public’s interest in Tahoe continues to climb, it’s increasingly important that people who enjoy this special place also do their part to take care of it,” states Public Services Staff Officer Daniel Cressy with the U.S. Forest Service. “Promoting this goal is one of the core pillars of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, and one way we’ll reach our shared vision for Tahoe as a healthy, thriving, welcoming place.”

Officials with The League to Save Lake Tahoe and U.S. Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit ask everyone do their part to take care of Tahoe, set positive examples and leverage their influence to inspire responsible enjoyment of Tahoe and other special places. Volunteers and partner organizations who participated in the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s July 5 cleanup are modeling that stewardship behavior for others to follow.

“Every year I hear from people who plan their vacations so they can join our cleanup on July 5. It’s become their families’ tradition,” said Marilee Movius, senior community engagement manager for the League to Save Lake Tahoe. “This year, it was also amazing that so many folks responded to posts on social media by dropping everything to join our cleanup. We hope everyone will follow their lead by not littering in the first place and taking small, simple actions to leave Tahoe better than they found it. That’s the Tahoe way.”

Anyone can do their part to Keep Tahoe Blue, whether they have five hours to spare or only five minutes. Visit keeptahoeblue.org/ tahoebluegooder to learn how.

Continued from A1

keep our money and our services in El Dorado Hills,” added Whitney Worthington, Marcus’ wife.

But Heritage resident George Steed called incorporation “a project that never dies ... and there are other priorities this board needs to be paying attention to.”

Steed encouraged the board to stick to its current mission of providing services and amenities to El Dorado Hills residents and let individuals

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

passionate about incorporation take on that task.

Director Mike Martinelli commented that he thought communication about all the benefits of cityhood has fallen short and he’s content continuing that outreach at this time. Directors voted 3-0 to bring the issue back in 90 days.

Directors Heidi Hannaman and Ben Paulsen were not present at Thursday evening’s meeting.

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis

n TODAy

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Privately remind yourself of what you are good at because playing to your strengths will make a new process go smoothly.

You’ll give a strong performance at something you didn’t even know you could do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You set out to make something and the result is very different from your original idea. It’s as though your creation is what it wanted to be: unique and alive, as though it had a hand in its own birth.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s an excellent time to conserve your energy by dropping something you were only doing to please a certain person. Don’t try to be likable to all. Be likable to you. You’re the one who must hang out with you the most.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). As the “apples and oranges” comparison implies, it’s silly to rate completely differing entities against one another. You’ll accept things for what they are and figure out how to best use them for their distinctive and integral qualities.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The past is still with you in some ways. You’ll be surprised to experience the extent of it today. You’ll hear the script in your head — lines that have been delivered for years. You can VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You know how you want to be treated. Treat yourself like that and others get the hint. Semantics can complicate things unnecessarily. If you can say it with action instead of words, things get simpler.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re not always in the mood to compete, so when the spirit of competition does land on you, as it will today, use that energy for all it’s worth. Let it fuel and quicken you. Focus on what matters most to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are people who are lost inside a place you know all too well. You’ll educate them and help them find their way. It’s better to assist people in getting their needs met than to try and meet them all yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Get a win. Any win will do. Something seemingly insignificant will be enough to level up your mindset by proving to yourself that you’re a person who does what you set out to do.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You will succeed best in environments where you know people are rooting for you. If you are struggling, stop and look around. Is there anyone who is making your process more difficult? Progress resumes once obstacles are cleared.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You push yourself hard and ask more of yourself than you would dream of asking of anyone else. Assess whether this is compassionate or harsh. Will it lead to burnout? What would happen if you relaxed your demands?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve done cool things, but you have no desire to talk about your past glories like some. You know in your heart that the best is yet to come and that’s where you want to put your mind and words today.

KNOW

July 19

Are you nervous about the upcoming fire season? Have questions about home hardening and creating defensible space?

Do you know what to do if wildfire is headed your way? The Camino Fire Safe Council hosts a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Cal Fire Amador/ El Dorado Unit headquarters conference room, 2840 Mt. Danaher Road in Camino.

Smith Flat House in Placerville hosts Comedy Night with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m. For reservations and more information call (530) 621-1003.

Showroom entertainment at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe features The Disco Biscuits. For tickets and more information visit caesars.com/harrahstahoe/shows.

July 20

The FamilySearch Center in Placerville hosts Start a Family Tree on FamilySearch at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. This class is for beginners or those who want to review if they have just started a tree. Come with some basic info or just with your family memories. For more information call (530) 621-1378.

El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts Live on the Boulevard free concerts every Thursday. The next show features Joy &

Black Pioneers

pictorial quilt exhibit depicts Black history in the West

News release

SACRAMENTO — The California Museum announces the opening of Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West, a timeline of original pictorial quilts exploring the path of Black history in the West. On view through Oct. 1, the exhibit dispels the myth that Black people in the old West were mostly cowboys, showing the rich diversity in African Americans’ occupations and achievements in society, religion, education and the arts from 1528 through the Civil Rights Movement.

Organized by The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art and curator, historian and artist Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, Black Pioneers features 50 quilts created for

“1849” by Connie Horn

Day hiker

PCT to Benson Hut

Ihad to get in a high-elevation hike (8,350 feet) on the Pacific Crest Trail to Benson Hut. Hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains is beautiful any time of year, but I prefer to beat the snow when the trek is 10 miles long.

Mary West Outdoor columnist

Pick up the trail off Donner Pass Road. Take Interstate 80 east to the Soda Springs/Norden exit No. 174. Turn right onto Donner Pass Road. Past Sugar Bowl resort you see the PCT trail signs. Turn into the old Sugar Bowl Academy parking lot and down the rough road to the trailhead. Parking is limited. The first mile-anda-half or so is a trek on the PCT to Mt. Judah to Mt. Lincoln to the base of Anderson Peak.

The hike runs the ridge line for about 3 miles along the north face of Anderson Peak. Benson Hut is another half-mile or so on the other side of the peak.

As you can imagine, the views are amazing. I had the privilege of hiking this trail with a California State Parks ranger who knew the area well.

Bring an extra layer of clothing for gusty winds along the ridge top. This is a hike not a walk so appropriate hiking boots and plenty of water are a must. The trail is obvious and well maintained when clear of snow.

The landscape near the trail is sparse. The mountain has taken the brunt of countless seasons of scorching sun, driving rain, wind and snow.

The trail is made up of decomposed granite and some hearty shrubs like buckhorn, holly and manzanita. The view of the surrounding peaks tells a different story, appearing lush, covered in pine and evergreen undergrowth.

Reaching the peak only means you are getting close. Continuing along the ridge line down the other side you return to the forest and Benson Hut will come into view.

A welcome sight on the nicest day, I can only imagine the relief one would have if you found the

front door in a snowstorm offering a break from the weather, the hope of shelter, warmth and even some food inside. I enjoyed looking in and around the hut while eating the lunch we had packed in. Rested and satisfied, we took a seat outside to take in the view before the return trip.

Why do trails always seem shorter on the way out? Maybe our shared love of the outdoors and good conversation made the miles slip by.

get ready for some rockin’ blues

News release

SUTTER CREEK — Back by popular demand, Indigenous returns to the Sutter Creek Theatre this Friday.

Mato Nanji of the Ihanktonwan Nation first picked up the guitar at 16 years old. Since the age of 18 he has toured the country with his blues/rock band Indigenous, playing with great artists such as Buddy Guy, BB King, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Brown. Nanji has been a part of the Experience Hendrix Tour since 2002 and shared the stage with a lot of great musicians.

Mato continues to share his music across the nation with all the awesome Indigenous fans.

Born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, Indigenous front man Nanji dedicates his latest release, “Time Is Coming” (on Blues Bureau International) to the indigenous youth and all young people on the indigenous reservations. In 1998 Indigenous released its awardwinning debut album, “Things We Do.” The title track’s video, directed by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals), won the American Indian Film Festival Award and was shown at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Indigenous’ music caught the

attention of blues icon B.B. King and the young band was invited to play on his annual B.B. King’s Blues Tour in 1999. “Vanishing Americans” was released May 21, 2013, and promptly found its place on iTunes Top 10 Blues Chart.

Blues Rock Review wrote: “Each song is brought together with heavy and powerful guitar riffs akin to those of Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix, while bellowing, raspy vocals turn a talented guitarist’s vision into a relatable song for many, just as any praiseworthy blues album should.”

In addition to his Indigenous “day job,” Nanji continues to be a member of the critically acclaimed Experience Hendrix Tour. Playing alongside original Jimi Hendrix band members Billy Cox and the late Mitch Mitchell, the tour roster includes some of today’s blues greats, including Buddy Guy, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble), Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson and Robert Randolph.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. at Sutter Creek, 44 Main St. in Sutter Creek. Open seating, beer and wine are available at the former silent film theater. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheater.com.

Courtesy photo

Indigenous brings blues-rock to Sutter Creek Theatre Friday night.

there is a day just for goofing off? March 22 is National Goof Off Day! What a great day for a page full of fun and games to enjoy.

How many goofy things can you find in this picture?

Replace the missing words from the word list below to find out how Goof Off Day might have started.

On the island of _____________, Goof Off Day is celebrated with _________ing in the ____________ lagoon. For thousands of years, islanders have enjoyed the annual ____________ building contest.

The top prize is a bag of __________. The winner gets to ______ to a neighboring island for a vacation, and receives all the _____________ he or she can carry. It is customary to shout ___________ while juggling ___________ at the end of the day. Finally, there is the _____________ of _______________. Giant __________ have been carved to honor Goof Off Day, and these can be seen from miles away.

Get ready for Goof Off Day by making a hammock out of newspaper! Be sure to save this Kid Scoop page so you can do the games while lounging on your hammock!

Roll about 50 pages of newspaper into a tight tube. Make 15 to 20 tubes.

When the hammock is as long as your body, bring the rope ends together to form loops for hanging.

Hang the hammock indoors or outdoors, tying it to sturdy supports at each end.

The newspaper hammock idea is from Steven Caney’s The Invention Book Check it out at your local library for more inventive projects!

Can you read these pictures? Each group is a word.

Example:

ANSWERS: Belly button, carpentry, beforehand, shoehorn, delightful.

ho started Goof Off Day?

It’s not ___________. Maybe it was started by a hard-working ____________ who realized he or she needed to ___________ and took a day to just goof off. How do we know it wasn’t ______________ by someone who is always goofing off? Because that person would have created a Goof Off __________ or month or year!

A few years ago, a survey asked people to tell what they most liked to do on Goof Off Day. The top activity was playing ___________ games.

Who _________________ the survey? Nintendo. Hmmmm.

Do you have any other ideas? What would you like to do best on Goof Off Day?

Goofy Creatures

Make Goofy Creatures by cutting out newspaper pictures of animals and people. Use different parts of the pictures to create new and goofy creatures.

… knowing when it is time to work hard and when it is time to relax.

This week’s word:

CUSTOMARY

The adjective customary means something that is based on a usual practice.

It was customary for the kids to goof off when their parents left the room.

Try to use the word customary in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family.

National Goof Off Day Celebration

March 22 is National Goof Off Day. Tell how you would like to celebrate. Be creative!

© 2017 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 33, No. 15

Connect the tubes using extra-strength clothesline or manila rope.

Madness. Set up begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

July 21

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open again every Friday and Saturday for open garden days, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on site to assist with any gardening questions. Check the website before visiting at ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

The Sierra Renaissance Society invites members and the public to a free Ice Cream Social, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Club, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Board members will serve at least two flavors of ice cream with toppings for sundaes and answer questions about the organization and members’ commitment to lifelong learning. Music will also be provided.

Red Dirt Ruckus and Wolf Jett will perform at The Green Room Social Club in Placerville, 7:4511:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Fresh performs at Red Hawk Casino’s Stage

Bar in Placerville, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Indigenous performs at 7 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheater.com.

July 22

Miraflores Winery, 2120 Four Springs Trail in the Pleasant Valley area, is serving its acclaimed Pairings Lunches on the Vineyard Terrace on Saturdays and Sundays with seatings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2-4 p.m.

Pairings 2023 combines a chef’s creativity with the beautifully crafted Miraflores wines. Diners will be able to talk to the chef du jour about the wine and food experience. On July 22 and 23 chef UnChu Littlefield is preparing a Koreanstyle meal. Call (530) 647-8505 or email info@ mirafloreswinery.com to make a reservation.

World Famous Barber Jon partners with El Dorado Saloon in El Dorado Hills for an arm wrestling competition at the saloon. Weigh-in starts at noon and the tournament begins at 2 p.m. The tournament will raise funds to help homeless veterans.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Posse presents a BBQ fundraiser, 4-10 p.m. at Serene Ranch in Placerville. Enjoy a tri-tip and chicken dinner, dancing and a live auction. For tickets and more information visit eventbrite. com/e/el-dorado-county-sheriffs-bbqtickets-646772894137.

The Kings of Queen with special guest Thredwood will perform at Saureel Summer Nights hosted by Kilt and Cork at Saureel Vineyards in Placerville, 5-10 p.m. For tickets and more information visit kiltandcork.com/ saureel-summer-nights.

Sierra Vista Winery in the Pleasant Valley area presents Darth Mozart, 5-8 p.m. For tickets and more information call (530) 622-7221 or visit sierravistawinery.com.

Musician Ed Wilson will perform 5-8 p.m. at Fenton-Herriott Vineyards in Placerville. Enjoy live music and good food for a great cause benefitting American River Conservancy’s Resilience Reserve. In partnership with Marco’s Cafe, ARC hosts a series of outdoor concerts featuring local bands at the quaint farmhouse of Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. The gate opens at 5:30 for each

show. The next show features Little Hurricane. Find more information and purchase tickets at bit.ly/Concerts4CauseARC.

Sean Lee Trio will perform at The Green Room Social Club in Placerville, 8-11 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com. Genthen Jenkins performs at 7 p.m. at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheater.com.

The Black Irish Band will perform at 7 p.m. at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown. For tickets and more information visit railtown1897.org/events.

Amador City hosts a Dancin’ in the Streets party, 6-9 p.m, with The Blowbacks. For more information visit VisitAmadorCity.com.

July 23

Holly’s Hill Vineyards in the Pleasant Valley area hosts live music at 1 p.m. Next up is Gypsy Standard Time. For more information visit hollyshill.com/events.

n See Know, page B5

Controlling slugs and snails

If you garden, you will eventually need to deal with slugs and/or snails, which leave the tell-tale mucus or slime trails as they move. This material helps them glide forward and stick to surfaces. The most important difference between the two is that snails have visible, external shells while slug shells are small and lay underneath their skin. Snails and slugs leave irregularly shaped holes in plant foliage and are most active at night and on cool, overcast days. Young seedlings and succulent herbaceous plants are particular favorites, but they also eat decaying plant material. The damage slugs and snails do can sometimes be confused with chewing insects such as earwigs; go out at night with a flashlight to identify them.

Sue McDavid UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County

which greatly decreases humidity and moist conditions favored by slugs and snails. Handpicking is another way to eliminate these mollusks; for the squeamish, wearing gloves will remove the need to touch them directly. Traps can also help. Bury small cans such as tuna cans to soil level and fill with beer or sugar water with yeast; the critters will fall into the mixture and drown after which they can be disposed of.

Baits can also help, but it is not recommended that any containing metaldehyde be used. Metaldehyde is very toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Instead, use baits containing iron phosphate which causes snails and slugs to stop eating; they will die in three to six days. Iron phosphate baits will need to be reapplied every two to three weeks.

Since snails and slugs prefer to hide during daylight hours, getting rid of their hiding places around the garden is a good way to start controlling them. Boards, rocks, dense ground covers and the like are some favorite hiding spots so clearing these is a successful control method. Another good control method is to switch from overhead irrigation to drip irrigation,

To minimize damage, you can select plants unattractive to snails and slugs such as highly scented plants. Lavender, rosemary, sage, nasturtium and lantana are less attractive to snails and slugs than plants with succulent foliage such as beans, cabbage, lettuce, dahlias, delphiniums, hosta, strawberries and many vegetables.

You probably will not be able to eliminate these creatures

entirely from a garden, but using a combination of control methods will greatly reduce the population. Diligent monitoring is perhaps the best way to keep them at a minimum. A good resource for information can be found at ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/ PESTNOTES/pn7427.html.

Master Gardener classes are offered monthly throughout the county. Find the class schedule at mgeldorado. ucanr.edu/Public_Education_

Classes/?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/

Public_Education/Classes. Come out to the Sherwood Demonstration Garden 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 29, for the next free public education class, Pruning and Care of Fruit Trees in the Summer.

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open every Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Master Gardeners will offer tours, answer questions or guests can just enjoy the garden. Check the website for further information about the Sherwood

n See Gardener page B6

County mobile home park rent survey has begun

News release

Housing El Dorado, in partnership with the El Dorado Community Foundation, is conducting a mobile home park rent survey to assist Housing El Dorado in its ongoing efforts to improve affordable housing options within El Dorado County. Current residents of a mobile home park within El Dorado

Know Continued from B4

Vino Noceto in Plymouth hosts Summer of Sangiovese with live music by Ed Wilson. For more information visit noceto.com.

July 24

Vitalant will host an El Dorado Hills community blood drive noon to 4 p.m. The Bloodmobile in the parking lot near the baseball fields at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District, 1021 Harvard Way. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM019 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

Now

Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons issues a call to artists for the 45th annual WASH open exhibit, Go with the Flow. Registration deadline is noon July 21. To enter visit smartentry. com/CallsForEntry.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Seussical Kids” through July 23. For tickets and more information call (916) 3531001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

Capital Stage in Sacramento presents “Predictor” through July 23. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.

The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival presents “Macbeth” through July 23 at the Art Court Theatre in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Sacramento City College. For tickets and more information visit sacramentoshakespeare.net.

The Olde Coloma Theatre presents “Pirates Too: The Captain’s Triangle” or “No Time for Lowtide” through Aug. 6 at the Coloma theater. For tickets and more information call (530) 6265282 or visit oldecolomatheatre.com.

Arts and Culture El Dorado’s newest show, FIRE/LAND: The Exhibition, runs through Aug. 6. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado.org/fire-land-the-exhibition.

The Stage at Burke Junction in Cameron Park presents “For the Love of Dog” through Aug. 13. For tickets and more information call (916) 524-2540 or visit stageatburke.com.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents Monty Python’s “Spamalot” through Aug. 13. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

County are invited to participate in this survey online or through one of many collection locations. The survey period runs through Aug 14. Complete the survey online at surveymonkey. com/r/V3TFS56 or pick up/drop off a physical copy at one of the following locations: Cameron Park Library: 2500 Country Club Drive El Dorado Hills Library: 7455 Silva Valley Pkwy.

Georgetown Library: 6680 Orleans St.

Placerville Library: 345 Fair Lane

Pollock Pines Library: 6210 Pony Express Trail

South Lake Tahoe Library: 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Placerville Senior Center: 937 Spring St.

Veterans Memorial Building: 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville

First review date for applications will be held on' July 24, 2023. An application can be printed from the District website at www.gd-pud.org or request an application by emailing Stephanie Beck at slbeck@gd-pud.org. Return a completed application to the District of ce by mail, or email to: slbeck@gd-pud.org. Georgetown Divide Public Utility District P.O. Box 4240 Georgetown, CA. 95634

For further information call (530) 333-4356 or visit our website at www.gd-pud.org

Substitute Cafeteria Assistant, Cook, and Maintenance Custodian Positions at Sly Park Set your own schedule and enjoy the flexibility of a substitute at the beautiful Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center near Pollock Pines.

Starting Hourly Rates: Cafeteria Assistant -$16.40 hr., Cook- $19.01 hr., Maintenance Custodian - $19.49 hr. Click here to apply today: http://www.edjo.in/1807592

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

■ SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

Solution to Puzzle 1

Solution to Puzzle 2

Located in Woodland, TB Friends is run by Joe and Cathy Shelton. They are dedicated to the rescue and placement of hundreds of horses originating from neglectful conditions and from race tracks.

Support by vets, farriers,

and transport industry help in the care of these adoptees. When a horse is placed, there is no charge for the care they provided. They only ask for the cost of a horse’s rescue and transportation to the farm.