To Do
Now
The Stage at Burke Junction presents “Proof,” a play by David Auburn. The show will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 1. Shows start at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 p.m. shows on Saturday and Sunday. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.
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.
Thursday Night Market at Burke Junction runs through Sept. 26 at the Cameron Park shopping center. Enjoy vendors, food and entertainment 5-8 p.m.
Aug. 16
The Sierra Renaissance Society presents How Development Has Affected Wildlife by Shelly Blair, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission free for members; public invited to attend two meetings for free. For more information visit srsedc.org.
Aug. 17
Red Dirt Ruckus performs at the next ARC Concert for a Cause, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Join American River Conservancy for live music and tasty food al fresco at historic Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. For tickets visit bit.ly/ARCc4c2024.
Aug. 18
El Dorado Western Railroad offers excursion rides with trains running on the hour, 10 a.m. through 1 p.m., weather permitting, at the Shingle Springs Station. For more information visit facebook.com/ElDoradoWesternRailroad.
Aug. 22
Arts and Culture El Dorado, in collaboration with the El Dorado County Historical Museum and Placerville News Company, will host “Specters on Glass: Studio Portraiture in Early 20th Century Placerville” at the Switchboard Gallery Aug. 22 through Oct. 6. The collection is a broad sampling of local citizenry captured on glass dry plate negatives, and sits firmly at the intersection of histories of place and histories of technology.
El Dorado Hills Town Center will be rockin’ with a free concert, 7-9 p.m., featuring Peace Frog. Visit EDHTownCenter. com for all the details.
Aug. 23
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District has announced its free concert at Community Park, 7-9:30 p.m. featuring Garratt Wilkin & The Parrotheads – a celebration of Jimmy Buffet. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd. org.
, page 23
SPOTLIGHT Business
Valenz Mexican Kitchen
Family-owned Valenz Mexican Kitchen in Cameron Park started as a pop-up during COVID. After enthusiastic customer response the culinary experts behind a delicious menu have built a lively and family friendly place to dine in El Dorado County.
“We started with the pop up to see how it would do,” said Antonio Valenzuela, who owns the eatery with family members. “We didn’t know anything about the restaurant business; we just knew how to make the food.”
Antonio and his family have been constantly upgrading their business. After running the pop-up mobil cart for several months, he ordered a food trailer. About a year and a half after that the family moved up to a second trailer. Next came the expansion into a permanent space plus a mobile trailer for events.
And the progress still isn’t done. The family has plans in motion to renovate part of the large sitting area in the restaurant and turn it into a sports bar.
“We’ve been working on getting our alcohol license,” Antonio said. “I’ve got things lined up for as soon as it goes from pending to approved.”
Valenz Mexican Kitchen’s menu includes mouth-watering tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and more. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and has already earend a fivestar revioew from one happy diner, who wrote, “I had the taco lunch plate with chile verde and was very impressed. Will be coming back soon.”
To add to the dining experience, the family plans to add taco nights and live music so the community has a space to have fun and come together‚ just like the Valenzuela family.
“I’ve worked with my dad since I was 10 years old,” said Nate Valenzuela, Antonio’s son. “Working with him is like working with my best friend.”
The business for this family is growing so much Antonio said he may have to hire more help soon to work in the restaurant, especially since the mobile truck is very active for events.
Mountain Democrat photo by Malachi Parker Nick, Antonio and Nate Valenzuela, left to right, welcome diners to their new restaurant.
STARS AT SCHOOL
Marshall School of Medical Assisting
On July 23 the El Dorado County community celebrated the inaugural graduating cohort of the Marshall School of Medical Assisting, which opened in January 2024. Eight students graduated, with Laura Nolan receiving an award for academic excellence and Rebecca Chavez for clinical excellence.
Graduate Jasmine Aguirre and keynote speakers El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ed Manansala and Jonathan Russell, chief Ambulatory Officer of Marshall Medical, addressed the attendees. Manansala praised the graduates’ impact on the community, highlighting their essential role in health care.
During their rigorous instruction, students in the Marshall School of Medical Assisting learn about patient care, medical terminology and technology, patient records and documentation, safe handling and administration of medication, lab procedures, medical ethics, law and much more. The program is located in Cameron Park and students went through a rigorous application process to become accepted. Two graduates have already passed the California Certified Medical Assistant exam and secured jobs, while others have pending test dates and job applications.
Congratulations to the initial cohort!
Explore Pope-Baldwin Bike Path
The Pope-Baldwin Bike Path or Camp Richardson Bike Path is one of the most popular paved trails in the scenic Lake Tahoe area, as it winds through pine forest not far from the lakeshore. The trail parallels State Route 89 (Emerald Bay Road) for more than 3 miles, offering access to a number of local historic and recreational amenities.
The trail’s unique name doesn’t refer to a mysterious pontiff. Instead, it references the two pristine beaches accessible via the path. Take a short ride or walk up Baldwin Beach Road to reach Baldwin Beach, situated where Tallac Creek empties into Lake Tahoe, or use Pope Beach Road to access Pope Beach, one of the more popular with families on the lake’s south shore. An added bonus: while cars have to pay a fee to park, there is no such requirement for those on bike or foot.
The path also passes through the grounds of the historic Camp Richardson Resort, while the Tallac Historic Site, featuring three restored estates from the early 1900s, is a short trip up Heritage Way from the trail. Stop in at the Lake Tahoe (Taylor Creek) Visitor Center for more information on the local history and recreational opportunities or to stroll one of their many nature trails.
For more infomation got to visitlaketahoe.com.
TESLA (A141159)
This lovely F brown brindle Pit Bull Terrier will charge every day with fun and love. age unk..
Precious Pawprints
Adopt Today! Second-Chance Animals Make First-Class Pets!
To Ask about these pets at the El Dorado County Animal Shelter (530) 621-7631 • 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs
MORTY (A159977)
Some gentle cuddling may induce a purr & a sense of well-being in this shy kitten & his adopting parent. Gray, DSH, 16wks
BLACK SHEEP (A160441)
This loving gray tabby has striking tan eyeshadow. She is just purr-fect. DMH 2 years OSO (A159829)
Likes rabbit food and mixed greens. She is partial to grazing indoors however. Black LionheadX 9wk.
She is oh so fine in her black bear-like fur coat. This GSD mix would like to meet you this week. 6 yr.
A Top fun can be yours when you adopt this great short-haired orange tabby. 13mo. M MAVERICK (A160246)
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Smart Starts for a Healthy Heart
Improve hydration, skip added sugars with better-for-you beverages
FAMILY FEATURES
How you start your morning can impact the rest of your day. If you’re looking to incorporate healthier choices into your morning routine, try a concept known as “habit stacking.”
Building tiny, healthier habits into routines you already have, like enjoying a morning beverage or breakfast before you check your email instead of jumping right into the day’s tasks, can make it easier to stick to a new habit when it’s built into an existing routine.
If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without added sugars like unsweetened green or black tea. When incorporated as part of an overall healthy diet, unsweetened tea can help support heart health.
If you need help getting started, Lipton, a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign, created these easy-to-make, better-for-you tea recipes.
A small handful of ingredients makes a big splash in Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast. For a little refreshment any time of day, simple Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers offer a solution with 0 grams of added sugars while non-alcoholic Green Tea Mojito Mocktails provide natural sweetness with 100% fruit juice.
Choosing beverages with no added sugars can contribute to a healthy heart, according to the American Heart Association, making these recipes perfect for daily habit stacking. Water is needed to keep your body running at its best, and because unsweetened tea is 99.5% water, it provides a delicious way to help hydrate.
Discover more ways to improve daily routines at Heart.org/eatsmart.
Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)
4 cups water
4 single-serving green tea bags
1 cup 100% cranberry juice or 100% cranberrypomegranate juice
2 cups ice cubes
1/2 cup seltzer (flavored or plain) or low-sodium club soda, chilled
4 orange slices or lime wedges (optional)
In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Stir in cranberry juice. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
At serving time, put ice cubes in four glasses. Pour tea mixture into glasses. Top each serving with seltzer. Garnish with orange slices.
Tip: To create cranberry-flavored ice cubes, fill ice cube tray with 100% cranberry juice and freeze.
Nutritional information per serving: 32 calories: 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 4 mg sodium; 8 mg carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 8 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.
Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers
Green Tea Mojito Mocktails
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)
4 cups water
4 single-serving green tea bags
32-40 sprigs fresh mint, plus additional for garnish, divided
2 cups ice cubes
1 cup 100% white grape juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 medium limes)
1 medium lime, cut into four wedges or lime zest twists (optional)
In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled. At serving time, add mint leaves to four glasses. Using muddler or wooden spoon, mash mint leaves several times to release juices. Don’t mash into pulp. Add ice.
Stir white grape juice and lime juice into tea mixture. Pour into glasses. Garnish each with lime wedge and mint leaf.
Tip: To get more juice from citrus, before slicing, microwave fruit on high 30 seconds, or until warm. When cool enough to handle, use citrus reamer or handheld juice press to juice citrus.
Nutritional information per serving: 45 calories; 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 7 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 10 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.
Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)
3 cups water
8 single-serving green tea bags
16 ounces frozen mixed berries (about 3 cups)
2 medium bananas, peeled, cut in half and frozen
1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons fresh-grated peeled gingerroot (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)
2 teaspoons chia or flax seeds (optional)
In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
In food processor or blender, process tea, berries, bananas and yogurt until smooth. Add gingerroot and vanilla, if desired, and process until smooth. Pour into four glasses. Sprinkle with chia seeds, if desired.
Nutritional information per serving (without optional ingredients): 136 calories; 1 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 3 mg cholesterol; 23 mg sodium; 29 g carbohydrates; 5 g fiber; 18 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 8 g protein.
Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies
Green Tea Mojito Mocktails
Call 811 before any digging project, large or small
Paul Moreno PG&E
National 811 Day is celebrated in August to raise awareness of the importance of making a free call to 811 before any digging project, large or small. Whether you are a property owner or a contractor, calling 811 will help ensure that projects involving digging can be done safely while avoiding expensive repairs or fines due to damaging underground utility lines.
Underground utility lines can be shallow, sometimes only a few inches below the surface, so it is important to call 811 before any project that involves digging, including building or replacing a fence, planting or landscaping and beginning construction work.
COIN GIVEAWAY!!
“The
Way West”
History of the Buffalo Nickel Framed 4 Coin Set
One lucky reader of The Gold Mine will receive this “The Way West” History of the Buffalo Nickel Framed 14 Coin Set.
Simply fill out the entry form in this edition of The Gold Mine. No purchase necessary.
TheGold Mine
Courtesy photo
A PG&E worker locates and marks underground lines.
“By making a fast and free call to 811, utility professionals will come to your home or job site and mark the location of underground lines so that you can dig safely and avoid expensive repairs. Know what’s below before you start any size digging project, whether you are planting, landscaping, or doing fence work and call 811 two days before you dig,” said Joe Forline, PG&E senior vice president of Gas Operations.
When a call is placed to 811 and a request is made to have lines located and marked, a professional locator will come to your project site to mark the location of underground utility lines, including gas, electric, water, telecom and sewer, free of charge. Knowing where underground lines are buried while you are digging and following safe digging practices will help keep you and your family safe and connected to essential utility services.
Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects and a corresponding increase in the number of strikes to underground lines that have not been marked ahead of time. In fact, in 2024 throughout PG&E’s service area of Northern and Central California:
• There have been 573 incidents where underground utility lines were damaged due to digging, and in 58% of incidents when an underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not called
• For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 89%
• The average cost to repair a damaged utility line is $3,500
• Leading causes of damages to underground utility lines while digging include: building or replacing a fence, gardening and landscaping, planting a tree or removing a stump, sewer and irrigation work and building a deck or patio
Calling 811 is fast and free
• Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before beginning any project that involves digging, no matter how large or small. Customers also can visit 811express.com to have underground utility lines marked for their project site.
• Professional utility workers for all utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications) will be dispatched to mark the location of all underground utility lines for the project site with flags, spray paint, or both
• The 811 call center serving Northern and Central California, USA North, is staffed 24 hours a day, seven
n See DIGGING, page 18
ACROSS------------,
I) Official language of India
6) Obviously surprised
11) Sound like a lovebird
14) Chipmunk tidbit
15) "Bad, bad" Brown of song
16) Sound from the stands
17) Prosecuting pooch?
19) Letters heard in a crime drama
20) Bleat of a sheep
21) Command to a pooch
23) Using an unspoken language
27) Williams with a racket
28) Hollowed out, as an apple
29) Like a cat of the '40s
32) "Carry On Wayward _"
33) Elevator inventor
34) Swampland
36) Competed in a l OK
39) Butter units
40) River in Missouri
BITTER CRITTERS
41) Like a skinny-dipper
42) Boston time zone
43) Word with "gin" or "candy"
44) Declare assertively
45) Affinnative vote
47) Ground layer
48) Gallup finding
49) Fire stirrers
52) Consecrates with oil
54) Land once known as Serendip
57) Mentally quick
58) Command to a collie
59) Uncouth steed?
64) Hue holiday
65) End of MGM's motto
66) Per_ (yearly)
67) Foxlike
68) Lid swellings
69) Locker room groups
DOWN
I) Computer in "200 I"
2) Decorate with frosting
3) Holiday concoction
4) Lack of excitement
5) Like marquetr y
6) Beer's cousin
7) First, reverse or neutral
8) Jason's ship
9) Surveys of public opinion
10) Like spuds with no buds
11) Fearful Baltimore footballer?
12) Like many an old bucket
13) Tara resident
18) Put an embargo on
22) Spanish gold
23) Breadth
24) Small amounts
25) Starkly realistic feline?
26) Haunted house inhabitants
30) Muse of poetry
31) Asian temple
34) Comment from Elsie or Elmer
35) D.C. figure, briefly
37) "Looks_ everything"
38) Hardly hipsters
41) Opera baddie, usually
43) Andres Galarraga's hometown
46) Sniggler's catch
48) Chapeau for Lincoln
49) Sibilant attention-getters
50) Bay window
51) Charger's noise
53) How a wee lassie might say "no"
55) Pop singer Perry
56) Musical India
60) Viper's warning
61) Genetics lab study
62) Altogether number
63) Mama has a couple
Answers to puzzle on page 21
THE EL DORADO COUNTY AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT OFFERS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO RESIDENTS OF EL DORADO COUNTY TO IMPROVE LOCAL AIR QUALITY.
The Chimney Smoke RIP offers $599 to $2,000 * to replace a non-EPA certified woodstove with a new efficient, cleaner burning, eligible EPA certified device.
*$2,000 incentive available to low -income residents or residents of designated low -income communities
The expanded Clean Lawn equipment Incentive Pr ogr am (CLIP) offers $100 to $2,000 to replace a piece of gas powered lawn equipment with a zero -emission cordless electric version. Now includes mowers, leaf blowers, weedeaters and more!
The new CHar ge At your Residence and Go Electric (CHARGE) incentive program offers plug -in car owners and lessees a $300 incentive to purchase and install a home EV charger.
The Drive Clean! incentive program offers El Dorado County residents a $599 incentive towards the purchase or lease of an eligible electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen vehicle.
Digging
days a week, and
other translation
PG&E safe digging tips
• Mark project area in white: Identify the digging location by drawing a box around the area using white paint, white stakes, white flags, white chalk or even white baking flour.
• Call 811 or submit an online request a minimum of two working days before digging: Be prepared to provide the address and general location of the project, project start date and type of digging activity. PG&E and other utilities will identify underground facilities in the area for free. Requests can be submitted a maximum of 14 days prior to the start of the project.
• Dig safely: Use hand tools when digging within 24 inches of the outside edge of underground lines. Leave utility flags, stakes or paint marks in place until the project is finished. Backfill and compact the soil.
• Be aware of signs of a natural gas leak: Smell for a “rotten egg” odor, listen for hissing, whistling or roaring sounds and look for dirt spraying into the air, bubbling in a pond or creek and dead/dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area. If you smell gas, call 911 and then call PG&E at 800-743-5000.
Planting tips
PG&E also reminds property owners that where they plant is important.
Outside high fire-threat districts:
• Within 50 feet of powerlines, only plant tree species that are less than 25 feet tall when fully grown.
• Trees that can grow taller than 25 feet need to be planted at least 50 feet away from powerlines.
Within high fire-threat districts:
• Small Zone (within 15 feet of the pole or powerline):
Plant only low-growing vegetation that is less than 12 inches when fully grown.
• Medium Zone (15 to 50 feet on either side of the pole or powerline):
Plant trees that are not taller than 40 feet when fully grown.
• Tall Zone (50 feet or more from the pole or powerline):
Plant trees that may be taller than 40 feet when fully grown.
(A141161)
This class act could bring you happiness and luck when you adopt her.
Pit Bull Terrier 3yr.
This petite F DSH Calico has a beautiful coat of ruddy & white & licorice; plus a curious personality. 13mo. ANISE (A160076)
Precious Pawprints
Adopt Today! Second-Chance Animals Make First-Class Pets!
To Ask about these pets at the El Dorado County Animal Shelter (530) 621-7631 • 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs
SYLVESTER (A159576) He is a tuxedo clad B&W DMH looking for a home. He currently has no opinions on tweety birds. 10 wks.
GOAT (A160168)
Is he the greatest of all times? Adopt and test out his grazing and browsing skills. Goat Brown age unk.
A very shy but very sweet F Border Collie mix looking for a quite loving and doting owner. Tri-color, 17mo. quickly.
(A159204)
This big Russian blue DSH would like you to make a point to stop by and visit him at the shelter today. 30mo.
•
•
B&W
FELICIA
CHEERIO (A160055)
OBSIDIAN
SAll Things Equine
ummer can be fun, but it also presents many challenges for horses and their owners. Although we’re approaching Fall, there are many hot days still to come. High temperatures and humidity can take a physical toll on horses as their large muscle mass and comparatively small body surface area makes it di cult for them to cool themselves. Coupled with the potential of drought a ecting water and feed supplies for horses, summer can be downright hard without the right information and preparation. Here are some tips to help you and your horse through those challenges of the season.
8 TIPS TO CARE FOR YOUR HORSE
1. Stock up on feed and store well — store under cover to ensure it’s not a ected by the weather. Keep high- ber pellets to supplement the diet if needed.
2. Check for signs of heatstroke — profuse sweating or no longer sweating; high respiration rate; dry, hot skin that won’t return when pinched; high rectal temp; and, lethargy or distress.
3. Ensure continuous access to fresh water
4. Provide plenty of shade opportunities
5. Ride only during the cooler times of the day
6. Care for your horse a er the ride — hose them down and provide a salt block to replenish electrolytes.
7. Provide y protection — sprays, y catchers, and masks. Remove manure regularly to avoid y attraction.
8. Use only light y sheets to cover your horse
31) Asian temple
CLUES
1 raising the temperature (7)
2 factual film (11)
3 written agreement (8)
4 Pippi Longstocking’s hairdo (6)
5 flower display (11)
6 movie star Weaver (9)
7 Transvaal daisy (7)
34) Comment from Elsie or Elmer
35) D.C. figure, briefly
37) "Looks_ everything"
38) Hardly hipsters
41) Opera baddie, usually
43) Andres Galarraga's hometown
46) Sniggler's catch
48) Chapeau for Lincoln
49) Sibilant attention-getters
50) Bay window
51) Charger's noise
53) How a wee lassie might say "no"
55) Pop singer Perry
56) Musical India
60) Viper's warning
61) Genetics lab study
62) Altogether number
63) Mama has a couple
ANSWERS
Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
SOLUTIONS
©2024 Blue Ox Family Games, Inc., Dist. by Andrews McMeel
To Do Continued from 4
Aug. 24
Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians presents Big Time 2024 on Aug. 24 & 25 with California traditional dancers, jewelry, crafts, food eveners, a walnut dice tournament and more at the Shingle Springs Rancheria, 5281 Honpie Road in Placerville. For more information call (916) 4682730.
Join El Dorado County Ag in the Classroom for 20 Mile Taste at Rainbow Orchards, 4-7 p.m. Once again, John Sanders of Old Town Grill will contribute his culinary creations for this fun event. Enjoy dessert and wine pairings plus hot apple cider donuts while listening to live music performed by Red Dirt Ruckus. Visitors will have the option to drive thru/take out the meal or to stay and picnic in the orchard. For tickets visit agintheclass-edc.org/events.
TheGold Mine
