Village Life/Cameron Park Life, Wednesday, August 3, 2023

Moonraker lands in Cameron Park

Krysten Kellum

Mountain Democrat editor

Asail set on a mast a notch above the rest, moonrakers pushed possibilities for speed-seeking clipper ship sailors in the trade wars of the 1800s and the brewery of the same name that just landed in Cameron Park is also making its push — in the ever-burgeoning cra beer scene.

Moonraker Brewing Company’s rst brewhouse opened in Auburn in April 2016 with Northern California beer connoisseurs quickly creating a buzz for a brewery serving a style of beer relatively unavailable in the region at the time — the New England IPA. Also known as a hazy or juicy IPA, hops are added later in the brewing process, which brings out the oral and fruity aromas of the hops as opposed to the bitterness characteristic of a West Coast IPA. Rolled oats and aked wheat give a hazy IPA its characteristic opaque appearance and full body.

Solely self-distributed, Moonraker customers would wait in lines that wrapped around the brewery on can release dates. Folks came from all over Northern California to purchase $16-$20 fourpacks of 16-ounce cans by the case before they sold out.

Moonraker brew really made waves in 2017 when at a renowned Bay Area IPA festival it bested Russian River Brewing Company’s holy grail of a triple IPA — Pliny the Younger. That brew was called Extremis.

Homebrewing hobbyists Karen and

Students take a byte out of coding

Sel Richard Village Life correspondent

With a poise beyond her years, rising Oak Ridge High School junior Ariana Thakur strolls among the students in her summer coding camp at the El Dorado Hills Library, a project that brings lasting impacts to her community and beyond.

Her sparkling dark eyes betray an enthusiasm soon matched by her smile as she speaks excitedly about teaching 9- and 10-year-olds a block coding language called Scratch, rst developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.

“Coding is an important skill for everyone,” Thakur

Photo by Sel Richard Ariana Thakur works with students during her Bits and Bytes summer coding camp. She encourages all students to learn basic coding.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Now

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.

Aug. 3

The Placerville Elks Lodge and the Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce host a mixer, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the lodge, 3821 Quest Court in Shingle Springs.

El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts Live on the Boulevard free concerts every Thursday. The schedule features Island of Black and White (Aug. 3), Kalimba (Aug. 10), Petty Theft (Aug. 17) Stevie Ray Visited (Aug. 24), Folsom Lake Symphony (Aug. 31) and Uptown Funk (Sept. 7). Set up begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

Aug. 4

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department and El Dorado Hills Fire Department host National Night Out, 5:30-8 p.m. at El Dorado Hills Community Park at 1021 Harvard Way. There will be a free barbecue for all in attendance, as well as music, children’s activities and demonstrations featuring the crisis negotiation van.

Aug. 9

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County host Turning Dirt into Gold, a soil improvement class, 9 a.m. to noon at the Cameron Park Community Center. No registration required.

Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts author Aimie K. Runyan, discussing her new book “A Bakery in Paris”

6:30-8 p.m. For more information call (916) 941-9401 or visit getyourfaceinabook.com.

The Dementia Support Group meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. at 2020 Town Center West in El Dorado Hills. For more information and to RSVP call (916) 467-8330.

Aug. 11

The Rescue Community Center hosts a Friday Night Out dance party featuring a hot dog bar and music by Shakedown. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information visit rescuecommunitycenter.com/ events.

The El Dorado Hills

PEOPLE TALK

By Noel Stack

Mike Lilienthal

El Dorado Hills

El Dorado Hills

“Going to the zoo with my grandson.”

El Dorado Hills

“I took a trip down 395 and I stopped in Lone Pine and explored.”

Maurice

El Dorado Hills

“A family trip to Hawaii. We did the Waikiki experience, hiked to the waterfalls and went snorkeling.”

“Honestly,

“I went to Yosemite and visited my daughter, who is a back-country ranger there.”

El Dorado Hills Garden Club looking to grow

Noel Stack

Managing editor

Did you know in some areas of the United States farmers have to truck in bees to pollinate crops?

El Dorado Hills Garden Club President

Yvonne Phillips shared this and other interesting gardening and agriculture facts when speaking to Village Life. In her nearly 30 years with the club she has learned a lot and invites fellow garden enthusiasts to join.

“I’m so impressed with the speakers we get,” she said.

When EDH Garden Club meetings resume a er the summer break, members and guests will get to hear from Greg Gayton, garden club member and man-

Coding

ager at Green Acres Nursery and Supply in Folsom (September), as well as Daisy Mah, champion of the WPA Rock Garden in Sacramento’s William Land Park (November). El Dorado County Master Gardeners are also on the calendar and Phillips said she hopes to take a few eld trips during the year to admire great gardens and other attractions in the region. The club hosts a picnic before taking a break each summer.

“I love learning new stu ,” Phillips said. “Anyone anxious to learn, men and women, are welcome.”

The EDH Garden Club was organized in November 1965 under the leadership of Art Clair Corbell as president and Virginia Sutherland as vice president. Phillips joined

insisted. “You use it in almost every eld. The more and more technology we get, it’s almost a necessity.”

Thakur herself was introduced to coding at Oak Meadow Elementary School at an a er-school program taught by Oak Ridge High School students running their own summer coding camp. She continued to dabble and now takes computer science classes in high school.

During those years, Thakur also worked diligently as an avid Girl Scout to achieve various awards. When it came time to decide on a Gold Award project, however, she said she struggled at rst to nd something meaningful and original. Inspired by a STEM camp she attended, she decided to o er a free coding summer camp.

Thakur buckled down and solicited donations from the community to buy 12 Chromebooks for her students. Parker Development, Friends of the Library, county Supervisors John Hidahl and Wendy Thomas, Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills, the Girl Scout Council as well as her own sister’s Girl Scout troop made contributions. Additional funds were raised through a GoFundMe campaign and constructing and selling graduation leis.

in 1996, serving as president 11 times in two centuries and in four di erent decades. Activities over the years have included fashion shows, bake sales, plant sales and more. In the early 1970s members sewed gi s for nursing home residents and bought groceries for the women’s shelter. In the early 1980s they partnered with the El Dorado County O ce of Education for an adopt-a-family program, which continues to this day and is funded in part by the plant sale. The EDH Garden Club meets at noon the rst Tuesday of each month at the EDH Library, 7455 Silva Valley Parkway. Meetings are held September through May (no meeting in January). For more information call Phillips at (916) 803-1921.

The rst part of the week was spent teaching speci c projects that highlight di erent aspects of coding and game design. The students then started a project of their own, building backgrounds, characters and rules for their game. Campers were lucky enough to nosh on free Girl Scout cookies too.

“If we start teaching younger kids STEM subjects early on, even with just a slight exposure, they’re more inclined to pick it up later. Everyone should be able to code.”

The camp, dubbed Bits and Bytes, was divided into two sessions, each spanning ve days, 1.5 hours a day. Thakur built a thoughtful and creative curriculum that provides both online and o ine learning. In one of her lessons, Thakur invited the kids to cut loops out of paper and then act out the concept of loops.

“Even though it wasn’t online and real coding, they understood the coding concepts more easily when they were using paper and interacting with their peers,” explained Thakur. “It was physically doing it that helped them get it, and not just working on the computer.”

“Every game they made was a learning process,” said Thakur. “Honestly it’s been fun. The kids are really ready to participate.” Thakur plans to format her curriculum and donate it, along with the 12 Chromebooks, to the El Dorado County Library, enabling other high school coding clubs to run similar camps. Though the camp has run without a hitch, Thakur admitted getting there wasn’t all smooth sailing. “I forgot to account for the fact that people have other issues to deal with, not just mine,” she confessed, citing a life lesson learned, “Have a exible time frame to be able to account for stu you don’t think will happen.”

— Ariana Thacker

She is also grateful for National Honor Society volunteers who helped her run the camp, as well as ORHS computer science teacher Julie Giordano, project advisor Charyll Raz and numerous Girl Scout adult volunteers.

As for the remainder of her summer, Thakur plays piano, volunteers regularly at Alliance for Education Solutions and surprisingly, plans to enjoy some ice skating. Looking to the future, she cites psychiatry as a possible career interest. “It’s a topic that interests me and it’s an important eld that we need in the public,” she shared, though she speculates that coding will always be an interest of hers.

“If we start teaching younger kids STEM subjects early on, even with just a slight exposure, they’re more inclined to pick it up later,” she said, speaking from personal experience. “Everyone should be able to code.”

Wayne Lowery

Joe Hackman

CPCSD

Noel Stack

Managing editor

out of ambulance business

Cameron Park’s Medic 89 may be on the move. Continuing efforts to ensure the Cameron Park Community Services District stays financially solvent, the CPCSD Board of Directors Wednesday night approved a resolution canceling the Advanced Life Support Ambulance Agreement between the El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority and the district.

The decision will save the CSD approximately $180,000, according to a staff report.

Cal Fire, which contracts with the district to provide fire services, currently staffs the ambulance out of Station 89 on Country Club Drive. Due to staffing issues — the Cameron Park Fire Department is down five firefighters with another on their way out — Cameron Park Fire Chief Dustin Martin said he supports the decision, with a pledge to keep the ambulance running to the best of his ability until a new agency takes over.

“We are going to keep that

ambulance staffed,” Martin told the board. “Our folks have lived with seven medic units in the system and they do not want to do that again.”

The El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority pro-

vides administrative, financial and operational assistance to member agencies for a coordinated, fully integrated fire-based pre-hospital emergency medical and dispatch

CSD exploring fire service, funding options

Noel Stack Managing editor

The Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors voted last week to begin the processes that could lead to annexation of the district’s fire department and/or placing a property tax assessment on the ballot to fund the fire department.

The board directed staff to reach out to El Dorado Hills Fire, El Dorado County Fire and Rescue Fire departments to determine if any are interested in annexation discussions. More detailed meetings between the CPCSD and districts that express interest are expected to begin in early August and an El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission (the agency that ultimately approves annexations) presentation is scheduled later in the month.

At the same time staff will work with consultant Don Ashton with Municipal Resource Group on an analysis of the tax assessment amount needed to cover the fire department’s personnel, building and equipment needs. The board approved a not-to-exceed $45,000 contract with MRG at its July 19 meeting to assist with both the assessment and annexation.

Once the district selects the agency with which it would like to pursue annexation, the process will take 12-18 months, Ashton told the board. The CPCSD currently has a fire services contract with Cal Fire that runs through June 30, 2025.

“I should note that the board can pull the plug any time,” Ashton said of the annexation process.

To further aid in the process, the board approved a $70,000 contract with AP Triton to conduct a fire agency annexation feasibility study. CPCSD interim General Manager Jill Ritzman said information and figures in this study are also useful for the tax assessment process.

Between now and next spring, the district will host community meetings as necessary.

A timeline adopted by the board notes the district should know by March 30, 2024, at the very latest, if annexation is feasible and should move forward. If not, the CSD can begin contract negotiations with Cal Fire to enter into a multi-year contract beyond the current agreement’s expiration date. Also at that time the board will determine if a tax assessment ballot measure should be placed on the November 2024 ballot and, if so, direct staff to prepare resolutions and ballot language for approval.

These actions are part of the district’s efforts to ensure the CSD remains financially solvent while providing services residents have come to expect. The CSD has struggled with stagnant revenues and increasing expenses over the past few years and the budget deficit is projected to grow wider in the coming years. To save money this fiscal year, the board might have

n See options, page A4

n See AmbulAnce, page A4

Photo courtesy of the El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority Medic 89 is based in Cameron Park but serves the entire West Slope as part of the county’s ambulance system.

El Dorado Savings Bank

El Dorado Savings Bank

Options

El Dorado Savings Bank

Celebrating Years Strong 65

Celebrating Years Strong 65

Celebrating Years Strong 65

to brown out Fire Station 88 — a move strongly opposed by residents. That decision is expected to come back to the board in late January 2024.

See what the experts say about El Dorado Savings Bank

El Dorado Savings Bank

Whatever route the CSD takes, Director Dawn Woflson said community involvement and education is vital. “We want to make sure we have good messaging,” she said.

get involved. County leaders for years have encouraged fire districts to consolidate, he noted. He asked if it’s possible county leaders could pitch in funds to cover some annexation expenses.

See what the experts say about El Dorado Savings Bank

Celebrating Years Strong 65

See what the experts say about El Dorado Savings Bank

El Dorado Savings Bank

Director/Board President Sidney Bazett said he hopes the county will also

Events

LAFCO Executive Officer Shiva Frentzen, who is also a Cameron Park resident, encouraged directors to “ask a lot of questions” during the annexation exploration process. Her LAFCO presentation is scheduled Aug. 16.

Continued from A2

Celebrating Years Strong

BAUER FINANCIAL, INC.

BAUER FINANCIAL, INC.

BAUER FINANCIAL, INC.

65

See what the experts say about El Dorado Savings Bank

Community Services District hosts a free summer concert featuring Island of Black and White, 7 p.m. at Community Park.

El Dorado Savings Bank has Earned the Highest Rating for 119 Consecutive Quarters. www.bauerfinancial.com

El Dorado Savings Bank has Earned the Highest Rating for 119 Consecutive Quarters. www.bauerfinancial.com

See what the experts say about El Dorado Savings Bank

El Dorado Savings Bank has Earned the Highest Rating for 119 Consecutive Quarters. www.bauerfinancial.com

The FINDLEY REPORT

BAUER FINANCIAL, INC.

The FINDLEY REPORT

The FINDLEY REPORT

Aug. 12

pare to kick off the 2023 season. Players will be introduced and cheer and dance teams will perform their latest routines. The event concludes with a hot dog eating contest between players and coaches.

Aug. 16

BAUER FINANCIAL, INC.

El Dorado Savings Bank has Earned the Highest Rating for 119 Consecutive Quarters. www.bauerfinancial.com

Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts author James L’Etoile, discussing his new book “Devil Within” 3-5 p.m. For more information call (916) 941-9401 or visit getyourfaceinabook.com.

El Dorado Savings Bank Awarded the Classification of Premier Performance during the year 2022. www.findley-reports.com

El Dorado Savings Bank Awarded the Classification of Premier Performance during the year 2022. www.findley-reports.com

El Dorado Savings Bank Awarded the Classification of Premier Performance during the year 2022. www.findley-reports.com

El Dorado Savings Bank has Earned the Highest Rating for 119 Consecutive Quarters. www.bauerfinancial.com

The FINDLEY REPORT

The FINDLEY REPORT

Meet the Trojans takes place 4-7 p.m. at El Dorado Hills Town Center’s Steven Young Amphitheater. Meet and greet the Oak Ridge Trojan football players as they pre -

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce hosts a business luncheon with featured speaker CAO Tiffany Schmid, 11:30 a.m. at the Cameron Park Country Club. To reserve a seat visit business.eldoradocounty.org/events.

Find more events on VillageLife.com.

“Quality Makes A Difference”

El Dorado Savings Bank Awarded the Classification of Premier Performance during the year 2022. www.findley-reports.com

and filling in for each other.

“Quality Makes A Difference”

SAFE—STRONG—SECURE

El Dorado Savings Bank Awarded the Classification of Premier Performance during the year 2022. www.findley-reports.com

“Quality Makes A Difference”

services for the county’s Western Slope, managing eight ambulances with partner agencies.

• El Dorado Hills Fire Department, one ambulance

SAFE—STRONG—SECURE

“Quality Makes A Difference”

SAFE—STRONG—SECURE

SAFE—STRONG—SECURE

SAFE—STRONG—SECURE

Serving our local communities for 65 years

• Cameron Park Fire Department, one ambulance

• Georgetown Fire Protection District, one ambulance

• El Dorado County Fire Protection District, five ambulances with one each in Pollock Pines, Placerville, Pleasant Valley, Shingle Springs and Diamond Springs (this ambulance is operated in partnership with the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District)

JPA funding comes from the county and the money is then dispersed equitably per medic unit to partner agencies staffing/operating ambulances. Up until last fiscal year, the Cameron Park Fire Department was fully reimbursed for costs incurred. In the fiscal year 2023-24 the board previously supported a $1,367,600 contract with the JPA but actual expenses are estimated at $1,547,645.

Serving our local communities for 65 years

Serving our local communities for 65 years

We thank our valued customers for your continued support. Come experience superior customer service at any of our 35 convenient branch offices or visit us on-line at:

Serving our local communities for 65 years

Serving our local communities for 65 years

We thank our valued customers for your continued support. Come experience superior customer service at any of our 35 convenient branch offices or visit us on-line at:

Member www.eldoradosavingsbank.com

NMLSR ID 479256

JPA Executive Director Cristy Jorgensen, per the terms of the unanimously approved cancellation notice, has 120 days to work with partner agencies on a new agreement to staff the ambulance — a timeframe she supported.

We thank our valued customers for your continued support. Come experience superior customer service at any of our 35 convenient branch offices or visit us on-line at:

Member www.eldoradosavingsbank.com

We thank our valued customers for your continued support. Come experience superior customer service at any of our 35 convenient branch offices or visit us on-line at:

We thank our valued customers for your continued support. Come experience superior customer service at any of our 35 convenient branch offices or visit

800-874-9779

Member www.eldoradosavingsbank.com

Whichever agency takes over, Jorgensen assured Cameron Park residents will not see a change in the level of service when an ambulance is called.

Jorgensen stressed she has a limited budget and it’s unlikely, given current financial circumstances, the county will increase the JPA’s funding. She also noted every partner agency has different salary/benefits packages for its staff. This, combined with other factors, has resulted in shortfalls not only for Cameron Park, but also two other agencies operating medic units. However, she added, one agency has consistently come in under the contract amount and received full reimbursement — El Dorado County Fire.

Member www.eldoradosavingsbank.com

NMLSR ID 479256

NMLSR ID 479256

NMLSR ID 479256

NMLSR ID 479256

800-874-9779

Member www.eldoradosavingsbank.com

800-874-9779

800-874-9779

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“I cannot guarantee (the ambulance) will stay in Cameron Park but it is needed in the vicinity to meet our response times,” she said.

All eight units travel throughout the West Slope, responding to emergencies

Jorgensen’s next step is to issue a request for proposal to JPA member agencies. The JPA Board of Directors will then decide which agency gets the contract. Chief Martin told the board he would be glad to discuss keeping the ambulance at Station 89 with the selected agency.

A dentistry that aims to be a home away from home

Jessica Cyphers

Staff writer

For patients of Dale Stanec, Jr., DDS, going to the dentist feels a little like going home.

“We know all of our patients. They’re our friends,” said Dr. Stanec, who works alongside his wife and office manager, Elena, in his Cameron Park office. “The experience in our office is very personal. We’re very small and greet each patient by name when they walk in. It’s a comfortable, homey place to have dental work done, and we like it that way.”

Dr. Stanec has been in dentistry in the Cameron Park area since 2002. As a kid, he was “always into science and math” and loved the idea of owning his own business. “I ran a lawn-mowing business as a kid — always had some kind of business going — so becoming a dentist and owning my own practice just made sense,” said Dr. Stanec. Dr. Stanec did his undergraduate work at Cal Poly,

San Luis Obispo and then attended dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern in 2001 and says that, although he was born and raised in San Jose, it was a natural draw to open his practice in the foothills. “Elena and I love this area. We had a lot of family and friends here and thought it would be a great place to raise our kids.”

In his office, Dr. Stanec offers a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging from porcelain veneers and dental implants to crowns and bridges and more. Unlike many other dentists, Dr. Stanec doesn’t employ dental hygienists or other technicians but does all of his dental work himself.

“I spend a lot of one-on-one time with my patients. It’s fun for me to do the work myself because I get to spend more time with my patients and hang out with them and really get to know them. It makes it fun to do what I do,” said Dr. Stanec.

Another advantage of keeping his practice small is that, because he sees every patient one at a time, Dr. Stanec can be very thorough and immediately answer any questions that come up. He is also able to really respect his patients’ time. “I am almost always early or on time,” said Dr. Stanec. “My patients know that, so they’re usually early or on time for their appointments, too. It’s a win win for everyone.”

Dr. Stanec is located at 3955 Cameron Park Drive — in Cameron Park. His office is right near the Goldorado Shopping Center, directly across from the new Walgreens on Palmer Drive, and is very conveniently located for all of his patients. The move is just one more way Dr. Stanec shows his commitment to providing the best possible care for his patients.

“I look forward to going to work and getting to see who’s on the schedule every day,” said Dr. Stanec.

“I love the work that I do and am proud to do really quality work. Originally I’d planned to be a little bigger, but then I realized I liked it this way. I really enjoy my patients and

this way I can get to know them well.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stanec, visit drstanec.com or call 530-676-6500.

Moonraker

Dan Powell are the husband-wife team behind Moonraker. Karen was a nurse and Dan a solar company CEO before they went all-in in the craft beer industry. Karen told the Mountain Democrat she and Dan used to sail together when they first met; that became the inspiration for the brewery’s name.

A hazy brew named Yojo, which craft beer information resource RateBeer. com awarded Best New Beer, was their first hazy beer and it’s still one of the most popular. Yojo is a reference to Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” In the years that followed Moonraker produced dozens of different ales, including barrel-aged ales and sours, as well as flavored hard seltzers. Each with its own unique name — Space Nectar, Bubble Dust, Electric Lettuce — and eyecatching labels designed by Moonraker’s own Chris McCreary and Dan Powell.

Dan’s favorite beer is Outrigger, a sailing theme iteration in an American IPA that took gold in the 2022 Best of Craft Beer Awards among 482 breweries.

“We are forever changing to stay the same,” Dan said. “New labels, new beers. People need to be constantly entertained and it is our job to do it.”

The Powells knew they wanted to open a second location in the region where people “feel like they came to a destination, an outdoor environment, without having a long drive to get there,” Karen explained.

They looked high and low, eventually choosing a 16-acre wooded parcel in Cameron Park in March 2020. Dubbed the Moonraker Millhouse, the roughly 20,000-square-foot brewhouse opened on Robin Lane in May 2023.

Karen and Dan have a strong commitment to sustainability and reducing Moonraker’s carbon footprint. The Auburn location has more than 1,100 solar panels powering the taproom as well as brewing operations, including an electric boiler.

Commitment to sustainability carries on in Cameron Park; it’s one of the few breweries in the state to use a CO2 recapture system that reduces the brewhouse CO2 requirement by 80%. There is also a water recapture system and plans to put in covered solar parking to cover the electrical load.

The property also includes a private venue for weddings or smaller events. Inside and under covered patios customers find a variety of seating options — chairs, benches, couches, tables plus dozens of picnic tables outside. Design and decor is fresh and modern with Karen doing plenty of the shopping herself.

“We are hands-on business owners,” Karen said. “It is important to stay involved to ensure the business is operating or continues to operate at a high level.”

Moonraker has plenty of dog-friendly space and Karen and Dan can often be seen hanging out with their grandkids as well as furkids Ranger the Great Pyrenees and Fiona the teacup poodle.

Carefully selected ingredients, meticulous brewing techniques, state-of-theart canning tech and self distribution are among Moonraker Brewing Company’s methods that have earned industry accolades and sent hop heads scrambling for a sip.

n See Moonraker, page A7

Village Life photo by Krysten Kellum

Moonraker Brewing Company’s Head Brewer Brad Johnson runs a 5,000-gallon brewhouse in Cameron Park.

Continued from A6 Moonraker

In the 2022 U.S. Beer Open Championship, one of the largest brewing competitions in the country, judges awarded gold medals to Moonraker in three styles — International Style Pale Ale, New England/Hazy India Pale Ale and Barrel Aged Sour.

Moonraker was also named seventh best brewery overall — the only California brewery to make the top 10 out of 622 breweries to enter the U.S. Beer Open.

In the World Beer Cup, called “the olympics of beer competitions,”

Moonraker saw gold in 2023 in the Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale category with The Great Coneholio, a brew name that gives a nod to hop anatomy and ‘90s MTV cartoon “Beavis and Butt-Head.”

Head Brewer Brad Johnson took a break from brewing operations to share with the Mountain Democrat secrets behind the success. It starts with ingredients such as new artisanal malts and hop varieties hand-selected by the Moonraker team in the fields of the Pacific Northwest. Johnson, once a homebrewer who turned pro working at Track 7 Brewing Co. and studying brewing science at UC Davis, said he has “fine tuned” a closely monitored fermentation process that can be a significant factor in the flavor of each brew.

“You have to be passionate about what you are brewing,” Johnson said.

Hops concentrated in a cryogenic process and hop and cannabis terpenes make up the recipe bill for some of the more unique offerings, most of which aren’t like anything found on most grocery store shelves.

All that attention to detail in brewing might be lost if not for follow-through all the way to a customer’s pint glass.

Some of the brews, notably the IPAs, are best consumed within 30 days, according to Johnson. Producing about 5,000 barrels a year creates a demand for Moonraker beers he said “keeps everything fresh.”

And that’s also why Moonraker beers

aren’t seen on just any store’s shelf or restaurant’s tap lineup. Moonraker distributors require the product be kept cold to keep it fresh.

In the kitchen is Head Chef Buzzy Harris and sous chef Tyler Wingate, making menu offerings from scratch.

“That’s what makes us different,” said Harris, an Oak Ridge High School graduate. He recalled taking a cooking class at Oak Ridge where a chef from Ella Dining Room in Sacramento gave a presentation that inspired him to pursue a career in culinary arts.

And he did — Harris gained experience at Ella, Selland’s Market-Café, Milestone Restaurant and now Moonraker, where up to 600 seats await service.

Kitchen staff serve up an evolving menu of salads, tacos, pizzas, sandwiches and more to be washed down with a fresh pour of Moonraker brew

— served in a 21.5-ounce Willi Becher glass that allows beertenders to serve customers a full, 16-ounce pour with what Karen described as the proper amount of foam on top.

Pizzas are baked in minutes in an American-made and Italian-inspired Marra Forni oven and topped to order.

A signature touch on Moonraker’s pizzas is a cheese blend that includes an aged cheddar.

Brew-themed touches to the menu include a brownie baked with stout ale and dusted with malted barley and French fries seasoned with a mix of pulverized hop pellets, salt and parsley. Wingate had the idea to use some of the sweet wort (unfermented beer) out of the brewhouse in a salad dressing.

“What are the expectations people have coming to a brewery? We want to exceed that,” Harris said. “We want people to come back.”

Moonraker is open seven days a week and on Fridays and Saturdays local bands set up and play on the outdoor stage. For more information visit moonrakerbrewing.com or call (530) 745-6816, option 2.

Village Life photo by Krysten Kellum

Moonraker beertender Sam Smiley is all smiles as she pours a West Coast IPA for a customer.

V illage H omes

288 Diana Street, Placerville

1,765 square feet

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

0.43-acre property

Listed at $625,000 MLS #223068448

Home offers quiet living in the city

This beautiful, hidden gem of a home is located in the heart of Placerville.

The single-story residence situated on a quiet street boasts incredible views as well as a generous floor plan that showcases vaulted wood beam ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling decorative stone hearth and large picture windows.

A paved driveway leads up to the front of the home. Admire the front yard’s assorted greenery and mature trees from the cozy deck with steps leading up to the double front doors that open into a bright tiled foyer complemented by dark wood-paneled walls.

The home’s living room is spacious and sunlit with floorto-ceiling glass on opposite ends. Adjacent dining space flows into the kitchen with tile countertops, a built-in desk area, dining bar, newer electric range and microwave, a pantry closet and an abundance of cabinetry. Sliding glass doors open into the backyard, making indoor-outdoor entertaining seamless.

Laundry hookups in an alcove off the kitchen make it easy for the chef and diners to wash the linens and aprons

should something spill. Also near the kitchen is a storage room.

The home has two impressive bedrooms situated on opposite ends of the house. Retire to the primary suite with access to the front porch and two closets. The suite’s bathroom offers the best relaxation with a jetted tub and a stall shower.

The junior suite also has outdoor access and a full bathroom.

Attached to the home is the converted garage that would make a perfect art studio or home gym. Large sliding glass doors opening onto the driveway make this a great spot for indoor-outdoor activities and celebrations.

Kick back and relax in the fenced backyard that offers shade during the summer heat under a covered patio area and large trees. The yard features beautiful landscaping and open space, giving the new homeowners opportunities to design the outdoor area of their dreams.

Interested in a tour of this beautiful Diana Street property in Placerville? Contact Realtor Marilyn Goff at (530) 6724530 or visit marilyngoff.com.

Marilyn Goff CalBRE #00935416 (530) 672-4530 MGoff@GoLyon.com

New season for Italian cuisine, language at Murer House

August is a time of new beginnings. It’s “back to school” time at local schools and universities. It’s also the perfect time to pick up new skills that can enhance our lives.

It is no secret that our region boasts fine wines whose roots came from Europe. Look at many of our neighborhoods and you see architectural homages to bella Italia — beautiful Italy.

Many pioneers who settled in our area came from Italy. One of these was Giuseppe Murer, who built many of the structures in Folsom’s Historic District. His home, which he built with his own hands in the style of his village in Northern Italy, serves the community today as part of the Murer House Foundation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Yellow Button Bakery Yellow Button Bakery

Susan Laird The Arts

Once one of Folsom’s quietly held secrets, people from Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties now flock to this little enclave nestled in a quiet neighborhood next to the Folsom Lake Crossing Bridge.

Here the foundation offers courses in Italian language, cooking, bocce, culture, local Italian-American history, gardening and more. The Learning Center, located next door to the historical residence in the Murer House compound, has a small classroom and kitchen. This is where the magic happens.

La bella lingua

Do you have a trip to Italy planned? Do you have relatives who speak Italian? Or do you want to explore your Italian heritage? Here is your chance to learn more than a few phrases in la bella lingua.

The Italian language

classes at Murer House range from beginner to advanced. There is even an intermediate conversational Italian class. Classes are friendly and fun, and the instructors are very supportive. Classes are eight weeks in duration. No grades are issued. The focus is on making progress, making new friends and enjoying the language.

Italian cooking classes

Thrill friends and family with your new talents in la cucina. No knowledge of Italian is necessary — just a love of Italian food. After choosing your class online, you will spend a few hours with other foodies learning how to source ingredients and you will prepare a small dish with your own hands to enjoy at home. Although I must warn you, many of these wonders are consumed right on the spot! Fortunately, you will have the recipe and the confidence you can make an authentic Italian dish to take home with you. The 2023 online fall catalog includes handson cooking classes in a variety of dishes, including sugo di pomodoro (tomato sauce), strawberry granita and amaretti cookies, sweet potato gnocchi, crostata di marmellata, torta rustica (savory torte) stuffed with ricotta, spinach and mushrooms, polenta e polpette (polenta and meatballs) and many more. Classes are kept small and manageable. If your favorite Italian food class is sold out, fear not. Popular courses, such as homemade herbed pastas, sell out but are offered several times a year.

n See Laird page B5

Photo by Susan Laird

Grow for it!

Mad about saffron

Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Prized and revered for millennia, it has been used as a dye, a spice, a medicine and a perfume. Its name may have come from the Arabic “za’faran,” in use in the Middle East since ancient times. Emperor Nero ordered saffron water to be sprinkled on the streets of Rome for his triumphal entrances into the city. In the Middle Ages it was sometimes used instead of gold leaf to illuminate manuscripts. An English town, Saffron Walden, was so named because it was a center of saffron production in the 16th century. Saffron is made from the dried orange-red stigmas of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Unlike other crocuses that bloom in the spring, saffron is a fall-blooming plant. It belongs to the Iridaceae family. Saffron’s bulb-like root structures are called “corms.” Unlike some flowers, saffron’s sepals are lavender instead of green, so they look the same as petals. Saffron’s quality depends on the degree of three compounds: crocin (for color), picrocrocin (for flavor) and safronol (for aroma).

At times in history saffron has been more valuable, ounce-for-ounce, than gold. Its scarcity is a consequence of

two factors: first, each flower produces just three stigmas and it takes 75,000 flowers to produce a pound of saffron; second, each blossom must be individually harvested and each stigma must be extracted by hand (preferably in the early morning, before the sun can damage the delicate stigmas).

Saffron grows best in a climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The major saffron-growing countries are Iran, Afghanistan, Spain, Italy and Morocco. In the U.S. saffron is reliably perennial in USDA zones 6-9.

Saffron is easily grown in the garden or in containers, so why not try growing your own? Even if you don’t use them as a spice, the flowers are a pretty autumn addition. Begin with one to two dozen corms planted 3-4 inches deep and 4 inches apart in a welldrained garden location in full sun. If you plant them in late summer, violet blossoms should appear six to 10 weeks later. They will grow 4-6 inches tall with slender, grassy foliage. If gophers or mice are a problem — they find the corms delectable — then plant in containers.

Saffron propagates vegetatively by producing daughter corms. Left undisturbed, they will multiply and increase

bobbie McCaffrey

UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County

Financial Focus

Should you downsize when you retire?

When you retire, you’ll experience many changes — should one of them involve your living arrangements?

The issue of downsizing is one that many retirees will consider. If you have children and they’ve grown and left

the home, you might find yourself with more space than you really need. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean you must pack up and scale down yourself. You might love your home and neighborhood and see no reason to go. But if you’re open to a change, you could find that moving to a smaller house, a condo or an apartment may make sense for you.

Let’s consider some of

the advantages of downsizing:

• You could save money. Moving to a smaller space could lower your utility bills and upkeep costs.

• You could save effort. A smaller home will mean less maintenance and cleaning.

• You could declutter. Over the years, most of us accumulate more possessions than we really need. Downsizing gives you a chance to

de-clutter. And you can do some good along the way, too, because many charitable organizations will welcome some of your items.

• You could make money. If you’ve had your home for many years it’s certainly possible that it’s worth more — perhaps a great deal more — than what you paid for it. So, when you sell it you could pocket a lot of money — possibly without being taxed on the gains. Generally, if you’ve lived in your home for at least two years in the five-year period before you sold it, you can exclude $250,000 of capital gains, if you’re single or $500,000 if you’re married and file taxes jointly. (You’ll want to consult with your tax advisor, though, before selling your home, to ensure you’re eligible for the exclusion, especially if you do own multiple homes. Issues can arise in connection with determining one’s “primary” residence.)

While downsizing does offer some potentially big benefits, it can also entail some drawbacks. First of all, it’s possible that your home might not be worth as much as you had hoped, which means

you won’t clear as much money from the sale as you anticipated. Also, If you still were paying off a mortgage on your bigger home, you may have been deducting the interest payments on your taxes — a deduction that might be reduced or lost to you if you purchase a less-expensive condo or become a renter. Besides these financial factors, there’s the ordinary hassle of packing and moving. And if you’re going to a much smaller living space, you may not have much room for family members who want to visit or occasionally spend the night.

So, as you can see, you’ll need to weigh a variety of financial, practical and emotional issues when deciding whether to downsize. And you will also want to communicate your thoughts to grown children or other family members who may someday have reason to be involved in your living space. In short, it’s a big decision — so give it the attention it deserves.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Suzy O’Neal, (530) 676-5402. Edward Jones, member SIPC.

Homes for Sale in El Dorado Hills Area

3Strands Global welcomes

Jane Einhorn to its board

News release

3Strands Global Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to combat human trafficking through prevention, education and reintegration programs, recently announced Jane Einhorn as its newest board member.

“Jane Einhorn is a pillar of our community and I am so pleased to welcome her to our board,” said Ashlie Bryant, CEO of 3SGF. “Her experience in the communications field, particularly with regard to community outreach and engagement, will help 3Strands take a more strategic approach to communications and scale up our efforts.”

Einhorn has been in the public relations/marketing field for more than 30 years. She was a partner in Runyon Saltzman & Einhorn, where she oversaw the development of marketing strategies for clients throughout Northern California. Some accounts handled by Einhorn included several social marketing causes promoted by the state of California, including prenatal care, Healthy Families health insurance and Women Infants and Children programs.

Five years ago Einhorn started her own communications firm, JE Communications, which continues to focus on public relations and marketing

Laird

Good to know

Signing up for a language or cooking class at the Murer House Learning Center is easy. Visit murerhousefoundation.org. Click on Classes in the menu.

There is a description for each class, and information is provided regarding any additional costs (course workbook, additional fees for ingre-

strategies. She was appointed a commissioner to the newly formed Sacramento County Commission of Women and Children and also serves on the board of the Family Justice Center and Impact 100, a philanthropic group of 200 women in the area.

“It’s an honor to serve an organization doing the important work that 3Strands Global Foundation is doing,” said Einhorn. “I hope that my experience in social cause marketing can bring value and insight that will further the impact that 3Strands is having on the elimination of human trafficking both nationally and globally.”

About 3Strands Global Foundation

3Strands Global Foundation is a nonprofit organization working toward a world free from human trafficking. Through its PROTECT prevention education program, staff and volunteers have educated hundreds of thousands of students on how to stay safe from human trafficking. The Employ + Empower program provides support and economic empowerment for survivors. Visit their 3SGF.org to learn more about its mission and how to help.

Continued from B2

Starting

dients, etc.). Payment is easy online, but there are options to pay by check, too.

Those who join the Murer House Foundation also receive a nice discount on most classes, plus opportunities to attend special events planned throughout the year. These include the annual Festa Dinner, member barbecue and

in size and beauty from one year to the next. Every three to four years dig up the corms and transplant them to avoid overcrowding.

When the crocus flower is open and still fresh, pick only the three orange-red stigmas. These stigmas, which are usually called “threads” in many recipes, should be completely dried to preserve them for culinary uses. After drying, store them in an airtight jar.

Saffron adds delicious flavor and golden color to tea, breads, desserts, rice dishes and main courses. Just a hint will take a dish to another level. And it’s a true gardening pleasure to grow your own.

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.

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 Demonstration Garden at ucanr.edu/sites/EDC_Master_ Gardeners/Demonstration_Garden.

Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on the website, mgeldorado.ucanr.edu, or leave a message on the office telephone at (530) 621-5512. To sign up for notices and newsletters visit ucanr.edu/master_gardener_e-news. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Buon Natale Christmas event. Quindi mangia bene, ridi spesso e ama molto! So eat well, laugh often and love much!

Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@handywriting.com.

For

Personnel Dept. 916-228-2332

for you is the absolute peace of mind knowing that your pet family is receiving plenty of love, care & attention while you’re away.

Fast Flying

Courtesy photo Congratulations to El Dorado Hills resident Shawn Britton, who earlier this year won the 59th annual Hayward Air Rally. Britton was a firsttime entrant flying solo in his Bonanza. The rally’s primary charter is to enhance general aviation safety by encouraging aircraft pilots to stay proficient in basic flight and fuel management techniques.

Expertise That Is Never

Pete r Vlautin has over 45 years of Litigation Experience and a Masters (LL.M.)

Degree in Taxation. Member of California, Nevada, and U. S. Supreme Court Bar Associations

Peter P. Vlautin, III, J.D. LL.M. 1020 Suncast Lane #101, El Dorado Hills (916) 365-9734

Shingle

SpringS~Cameron park Chamber of Commerce

President’s Corner

Colette

Wow! There are amazing things happening in our community and our Chamber continues to grow! In July, we added the Skull Museum Tattoo & Gallery as a Bronze Level Member and several other new members including Grocery Outlet-Cameron Park! We are so grateful to ALL of our members for their continued support & membership.

Our July Monthly Networking Luncheon was held at our new location at Moonraker Millhouse in Cameron Park! What a beautiful venue and the food was delicious! This luncheon was sponsored by El Dorado County District 2 Supervisor, George Turnboo and the guest speaker was El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk, Janelle Horne. We had the largest attendance for this luncheon for the past 5 years!

Our August Mixer is August 3rd, 5:30-7:30pm, at the Placerville Elks Lodge in Shingle Springs. Light appetizers and a no-host bar. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with other business professionals and community members.

Our August Monthly Networking Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, August 23rd, 11:30am at Moonraker Millhouse in Cameron Park. Our Guest Speaker Ted

Gaines, California Board of Equalization

This is going to be a big event so make sure to get your RSVP early by calling the Chamber office for your reservation.

Our Board of Directors and Ambassadors are our visiting current and potential new members. We have lofty membership goals this year. I look forward to meeting many more business owners in my second half of 2023t. Our Chamber continues to have an open-door policy and encourage ALL our members to get involved. And if you know a business that should be a member, we’d love the opportunity to talk with them.

Colette Thiel, President SSCP Chamber of Commerce

The SS/CP Chamber Needs Volunteers!

The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce needs volunteers to spend a few hours a month helping the chamber with its events and management.  The payback is helping your local business advocates support the community in which

they live and serve, while striving to make Shingle Springs and Cameron Park wonderful places in which to live!  We have several key positions opening right now.  Get involved today!  Please contact Colette Thiel@ ThielHomes.com for more information.

August Events Celebrating National Night Out & Dog Days of Summer!

august 3

SS/Cp Chamber mixer

august 19

august (Fridays to Sundays)

Cp rotary Club observatory

From 8:30pm to 10:30 pm, weather permitting, the observatory is open to the public on weekend evenings. Trained docents show the many celestial wonders of the universe through two 14-inch telescopes. Folsom Lake College, El Dorado Center, Campus Drive (continue through the back parking lots to the left of the observatory gate). For info and closure updates, call (530) 642-5621, Ext. 9.

august

Support Small Businesses To keep it local!

Shop locally by visiting the various shops and restaurants in El Dorado County!

now thru oct – Farmer’s market

EDH Town Center, through October 29.

From 8am to 1pm every Sunday.

Come mix and mingle at the monthly Chamber Mixer, taking place at the Elk’s Lodge, 3821 Quest Ct., Shingle Springs. Time is 5:30-7:30pm. Contact the Chamber for more information at (530) 677-8000. sscpchamber.org

august 5 – el Dorado high School

Class of 1993 reunion

Come celebrate your 30th reunion and reconnect with old friends and familiar faces. Tickets are $85. The location is The Smith Flat House, 2021 Smith Flat Rd., Placerville. To buy tickets, visit: https://allevents.in/placerville/el-doradohigh-school-class-of-1993-thirty-yearreunion/10000606031816477

august 8-9

kid’s movies for $2 Come to Regal Theaters in Town Center every Tuesday and Wednesday during the summer for the Regal Summer Movie Express! Movie schedules can be viewed here: https://www.activityhero.com/biz/ regal-movie-theatres/kids-movies-for-2dollars/1353908

Third Saturday, placerville art Walk Historic Downtown Placerville. Main Street galleries and merchants host changing art shows and late night shopping every third Saturday of the month. Demonstrations, refreshments, music and more. Placerville Downtown Association, 376 Main St., Placerville. Read more on EventCrazy.com.

august 23

SS/Cp Chamber networking luncheon

Please join us at Moonraker Millhouse, 3501 Robin Lane, Cameron Park from 11:30am to 1:00pm for our monthly networking luncheon! Contact the Chamber for more details at (530) 677-8000.

The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, originally formed as the Shingle Springs Business and Professional Association, Inc. in December 1967. It works to promote the area, encouraging business and industrial investment to provide the foundation for a solid community.

The Chamber’s mission statement reflects this premise: “To advocate, promote and preserve the quality of life in our Chamber Community, by means of a strong, healthy and diverse business community.”

Shingle Springs Cameron Park

Honors from tHe Assembly

to order from the vast menu! Try a delicious breakfast or lunch starter of Toasties (French donuts covered in powdered sugar) before indulging in another decadent treat, the Island Crepe, filled with flambéed bananas, shredded coconut,

“Come for the food, stay for the mimosas!” macadamia nuts and caramel.

The breakfast menu also includes more than 20 omelets, 9 eggs Benedict options, plus tasty south-of-the-border food. For a more traditional lunch, check out the updated menu featuring an array of burgers, go to handhelds like their Club Sandwich and the Taco

We invite you to come on down, get lost in our endless options, treat yourself to THE Mimosa House Experience, and let us celebrate you becoming a part of our

Courtesy photo Ponté Palmero, a full-service resort-style retirement community in Cameron Park, recently received the Business of the Month award from Assemblyman Joe Patterson, who stopped by July 21 to deliver the plaque. Above, left to right are Assemblyman Patterson, Art Patterson (resident and community advocate), Terry Howard (managing director of Ponté Palmero) and Landon Pilegaard (administrator of Ponté Palmero).