Mountain Democrat, Monday, August 14, 2023

60-acre Bass Lake Hills project going into EIR phase

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer

Residents have until Aug. 17 to provide written comments before El Dorado County drafts an environmental impact report for the proposed Town and Country Village development project in El Dorado Hills.

The EIR will evaluate impacts of the proposed development such as air quality, biological resources, water quality, noise and wildfire potential.

The county issued a notice of preparation for drafting the EIR in mid-July. Located north of Highway 50 east of Bass Lake Road on 60.5 acres, the property consists of a project development area and a program study area.

Proposed structures inside the project development area, which are the northernmost and southernmost parts of the land consisting of just over 30 acres, include two five-story hotels, a threestory event center with two restaurants and a 7.9acre portion of land with residential and employee mixed cottage housing of 112 units.

The project would be annexed into the El Dorado Irrigation District for water via approval from the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (EID gets its water from Folsom Lake.) Public and private sewer systems are also being

Wedding bells may ring at Placerville’s Bell Tower

Following a 4-0 decision by the Placerville City Council Tuesday evening, the iconic Bell Tower may soon be a wedding destination. With concerns over parking, impacts on traffic and neighboring businesses and safety for pedestrians, city staff presented the council with a set of suggestions to better formalize rules for Bell Tower use. Closure of the street alongside the Bell Tower near Sourdough and Co. and from Placerville News Company to Placerville Hardware, known as “the triangle,” has been a contentious proposition; issues surrounding repeated closures of the triangle were high on the list of reasons given by the council for moving the Main Street Farmers Market earlier this year.

However, staff and council members, with Mayor Michael Saragosa absent, agreed the landmark might still be utilized as a means to attract visitors to Main Street without closing the street. Some potential options, including live or prerecorded music, were put on the back burner to be considered in the future, but one idea — originally suggested by councilmember John Clerici — will allow a couple to tie the knot in the center of town.

The Placerville Economic Advisory Committee recently laid out a proposal for potential rules a Bell Tower-bound betrothal would follow, which were included in the policy documentation the council voted on. Space limitations would keep the wedding necessarily small

with only five people allowed in the Bell Tower at once — the couple, an officiant and two witnesses — but others would be allowed to look on from the sidewalks. The weddings would need to be fast, with only an hour set aside for setup, ceremony and cleanup.

Information on products and services available in Placerville

that would benefit a wedding or other Bell Tower events would be prepared and provided to the wedding party when making a reservation as a way to promote local business. A wedding would cost $500, as well as a $100 repair and cleanup deposit, with money

Lake Tahoe Summit examines path to preservation

KINGS BEACH

— The 27th annual Lake

Tahoe Summit was held at the Kings Beach Recreation Area Wednesday, Aug. 9. The bi-partisan, bi-state coalition of local, state, federal, Tribal and environmental leaders gathered to discuss the importance of sustainable solutions to combat climate change and local community issues in Lake Tahoe. This year’s summit, “Protecting Lake Tahoe Sustainability and Stewardship in the Face of the Climate Crisis,” was hosted by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, who was joined by many of his colleagues, including Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Sen. Jackie Rosen, among others. The

summit highlighted an urgent need to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through 2034 in order to allocate funds and approve projects that lead to the restoration and preservation of Lake Tahoe.

It was noted by many speakers that as of late Lake Tahoe has experienced highs and lows in climate events.

“From the embers of the Caldor Fire to the snowpack from historic winters, Lake Tahoe knows personally the extraordinary weather whiplash that can tear through our state, all made worse by the climate crisis,” said

Miranda Jacobson Tahoe Daily Tribune

Odin Rascoe Staff writer

Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian

A hotel and event center would go in off Bass Lake Road north of Old Country Club Drive in El Dorado Hills as part of the Town and Country Village development.

Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco Placerville’s Bell Tower is now approved to serve as the site for small wedding ceremonies following a decision by the city council on Tuesday. The city will revisit the idea after a limited test-run of three wedding.

n See summit, page A3

n See bass lake hills, page A6

n See bell tower, page A3

Jeff Madeira

Dec. 30, 1962 - June 19, 2023

Je rey Dean Maderia was born in San Jose, CA on December 30, 1962 to Dean and Sandra Pletcher Madeira. The oldest of three children, he was followed by sisters Meritt and Kathy. He had two half sisters, Karen and Michele.

He attended grammar, middle school and Santa Teresa High School in San Jose. At a very young age he became interested in anything electrical. His first job at age fourteen was repairing radios in a small shop. This led to a career as a Journeyman Electrician. Over his career he installed, repaired and designed a very wide variety of electrical systems. He formed his own company, systems Integration Specialists, and after a few years deciding to no longer be an independent contractor, went to work in the United Electrical Workers Union for a short time. In 2011 he joined ConQuip, Inc. as a Service Engineer. He especially enjoyed the challenges there. His last place of employment was with JFC Electric in Roseville.

Je lived in Placerville for a short time before purchasing a home in Pollock Pines. He has many interests, music being an important one. He played the bass guitar and keyboards and while still living in San Jose was part of a band, Red to Blue, formed by five friends. They played all original songs written by Je and the lead singer. Another interest was sailing his 22 foot sailboat on Sly Park Lake. He was an avid reader and with his gift of gab could discuss on any subject. He had a large interest in guns and owned many. He did a lot of trap shooting with fellow gun club members and family. He loved sharing his knowledge of guns. Martial Arts was another interest and he earned many belts. Later in life he became interested in religion.

After moving to Pollock Pines he became involved in the El Dorado County Sheri ’s Search and Rescue team and was part of many rescues, becoming trained as an EMT. He participated in Jeepers Jamboree in his 1974 Ford Bronco. He always had his beloved dog Bear with him. Ham radio was another hobby he was very much in to. He loved living in El Dorado County. Je had a quirky sense of humor. He bravely battled cancer for six years trying to keep upbeat and positive. The last three months of his life he lived at Elderly Inn, a board and care facility in Carmichael. The owner and sta were exceptional in their care and emotional support. He was content there.

Je was preceded in death by his father Dean in 2022. He leaves behind his mother Sandy, sisters Meritt McClure, Kathy Madeira, Karen and husband Mike Popplewell, Michele and husband Carl Varney, brother-in-law Steve McClure, nephew Derek Nuse and nieces Katrina and Kelly McClure, Aunt Pat Wynn and many cousins. He will be missed.

David George Proft

July 28, 1937 - June 2023

David George (Dave) Proft lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in June 2023. He was born in Evanston, Illinois, July 28, 1937, to Herman and Bena (Corso) Proft. He spent summers on the family farm in Wisconsin. After graduating high school and seeking new opportunities, Dave left for California in 1959. He worked for Standard Oil in San Francisco where he met his future wife, Joanne. He pursued his Masters Degree from San Francisco State and became a high school teacher. Dave also earned his insurance license and worked for Grange Insurance for over twenty years. He taught at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo for 33 years as a business teacher and served as mentor where he influenced many students to pursue their dreams. He was active in serving the local community by serving on the East Palo Alto Sanitary Board.

An avid horseman and gardener, Dave moved his growing family to the more rural area of Los Altos Hills where he continued his public service by serving on the Planning Commission. He was twice elected to the Town Council, and eventually served as the Town’s mayor in the early 1980s. Upon his retirement from insurance and teaching, he moved to El Dorado County where he volunteered with the Sheri ’s Team of Active Retirees (STAR) for 15 years and on the Cameron Estates Community Service District.

Dave was preceded in death by his younger brother Frederick (Rick). He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joanne (nee McCarthy), his three sons Greg (Susan), Chris (Lisa), Je (Sheryl), 8 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and four nieces and nephews. His selfless service, sense of honor, and work ethic will be sorely missed.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Edwin Hoyt

Sept. 7, 1931 – July 19, 2023

Arrangements Entrusted to Ru ner-Wakelin Funeral Homes and Crematory. Please visit www. ru nerwakelin.com to sign the online guestbook and share a memory with the family. For questions please contact us at (928) 445-2221.

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William Louis “Bill”

Forsyth

Dec. 2, 1946 – July 20, 2023

William Louis “Bill” Forsyth, of Kapolei, Hawaii, passed away on July 20th, 2023 at age 76 at Queens Medical Center West, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, He was a resident of Kapolei. Bill was born in Manhattan Beach, California on December 2nd, 1946, but called Placerville, California, home, where he graduated from Ponderosa High School with the first graduating class in 1964. He has resided in Kapolei, Hawaii since 1993.

Bill was a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he proudly served for 27 years as a Photo/ Imagery Interpreter and Intelligence Analyst, 17 of those years were in Hawaii. Overseas he was stationed in Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Hawaii, and retired from the Air Force in August 1991 as a Senior Master Sergeant. During his career, he was an exceptional “in the weeds” photo interpreter; having discovered over 100 North Vietnamese surface-airmissile (SAM) sites on reconnaissance imagery during the Vietnam War, ¼ of all the SAM sites found, by far the most SAM sites found by any single photo interpreter during the entire war, as well as numerous other significant enemy activities and installations. Following the Vietnam War, he became an expert on North Korea, again identifying on imagery many new high priority installations and activities. He worked closely with the United States Forces Korea Tunnel Neutralization Team (USFKTNT) in their e orts to locate and intercept North Korean Tunnels being dug under the Demilitarized Zone. In 1987 he was honored with the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Intelligence Senior NCO of the year award. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

After his retirement from the Air Force, he worked briefly as a Child Support Investigator for the Hawaii Attorney General at the Child Support Enforcement Agency, Interstate Branch, before starting a second career in 1992 as the Senior Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/ MIA) Analyst for Laos, Cambodia, and China at what was then the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, which in 2003 became the Joint POW/ MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), Hickam AFB, Hawaii, and after he retired, the unit was again renamed the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), Hickam AFB. During this time, he researched and analyzed case material, interviewed American witnesses, researched at the National Archives and developed leads for joint field teams to use in locating aircraft crash sites, burial, and remains sites in Southeast. Using his photo interpretation skills, he reviewed Vietnam era imagery at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in the Washington D.C. area to locate crash and incident sites. He participated in joint field investigations in Laos and Cambodia, where he interviewed villagers in remote villages who were witnesses to the losses, and surveyed crash, remains, and burial sites. Bill also attended many meetings with high level government o cials of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In addition to going into the field with his investigation teams on Joint Field Activities, he also loved traveling to the mainland meet with the families of his missing service members and civilians to go over the progress that had been made on their loved one’s cases. In 2003 he received the Pacific Command’s (PACOM) Intelligence

Civilian of the year award. Bill retired from JPAC in December 2008, after over 17 years of dedicated service and assisted in bringing home the remains of over 280 of our fallen heroes from the Vietnam War who have been identified and locating the crash, burial, and remains sites of many more for future excavation. When he started working the issue in 1992, there were 224 aircraft crash sites in Laos and 23 in Cambodia with crewmembers thought to be in the aircraft that had not been located, when he retired in 2008 there were only 17 crash sites in Laos and one in Cambodia that had not been found. In his retirement years, Bill continued to assist DPAA with his expertise and knowledge.

Bill was a competitive chili and salsa cook, taking JPAC teams to seven Hawaii State Chili Cook-o s, with four first place and one second place finishes in salsa, and a third place in both red and green chili. He also represented JPAC at the Idaho State Chili Cook-o in 2009, where he won first place in salsa, and at the 2010 World Chili Cook-o in Manchester, New Hampshire, where a judge disqualified his salsa for having pineapple in it.

He founded and organized six reunions of the 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group (RTG), Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Association (548rtg. org), a unit he was assigned to for 17 years. The organization later became the 548th and 67th Reconnaissance Association when it merged with 67th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron (RTS), Yokota AB, Japan, Association, in 2014, another unit he served with.

Bill loved his country and proudly flew Old Glory every day on his home in Kapolei and added the POW/ MIA flag on national holidays, POW/ MIA Day, Flag Day, Pearl Harbor Day, and 9/11. His favorite song was Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”, which sums up his feelings for his country. He would berate the TV when players and fans were not standing at attention, hats o , and placing their hand over their heart when the National Anthem was played at sporting events and always insisted on telling anyone who would listen his opinions of the current occupants of the White House and Congress. Bill also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his son Bill and grandkids Josh, Makenna, and David, and their dad on Lanai Island, Hawaii, and in Idaho.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Sue-me (Yong Po Cha), four children, Linda (Bill Kaholokula) Knight, Ann (Scott) Casson, Sue (Bryan) Marciel, all living in Hawaii, and Bill (Adrienne Nishioka) Forsyth of Boise, Idaho, eleven grand-children, Mike, Josh, Taylor, Kylee, Makenna, David, Tom, Eli, Jackson, Ben, and Addy, great grand-child, Eliana, his beloved sister Ruth “Missy/Snooks” Forsyth of Seattle Washington, and nephew Tom Forsyth III of Marysville Washington. He is preceded in death by both his parents, Tom (1998) and Lorraine Olson Forsyth (2006), his brother Marine Lance Corporal Tom Forsyth Jr. (1967), step-mother Ethel Smith Forsyth (2014) and step-brother Peter Smith (2003). Funeral services are scheduled at the Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary’s East Chapel in Honolulu on Tuesday, August 15th at 10:00am (visitation begins at 9:00am), followed by a reception at the chapel and a military interment ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at 1:00pm; dress is duty uniform, aloha or casual attire. A live stream of the service is TBA on the mortuary’s website. In lieu of flowers the family wishes that a donation be made in memory of Bill to the American Legion.

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office logs:

July 25

3:57 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 43-year-old man suspected of receiving known stolen property on Highway 50 at Cameron Park Drive. He was released on $150,000 bail.

4:35 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia as well as being a fugitive from justice on Silva Valley Parkway. He was listed in custody.

10:09 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 28-year-old man suspected of child abuse on Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills. He was listed in custody in lieu of $125,000 bail.

11:05 p.m. Burglary was reported at a business on Truck Street in Placerville.

1:31 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 60-year-old man suspected of oral copulation with a victim younger than 10 on Winding Way in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.

2:43 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

5:34 p.m. Burglary was reported on Juarez Road in Pollock Pines.

7:21 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old man suspected of assault with a deadly weapon on Forni Road in Placerville. He was released on $50,000 bail.

8:38 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 19-year-old man suspected of battery on Red Robin Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $5,000 bail.

9:09 p.m. Battery was reported at business on Golden Center Drive in Placerville.

10:04 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 67-year-old man suspected of battery in Union Mine Road in El Dorado. He was listed in custody in lieu of $5,000 bail.

July 26

11:19 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 31-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia and manufacturing/ sale/possession of metal knuckles on Highway 50 at Shingle Springs Drive. He was later released.

12:04 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Prospectors Road in Garden Valley.

12:30 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Union Ridge Road in Placerville.

1:14 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Cosumnes View Trail in Placerville.

July 27

8:36 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 66-year-old man suspected of hit-and-run causing property damage at a store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

10:58 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 46-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Wrights Lake Road in Kyburz. He was later released.

11:44 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of possession/purchase of narcotics for sale and transporting a controlled substance on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody in lieu of $300,000 bail.

July 28

3:03 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 52-year-old man suspected of being a fugitive from justice on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody.

9:26 a.m. Grand theft was reported at an apartment complex on Mira Loma Drive in Cameron Park.

9:49 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 30-year-old man suspected of possession/purchase of narcotics for sale and transporting a controlled substance on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody in lieu of $40,000 bail.

BLM aims to accelerate fire fuels treatment

News release

The Bureau of Land Management is taking an ambitious and coordinated approach to accelerate fuels reduction projects on public lands with high wildfire risk throughout California and northwest Nevada. Tuesday’s signing of the Statewide WildlandUrban Interface Fuels Treatment Programmatic Environmental Assessment will streamline plans to protect communities, reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.

The assessment conducted a broad analysis across 930,000 acres of public lands. As local communities and the BLM identify wildfire concerns, the new streamlined fuels treatment plans will permit on-the-ground work to begin in a matter of months. This will allow BLM to treat an anticipated additional 20,000 acres of public lands each year.

The plan covers 44 counties in California, including Amador, El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento; and

Bell Tower

two counties in northwest Nevada: Douglas and Washoe. Projects under this program may begin as soon as this fall.

“This plan helps reduce the intensity, severity and spread of wildfire near communities that border public lands managed by the BLM,” said BLM California State Director Karen E. Mouritsen. “Through partnerships with local and state agencies we will prioritize and coordinate fuels treatments to protect people, property and vital infrastructure.”

Under this plan, fuels treatment projects will be coordinated across land ownerships to provide the best results for communities, creating a landscape-level network of strategic fuels treatments and breaks within the wildland-urban interface.

To learn more about the assessment visit the BLM NEPA Register at bit. ly/BLMassessment. For more general information contact BLM’s Central California district office at (916) 9413101.

Continued from A1

raised going toward maintenance of the city landmark.

“If it did generate some money, we could start to fix the Bell Tower because it’s looking pretty shaky right now,” Clerici said during discussion.

Councilmember Nicole Gotberg expressed concerns regarding traffic safety, questioning if events held at the Bell Tower without street closures would act as attractive nuisances that may draw onlookers to step into the street for a better look. Live music was specifically mentioned, with previous instances of live music at the location leading to people dancing in the street near Sourdough and Co.

A potential plan for a partial road closure that would not impact traffic flow was sketched out by Councilmember David Yarbrough, which would set up water-filled barriers for safety and make a square of space adjacent to the tower available for foot traffic; though not added to the proposal approved by the council, it was noted as a possible future idea.

A typical council-backed plan is revisited for evaluation after a year of operation; due to the newness of the Bell Tower plans, as well as the potential for unexpected hurdles, the

Summit Continued from A1

Padilla. “I am proud of the work the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program is doing to protect the Tahoe Basin, set the standard for interstate environmental restoration and draw hundreds of millions of dollars to the region. I look forward to passing the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act and continuing to advocate for policies that renew America’s commitment to protecting our plant for our children’s generation and beyond.”

There was a focus on future generations with Generation Green students awarded certificates for the work they have done and will continue to do in the Tahoe Basin.

Generation Green is a work study program for local high school students that allows future stewards of the land to immerse themselves in education and forge a path for their generation.

Not only did Pelosi and others applaud the organizations and agencies that keep the basin safe, including local fire protection districts, law enforcement and environmental protection groups, but noted that collaboration is truly what led to the ability to continue protecting the basin and hold the summit.

“On the magnificent shores of Lake Tahoe, the Golden State and the Silver State, Democrats and Republicans, public,

trial period for the wedding program will be evaluated after three have taken place. The exact timing on the evaluation will depend on the popularity of the Bell Tower as a wedding venue, an unknown factor at this point.

“This may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I don’t think we’re doing this for everybody,” Clerici said.

“We’re doing this for some hearty souls that might decide they want to be married at the Bell Tower.”

Currently, only two events have the council’s standing go-ahead to close the triangle: the “Taste of Main” event produced by the El Dorado High School Band Boosters that typically takes place in early May and the “Girls Night Out” event produced by downtown merchants that normally occurs in September.

Any future events that may petition for Bell Tower and triangle closure would need to be reviewed and approved by the community services director and city m anager before advancement to the City Council for consideration, though some exceptions may be made. One such exception took place recently, as city staff fast-tracked a closure plan to allow the filming of a Food Network show to take place the first week of August.

private and nonprofit sectors all come together as one Team Tahoe,” said Pelosi.

“Nearly three decades ago we launched an ambitious and effective initiative to restore and preserve this national treasure. Together, Team Tahoe will continue fighting to ensure that the Jewel of the Sierra can be enjoyed by all for generations to come.”

The summit explored challenges that face Lake Tahoe, ranging from extreme weather events, to the need for improved roads and public transportation, and the need for

affordable and workforce housing.

“Lake Tahoe is a critical part of our region’s environment and our state’s economic success,” said Rosen. “With the heightened effects of the climate crisis impacting Lake Tahoe, it’s critical that we keep working to protect this natural wonder now more than ever. I was glad to be a part of this important discussion and I remain committed to taking bipartisan action to preserve this magnificent national treasure.”

Bureau of Land Management

California State Director Karen Mouritsen, center sitting down, signs the decision record for the Statewide WildlandUrban Interface Fuels Treatment Programmatic Environmental Assessment, with six staff members and/ or partners who assisted with the project.

Photo courtesy of BLM

Expect roadwork delays on Wrights Lake Road

Mountain Democrat staff

Chip sealing is planned on Wrights Lake Road in the Eldorado National Forest beginning next week and forest officials expect traffic delays.

Motorists are advised that work is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 15, and Wednesday, Aug. 16, as well

as Monday, Aug. 21. Chip sealing operations will resurface the roadway. Traffic control will be in place and delays of up to 30 minutes or longer are expected between Highway 50 and the Wrights Lake entrance. Forest visitors are asked to drive slowly through the work area as loose gravel may be present.

OPINION

California Commentary

The real fix for state pension woes

Last week, this column addressed the dilemma facing the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS), California’s biggest public pension retirement funds, involving “environmental, social and governance” principles.

Depending on how it is interpreted, “ESG investing” can simply mean evaluating investments in a broad manner “to assess potential risks.”

Where ESG principles get problematic is when they are used to push a progressive political agenda at the expense of maximizing returns. This occurs when activists seek prohibitions against investing in fossil fuels, firearms, or in companies located in nations that have met with their disfavor for political or policy reasons, irrespective of the positive performance of the companies.

For current retirees and employees, there is little opportunity to influence the investment decisions of CalPERS and STRS. Some of the board members are elected by participants in the system but most are subject to the political pressures of the day.

What politicians in California and elsewhere ignore is a simple way to avoid the entire ESG quagmire as well as many other problems inherent in California’s “defined benefit” retirement plans. That is to begin

Belltower

which frequently produce better returns for the employees. In defined

Richard B. Esposito Publisher Krysten Kellum Editor Noel Stack Managing Editor

Letters to the Editor

The not so Daley rant

EDITOR:

Casualties

EDITOR:

in the U.S. than in Ukraine is a small price to pay for capitalism.

contribution plans, the employee’s benefit is equal to his or her own contributions, plus those of the employer, plus whatever earnings the investments accrue.

Defined contribution plans come in many flavors, but they have one common element important to taxpayers. That is, the financial obligation of the employer (paid for with taxpayer dollars) is complete at the end of each pay period.

Another big advantage to defined contribution plans is their portability, especially in a changing workforce where employees change jobs frequently. In a comprehensive

n See Coupal page A5

Ienjoy reading the Mountain Democrat for the local news, current events and the arts section. The opinion articles are informative leaning in one ideological direction or the other as one would expect but it seems the “Not So Weekly Daley” commentary is in a rut when it comes to political commentary.

Like a broken record or the CNN/MSNBC TV tickers, it’s always, “Trump this, DeSantis that, and now that Tucker Carlson is gone it’s Gutfeld this ...”

It’s not clear whether Mr. Daley’s College of San Mateo (aka College of Small Minds in the late ’60s) education included any debate classes/clubs, questioning of authority or what “the book says” but I’d like to hear what he has to say about the often ignored plight of the Native American people both past and present.

A rece nt visit and tour through several Indian reservations in the Pacific Northwest was an eye opener. Now there’s a headline/ story that just maybe, CNN, MSNBC or Mr. Daley won’t be able to pin a Trump, Gutfeld or other currently popular non-lib’s name to. Just the facts baby!

MATThEW REISING

El Dorado hills

As of June 24, Ukraine and Russia have been at war for 471 days, resulting in: 24,443 civilian casualties, 8,903 dead (535 children), 15,540 wounded (1,047 children).

During that same period the U.S. suffered 86,659 gun casualties: 68,830 killed (i5,866 children), 17,829 wounded (4,120 children).

Confronted by these facts, gun apologists change the subject: guns are not the problem, liberals are … and single-sex bathrooms, transgender children, transvestites, critical race theory, hermaphrodites, androgenes, epicenes, gynandromorphs, birth control pills and uppity women wanting to control their own bodies. Few, if any, of the people agitating these imaginary ills can define those terms.

To gun extremists the solution is … you guessed it: MORE GUNS. The United States has more guns in civilian hands (over 400 million) than the rest of the world combined. If more guns were the answer, the United States would be the safest nation on earth. But, logic must not interfere with gunmakers’ profits; therefore more civilian and children gun casualties yearly

Of course, there’s a capitalist logic behind the NRA’s arguments: greater gun makers’ profits mean larger “donations” to the NRA and larger campaign contributions to GOP politicians cloaking themselves in a bloodsoaked, profit-driven Second Amendment interpretation.

JOhN GARON Placerville

Government schools

EDITOR:

Ihave to wonder why our government-funded schools are called public schools and schools not funded by the government are called private schools. Shouldn’t public schools be called government schools and aren’t schools that receive no monies from the government actually public schools? Yes there are religious schools, but we call them Christian, Muslim, Jewish and the like, by their religious affiliation. But there are many non-denominational schools that are open to the public. I believe we have crossed the threshold where there are no longer “private schools.” One can’t be excluded from attending

n See letters, page A5

WWII years and the story of Lt. Joe Grubb

My father spent the whole war (World War II) at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. We’ve got home movies of him hiking along with his pistol holster flapping as he goes fly fishing. Some time in his 70s the Army showed up at his house in Sunriver, Ore., to reclaim its pistol.

It wasn’t all fishing.

During an Army drill he injured himself jumping in a foxhole. It eventually turned out to be a permanent injury.

When I was very young, he visited osteopaths and chiropractors. It was finally determined that one foot was shorter than the other as a result of the foxhole incident. I imagine the ground was solid in the winter. he stayed in the Army and was part of the occupation forces in Berlin. he had been part of the quartermaster corps in Alaska but really learned a lifelong occupation of contract administration. he also was promoted to major. They got me in Germany in 1948 when

I was 2 years old and shortly after flew me and my mother back to the states.

On the flight over I asked what the button was for and pushed.

The stewardess brought our meals early. I also remember taking a train out of Chicago. It was pulled by a smoking steam engine. We were on the way to my mother’s parents’ house in Baker, Ore., where the court issued me American adoption papers. My grandpa had some pull at the courthouse since he was a justice of the peace.

This story is partly about my father’s experience in the war. And it is in contrast to

my uncle’s experience in the war, starting with being stationed at Scofield Barracks Dec. 7, 1941. They used him as a bugler because he had played drums before joining the Army. he later went to officer candidate school and was trained as an engineer. From Pearl harbor they sent him to the war in Europe. Afterward they sent him back to the Pacific to hunt down Japanese soldiers who did not know their country had surrendered and he had to convince them to turn themselves in.

I’ve written about my uncle Tom Raffety before. he came out from Texas to see our first child, Natasha. he had already met us at the Fairmont hotel where we were enjoying Ernie heckscher and his Band of Renown in the Starlight Room.

Steve Ferry of El Dorado hills loaned me an entire booklet his uncle wrote about the war. The title is “We Were Not Alone, Memoirs of a World War II Infantry Officer.”

about 10 days into the war in 1944 Grubb was hit in the face with some shrapnel that killed his radio man who was kneeling next to him. That left Grubb a little shell shocked.

So, Steve’s uncle Joe Grubb learned his 4th Division was to be first to land at Utah Beach.

The title of the book came from a pep talk by Gen. George Patton in which he said, “You will not be alone!”

Patton added, “We have a million men ready to cross the channel and we have 10,000 bombers and over 3,000 fighter planes to protect us as we move across the channel.” Joe Grubb’s cannon company went in on the second day, June 7, 1944. his company had already been on the ship for five days. his Jeep got stuck in the water and his trucks hauling cannons got stuck in sand dunes. By 10 p.m. it was dark and German night bombers attacked. Lt. Grubb went in the water to avoid the bombing. Being cold and wet kept him from sleeping, until he found

an ammunition truck with a canvas tent flap that seemed warm enough to sleep.

They were in the hedgerows — 30-40-foot-high hedges and tall trees.

Days later the Germans were counterattacking and the hedgerows were only 5 feet high. Grubb was in a foxhole and his radio man jumped in but was hit on the way. In spite of the injury, he kept radio contact with the cannon crew. They kept firing at where the Germans seemed to be. The cannon had apparently cleared things ahead as the infantry faced little resistance. Grubb stayed with the radio man until an aid man stuffed a big bunch of gauze in the hole in his side. Grubb and his wire radio man were both awarded Bronze Stars for their performance that day.

About 10 days into

the war in 1944 Grubb was hit in the face with some shrapnel that killed his radio man who was kneeling next to him. That left Grubb a little shell shocked. he walked back to the aid station, where medics pulled pieces of metal out of his face and patched him up. he was awarded a Purple heart.

Later that day the infantry was attacking around a chateau.

Grubb ordered his cannon fire to hit the top of the chateau, where he suspected Germans were in the attic. They blew the top right off and it precipitated projectiles bursting inside the building.

After two weeks near the end of June, Grubb was able to get enough water out of a pump the Germans had disabled to get his first sponge bath.

n See raffety page A5

for current retirees and employees, there is little opportunity to influence the investment decisions of CalpERS and STRS.

Coupal Continued from A4

policy paper published in 2020 by the Reason Foundation, “Defined Contribution Plans: Best Practices in Design and Utilization,” the authors contend that, “When structured properly, [defined contribution] retirement plans—plans with individually controlled investment accounts with contributions made by both employers and employees—can o er governments an approach

Raffety Continued from A4

At a chateau a farmer kept a metal pot of hot water. Grubb got a helmet full and had his second, more luxurious sponge bath.

While following an infantry commander up Hill 122, Grubb took shrapnel in the leg and was unable to move until his company commander and half a dozen men showed up with a stretcher. By this time Hill 122 had been taken. This was his second Purple Heart. He was taken to a field hospital for surgery, then taken to England to a real hospital.

Finally, he was put on a train to Scotland, where they caught the Queen Elizabeth for a ride across the Atlantic Ocean to America. There he had one more surgery to straighten out and smooth the bones in his legs.

Michael Ra ety is retired editor of the Mountain Democrat and a resident of the Placerville area.

Special thanks to Steve Ferry for loaning me the book his uncle Joe Grubb wrote, and thanks to Mountain Democrat Editor Krysten Kellum for finding space to include this extra long column.

to retirement plan design that garners retirement security for employees while actively working. Defined contribution plans accomplish this by modernizing the retirement option set and managing employers’ financial risks that are inherent in traditional pension plans.”

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Letters Continued from A4

any school based on a prejudice. But government schools can kick you out from many di erent scenarios like not wanting to share a co-ed changing room or even wearing an American flag shirt. One must conform to the government’s agenda regardless of your religious beliefs or what you believe is sacred to you. If you don’t conform to the government’s agenda then you’ll be ostracized. Government schools are failing in every category and the government has the gall to ignore teaching basic fundamentals and has now went full blown indoctrination to the likes that would make a North Korean dictator proud.

I wish government schools would focus on education and not indoctrination but we all know that’s not going to happen. So for however long I have left on this planet I’m going to call them government schools. Because, at the very least it makes a lot more sense to call it what it is.

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

Announcements

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

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

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

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

LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-768-4452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at 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.

COMICS

Traffic signals and more coming to Missouri Flat

News release

El Dorado County’s Department of Transportation will begin a roadway improvement project on Missouri Flat Road between Pleasant Valley Road and Golden Center Drive in mid-August. The work is scheduled to continue intermittently through March 2024.

The project will include installation of new tra c signals at the Enterprise Drive and Industrial Drive intersections, in addition to storm drain improvements and pavement restoration work. This construction work is necessary to better facilitate tra c and enhance safety through the highly traveled Missouri Flat Road corridor.

The majority of the project will be constructed from mid-August to mid-

LAKE LEVELS

November and involve both day and night work. The final tra c signal installation will be completed in February and March of next year.

Work will require occasional lane closures during which motorists should expect delays. Lane closures are necessary to ensure motorist and worker safety. Motorists are also advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work zone in order to arrive at their destinations on time.

Motorists are advised to expect tra c delays during work hours and are encouraged to use alternate routes whenever possible.

For questions regarding construction contact the county’s transportation main line at (530) 621- 5900 (select option 3 for Engineering).

■

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re not sure where to go next. This is the fun part! It’s like you’re shopping for your future and you get to try it on first. Take your time imagining the options. Dip a toe into a light version.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Though these are difficult times in the world, for long moments of the day, your personal environment will seem to have its own weather. How wonderful to be light of heart, thinking sunny thoughts for no good reason.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The intangible things being shared and traded today cannot be quantified. Even if they could, everyone values them so differently, the exchange rate would be impossible to determine.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). When projects, dreams and relationships come to life, they grow beyond the people involved and will take turns, dips and flights, seemingly on their own accord. Once you were the driver, and now you’re just along for the ride.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll find it easy to base your behaviors on what you think is cool because you trust that more than you trust the opinion of others. You do the things that make you like yourself and others like you, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you’re using the wrong tool, no matter how you turn it, it just won’t work. You’re not the problem. There’s a better tool for doing what you need to do. Ask around to see if anyone knows what it is.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The human brain is not only capable of rewiring itself, but adaptation is also its natural

tendency. You let this work for you today as you head for the experiences that you’re sure to learn and grow from.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When you had less experience and more pride, the critique of others was unwelcome. But now that you’re confident in your work, opening yourself to criticism gives you an edge and the intel to improve.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You don’t expect life to be fair, but you do try to hang in there through the inequities and try to make things right. You’ll start by doing what you can do and wind up doing what no one has done.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Someone is putting on a brave face through hardship. Most will miss it, but not you. You know the signs because you’ve worn that same mask many times before. Your acknowledgment and support will bring comfort.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Just because you’re in charge of an endeavor doesn’t mean the results are a comment on you personally. Success or failure are simply indicators of how the process worked -- information you can

Continued from A1

considered, along with a stormwater drainage master plan. A bike path bridge crossing is being considered for Bass Lake Road that would connect to a park-and-ride west of Bass Lake Road.

The program study area consists of 30.3 acres and may be used for senior housing units, hotels, medical facilities, town homes, retail shops and cottages.

A change in Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan land use would allow for 15.1 acres of multi-family residential housing and about 12 acres of commercial land use, which would include 150 units of senior housing, 200 apartment and condominium units and 90,000 square feet of commercial use. Some 3.2 acres of open space is designated in the program study area of the Bass Lake Hills Specific Plan.

Residents have taken it upon themselves to give suggestions and state their concerns over the implications of the project. The El Dorado Hills Area Planning Advisory Committee held two scoping meetings Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 for the public to provide comments and ask questions that will be addressed in the final

environmental impact report.

On Aug. 9, comments from the public via Zoom concerned testing for asbestos at the development site, if the project will be able to meet electrical demands, increases in noise and lighting and if EID will be able to keep up with water demands.

“Almost every summer we have mandatory restrictions, which tells me EID can’t meet current demands, so how will they meet current demands with this development?” asked El Dorado Hills resident John Bagdanov.

In another comment from the public, Mickie Smith suggested the development would further encumber tra c in the area.

“Our family has been in the area for a long time and Bass Lake Road is becoming more congested and dangerous,” Smith said. “It is going to overload the area and I don’t know if we are able to handle it.”

Those wishing to make their comments known can do so by 5 p.m. Aug. 17; contact El Dorado County Senior Planner Corinne Resha at 2850 Fairlane Court, Building C or by email at TownAndCountryElDorado@ edcgov.us.

Bass Lake Hills

■ SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

■ TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

■ RUBES by Leigh Rubin

SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum

The Missouri Flat Road intersection with Enterprise Drive will see the installation of traffic signals as roadway improvement work is completed February-March 2024.

Bullying makes playgrounds, schools and even neighborhoods feel unsafe for some children. This week, in honor of Martin Luther King’s message of peace, Kid Scoop looks at ways children can help themselves and others be safe on the playground.

You can’t tell a bully by his or her looks. You can tell who is a bully by the way he or she acts. Here are some of the things a bully might do:

• Hit, kick or push to hurt people.

• Call others bad names, tease or scare people.

• Say mean things about someone.

• Grab someone else’s stuff.

• Leave a kid out of a game on purpose.

• Threaten another kid. What else have you seen bullies do?

Bully Clues:

The bully is not wearing a hat. The bully isn’t wearing a striped shirt. The bully is not wearing glasses. Which kid is the bully?

Hey, shorty! Shouldn’t you be back in preschool?

Bullying is a problem in schools all around the world. Kid Scoop found information from anti-bullying programs in Scotland, Australia and Canada as well as the United States.

you!”

Many, many children are bullied everyday. These children can feel lost in a maze made up of bad feelings –sad, stressed, embarrassed, nervous, depressed, helpless. These feelings can make it hard to do well in school and to make friends. Experts say that there is something that can help a child who has been bullied. To find out what that is, complete the maze. The letters along the correct path of the maze spell the answer!

“You can’t play with us!”

Bullying hurts. It hurts a lot. Bullying can make kids feel sick. It can make them not want to go to school. And no one likes to watch other kids getting picked on. No one likes a bully.

Stan is the shortest boy in the fourth grade. Greg, the tallest boy, picks on him every day. Abby and Eric are tired of watching this. What could Stan do or say? What could Eric do or say? What could Abby do or say? What does everyone want Greg to do?

Anti-Bully Armor

When you feel good about yourself, you’re less likely to be hurt by what others say. Take a little time to build up your anti-bully armor. What is anti-bully armor? Feeling good about yourself! Look through the newspaper for words and pictures that show something that is good about you. Glue these onto a sheet of paper titled: What’s good about ME! Post it where you can see it everyday.

Have a friend give you each type of word to fill in the blanks. Then read the story aloud!

My friend Lawrence had the hiccups while getting a haircut. I was joking and teasing with him about it and said his haircut made him look like a ______________________.

It was only a joke, but it made him pretty angry. To make it up to him, I invited him to see the ________________ with my family. Lawrence cheered up when he saw a _____________ on the trapeze.

A shiny ____________ drove into the center ring and a dozen crazy ____________ climbed out of it. My dad bought us each a bag of hot _____________ and a balloon shaped like a _______.

When we got home, I apologized again to Lawrence. “It’s okay,” he said. “I can’t stay mad when I think about the _____________________ we saw today!”

Standards Link: Grammar: Understand and use nouns, adjectives and verbs correctly.

Pretend not to hear. Instead listen to your own thoughts and tell yourself, “That’s their problem, not mine.” and “I’m OK just the way I am.”

Find a safe person to talk to. Make a list of people you could talk to about being bullied or about times you have seen others being bullied.

Be a buddy. Kids who are alone are more likely to be bullied. Make a plan to walk with a friend wherever you think you might meet a bully.

Don’t bully back. Getting angry and fighting back sometimes is just what the bully wants. It’s dangerous too, because someone could get hurt.

Bullies

in the News

Look through the newspaper for an article that portrays a person or a group of people who are hurting other people. Could this also be called bullying? Identify who in the article you think is the bully and who is being bullied.

A bully scribbled over some of the words in our list of tips! Find the missing word or words in each tip.

fighting friend mine person times thoughts

PEACE

BULLIES

HURTS

NERVOUS

THREATEN HELP

BUILD

FRIEND

TEASE

ARMOR GAME

FEELINGS

PATH

MEAN

TEASE

The verb tease means to make fun of or annoy.

Dad told Jeremy not to tease his little sister.

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

Kids Help Kids

Have you ever had a disagreement with another person? How did you handle the problem? Tell kids some helpful things to do to solve disagreement issues.

© 2016 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 32, No. 5

Family Features

amenu of filling, delicious recipes is just what your family needs to make each school day a successful educational adventure. Satisfying lunch and dinner ideas can give loved ones the fuel they need while delicious desserts provide motivation for growing minds to get homework finished before enjoying a treat.

When weeks get hectic due to busy schedules, these recipes offer simple solutions to make cooking easier while limiting time spent in the kitchen. Start with a lunch that’s as easy to make as it is to pack in a lunchbox, recharge in the evening thanks to a veggieforward main course and satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with a chocolatey favorite to round out the day. Keep your family full and energized each school day with more recipe ideas at Culinary.net.

Make School Lunches a Breeze

There’s a lot to remember when sending your student off to school each morning, from backpacks and school supplies to last night’s homework. Don’t forget one of the key ingredients to a successful day: lunch.

These Cheeseburger Turnovers provide the energy little learners need to power through their afternoon lessons. One winning idea to make the week easier is to prep a full batch of these easily packable, kid-friendly handhelds Sunday night so you’ve got lunch ready for each day.

To find more school day recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.

Cheeseburger Turnovers

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon mustard

1 can flaky biscuits

1 cup shredded cheese dill pickle slices, halved

1 egg, beaten Heat oven to 375 F.

In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are tender. Drain. Stir in ketchup and mustard.

Separate biscuit dough. On ungreased baking sheet, flatten biscuit dough to form 6-inch rounds. Spoon beef mixture onto one side of flattened dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with dill pickle half. Fold dough over filling. With fork tines, press dough edges to seal. Cut two slits in top of dough to release steam. Repeat with remaining dough, beef mixture, cheese and pickles.

Brush each turnover with egg wash.

Bake 18-22 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

A Heaping Serving of Homework Motivation

Heading back to school doesn’t have to mean forgetting the fun of warm weather treats. Once the homework is done and you’ve enjoyed dinner with loved ones, turn your attention to a dessert that tastes like it was prepared by a professional baker. This S’mores Skillet starts with a sweet brownie base made with Domino Light Brown Sugar and is then infused and topped with traditional s’mores ingredients. Just combine in a skillet then bake – or grill for that familiar outdoor feel – until warm and gooey.

Find more dessert ideas to sweeten up back-to-school season at DominoSugar. com.

S’mores Skillet

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

A Perfect Pasta for School Nights

Weeknight meals are all about putting tasty dishes on the table in a short amount of time so you can share precious moments together despite busy schedules. In a matter of minutes, you can prepare this Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-Based Penne for a quick yet flavorful recipe that can be enjoyed by little ones and adults alike. Featuring Veggiecraft Farms

Cauliflower Penne as its key ingredient, this family meal makes it easy to incorporate vegetables without sacrificing taste. Available in popular shapes like penne, spaghetti and elbow, and made with lentils, peas and cauliflower, zucchini or sweet potato, the veggie-based pastas are gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, Kosher and good sources of protein and fiber.

Visit veggiecraftfarms.com for more information and family-friendly recipes.

Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-

Based Penne

1 cup dry French green lentils or brown lentils

1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1 box Veggiecraft Farms

Cauliflower Penne

Toppings:

fresh basil

Parmesan cheese

red pepper flakes

Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain then return to pot and add marinara and vegetable broth. Stir well and simmer over low heat about 10 minutes.

Cook penne according to package directions.

Top cooked pasta with lentil Bolognese, fresh basil, Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

Servings: 6

8 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaswam crackers, roughly crumbled, divided Preheat oven or grill to 350 F. Place medium heat-proof bowl over medium saucepan simmering with water. Add butter, 1/4 cup chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate; melt. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool 15 minutes.

In small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.

In large bowl, mix eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in flour mixture. Add 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and three graham crackers to batter.

Pour mixture into 8-inch skillet. Top with remaining mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and graham crackers. Grill or bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from grill. Cool 10 minutes and serve.

Cheeseburger Turnovers

S’mores Skillet

Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-Based Penne

Good Living IN EL DORADO COUNTY

TAKE A HIKE

There are countless scenic wonders in Desolation Wilderness in El Dorado County that are available to the day hiker. Here are a few hikes that o er spectacular views.

Eagle Falls Trailhead

Eagle Lake Trail is a 1.7-mile moderately tra cked out and back trail, with a moderate rating. The trail o ers forest, lake and farreaching views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra high country. At the Eagle Falls trailhead, obtain your wilderness permit. Head southwest up the trail, climbing gently at first, then ascending a steep set of stone steps. Climb the stairs about 5 minutes to the falls and the short loop trail. Cross the high bridge and enjoy the vista back down the canyon to Emerald Bay. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Eagle Lake Trailhead

The trailhead o ers stunning mountain views on both sides of the lakes along which you may hike. If you want to add a European flair to your day hike, you may take a water taxi the length of Lower Echo and halfway across Upper Echo where you will debark to continue your hike up into the wilderness. Contact (530) 659-7207 for more information. Several alpine lakes are along the trail to Lake Aloha if you choose to hike that far. You may catch the same taxi on the way back or hike back along the lakes. There is a fee to ride each way. For more information call (530) 543-2600.

Mount Tallac

One of the more scenic and challenging hikes in the South Tahoe area with breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Tahoe is this hike. The classic 9.7-mile out-andback day hike begins at the trailhead on the southwestern side of Lake Tahoe, between Emerald Bay and Camp Richardson. When driving to the trailhead, make a turn inland at Mount Tallac Road and follow the wellsigned route to the reasonably sized parking lot. Be sure to register your day hike in the Desolation Wilderness area. Free permits are available at the trail sign, which must be filled out in full before proceeding on the trail.

Twin Bridges Trailhead or Pyramid Creek Trailhead

The trailheads on Highway 50, give access to Horsetail Falls and several lakes beyond the top of the falls. From the parking lot, it is

After a moderately strenuous hike the reward is a view of Twin Lakes.

The hike to Twin Lakes is uphill.

Photos by William J. Finch

Echo Lake from the trail to Lake Aloha.

enjoy a harvest of fall events at Wakmatsu

American River Conservancy

Plein Air Paint-out at Wakamatsu Farm

Sept. 9, Oct. 21, Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m. to noon

Join artist David Yapp for a time of plein air painting at Wakamatsu Farm. “En plein air” is a French term meaning “in the open air” and refers to painting outdoors (normally a landscape or townscape) on location.

This was a very popular approach of the French Impressionist painters, who incorporated the natural light, color and movement of the outdoors into their paintings. Bring

your own paints and equipment for a time of self-guided painting. You supply all your own materials and equipment (easel, canvas, oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.), choose your subject and enjoy the camaraderie of painting outdoors with other artists. Instruction not provided. We encourage meeting together for picnic lunch after the session. Rain cancels. All painting levels welcome. Responsible children 12+ welcome (w/adult supervision). Meeting location Gold Hill/ Placerville area. Cost: $15/members, $20/nonmembers. A detailed

email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview.com/ VyAqz.

Zen Meditation and Qigong in the Wakamatsu Garden

Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov. 11, 10-11:30 a.m.

Join local mindfulness instructor Berry Crawford (and special co-leaders Jeanne Courtney and Robert Rosenbaum) for a peaceful and relaxing event at the beautiful and historical Wakamatsu farm. This event will include sessions of qigong, mindfulness meditation and walking meditation.

Come learn to relax, recharge and let go with these ancient and effective practices. Responsible/quiet 12-year-olds+ welcome. Meeting location Gold Hill/Placerville area. Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/nonmembers. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview. com/09nYn

Concerts for a Cause

Saturday, Sept. 16, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Join ARC and Marco’s Café at Wakamatsu Farm this summer for a new concert series that supports ARC’s Resilience Reserve. Enjoy live music, tasty food, and beverages al fresco at the historical Wakamatsu Farm. The Resilience Reserve was established in 2023 to help ARC manage and restore wildlife habitat and repair recent damage to recreational infrastructure. Ticket price $20 per person. Food and beverages not included in ticket price. Check out the website to view concert lineups, times and to purchase tickets. All ages welcome. app.donorview. com/xX7y0.

Wakamatsu Open Farm Days

Saturday, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, times vary Special programming at each Open Farm Day. See the registration page for more details. Site of the first Japanese colony in America, your selfguided walking tour of Wakamatsu Farm may include a stroll to Okeisan’s 1871 gravesite and Charles Graner’s original 1850s farmhouse. Take a trip around the lake on the 1.5-mile wheelchair-accessible trail. Bring a picnic and chair to sit and relax. On-site interpreters can share information and answer questions about Wakamatsu Farm’s human and natural history. Amenities are limited, so plan for rugged outdoor leisure. Steady rain or temperatures over 100 degrees will cancel. Cost:

$10 per vehicle. Located at: 941 Cold Springs Road, Placerville. Registration link: donorview.com/jRNKg.

Creative Collage

Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to noon and Nov. 11, 2-4:30 p.m.

Join artist David Yapp for this fun, creative workshop. Using reproductions of old engravings, you will create a naturethemed collage on a panel which you will embellish with acrylic paint using a range of interesting techniques. No experience necessary. Art materials provided. Ages 12+ welcome. Yapp works in a diverse range of visual media, including watercolors, oils, mixed media and acrylics. His favorite genre is landscape painting. He enjoys exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains and foothills for subjects to paint. He has exhibited in both Europe and the U.S. All painting levels welcome. Rain moves indoors. Responsible children 10+ welcome (w/adult supervision).

Meeting location Gold Hill/Placerville area.

Cost: $45/members, $55/non-members. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview. com/ER096.

Sogetsu Ikebana

Classes

(see detailed descriptions below)

Sundays, Sept. 17 and Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Instructor Yasmin Spiegel is a “sensei“ (teacher) in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging. Ages 8+w/

Hike Continued from B1

an enjoyable hike to the base of the falls. From there, you can make your way carefully up the granite to view the falls closeup. Beyond, there is no prepared trail, but if you are eager for a strenuous hike, you can make your way up the steep broken granite to the top of the falls and hike along Pyramid Creek to Ropi Lake before returning. Personal safety is the watchword on this hike up to the top as well as back down again. There is a parking fee here.

Bayview Trailhead

Bayview Trail offers magnificent views of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe, this steep trail leads you up the side of Maggie’s Peak into Desolation Wilderness. Stop at

Guests can visit Okei-san’s gravesite during the Open Farm Day.

adult supervision.

Meeting location Gold Hill/Placerville area.

Cost: Individual classes $35/members, $45/nonmembers. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview.com/ LbE16.

Sept. 17:

Leaf Manipulation

Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower design, can take many unusual and sometimes surprising forms. We use many materials, leaves and branches to create beautiful designs. In this lesson we will explore the myriad shapes and ways in which leaves can become unique striking accents to your arrangements. Cutting, braiding, weaving, tying, bending and taping are some of the ways that we can change our leaves into sculptures that provide new depth, texture and interest.

Nov. 12: Mixing Dried and Fresh Materials in Fall Arrangements Fall is turning into winter and we celebrate both the abundance and glory of ripe fruits and flowers, as well as the crisp dying and dead leaves and branches. Fall is a rich time of year to find both fresh and dried materials. All these wonderful textures and colors can be combined into table center pieces and decorations for Thanksgiving parties, or striking floor or garden decorations. Come create a festive celebration of the earth’s bounty.

Pine Needle Basket Class

Saturday, Oct. 14, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

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Granite Lake for a short rest along the way. In 2.7 miles this trail intersects with the Eagle Falls Trail. Past this point, the trail becomes a very nice and easy hike on mostly level ground with views into the Desolation Wilderness. For more information call (530) 543-2600.

Twin Lakes Trailheads

The Twin Lakes trail is located in Desolation Wilderness on the northern side of Wrights Lake in El Dorado County. This trail is a moderately strenuous one because it’s all uphill from the trailhead to Twin Lakes. There is an elevation change of roughly 1,300 feet and the trail can be difficult at times to follow. This hike offers breathtaking scenery.

Democrat file photos

The Charles Graner 1850s farmhouse is an interesting spot to visit at Wakamatsu.

Good Living — IN EL DORADO COUNTY B3 Monday, August 14, 2023

FINALLY, Medicare & Most Insurance Companies Pay for Treatment of Neuropathy! CALL

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and may also lead to serious balance problems.

Artist opens show at Green Room

Courtesy photo Jack Mento’s art will be on display at the Green Room Social Club. News release

After many years of creative writing, he started painting in 1986 and realized it was a much deeper way to express himself.

“At first my art had more of a realistic style that depicted my everyday experiences,” he said. “Over time my work developed into a visual impression of the world around me and the mystery within.”

“My art is a unique expression of the many roads I’ve traveled, the things I’ve felt and seen, and the countless

He added, “I hope my art reaches people on a level that evokes their imagination about their own inner landscape as well as their curiosity about the world outside themselves. I believe one function of art is to make visible to you the mysteries of life on an emotionally deeper level.”

For more information call (530) 957-3030.

Symphony tuning up for 20th season

Folsom Lake Symphony

M

aestro Peter Jaffe has

“raised the bar” of musicianship for the Folsom Lake Symphony and that, combined with efforts to secure fabulous guest artists, results in a stellar 2023-24 season that will excite audiences and is worthy of the symphony’s 20-year milestone celebration.

Season subscriptions are on sale now. Single concert tickets on sale at noon on Aug. 16. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony. com/2023-24-season.

The seasonEmerald Extravaganza, Oct.

14: The first concert of the season will feature pieces by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond, Tchaikovsky and Respighi. Violinist Chee-Yun’s flawlessly compelling technique, tone and artistry has enraptured audiences on five continents and now she joins the symphony as a guest artist.

Charming, charismatic and deeply passionate about her art, Chee-Yun continues to carve a unique place for herself in the ever-evolving world of classical music.

The evening will begin with a farm to table al fresco buffet dinner artfully prepared by Table Nectar Catering. We will be pouring awardwinning wines from Bellador Winery in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Dinner and concert tickets are sold separately.

Happy Holidays, Dec. 9 & 10: Celebrate the holiday season with performances

showcasing the talents of Roberto Perlas Gomez (baritone) and the Northern California Children’s Chorus. A brilliant baritone and adorable young talents join the festivities for a program packed with goodies — “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “The Night Before Christmas,” “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” “O Holy Night,” “The Nutcracker” excerpts and many more.

That’s Amore!, Feb. 10, 2024: Hot off the trail from international touring and PBS specials, charismatic guest artist Pasquale Esposito (tenor) returns. Lovers will bask in a stellar evening that includes “That’s Amore,” “Besame Mucho,” Be My Love” and many other romantic Italian and Latin favorites.

Titan, April 20, 2024: Now in his third decade of touring worldwide, American pianist Jon Nakamatsu continues to draw critic and public acclaim for his intensity, elegance and electrifying solo, concerto and chamber music performances. During this concert he will perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” among other pieces.

“Carmina Burana,”

June 8 & 9, 2024: Enjoy the vocal talents of Carrie Hennessey (soprano), Daniel Ebbers (tenor), Ralph Cato (baritone), the Music in the Mountains Chorus, Sacramento Master Singers and Northern California Children’s Chorus.

With huge performing forces, scenes from spring, a tavern, a court of love, and the iconic O fortuna chorus that

bookends the work, this blockbuster has become wildly popular ever since its premiere. With a combined chorus of 150 members, this is an experience not to be missed.

Join the symphony

The Folsom Lake Symphony is looking for talented musicians to join the symphony family. Its annual additions will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Folsom Lake College. The symphony has openings in all string sections and backup positions in the brass and wind sections. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony. com/auditions-2023-24.

Young Artis

Competition

Applications for the Folsom Lake Symphony’s inaugural Young Artist Competition are now being accepted. The purpose of the competition is to recognize and showcase the talents of young classical musicians.

The competition, held at the Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College, will be judged by a panel of professionals chaired by the symphony’s music director and conductor Peter Jaffe. Cash awards are given to division winners ($500 each) and the grand prize winner ($1,000). All winners will perform at the Young Artists Recital. The Grand Prize winner will also perform with the symphony at the Spring Family Concert.

The application period is open until Sept. 27. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony. com/yac.

colorful adventures this life has given me,” he said.Placerville, CA – Currently the most common method most doctor’s recommend to treat neuropathy is with the use of prescription drugs. Although these drugs may temporarily reduce your symptoms they may cause a feeling of discomfort and in some cases lead to a variety of terrible unwanted side effects. We have a different method!

The treatment to increase blood ow utilizes a specialized low-level light therapy (not to be confused with laser therapy) using light emitting diode technology. This technology was originally developed by NASA to assist in increasing blow ow.

The low level light therapy is like watering a tree. The light therapy will allow the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients to heal and repair. It’s like adding water to a tree and seeing the roots grow deeper and deeper. The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. “My feet hurt so bad after sitting I could barely take the rst few steps. I have had 11 treatments and no longer feel sharp or shooting pains and most of the tingling is gone. I now have full balance and can walk without pain. As Dr. Mooney explained the treatment is not painful, nothing uncomfortable, and is actually very relaxing.” – Neuropathy

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Come learn the technique of coiling and how to start a basket out of pine needles in this one-day outdoor workshop led by basket-maker and ARC member, Nettie Fox. This class is appropriate for all levels, beginning through advanced. All materials will be provided and space is limited. You will receive information on collecting, storing and dyeing pine needles. Learn all about materials, embellishments and a little history on the art of pine needle basketmaking. Additional supplies will be available for purchase. Ages 12+ welcome, with adult supervision. Meeting

location Gold Hill/ Placerville area. Cost: $40/members, $50/ non-members. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview. com/NMDZZ.

Stargazing on the Farm

Saturday, Oct. 14, 7:3010:30 p.m.

ARC volunteers and star-gazing enthusiasts

Herb Tanimoto and Tim Jackson will host this sky gazing event. Expected sights include the Milky Way, M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy), and double stars such as Albireo. The highlight of the evening will be viewing Jupiter and Saturn through telescopes. Unclear skies cancel. Meeting location

Gold Hill/Placerville area. Quiet children welcome. Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/non-members. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview. com/05D58.

Capturing

Wakamatsu: A Poetry Walk/Workshop

Sunday, Oct. 22, noon to 2 p.m.

Taylor Graham, El Dorado County’s first Poet Laureate, and award-winning Sacramento-area poet Katy Brown will lead an exploration of farmhouse, barn and surroundings, then ask participants to write a poem inspired by what they’ve experienced.

Any who wish may share their poems with the group and ARC. Children 8+ welcome with adult supervision. Meeting location Gold Hill/Placerville area. Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/nonmembers. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview. com/7L9Zp.

Historic Coloma Sites & Cemeteries Tour

Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On this pre-Halloween history walk led by volunteer Keith Atwater, you’ll visit the Union Cemetery on Bassi Road, walk by the historical and sacred Miwok grinding rock

site and Chinese store in Gold Discovery State Historic Park, visit Saint John’s church and graveyard, walk past the (rumored to be haunted) Vineyard House, and explore Coloma’s Gold Rush era cemetery.

This 1-mile walk is for quiet children 8+. Well behaved dog on leash OK. Meeting location Coloma area. Suggested Donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.

A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app. donorview.com/y8Q9r

Herbal Crafting: The Art of Distillation

Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Join local herbalist Shannon Mann in

transforming plants into magical hydrosols using a simple yet ancient distillation process. Experience a live demonstration with a copper still, then learn to recreate the process using a pot on your stove top at home. Learn to source plants with a walk on the farm and discover ways to use hydrosols for skin and body care, aromatherapy, cooking and more. Attendees receive a bottle of hydrosol distilled during the class and a guidebook for making hydrosols at home. Ages 10+ welcome with adult supervision. Meeting location Gold Hill/Placerville area.

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buttered and salty

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’

Cowabunga! The Teenage Mutant

Ninja Turtles are back in a feature film that is finally deserving of the long-running and successful franchise as the Turtle brothers work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants.

This was one that my young kids and I were eagerly anticipating all summer. Like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” it has a unique style of animation (though not as busy as ‘Spider-Verse’”) that combines 2-D animation placed on top of the 3-D animation to create a scribbled, hand-drawn quality. In a recent interview with the New York Times “Anatomy of a Scene,” Director Jeff Rowe (“The Mitchells vs the Machines”) said his team looked at the work of experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage, studying animation that involved scratching on the film negative to “create something that was chaotic and not traditionally beautiful in the animated sense.” Mission accomplished. I quite liked the look of the film. It’s charming and appropriate to the gritty comic book beginning’s of the shelled heroes.

One critique that has been leveled at previous incarnations of the Ninja Turtles over the years is that they were “Teenage” in name only. The famous 1980’s cartoon was ambiguous about their ages and the 1990’s live-action films, while brilliant in the execution of the suits and animatronics (especially the first film from 1990) created by the Jim Henson Company, looked more like fully grown adults than teenagers. No doubt this was done since adult men and women had to actually be inside those rubber suites.

Here, these characters are not only quite individualized in their size, look and style, but they pretty much appear and act like teenagers in the modern world. They desire to go out, make friends and have a social life (even though their Father, Splinter, voiced by Jackie Chan, forbids them to do

so). They are addicted to social media and go to sleep scrolling through YouTube and music streaming sites. A nice touch was that Michaelangelo, voiced by Shamon Brown Jr., holds his cell phone inside his “M” belt while fighting. It was a small moment where you think “of course these kids would have wireless devices and of course they would put them there!” This movie is full of wonderful, small moments like that.

In the age of YouTube and social media it made me laugh to see that Splinter is not the martial artist or wise master he’s made out to be in previous incarnations. He’s a father trying to protect his young boys from the ills of the world and the judgments of what lies above the sewers in New York City. He doesn’t know the first thing about karate or martial arts, so of course their ninja training consists of Bruce Lee movies and YouTube videos. An appropriate DIY form of training that fits in nicely in 2023.

The story by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jeff Rowe moves along at a quick pace and absolutely nails each personality of the individual Turtles. They are fun, likable, fully-formed characters. The arguing and the jokes come at you quickly, as do the squabbles where all four of them are talking over each other. Typical teenagers.

If I had a quibble with the film it would be that the climax of the movie arrives faster than expected and includes a secondary group of villains that pop in and out of the story a few times who don’t really fit into the narrative of the story-proper. They don’t have a connection to the big bad (this time “Superfly,” voiced by Ice Cube) and seem included only to tease the antagonist of the next film. Their inclusion could be lifted and the viewer wouldn’t miss them in the least.

It may not be as deep or emotionally driven as “Across the Spider-Verse,” but I would argue it’s a bit more entertaining because it doesn’t get bogged down by the weight and density of its material. This is just a fun and entertaining TMNT movie and one that is very well executed. My 7 year old loved it. My 4 year old, who hit sensory overload with “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” at the hour and a half mark of that film and wanted to go home, asked the next day, and every day since, to see “The Turtles” again. I might have to oblige him.

Turtle power!

Joshua B. Porter is a writer/director/producer. He is currently finishing the long journey of post-production on his film “No Evidence of Man” and can be reached at @joshuabporter or joshuabporter@mtdemocrat. net.

The Public Square

General Manager for Cameron Park Community Services District

Salary: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00 Annually

Snow Removal Worker-Extra Help

Department of Transportation

***This recruitment is eligible for a $6,000 incentive***

The incentive shall be paid in equal installments for the first twenty-six (26) consecutive biweekly pay periods in the position.

Termination from employment (or release due to season ending) will result in any remaining cash incentive payments being forfeited.

The County of El Dorado is committed to promoting the power of public service by fostering a diverse and collaborative workplace where employees are empowered, respected, and valued. The dedicated efforts taken by the Board of Supervisors continues to promote El Dorado County as a competitive employer that is committed to recruiting and retaining qualified employees by advocating for competitive salaries and excellent benefits. The County of El Dorado is also supportive of providing telework opportunities for employees consistent with business needs and in accordance with Board of Supervisors Policy E-12 - Telecommuting.

The Department of Transportation is committed to ensuring that El Dorado County roadways are safe for public use. The department prioritizes the preservation of infrastructure by preserving and maintaining the public’s multi-billion dollar investment in our roads, bridges, and other facilities associated with the County Road System.

The ideal candidate will be experienced with operating a variety of heavy equipment. Duties will include but are not limited to performing snow removal, ice control, and storm patrol work. Must possess a valid Commercial Class B driver’s license. Must be willing to work nights, weekends, and overtime during emergencies and winter storm conditions. Must be willing to work out-of-doors in all weather conditions. Ability to operate a variety of vehicles and heavy equipment used to perform snow removal.

**A current DMV printout must be attached to your on-line application. To apply go to: governmentjobs.com/careers/ edcgov

If you have questions regarding this recruitment, contact Jenny Thomas in Human Resources at jenny.thomas@edcgov.us

Description: Are you an innovative, forward-thinking professional in the field of finance and administration? Are you a self-starter with exceptional communication skills who excels at working with members of the community and public officials in helping provide a community excellent service? Do you enjoy the feel of a small town with access to regional amenities? If so, Cameron Park Community Services District (District) welcomes your application for General Manager.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: August 28, 2023, at 11:59 PM PST. Apply at: https://bit.ly/CPCSDGMApply

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

Grieving the many losses in life

d. The loss of adult development through transitions like menopause and aging.

e. The loss of external objects like money, property, sentimental objects, or collections.

health issues). Recognize that these emotions will come and go and cycle back for some time. There is no order or time frame for the process of grief.

Robin Milner, MA, LPCC

Elder Options

Loss is often thought of with regards to the loss of a loved one due to death, but there are many types of loss that one experiences throughout their lifetime that need to be identified and grieved to be free of its painful hold on us. This can be a di cult process since our death-denying society does not always honor such losses and tends to minimize the e ect on our

For an older adult who has lived long enough to experience most of these losses, the most significant one can be the loss of functionality on either a cognitive or/and physical basis. These losses greatly impact quality of life and the ability to remain independent.

Consider the failing vision for someone who has played the piano for 50 years and can no longer experience the fulfilment it has given, or the loss of mobility causing you to be confined to your home, or the loss of cognition to drive a car. Or the loss of friends and family that the older adult outlives, leaving them feeling alone in the world without the vital connections and support they have always known. Depression and a feeling of hopelessness is a common response to these losses.

So, what can be done? First, one must identify and acknowledge these losses to honor and grieve them. Once this is done, finding ways to compensate wherever possible is key. Purchasing large print sheet music and books for failing eyesight, listening to books on tape, using a cane or a walker for failing mobility, utilizing ride services to get places one can no longer drive to, etc. Sadly, some losses cannot be compensated for. In all cases, acceptance is vital. To come to a place of acceptance, one must grieve the loss. So, what does

Don’t allow others to tell you how you should be feeling or behaving. Honor your unique experience. Find tangible ways to honor your losses: make a scrapbook of a loved one, write a poem expressing your feelings, teach others how to do what you were good at, pass on your love and knowledge of music, art, sewing, building, etc., share your memories and record them.

Give yourself time. Accept your feelings and know that grieving is a process.

Talk to others. Spend time with friends and family. Stay connected to your support network.

Take care of yourself; pamper yourself.

Return to the hobbies and activities you can or find new ones.

Join a support group.

Find ways to make meaning from your loss. This can take some time but is an important outcome of loss. Mothers who lost children to drunk drivers formed MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) and advocated for stricter laws against drunk driving to find meaning for their losses. A woman who did not have a healthy childhood growing up with a mentally ill mom found meaning from her loss by becoming a mental health therapist to help others heal from childhood trauma.

Finally, allow loss to enlarge your heart, giving you greater compassion for the su ering of others. This can provide the best meaning of all.

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First, one needs to allow themselves to feel the emotions of shock, denial, anger, despair and sadness that come with loss. Attempting to deny our feelings will only cause them to show up in other ways that can be detrimental (i.e., illness, mental

Robin Milner, MA LPCC, is a care manager for Elder Options and has a passion to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves and provide them with the care and dignity each of us deserve.

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Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray will leave the audience gasping with the very witty scenes they invent on the spot. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 & 16. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Aug. 16

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

Vitalant will hold an El Dorado Hills blood drive 12:30-3:15 p.m. The Bloodmobile will be parked on the north side near the movie theater on Vine Street. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM486 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walkins will be accommodated if space allows. Donors will receive one in-hand Fandango movie voucher. Donors will also be entered into a Vitalant drawing for a chance to win one out of five $5,000 prepaid gift cards.

Painting & Vino with live music from Grayson Howard begins at 6 p.m. at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Loud As Folk: A Songwriter Showcase takes place at Valhalla Tahoe’s Boathouse Theatre at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.showare.com.

Aug. 17

A Step Back in Time, a free history event that covers the important role women made in shaping El Dorado County, begins at 1 p.m. with featured guest speaker Mary Cory, the county’s museum administrator. Call Andrea Muzzy at (530) 621-6238 to reserve a spot.

• E-mail your public notice to legals@mtdemocrat.net

• Be sure to include your name and phone number legal notice continued on the next page

in whole or in part, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined

Placerville area. Cost: $10/members, $15/nonmembers. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview.com/ Vy0jo.

Fall Bird Walk at Knickerbocker Creek

Sunday, Nov. 19, 8 a.m. to noon

Tim and Angela Jackson will lead this fall walk to see what songbirds, raptors and water birds can be found. Tim maintains a website (eldoradobirds. com) on birdwatching in El Dorado County. Angela is a local writer and photographer. This is a slow-paced, easymoderate hike of 3-4 miles. Quiet, mature children 8+ welcome. Meeting location in Cool area. FREE. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview.com/ qbQA6.

iPHONE ARTISTRY

Sunday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Betty Sederquist, local photographer and teacher, will guide you through this short, fun workshop where she will teach you the basics of phone photography, and peeking at some of the many photo apps available. Although iPhones are preferred, we can work with most newer phones. You’ll receive a list of apps to download the week of the class. 14-yearolds+ welcome. Meeting location in Gold Hill/ Placerville area. Cost: $45/members, $55/nonmembers. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at app.donorview.com/ xX3Km.

2022