Mountain Democrat, Friday, August 16, 2024

ESSENTIALS

Greg Sanchez

July 23, 1967 – Aug. 2, 2024

Our community lost a good friend the other day. Greg Sanchez, proprietor of the Cameron Park Barber Shop, lost his battle with cancer after a long and valiant struggle. He leaves behind the loves of his life, wife Trisha, daughter Abigail, and grieving mother and sister. I met Greg shortly after he opened his shop over twenty years ago in a small corner space of the strip center located at Cameron Park Drive and Green Valley Road. It was the start of a long and lasting friendship that ultimately included golf, fishing, barber shop poker, home cooked meals and of course, the best haircuts in town. Greg and I loved to trash talk (and bet) about anything and everything. His beloved Oakland Raiders, what golfer was going to win the next major and who was the better cook. He called me Chino Loco and made tee shirts for my entire family depicting a crazy Chinese guy. Since this is a family newspaper I can’t tell you what my nickname for him was but it fit him like a glove. Greg made Cameron Park Barbershop the hub of our small community. He knew everybody and everybody’s business. And despite our friendly feuding, Greg was known to everyone he met as a great guy with a heart of gold and a master barber. The community will miss you brother. Greg served in the U.S. Navy for four years as a firefighter aboard the USS Vulcan. He believed that his exposure to chemicals in use at that time were the cause of his illness. Unfortunately due to his pre existing condition he was unable to obtain life insurance and the family has set up a Go Fund Me account in his name to help with expenses. The link is Https://www.gofundme. com/f/support-the-family-of-navy-veteran-gregsanchez. An informal celebration of Greg’s life will be held on September 7th from 10 am to 2 pm at Henningson Lotus Park.

Jimmie Earl Keen

March 21, 1932 – Aug. 5, 2024

Nancy Allen

Nancy was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and was preceded in death by parents, Earl and Ruth Crawford, and 5 siblings, with one surviving sibling, Robert. Nancy married Arthur Allen in 1969. They have two sons, Christopher and Shawn, and two grandsons. Nancy was a Licensed Vocational Nurse dedicated to helping others as a member of the Peace Corp, owner of her own home nursing business, Captain of the Garden Valley Fire Department Rescue Squad, and Red Cross Volunteer. They moved to Bend in 2006 where she was a certified Ombudsman and served on the Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee. No services are planned. For more information on her life visit her listing on the Autumn Funeral Home website at www.autumnfunerals.com.

Je rey William Buck

Nov. 25, 1965 – July 26,2024

Je was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1965 in Newport Beach, California. He is survived by his mother, Dona Buck of Pollock Pines. He is preceded in death by his father, Bill Buck in 2017. Je is also survived by his son Dylan Buck & Alexa and grandson Coen Buck and Tristan and Evan of Junction City, Oregon. Other surviving are his sister and brother in law, Diana & Jamie Garrido and their sons Matt Garrido & Family, Bryan Garrido & Family and Scotty Garrido & Family all of El Dorado County.

Je is remembered for his love of family, friends and animals.

Je ’s ashes will be spread in the Oregon Sand Dunes along with his beloved dog Moto. No services are planned.

LEGISLATORS’ ADDRESSES

PLACERVILLE CITY COUNCIL City Hall 3101 Center St., Placerville (530) 642-5200

Mayor Michael Saragosa msaragosa@cityofplacerville.org

Jimmie passed away in his home August 5, 2024. Born to Robert and Lillie Keen March 21, 1932, was the middle of five children. Married Doloris Flockhart Nov. 11, 1951, and had four children together. Moved to Placerville 2005. Member of the Placerville Church of the Nazarene. He leaves behind two daughters, Bonnie, Connie, 9 grand, 17 great and 12 greatgreat-grandchildren. Services will be held at the Placerville Church of the Nazarene, 10 am, August 23, 2024. He will be laid to rest next to his wife in the Gridley/Biggs Cemetery. If you would like to make a donation in his memory the family request all donations, be made to “Placerville Church of the Nazarene – Baptistry.”

Nancy

A. DuPonte

July 5, 1938 – Aug. 3, 2024

Nancy A. Duponte passed away August 3, 2024 at the age of 86. Nancy leaves behind three daughters Kathleen (Paul) Casbarrow, Sherry Kemp and Lora (Kevin) Miller. Nancy also leaves behind five grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two sisters, extended family in Northern California and Texas, to many friends to list and co-workers.

Nancy was born in Sacramento and lived there with her mom and dad (Kirchgater), brother Ronald, sisters Barbara, Linda, Carol and Sandy. Nancy attended McClatchy High School where she met Jordon DuPonte and married soon after graduation. Nancy raised her family in the Bay Area and Carmichael, before settling in Placerville in the mid 70’s.

Nancy had numerous jobs over the years but none were as fulfilling as her job At Raley’s in Placerville starting in 1979 until she retired in 1996. Nancy was an early riser working in the Bakery at Raley’s where she greeted the local customers and generations of families during her three decades while working there.

Nancy loved her daughters and was always present at all her grandchildren’s school events and sporting events. Nancy loved her trips with Jordon to the ocean, visiting friends, Sunday service, and neighborhood socials. Nancy loved the rain, cloudy days and a good cup of coffee. Nancy enjoyed listening to music, especially Elvis Presley with her best friend Sharon since Kindergarten.

Nancy was always present, always went out of her way to visit her family and friends. Nancy enjoyed sewing, watching golf and even golfed a time or two with Jordon. Nancy loved her dog Nelli (x2), long walks, well done hot dogs and daily phone calls to her daughter(s).

Nancy had such an amazing impact on everyone’s life and truly was a wonderful woman. We love and miss her dearly with her beautiful blue eyes.

Vice Mayor Jackie Neau jneau@cityofplacerville.org John Clerici jclerici@cityofplacerville.org Nicole Gotberg ngotberg@cityofplacerville.org

David Yarbrough dyarbrough@cityofplacerville. org ElL DORADO COUNTY

SUPERVISORS EDC Government Center 330 Fair Lane, Placerville

District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl (530) 621-5650

District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo (530) 621-5651

District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas (530) 621-5652

District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin (530) 621-6513

District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine (530) 621-6577 (Placerville) (530) 621-6577 (South Lake Tahoe)

CONTACT US

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR Gavin Newsom 1021 O St., Suite 9000 Sacramento 95814 (916) 445-2841 U.S. SENATE Laphonza Butler SD-G10 Dirksen Senate Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3841 Alex Padilla 112 Hart Senate O ce Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3553 Sacramento O ce 501 I St., Suite 7-800 Sacramento 95814 (916) 448-2787

5TH CONGRESSIONAL

DISTRICT Tom McClintock Constituent Service Center 4359 Town Center Blvd., Suite 210 El Dorado Hills 95762 (916) 786-5560 3RD CONGRESSIONAL

Kiley Constituent Service Center 6538 Lonetree Blvd, Suite 200 Rocklin 95765 (916) 724-2575 5TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

(530) 642-4055 Division 5: Alan Day, (916) 235-3295

Patterson District O ce 8799 Auburn Folsom Road Granite

Of ce Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (530) 622-1255 / Fax: (530) 622-7894

Toll-Free from El Dorado Hills: (888) 622-1255

PUBLISHER

Richard B. Esposito (530) 344-5055 / resposito@mtdemocrat.net

EDITORIAL STAFF

Noel Stack Editor

530-344-5073 / nstack@villagelife.net

Mimi Escabar Special Sections Editor

530-344-5070 / mescabar@mtdemocrat.net

Eric Jaramishian Senior staff writer

530-344-5063 / eric@mtdemocrat.com

Odin Rasco Senior staff writer 530-344-5062 / odin@mtdemocrat.com

Malachi Parker Staff writer Malachi@mtdemocrat.com

GRAPHICS

Letty Bejarano-Carvajal Graphics Manager (530) 344-5049 / lettyb@mtdemocrat.net

Click “Staff Directory” at the bottom of mtdemocrat.com for full staff directory

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VACATION HOLDS

Man dies in Starbuck Road rollover

Odin Rasco Senior sta writer

A 30-year-old Washington resident was found dead at the bottom of a steep embankment next to Starbuck Road in Rescue Monday, Aug. 12, according to a California Highway Patrol press release.

The driver, whose identity has not yet been released to the public, was reportedly driving southbound on Starbuck Road near Fern Court in Rescue at a high rate of speed Sunday and unable to safely negotiate through a sharp bend in the roadway, the press release states. The right side tires of the 2019 Honda went o the west side of the roadway, causing the vehicle to strike large rocks on the shoulder. The vehicle continued along a southwestern trajectory, colliding with another rock which caused the Honda to become airborne and descend a steep embankment. The vehicle landed on its roof in a creek located at the base of the embankment.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, the press release indicates, leading to fatal injuries during the crash; the cause of death is listed as blunt force trauma. No witnesses reported seeing the collision and the driver was not discovered until Monday afternoon.

CHP o cials state alcohol is believed to be a factor in the wreck.

EDSO CRIME LOG

The following information was taken from El Dorado County sheri ’s reports:

July 21

12:10 a.m. Grand theft reported on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.

11:49 a.m. Grand theft reported on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park.

July 22

2:57 a.m. Vandalism reported on Kensington Drive in El Dorado Hills.

4:42 p.m. Grand theft reported on Topaz Drive in Pollock Pines.

5:41 p.m. Battery reported on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.

6:54 p.m. Battery reported on Tehama Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

7:56 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 33-year-old man on suspicion of probation violation on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. He was released on $35,000 bail.

July 23

12:03 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 46-year-old woman on suspicion of two counts of disorderly conduct on Fair Lane in Placerville. She was listed in custody.

12:16 a.m. Vandalism reported on Belmont Way in El Dorado Hills.

11:38 a.m. Burglary reported on Bonita Court in El Dorado Hills.

2:06 p.m. Grand theft reported on San Andres Way in El Dorado Hills.

4:26 p.m. Vandalism reported on Grizzly Flat Road in Somerset.

4:49 p.m. Grand theft reported on El Dorado Hills Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

7:22 p.m. Vandalism reported on Cimmarron Road in Cameron Park.

11:22 p.m. California Highway Patrol o cers booked into jail a 35-year-old man on suspicion of vandalism and a probation violation on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was listed in custody.

July 24

12:35 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old man on suspicion of battery, obstruction and probation violation on Rock Creek Road in Placerville. He was released on $5,000 bail.

8:53 a.m. Vandalism reported on Durock Road in Cameron Park.

2:24 p.m. Vandalism reported on Main Street in Placerville.

2:44 p.m. Trespassing reported on Pony Express Train in Pollock Pines.

2:49 p.m. Trespassing reported on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.

11:50 p.m. A person allegedly drunk in public reported on Highway 49 in El Dorado.

July 25

2:57 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 30-year-old man on suspicion of probation violation on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. He was listed in custody.

5:33 p.m. Burglary reported on Coppa Hembo Lane in Garden Valley.

7:45 p.m. Grand theft reported on Outingdale Road in Somerset.

8:26

Back to school

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and

Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian

Reminder to call 811 before any digging project

Paul Moreno PG&E

National 811 Day is celebrated in August to raise awareness of the importance of making a free call to 811 before any digging project, large or small. Whether you are a property owner or a contractor, calling 811 will help ensure that projects involving digging can be done safely while avoiding expensive repairs or fines due to damaging underground utility lines.

Underground utility lines can be shallow,

sometimes only a few inches below the surface, so it is important to call 811 before any project that involves digging, including building or replacing a fence, planting or landscaping and beginning construction work.

“By making a fast and free call to 811, utility professionals will come to your home or job site and mark the location of underground lines so that you can dig safely and avoid expensive repairs. Know what’s below before you start any size digging

Continued from A1

portion of El Dorado County, is now 84% contained as of 7 a.m. Aug. 15.

All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted around the Crozier Fire, allowing residents to repopulate after being evacuated for several days.

After sparking in the very early hours of Aug. 7 and quickly growing in size due to heavy fire fuel and extreme heat, the fire grew to nearly 2,000 acres in size by Aug. 9 with little to no containment reported. Flames threatened the Mosquito and Swansboro communities. A week later, that reality changed as firefighters have held the fire to 1,938 and are closing in on 100% containment. No structures have been damages or destroyed and no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

The most recent Cal Fire Crozier Fire report at press time notes “minimal fire activity was observed” on Aug. 14. “Today (Aug. 15), firefighters are focused on eliminating remaining hot spots and removing fire-damaged trees within the interior of the fire zone. Crews are also engaged in fire suppression repair, including placing erosion

project, whether you are planting, landscaping, or doing fence work and call 811 two days before you dig,” said Joe Forline, PG&E senior vice president of Gas Operations.

When a call is placed to 811 and a request is made to have lines located and marked, a professional locator will come to your project site to mark the location of underground utility lines, including gas, electric, water, telecom and sewer, free of charge. Knowing where underground lines are buried while you are

blocks and taking other measures to mitigate the environmental impact of firefighting operations.”

More than 1,000 personnel including 34 engines, nine helicopters and 24 hand crews were responding to the incident as of press time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Eldorado National Forest, which created a temporary road and trail closure order Aug. 14, reduced the closure areas surrounding the Crozier Fire perimeter in the Georgetown Ranger District. Hazard assessments and repairs in the burned area are being conducted before the area can be fully reopened.

A portion of the Georgetown Ranger District south of Wentworth Springs Road, including the Rock Creek OHV Trail System, remained closed as of press time, and the public is advised to remain cautious when recreating near fire-impacted areas.

Wentworth Springs Road is open for travel.

Updates to the fire can be found at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/8/6/ crozier-fire. Evacuation order and warning information can be found at perimetermap.com.

digging and following safe digging practices will help keep you and your family safe and connected to essential utility services.

Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects and a corresponding increase in the number of strikes to underground lines that have not been marked ahead of time. In fact, in 2024 throughout PG&E’s service area of Northern and Central California:

• There have been 573 incidents where underground utility lines were damaged due to digging, and in 58% of incidents when an underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not called

• For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 89%

• The average cost to repair a damaged utility line is $3,500

• Leading causes of damages to underground utility lines while digging include: building or replacing a fence, gardening and landscaping, planting a tree or removing a stump, sewer and irrigation work and

Cenotaph

building a deck or patio

Calling 811 is fast and free

• Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before beginning any project that involves digging, no matter how large or small. Customers also can visit 811express.com to have underground utility lines marked for their project site.

• Professional utility workers for all utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications) will be dispatched to mark the location of all underground utility lines for the project site with flags, spray paint, or both

• The 811 call center serving Northern and Central California, USA North, is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide Spanish and other translation services.

PG&E safe digging tips

• Mark project area in white: Identify the digging location by drawing a box around the area using white

Continued from A1

MFSG board Chairman Herve Leconte, an ultra runner known for his fundraiser runs and proud father of serviceman, said the organization wanted to construct something to remember these fallen service members, most of whom died in combat.

“Whatever the circumstance, we wanted to honor our service members who fought in Afghanistan or Iraq,” Leconte said.

Military Family Support Group plans to host a public unveiling of the cenotaph on Sept. 11 at the office, 130 Placerville Drive in Placerville.

Woodin, 17, said he was eager to take on the assignment when the task was presented to his troop by his Scoutmaster.

paint, white stakes, white flags, white chalk or even white baking flour.

• Call 811 or submit an online request a minimum of two working days before digging: Be prepared to provide the address and general location of the project, project start date and type of digging activity. PG&E and other utilities will identify underground facilities in the area for free. Requests can be submitted a maximum of 14 days prior to the start of the project.

• Dig safely: Use hand tools when digging within 24 inches of the outside edge of underground lines. Leave utility flags, stakes or paint marks in place until the project is finished. Backfill and compact the soil.

• Be aware of signs of a natural gas leak: Smell for a “rotten egg” odor, listen for hissing, whistling or roaring sounds and look for dirt spraying into the air, bubbling in a pond or creek and dead/ dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area. If you smell gas, call 911 and then call PG&E at 800-743-5000.

who fought for us and who we should be thanking for being able to live in a free America.”

The ambitions teen could be seen measuring posts and making the signs on a warm July afternoon. Leconte, who researched the individuals listed, said he was pleased with the finished wooden cenotaph.

“I’m glad to build something that is going to last a long time,” he told the Mountain Democrat. “I think it will be good to show the people of this county

“It is beautiful and we cannot wait to show everyone so they can see who sacrificed themselves for us in the entire nation,” Leconte said. The 12 names included are Staff Sgt. Sky Mote, Sgt. Austin Ramsey, Sgt. Kyle Dayton, Sgt. Joshua Hardt, Sgt. Timothy Smith, SPC. Mathew Taylor, Staff Sgt. Eric Schenck, Lance Cpl. Brad Shuder, Staff Sgt. Michael Elledge, SPC. Garrett Font, SPC. Randall Landstedt and PFC. Phillip Williams. Those with questions can contact Leconte at (530) 647-6035.

Alvarado-Gil Continued from A1

the Latino Caucus, the District 4 representative announced.

“How far will the Democrats go because they’re angry?” Alvarado-Gil asks in a news release. “I can take whatever heat is coming my way and fully recognize it comes with the territory of leaving a supermajority that operates like a mob. They can attack me all they want, but the people of California do not deserve to suffer because of political vendettas.”

Democratic State Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire released a statement to the media, noting, “Given Sen. Alvarado-Gil’s party affiliation change, we have removed her from committees and will be re-evaluating the balance of our Democratic and Republican committee memberships in the days ahead to ensure they reflect the balance of representation in the Senate.”

Assembly Republicans responded by calling on Senate Democratic leadership to immediately restore Alvarado-Gil’s committee assignments and ensure her constituents are not disenfranchised by punitive measures.

Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Mono and Inyo counties.

The Democrats’ retaliation against Alvarado-Gil, her news release notes, raises serious concerns about the future of several key bills she has authored to protect Californians:

• SB 268: Making rape of an intentionally intoxicated person a violent felony.

• SB 796: Making general threats against a school or place of worship a felony

• SB 1088: Improving water infrastructure for rural communities facing imminent wildfire threats

The Assembly Appropriations Committee was expected to hear all these bills, and others, Aug. 15.

Alvarado-Gil’s statement notes:

• By killing SB 268, Democrats won’t care about protecting victims of sexual violence; rather, they would prefer to protect rapists who take advantage of vulnerable people. * The California State Assembly Appropriations Committee unanimously approved this bill on Aug. 15.

“These retaliatory actions are the latest example of Democrats abusing their power and just one of many reasons Californians are increasingly abandoning the Democrat party,” states Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher. “Punishing a legislator’s constituents because of her party affiliation is unacceptable. The people of her district deserve to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed, regardless of the political affiliation of their representative.”

Despite these punitive actions, Alvarado-Gil said she remains committed to representing the people of California, and her Senate District 4, which covers a large area of California’s central, eastern edge and includes all or parts of Stanislaus, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Alpine,

• If the Democrats axe SB 796, they would be turning a blind eye to the safety of our children and communities, allowing mass shooters to go unpunished.

• Finally, Democrats will abandon rural Californians in their time of need, refusing to safeguard water systems and prevent devastating wildfires if they don’t push SB 1088 forward. This particular move will speak volumes amid their significant backing of Proposition 4 (water bonds) on this year’s November ballot.

“This is not just about one senator; this is about ensuring critical legislation is not sacrificed on the altar of political retribution,” Alvarado-Gil states. “I urge you to call or email Pro-Tem McGuire’s office or your local senator. Let them know that you won’t stand for this. We must put the people of California first.”

Crozier

Disaster Resource Guide supplement

Defense system saves property from wildfire threat

News release

CitroTech Wildfire Defense Systems recently installed its recognized system at a home in El Dorado County.

CitroTech Fire Inhibitor is the only patented fire chemistry system today certified by the EPA Safer Choice Program, UL GreenGuard Gold, UL LENS and the state of California; it’s listed as non-toxic and non-hazardous to meet Proposition 65 and supports The Clean Water Act.

MFB-31-CitroTech is made with food grade constituents that are GRAS and REACH approved and blended with water, the delivery agent.

Fire Breakers uses contractors like this group, WFD Systems Construction, along with others in the region. MFB trains the contractors they allow to install the patented wildfire defense systems. MFB has published a course with AEC Daily approved by the AIA and U.S. GreenBuild Council about wildfire defense systems for architects to get credits.

With the rising risk of wildfires, CitroTech Wildfire Defense Systems can bring peace of mind to El Dorado County residents. A property owner named Pat and her mother sat with a loaded truck and trailer ready to

CERA

Mountain Democrat staff

The Community Emergency Radio Association is dedicated to ensuring the community remains connected and informed, especially during disasters. When disasters strike, they often disrupt critical communication infrastructure, leaving residents without essential information and contact with emergency services.

CERA fills this gap through its Neighborhood Radio Watch Program, enabling residents with access to training and two-way radios to have reliable communication channels when they need it the most.

evacuate after seeing and hearing about the wildfire by the Placerville Airport. This duo decided a Mighty Fire Breaker CitroTech Wildfire

Why should El Dorado County residents prepare for communication disruptions?

Disasters like wildfires or severe widespread storms can strike without warning, and their impact on communication infrastructure can be devastating. Having a backup communication plan is not just a precaution; it is a necessity.

Here’s why: Radio communication is often the most reliable form of communication during emergencies, as it is less dependent on the infrastructure that can be damaged during disasters. Effective communication is

Things to do to get ready

Mountain Democrat staff

Residents, local organizations, agencies and businesses are advised to be ready for emergencies and all disaster events. This extends beyond wildfires and utility failures, such as preparing for potential floods and hazardous material spills.

Recommendations for individuals and families to prepare for an unexpected emergency:

• Have at least a week’s worth of medication in your emergency supplies kit

• Identify back-up or alternate power supplies for electricitydependent equipment

• Keep a supply of special food or infant formula

• Identify alternate transportation for evacuation

• Make an emergency kit. Remember children, pets and those with special medical needs

• Have a plan. Have an emergency response and evacuation plan

For evacuations, the county recommends that individuals and families:

• Know your neighbors

• Learn your neighborhoods — where you live, work, go to school, spend your time

• Identify a reunification location

• Have evacuation plans

• Know at least two ways out of your neighborhood

• Practice these evacuation routes in various conditions (rain, snow, at night) with family, friends and neighbors

• Have a back-up plan

• Plan for traffic

• Keep at least a half tank of gas in your car at all times

• Put your emergency kit in your car

• Pack in your pets and kits

• Plan to meet at your reunification location

• Practice using different methods of communication

The ‘six P’s’

That’s a lot to remember and plan for. To make it easy on residents, the county advises locals to remember the “six P’s.”

1. People and pets

2. Papers, phone numbers and important documents

3. Prescriptions, medications and eyeglasses

4. Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia

5. Personal computers/tablets and phones

6. Plastic (debit or credit cards) and cash

For continued education on emergency preparedness, the county has entire social media accounts — Twitter, Facebook, NextDoor and Instagram — dedicated to disaster preparedness.

For those who want to get involved, the county offers volunteer opportunities in fire safe councils, Community Emergency Response Teams among other groups.

Further information on the county’s disaster preparedness can be found at eldoradocounty. ca.gov/Public-Safety-Justice/ Wildfire-Disaster.

Read more about the city of Placerville’s disaster plans at cityofplacerville.org/links-forcity-wide-emergency-disasterpreparation.‘

Defense Sprinkler System that they can remotely activate if they are away on vacation or right before they evacuate was needed. Pat did her research about MFB’s CitroTech for a year because she wanted to make sure that this chemical was safe around her, her mother and their cats.

She made her decision on CitroTech verses all the other fire defense companies in the region because it was only MFB’s CitroTech that could support the human and animal safety and the environmental impact claims with all its accreditation.

MFB-31-CitroTech is the safest, most environmentally friendly fire chemistry in the world to be used close to homes

and around children and animals.

Award winner

Mighty Fire Breaker LLC became a Safer Choice partner in 2022 and is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. One hundred percent of the Mighty Fire Breaker product line is Safer Choice-certified and all products display the Safer Choice label on the front of the package.

Mighty Fire Breaker’s liquid fire inhibitor is the first fire defense product to earn Safer Choice certification, creating a new product category for the program. This product aims to enable the sustainable use of water in the prevention and extinguishment of wildfires and uses 90% less water

crucial for coordinating rescue and relief efforts. With radio training, residents can use radios during emergencies as a vital link in the emergency response chain. Ensuring family and neighbors can communicate during a crisis enhances community safety.

CERA’s Neighborhood Radio Watch program provides comprehensive training sessions that equip residents with the skills needed to use radios during emergencies and during disaster recovery. This training ensures that every community member can communicate when traditional means fail.

CERA is at the forefront of

than current methods of firefighting.

In 2022, Mighty Fire Breaker promoted Safer Choice at conferences and during radio appearances, as well as in blogs, social media, emails, product flyers and all other electronic and print media. Mighty Fire Breaker also created a children’s book that discusses the challenges presented by climate change and the importance of reading product labels, looking for the Safer Choice label and knowing what is in products people buy. Safer Choice commends Mighty Fire Breaker for its commitment to formulating and manufacturing products with safer chemical ingredients. For more information go to aecdaily.com/s/ mightyfirebreaker.

community emergency preparedness, leading initiatives that build a safer environment for all. CERA is investing in radio network infrastructure to expand the communications capability of residents in El Dorado County.

CERA also fosters collaboration with local agencies and organizations, such as the Georgetown Fire Protection District Community Emergency Response Team. By working together, they create a robust network of trained individuals and resources ready to respond in times of need.

For more information visit cerafund.org or email contact@ cerafund.org.

Courtesy photo

Mighty

OPINION

California Commentary

Basic income schemes are just welfare by another (nicer) name

The city of Los Angeles just released a report on the city’s BIG:LEAP program. That’s the acronym for the Basic Income Guaranteed: Los Angeles Economic Assistance Pilot program.

The 2021 program provided $1,000 per month in unconditional cash payments for 12 months to households living in deep poverty within the city of Los Angeles. To qualify, Angelenos were required to be at least 18 years old, have at least one dependent child within the household or be expecting a child, be negatively impacted by COVID-19 and fall below the federal poverty threshold. The program, funded with public money, was limited to 3,200 households; 50,000 people applied for it.

Taxpayers and free market advocates should be on alert whenever they hear the words “basic income” or “guaranteed income” being advanced in public policy discussions. It is also critical that citizens know some of the variations of these programs.

... researchers found that giving people $1,000 every month for three years resulted in decreased productivity and earnings.

The most controversial is universal basic income. UBI generally describes those welfare programs that would provide citizens with a regular cash payment, typically monthly or annually, regardless of their work status, income, age, family situation or other factors. UBI payments would be unconditional, meaning they would not require recipients to work or meet any other means test.

UBI may have superficial attractiveness, but the Reason Foundation just last week published an article titled “Bad News for Universal Basic Income,” in which researchers found that giving people $1,000 every month for three years resulted in decreased productivity and earnings. Moreover, most UBI programs, such as the experiment in Finland, have failed to deliver on their promises and have been abandoned.

Let’s be clear about L.A.’s BIG:LEAP experiment. It is not a UBI program. That is clear from the description above about who would be eligible. In

The Not So Weekly Daley

Richard B. Esposito

Letters to the Editor

Role of law enforcement

EDITOR:

Ioften see on the news the district attorney and the sheri expressing outrage about some law or some program they are unhappy about. This raises a question of what the role of law enforcement is in politics and government.

Is it not the job of law enforcement to simply arrest and prosecute those who break the laws the people have passed into law? When did it become the job of law enforcement to persuade people into changing laws so that it suits them better?

Is it not their job to enforce the law, good or bad, and do so without trying to overturn the will of the voters? And what is their motivation? To fill the prisons? To fill their pockets? To appear hard on crime for their upcoming campaign? What is this lapse in due process that allows such things to occur?

RUSTY

GROVES Placerville

Fantasy versus reality

EDITOR:

With Mr. Taylor’s avoidance of the issues and attributing just about everything short of the killing of Christ to Trump, his favorite word, hyperbole, is a pretty good wall to wall description of his letter. But let’s get to some of the few points buried in that massive tome he calls a letter.

He calls Trump an authoritarian yet it’s the Democrats who want to control your life, telling you what kind of car you can buy, calling an oversized mud puddle on your land a protected wetland, trying to control almost every aspect of your life.

Mr. Taylor mentions Jan. 6, forgetting Pelosi being on video apologizing to her daughter for her responsibility for that day. He forgets Harris bailing rioters and hooligans out of jail and praising their riots. Some of those who Harris bailed out have even committed murder.

Mr. Taylor brings up the Heritage Foundation Project 2025, which Trump has not even read much less signed o on. And I loved Mr. Taylor talking about the rich and powerful and as the controllers of the Republican Party. Reality check, Mr. Taylor, it was the rich and powerful fat cat Democrats who initiated a bloodless coup and took out a sitting president millions of primary

voters voted for and put in a candidate no one voted for. You lefties are some defenders of democracy, Mr. Taylor.

Sorry, Mr. Taylor, but those with a memory of over a few years can remember what it was like under Trump; we don’t have to guess or fantasize as you do. We had a much more secure border without millions of criminals and megatons of deadly fentanyl coming across it. We had net energy independence and low gas prices, much lower grocery prices and a calmer world. Remember the Abraham Accords?

When people get up in the morning they see the high fuel prices, the high grocery prices, the crime wave coming across the border and the kids in New York booted from their classrooms now filled with illegals. That’s what they see, Mr. Taylor, not your hyperbolic fantasizing.

GEORGE ALGER Placerville

Preserving our Veterans Monument

EDITOR:

On June 12 of this year, Health and Human Services held a meeting to discuss changes to the policy governing honoraria at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. Many veterans spoke in opposition to the changes, including veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and later.

There are around 39,000 El Dorado County veterans, living and dead, out of approximately 52,000,000 American veterans. One El Dorado County veteran, a local hero and one of only six Navy Cross recipients in our county, had the drive and the vision to make our beautiful monument a reality. His vision was of a place where El Dorado County veterans (around 2,900 of whom have service-related disabilities) and their families could reflect upon their service and their fallen comrades.

The county, at the urging of the Veterans Alliance, is considering changes that could potentially expand the eligibility to millions, dilute the Department of Defense definitions for various categories of honoraria and suppress co-management by the county’s federally chartered veterans organizations via a politically appointed commission.

We are trying to keep the monument for El

Kamala rocks unconventional press conference

My best D.C. confidential source just sent me a revised transcript of VP Harris’s first press conference. In a break from tradition, the event was held behind closed doors and with a smallish group of select journalists. (The transcript shows R for reporter and K for Kamala.)

R. Technically, people say you are an actual “childless cat lady,” stepchildren not withstanding. So, do you have cats or step-cats, virtual cats or plush-toy cats? Have “cat ladies really ruined this country,” as Sen. JD Vance has claimed? Do you even like cats?

K. Great question. Currently, no cats or step-cats. I had a plush-type cat as a little girl. I called her Ma-lani-Ya. That’s Indian for something or other. No on a virtual cat … whatever. I like cats and cat ladies. They’re the GOAT.

Get it? And, you know, “JD” used to mean Juvenile Delinquent. Hyaayahie-heheh.

R. Madam Vice President, can you tell us more about that thing between you and Willie Brown back in Frisco?

K. Sure. I’d say it was about average — given my somewhat limited experience way back then … Oh, you mean that we went out a few times? Yes we did. And don’t call it Frisco!

R. Your name is a bit unusual. How should we pronounce it correctly?

K. It’s capital ‘K’ then a small ‘a-ma-l-a’ … as in K-a-m-a-l-a.

R. How big was your rally in Detroit, in round numbers?

K. It was the biggest crowd anyone has ever seen in recorded history. Rough estimates run about 16 million to more than 134 million … a lot of people say “it was way more.” I

couldn’t even count how many who said, “Ma’am, Ma’am, it was way more!”

R. Were you or were you not President Biden’s “Border Czar?

K. I most certainly was not Border Czar and, anyway, it’d be Border Tsarina.”

R. As Border Tsarina, about how many illegals crossed your border illegally?

K. 87 expert border counters, and none count better than they count, put the number at approximately 19. And maybe another 12 if you count Florida. I do, honestly. And, actually, no borders in history have ever been crossed illegally so few times.

R. A lot of people believe you’re lying if you say a question starts with “Ma’am, Ma’am ....” True?

K. I know of one guy who says that all the time. He’s the stupidest man who ever lived. Ask anyone, anywhere. He’s stupider than a 5-iron, stupider than a cheeseburger. Heeyeeo-hiayia. He’s way stupider than JD and everyone knows JD is pretty d..n

stupid. Next stupid question.

R. As VP, in a word, what were your “biggest wins and losses?”

K. “Every one” and “None.”

R. Which surrogate in the opposition is the least e ective if not the weirdest? Take a moment if …

K. I don’t need a moment. It’s the MyPillow Guy. Even JD thinks El My Stupillo is the weirdest, by a mile or kilometer. Did you notice, kilometer rhymes with pillowmeter? Nobody does. But one thing everyone knows is, Trump rhymes with grump and crump and frump and Pahrump and etc. Last question. Not cats, OK?

R. Ma’am, Ma’am, how about big batteries versus sharks?

K. I love sharks. I love the whole bitey, sharkey shark population. And not many people know, there are good sharks and bad sharks on both sides. I like the bad ones. Thanks very much, thanks more than anyone has ever thanked anyone anywhere in all of time.

Chris Daley is a biweekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat.

CHRIS DALEY

JON COUPAL

Coupal Continued from A6

addition to an age requirement, recipients had to have at least one dependent child, be below the poverty line and meet other criteria.

So does the BIG:LEAP program differ from other welfare programs? That’s a good question. General assistance or general relief programs are designed to provide relief and support to indigent adults who are not supported by their own means, other public funds or assistance programs. They are administered and funded by each county.

In addition to general relief, the county also has programs for refugee cash assistance, cash assistance for families with minor children (CalWORKS) and many other programs, including CalFresh and housing vouchers. Other counties offer the same programs.

It should be noted the BIG:LEAP program by the city of Los Angeles is on top of the myriad of county welfare programs. In fact, one could legitimately ask why a municipality is spending taxpayer funds on a county function. Is this little more than bureaucratic mission creep by the city?

Perhaps, but something else may be going on with the effort to rebrand what appears to be a run-of-the-mill welfare program as “guaranteed basic income.” What comes to mind is the term newspeak, coined by George Orwell in his 1949

dystopian novel 1984. Newspeak was a language “designed to diminish the range of thought.” Newspeak was characterized by the elimination or alteration of certain words, the substitution of one word for another, the interchangeability of parts of speech and the creation of words for political purposes. Like food stamps are now called CalFresh. It just sounds better.

Is this push for basic income programs such as UBI or BIG:LEAP just another effort to label welfare as something with a better sounding name? If so, policy leaders should proceed carefully. Relabeling welfare as something else may be innocuous in and of itself, but if it is designed to layer on more, duplicative programs on top of each other, neither the public interest nor the public treasury would be well served.

Finally, basic income programs come with high costs, not only in the initial price tag, but also indirect costs, including a reduction in the tax base and removing incentives among recipients to seek and engage in work. If basic income is viewed simply as free money or paid leisure, it will likely breed resentment among those who are ineligible because they must now pay an everlarger share of their earned income in taxes.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Continued from A6

Dorado County veterans only, in accordance with what every other monument in the country is doing. We want honoraria to be clearly defined, as witnessed by our brothers in arms, recorded by the Department of Defense and codified in the monument’s founding policies and ordinance, not subject to the vagaries of local management. We want veterans who are not aligned with any political ideology to influence the quality, culture and ambiance of the monument to ensure its continuity for future generations consistent with the intent of its original founding documents created by a committee of veterans, edited by the chief administrative o cer, county counsel and sta and approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Please help us convince Health and Human Services that the monument should remain as intended — a place for El Dorado County veterans who served the cause of freedom in a manner defined by the military services not local individuals or unsupervised private contractors.

DAWN WOLFSON with Ken Schoniger, Bud Sweet, Allen Amaro and Bob Hanisee

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com

AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the rst Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

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

LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE

Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-212-2465 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday, 12 noon at Steve’s Pizza, 3941 Park Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE

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

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

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

HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Cindy 805-540-8654. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet rst and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and have a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held at 11:30AM on May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18,2024 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.

TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that a ect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.

COMICS

Special Olympics provides a special place for athletes

Malachi Parker Staff writer

All the recent Olympic buzz has reinvigorated local athletes who participated in this year’s Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games in Santa Clara.

El Dorado County Special Olympics coach Barbara Chasteen took several athletes to the Bay Area event, with many participating in track events.

“We’ve been doing it so long; it’s so natural,” Chasteen said. “It’s like being a mother and this is my extended family.”

Chasteen has been coaching in this realm for 30 years and said she has enjoyed seeing her athletes excel over the years.

“My favorite thing is exercising and staying healthy,” athlete Nico Douglas said.

Douglas competed in the 200m race in the summer game as well as

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You feel lucky to enjoy hobbies that are inexpensive and readily available, like reading or walking. Contentedness is like a ticket to relaxation, giving you the option to bow out of the constant chase for more.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). A polite smile here, a nod there -- all part of the social dance, which often involves a mask. You’ll consciously decide what you’d like to show and what you’d like to keep hidden and you’ve every right to be as private as you wish.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Every skill you acquire gives you a new way to get to your goal. You’re in the process of adding another arrow to your quiver. Keep sharpening this one until it’s your favorite. You’ll eventually sail it right to the bull’s-eye of your goals.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your likes, dislikes, flaws and idiosyncrasies are precisely what make you unique and attractive. The right group for you is one you can fit into without having to subvert your superpowers, i.e., your talents, flaws and preferences.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You declare your intention and then follow through, even when doing so is much more difficult than projected. This simple tenet of your character will be the source of your greatest pride, joy and victory.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There’s a need to impress someone, and you may even employ a facade, which would make you either human with normal human instincts, or perhaps a diplomat of advanced skill. Either

way, it’s all part of the social dance.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). As much as you’d like to bond through shared leisure, with so much on your plate, it would take a week to decompress. Until that happens there’s no bonding like the bonding that happens when you work hard together.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Don’t be too quick to change your offering based on the feedback. This is like a movie. Sometimes there’s a bonus bit after or during the credit roll. You’ll never know if you bail too early. Sit with the information a while. Let things settle.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). What you do in the name of love and duty often goes unacknowledged upon completion. However, someday, when your loved ones look back at how you cared for them, they’ll note the activities you executed so selflessly today.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re wise to depart from the crowd and seek tranquility. Good fortune bubbles out of humble, quiet scenes. Your energy will be restored in stillness and solitude.

Though

the javelin toss.

The annual Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games is the largest local competition and features thousands of athletes and coaches, along with family members, coming together in the spirit of inclusion, states the program’s website. Summer Games welcomes athletes from dozens of counties to compete in swimming, track and field, bocce and tennis.

Local athletes shared with the Mountain Democrat they think this part of their life brings with it a strong sense of belonging, unity and community.

Special Olympics Northern California provides free yearround programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. With training and competition in several sports, people with and without intellectual disabilities are united for a greater good. For more information visit sonc.org.

Kubota High Limit Racing blasts into Placerville Speedway

High rollers of Kubota High Limit Racing make their much-anticipated debut at Placerville Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 17, when the annual Gold Rush Classic invades the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.

Grass Valley native and current Placerville resident Brad Sweet has the point lead into the West Coast Swing. The Placerville Speedway stop hands out $12,000 to win and is the final Winged 410 Sprint Car event of the season at the quarter mile.

Sweet has six wins on the season and sits atop the standings over Indianapolis, Ind.’s “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney; Myerstown, Penn.’s Brent Marks; St Helena’s Rico Abreu and Clovis phenom Corey Day, who is fresh off a third place run at the Knoxville Nationals.

California favorites who have competed locally this year that will be sure to challenge the national contingent include Bradway Memorial winner and current NARC point leader Justin Sanders of Aromas, multi-time Placerville winner this year Shane Golobic of Fremont, nine-time track champion Andy Forsberg from Auburn, recent Forni-Humphreys Classic winner Dominic Gorden of Clovis, along with Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox, Lincoln’s Tanner Carrick, Lemoore’s Cole Macedo and others.

Kubota High Limit Racing was founded by former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, along with co-promoter Brad Sweet, the

five-time Outlaw champion.

“When Kyle Larson and I started the Kubota High Limit National Series we wanted to grow events and visit tracks that produce great racing across the United States,” Sweet commented after the schedule was released. “Placerville Speedway is always action packed and I’m excited to compete aboard my NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car in front of my hometown crowd. The Gold Rush Classic is an event I’ve won before, and I look forward to trying to do so again on Aug. 17.” The Gold Rush Classic also begins the final stretch of Sprint

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Photo courtesy of Shannon Verissimo Special Olympics coaches and athletes pose together with the El Dorado flag at the summer games in Santa Clara.

Gary Thomas

Placerville Speedway

It’s not easy for a tadpole to grow up and become a frog. There are many dangers along the way to adulthood. Help the tadpole hatch and grow up by having him follow the correct path through the maze.

Tadpoles hatch from jelly-like eggs.

Gills close and lungs form.

Leap through the lily pad patch.

• Find the path that equals 10.

• Find the path that equals 14.

• Find the path that equals 19.

• Find the path that equals 22.

The tadpole swims and eats small water plants.

A frog starts life in the water as a tadpole. It looks more like a fish than a frog!

4.The tadpole grows hind legs.

The tadpole grows front legs.

Watch out! Frog eggs are a tasty treat for turtles, fish and large insects. Rats, otters and foxes eat tadpoles.

Tail disappears and a little frog jumps out of the pond!

These two tadpoles are pals. They are alike in many ways. But, they have some differences, too. Can you find 5 or more differences?

A frog primarily eats insects. Most frogs have a sticky tongue. To catch an insect, the frog flips out its tongue, capturing the insect and then returns its tongue to its mouth with the insect stuck to it. Gulp! Frogs will swallow their prey in one piece because they only have teeth in the upper jaw.

Are you an eagle-eyed reader? Read the article below and correct the eight errors you find. The first one is done for you.

Fatal Froggy

How does a frog protect itself from predators?

Lots of animal like to eat to frogs—bats, herons, fish, raccoons, turtles, snakes and even persons.

Different species of froogs have different kinds of protection.

The Golden Poyson Frog is among the most poisonous frog in the world. Its brightly-colored skin is a warning to predators that it is dangeris to eat. Only one type of snake is resistant to the frog’s deadly poison.

The bright red Tomato Frog fools its enemies by puffing itself up to make it look to big to be swallowed. If a predator do try to eat the frog, it gets another nasty surprise. The Tomato Frog’s skin has a thick mucus that irritates a predator and causes it to release the frog.

Find the words in the puzzle, then in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.

GILLS

The noun gills means the organs used for breathing by fish and other animals that live in the water.

Fish and tadpoles both breathe with gills

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

Write a “Who am I?” riddle about an animal. Include two or three clues and the answer. Example: I fly at night. I have big eyes. I say “WHOO!” Who am I? Answer: An owl.

Standards Link: Life Science: Know that organisms have body systems that serve specific functions in survival. Standards Link: Math/Number Sense: Calculate sums and differences to 100.

Standards Link: Life Science: Students know that plants and animals progress through life cycles of

© 2015 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 31, No. 15

Ski season nearly here

News release

Northstar Ski Resort and Heavenly Mountain Resort will open for the 2024-25 ski season on Nov. 22 and Kirkwood Ski Resort will follow shortly after with its opening day scheduled for Dec. 6, according to a news release from Vail Resorts.

These scheduled opening dates are on track with last year’s actual opening days, where Heavenly opened Nov. 21, Northstar opened

Speedway Continued from A8

presented by Berco Redwood is fast approaching over Labor Day weekend. Both nights of the Posse Shootout will feature Winged 360 Sprint Cars and the High Sierra Industries Wingless Spec Sprints. The double header will showcase the rich history of Placerville Speedway like everyone has come to love during Legends Night. The event had become so popular, however, that it’s now coined as Legends Night(s) “The Epic Double.” Grandstand seating is reserved at the Kubota High Limit Racing Gold Rush Classic. Tickets can

Nov. 23 and Kirkwood opened Dec. 1. Originally, Heavenly and Northstar were scheduled to open Nov. 17 while Kirkwood was scheduled for Dec. 1, but due to warm temperatures the opening dates were pushed back.

The 2024-25 Epic Pass options are now available to purchase. Guests have until Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, to lock in the best value for season-long skiing and riding before prices increase.

be purchased ahead of time via eventsprout.com/event/psr-081724

The pit gate will open at noon, with the front gate opening at 3 p.m. Happy Hour is offered when the gates open until 6 p.m. in the grandstands featuring live music along with discounted Coors Light and Coors Original at the beer booth. The pit meeting will be held at 4:45 p.m. with cars on track at 5:15. Hot laps, qualifying and racing will follow.

For more information on the Placerville Speedway log onto placervillespeedway.com.

PROSPECTING

Section B ■ mtdemocrat.com

IN THE KNOW

Aug. 16

The Sierra Renaissance Society presents How Development Has A ected Wildlife by Shelly Blair, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission free for members; public invited to attend two meetings for free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc.org.

Hey Monkey will perform at Skinner Vineyards in Rescue, 5-7 p.m. For more information visit skinnervineyards.com.

Julie & The Jukes will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.

Ed Wilson will perform at The Vine in El Dorado Hills, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Lance Michael Cornwell will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Son Little will perform at 8 p.m. at The So a in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Aug. 17

Folsom Lake Symphony is looking for talented musicians. The annual additions will take place at Folsom Lake College. There are openings in all string sections and backup positions in wind, brass and percussion sections. For more information visit folsomlakesymphony.com/ auditions-2024-25.

Shadow Ranch Vineyard in the Fair Play area hosts Back to School Wine Education noon to 1:30 p.m. Learn the intricacies of wine tasting and some winemaking secrets from Shadow Ranch’s owner and winemaker, Sam Patterson. You’ll have the opportunity to taste several di erent varietals side by side and learn how to pick up on the notes that distinguish one from another. For more information visit shadowranch.com/Events.

Findleton Estate and Vineyard hosts Carson Road Chillin & Grillin with Ridings Ranch BBQ and Young Living Essential Oil Pop-Up with JoAnn Lytle. For more information call (530) 391-6601.

Mellowood vineyard in the Fair Play area hosts Cooking with Mariam at 2 p.m. Learn how to make her famous Kenyan beef pilau. Space is limited for this event. Register online at mellowoodvineyard.com.

Third Saturday Art Walk celebrates Sizzling Summer Sales, 4-8 p.m. on historical Main Street in downtown Placerville. Twenty- ve merchants will participate with restaurant specials, retail sales, and some gallery discounts. Highlights are half o at Kinkade gallery, $15 chair massage at the new business Heal and free hand treatments at Spa 520. The ra e prize is $100 to spend at any of the participating merchants. Find out more information at Placerville Art Walk- 3rd Saturday Facebook page.

Art crackles, bubbles & amazes at Gold Country Artists Gallery

D. Lee Reyes Gold Country Artists Gallery

Gold Country Artists Gallery, an awardwinning artists’ cooperative located in Placerville features the work of Melissa Bruno, Carol Clark and Conni Jo Hardie in August. Meet the artists during the evening of Main Street’s Third Saturday Art Walk.

Unexpected surprises

At a young age, Bruno’s grandfather taught her how to throw clay on the wheel. Her passion for the medium has not diminished with time. Now she teaches ceramics, delighting in the sharing of her knowledge with young people, just as her grandfather did with her. She starts with a lump of clay. Numerous steps follow over days or weeks to shape and develop it, beginning with “wedging,” a process of pulling and pushing the clay on a board to remove air bubbles, rather like kneading dough. Throwing, or forming the clay on the wheel,

drying time, trimming, carving, imprinting the clay, attaching handles and adding other details are just some of the steps in her process before subjecting the piece to its first bisque firing to remove any remaining moisture that could cause it to explode in the kiln. The next stage is glazing. Bruno has a deep understanding of how the chemistry in the various glazes interact

with heat and clay. She brushes, dips and drips the fluid glaze composed of glass formers, flux and refractories, the three components necessary that allow the glaze to melt at certain temperatures and flow, onto her fired product. She gives it another firing in the kiln, which causes the glaze to fuse to the clay. After a lengthy cooling period, the glazed ware is removed to reveal

pottery with high-gloss and sparkling colors.

Her use of underglazing, a process of applying more color beneath a glaze, adds additional striking results and interest to her work. The subtle floral designs on “Silver Vase” highlight her use of this process.

Her “Carved Vase” has a dramatic metallic glaze called palladium. Her favored palette ranges from earthy

hues to jewel toned blues with lustrous hints of violet. Her most intriguing glazes encompass a subtle sparkle, a surprising bit of shimmering treasure born of multiple firings in the kiln.

“I’m a very tactile person,” she said. “I love texture, I like the feel of a piece.” Many of her pieces have a “crackle” texture

■ See GALLERY, page B5

Create art masterpieces out of mold & deckle

Sylvia Coleman Placerville Arts Association

It’s all about a medium that holds boundless potential — the magic of making your own paper

On Monday, Aug. 19, the Placerville Arts Association welcomes Adrienne Belair, who will share her expertise in creating masterpieces out of her homemade paper. It’s definitely a pulp-level approach to being an artist. Members and guests are invited. The 2:30-4:30 p.m. PAA meeting will be at the Placerville Senior Center, 937 Spring St. There will be a break at 3:30 for refreshments and a meet ‘n’ greet time for artists to chat about their new adventure in paper-making.

Belair has had quite an adventure going from an interest in anthropology to “mold and deckle.” She grew up in Napa Valley, where her artistic pursuits began as a byproduct of boredom when she began sketching as a way to avoid daily tasks. It was a fun hobby. After her first year in college, she made a correction in her life’s path and changed her life’s focus to art.

College art classes introduced her to the idea that art can be created with more than just paper and pen, Belair said. She began exploring the possibilities o ered by a profusion of available art mediums and has discovered a treasure trove of traditional and nontraditional techniques — paper-making being one of them.

While she attended Syracuse University in 2017, working on a printmaking degree, fate landed her in a ceramics class at a community college in South Lake Tahoe. There she re-explored a medium she had previously paid little attention to.

In 2020 (and a few thousand ceramic forms later), Belair o cially declared herself a full-time artist. She has her own studio, Spoon and Sprig Studio in South

Courtesy photo

Adrienne Belair turns paper making into artistic creations.

“Male Grizzly Eating Dandelions” by Carol Clark Clay pot by Melissa Bruno.

“Under the Sea” by Conni Jo Hardie

BUTTERED AND SALTY

‘Alien: Romulus’

HHH R, 1 hour, 59 minutes Horror, Sci-Fi,

“In space no one can hear you scream.”

There are few taglines in film history that perfectly encapsulate the tone of a film like that one did from 1979. Whether you are a fan of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror classic “Alien” or not, you probably know that tagline. It was synonymous with science fiction, monster horror.

The film became such a classic that it was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Pretty good for a $10 million budget by a young director only helming his second feature-length film and a leading actress in Sigourney Weaver who was in the beginning of what would become an illustrious and colorful career.

Seven years later legendary director James Cameron (“Terminator 1 & 2,” “Avatar”) — himself in the early throes of his career at 30 years old — took the momentum he gained directing the financially and critically successful “The Terminator” (1984) and wrote and directed arguably one of the best sequels ever made in “Aliens” (1986). The film upped the action quota by including Colonial Marines and expanded the universe quite a bit.

Since then the franchise has been chasing the success and quality of those first two classic films to varying degrees. A young David Fincher (“Seven,” “Zodiac,” “The Social Network”) took a swing at “Alien 3” (1992) and while it was a financial and critical failure, in the years since it has found a newfound respect from audiences. Fincher may not want to ever discuss the film due to 20th Century Fox meddling to the point where the experience was horrible for the director, but I’ll die on the hill that the film is quite underrated. Its problem is that it follows two classics.

1997’s “Alien Resurrection” is an expensive mess, despite being directed by the visually imaginative Jean-Pierre Jeunet (who directed one of my favorites, “Amélie”). From there the studio gave us two “Alien vs Predator” films. I like both “Alien” and “Predator” but dislike both of those awful films. A few years back the original “Alien” director, Sir Ridley Scott, returned to the franchise after more than 30 years and gave us 2012’s “Prometheus.”

A prequel film that’s intention was to tell us the origin of the aliens and the crashed ship from the original film mixed in with a bit of unique world building. It was quite philosophical in nature and incredibly ambitious. It also split the fandom right down the middle. Some love it and others despise it. I personally love it.

He followed that up with its sequel “Alien: Covenant” in 2017 that tried to continue the mythology of “Prometheus” while feeling more like an actual Alien film. It was successful in that regard in the first half but falls on its face in a convoluted, messy third act. Clearly the box office agreed. It made half of what “Prometheus” did and killed any chance Scott had of a third film in that trilogy that apparently would have connected directly to the original “Alien.”

When Disney purchased 20th Century Fox in early 2019 many wondered what would happen to the Alien franchise. Would they let it stay dormant or would they dust off the old IP? Rated R horror films aren’t exactly the cup of tea of the House of Mouse. Luckily for us, Disney not only let Alien be Alien but returned it to the thriller/horror roots of the original 1979 film.

The first smart move was to hire director Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) to not only helm the film, but pen the script as well. Fede is a massive fan of this franchise and it shows. He’s also very effective at thrills and chills. There’s a

few sequences here that will creep you out (face huggers!). Horror fans will also be pleased that he didn’t skimp out on the gore.

One thing I was pleased about was the pacing of the film, which is superb. A lot happens in these two hours and the film starts moving at a breakneck pace the moment the opening credits are finished. That’s a change from the hour-long exposition of the last couple of Scott films.

The look and feel of the film is fantastic as well. The production design by Naaman Marshall is top shelf, harkening back to the 1970’s futuristic look of the original and giving it a very used, lived-in feel. I know Alvarez and Marshall used practical sets and props as much as possible and it shows. It’s a beautiful looking film which is only enhanced by the lighting and cinematography of Galo Olivares.

The cast is small but effective with only seven main characters when the film starts. Cailee Spaeny leads the charge as Rain. I wrote about her a few months back when I reviewed “Civil War.” Her relationship with her brother Andy, played by David Jonsson, is the strongest in the film. I didn’t know much about Jonsson (he’s done mostly TV since he started in 2017) but he gives a strong performance here and their connection and chemistry is easily the best in the film.

As much as I enjoyed the look, style and horror of this film it’s not without imperfections. The film is at its best when it blazes its own trail and takes big swings with new ideas (see the third act) but loses its momentum when it feels it has to anchor itself to other films. The biggest (non spoiler) example of this is when an aspect of the original film shows itself. It’s not really required and feels forced. It also is not very effective in its execution. Yes, I’m being vague. If you know the original film (watch it again before you see “Alien: Romulus”) you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

Some other easter eggs and lines of dialog pulled from previous films also got a few eye-rolls from me. Luckily, the film mostly charts its own course. Some may not like the bold choice it takes in the final 15 minutes but, personally, I’m all for it.

Alien films are always best when they are self contained and remember that they are part of a horror franchise. Even James Cameron’s “Aliens,” for all its bravado and action, had some genuine moments of dread. Something much bigger and scarier is out in the universe and it’s the intimate moments of it being discovered and uncovered that are the most frightening. Once that happens there’s always a government or corporation ready to weaponize and monetize it.

Now that’s scary!

Joshua B. Porter is a writer/director/producer. He can be reached at @joshuabporter or joshuabporter@mtdemocrat.net.

Cantaré Chorale hosts auditions

News release

Join Cantaré Chorale of the Sierra Foothills as the group prepares for its holiday concert series. This season, Cantaré Chorale will perform a delightfully diverse set of works by composers from all over the world, including “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten featuring local harpist Ruth Rubio, “The Christmas Song” arranged by Mark Hayes, “The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy” arranged by Stacey V. Gibbs and more.

Led by local director Mariia Pechenova, the group shares its evocative music and high standards of excellence with the community by performing beautiful choral music. Cantaré Chorale concerts engage and delight audiences with classics, madrigals, folk, popular, jazz,

seasonal and modern arrangements. Cantaré is currently welcoming singers of all voice parts, particularly looking for basses and tenors. At open auditions, interested singers will have an opportunity to participate in a rehearsal, meet other local singers and enjoy some holiday classics.

Audition info

• Monday, Aug. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

• Monday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. All auditions will be held at Foothills United Methodist Church, 3301 Green Valley Road in Rescue. Audition information is available online at cantarechorale.com/ audition. Tickets for the holiday concert series will be available soon at cantarechorale.com. Cantaré Chorale is a nonprofit organization.

Wild & Scenic art submissions open News release

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, in collaboration with Nevada County Arts Council, invites artists to submit their artwork for consideration in the 23rd annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival exhibition taking place Feb. 13-28, 2025.

Exhibition complements months of programming in venues across the Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District. We are humbled to partner with the festival on this, ensuring that by February each year artists are engaged and celebrated fiercely and wildly. This year’s theme of Wild at Heart says it all,” said Eliza Tudor, executive director of the Nevada County Arts Council.

Enter your work

Wild & Scenic uses environmental and adventure films to inspire activism and seeks art submissions that do the same. Artists are encouraged to submit pieces that address a broad interpretation of the theme of “environment.” The featured artwork enhances the immersive nature of the festival experience. While all artwork will be considered, WSFF is especially interested in pieces that examine the theme of the 2025 film festival, “Wild at Heart.” This theme speaks to the power of wild places to spark inspiration, compassion and understanding of the world.

“As the nation’s leading environmental and adventure film festival, Wild & Scenic shines bright as a bastion of activism. Stirring a deep respect for nature untamed, its Visual Art Contest and

Submissions are accepted in three categories: 3-Dimensional, 2-Dimensional, and Photography. Artists can submit up to three pieces per entry in a single category. Details about the three categories:

• 2-D: Paintings, prints, collages, mixed media and panels with less than 1.5 inches of depth

• 3-D: Sculpture and pieces with depth variations greater than 1.5 inches

• Photography: All photography, including digital and film, color, black and white

For more information about the exhibit and the film festival visit wildandscenicfilmfestival. org/2025art/.

Thriller Opens today Democrat correspondent

Tahoe photography exhibit adds whimsy to the night sky

News release

OUTH LAKE

STAHOE — Lake Tahoe Community College is presenting Luminous Nights: A Dance of Light and Darkness, a photography exhibition by Vanessa Franking, running through Sept. 20. The gallery will feature an artist’s reception 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 16, o ering an opportunity to meet the artist and discuss her work.

The exhibition transports viewers to a world where night breathes with vibrant life and movement. Franking’s collection delves into the enchanting interplay of light and color captured during the deepest hours of night. The photographs, taken during the ephemeral spectacle of Burning Man, reveal the surreal and vibrant scenes that emerge from the desert darkness.

Through long exposures, the dance of lights forms abstract

patterns, capturing the excitement and energy of the playa.

In addition to the stunning Burning Man imagery, the exhibition includes breathtaking shots of the Milky Way and the night sky, inviting viewers to lose themselves in the expansive cosmos. These celestial photographs not only highlight the beauty of the universe but also evoke a profound sense of wonder and contemplation.

Franking’s light painting images add another layer of intrigue, blending natural and artificial light to create unique and ethereal visuals.

Taken during the early blue hour or combined with the Milky Way, these photographs showcase her skill in using minimal light to achieve maximum impact.

“This collection is an invitation to experience the magic of night, where the scarcity of light o ers a canvas for

Queen tribute will rock Bally’s stage

STATELINE, Nev. — Late-Nite Productions presents an evening celebrating the music of Queen on Aug. 24 at the Bally’s Lake Tahoe Showroom.

Queen Nation is recognized as the most popular, accurate and highest-grossing fully-costumed re-creation of a vintage Queen concert in the U.S. Comprising four musicians to reflect the original Queen lineup, the band performs in detailed ‘70s and ‘80s Queen-era costumes. All of this is presented in a live 90-minute concert experience, with note-for-note renditions of classic Queen songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody To Love,” “We Are The Champions,” “Fat Bottom Girls,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “My Best Friend” and “Dragon Attack.” Featured frontman vocalist Gregory Finsley is an amazing singer with an uncanny tone and captivating stage energy that matches the late great Freddie Mercury to a tee. Finsley is a concert trained pianist which allows him to accurately and skillfully play piano live during the shows as did Freddie Mercury back in the day. Queen Nation is the real deal. They deliver the goods and guarantee concertgoers a show without any interruptions, lulls for changes into multiple costumes and never use any cheesy props or wear fake mustaches. The band’s creed is quite simple, “We try to perform the music of Queen humbly, tastefully and respectfully while paying homage to our Rock Idols without resorting to any corny cliché antics or images. We let the fans and Talent Buyers decide where we fit in the pecking order of the Queen tribute world if that topic is brought up. Our primary focus will always be based on consistently delivering the best sonic gut punch of a pure vintage Queen show in an entertaining concert format every time we take the stage.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Bally’s Lake Tahoe Showroom, 55 Highway 50 in Stateline, Nev. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting/calling the Bally’s box o ce at (775) 588-3515.

boundless creativity,” said Franking. “Through these photographs, I hope to share the stories of light and shadow that I have captured, allowing viewers to see the world in a new, mesmerizing way.”

For those looking to immerse themselves in the art of long exposure photography and the captivating interplay of light and darkness, this exhibition promises a journey through Vanessa Franking’s enchanting nightscapes.

For more information on the exhibition and the artist’s reception visit ltcc.edu.

Courtesy photos

Vanessa Franking’s collection delves into the enchanting interplay of light and color captured at night.

Long exposure photography allows people to see the night sky in a new way.

Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. For tickets visit bit.ly/ARCc4c2024.

Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery hosts the Van Animals and E Street News, 5:30-8 p.m. Specialty pizza and wine will be available for purchase. For tickets and more information call (530) 622-7221 or visit sierravistawinery.com.

Test your trivia skills at the Bumgarner Camino Tasting Room at 5:30 p.m. Create and name your team, enter the free raffle and win prizes for first, second and third place. Special guest Moo N Brew Boba will offer non-alcoholic Boba drinks. Buy wood-fired carnitas nachos from the wood-fired oven and, of course, wine and cider by the glass, flight or bottles.

The Cash Prophets will play a mix of country music from the last century, with a heavy dose of Johnny Cash, 6-8 p.m. at Myka Estates in Placerville. For more information email info@mykaestates.com.

Mastroserio Winery in the Fair Play area hosts Jazz Night, 6-9 p.m. To make a reservation email mastroserio.winery@gmail.com or text (530) 417-4321.

Delfino Farms in Camino presents Folk on the Farm, 6-10 p.m., with Pony Briscoe. For more information visit delfinofarms.com/ folkonthefarm.

Join 1850 Wine Cellars and Myka Estates for the monthly concert featuring live music and a pre fixe dinner menu by Chef Lisa Scott. This month enjoy a jailhouse blues themed dinner with the band Cash Prophets. For tickets and more information visit 1850winecellars.com/ pages/events.

Dirty Cello and DJ Yuma Late Night will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

CC Seger, a tribute to Bob Seger and Creedence Clearwater Revival, will bring rock and roll classics to the Harris Center at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 6086888.

Aug. 18

El Dorado Western Railroad offers excursion rides with trains running on the hour, 10 a.m. through 1 p.m., weather permitting, at the Shingle Springs Station. For more information visit facebook.com/ ElDoradoWesternRailroad.

Bumgarner Winery in the Fair Play area hosts a Hawaiian Luau, noon to 3 p.m., featuring live Hawaiian Music by Kua’aina with Hula dancers, a Hawaiian inspired lunch and wine releases. For tickets and more information visit bumgarnerwinery.com/Shop/Events.

The Midtown Creepers will perform at 3 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.

Dan Flanagan and Trio Solano will perform a classical concert at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento from 3-4 p.m. For tickets and more information visit crockerart.org.

Dirty Cello will perform at 4:30 p.m. at Valhalla Tahoe. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.com.

Experience guitarists Teja Gerkin and Doug Young live at Auburn’s Odd Fellow’s Lodge at 3 p.m. Produced by the Auburn State Theater,

tickets are available at auburnstatetheatre.org/acoustic-guitar-series.

Aug. 19

Snowline Health Dementia Connection hosts Living Well with Dementia Addressing Challenging Symptoms: Home and Community Safety Issues, 1-3 p.m. at the Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane in El Dorado Hills. This free, in person and online class is for caregivers. Caring for someone with dementia often involves navigating a complex landscape of safety risks, both within the home and in the community. From late-day confusion and wandering to falls and kitchen dangers, these concerns can be a constant source of worry and stress. We will address practical approaches to addressing these symptoms.

Aug. 20

Vitalant will host an El Dorado Hills community blood drive noon to 3 p.m. The Bloodmobile bus will be parked near the baseball fields at the EDH Community Services District, 1021 Harvard Way. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM019 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

Powell’s Steamer Company and Pub, 425 Main St., presents Eric Hill and Jonny Mojo for Taco Tuesday on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4-7 p.m. Stop by for some good food and good tunes. For more information call (530) 626-1091.

Whose Live Anyway? with cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray will leave you laughing at the Harris Center Aug. 20 & 21. The show is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions, so bring your ideas. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Broadway At Music Circus presents “Jersey Boys” at the UC Davis Health Pavilion in Sacramento, Aug. 20 through Sept. 1. For tickets and more information call (916) 557-1999 or visit broadwaysacramento. com.

she makes by carving fissures into the clay, creating interesting geometric designs. She adds color glaze by blending one hue into another, a technique called ombre, with more glaze in the cracks. She often combines a glossy surface with a matte glaze inviting the touch of exploring fingers.

She uses decals to decorate many of her pieces with literary themes, newspaper items and pop culture references. The flower decals in “Sunflower Mug,” glazed in matte black, with carved cracks in the surface and tiny bright sunflowers peeking through the cracks adds intriguing visual appeal. Unexpected surprises abound within her work, like her spring flower-wearing ghosts and dinosaurs that fly and ride across her cups and bowls. She takes many of her pieces to another level by the addition of decorative chains and jewels.

Bruno is the creator of the brand Existential Entropy, which conveys the theme of existing in chaos: “From mud through fire, pottery experiences a metamorphosis just as we do throughout our lives,” she said. “There is only so much I can control before I give it up to the kiln gods. The rest is in flux.”

Essence of a scene

Clark began snapping photos as a child with her first “Brownie” camera. Now Clark’s camera is a Canon, with various long-range and wideangle lenses, and she has full control over the development process. Throughout the years she sharpened her ability to conscientiously choose her subject and reproduce what she sees in a way that moves the image beyond a simple two-dimensional representation. She collects the colors and textures of a scene and infuses it with story and spirit.

Clark’s sense of humor permeates many of her animal portraits, but she is particularly fond of bears. “A Mother’s Touch” portrays a tender moment between mama and baby bear as the duo rest easily on a branch. But Clark laughs as she tells the real story behind the photo: “I was in North Minnesota when I saw the pair in the tree. The mama bear was actually trying to wake the cub from its nap. She apparently wanted to get down out of the tree, but she had to nip at the cub’s ear to get it to move. That tender look was really her irritation!”

In another bear portrait, she describes a journey through Jasper National Park in Canada, where she spotted a great brown bear lumbering along. She stopped her car and shielded herself behind her car door, her camera at the ready. She focused in on her subject, and noticed the bear had a mouthful of wildflowers. Her close-up of “Male Grizzly Eating Dandelions” introduces a dash of whimsy into a portrait of a wild — and potentially deadly — animal.

Clark recently visited the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, always having a desire to photograph the “jaggedy peaks” of the Cathedral Group. She went at the time of the new moon for maximum darkness at night, to capture the striking glory of the Milky Way. But what she unexpectedly caught was one of the most spectacular natural light shows in decades in her series of breathtaking photographs, “Grand Teton National Park Aurora Borealis.”

“It is stunning to look up at the sky, to witness the movement, the colors … a spiritual moment,” she said. She has tried to explain the phenomenon, how various gasses and energized particles from the sun combine in the atmosphere, causing the colors to change, the ribbons of pinks and the greens. “There is a depth to the color, like it’s stacked to form layers,” Clark explained, adding she did not need to do much editing because the colors were so naturally vivid. Words aren’t needed to bring the connection of viewer to the artist, an understanding of the joy shared when observing Clark’s images.

Clark is skilled at conveying the essence of a scene through her photography, and this is what makes her work unique. She describes her experience as a photographer as ever evolving and always exciting. “As I see the world more fully, I want to capture the moments that touch me,” Clark shared. “When someone purchases one of my photographs, I like to think it is because we have a shared view — and the joy — of the world.”

Colorful layers

Hardie is an artist who considers herself a colorist specializing in spatial relationships, while employing multiple forms of media. She expresses her passion in a variety of styles including impressionism, realism and abstractionism. Her inquisitive and experimental nature led to an understanding of the properties of paint and intricacies of color, discovering that the “acrylic pour” style of painting is the perfect way for her to push the boundaries of her artistic experience. To create her work, she pours layers of paint onto a prepared metal sheet, letting the paint flow and pull naturally. Then she torches it to see what happens when things heat up. Her eyes light as she describes how the paint responds to the heat, bubbling and rippling, the colors popping through the various layers in surprising and delightful patterns. The liquid nature of the paint, the coolness of metal and the heat of the blowtorch all interact in the creation of her work, but it is

Hardie’s love for color that binds them together.

“I am inspired by how color theories relate to nature,” Hardie explained. “Magnificent sunsets, beautiful ocean waters, breathtaking tropical flowers and glowing volcanic eruptions create my palette.”

Hardie uses her extensive knowledge of color theory to invoke emotions and impact the perceptions of the viewer. For her painting “Under the Sea,” energetic blues tumble against the vivid reds and oranges of an intense sky at sunset. Her torch brought out brighter blues to break through the surface of deeper blues, giving the impression of tumultuously tossing waves. And peeking through those “waves,” glints of bright orange and shiny yellows hint at a sea rich with life just below the surface.

“I like the viewer’s eye to be guided around the image to multiple focal points. I want my pieces to give the illusion of movement and be open to interpretation,” she said.

The more you look, she continued, the more you see, and one person may see something completely different than another. “I leave it to the viewer to create their own stories about my work.”

Her painting “White Lace and Promises” gives more of an impression of lightness than some of her other paintings. Toned down blues and greens broken by scores of “lacy” cells almost convey a feeling of looking through a veil, or a frothy mantle. Hardie explained she used seven layers of paint, and mixed them with other elements before giving it a

longer torching time to make more of the pockets of white break through. The piece is smaller in size than some of her other work but there are great stories embedded within this image.

Hardie believes her abstract art can “alter reality in the mind’s eye, awaken the imagination, and entice both the artist and viewer to explore the unexpected.” That is how she describes the evolution of her painting titled, “Fractured.” She liked the flow of the paint, but felt it needed something more. She used a straight tool to pull through the layers, instantly creating interesting and exciting movement in the work.

Hardie’s gift as an artist is sharing her passion for color and experimentation, connecting viewers to the energy of her art. She draws viewers visually into her artistic galaxies and abstracted realms with her amazing acrylic-on-metal paintings that create dazzling statements. She applies a final coat of clear enamel to all of her completed pieces for weatherresistant protection, so they can be displayed inside or out of doors.

Gold Country Artists Gallery, 379 Main St. in Placerville, features the work of many awardwinning regional artists working in fields as diverse as fine jewelry, photography, fused glass, wood turning, pastels, colored pencil, scratch board, and watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and until 8 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month. For more information call (530) 642-2944 or visit goldcountryartistsgallery.com.

Bands come together to raise funds for tribe

Leila Srouji

The Center for the Arts

GRASS VALLEY — The Center for the Arts hosts Dirtwire, presented by the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project, in the Marisa Funk Theater on Aug. 24. This is a fundraiser that supports CHIRP’s annual operating expenses and programs.

Dirtwire stands poised between ancient Mother Earth and modern technology, a blend of ethnomusicology and the psychedelic trance state, gut-bucket delta blues and what the band variously dubs “back-porch space cowboy blues, swamptronica and electro-twang.” It’s a sound informed by Dirtwire’s travels and performances around the globe, where East meets West and North joins South. From the favelas in Brazil, Femi Kuti’s Shrine in Lagos, Tokyo’s bluegrass clubs, Ayahuasca ceremonies in Central America, Gamelan performances in Bali, desert festivals in the Australian Outback and the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s modernized new capital Astana, the band spreads its message by building bridges across musical cultures in their own unique way.

Dirtwire plays an array of instruments both ancient and modern, including West African kamale ngonis, jaw harps, space fiddles, whamola basses, Rickenbacher electric 12-string guitars, bowed Banjos and mouth harps from around the globe, all interwoven into modern laptop beat creation.

“We appreciate Dirtwire’s willingness to join us for this fundraising concert,” said Shelly

Covert, executive director of CHIRP and Tribal spokesperson with the Nevada City Rancheria

“Having a featured artist like this with such an incredible fan base helps nudge the visibility of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe to a wider network of people,” she shared. “It feels awesome that CHIRP can bring another opportunity for the community to see Dirtwire perform. As a Tribally guided nonprofit, CHIRP’s mission is to preserve, protect and perpetuate Nisenan Culture and fundraising is a big part of that responsibility. Performing on the newly remodeled stage at The Center for the Arts adds to the excitement and we hope Dirtwire feels equally enthusiastic about supporting us in this way.”

CHIRP is a Tribally guided nonprofit that serves the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan through its mission to preserve, protect and perpetuate Nisenan culture. Opening the evening is BrightSide Blue and Honey of the Heart. These two established NorCal bands and duos of love and music have united to create a supergroup that’s more than the sum of its parts. Performing this show as a four-piece band, the group promises live looping, folk-soulroots-rock grooves, swoony multipart harmonies and mind-bending guitar riffs — all offered in a spirit of care, humor and hopes for a better world.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, at The Center for the Arts, 314 West Main St. in Grass Valley. For tickets and more information visit thecenterforthearts.org or call (530) 274-8384.

Courtesy photo

Dirtwire fuses sounds from all over the world. See the band live next week in Grass Valley.

Know Continued from B4

Check out An Evening with Valerie June at 8 p.m. at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre. org.

Aug. 21

Snowline Health Dementia Connection hosts Living Well with Dementia Caregiver Support Group and Activity Enrichment Group for People with Memory Loss, 1:30-3 p.m. at Snowline Health 6520 Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs .This free, in person and online group offers support to caregivers and family members who are caring for or have a loved one with dementia. The group’s goals are to provide inspirational caregiving strategies and sharing in a welcoming, nonjudgmental space and promote emotional and physical health, awareness of resources, problemsolving, stress reduction and personal growth.

Are you nervous about the upcoming fire season? Have questions about home hardening and creating defensible space? Join the Camino Fire Safe Council at 6:30 p.m. at the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit headquarters, 2840 Mt. Danaher Road in Camino.

The Illeagles will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Valhalla Tahoe. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.com.

Aug. 22

Arts and Culture El Dorado, in collaboration with the El Dorado County Historical Museum and Placerville News Company, host Specters on Glass: Studio Portraiture in Early 20th Century Placerville at the Switchboard Gallery Aug. 22 through Oct. 6. The collection is a broad sampling of local citizenry captured on glass dry plate negatives, and sits firmly at the intersection of histories of place and histories of technology.

Snowline Health Dementia Connection hosts the Gilmore Senior Center Caregiver Support Group, 10:30 a.m. to noon, 990 Lassen Lane in El Dorado Hills. This free, in person and online group offers support to

caregivers and family members who are caring for or have a loved one with dementia. Call the Dementia Connection at (530) 621-6820 if respite care is needed for a caregiver to attend this group.

The Shingle Springs and Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will hold a Networking Luncheon from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Red Hawk Casino’s Koto Buffet. The event is sponsored by the El Dorado County Republican Party and will feature El Dorado County Auditor/Controller Joe Harn as guest speaker.

The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce hosts a mixer at Sierra Vista Winery in the Pleasant Valley area, 5:307:30 p.m. For more information visit business.eldoradocounty. org/events.

Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino hosts After Five, a barbecue trip tip dinner with wine and music, 5:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP required. Visit crystalbasin.com or email rsvp@crystalbasin.com. The next performance is Patrick Walsh.

El Dorado Hills Town Center will be rockin’ with a free concert, 7-9 p.m., featuring Peace Frog. Visit EDHTownCenter.com for all the details.

Enjoy Comedy Night at The

Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

The Crocker Art Museum presents Journeys of Jazz: Daniel Bennett Group at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit crockerart.org.

Jazz Upstairs at the B will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Aug. 23

Vitalant will hold a Placerville Cinema blood drive, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 337 Placerville Drive. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM553 or call (877) 258-4825 and mention the same code. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows. MIXUP band will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.

Findleton Estate and Vineyard in Camino hosts a movie under the stars. See “Jumanji,” starring Robin Williams, with dinner available from Fatty-n-Fits Food Truck plus Findleton wines. Event starts at

Public Notices

FIVE

FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (see section 14411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions Code) 7/26, 8/2,

2024. /s/ Gary Slossberg GARY SLOSSBERG, Judge of the Superior Court 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16 13505 COUNTY OF EL DORADO, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the County of El Dorado, State of California, that bids submitted through Quest Construction Data Network (Quest) for work in accordance with the Contract Documents designated: UNION MINE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY HEADWORKS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BID #24-0056 will be received by the Chief Administrative Office, Procurement & Contracts Division, online through Quest Construction Data Network (Quest) Project #9145613, until 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on September 13, 2024, at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read by the Chief Administrative Office, Procurement & Contracts Division. The bid opening will be held virtually through Zoom. The virtual meeting can be accessed via the following: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/86314760804.

is scheduled for this contract on August 22, 2024, starting PROMPTLY at 10:00 a.m. at the

Wastewater Treatment

at 5700

95623. ATTENDANCE

SITE VISIT IS MANDATORY. REPRESENTATIVES SHALL FOLLOW COUNTY COVID 19 POLICY WHILE ON COUNTY PREMISES WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS. PLEASE REFER TO COUNTY POLICY E-13 AVAILABLE AT: https://www.edcgov.us/ Government/BOS/Documents/ Board%20Policy%20E-13.pdf The Bidder’s representative will be required to sign an attendance sheet and provide the name of the firm being represented. The County will post on the Quest website such Addenda as the County in its discretion considers necessary in response to questions arising and information presented at the Pre-Bid Site Visit. Oral statements shall not be relied upon and will not be binding or legally effective. Addenda issued as a result of the Pre-Bid Site Visit shall constitute the sole and exclusive record and statement of

trenching, backfilling, utility line marking, vegetative erosion control, stormwater runoff control, paving, concrete work, piping, pump work, electrical work, grounding, instrumentation, equipment and system testing and start up, painting and finish, and site restoration. The applicable project specifications

be submitted to the email shown on the Quest website under the Quest #9145613 “Project Q&A”, emailed to: tyler.prince@edcgov.us with BID #24-0056 – RFI as the subject, or in hard copy delivered to:

5, 2024. Oral responses concerning the content of the Contract Documents shall not be relied upon and will not be binding or legally effective. Addenda will be uploaded in PDF format to Quest’s website. To receive notification of addenda, interested bidders must be included on the Planholders List. OBTAINING OR INSPECTING CONTRACT DOCUMENTS: The contract documents may be viewed and/or downloaded from the Quest Construction Data Network (Quest) website at http://www.questcdn. com. Interested parties may also access the Quest website by clicking on the link located on the Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contract’s website at County of El Dorado - Projects (questcdn. com) and entering the Quest project #9145613. Interested parties may view the Contract Documents on the Quest website at no charge. The digital Contract Documents may be downloaded for $42.00 by inputting the Quest project #9145613 on the websites’ Project Search page. Please contact Quest CDN. com at 952-233-1632 or info@ questcdn.com for assistance with free membership, registration, downloading, and working with this digital project information. To access the electronic bid form, download the project/request documents and click the online bidding button at the top of the advertisement screen. Physical paper copies of the Contract Documents may be examined by appointment at the County of El Dorado, Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts Division located at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, California 95667; however, the Chief Administrative Office will no longer issue paper copies of the Contract Documents to bidders. To view the Contract Documents in person, contact Tyler Prince by phone at 530-621-6438 or by email at tyler. prince@edcgov.us

Showtime on Sutter Street

Allen Schmeltz Sutter Street Theatre

FOLSOM — Sutter Street Theatre produces, “The Producers,” a show that takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender!” A down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends. With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (“Annie”) and music and lyrics by Brooks, “The Producers” skewers Broadway traditions.

This production is directed by Kenny Brian Gagni with assistant director Dena Jimena, music direction by Connie Mockenhaupt and choreography by Devin LePage and Thomas LePage

“The Producers” runs Aug. 16 through Sept. 15 at Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St. in Folsom. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4:30 p.m. Sundays. the show is appropriate for mature audiences for language and subject matter. Make reservations at SutterStreetTheatre.com or call (916) 353-1001.

Photo by Allen Schmeltz

Anthony DePage, Lonnie Smith, Katherine Folsom, Jay Evans, Mark Androvich and Zane Begley portray the outrageous characters in “The Producers,”