Mountain Democrat, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023

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Weber Creek could see $25M in fire protection

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer

El Dorado County could receive a total of $25 million for defensible space clearing and home hardening work in the Weber Creek area of Placerville.

The county has been granted approximately $1.4 million in funding for home assessments and public outreach on home hardening, defensible space and hazardous vegetation removal.

The grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, awarded to jurisdictions to reduce disaster losses.

The county’s O ce of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, which applied for the grant on behalf of the county, will use the money as part of a bigger pilot fire mitigation project for 525 homes near Weber Creek, a campaign that will cost around $25 million.

The county will assess homes in the Weber Creek area as part of the first phase of the project, which is expected to take around 20 months to complete. After that, county sta anticipates it will receive an additional $23.5 million to do actual defensible space clearing and home hardening work following FEMA approval. It is anticipated the county will be awarded the grant in spring 2025.

The news came from Tom Meyer, the county’s new program manager for the O ce of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience. Meyer at the Aug. 29 Board of Supervisors meeting gave a packed update on his wildfire resilience team’s e orts to adapt a wildfire protection and preparedness strategy and what have they been doing as part of their defensible space program.

Rattlesnake Bar body identified

Isaac Streeter

Staff writer

Natalee Heilaman, a 27-year-old woman from San Francisco, was identifi ed Wednesday as the individual found dead near the Rattlesnake Bar area of the

PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE

Classic collection

American River’s North Fork Aug. 19, according to Sgt. Kyle Parker of the El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce.

Described as “an exhaustive investigation,” Parker noted in an email to the Mountain Democrat that the Sheri ’s O ce used DNA to ID Heilaman, who was reported missing from Nevada County in January.

The coroner has not confi rmed a cause of death but EDSO’s investigation did not indicate foul play, Parker added.

Deputies had initially responded Aug. 19 to a report of a body found after an individual recreating in the area discovered Heilaman’s remains in the water and dialed 911.

Rattlesnake Bar is on the upstream stretches of Folsom Lake.

“Which Way” is a 1953 Chevy owned by Chuck Adams, left photo, of West Sacramento. The car is a Chevy front end and 1953 Pontiac front end on the rear. Adams talks shop, right photo, over a 1953 Pontiac front end on the back of his 1953 Chevy. Rad rides were parked along historical Main Street, which was open only to pedestrians for the event. Sandra Morgan’s ‘56 T-Bird was one of the many classic vehicles making an appearance.

Photos by Cecilia Clark

Kathleen Prevost

Dec. 16, 1944 – Aug. 14, 2023

Kathleen M. Prevost, Kathy, age 78, peacefully passed away on August 14, 2023, in Placerville, CA. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty-five years, Herbert L. Prevost, III, in 2018. Kathy was born in Providence, RI. Kathy’s father was a pilot in the United States Navy allowing Kathy and her family to experience much of the United States and overseas.

After marriage, Herb and Kathy moved to California to be with Herb’s family and bring their daughter, Lynne, into the world. Herb took a job with United Airlines. This career choice took Herb, Kathy and Lynne primarily to Illinois and California, but Herb and Kathy also spent several exciting years in Japan.

In 2002, Kathy and Herb returned to California and established their home in El Dorado Hills, CA where they lived for 21 years. Kathy became a community leader in Bass Lake Action Committee as co-founder and long-term board member. She was devoted to her Australian Shepherds, canine performance competitions and served as co-founder and o cer of Sierra Sni ng Canines. Kathy was also very involved in her neighborhood thoroughly enjoying all holidays with the annual pumpkin roll and Christmas celebrations as absolute favorites. She valued her close connection with her neighbors and her community.

Kathy will be dearly missed by her daughter, Lynne McIlvain, Denver, CO; sisters, Christine Williams, Richmond, VA; Rebecca Yard (Bob), Spring Branch, TX; and Barbara Mix, Redding, CA; grandchildren, Scott McIlvain, Justin McIlvain, and Katelyn Murcia (Andres); great grandchildren, Mila Lantsman, Maxx Murcia, Evan Murcia, with an addition expected to Scott McIlvain and his partner, Amie, in early 2024. Kathy’s dearest friends, Joanne Prada, Lori Figgins, and Kim Pagcaliuagan helped Kathy navigate the final months of her life supporting her with the unflagging devotion of true friendship. They were the family Kathy chose for herself.

Interment for Kathy and Herb will take place at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Camarillo, CA in a location near Herb’s parents and brother. A celebration of Kathy’s life is planned for Tuesday, October 24th at Green Valley Mortuary reception hall in Rescue, CA. Additional information will be provided when plans are finalized.

The family suggests donations to NorCal Aussie Rescue, Inc, https://norcalaussierescue.com/ Border Collie Rescue of Northern California, https://norcalbcrescue.org/ or a charitable organization of your choice.

Anthony James Rodriguez

July 24, 1983 - Aug. 24, 2023

Anthony (Tony) James Rodriguez, (40) passed away on August 24, 2023.

Tony was born on July 24, 1983 in Placerville CA. Tony was predeceased by his mother

Regina Guedea who passed away May 2010 and his sister Roxanne Eason who passed March 2022. He is survived by his Daughter Bella Rodriguez (13), Father, Sammy Guedea and his 12 siblings between both sides of his family.

Tony was a strong willed Italian man who was stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. He loved to tease his siblings and always had a funny remark to say. He was generous, loyal, and brave. His favorite past times were cooking an Italian meal for his family and bringing in the holiday season surrounded by those he loved. He loved to ride dirt bikes, roller skate, working out, travel and to be on his boat. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge he gained through real estate, being a national sales executive.

He will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them, and if you knew him, you knew it. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and full of love for those who went before him. He will be missed dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Patrick Church on September 12, at 1:00 pm, followed by a luncheon for everyone to gather together.

Stay up to date with a subscription to the MD website: mtdemocrat.com. Call (530) 622-1255.

Helen Marie Howe nee Budmark

Feb. 6, 1928 – Aug. 14, 2023

Helen Marie Howe nee Budmark was preceded in death by her husband Ernie Howe and survived by their two children, Larry Howe and Sherry Howe.

Helen was a member of the Mountain Girls, a social and service organization in Camino during the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1950s when the first women’s bowling leagues were being established, Helen bowled at the Pear Bowl which was located on Main Street in Placerville and was part of the group of women who organized the Hangtown Women’s Bowling Association.

Helen worked at Hangtown Lanes for a number of years and then at Fosters Freeze. She was a volunteer at the Senior Center for the lunch program and participated in the pinochle, bridge and knitting groups.

The family spent many happy years as members of the El Dorado Jeepherders and enjoyed camping all over California and Nevada.

Helen requested no services. Her children were present at her internment.

Patrick David Pettibone

March 9, 1969 – Aug. 19, 2023

Patrick David Pettibone, 54, died on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at his residence.

Although Pat always claimed he wasn’t born (but instead found under a rock), he was born March 9, 1969 in Sacramento to Thomas and Veronica Pettibone. In 1991, he married Krystal Wright and the two of them had four children together: Carrie Faith, Angelica, Jessica, and Matthew. Even though their marriage ended, the two shared responsibility and love for their four kids.

In 1999, he followed in his dad’s footsteps by going to work for Teichert. Six years later, in 2005, he went into business for himself, beginning Pettibone Land Company. After several years, he closed his business and went to work for his father’s business, TLP Systems.

Pat loved his children and granddaughter more than anything, always keeping photos of them nearby. He and his son, Matthew, had a shared love of airplanes. The two of them would go watch planes at the airport and watch Dogfights together.

He was passionate about music and spent much of his later years creating handmade guitars from reclaimed wood. His creative ways extended beyond guitars, as he could often be found tinkering with one thing or another. Pat had an amazing talent for cooking delicious meals from scratch. He loved working in his garden, turning the grounds of his childhood home into a little oasis.

He is survived by his children, Carrie Faith (Grant) Taylor, Angelica (Connor) LaBu , Jessica Pettibone, and Matthew Pettibone; his granddaughter, Josephine; his brothers, Steven Pettibone and Michael Pettibone; his father, Tom Pettibone; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

Patrick was preceded in death by his mother, Veronica Pettibone.

A celebration of life will be held at 3:33 p.m. Friday, October 13, 2023 at Chapel of the Pines in Placerville, with Pastor Raul Granillo o ciating. The family requests that anyone attending wear their favorite tie dye to honor Pat’s memory. For those without tie dye, rainbow or pink clothing can be worn to remember Pat’s colorful personality.

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

Aug. 16

6:54 a.m. Grand theft was reported at a store on Francisco Drive in El Dorado Hills.

10:24 a.m. Battery was reported on Fairway Drive in Cameron Park.

11:03 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Mineshaft Lane in Shingle Springs.

11:40 a.m. Battery was reported at the high school on Garden Valley Road in Garden Valley.

12:58 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 51-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license and a felony parole violation on Elkhorn Mill Road in Pollock Pines. He was listed in custody.

1:44 p.m. Deputies cited a subject after responding to a suspicious person report infant of a store on Front Street in Georgetown.

8:06 p.m. California Highway Patrol officer booked into jail a 21-year-old man suspected on DUI on Highway 49 (location not specified). He was later released.

8:35 p.m. California Highway Patrol officer booked into jail a 36-year-old man suspected on DUI on Highway 50 near El Dorado Road in Placerville. He was later released.

9:19 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Suffolk Way in El Dorado Hills.

Aug. 17

1:22 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 49-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. He was later released.

4:29 a.m. Deputies made an arrest after responding to a vandalism report on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville.

8:45 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of a felony probation violation on Pleasant Valley Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody.

8:48 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Gold Country Drive in El Dorado.

9:34 a.m. Battery was reported at a clinic on Honpie Road in Placerville.

10:04 a.m. Battery was reported on Sottile Lane in Shingle Springs.

12:29 p.m. Deputies made an arrest after responding to a verbal disturbance on Mother Lode Drive in Shingle Springs.

12:44 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old woman

suspected of possession of a controlled substance on Coach Lane in Cameron Park. She was later released.

1:54 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 35-year-old man suspected of unlawful possession/use of tear gas on Serrano Parkway in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $95,000 bail.

2:35 p.m. Vandalism was reported at an apartment complex on Market Court in Shingle Springs.

3:10 p.m. Battery was reported at a school on Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

4 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Business Drive in Shingle Springs.

4:21 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 31-year-old man suspected of a felony probation violation and obstruction on Jacquier Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $11,000 bail.

4:51 p.m. Grand theft was reported on Highway 193 in Greenwood.

8:46 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 47-year-old man suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was later released.

10:46 p.m. Burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park.

Aug. 18

12:29 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 50-year-old man suspected of battery and a felony probation violation on Topaz Lane in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody in lieu of $5,000 bail.

1:25 a.m. A person allegedly drunk in public was reported at a bar on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.

8:53 a.m. Battery was reported at a school on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.

12:08 p.m. Vandalism was reported at a winery on Larsen Drive in Camino.

2:26 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 23-year-old man suspected of burglary, vehicle theft and theft of personal property, possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia, transporting a controlled substance and felony probation violations on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. He was listed in custody in lieu of $355,000 bail.

2:41 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 23-year-old man suspected of possession of a stolen vehicle and a felony probation violation on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills. He was later released.

3:52 p.m. Grand theft was reported at a store on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.

State launches online wildfire resilience tracker

News release

The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force has launched the beta version of a first-of-its-kind interagency treatment dashboard that displays the size and location of state and federal forest and landscape resilience projects in California.

View the dashboard at wildfiretaskforce.org/treatmentdashboard.

The dashboard offers a onestop-shop to access data, provide transparency and align the efforts of more than a dozen agencies to build resilient landscapes and communities in California, according to a news release. It reports treatment activities such as prescribed fire, targeted grazing, uneven-aged timber harvest, mechanical and hand fuels reduction and tree planting. Users can sort treatments by region, county, land ownership and more.

“Thanks to historic funding from our Legislature and Gov. Newsom, over 1,000 wildfire resilience projects are in motion across the state to protect communities and our diverse landscapes from catastrophic wildfire,” states California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, co-chair of the task force. “Now we can track our progress like never before through this public interagency dashboard. It identifies where projects are happening, what kind of work is happening in a given location and how much overall resilience work is being done. It’s one more step forward in building a comprehensive, durable approach to increasing our wildfire resilience in years to come.”

“This dashboard delivers a new tool for collaboration among agencies and communities,” notes U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien, who co-chairs the task force

Gas station robbery suspect nabbed in Tahoe

Mountain Democrat staff

with Crowfoot. “Having access to treatment information in this format will allow us to coordinate landscape scale activities aimed at restoring and enhancing ecosystem resilience.”

The dashboard compiles data from a range of organizations and government departments — many of which have different reporting requirements guiding how they capture information. While individual reporting tools and data will sometimes differ from this statewide snapshot, the dashboard brings these different reporting approaches together as a single and streamlined reporting tool. Key differences are addressed in the dashboard website FAQs .

“This dashboard shows how far we’ve come, the significant efforts under way and our firm commitment to future work,” states Cal Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler.

“As our many partners share data and outcomes to a central place, the mission of protecting communities and natural resources will remain the common thread driving our work. This new tool will also provide first responders a snapshot of where treatment has occurred to help inform fire suppression efforts.”

Officials add that the dashboard is a step to increase the pace and scale of statewide actions addressing California’s wildfire crisis and is a key deliverable of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan issued by the task force in January 2021.

The beta version of the dashboard will continue to be refined to include additional data, including projects by local and tribal entities, along with revisions based on public feedback. An official launch is expected spring 2024.

Housing El Dorado working to ‘Jumpstart’ in-law units

Isaac Streeter

Staff writer

Housing El Dorado is hosting a roundtable from noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, for real estate and construction professionals on building an accessory dwelling unit in El Dorado County.

ADUs are described by the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s website as an “innovative and effective option for adding much needed housing in California” and are more commonly referred to as “granny flats” or “in-law units.”

The goal of the meeting is to learn about and discuss the challenges and barriers to building ADUs in El Dorado County. To register for the

meeting visit eldoradoadu.org.

“We’d love to hear about your experiences,” states a Housing El Dorado press release. “We’ll use the information gathered to tailor our work toward the areas that need the most improvement, as part of our Jumpstart ADU project. HED is working with El Dorado County and the city of Placerville to streamline the ADU public information, planning, permitting, funding and construction process. We invite your participation.”

Housing El Dorado is a nonprofit organization and a fund of the El Dorado Community Foundation. For more information on the Jumpstart ADU project or any other programs visit housingeldorado.org or email HED at housingeldorado@gmail. com.

Hunter assistance needed in mountain quail study

Peter Tira California Department of Fish and Wildlife

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking hunters to provide mountain quail samples for the California Conservation Genomics Project and for the department’s own genetic library.

This work is a continuation of a mountain quail study project initiated in the fall 2022. CDFW will accept samples from throughout the native mountain quail range but is particularly interested in mountain quail from Southern California, including the following mountain ranges: Santa Lucia, Diablo, San Gabriel, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Laguna, southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi and east toward the Cottonwood Mountains and Panamint Range.

Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) are challenging birds for bird watchers and

hunters alike due to their secretive behavior within their preferred rugged, forested habitat. Despite their flamboyant plumage and popularity, mountain quail are reclusive and are more often heard than seen. Their shy nature means that biologists need more information to better understand and manage the species, the largest of all quail species in the U.S.

CDFW is collecting samples to understand genetic diversity and

On Aug. 30 at about 3:30 p.m. South Lake Tahoe police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Chevron gas station at the corner of Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Winnemucca Avenue.

A suspect, later identified as William Ehlers, entered the gas station and held the clerk at gunpoint, according to an information from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Ehlers reportedly left with an undisclosed amount of money and an energy drink.

Surveillance video showed the suspect had identifiable tattoos and a black handgun.

About an hour and a half after the robbery, police officers tracked the suspect to a home on the 800 block Taylor Way. The SLTPD SWAT Team was activated and a search warrant was obtained. Ehlers was taken into custody without force and the home was searched. Police say the gun and energy drink were recovered.

Ehlers was booked at

Dr. Little’s Dental News

YOUR FIRST FILLING

If you’re receiving a filling for the first time, you may be wondering what to expect, if it will hurt, and how long it takes? Most simple fillings require an hour-long appointment. The dentist will begin by using a topical numbing agent to numb the area before injecting an anesthetic numbing agent. This crucial step ensures you will not feel any pain during the treatment. Next, depending on the cavity’s location, you may have a rubber dam inserted into your mouth to help the dentist better access the treatment area. Then the dentist will use either a drill, laser, or air abrasion instrument to remove decay from the tooth. After the area is

sufficiently cleaned, the cavity is filled. We will always explain to you any procedures that may be part of the treatment plan we design to meet your dental needs. We offer this column in the hopes of educating the general public about the benefits of oral health. If we can help, either by answering questions or by providing comprehensive dental care, please call us. State-of-theart dentistry and a dedicated professional dental team make our office the ideal place to achieve optimum oral health.

P.S. Dental filling material options include composite resin, amalgam, ionomers, gold, or ceramics.

NEUROPATHY IS A PROGRESSIVE CONDITION!

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and may also lead to serious balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood ow to the nerves in the hands and feet. If not properly treated this lack of blood ow may cause the nerves to degenerate.

Healthy Nerve

Healthy Blood Vessels

Diseased Blood Vessels

Nerves Shrivel when Blood Vessels Weak and Disappear

As you can see in Figure 1, as the blood vessels surrounding the nerves become diseased they shrink and shrivel. This process hastens the ow of vital nutrients to the nerves required to remain healthy. When these nerves begin to “die” it could lead to balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling and burning symptoms in the hands and feet.

Figure 1

In order to effectively treat your neuropathy 3 factors must be determined.

What is the underlying cause? 1

How much nerve damage has been sustained? 2

How much treatment will your condition require? 3

Our advanced treatment method has 3 main goals

Increase Blow ow 1

Stimulate small ber nerves 2

Decrease brain based pain 3

population structure (how genetically different each subpopulation is from those surrounding it). If a subpopulation becomes isolated, it may be more susceptible to inbreeding, disease and sudden landscape changes like large-scale wildfires. When upland game bird biologists research a species’ population genetics and combine it with research on habitat use, breeding

Patient

Photo courtesy of South Lake Tahoe Police Department

A surveillance camera inside the South Lake Tahoe gas station captured William Ehlers during the Aug. 30 armed robbery.

Courtesy photo

Mountain quail are depicted in 2021 Upland Game Bird Stamp art by Jeffrey Klinefelter. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is studying subpopulations of mountain quail.

n See quail, page A6

n See robbery page A5

State law treats some violent crimes as nonviolent, lets offenders off the hook

I’m doing something here that I’ve never done before while writing more than 10,000 columns about California politics: give over some space to a fellow pundit.

Emily Hoeven, a former CalMatters staffer who now opines for the San Francisco Chronicle, has written frequently about misguided California legislators who refuse to classify domestic violence and other horrendous crimes as violent.

Hoeven’s most recent missive points out that a former policeman who allegedly opened fire in an Orange County bar last month, killing three people and wounding six others, was apparently targeting his estranged wife.

“Although details are still emerging, the horrific incident appears to be the latest to underscore the undeniable connection between domestic violence and mass shootings,” she wrote. “Research has found that in more than 68% of U.S. mass shootings from 2014 through 2019, the shooter either had a history of domestic violence or killed at least one partner or family member.

“The gunman who killed 11 and injured nine in a January mass shooting at a Monterey Park (Los Angeles County) dance hall may have been hunting his ex-wife,” Hoeven continued. “Last year a man shot and killed his three daughters and their adult chaperone at a supervised family

n

Letters to the Editor

Is Newsom fit to be president?

EDITOR:

Gov. Gavin Newsom sanctions killing babies in the birth canal. Infanticide. Gov. Newsom sanctions killing babies weighing 5 to 7 pounds and more in the womb. Virtual infanticide.

Is someone who sanctions killing babies in the birth canal fit to be president of the United States?

Is someone who deceives the voters to get his proposition passed fit to be President of the United States?

Gov. Newsom and his colleagues deceived the voters in promoting Proposition 1. They concealed the fact that it allows babies to be killed in the birth canal. They concealed the fact that it allows babies weighing 5 pounds and more to be aborted. They sold it as “American as apple pie.” They promoted this proposition as a woman’s freedom to choose her reproductive health. Who would oppose a woman’s freedom to choose?

California officials have stopped reporting abortion statistics because they don’t want the world to know what they are doing. Gov. Newsom sanctions this subterfuge.

The proponents of Proposition 1 say that only 1% of abortions occur in the third trimester. But in 2022 there were more than 150,000 abortions performed in California. Therefore, there were probably more than 1,500 third trimester abortions performed that year. Most third trimester abortions are not done for health reasons.

There are only three other countries in the world that allow third trimester abortions. They are Communist China, Communist North Korea and socialist led Canada.

A June 2021 Associated Press survey showed that 80% of Americans say that third trimester

abortions should be illegal. It is estimated that over 95% of people believe that killing babies in the birth canal should be illegal. Killing babies in the birth canal is what psychopaths would do.

CURT WEIDMER, MD, MPH

Former El Dorado County health officer

Photo shoot

EDITOR:

Expect Donald Trump’s pictures to appear in GQ magazine soon, in a photo layout of the ex-President having taken residence in Fulton County, Georgia. Gone will be the blue suit, white shirt and red tie, all to be replaced by a single orange jumpsuit, perfectly coordinated with his hair and skin.

JOHN GARON Placerville

Another ‘ism’

EDITOR:

The Mountain Democrat has been posting a plethora of anti-Christian letters to the editor lately. It appears that these writers are emboldened to post more bigoted hate speech every time the MD airs their posts as if the MD is condoning their hate speech. Christians comprise hundreds of different religions and are not a monolith in their beliefs or value system.

Ironic how the same people who spew hatred towards Christians demand understanding of antiChristian organizations. And in the new codes of conduct the MD demands we be nice and don’t espouse any “isms” whatsoever. Isn’t secularism an “ism”?

KEN STEERS Cameron Park

The Balancing Act Rules pushing people too far and out of California

Ihave written in past columns that the government doesn’t want you to own a car or a single-family residence and the reasons for my thinking are exemplified by recent statements made by leftist elitists and their actions — pushing legislation and regulation.

We know about the federal leftist elitists banning gas and diesel vehicles and trucks by 2035 and their push to ban gas stoves, but there are others at state levels who are doing it too.

First on the list is San Diego Assemblyman Chris Ward, a Harvardtrained and indoctrinated urban planner. In 2022 he helped get antigun legislation signed into law and also authored a law that changes procedures (making it easier) for changing gender and sex identifiers on government documents.

Ward has introduced Assembly Bill 68, which would change the law to make it very difficult and expensive to build anything but multifamily, high-rise apartments. That gets done by changing zoning laws and approval procedures, allowing them (high-rise) to be built in single-family neighborhoods and industrial areas close to a city’s center. It’s called “climate smart” urban housing.

This is the first step of ridding us of suburbs. Ward’s ideas are nothing more than a warehouse for human beings (Soviet style). If another COVID outbreak hits the government will simply lock up the building. Welcome to Ward’s brave new world.

The bill may be dead for now, but as with all zealots, I expect it to be back.

While Ward wants everyone warehoused in high-rise apartments, he lives in the eclectic University Heights area of San Diego where a one-bedroom, one-bath, 600-squarefoot apartment-type home sells for $400,000 and up; a 3,000-squarefoot home costs several million.

Another California quasigovernment official wants to take away your freedom and car, electric or internal combustion engine. Orville Thomas is CalStart’s policy director, a non-governmental environmental organization closely allied with the current California administration. In the past Thomas has said private car ownership created social inequities in a recent CalMatters discussion panel on the clean car debacle.

Thomas said during that panel discussion, “We have to reduce the amount of cars on the road —that’s transit, that’s micro-mobility (small

And what are

mobility options? Not electricity,

electric bikes, trikes and scooters), that’s clean mobility options, that’s e-bikes (see micro mobility). We need to plan better if we are talking about the economic divide.”

In summary he wants to take away your right to personal transportation, force you into an apartment and spread misery equally. This sounds like socialism to me.

Little reported is there have been more than 300 lithium-ion battery fires alone in New York City since 2022, resulting in dozens of injuries and deaths. A fire last June in NYC killed four people in a six-story apartment building when a charging lithium bike battery exploded at 12:15 a.m. at an e-bike shop located on the first floor.

And what are “clean” mobility options? Not electricity, as 60% of electricity comes from those dreaded “fossil fuels.” Of course, this is all predicated on a belief in the religion of global warming.

As you might expect, Thomas’ credentials precede him in what appears to be a long-term indoctrination. He was the government relations director for Lion Electric, a maker of all electric trucks and school buses. Later as director of government affairs at

the California Immigrant Policy Center, he worked with the Newsom administration on the expansion of health care for disadvantaged communities (welfare). Earlier, he was Jerry Brown’s spokesperson for the high-speed rail authority, the $100 billion train to nowhere, and he worked to pass a $5.4 billion annual increase in California’s transportation infrastructure. This guy is good at spending other people’s money … until you run out. With all socialism, that always happens. Thomas’ indoctrination includes a master’s of public policy from University of California, Berkeley.

Both Ward and Thomas are good at telling other people how they should live and the lifestyle choices they should make. Certainly, Thomas is a loser when it comes to ideas. Of the nearly 40 million Californians, only he and a few others wanted highspeed rail to nowhere.

Both these guys belong to the church of global warming and, based on their beliefs, they want you to significantly modify your lifestyle. If you won’t comply voluntarily, they will force you. They already have your children indoctrinated through the

n See Weitzman, page A5

LArry WEITzMAN

See Walters, page A5

“clean”

as 60% of electricity comes from those dreaded “fossil fuels.”

DAN WALTErs

summary California law classifies some violent crimes, such as spousal abuse, as nonviolent for punishment purposes, and the Legislature has so far refused to make changes.

Transit to hold public workshops

mountain Democrat staff

El Dorado Transit management aims to review and upgrade its services through two upcoming public workshops.

Both workshops are slated for Monday, Sept. 11. The first begins at 10 a.m. at the Placerville Library, 345 Fair Lane; an evening workshop follows at 6:30 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District offices, 1021 Harvard Way.

El Dorado Transit officials note public input will be incorporated into recommendations for an update to transit plans.

The public was also invited to share ideas on how to improve service earlier this year during two workshops held in May.

For more information call El Dorado Transit at (530) 642-5383 or visit its website at eldoradotransit. com.

Robbery Continued from A3

the El Dorado County Jail in Tahoe and charged with felony armed robbery; as of press time his bail was set at $150,000, according to online inmate information.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to email SLTPD detectives at crimetips@ cityofslt.us and reference case 2308-0255.

Crossword

Walters Continued from A4 visit at a Sacramento church. And the three men charged with murder in Sacramento’s deadliest shooting last year, which left six dead and 12 injured, all had histories of domestic violence.

“And that means lawmakers should take the longoverdue step of changing California’s penal code to classify domestic violence as a ‘violent’ crime.

“Despite its name, California considers domestic violence to be a ‘nonviolent’ offense. This means convicted abusers can more quickly shave time off their sentences and seek expedited release from prison. It also limits prosecutors’ ability to pursue steeper sentences for repeat offenders.

“This needs to change.”

Hoeven noted that earlier this year, the Assembly’s (perhaps misnamed) Public Safety Committee rejected a Republican bill to classify domestic violence as a violent crime, which would have made it easier to keep offenders behind bars.

This outrageous situation results from a 2016 ballot measure, sponsored principally by then-Gov. Jerry Brown and passed by voters, that purported to give those who commit nonviolent crimes chances to earn their way out of prison.

However, it was deceptive. Proposition 57’s indirect definition of a nonviolent crime was that it did not appear on a specific Penal Code list of 23 violent crimes.

That list only referred to particularly heinous crimes and omitted many offenses that ordinary folks would consider violent, including some forms of rape and domestic violence. The result is that

those who commit some unspeakable crimes, including battering one’s spouse, are given kid gloves treatment in the penal system.

Brown insisted state prison officials would continue to keep sex offenders behind bars, even though their crimes were officially deemed nonviolent. However, the state Supreme Court later declared that sex offenders were legally entitled to early releases because their crimes weren’t on the violent crime list.

Efforts in the Legislature and in ballot measures to expand California’s list of violent crimes have failed. The Legislature’s dominant Democrats are so committed to what they call “criminal justice reform” they will not entertain expansion. They even killed a bill classifying child trafficking as a serious felony until being forced by a public outcry to keep the measure alive.

Last year, for while running for a full term as attorney general, Rob Bonta declared that the state’s list of violent crimes should be expanded. Having been safely elected, however, he has not lifted a finger to make it happen.

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

Weitzman Continued from A4

schools and you are next.

If the California government keeps on this current trajectory, Thomas will get his car reduction, as 500,000 people and hundreds of businesses left the state in the last two years along with their cars — and that trend is accelerating like a Corvette.

Larry Weitzman is a resident of Placerville.

Announcements

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

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

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

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

Struggle with a hurt, hang up, or habit? ceLeBrAte recOvery meets at Radiant Church on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing from our hurts, hang ups, and habits. Email CR@radiantedc.church. Find us on Facebook at: https://www. facebook.com/CRradiantchurch.

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

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

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

Hangtown Women’s teNNis club. Join fun-loving women Wednesdays 8am-10am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $50/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

mArsHALL HOsPitAL

AUxiLiAry is looking for volunteers. It is a rewarding opportunity to do something for the community. We will be holding interviews on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Please contact Linda Grimoldi at 530-6202240 or call the Auxiliary Office at 530-626-2643.

mONDAy cLUB BriDGe seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. For more information, call (530) 622-1180.

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

tAxPAyers AssOciAtiON Of eL DOrADO cOUNty

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

COMiCS

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

Oak Ridge SoCal game a nail-biter

n

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Isaac Streeter Staff writer El Dorado County high schools posted a 2-3 record over the weekend. The Oak Ridge Trojans were on the road playing a neutral site game in San Diego against the Madison Warhawks Friday afternoon. The game was Southern California’s Honor Bowl, a game dedicated to educating communities about patriotism and raising funds for wounded veterans. Oak Ridge’s varsity squad took home yet another nail-biting victory. Leading 22-14 with less than a minute to play, the Trojans gave up a touchdown but broke up a 2-point conversion with seconds left to play to secure a 22-20 victory over the Warhawks. Now 3-0, the Trojans will return to El Dorado County for the Northern California edition of the Honor Bowl to take on 1-1 Clayton Valley Charter at home Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.

The Ponderosa Bruins varsity squad got the weekend rolling early with a Thursday matchup on the road versus Bella Vista. The Bruins came out hot with receiver Caleb Smithee hauling in two touchdown catches in the first half. Pondo held a 22-7 lead over the Broncos with minutes to play in the third quarter. Bella Vista went on to rattle off three straight touchdowns to take a lead. Smithee and his squad wouldn’t go quietly as he housed a punt return touchdown that evened the score at 29 apiece. The Broncos iced the game on a rushing touchdown with less than a minute to play, taking a 36-29 victory over visiting Ponderosa. The now 1-2 Bruins will get a bye week.

The Union Mine Diamondbacks continue to roll through their opponents, taking down the Amador Buffaloes 42-17 at home Friday night. Union Mine’s wing T offense dates back to a time of leather helmets

in the football scene but even with 90 years of lead time no one has been able to figure out how to stop head coach Brandon Pacheco’s squad.

The Diamondbacks galloped for 343 yards and six scores enroute to its third-straight victory of the year. The team will play host to the 2-1 Colfax Falcons, which have defeated the last two opponents by a combined score of 93-19. Kickoff is scheduled to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.

The Golden Sierra Grizzlies were shut out at home by Stone Ridge Christian 42-0 in their second match of the season following last week’s bye. Senior quarterback Jordan Harper was held to just four completions on 14 attempts while the Golden Sierra backfield managed 3.7 yards a carry on 27 attempts. They’ll look to get back in the win column with a road matchup versus 0-3 the Foresthill High Wildfires. Play will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.

Complete

The El Dorado Cougars were held to 92 yards of offense in a 50-6 drubbing from the Twelve Bridges Raging Rhinos Friday night. The lone score of the night for the Cougars came on a 91-yard kick return touchdown from junior Jack Tillman. El Dorado drops to 0-3 on the year, their worst start since 2018. The Cougars will now visit Sutter County to take on the 1-1 East Nicolaus Spartans in a 7:30 matchup Friday, Sept. 8.

The Mountain Democrat’s sports section aims to cover more than football. If you saw a great game, played in one or have one coming up that you think should be covered, email staff writer Isaac Streeter at isaac@ mtdemocrat.com.

n TODAy

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s hard to go in smiling when you are anxious about what’s next, but even the smallest attitude adjustment can reduce your angst. With every task completed, you develop a stronger belief in your ability to handle challenges.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Progress is not always linear. Expecting it to be will set you up for difficulties. Today it’s better to focus on your efforts than results. What matters is that your work has a continuous rhythm and that you don’t give up.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Almost everything good in your world started out as a problem, but you turned it into treasure. You welcome the difficulties of the day and don’t mind getting your hands dirty because you know the secret: Gold is found in the dirt.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re so good at imagining yourself reaching a goal that you can envision the scene from many angles. Don’t forget to add the dimension of feeling to this powerful exercise. With every pass, add more contentment and satisfaction.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). An insidious social media feed can make you aware of status signals you didn’t even know existed until you started feeling bad about not having them. Steer to healthier influences. Spend time on activities that make you feel fulfilled.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve a gift for brainstorming, and your talent is even hotter today than usual. There are hundreds of readily available ways to solve the same problem, and you’ll come up with dozens more bespoke options perfectly suited to you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When you think about your progress and all you’ve been able to attract, work for and maintain so far, you feel capable, lucky and grateful. Going forward, don’t forget to celebrate minor achievements. It’s good for morale.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Reaching out is a sign of strength. Your pride is not so fragile that it hinges on one accomplishment. You could get help with 100 things and it wouldn’t diminish your capability or affect your worth, which is innate.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ve been assertive, fought when it was warranted, even changed the game with your rebellious spirit. But now it feels good to relax. You’ve earned this moment of comfort.

Let down your guard and trust.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). External factors and personal circumstances contribute to your mood, but the strongest influence will be your determination to see what’s good, beautiful and interesting around you. You’re an explorer, giddy for discovery.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People agree to terms they don’t read every day -- it’s become a regular part of modern life. Today it will benefit you from reading some of the fine print -- the part with the numbers.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll have the opportunity to make a sale. Whether it’s about a product, idea or relationship, you will be charming and persuasive in your own laid-back way, mostly because your sincere desire is to help people out however you can.

ecology and survival, they can better understand and manage both the species and its habitat.

CDFW is asking mountain quail hunters to submit a whole bird when possible. If this is not possible, CDFW will accept wings or organs (specifically hearts and livers), as the goal is to extract DNA from the tissue. If hunters are lucky enough to harvest multiple mountain quail, be sure to keep the birds separate from each other. Vinyl gloves and Ziploc bags work well to avoid cross-contamination. Keep samples frozen until you contact a department biologist.

To submit mountain quail samples, ask questions or request more information about this research, contact CDFW’s Upland Game Program staff by email at uplandgamemgmt@wildlife. ca.gov. CDFW will coordinate with hunters to receive the samples. CDFW

will collect the hunter’s name, hunt location, date and catalog each sample but will not publish this information or share these details publicly.

California’s early mountain quail season opens Sept. 9 and runs through Oct. 20 in the Q1 Quail Hunt Zone in the northernmost counties of the state and along much of the eastern Sierra, including a portion of El Dorado County. Other mountain quail hunting opportunities follow within the coastal Q2 Quail Hunt Zone and the balance of the state Q3 Quail Hunt Zone with a season that extends to Jan. 28, 2024. Quail seasons and a quail hunt zone map are available at CDFW’s Upland Game Bird Hunting webpage at bit.ly/ uplandgamebird as well as the 2023-24 California Waterfowl, Upland Game and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations booklet, also available online at bit.ly/gamebirdregs.

n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

RUBES by Leigh Rubin

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis

Quail Continued from A3

Photo courtesy of Kristen Roeder

The Oak Ridge Trojans take the field for the Honor Bowl in Southern California Sept. 1. The Trojans recorded a narrow 22-20 victory to get to 3-0 on the year.

Mountain Democrat file photo by Isaac Streeter

Ponderosa receiver back Caleb Smithee brought in three touchdowns for the Bruins Friday night at Bella Vista.

Nor*Cal Posse rocks Placerville quarter-mile

Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway

The Nor*Cal Posse Shootout brought thrills and ultimately ended with 2023 Placerville Speedway track champion Michael Faccinto parking this X1 machine in victory lane.

San Jose’s Shawn Jones also drove to an entertaining win during the Wingless Shootout portion of the evening on Saturday.

The 30-lap winged sprint car finale turned out to be a wild backand-forth affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Hanford’s Faccinto jumped into the early lead and held command.

Lapped traffic made things hectic early on and created some fantastic

Defensible space

Continued from A1

“This one is exciting,” Meyer told the board, adding that FEMA and the California Office of Emergency Services are anticipating this project to be a success.

“We are still ironing out all of the details, working through tasks and identifying resources, but both phases would include a combination of staff time and outside consultants or contractors.”

El Dorado County became one of six jurisdictions to be awarded the grant, according to District 3 Supervisor and Chair Wendy Thomas, who congratulated Meyer and his team.

“This is a significant opportunity and none of this would have been possible without your robust collaboration and coordination in establishing this office,” Thomas told Meyer. “(We) are excited to see what this will do for our county.

The Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience, formed in July 2022, has been working to implement a countywide wildfire protection strategy to create and maintain fire-adapted communities through education and outreach, inspections, complaint investigations and enforcement.

The office hired defensible space inspector Richard Galvin in July to help with these efforts and continues to coordinate with the Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Coordination Group to address defensible spacing countywide. Stakeholders comprising that group include the office itself, El Dorado Fire Safe Council, El Dorado County Fire Chiefs Association, Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, El Dorado and Georgetown Divide resource conservation districts, Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit, Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County Office of Emergency Services and El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers Association representatives.

Additionally, the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience has identified five emphasis areas in which to conduct public outreach on defensible spacing and home hardening — Upper Apache in Meyers, Stewart Mine in Kelsey, Texas Hill in Placerville, Bassi Road in Lotus and Outingdale in Somerset.

The office will offer various defensible space informational workshops for residents of these areas. Office representatives have already held workshops in Garden Valley and South Lake Tahoe and will visit Lotus 6-8 p.m. Sept. 6 at El Dorado County Fire Protection District Station 74, Placerville 6-8 p.m. Dec. 7 at Placerville Town Hall and Somerset 6-8 p.m. March 5, 2024, at Pioneer Park Community Center.

In its defensible space program, Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience staff members have drafted an update to the county’s defensible space ordinance they hopes will be ready for first reading by the board by October. They have also completed more than 500 chipping and defensible space jobs costing more than $300,000 and trained 70 evaluators to help conduct defensible space assessments, many from fire safe councils. Also on the plate is a new centralized online GIS system and project data management tool that allows the public to view all defensible space and wildfire mitigation projects occurring in the county. The Office of Wildfire Preparedenss and Resilience is collaborating with the Surveyor’s Office on the mapping tool.

“One of the benefits of this is being able to map out all the projects that are in process or planned across various county departments or outside organizations so you can see the areas where theres an overlap or potential coordination and planning of efforts on a larger scale,” Meyer told the board.

The map, which can be found on the office’s website at edcgov.us/Government/CAO/OWPR, shows Cal Fire’s targeted hazards, resource conservation district projects and community wildfire protection plan areas and more.

When discussing recommendations on implementing wildfire protection and preparedness plans, supervisors directed attention to looking into lobbying for better fire insurance policies, recognizing the challenges in providing affordable fire insurance to the public.

Sue Hennike, the county’s deputy chief administrative officer, told supervisors they could consider getting involved with the fire insurance side of the coin but the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience has been focused on efforts to practice defensible space and home hardening, adding that representatives from the Office of the State Fire Marshal have been engaged with the defensible space working group.

“They are accutely aware of the issues all over the state regarding fire insurance coverage, so we will continue to do what we can on a state level,” Hennike told the board. “However, our specific goal is to make our communities more adaptable to wildfire and not because insurance rates have gone up or any other reason other than us trying to save lives and property, which eventually may impact (positively) the availability of insurance if we can

focus on what we can do here locally ... the costs and everything else would have to be addressed somewhere else but all that we can try to do is mitigate the risk.”

Among a plethora of recommendations, the board notably unanimously approved to give direction to

Crossword

bullring racing. Roseville’s Colby Copeland and Auburn’s Andy Forsberg hounded the leader and on lap seven Copeland pounced to grab the point. Forsberg followed along just after to take over second.

The first yellow of the feature came on lap 13 and brought the party to a momentary halt. On the ensuing restart Forsberg blasted around the outside to snag the top spot, only to have another caution make it all for naught. Once going back green the racing remained hot and heavy throughout the field. With nine-laps remaining, Copeland banged the turn two cushion a bit hard, while Forsberg took advantage to become the new leader.

Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience staff to look into getting involved with giving feedback on fire insurance related issues on a statewide level and to look into incorporating the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a stakeholder in the Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Coordination Group.

ANSWER

Michael Faccinto, a winged-360 driver out of Hanford, lead the pack in the Nor*Cal Posse Shootout Saturday at Placerville Speedway.

Photo courtesy of Tim Holland n See speedway page A8

Devil’s Garden

Speedway Continued from A6

A couple laps later Copeland would stop with front-end damage and shortly after that, Forsberg also slowed with a fuel line coming loose. It was a definite heartbreak for the nine-time champion, who has been in contention to win each of the last four events.

Faccinto led the remaining six laps to score his second career Placerville winged 360 victory over Oakley’s Dylan Bloomfield, Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Shingle Springs’ Justin Johnson and Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox. Johnson must be commended for putting together his finest night of the season and initial top five finish since 2016.

The remainder of the top 10 was filled out by 15th-starting Tony Gomes, Colby Johnson, Shane Hopkins, Kaleb Montgomery and Tanner Carrick.

A total of 29 cars competed on night one of the Nor*Cal Posse Shootout, with Colby Copeland claiming the fast time award using a lap of 10.807. Night two of the Nor*Cal Posse Shootout was canceled due to rain.

Shawn Jones has proven to be one of the very best in California when it comes to wingless sprint car racing. That was on full display Saturday night after he brought home the win in the wingless shootout opener.

Jones started from the front row and held command but the racing behind him was actionpacked as drivers ran side-by-side throughout the 20-car field.

Fair Oaks’ Jake Morgan and Placerville’s Shane Hopkins battled closely with Finkerbinder Racing

teammates Jacob Tuttle and Blake Bower on several occasions. Jones ended up accepting the checkered flag by a 2.412-second margin of victory over Morgan, Hopkins, Tutttle and Bower.

The top 10 was rounded out by Mark Hanson, Shawn Arriaga, Brent Steck, Trey Walters and Josh Young. A total of 28 wingless sprint cars were on hand during the night. Arriaga began the evening by touring the quarter-mile in 12.315 seconds to earn the fast time award.

Up next at Placerville Speedway Sept. 16 is the 49er Gold Rush Classic. Racing will feature the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Nor-Cal Dwarf Cars. While grandstand seating is sold out, pit seating is available and can be purchased online; for more information visit placervillespeedway.com.

5.17

Photos by Nick Pesola Placerville

resident Nick Pesola shared these wildflower photos taken on his hike into an area he said is known as Devil’s Garden near Tragedy Creek in the Silver Fork Road area where the Caldor Fire burned. Using an iPhone he was able to capture up-close images that show the intricate features of the flora. Photos were taken between June and August with this year’s plentiful snowmelt seeming to give plant life in the scarred forest a superbloom.

A bumble bee visits a clarkia blossom.

Bitterbrush

Torrey’s monkeyflower

Narrow-leaved lotus

A hawk moth sips nectar from a thistle (cirsium).

In the KNOW

Stellar student

Congratulations to Oak Ridge High School student

Beverly Charles, who recently won the Major La-Goge W. Graham Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is to honor Major La-Goge W. Graham and support graduating JROTC cadets or undergraduates in ROTC programs in the United States.

Sept. 6

Jonny Mojo will perform solo at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville, 6-9 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Grover Anderson & the Lampoliers will perform at Valhalla Tahoe’s Boathouse Theatre at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.showare. com.

Sept. 7

El Dorado Hills Town Center hosts the final Live on the Boulevard free concert featuring Uptown Funk. Set up begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.

The Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber of Commerce hosts a mixer at Blissful Gardens Care, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 4120 Product Drive in Cameron Park.

UCCE Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County hosts On the (Dry) Spicy Herbal Trail, a free, in-person class, 6-7:30 p.m. at 311 Fair Lane in Placerville. For more information visit ucanr.edu/ sites/mfp_of_cs/Classes_-_ Events.

Category 5 – A benefit for Anthony Catalano of Little Hurricane takes place at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville, 7-10 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

El Dorado Musical Theatre’s High Voltage group presents Back to Broadway, 7 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Sept. 8

The Georgetown Historical Aircraft event will be held Sept. 8-10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. This is an opportunity for the public to view historical aircraft at the Georgetown Airport in Georgetown.

Those who put on the display love aviation and they enjoy sharing their knowledge with visitors, especially the kids, and many will allow kids to have their photo taken with the planes or in the cockpits. It is necessary to get out of cars and walk the area to see the aircraft on display.

Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open every Friday and Saturday for open garden days, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on site to assist with any gardening questions.

Check the website before visiting at ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

Triple Threat will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.

Knuf will perform at

Conlan Kisilewicz said it was amazing to hear these words from actor Tom Sizemore when the 2015 Oak Ridge High School graduate attended the latter’s acting class several years ago.

And Sizemore went far beyond words for the up-andcoming actor from El Dorado Hills. Up until the veteran actor’s death in March 2023, Sizemore mentored Kisilewicz, offering advice about acting and life.

“He was such a great actor,” Kisilewicz told the Mountain Democrat. “And he gave away so much free knowledge.”

Now Kisilewicz is paying tribute to his mentor with a show near where his acting journey began. Prior to Sizemore’s death the two had been planning to star in a play together. Kisilewicz said reading with Sizemore “lit me up” but the pair didn’t get further than words on a page before a brain aneurysm took the 61-year-old’s life.

Kisilewicz pursued the

Day hiker

Eagle Falls

Fall in Tahoe!

You owe it to yourself to take the drive up Interstate 80 east to Highway 89 south toward the west side of Lake Tahoe.

Just past Vikingsholm, look for the Eagle Falls Trailhead on your right across the road from Emerald Bay.

Parking is at a premium. I have yet to get there early enough to park in the lot. I usually find a wide enough spot on the road. The upside of street parking is that it’s free, compared to the $5 fee in the lot.

Start on the west side of Highway 89. Enjoy the view of Emerald Bay. A lovely stone bridge sits under the highway over a shallow pool. As the water pours into the pool it spills over the edge into Lake Tahoe. In fall, before the rains return, there isn’t much to see, but the fall colors, the bay and the mountain peaks that surround you more than make up for it.

Look both ways before crossing back of Highway 89 to the Eagle Falls/Eagle Lake Trailhead. This is a heavily used international trail. The

project despite the tough loss. “Teeth,” written by Rick Rocha and A.L. Cook, opens at Cal Cap Black Box Theatre in Rancho Cordova Friday, Sept. 8. Actor Michael Cram, known for “Flashpoint” and “To Catch A Killer,” stars alongside Kisilewicz in the “drilling”

dramatic comedy.

“It’s really funny … a play like you’ve never seen before,” Kisilewicz shared of the show that follows two dentists, one veteran and one new to the practice, who let truths fly during a rainy day when they’re left to their own devices.

“Michael is fantastic,” Kisilewicz said. “He’s a very committed, good actor.” Kisilewicz got the acting bug thanks to a failing grade in high school drama. He asked teacher Janet Henke how

variety of languages spoken by my fellow hikers is a joy.

My youngest son married his high school sweetheart on this trail overlooking the bay last year. What a spectacular backdrop to such a special day.

If you hike back to Eagle Lake you will be entering Desolation Wilderness. State Parks require a permit to enter the wilderness. You can fill out a day hike permit at the kiosk at the trailhead. The hike has great signage and is well maintained in this congested area. Take the switchbacks of granite steps up to the bridge over the falls. It is this source that spills into the pool below. Again, in fall, not much to see but more lies ahead on this moderate one-mile hike.

The trail is well made, the vegetation is lush and the trees tower above but are small compared to the mountain peaks. No wonder people come from around the world to our Lake Tahoe.

At the split go to the right to get down to Eagle Lake. Once at Eagle Lake you may choose to stay here and take in the view or pick your way around the

Day Hiker

Mary West Outdoor columnist

Courtesy photos

Jay (Conlan Kisilewicz) and Bob (Michael Cram) are anything but all smiles when they clash in “Teeth,” opening Sept. 8 at the Cal Cap Black Box Theatre.

Noel Stack Managing editor

“Ithink you’re going to be a star; I can see it.”

Denise (Katy Halls) has an interesting appointment with the warring dentists.

Photo by Mary West

Eagle Falls in fall might look more like a drizzle but the surrounding fall color and scenery more than make up for the lack of water.

n See teeth, page B3

celebrated poets gather for special library event

California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick will present his work at the Placerville Library, 3-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. The event, a collaboration between Arts and Culture El Dorado and the El Dorado County Library, is free and open to the public.

During his visit to El Dorado County, Herrick will give a reading, host a Q&A with the audience and sign books. He will be joined by El Dorado County Poet Laureate Stephen Meadows, whose powerful, intimate poetry explores topics such as Gold Rush history, the natural wonders of the Georgetown region and his pioneer and Ohlone heritage.

The event will also feature two Emeritus Poets Laureate: Lara Gularte, who will debut the chapbook from her term as poet laureate at the event, and Taylor Graham, who served as the inaugural poet laureate of El Dorado County. The poets laureate will give readings and book signings alongside Herrick. Acoustic guitarist Peat Ryder of Ryder Thieves will provide musical accompaniment for the event.

“Poetry can change how we see the world,” noted Herrick. “It can transform the individual and illuminate the beauty and joy in this life. I am excited and looking forward to visiting El Dorado County and the Placerville Library.”

Herrick is California’s 10th poet laureate. He is a writer and professor at Fresno City College and the MFA program at the University of Nevada, Reno, at Lake Tahoe. A former Fresno Poet Laureate, Herrick’s work vividly

celebrates the California experience. He is the author of three books of poetry and has been published in several notable publications, including Bloomsbury Review and Berkeley Poetry Review.

The event marks the first time in several years that a state poet laureate has visited El Dorado County, providing a unique opportunity for residents.

“We are honored to host California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick for a special reading engagement,” noted library assistant Rina Wakefield. “We invite all residents to join us on Sept. 8 to gather in support of poetry and the arts within our community.”

To learn more visit the website artsandcultureeldorado.org/poetlaureate.

Mother

Maternity home reopen

Noel Stack Managing Editor

The Mother Teresa Maternity Home in Placerville celebrated its grand reopening last month, nearly eight months after severe storm damage forced the facility’s closure.

“We’re overjoyed,” said home co-founder and board of directors member Jane Meuser.

“Thrilled,” added Director Elizabeth FreyThomas.

The New Year’s Eve storm that pummeled Northern California flooded the facility that has served expectant mothers for 25 years.

RCP Construction donated more than $10,000 in labor and materials and Doug Veerkamp Engineering donated around $7,000 in labor and materials to get the home back in shape. An $8,000 Women’s Fund El Dorado ACORN grant covered the rest of the expenses. Improvements include

new flooring, fresh paint, a new bathroom and a French drain to prevent future flooding.

To celebrate, staff and board members hosted an open house Aug. 26.

The Mother Teresa Maternity Home is a drug and alcohol-free, non-denominational residential facility for pregnant women in crisis, serving women from the time they discover they are pregnant through three months after a

child’s birth. Residents come from a variety of backgrounds and receive services designed to give the women stability, mentorship and aid as they navigate their pregnancy and prepare for the birth of their child. They receive medical care, mental health counseling, sobriety support and other opportunities. For more information about the nonprofit visit motherteresamaternityhome.com.

California Poet laureate lee HerriCk

Mountain Democrat photos by Noel Stack

teresa Maternity Home Director elizabeth frey-thomas and board members Stephen James, Jane Meuser, Jean kuzmich and karen Hatch, left to right, are all smiles in the remodeled facility.

Mother teresa Maternity Home staff member laura Drake organizes items in one of the resident rooms. the facility was expected to receive its first client last week.

preserve it!

You’ve a bounty of zucchini and green beans

— what to do?

The garden has provided for a while now. It has been prolific as the late summer heat continues. That first flush-of-theseason excitement to harvest is gone though and no one is excited about playing hide-and-seek among the plants for food any longer. All you see when you scan the garden from the kitchen window is an overwhelming number of vegetables to put up.

Laurie Lewis

Perhaps the neighbors have their own mountain of summer squash, green beans, peppers and onions so you can’t “share” with them. Perhaps other neighbors are shyly shaking their head “no” to turn away your overflow, having been given enough zucchini.

Here’s a pickle recipe from Ball

Complete Book of Home Preserving, 2020, that may help with that profusion of zucchini and green beans. These pickled vegetables add a wonderful addition to that charcuterie board for game night, whether it be football, board games or cards.

One pound of zucchini or green

beans or carrots yields approximately

3 cups volume.

End of Garden Pickles

Makes about 5 pint jars

3 cups sliced zucchini (1/4-inch slices)

3 cups sliced, trimmed green beans (1-inch slices)

1 ½ cups sliced, peeled carrots

2 cups peeled pickling or pearl

onions

2 large green bell peppers, seeded, and cut into ½-inch strips

1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ½-inch strips

3 cups 5% acidity cider vinegar

1 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons dry mustard

he could improve. “Audition for the school play,” he said she advised.

Kisilewicz, who now calls performing on stage “magical,” recalled groaning at her words — he was a basketball player, not an actor — but he heeded her advice and landed the part of a knight in “The King’s New Threads,” a student-written play based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

“I was hooked,” he admitted. “On stage I can’t get in trouble for being myself (and) I didn’t get nervous.”

He later played Mr. Kraler in the ORHS production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” and by then had decided to pursue an acting career.

After graduation he auditioned for a chance to attend The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, boasting famous alumni Steve McQueen, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Gregory Peck, among many others.

“I walked away crying but I got in,” Kisilewicz said.

He studied there for two years before launching his career — at first posing as his own manager to land auditions. “You really have to do whatever it takes,” he said with a smile.

2 tablespoons mustard seeds

4 ½ teaspoons pickling salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

Pickle crisp (optional)

1. Prepare canner, jars and lids.

2. In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine zucchini, beans, carrots, onions and green and red peppers; stir well and set aside.

3. In a large stainless-steel saucepan, combine vinegar, brown sugar, granulated sugar, dry mustard, mustard seeds, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Bring to a boil over mediumhigh heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add vegetables; return to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 15 minutes, until vegetables are heated through and slightly tender.

4. Pack hot vegetables and liquid into hot pint jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Add 1/8 teaspoon Pickle Crisp, if using, to each pint jar. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot pickling liquid. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight.

5. Place jars in the canner, ensuring they are completely covered with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil and process for 15 minutes at 0-1,000 feet, 20 minutes at 1,001-3,000 feet, 25 minutes at 3,001-6,000 feet, 30 minutes above 6,000 feet. Remove the canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars,

6. Cool jars on the counter for 12-24 hours, label, date and store.

The UC Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County are a great resource for answers to your food safety and preserving questions. Leave a message at (530) 621-5506 or email edmfp@ ucanr.edu. For more information about the program, events and recipes visit ucanr.edu/edmfp. Sign up to receive the eNewsletter at ucanr. org/mfpcsenews. Find the group on Facebook, too (UCCE Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County).

Since then Kisilewicz has had roles on stage and in several movies, including “A Party Gone Wrong,” “Notorious Nick” and “Twisted Little Lies.” The film “Gimme My Money” is in production and he has a role in the upcoming film “Degenerate,” slated to star Emile Hirsch.

After “Teeth” finishes its run in Rancho Cordova, the show moves down to Los Angeles for a limited engagement. Kisilewicz said he hopes to also take the show to NYC.

After that, and once the writers’ and actors’ strike concludes,” Kisilewicz said his goal is to “star in a lot of movies.” He said he’d love to perform on screen with Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke and continue working with his contemporaries like writers Cook and Rocha.

With confidence and movie star charm, he concluded, “I have no doubt that I’m going to have a good career.”

Performances of “Teeth” take place at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 8 & 9 and 15 & 16, and 3 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 10 & 17, at Cal Cap Black Box Theatre, 9845 Horn Road, Suite 100, Rancho Cordova. For tickets and more details call (916) 706-2000 or visit calcapblackbox.com/teeth.

Preserver volunteer Barbara Simpson An abundance of garden veggies can become pickled treats for later.

UCCE Master Food Preserver of El Dorado County

Teeth Continued from B1

California Deer Association gaining traction in the county

News release

In November 2021 the California Deer Association announced the El Dorado County chapter was forming with a press release in the Mountain Democrat and holding its first annual fundraising banquet.

Fast forward to the present day and the chapter is announcing its third annual banquet Sept. 16 at the Cameron Park Country Club; doors open at 3 p.m.

The EDCCDA has grown to include surrounding foothill communities and is gaining traction with recent achievements. Working with the El Dorado Hills Bowmen Club, the chapter started a Junior Olympic Archery Development team that competed in the Nationals at McClellan Park in Sacramento. The junior archery team will expand this fall to include 3D archery competitions as well. Well-mannered students between the ages of 13-16

and who can commit to regular Sunday afternoon practices are invited to to join.

in the Butte Sink chapter, to launch the Disabled Combat Vet Duck Hunt where one to three veterans per year are selected from the El Dorado County Office of Veterans Affairs. These vets are equipped and taken hunting in hopes of welcoming them back home into the brother and sisterhood of hunting. The goal is to help encourage disabled combat veterans to connect with tools to help them overcome and cope with their challenges. The vets are invited to come back in subsequent years to help others in any way they can.

Finally, as the core mission of the CDA, the habitat conservation element to benefit deer and other wildlife within California is under way. The first year CDA completed work on an $85,000 grant which was published in California Deer Magazine. Recently CDA was awarded a $2.1 million grant to

The establishment of a veterans program was next and the chapter worked with Daniel Job, a rice farmer

Courtesy photo

Among many other activities, the California Deer Association’s El Dorado County chapter supports a youth archery team. New members welcome.

Know Continued from B1

The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville, 8-11 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Sept. 9

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Attracting Birds to Your Garden, 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. A $2 parking fee will be enforced.

Author Erin Dealey will sign and discuss her book “Christmas Ahoy,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Face in a Book in El Dorado Hills Town Center. Enter the “Christmas Ahoy” Boat Contest. Make a small boat from materials you have around the house and bring it to Erin’s book signing. Boats will be judged on creativity, use of recycled materials, Christmas décor and more. Prizes will be awarded.

Elks Lodge No. 1712 and the Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber of Commerce present a Chico’s Off The Rack Fashion Show & Luncheon, a fundraiser benefiting local foster children, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the lodge, 3821 Quest Court in Shingle Springs. For tickets and more information contact Angela Honoroff at ahonoroff@sbcglobal.net or (916) 804-3013.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma comes alive 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Experience what life was like during the California Gold Rush during Living History Day activities. Docents will have demonstrations set up to show the park visitors different hands-on demonstrations and crafts that people did during the California Gold Rush.

Miraflores Winery, 2120 Four Springs Trail in the Pleasant Valley area, serves its acclaimed Pairings Lunches on the Vineyard Terrace on Saturdays and Sundays with seatings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2-4 p.m. Pairings 2023 combines a chef’s creativity with the beautifully crafted Miraflores wines. Diners will be able to talk to the chef du jour about the wine and food experience. On Sept. 9 & 10 chef Carl Williams is preparing a By Way of the Border meal. Call (530) 647-8505 or email info@mirafloreswinery. com to make a reservation.

El Dorado High Classes of 1982 and 1983 are hosting a 40th reunion event at 5 p.m.

Brian Dezzani and Mike Riley are coordinating for the Class of ’82. Kurt Raffetto, Robin Cleveland, Kathy Barnes Liguori, Tammy Danz, Dean Duncan and Dave Thomas are taking care of the Class of ’83. The event takes place at an outdoor venue in the Gold Hill area of Placerville. The evening includes food trucks, live music, a memorial to those classmates no longer with us and a great deal of reminiscing. Cost is only $25 per person, payable by check or Venmo. More information and how to pay is available via email at EDHS.82.83@gmail.com or on Facebook at EDHS 82/83 Reunion.

Sierra Vista Winery in the Pleasant Valley area hosts a Sip & Stroll with the winemaker, noon to 5:30 p.m. For more information call (530) 6227221 or visit sierravistawinery.com.

The Gold Hill Country Music Festival takes place 2-10 p.m. at Saureel Vineyard in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit kiltandcork.com.

Association Continued from

work in the Consumes

River Watershed and completed recent work on fuel reduction in the Eldorado National Forest. Working alongside Eldorado National Forest partner, the U.S. Forest Service prioritized the sites of most importance to receive this fuel reduction treatment.

CDA completed

nearly 40 acres of fuel treatment in critical California spotted owl habitat, five sensitive plant areas and heritage archaeology sites. Hand thinning fuels reduction treatment occurred due to the delicateness of all the treatment sites. For more information about the CDA and to get tickets for the El Dorado County banquet

call Todd Stevens at (916) 524-5008. The same number may be used to inquire about having a teen join the competitive archery team.

The El Dorado Hills Brewfest takes place 3-7 p.m. at Village Green at Serrano. Enjoy tastings from 40+ craft breweries, cideries, wineries and more. For tickets and more information visit eldoradohillsbrewfest.org.

West Coast Performing Arts presents The Wonder of Elvis starring Greg Miller, 3 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

Late for Dinner will perform at 4 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.

Enjoy live music and good food for a great cause benefitting American River Conservancy’s Resilience Reserve. In partnership with Marco’s Cafe, ARC hosts Nipper Brother at the farmhouse of Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. The gate opens at 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information visit bit.ly/ Concerts4CauseARC.

Smokey The Groove will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville, 8-11 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons hosts the Go With The Flow closing reception and awards at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Boys of Summer – an Eagles tribute will

Day Hiker Continued from B1

lake’s edge. If you head to your left and go around to the back of the lake, you find some nice rock outcropping that makes for a great seat to take in the view.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (second edition available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns

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

Historic Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek invites everyone to visit on this month’s Second Saturday Tour Day. Meet and talk with expert docents as they fire up the antique blacksmithing forge, demonstrate the magnificent and still-intact machinery and pour hot metal to create pieces through the ancient art of sand casting. For more information email info@knightfoundry.com or call (209) 5606160.

The Holo Holo California Music Festival comes to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Sept. 9 & 10. For tickets and more information visit holoholocali.com.

Sept. 10

Element 79 Vineyards in The Fair Play hosts Brunch in the Vines — a wine and food event that will brighten your day and your life, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (530) 4970750 or visit element79vineyards.com.

The Placerville Days for Girls Club hosts a Trunk Show in support of Smile-Star’D Days for Girls Sewing Enterprise featuring gorgeous products in Kenyan fabrics, home decor and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1550 Arrowbee Drive in Placerville.

where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 Craft Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the Day Hiker series by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

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