Odin
Rasco Senior sta writer
A Sacramento man has been arrested in connection to a fatal gunshot victim found by California Highway Patrol o cers in a vehicle on the side of Highway 50 near Camino early Saturday, Sept. 7.
Just after 6:30 a.m. Saturday, CHP o cers investigated a disabled
Chevrolet truck on eastbound Highway 50 east of Snows Road. A woman who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound was discovered in the truck; she was later pronounced dead at the scene, according to a CHP press release.
Law enforcement o cials took to the highway in force, ultimately apprehending a 38-year-old man from Sacramento believed to be
connected to the homicide. Scott Michael Boyles was taken into custody without incident, the press release states. He is listed in custody at the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville with no bail.
CHP o cials were supported by the El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce, El Dorado County District Attorney’s O ce, Cal Fire, Caltrans and local fire departments.
Odin Rasco
Senior sta writer
Apple Hill gained a new landmark courtesy of community members Monday, Sept. 9, after a large metal apple sculpture was installed at the Pondorado
Roundabout in Camino. Installed by Caltrans as part of the Camino Safety Project which significantly altered some routes in and out of Camino — most notably removing the cross-tra c entrances from Highway 50 — the roundabout was determined to be a necessary safety feature, but its installation left an empty spot of dirt at the center of the intersection. Two years ago, local artist Terrie Bennett approached District 3 El Dorado County Supervisor Wendy Thomas with the idea of kickstarting a beautification project at the roundabout, with the hopes of filling the disk of empty dirt with something prettier to look at.
A project team consisting of Terrie
and her daughter Nicki, Thomas, Karen Feathers, Terry LeMoncheck, Christa Campbell, Paul Bush and Charlie Downs was formed in short order.
The formative stages of the design process began when the team sent out a survey to local residents to learn what images came to mind when they thought of the region.
The survey responses were taken into consideration by Terrie and Nicki, who got to work creating a final design for the public art piece — a metal apple with four panels of cutout images, each one reflecting a di erent element of Camino’s culture and history .
“It’s really an amazing piece, and each panel tells a story,” Thomas told one of the people
who had gathered at the roundabout Monday morning to watch the sculpture’s installation. Terrie and Nicki explained their design incorporated many of the images identified in the survey, grouping them to di erent themes. The four themes are harvest, pears and apples, grapes and the mill; the panels are each topped with images of the Sierra vista, providing a cohesive element that ties the four together.
The entire project, from conception, creation and funding was a community e ort; because the scale of the piece was too large to fit in Terrie’s studio, Crystal Creek Christmas Tree Farm owner Bob Kobervig
CHP o cials reported Saturday there was no ongoing threat to the public and the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the deceased woman has not been released to the public at this time.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information connected to the investigation is asked to contact the Placerville CHP at (530) 748-2450.
Eric Jaramishian Senior sta writer
Packing in a meeting room where the Elections Department now resides on Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs, residents learned about the El Dorado County Elections Department’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the election processes Aug. 28, including how sta tackles security.
Bill O’Neill, the registrar of voters since 2019, shared results of a survey to gauge how the county residents felt about the election process at both the local and national level.
Out of 4,568 responses, the highest number of responses the department has seen, election process trust seems to be mixed in the county. While residents claimed to trust the county’s Elections Department, many were more likely to not trust the federal process.
“That tells me we must be communicating well with the community, so they appreciate what we do,” O’Neill said. “Anybody that doesn’t trust our voting system, we always invite them in.”
Out of 3,572 general comments, many stated all election departments should require voter ID.
In the same survey, approximately 68% of those who responded to the survey said they prefer to vote by mail. It also seems residents have no trouble finding a voting center drop box, according to the survey.
O’Neill reminds residents that they easily can observe the election process.
“People do not know that, but they can come in and they can watch it or they can pull it up on their web browser and watch every step of that process,” O’Neill said. “We have to make sure that we do a better job of advertising that aspect.”
Going over election security, O’Neill said more than 18 cameras watch the Election’s O ce and warehouse with motion detection that notifies sta of any movement in those areas. The vote centers have the same cameras as well.
1925 – 2023
Beatrice (Bea) was the last of six children born in Placerville, CA to John and Margaret Martin of Sacramento Hill. She also was the last of these siblings to die—this in a Bay Area care facility on the last day of summer, 2023.
Bea graduated El Dorado High School as class valedictorian then headed to Oakland where she contributed to the World War II e ort working in the shipyards. She returned to Placerville shortly thereafter where she spent all but the latter years of her adult life. She then moved into assisted living at Cameron Park followed by a nursing care facility in Los Altos, CA.
Bea and late husband, Placerville native George M. Smith, raised three children: Dr. Terry L. Smith of Tacoma WA, Marty Smith of Newport, OR, and Denny Vivian of Twin Falls, ID. She was the grandmother of Dr. Tony Smith of Encinias, CA, Keith Vivian of Clovis, CA, and Kevin Vivian of Twin Falls, ID as well as great grandmother of Ashley Vivian, Kaelen and Addison Smith.
Bea was a working mother who was variously employed at the old “Fruit House,” Florence’s Dress Shop, a Placerville physician’s o ce, Mother Lode Bank, and private home-care provider to elderly relatives. She attended many churches in the area and participated in various study groups.
Her joy in later life was her marriage to the late Rolf “Cadie” Cadenhead. They were the epitome of a couple deeply in love.
Bea and her young family first made their home on Upper Main Street followed by homes on Wiltse and Baker Roads. She then briefly lived in Diamond Springs before building her dream home back atop Sacramento Hill where she had spent her childhood. Over a period of years, she developed the bare lot around her newly built home into a landscape of beautiful, well-maintained gardens.
Bea had an uncanny knack of winning prize drawings; but she said she would only win when she bought tickets. Over the years her “take” included a chest of drawers full of linens when she was a new bride, a Shetland pony for her young children, a cedar chest, a case of mixed fifths of liquor, and a set of elegant Holiday mantle decorations, just to name a few of her more noteworthy winnings.
No services were conducted; and Bea’s cremains are to be distributed on Carson Pass, Highway 88, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Sharon Johnson
Dec. 2, 1943 – Aug. 25, 2024
Sharon Johnson passed away at her home on Sunday, August 25 with family by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Melvin Johnson. She leaves behind their two boys, Timothy Johnson and Eric Johnson along with 2 grandchildren. Sharon and Mel resided in Placerville since 1977. Sharon primarily was a homemaker, but also worked part-time as a noon duty aide at Herbert Green Middle School and then worked in Extended Day Care at Indian Creek elementary prior to her retirement. Sharon enjoyed traveling in the fifth-wheel with Mel and their beagles visiting various national parks. She also enjoyed gardening and bird watching. Most recently, she was active in her church, Discovery Hills Church in Shingle Springs. A memorial to honor Sharon’s life is being held Saturday, September 14 at 2:00 PM at Discovery Hills Church.
Dec. 14, 1945 – Aug. 12, 2024
Sept. 10, 1934 – Aug. 10, 2024
Richard Carl Klein (Dick) was born on September 10, 1934, in Seattle, Washington, to Mathew Klein and Alice Lee Klein, nee (Giddens). He and his family moved to San Bruno, CA in 1947. He finished grammar and middle school there. He started San Mateo Union High School but chose, in 1952, to join the apprenticeship machinist program at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard; while in that program, he received his GED. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1954. He did boot camp at Fort Ord, and was assigned to LA and Texas bases before being shipped out to Germany. Luckily, he was bumped from a military fight to Germany as the plane crashed in New Jersey on Friday the 13th. He married Margaret L. Brown of San Mateo while in Germany in 1957. Upon returning to the USA, they resided in San Bruno, California. Their son, Richard C. Klein II, was born there on March 17, 1958. Dick went back to work at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard from October 1957 to 1960 and became a Journeyman Machinist. When the shipyard closed, he was on one of the last work groups left at the yard. He transferred to the U. S. Naval Radiological Lab on Hunter’s Point in San Francisco. Because of his training on high vacuum systems, he worked on the Cyclotron. When the Rad Lab closed, he transferred to the San Francisco Mint. He planned, developed, and worked on high-speed packaging lines. At the Old San Francisco Mint, which survived the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and fire, he was given a large crate of pieces and parts to a German-made press. There were no directions. You can now use the press to print your own coin while on a tour of the facility. After being upgraded to Model Maker, he transferred to Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA, in 1988. There, he designed and made prototype biomedical equipment. During his work years, he attended classes at the College of San Mateo, City College of San Francisco, and the University of California. Dick was a long-time member and o cer in the San Bruno and Pacifica Lions Club, as well as the American Legion Posts of both towns. He was a volunteer at the San Bruno Police Department. After a chase with a juvenile delinquent, Dick decided to help teenagers before they became delinquents. He became a Scout Master and Commissioner. He organized one of the first co-educational scout troops in the Bay Area and enjoyed teaching backpacking and cooking. His pies and rolls on a homemade reflector oven were first class. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret (nee Brown); son Rich, daughter-in-law Shelley, grandson Richard Klein III (Lil Rich), wife Brandi (nee Stern) and his children, Austin and Payten Klein; Granddaughter Megan Klein and husband Matt Lawes of Blackfoot, ID and their children, Mia, Memphis and Madi Jo. Foster daughter Claudia Lewis, and her husband Gary, and their children Christopher and Erica in Scottsdale, AZ. Eleven great-grandkids in all. He lived a good life and gave back to the community.
PLACERVILLE CITY COUNCIL
City Hall 3101 Center St., Placerville (530) 642-5200 Mayor Michael Saragosa msaragosa@cityofplacerville.org
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
Tom Skelton passed away in his sleep on Monday, August 12, 2024. Tom was born on December 14, 1945 to Mildred and James Skelton. He graduated from Ponderosa High School in 1964. He was in the United States Air Force for 14 years, spending time in Turkey and Germany. He was also stationed in Great Falls, Montana and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He ended his service at the rank of Sergeant. He later worked for the Rescue School District for 17 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred, brothers James and Robert and his sister Shirley. He is survived by his brother Rod Enright (Beth), nieces and nephews, Tammy Danz, John Enright, Erick Mason, Kelly Bailey, and Troy Skelton. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their appreciation to Tammy for taking care of her Uncle Tom for many years. He requested that there be no service.
District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine (530) 621-6577 (Placerville) (530) 621-6577 (South Lake Tahoe)
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 DISTRICT Kevin Kiley Constituent Service Center 6538 Lonetree Blvd, Suite 200 Rocklin 95765 (916) 724-2575 5TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Joe Patterson District O ce 8799 Auburn Folsom Road Granite Bay 95746 (916) 774-4430
1ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Megan Dahle District O ce 113 Presley Way, Suite 2 Grass Valley 95945 (530) 265-0601 State Senator, DISTRICT 4 Marie Alvarado-Gil Capitol O ce 1021 O St., Suite 7240 Sacramento 95814 (916) 651-4004
District O ce 460 Sutter Hill Rd, Suite C Sutter Creek 95685 (209) 267-5033 EL DORADO IRRIGATION
The following information was taken from Placerville police reports:
Aug. 12
9:49 a.m. Petty theft reported on Broadway.
Aug. 13
7:43 a.m. Vandalism reported on Broadway.
Aug. 14
9:26 a.m. Petty theft reported on Broadway.
2:01 p.m. Grand theft reported on Placerville Drive.
6:29 p.m. Battery reported on Mosquito Road.
9:15 p.m. Battery reported on Conrad Court.
Aug. 15
5:15 a.m. Vandalism reported on Main Street.
2:56 p.m. Petty theft reported on Placerville Drive.
4:04 p.m. Assault with deadly weapon reported on Placerville Drive.
4:42 p.m. Petty theft reported on Placerville Drive.
9:53 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 28-year-old man on suspicion of a parole violation on Fair Lane.
Aug. 17
4:55 a.m. Battery reported on Forni Road
7:05 p.m. Battery reported on Fair Lane.
Aug. 18
12:38 p.m. Battery reported on Schnell School Road.
8:42 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 52-year-old man on suspicion of DUI on Placerville Drive. He was released on $2,000 bail.
Aug. 19
7:15 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 36-year-old woman on suspicion obstruction and possession of unlawful paraphernalia on Broadway. She was released on $1,050 bail.
11:22 a.m. Vandalism reported on Fair Lane.
2:27 p.m. Battery reported on Schnell School Road.
8:03 p.m. O cers booked into jail a 57-year-old man on suspicion of a probation violation on Placerville Drive. He was released on $250 bail.
Aug. 20
7:47 a.m. Petty theft reported on Ray Lawyer Drive. 11:04 a.m. O cers booked into jail a 36-year-old man on suspicion of two counts of possession of a controlled substance on Fair Lane. He was later released.
3:51 p.m. Burglary reported on Coloma Court.
Aug. 21
11:06 a.m. Petty theft reported on Park
Jesse Saich El Dorado Irrigation District
bottom of mtdemocrat.com for full staff directory
At the Aug. 26 regular meeting of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors, EID sta announced the successful completion of the Lead Service Line Inventory project. The completion ensures EID’s compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and confirms that none of EID’s three water systems — Main, Outingdale and Strawberry — contain any lead service lines. EID sta meticulously reviewed historical records, conducted interviews with long-serving sta who had in-depth knowledge of the water systems and performed targeted field inspections. They employed innovative strategies, such as using statistical interpolation for service lines where records were incomplete, while still ensuring a thorough and accurate inventory. The team also developed a Quality Assurance Program Plan that was swiftly approved by the state’s Division of Drinking Water. This approval allowed EID sta to streamline the inspection process, reducing both the number of field inspections and potential disruptions to customers.
The project was completed five months ahead of schedule and under budget, saving approximately $200,000. This e cient use of resources has enabled the district to confidently declare that there are no lead service lines on either the utility side or customer side, ensuring the continued safety and quality of the water provided to the community.
For more information on this project visit EID. org/LCR.
Mountain Democrat staff
Placerville Police Department officials are investigating a hit-and-run incident that destroyed to a bus stop near Big 5 on Placerville Drive in Placerville early Monday morning.
PPD got the report around 7:40 a.m., according to Cmdr. Dan Maciel. The crash occurred sometime prior and no injuries were reported as a result of the hit and run.
El Dorado Transit Operations Manager Kristin Halverson confirmed that the bus stop has been cleaned up and is operational as of Tuesday morning, with the exception of the cover needing replacing.
When destruction like this happens to a bus stop, El Dorado Transit encourages riders to utilize the nearest one for transportation, according to Halverson.
All stops and schedules can be found at eldoradotransit.com.
This is the second time in less than a year the bus stop near Big 5 sustained major damage; a Grimes Heating and Air truck crashed into the stop Nov. 1, 2023. No impairment was suspected at the time, according to Maciel.
Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit
Around 1 p.m. on Sept.
5 firefighters responded to a vegetation fire on Kasha Lane in Garden Valley, which had spread from a nearby structure fire.
The home was a total loss but thanks to crews’ swift actions, the vegetation fire was contained to one-half acre. Around 3:30 p.m. a spot fire was detected about one-quarter mile from the original burn site. Crews immediately took action and quickly extinguished it.
A well-maintained fuel break in the area helped keep the fire low to the ground, making it easier to control and extinguish, Cal Fire officials noted. Crews continued patrolling the area until sunset to ensure there were no remaining hot spots.
“Make sure there is adequate defensible space around your home. The loss of this home, in itself, was a tragedy, but it could have been worse if it had reached other homes,” Garden Valley
Fire Division Chief Jon Michaelson said.
“This home had good defensible space around it.” Cal Fire expressed thanks in a social media post to the El Dorado County Fire Protection
District, Garden Valley Fire Protection District, Georgetown Fire and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office for their teamwork in this response.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Healing California, a statewide nonprofit, is bringing its free, fully equipped, mobile pop-up clinic to the 2024 El Dorado County Veterans Stand Down in Placerville, on Sept 13 & 14.
Dental patients will receive an initial exam, X-rays, extractions, fillings or cleanings. Vision patients will receive a full exam as well as a new prescription, if needed. Those needing new glasses will receive up to two pairs free by mail after the clinic. The clinic is intended to provide care to veterans who have been unable to access care through other programs. All services are provided by fully qualified and licensed dental and vision professionals.
Last year, Healing California provided more than 100 exams to Stand Down attendees.
“It is an honor to return to the El Dorado County Stand Down this year,” explained Clettis Michael Allen,
Healing California’s executive director. “Healing California is committed to supporting our veterans all over the state. We don’t want anyone living with unnecessary pain or distress due to treatable issues.”
Healing California provides free, quality dental, medical and vision care to those in need throughout California. Significant barriers of cost and access to care— particularly for veterans and homeless individuals — force millions of Californians to forego their basic healthcare needs. Healing California conducts more than 30 free pop-up clinics throughout the state every year providing all of the equipment to create a fully mobile field office.
Healing California has also built up a network of 500-plus professional healthcare volunteers who share their time at skills treating those in need at these clinics. Since 2018, Healing California has provided more than $8.7M in free health services for over 19,000 veterans and low-income individuals and their families.
2024. Her 75 years started at the U.S. Naval Dispensary in Seattle, WA with parents Donald Fairweather and Earlene Crouse Fairweather (our Gada). Donald was transferred to Mo t Naval Airbase in Mountain View, CA, and Shari became a Californian forever. She graduated Fremont High School in Sunnyvale in 1966. By then, she had already developed friendships that would last her lifetime. In 1971, Shari married William Gogue. From that marriage, Kimberlee Lynn Gogue and Brian Kenneth Gogue were born. In 1983, she married Charles Pace and she determinedly added Doug Pace (Shirlene) and Roger Pace (Cyndi) to her family. With the very unfortunate early passing of her sister, her only sibling, Shari openly welcomed nephews Scott and Jason (now deceased) as her own. So the family grew. Adding grandchildren was a Shari delight: Stephanie (Devin), Emily (Cortland), Ti any (Rhys), Savannah, Dillon (Maggie), Sierra, Kaitlin, and Kendall. Other favorite and loving survivors are cousin Wendy Picinich (Dave). Somewhere in the family growth, Shari became Mimi Shari. With all their love, Roger and Cyndi share:
Shari Sue (Mimi) meant so much to so many and was loved by all. She was the light that shined bright for all of us… always supportive and giving, sharing laughter, love and infectious smile, her quick wit, positive attitude and caring spirit. She was magnetic, whether it be family, friends, or folks she just met, she brought us together to create new and wonderful memories. Our beacon on shore no longer shines bright, but will always guide our path home.
Shari began her highly successful 48-year telecommunications career at the Western Electric (AT&T) Regional Operations and Engineering Center in Sunnyvale 1966. Before her retirement in 2014, she had managed signi cant projects to provide cell telephone coverage throughout the S.F. Bay Area, Reno/Tahoe, Southern CA, and Minnesota.
Shari was always on the move! And, she loved to shop! She often just got in her car to roam. This adventurous spirit led to travel. Initially her travels were mostly to Mexico and Canada with husband Charlie and friends. Following were an African Safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe and a cruise of the Baltic featuring the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, with dear friends Jim and Pam. Following were an Alaskan cruise highlighted with a helicopter landing on the Mendenhall glacier and a cruise from Rome to Venice and a cross-country tour of Italy.
Writes Pam:
Shari was a giver and collector of people. When rst meeting Shari, you fell in love with her generous spirit and great humor. She loved connecting with people and she did this through her many talents and crafts. She was a gifted artisan. To have the honor of her friendship included being the recipient of beautiful quilts, engraved towels, food and a myriad of other items. This is how her love for others was expressed. Shari was a giver to all. When looking at her beautiful crafts is to look at the love of Shari expressed to all she encountered. She is greatly missed!
As a craftsperson for decades, in the early days, everyone wanted a Shari Santa. More recently, her focus was in quilting. Now, everyone wanted a Shari Quilt. Through that interest, she developed a specialty in embroidery. Now everyone wanted Shari’s towels, apparel, quilt-personalization labels, and more! She loved her hub of friends and customers at Debbie Cagnata’s High Sierra Quilters in Placerville.
Shari was very proud of her Osage ancestry and worked extensively to assure appropriate tribal registration for her family members. She traveled to the Osage Reservation centered by Pawhuska, OK, to personally see the collection of her ancestral memorabilia.
In remembrance of our very special Shari, donations may be sent online to Susan G. Komen.
Shari’s family and friends will gather to celebrate her life in the fashion Shari would --in ip- ops! Come tell your favorite memory of her at the open mic.
Celebration of Life – Shari Sue Fairweather Pace
September 14, 2024 1 – 5 pm 4031 Blackhawk Lane, Placerville Food, music, pictorial memories, residence tour
Please RSVP: Sharipacememorial@gmail.com
Email your name and number of guests in your group (photos and memories may be sent as well)
Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
An El Dorado County Office of Education van driver currently facing multiple felony charges alleging sexual abuse of two adult passengers with developmental disabilities has now been named in two civil lawsuits alleging similar conduct involving children.
Tarik Manasrah, 43, was arrested in August 2023 after reports had been made to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office alleging he may have sexually assaulted a former passenger on his van route. Further investigation into the matter uncovered a second potential victim on the same route.
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office eventually brought nine counts for sex crimes — eight felonies and one misdemeanor — against Manasrah in court. Judge Mark Ralphs ruled Aug. 19 of this year that all nine charges had sufficient evidence to be brought to trial; Manasrah is expected to return to El Dorado County Superior Court Sept. 16 to set the date for this trial.
After the DA’s case had come to light, two parents came forward claiming their children aged 9 and 5 had also been sexually assaulted by Manasrah. The two, represented by Los Angeles-base law firm Qureshi Law, filed a suit against EDCOE and Buckeye Union School District
for negligence, poor supervision and negligent hiring practices. The lawsuit claims Manasrah had a “checkered criminal history” when hired, including a charge for providing minors alcohol, and EDCOE had “inexplicably failed to investigate ... red flags” during his time as a driver.
The two alleged victims in the case both have developmental disabilities and were driven by Manasrah to educational programs in 2023. Both began to exhibit “significant behavioral changes,” the suit states, and both parents complained of inexplicably late pick up or drop-off times that did not match the driving schedule.
A parent of one of the two victims named in the DA’s case, Jane Doe 1, also noted similar occasional discrepancies in the van schedule; Doe 1 told investigators he once pulled the vehicle over, took her to the back of the van and raped her.
Fearing their son’s behavior change may be related to the allegations involving
Manasrah, the younger of the two boys named in the civil suit was immediately taken to the hospital after Manasrah was arrested. There, the 5-yearold’s parents were told their son had tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease, according to the lawsuit.
A second civil lawsuit identifying a third alleged victim of sexual abuse by Manasrah was filed by Qureshi Law on Aug. 26. The suit against EDCOE claims a 5-year-old girl with developmental disabilities who attended school in Cameron Park exhibited signs she may have been molested by her van driver, Manasrah, between July 2022 and June 2023. Her mother noted a reddening of her genital area she believed to be severe diaper rash, as well as bruising in the same area; around the same time, the suit states her daughter began to exhibit behavior changes including “extreme anger.” After Manasrah’s arrest, the girl’s mother began to suspect he may have been the cause of her daughter’s recent behavior issues and physical discomfort; her “diaper rash” cleared up after he was in custody, the suit states. Additionally, when shown a picture of Manasrah, the young girl is said to have started panicking and yelling “No! No!
n See MANASRAH, page A10
Tahoe Restoration Act in 2000, securing millions of dollars in federal support for Tahoe’s Environmental Improvement Program.
TAHOE CITY — In a tribute to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Tahoe City Public Utility District Board of Directors has unanimously approved renaming the West Shore Trail in her honor, recognizing her incredible legacy and dedication to Lake Tahoe.
The West Shore Trail, which spans approximately 11 miles along the stunning western shore of Lake Tahoe, is a fitting tribute to a leader who devoted her career to protecting and enhancing the region’s natural resources. Sen. Feinstein was a champion for environmental preservation and a long-time advocate for Lake Tahoe. Notably, she played a pivotal role in bringing national attention to Lake Tahoe through the first Lake Tahoe Summit in 1997, and championed the Lake
“Sen. Feinstein’s unwavering support for Lake Tahoe has been instrumental in ensuring the continued health and beauty of this iconic landscape,” said Ellie Beals, TCPUD president. “Renaming the West Shore Trail in her honor is a small but meaningful way to recognize her decades of service and dedication that left an indelible mark on Lake Tahoe.”
The effort to rename the trail received broad support and included a joint letter of endorsement from Lake Tahoe’s congressional delegation to the TCPUD Board of Directors. The letter highlighted Feinstein’s decades of environmental stewardship and her personal connection to Lake
Continued from A1
offered to host and assist with the sculpture manufacturing in his Camino shop. Doug Veerkamp Engineering poured the sculpture pad and installed the sculpture and Arts and Culture El Dorado served as a fiscal sponsor. The
project was entirely communityfunded, with local donors donating anywhere between $25 to $10,000.
Though the apple is now in place ready to greet visitors to Camino, the roundabout isn’t
Elections Continued from A1
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office will provide Election’s staff with an escort to South Lake Tahoe during extreme weather events or when requested. EDSO has all drop box locations to increase patrols in that area during election time. All but three drop boxes have cameras covering them, which was addressed in the Grand Jury Report as something the department needs to address. For those currently without cameras, staff is considering applying mobile cameras for extra security.
“We’re going to have those cameras at the remaining drop boxes so we’ll have 100% dropbox coverage for November,” O’Neill said.
Every piece of equipment used, including those used for ballot printing and electronic voting, goes through a logic and accuracy test before being used at the vote center, according to the registrar of voters.
“There’s a lot of safety and integrity that goes into storing that equipment,” O’Neill said. “It’s in the warehouse with cameras and alarm systems, motion detection, etc. We put tamper proof seals on anything that can be opened in the systems to ensure that if anybody opens something, we’re pulling that out of circulation; it’s not going to be used and we’ll put a new piece of equipment in there.”
The same process is used for all 200 pieces of election equipment during the retrieval process.
When it is time to retrieve ballots, sworn elected officials conduct an audit of all ballots in the drop box and bring them to the Elections Department. Closer to election day, ballots get picked up from drop boxes every day and several times a day during election day. The same process is conducted when picking up ballots from local post offices.
Those ballots are then sorted. Data is collected from voters so ballot stuffing cannot occur. If a voter is given more than one ballot, including if they make an address change at the DMV, the first one gets voided and the second one becomes live.
“It has to be a valid voter that we have in our system, somebody who hasn’t voted yet who we’ve received no ballot from and hasn’t gone to a vote center. Otherwise, it just gets kicked out,” O’Neill said.
Every signature is verified and approved before a ballot is opened. Ballots with unapproved signatures are set aside, and the voter is contacted by the department.
“The ballots do not count until the signature matches,” O’Neill said. “We don’t even open the envelope.”
The ballots are then extracted in batches of 100 by trained and sworn in temporary workers. The number of ballots and envelopes are counted and accounted for as well; the department makes sure the ballot number matches the number of envelopes. The entire process is live streamed, O’Neill reiterated. Then ballot review begins; identifying marks are checked for on the ballots to maintain voter safety and integrity. Any ballots with identifying marks will go through a heavy regulated, three-person duplication process. The original ballot is kept in case the duplication is challenged.
“(The ballot) could just have a coffee stain on it, and it won’t run through the ballot machine properly,” O’Neill pointed out. “They still are eligible to vote. We could see what they voted for. We just want to make sure that their ballot counts, so we duplicate the ballot so that ballot can go through the process and be counted.”
The tabulation system, Dominion, was tested for at least 18 months and then locked in a vault. Dominion then gave the department a copy of the exact system, which is the only one allowed for usage and goes through heavy testing consisting of thousands of ballots.
The system is then reset and scanned to make sure it is not receiving WiFi or bluetooth signals. Only three people have access to the tabulation system at all times and it’s protected by two password levels and a fob to access the machine. Everyone has to sign in and out when using the tabulation system in any capacity.
If people fill in their vote and change their minds, or mark the wrong one on a vote or candidate, Elections staff go through a scrutinized process to adjudicate the vote to determine voter intent and make sure it is correctly tabulated.
“That’s probably one of the most complex processes and one of the most vital processes that has to be done right every time; we have to determine voter intent,” O’Neill said.
Some of the community members involved in the roundabout beautification effort, including District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas and sculpture designers Terrie and Nicki Bennett, stand in front of the apple moments after it was successfully seated on its support pad.
done with beautification efforts; students from El Dorado High School’s Natural Resources program are set to design and plant landscaping around the sculpture soon.
The Elections Department then goes through an audit system. Elections staff will randomly draw ballots and hand count every contest. If the numbers do not match, the count begins again; the process could take hours based on how many contests there are in the election.
All ballots are then returned to the secure tabulation room and are kept sealed away anywhere from six to 22 months, depending on the election. The ballots and envelopes are boxed and then returned to the elections warehouse, which is camera monitored, only ever to be opened by court order.
Tonya Digiorno, IT director for El Droado County, touted the various security detection and prevention tools used for IT security. Digiorno said she has upgraded the cybersecurity program CrowdStrike so it finds problems and remediates any problems. The county’s networks are also protected by multifactor authentication, and her department regularly performs vulnerability tests using Tenable.
A recent Homeland Security assessment on the county’s IT security states the county has the “highest score of cybersecurity and infrastructure security they have ever seen” according to Digiorno.
“From a physical and a technological perspective, we’re pretty tight now,” Digiorno said.
Elections and IT staff have implemented procedures to address if an outage occurs at the voting center or the department while working to fix the problem, according to O’Neill.
“In that case, we cannot eliminate the time that there will be an issue, we can just shorten it and do everything we can,” O’Neill said.
One person at the town hall questioned why it seems to take longer to count votes than in elections prior. O’Neill attributed that to people wanting to drop their mail ballot off on election day, which can equate to about 30,000 ballots that need to be tabulated and checked for signatures.
“It takes us 20-30 minutes to an hour to go through one single ballot,” O’Neill said. “Then that takes days and days. If we have 1,500 of those, it takes us days to get through that.”
Linda Webster, the assistant registrar of voters, noted that manual tallies will be conducted if there is a close contest.
“The reason for that is when we certify the results, somebody can request a recount and we want to ensure that the totals that we put in there are going to stand up in court,” Webster said.
While residents praised the Elections Department for its commitment to integrity, they remained concerned about voter fraud and how the county addresses those issues.
Questions also arose about voters not requiring ID. O’Neill said he has been raising the concern to legislators about. He also noted there have been two instances where people did not want their ballot because they were “illegal.”
Trail Continued from A4
Tahoe, which began during her childhood on the west shore, where she spent time relaxing and recreating with her family.
“When we launched our fundraising campaign to build the path 10 years ago, Sen. Feinstein and her husband were among the first to contribute,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “They understood what a difference this path would make for all those who recreate on Tahoe’s west shore. Now, we hope that her memory will continue to inspire others to give back to this incredibly special place.”
The TCPUD is pleased to collaborate with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Tahoe Fund to finalize the trail’s renaming. Once complete, it will feature commemorative signage and informational plaques highlighting Senator Feinstein’s contributions to Lake Tahoe and her broader environmental legacy.
“The West Shore Trail is part of the larger Tahoe Trail that will one day circle the entire length of Lake Tahoe,” said Cindy Gustafson, governing board chair for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. “As a long-time west shore resident, this is a fitting tribute to the beloved Sen. Dianne Feinstein who worked tirelessly to support Lake Tahoe and connect residents and visitors to this spectacular place.”
A formal dedication ceremony is planned for sometime in 2025, with further details to be announced in the coming months.
“I’m frustrated by that process, because I don’t think it’s enough,” O’Neill said. “I think with the technology we have these days, there is no reason whatsoever that we cannot check somebody’s citizenship status before we even get the registration.”
O’Neill further stated he is not concerned so much about hacking an election; he is more concerned about voter fraud.
“We know based on the last census (that) we have roughly 143,500 people that are eligible, 18-andover citizens eligible, to vote in this county. Our registration right now is 132,500 and some change, so if we got near that 143,000, it would set off alarm rails,” O’Neill said.
Another town hall participant questioned how someone can register to vote, even when the DMV issues a different type of driver’s license to a noncitizen. O’Neill said while the Elections Department gathers most of their information from the DMV, he is unaware if it checks those records against citizenship.
“I wish they would. There is no reason it can’t be done,” O’Neill said.
He noted he turns over files of suspected fraud to the District Attorney’s Office. He said the most he has ever turned over to the DA was in 2022 during the primary election.
Regardless, O’Neill and his staff ensure the cleanest possible election process, and encourages everyone to contact his department with any questions and to live stream the voting process. The town hall presentation and contact information can be found at eldoradocounty.ca.gov/CountyGovernment/Elections.
California has allocated more than $20 billion to alleviate the state’s homelessness crisis since Gavin Newsom became governor in 2019, but there’s precious little data on how the money was spent and what e ect it has had, other than the number of unhoused people has continued to climb.
Despite the absence of hard information, Newsom has been highly critical of what he characterizes as the shortcomings of local governments and has threatened to withhold funds from those deemed to be laggards. Local o cials, in turn, say they cannot construct comprehensive, long-term strategies unless Newsom is willing to make multi-year commitments of financial support.
Earlier this year, state Auditor Grant Parks issued a harshly worded audit of the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Newsom administration’s tool for coordinating homelessness programs.
“The state lacks current information on the ongoing costs and outcomes of its homelessness programs, because (the council) has not consistently tracked and evaluated the state’s e orts to prevent and end homelessness,” Parks wrote, adding that its most recent data is three years old.
It’s rather cheeky for Newsom to blame local o cials if his own agency has been so laggard in gathering information about where billions of dollars have been spent and how e ective those expenditures have been.
Moreover, Parks said, the council “has also not aligned its action plan to end homelessness with its statutory goals to collect financial information and ensure accountability and results. Thus, it lacks assurance that the actions it takes will e ectively enable it to achieve those goals.”
It’s rather cheeky for Newsom to blame local o cials if his own agency has been so laggard in gathering information about where billions of dollars have been spent and how e ective those expenditures have been.
The footdragging on data, however, is not confined to the state.
Since 2020, David O. Carter, a federal judge in Los Angeles, has been presiding over a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights, a coalition of persons from businesses, neighborhoods and homeless groups demanding to know how o cials in Los Angeles County have spent homelessness funds. He’s angry about a lack of response from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
“If there isn’t documentation of the work being done, it’s not being done. That can be our only conclusion,” Carter said during a recent hearing,
EDITOR:
On Aug. 1, I received a newsletter from Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil’s o ce via email. The subject line read, “Nearly $3 Million Secured for MMIP Crisis in SD 4.”
This caught my eye because I wasn’t sure what MMIP stands for nor was I aware of a crisis in Senate District 4.
As I read on I was enlightened to the fact that MMIP stands for “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person” and that California has awarded nearly $20 million in grants (another way of saying redistributing your tax money as we see fit to secure votes) to tribes for investigations into these MMIPs and $3 million of that went to tribes in SD 4.
Having to admit that I was totally ignorant of this “MMIP crisis” right here in my backyard, I read on to educate myself. The only additional information was which tribes received the grants and that, “These funds will support crucial initiatives to address and combat this critical issue.” This sounded like word salad to confuse an ignorant voter.
Since I consider myself a good citizen and in favor of funding crucial initiatives and combating critical issues in a crisis, all I ask is a little information regarding what I’m paying for and hopefully a little follow-up to see if we solved this crisis
To this end, on Aug. 1 I sent an email to Sen. Alvarado-Gil’s o ce inquiring about this subject.
I know your readers are going to be shocked to find out that there has been no response. I’m sure the sta is occupied with other crucial initiatives and critical issues and crisis situations in the district and will get back to me as soon as those are solved. More to follow.
EDITOR:
Ithink Scott Taylor has his letters on a programmable macro where he just moves the MAGAs around and resubmits them. It’s basically the same non-specific letter time after time.
But to quote one of your heroes, Mr. Taylor, “It’s the economy stupid!”
People aren’t hearing your “MAGA, MAGA.” What they are experiencing is high fuel prices and grocery prices that have gone up almost 25% since Biden/Harris got in. People are going in debt using their credit cards just to put food on the table and gas in their car.
So, Mr. Taylor, get your head out of the clouds and care about something that matters to the common man for a change.
GEORGE
ALGER Placerville
As stewards of the public’s trust, one of the El Dorado Irrigation District’s most important responsibilities is to ensure our infrastructure not only meets the needs of today but also is prepared to serve our community well into the future. This is especially true when it comes to water treatment facilities, as well as the projects we undertake to protect our water supply from continuing threats like wildfires.
As we embark on significant
projects like the rehabilitation and modernization of the El Dorado Hills Water Treatment Plant, we are also taking steps to protect our vital water conveyance infrastructure with initiatives like the El Dorado Canal Fuel Break Project. I am pleased to announce the EID Board of Directors has just approved a $5.7 million design contract for the EDH Water Treatment Plant upgrade, marking the beginning of an important phase in this project. The upgrade is not just
a response to current demands but a proactive measure to ensure our water system can handle the challenges of tomorrow. Over the past decades, El Dorado Hills and surrounding areas have experienced significant residential and commercial growth. This growth is a testament to the attractiveness of our community, but it also brings with it the challenge of ensuring that our infrastructure keeps pace.
The current treatment plant, while still operationally sound, has major components — from as early as the 1960s — nearing the end of their useful lives that are scheduled for renewal and replacement. The plant is also nearing its capacity limits, which puts us at risk of being unable
to meet peak water demand during critical periods, particularly in the hot summer months when water use is highest.
The design contract the EID board approved at its Aug. 26 meeting will allow us to move forward with detailed planning and engineering, laying the groundwork for the construction phase. To fund this vital project, we are preparing for two bond issuances, a $70 million bond issuance later this year that will fund the initial work on the EDHWTP (in addition to the recently awarded Sly Park Intertie project) and a subsequent 2027 bond issuance to fund the majority of the construction
of the EDHWTP and the Silver Lake Dam replacement. These planned bonds will provide the necessary capital to move forward with the EDHWTP upgrade without delay.
However, while bond funding is an important tool in our financial strategy, it is not the only one. We are also researching state and federal grants and low-interest loans that can help offset the costs of these and other projects in our capital improvement plan. By seeking these additional funds, we hope to reduce the financial impact on our ratepayers while still making the investments needed to secure our water future.
But investing in water treatment alone is not enough. We must also protect the systems that deliver this precious resource to our community.
The El Dorado Canal is a cornerstone of EID’s water conveyance system, delivering up to onethird of the source water that is then treated and delivered to more than 125,000 residents in EID’s service area. This canal, part of EID’s federally licensed El Dorado Hydroelectric Project 184, is especially vulnerable to wildfire damage. In 2021 the Caldor Fire dramatically highlighted this danger when four wooden flumes were destroyed, leading to significant disruptions in water delivery.
In response to these growing dangers, EID has launched the El Dorado Canal Fuel Break Project, a project aimed at protecting our watershed and water supply infrastructure. With the help of a $787,500 grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Wildfire Prevention
Program, we are establishing a 600-foot shaded fuel break along roughly 3 miles of the canal. This protective buffer will help to reduce the likelihood of wildfire spread, intensity, and duration, thereby enhancing the protection of both the watershed and the canal’s infrastructure.
This project is a collaborative effort between EID, the U.S. Forest Service and other stakeholders. The success of the El Dorado Canal Fuel Break Project hinges on this collaboration, as well as the use of a combination of hand treatments, mechanical mastication, chipping and controlled burn piles, to effectively reduce hazardous fuels in the area. The project’s implementation is on track, with work slated to commence in late 2024 and continue through late 2025.
Capital reinvestment and resilience projects like these are about more than just maintaining the status quo; they are about building a resilient infrastructure that can adapt to the challenges of tomorrow. By investing in facility rehabilitation at EDHWTP and proactive wildfire mitigation measures along the El Dorado Canal, we’re securing the future of our community’s water supply.
In the coming months, as we finalize the details of the bond issuance and continue our search for grant opportunities, I encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged. These are your water systems and your voice matters in how we shape their future. We will be holding public meetings before the EID board and providing regular updates as these projects progress. Your input and support
by Joel Fagliano
are vital as we move forward with these and other critical projects. Together, we can ensure our district remains well prepared to provide safe, reliable and high-quality water to our residents and businesses.
This journey requires careful planning, wise investment and a shared commitment to the future. I am confident that with your support, we will meet this challenge head-on and emerge stronger than ever.
Jim Abercrombie is EID’s general manager.
Letters Continued from A6
Citizens first
EDITOR:
I’m writing this letter as I am mad and upset. I saw on the news the California Senate passed a bill for illegal immigrants with no credit scores allowing downpayment assistance up to $150,000. Why is it that the illegal immigrants seem to always get more over U.S. citizens? I wonder who is paying for all this.
I also saw on the news parents saying their children couldn’t ride the school bus anymore as the buses are needed for immigrant children. What is wrong with our country?
CONNIE ROSEN Pollock Pines
Walters Continued from A6
telling agency officials, “You’re not working on your time frame now. You’re working on mine.”
Matthew Umhofer, an attorney for the LA Alliance for Human Rights, said, “The city and the county have been saying for decades they’re trying really hard on homelessness, but we have to see results.
“An audit like this is a tool that helps us try and figure this out, but at the end of the day we need more beds,” Umhofer added. “We need more services. If the city and county don’t know where the documentation is that shows beds and services are being provided, we’ve got a massive problem.” Umhofer said if the situation doesn’t improve, Judge Carter can impose sanctions on the city and county, appoint a receiver or even assume control of homelessness services.
Meanwhile, back in Sacramento, the quest for hard information on homelessness has taken a baby step forward.
Before adjourning its 2024 session, the Legislature approved a bill that would direct state agencies that administer homelessness programs to annually file reports on spending and outcomes to Newsom’s interagency council, which then would be required to make the information available to the public.
Assemblyman Josh Hoover, a Folsom Republican, carried Assembly Bill 2903, which implements one of the Parks audit’s recommendations.
“Improving accountability over the dollars we are spending is the first step toward real reform,”’ Hoover said in a statement. “Spending billions of taxpayer dollars only to make the crisis worse is the definition of failure.”
That should be obvious. Now we’ll see if Newsom signs the bill.
Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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 first 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 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 916-212-2465 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
Malachi Parker Staff writer
The Ponderosa Bruins defense came up big again, scoring a touchdown and forcing two safeties on their way to a 25-7 win over the Foothill Mustangs and improving to 3-0 on the season.
Another slow start for the Bruins’ offense had them in a close one at halftime when the only points scored were two safeties that gave Ponderosa a 4-0 lead at the break.
“Offensively we were close on a bunch of plays,” offensive line coach Brent Irick said. “Our defense really kept us in it and it helped our offense settle in, and we were a lot better second half.”
In the second half the Bruins scored two rushing touchdowns that put them up 18-7 with final minutes in the fourth ticking away. With the Mustangs driving trying to score and keep the game close, they fumbled the ball and senior Jayden Grove ran it in down the Bruins’ sideline for the scoop-and-score to seal the win.
The Bruins are back at home next week Sept. 13 to host the Johnson Warriors and look to improve to 4-0.
Union Mine 23, Colfax 21
The Union Mine Diamondbacks bounced back from their loss last week and held off a surging comeback from the Colfax Falcons. The Diamondbacks had a 20-7 lead with about eight minutes to go in the game, but the Falcons would not go away easily. They scored 14 unanswered points to take a 21-20 lead with under a minute to go. Union Mine received the ball down one and got it into field goal range for junior kicker Brandon Crow to knock in a 31-yard field goal for the win. The Diamondbacks improve to 2-1. The Diamondbacks will have a bye week this week and will be back in action to start league play Sept. 20 at Liberty Ranch.
El Dorado 25, East Nicholaus 12
The ground game catapulted the El Dorado Cougars to their first win on the year as they rushed for over 200 yards as a team. All three scores for the Cougars came on the ground as well — two from senior quarterback
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Communication errors start with inattentiveness. Failures of attention are often first failures of humility. It is by reducing ourselves that we get the best view of the world and learn how it works.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People gravitate to your lightness of being. You come by it honestly. It’s not that you don’t care, it’s just that the losses you’ve endured in your lifetime have taught you that you can choose what to care about and detach from the rest.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Humility can reduce or eliminate anxiety. It’s not so terribly different from grounding yourself. Humility brings us down to the shared foundation. The stakes and expectations get lowered, too, which can be a tremendous relief.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There are ideas that have an actual presence you can feel. It’s not unlike the presence of a person. You sense an idea hovering near, wanting to cross into your world. You need only to welcome it in. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Since the universe refuses to follow our tally, thinking about who deserves what is unhelpful. Instead, consider rules of cause and effect in a particular environment. Ask, “How do I make XYZ happen?” not “What do I deserve?”
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve a treasure that you hide, so as not to tempt people. You know how hard you worked to have the gleaming gems, and because of this, you will protect them and show them only to the worthy witnesses who will appreciate their value.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Trying to sort emerging emotions and sprouting conflict with strictly intellectual thinking or generating more theoretical solutions won’t be effective. Reconnect to the primal tides. Basic, inherent instincts will guide you on a fundamental level.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Because today you’ll have the guts to express yourself before you have the words to do so, it may help you to sit down and write out your thoughts, play around with the wording and order, and really plan the best way to deliver your heart.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Relationships need support systems just like people do, as they exist in a society. When friends, family and other groups are routing for a relationship, it improves its chances at success.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Who you are is always slowly changing and at certain times rapidly changing. The fun of today is that a transformation happens in a blink, or more aptly, the microsecond it takes to make a decision.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). This is not a theoretical problem on a page. It’s one you have to live to figure out.
of until you jump
Gary Thomas Placerville Speedway
Fourteen-year-old Micro graduate Austin Wood has been nothing short of impressive during his rookie campaign at Placerville Speedway. After showing consistency all season, the Sacramento driver was able to park it in victory lane for the first time in his young Sprint Car career on Saturday night. Sharing victory lane on Anrak Night at the Races were Cade Lewis with the USAC/ BCRA Midgets, Jake Morgan with the BCRA Lightning Sprints and Nick Baldwin with the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks.
Tahoe Daily Tribune
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — South Lake local Leon Malmed, 86, has made headlines for his cycling achievements in recent years and his streak continued this summer. The octogenarian champion made it to the podium in multiple European races, including the UCI World Championships, in Austria and Denmark.
Malmed left Tahoe for Europe in
mid August and cycled in six races in 10 days across Austria and Denmark. Although he did not win gold, Malmed podiumed an impressive five times and returned home Sept. 2 feeling victorious.
When asked about the races, Malmed said he was “just so happy” to have podiumed: “It was tough, but I was in good shape and I’ve never raced or done as well as I did [this n See MALMED, page A10
Football Continued from A8
Jason Wilson and one from senior receiver Jesse Morales Beas. The Cougars will take this win into their bye week and be back in action when they start league play at Argonaut Sept. 20.
Oak Ridge 16; McCallie 38
The Oak Ridge Trojans struggled in Tennessee against defending state champs McCallie and drop their third straight in a 38-16 loss. The Trojans scheduled their non-league opponents to be tough matchups to help prep
Races Continued from A8
The 25-lap Thompson’s Family of Dealerships Winged 360 Sprint Car main event started off a little ragged, but once things got going, it was Wood setting the pace over Ashton Torgerson. A multi-car incident on lap six then saw Torgerson get caught up in it, forcing him to the rear of the field.
Numerous slowdowns were seen in the feature, but Wood hit his marks on each restart. Suisun City youngster Chance Grasty gave chase after the leader and looked very strong all night long. Grasty had to fend off several challenges from Lincoln’s Tanner Carrick as the race wound down. With a couple circuits remaining Grasty closed fast on Wood and made it a battle for the lead. The final lap saw the duo race nose to tail down to the checkered flag, which saw Wood edge out Grasty to claim the big win. Carrick crossed the stripe in third, followed by point leader Andy Forsberg and 17th starter Tony Gomes, who was the Hard Charger after winning the B-main. Rounding out the top 10 were Bubba Decaires, Dustin Freitas, Camden Robustelli, Izaak Sharp and Jake Haulot.
The USAC Western States/BCRA Midget 30-lap main event began with TJ Smith jumping out to the early lead. Tanner Carrick was doing double duty in both the Midget and Sprint Car on Saturday, and quickly found the high side to his liking.
Current USAC point leader Lewis slow rolled the bottom to perfection, however, as he sliced his way into the top-spot on lap eight. After that it was all Lewis up front who cruised to the
them for league play; they are 0-3 going into the bye week. On the other side of the bye week is one of the toughest leagues in the state. The Trojans are back in action at home Sept. 20 when they host Del Oro Golden Eagles. The Mountain Democrat aims to cover much more than just football. If you saw a great game, played in one or have one coming up that you think should be covered, email staff writer Malachi Parker at Malachi@ mtdemocrat.com
Ron Stahl checkered flag ahead of Carrick, Smith, Brandon Wiley and Drake Edwards.
Fair Oaks racer Morgan made a start with the BCRA Lightning Sprints on Saturday and drove to victory during their annual Tracy Taylor Memorial. Hunter Kinney stalked him every step of the way but couldn’t make the pass and settled for a runner up finish. Tyler Gerdes, Matt Land and Bradley Schmidt completed the top-five.
The Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks continued their trend of providing exciting racing in the main event.
Jason Poppert has shown speed at times this year and led the opening stages of the feature. Current runner up in the standings Kevin Jinkerson then carved his way by for the topspot on lap seven.
Poppert stayed close however, as the action was hot and heavy throughout the pack. The complexion of the race changed when contact ensued between Jinkerson and Poppert while battling for the point on lap 17. Jinkerson ultimately came to a stop, while Poppert was put to the rear in a rough driving call.
Five-time track champ and point leader Nick Baldwin now found himself out front and he would lead the remainder for win number six on the season. Tyler Lightfoot, Wayne Trimble, Tommy Sturgeon and David Silva rounded out the top-five.
Placerville Speedway finishes off the Berco Redwood/ Hoosier Tire championship campaign with Coors Light Big Trophy Night this coming Saturday, Sept. 14.
Manasrah Continued from A4
No!” As with the previous suit filed by Qureshi Law, the complaint against EDCOE claims negligence in supervision and hiring practices
allowed for Manasrah to allegedly molest the child.
“This case is tragic not only because of the heinous nature
of Tarik Manasrah’s conduct but also because it could have been prevented,” states Will Horowitz, one of the attorneys working on the case. “There were numerous red flags that could have alerted EDCOE to the fact that Manasrah was not someone that should be alone with children, let alone special needs children who are more vulnerable. With these lawsuits, the families hope to get some measure of justice for the unspeakable acts committed by Manasrah and EDCOE’s failure to prevent them.”
Though EDCOE has no specific comment on the ongoing litigation, it has previously shared a statement regarding the allegations regarding Manasrah.
“The El Dorado County Office of Education is deeply saddened by the serious and disturbing allegations,” an EDCOE representative states.
“The safety and well-being of our students are paramount priorities for EDCOE. Any allegations of misconduct are taken extremely
seriously. It is imperative to clarify that EDCOE was not made aware of the allegations until an arrest was made by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 4, 2023. Since the time of the arrest, EDCOE has cooperated fully with the investigation.
“While we must respect the ongoing legal process and refrain from commenting on specific details of the case, we want to assure our community that we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and providing support to those affected. We will continue to offer our full cooperation with law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted.” Manasrah is currently in custody at El Dorado County Jail while he awaits trial. Looking to get in contact with other parents who believe their child may have been victimized by Manasrah, Qureshi Law has set up a website at eldoradoabuse.com and have expressed hopes to hold a town hall in the county in the future.
Announcements Continued from A7
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 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 non-partisan organization.
summer].”
Malmed is remarkably fearless when it comes to cycling. When asked about his fears before the race, he merely mentioned he “hoped [his] equipment works well,” belying an ease impressive for an athlete of any age. At 86, however, Malmed is racing with people years younger than him in a sport where violent crashes are a real risk. Ahead of his last races in Denmark, Malmed did note the dangers of competing in a fast-paced and cut-throat sport.
Speaking about competing against other athletes, he said, “I don’t know how good they are. I don’t know how aggressive they are. I don’t know how violent they could be. So, we shall see.”
has been traveling with him to support his races and enjoy her own adventures in Austria and Denmark.
“The first race in San Johann I had an ebike with me, so I was able to go with Leon to the start and we had a great group of people with us,” Patricia shared. “You know, I always get more white hairs because I worry. There’s a lot of bikers, and they’re fast and young.” Ultimately, however, she is “very proud” of Leon.
“You know, it’s an amazing feat! To see him up there and still young, it’s a good feeling.”
Leon is known around Tahoe for his public speaking (primarily about his experience surviving the Holocaust as a child) and his impressive cycling achievements. Malmed Continued from A9
Malmed’s partner, Patricia Malmed,
Sept. 11
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Putting Your Garden to Bed, 9 a.m. to noon at the Cameron Park Community Center. Master Gardeners will discuss preparing your garden beds for winter and spring planting, soil health, cool season planting, composting/ mulching and pruning. Register online at https:// surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=42792.
Doug Not Josh and the Shenanigans will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. The show begins at 6 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Sept. 12
Do you love to sew (or not sew) and support veterans?
Sew4Vets is a fun group that meets twice a month ( rst Tuesday and second Thursday) 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Placerville. Members sew walker bags, wheelchair bags, pillows and quilts for a number of California veterans hospitals, as well as veterans in local assisted-living homes. Nonsewers help with stringing drawstring bags, stu ng pillows and other “hands on” projects. All supplies furnished. Don’t have a sewing machine you can bring to the meetings? There are a few to share. Check us out at Sew4vets.org.
The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce hosts a business luncheon with speaker Carl Ribaudo, SMG Consulting, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Red Hawk Casino’s Koto Bu et. For more information call (530) 6215885.
Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino hosts After Five, a barbecue trip tip dinner with wine and music by Lisa Bond and Ti any Shiro, 5:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP required. Visit crystalbasin.com or email rsvp@crystalbasin.com.
Left of Cool will perform at 6 p.m. at Smith Flat House, 2021 Smith Flat Road in Placerville. For more information call (530) 6211003.
Jazz Upstairs at the B takes place at The So a in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
The Crocker Art Museum presents CrockerCon #10. For tickets and more information visit crockerart. org.
Valhalla Tahoe presents “The Guys” by Anne Nelson Sept. 12-22 at 4 p.m. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.com.
Sept. 13
The El Dorado Veterans Stand Down takes place 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13 & 14 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 130 Placerville Drive in Placerville. The event will feature dental and vision services, veteran informational booths, great music, food and more. For more information call (530) 621-5146.
Rocklin Souls will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.
Del no Farms in Camino presents Folk on the Farm, 6-10 p.m., with Jalen Ngonda (Sept. 13) and Margo Cilker (Sept. 14). For more
Jennifer Sweeney News release
Fall is an amazing time to visit Apple Hill Growers farms to experience the harvest but there’s more to the area than apples. This year, growers are excited to announce their first Flower Trail Festival on Sept. 14 & 15.
Growers have been working tirelessly to nurture beautiful flower trails and displays for visitors and this weekend event is a celebration of their work. Bring your walking shoes and camera to take great photos and enjoy the beauty of all the di erent beautiful flowers.
The following ranches are participating:
• Apple Ridge Farms #20 — Enjoy the flower trails with thousands of flowers in full bloom. Bring your camera and take some great photos with our giant butterfly wings.
• Boeger Winery #32 — Visit the gorgeous gardens while sipping a special wine.
• Harris Family Farm #84 — The farm’s large flower garden is perfect for picking and pictures. Flowers priced by size and variety.
• O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch #18 — In
addition to zinnias, the ranch also has rows of giant sunflowers planted in the pumpkin patch.
• Smokey Ridge
Ranch #133- Stop by the very large u-pick flower patch and make a beautiful bouquet. Representing over 50 local, family farms,
Apple Hill Growers is an agriculture community with a rich history in farming and winemaking in El Dorado County where
for
a new generation of growers invites guests to share the experience with family and friends. For more information visit applehill.com.
■ Nominate a veteran for virtual experience
John Poimiroo
Special to the Mountain Democrat
One hundred El Dorado County veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces will be taking a simulated flight to and tour of Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18 as part of Mission to Honor Veterans.
This program allows veterans to experience National War Memorials without ever having to board a plane. Friends and families can nominate their veterans to be on the virtual flight at missiontohonorveterans.com.
Veterans selected to participate are made to feel like actual travelers on a trip to our nation’s capital. They board a virtual flight, then sit in an auditorium through a presentation that tours the memorials.
“There is no cost to the veterans thanks to the generous contribu-
tions of our sponsors; however, due to venue accommodations we must limit attendance to 100 vets selected through an application process,” said Jennifer Yoder of Mission to Honor Veterans. “Priority is given to local, advanced-age veterans who would not otherwise be able to participate in a flight to Washington, D.C.”
“Our mission statement, ‘Honoring and Serving Our Veterans’ says it all,” added Gail Lohmann, the program’s founder. “I think I can speak for all of our volunteers when I say it is truly our blessing to be able to participate in such a special day for our veterans.”
Yoder, whose daughter joined her at last year’s event, added, “We were moved to tears seeing veterans who were overwhelmed at the honor and appreciation they were shown. It was truly a life-changing event for those who had never received recognition and thanks for the sacrifices they’d made.”
So, you have planted all the usual fruit trees and even a few citruses but now you want to try something a little di erent. One tree you could consider, if you enjoy a challenge, is olive.
Deborah Nicolls UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County
Olives are native to the Mediterranean and have been cultivated for thousands of years. In the Mediterranean they are grown in rocky soil without irrigation. In California, commercially, they are grown in the silty soil of the Central Valley with lots of water. Though they are drought-tolerant, they fruit best with deep monthly irrigation. They do not like to sit in wet soil in the winter. Olives need long summers, heat and full sun, so plant them against a south or west wall or at the top of a south or west slope that allows the cold air to drain by them. You can cover them during cold spells if you keep the trees small. They will be damaged by temperatures below 17 degrees and killed by temperatures below 10 degrees. Temperatures below 28 degrees will damage the fruit.
There are varieties that are more cold hardy, including Ascolano, Mission, Arbequina and Picual.
The Ascolano is a cold hardy table variety from the Tuscany region of Italy that is grown in California for olive oil. The Mission olive is a historical
species, developed in California in the 1700s, and is the oldest olive tree variety from the United States. The Arbequina originated in Spain and prefers well-drained, alkaline-rich soil. Picual olives are usually grown for olive oil production.
Olives are decorative trees with beautiful, soft gray leaves and, with time, their smooth gray trunks grow gnarly and interesting. Because they are slow growing, they are suitable for pots, though they can reach heights of up to 50 feet. They are a messy tree if you allow the fruit to rot on the ground and could cause an infestation of the olive fruit fly. To control the fruit fly, use traps and pick up fallen fruit. There are some fruitless varieties of olive, though they even have some small fruit, or you can spray with a fruit-control hormone spray. Another way to help control fruit production is not to provide a pollinizer.
Some olives are self-fruitful and some are partially self-fruitful, but most do better when paired with a specific pollinizer. A reputable nursery can tell you if you need a pollinizer and, if so, which variety you need.
You can prune olives during the summer to eliminate suckers and water sprouts or in the spring while in blossom. Do not prune in the winter when freezing is a risk.
If you are growing the trees for their fruit, an application of nitrogen before flowering in the spring will be beneficial. The olive harvest occurs in the fall. The fruit is inedible without first being processed to eliminate their bitterness using dry salt or brine, water or lye.
Keep your eyes open for a UC Cooperative Extension class on processing olives o ered later this year.
Master Gardener classes are o ered monthly throughout the county. Find the class schedule at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/Public_Education_Classes/ ?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr. edu/Public_Education/Classes.
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is open 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for further information at ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/Demonstration_Garden. Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on the website, mgeldorado.ucanr.edu, or leave a message on the o ce telephone at (530) 621-5512. To sign up for notices and newsletters visit ucanr.edu/master_ gardener_e-news. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Marlyn Pino-Jones
News release
Soroptimist of Cameron Park/El Dorado Hills is seeking grant applications from women who serve as the primary earners for their families and require financial assistance to continue their education or training. Women can now apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award. Applications are available at bit.ly/LYDAapply. The application deadline is Nov. 15. (The club number for SICPEDH is #116408.)
Soroptimist CPEDH will provide cash grants to its award recipients for up to $2,500. The top winner’s name will then advance to the Soroptimist Sierra Nevada Region level where recipients could receive up to an additional $5,000. Recipients may use the Live Your Dream Award to o set any costs associated with their e orts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This
includes tuition, books, childcare, carfare or other education-related expenses.
Nationally, each year, the Live Your Dream Award provides more than $2.8 million in cash awards to head of household women in need each year. Many recipients have overcome enormous obstacles, including poverty, homelessness, domestic violence and/or substance use disorder. These cash grants continue to instill pride in head-ofhousehold women in need who showed the courage to change their lives. The awards not only help recipients’ quality of life but they also build confidence and a willingness to help others, thereby improving communities. Since the program’s inception in 1972, the grants have distributed more than $40 million and helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.
Founded in 1981,
the Cameron Park/ El Dorado Hills club is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls through educational programs leading to social and economic empowerment. For more information visit soroptimist.org or sicpedh.org or call (916) 933-8205. Soroptimist is a nonprofit organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs.
Join Sierra Wildlife Rescue for the fourth annual Wildlife Bazaar Yard Sale Fundraiser and Food Festival Sept. 13-15. Guests never know what one-of-akind items they will find. There will be delicious food and water for sale to ensure no one is hungry or parched while shopping for great deals. SWR will again feature the Treasures and Collectables Booth.
All proceeds will give orphaned and injured wildlife another chance at life. Those interested are invited to learn more about how they can become part of this wonderful community through membership or join the team as a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator.
Sierra Wildlife Rescue rescues, rehabilitates and releases wildlife from the western slope of El Dorado County and is permitted through U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“All the money raised through this yard sale fundraiser will help feed and house creatures in need,”
said Sierra Wildlife Rescue board President Debbie Buckles. “It will allow us to continue to buy specialized foods and formula for various species (and) housing of safe enclosures during their rehabilitation process and pay for much needed veterinarian expenses. Your donations are tax-deductible and very much appreciated.”
The sale runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept. 14, at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at at 777 Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.
SWR mission
Sierra Wildlife Rescue’s mission is the preservation of El Dorado County’s wildlife by rescuing and rehabilitating injured and/or orphaned native animal species and releasing them back into the wild and providing educational programs to schools, community organizations and the public on wildlife conservation. For details visit sierrawildliferescue. org or call Barbara Barker at (530) 621-2650.
News release
The Rotary Club of Placerville presents Rotary in the Vineyard, 4-9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at Saureel Vineyards, 1140 Cold Springs Road in Placerville. Enjoy live music by The Jamokes Band, delicious food from The Smith Flat House and an evening of ra es, auctions, and dessert. Tickets are $80 per person, $150 per couple, or $700 for a table with two bottles of wine and one book of ra e tickets. All proceeds from this event will benefit several significant local causes, including El Dorado and Union Mine high school scholarships, Trees for Troops, Coats for Kids, community improvements, and CASA El Dorado.
Don’t miss this opportunity to support these vital community initiatives while enjoying a memorable evening in a beautiful vineyard setting. To purchase tickets or for more information visit placervillerotary.org.
About the club
The Placerville Rotary Club is a local chapter of Rotary International, a global network of community leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Through service projects, fundraising initiatives and community outreach e orts, the Placerville Rotary Club aims to make a positive impact locally and globally.
management, home care, respite and assisted living
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — The city of South Lake Tahoe is thrilled to host the third annual Multicultural Celebration, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Bijou Community Park. This family-friendly event offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the rich cultural diversity of our community through captivating performances, interactive activities, and local vendors.
Throughout the day, the main stage will come alive with performances that highlight a variety of cultural traditions:
11 a.m. — Land acknowledgment
11:15 a.m. — Battle Born Highland Dance: Traditional Scottish dance.
Noon — India Arts & Cultural Center: Vibrant and colorful Indian dance.
1 p.m. — Eagle Wings Pageant Dancers: Dynamic Native American dance.
1:45 p.m. — Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Powwow Dance Group: High-energy Powwow dance.
2:20 p.m. — Ballet Folklorico: Lively Mexican folkloric dance.
Attendees can learn new skills and participate in hands-on demonstrations such as traditional Scottish throwing with Northern Nevada Throwing Company, discovering the art of Aikido with Tahoe Mountain Aikido and learning a new dance routine
with The Studio.
Visitors are also invited to explore booths hosted by cultural groups from around the region, including the India Arts & Culture Center of Northern Nevada, Latino Arte and Culture, the Nevada Society of Scottish Clans, Northern Nevada Throwing Company and Sons & Daughters of Erin. Local organizations will also offer a variety of engaging activities, such as creating cultural postcards, painting your love for Tahoe on a canvas, taking a cultural journey through Disney tunes and meeting Smokey Bear. Don’t miss the chance to watch local artists paint the event slogan, “In Culture, We Thrive.”
All guests are encouraged to carpool, utilize the free bike valet provided by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition or take public transportation such as LakeLink. These options help reduce congestion and make the experience more enjoyable while supporting the community’s sustainability efforts.
The third annual Multicultural Celebration is a free event, welcoming everyone to join in on a day of cultural discovery, community connection and fun. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to experience the rich cultural tapestry that makes South Lake Tahoe a unique and vibrant community.
For more information visit cityofslt.us or contact Special Events Coordinator Emily Abernathy at eabernathy@cityofslt.us.
Traci Rockefeller Cusack News release
SACRAMENTO — The California State Railroad Museum & Foundation, along with project partner Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum, announce fun and free Community Paint Days on Saturday, Sept. 14 (Second Saturday), and Sunday, Sept. 15. All weekend long, community mural painting will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Front and I streets (on or near the sycamore-shaded lawn) just outside the California State Railroad Museum. All ages are welcome and no experience or advance registration is required to participate.
While painting alongside talented professional artists from Sojourner Truth African American Museum, participants will also enjoy entertaining DJ music, a food truck on site, interactive activities offered by other community and resource partners and more. The result of
community engagement that took place in July, the mural design will include overarching themes that highlight innovation and invention along with diverse stories of past, present and future with 2D and 3D art, land/earth artistry and technology-centered art incorporated as well. Later this fall, the completed community mural will be installed inside the Railroad Museum in the second-floor gallery space.
More detailed information about the Community Mural Paint Days is available at californiarailroad. museum/mural. And, as always, the community is encouraged to continue to share railroad stories with the California State Railroad Museum by submitting them at californiarailroad. museum/my-story. More information about Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum is available at sojoartsmuseum.org. And for more information about the California State Railroad Museum or Foundation visit californiarailroad.museum.
Chris Ringnes El Dorado Community Foundation
The Flaherty Impact Foundation announces the launch of the Flaherty IMPACT Scholarship, a new scholarship opportunity dedicated to supporting higher education and building the next generation of leaders in El Dorado County. This scholarship is a scholarship for highachieving, creative problem-solving students who work diligently to better their community and look beyond themselves.
The Flaherty Impact Scholarship will be open for all dedicated El Dorado Union High School seniors who are pursuing education past high school because of their love of learning and dedication to their local community and making the world a better place. Multiple recipients will be chosen to receive the scholarship over a four-year period. Special consideration will be given to applicants who have community service hours; work experience,
especially those who have shown entrepreneurship; and high school athletes of two years or more.
Rescue Union School Board Member Michael Flaherty knows firsthand the importance of supporting community youth.
“We are excited to introduce our IMPACT scholarship as part of our Foundation’s ongoing commitment to youth here in El Dorado County,” said Flaherty. “We believe that investing in the education of talented and driven students is essential for building a brighter future. This scholarship will help alleviate financial barriers and empower recipients to pursue their academic goals.”
Dedicated to making a profound and lasting impact on the lives of children in need, Michael and his wife Tricia established the Flaherty Impact Foundation in 2023. Their primary focus is providing assistance to youth in need, which includes displaced and homeless children within El Dorado n See SCHOLARSHIP, page B8
Using a car seat correctly prevents injury and helps keep children safe. Keep your child in a forward-facing seat until they reach 40 to 65 pounds or the height restriction of the seat. Use booster seats until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age. When your child reaches those limits, they can use lap and shoulder belts that fit properly and should remain in the back seat.
Find what each kid has in common with the others in the same row, across, up and down, and diagonally. (Hint: In the first row across, they all have caps.) Then look to see which kid does not have their seatbelt fastened correctly.
Last Teusday, our class read read an article in the newsppaer about the
Take this quiz and find out.
1. Why wear a seatbelt?
a. It’s a fashion accessory.
b. It hurts to sit on it.
c. It protects you in a crash.
2. Booster seats are for:
a. astronauts.
b. hockey fans.
c. kids until they reach 4’ 9”.
c. all of the above.
3. Booster seats are great because:
a. you ride high and can see out of the window.
a. 103 years old.
b. 25 years old.
c. 13 years old.
5. Wear your seatbelt:
a. under your arm or behind your back.
b. loose so you can move freely.
c. snugly across the shoulder and chest, belt low on your hips.
6. In someone else’s car, should you ask for help if the seatbelt doesn’t fit right?
a. No. It’s rude.
b. No. They’ll think you’re dumb.
c. Yes. Otherwise, you could be seriously injured.
ANSWERS: If you answered anything but “C” to the above questions, you’re not a safe passenger!
b. you ride high, so the belt doesn’t poke your neck.
4. To sit in the front seat, you should be at least:
If the answer to the math problem following each statement is even, then the statement is true. If the answer is odd, the statement is false.
the words in the puzzle, then in this week’s Kid Scoop stories and activities.
The back seat is the safest place to sit until age 13. 3 + 3 + 2 = ______ 2. You should use a booster seat until you are 4’9” tall. 11 - 5 = ______
Sacramento is proud to present the 48th annual Historic Home Tour on Sunday, Sept. 22. The highly anticipated event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a lively, fun and free street fair.
With a mission to highlight the historically significant architecture, timeless designs and beautiful décor of some of Sacramento’s most prized historical homes and buildings, the 2024 Historic Home Tour will showcase the following six historical properties:
• Bonnie Fitzpatrick House: This historical home was designed in 1910 by architects James Seadler and Ernest Hoen for retired Nevada rancher Joseph
Marzen and his wife Catherine. After operating as a boarding house for 50-plus years, the house was restored and returned to single-family usage in the 1980s. In 1904, shortly after he announced his plan to retire from ranching and move to Sacramento, Marzen was described as “one of the most extensive breeders of fine cattle west of the Mississippi River.”
• Huston/Knutson House: Dating from 1906, this two-story Colonial residence was designed by architect Alden Campbell for Edward P. Huston, a realtor and manager of an insurance company. Huston and his wife Vena lived in the home for only two years before moving into a new house next door, also by Campbell. The historical property includes a new one-car garage (designed by Eric Knutson, an architect).
• Little House on 22nd: This small, one-story house (approximately 780 square feet in size) is the sole survivor of a row of four identical houses that were built in about 1890 as rentals for tenants that included railroad employees. The house originally had just four rooms arranged in a single file, shotgun style. It is the sole surviving
Available for weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, & one time cleaning. Reliable, honest, and has over 20 years of experience.
Move to the largest senior apartments
e spacious Independent Living apartments at Ponté Palmero mean you can continue your independent lifestyle with room to entertain friends and access to all the life-enriching community services and amenities we o er.
Floor plans up to 1,482 square feet | Private, attached garage | Full kitchen | In-suite laundry
You can continue to cook and entertain in your own home, or enjoy our chef-prepared meals in the community dining room with friends. We take away the worry of housekeeping and home maintenance, and provide social opportunities all month long. You can relax and spend your days with friends and family, and doing the things you enjoy most.
INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES FEATURES
• Kitchen with full-size appliances and granite counters
• Private patio
• Attached garage
• In-home washer and dryer
• High ceilings
• Housekeeping, laundry, and trash service
• Utilities and basic cable included
• Air conditioning
• Pets welcome!
COMMUNITY SERVICES & AMENITIES
• Restaurant-style dining
• Swimming pool, hot tub, and outdoor grills
• Clubhouse and tness center
• Library and full-service beauty salon
• Activities, clubs, outings, and celebrations
• Transportation services
• 24-hour emergency maintenance
• Gated electronic entrance
We also o er Assisted Living Villas & Memory Care apartments for a full continuum of care.
SACRAMENTO — DOCO (Downtown Commons) offers two more popular Makers Market events in 2024 – one on Sept, 14 and a special Holiday Makers Market on Nov. 23. Perfect for shoppers looking for unique items and supporting local artisans, the quarterly DOCO Makers Markets are presented by River City Marketplace and take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the west plaza. During Makers Market events, more than 20 local vendors, makers and
Home tour Continued from B5
residence of Grant Cross, an African American community organizer and entrepreneur and a founder of the West End Club.
• Pritchard/Edmonds House: Built in 1909 for William and Lulu Pritchard, this Craftsman-style house has beautiful interior woodwork and windows, some filled with stained glass. With its front porch extending along the south side, extensive brickwork, varied exterior treatment (both shingles and lap siding) and deep eaves, it resembles a Poverty Ridge house from 1908 that may have been built by brick contractor John Haley.
• Renwick/Small Apartments: This fourplex was built in 1922 for Frank Renwick, an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and his wife Laura. The contractor was William R. Saunders, who designed and built several multi-unit residences in Boulevard Park and elsewhere in Midtown. The Renwicks lived in one apartment and rented out the others. Each of these “five room flats” has a living room, dining room (originally fitted with a built-in wall-bed that was concealed inside a closet), kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom.
• Winters House: Built in 1890, this brightly colored, three-story Queen Anne-style house is one of only two buildings in Boulevard Park to have an individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The first recorded owner, Herman Winters, was a wealthy grocer turned investor who had emigrated from Germany in 1849. In 1909, Herman’s widow Effie had the house elevated and the ground floor converted into a six-room apartment. Later, owners divided that space into two apartments and a third apartment
information visit delfinofarms.com/folkonthefarm.
Kirk Basquez Band will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Michael Massé will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
Sept. 14
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Bringing Birds to Your Garden, 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. Master Gardener and bird watcher Pat Trimble will discuss our common backyard birds and share strategies for attracting them to our gardens with plants. Other means of providing food, shelter, and water will also be featured. Parking permits are required, purchase a $2 permit at any kiosk. Register online at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=42881.
In partnership with Snowline Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Association, El Dorado County’s Area Agency on Aging and the Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center, Marshall invites everyone to attend Two Fronts, a no-cost dementia healthcare and home support symposium, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cameron park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive. Register online at marshallmedical.org/ events-calendar.
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Rock Painting for Kids, 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. Learn how to paint garden rocks. Paint one to add to our resident rock snakes and one rock to take home to add art to your own garden. Ages 5-12. Parking permits are required, purchase a $2 permit at any kiosk. Register online at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/ survey.cfm?surveynumber=43437%20.
Join 1850 Wine Cellars and Myka Estates for the monthly concert series featuring live music and a pre fixe dinner menu by Chef Lisa Scott: Sept. 14 — Motown meal with FBI Band. For tickets and more information visit 1850winecellars.com/pages/ events.
Reggae in the Vineyard takes place 3-8 p.m. at Mellowood Vineyard in the Fair Play area. Find tickets and more information on eventbrite.com.
The Swingmasters will perform at 4 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.
The EDH Summer Fest, hosted by the El Dorado Hills Community Service District, will provide a
artisans will offer an ever-changing and diverse assortment of handmade specialty items and great gift ideas. Guests can shop for various items such as jewelry, bath and body products, artwork, greeting cards and candles while enjoying DJ music. To add to the excitement, the plaza offers a DOCO Rewards loyalty program with prizes, discounts, incentives and benefits for shopping, dining, playing, staying, and completing activities via the online app. As a special incentive, shoppers will receive double rewards points on
was created on the second floor by walling off the house’s second parlor and replacing a back bedroom with a kitchen. For the 2024 tour, the main residence on the second floor will be open to the public.
The Boulevard Park historical district includes two major elements: a collection of late 19th and early 20th century homes along the former streetcar line along H Street, which used to reach the state fairgrounds and East Park (now McKinley Park), and the early 20th century neighborhood built on the fairgrounds property starting in 1905. It is immediately recognizable for the landscaped north-south boulevards along 21st and 22nd streets. This part of the district is listed in the Sacramento Register of Historic & Cultural Resources and the National Register of Historic Places.
The 2024 Historic Home Tour extends about five blocks and is both walkable and bikeable (with bicycle parking available in a Bike Corral provided by SABA, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates).
While touring the historical homes is the highlight of the annual event, a popular street fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 23rd & F streets. The street fair will include vendors and live musical entertainment, and will be the end point for the spirited Sacramento Tweed Ride 2.0, expected between noon and 1 p.m.
Each year, funds raised from Preservation Sacramento’s Historic Home Tour support nominations and surveys of historical properties. They also benefit other community projects that raise awareness of important and/or culturally significant historical places.
Markers Market activation dates. Free to download, the DOCO Rewards app is available via the Apple Store and Google Play. New members receive 200 points for signing up. A complete set of DOCO Rewards rules, restrictions and instructions and a list of DOCO businesses and members of the DOCO Merchant’s Association are available on the app. For more information about DOCO Rewards visit docosacramento.com/rewards.
DOCO is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in the heart of downtown Sacramento.
Tickets to the 2024 Historic Home Tour are on sale now and cost $25 per person in advance for Preservation
magical end-of-summer bash for the community at Community Park. This year’s theme is folklore and fairytales. The event runs 4-9:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Ramble Ensemble, a Led Zeppelin cover band, will perform at Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery in the Pleasant Valley area 5:30-8 p.m. For more information call (530) 622-7221 or visit sierravistawinery.com/event/ramble/.
The Stage at Burke Junction presents Bill Roby’s 90-minute Tsunami of Change educational discussion, 6-7:30 p.m. As part of the UC Davis Center on Regional Change, Roby will share what has been learned and the impact on businesses, politics, community development and changing demographics of El Dorado County in the next 10 years. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com/tsunami-of-change.
1850 Wine Cellars in Placerville hosts Wine, Dine & Vibe, 6-8:30 p.m. featuring a delicious dinner, music by FBI Band and wonderful wines. For reservations visit 1850winecellars.com/pages/ events.
Take Cover and Cross will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Inverness 95 will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.
Watch the Knight Foundry crew fire up an antique blacksmith forge, pour and craft hot metal during its monthly demonstration day. Visitors can tour at their own pace, meeting and talking with enthusiastic and knowledgeable docents throughout the complex. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservations are needed. Knight Foundry is located at 81 Eureka St., Sutter Creek. Learn more by emailing info@knightfoundry.com or call (209) 560-6160.
The Hot Licks will perform at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.
The Crocker Art Museum presents Conversations on the Collection: Simphiwe Ndzube. For tickets and more information visit crockerart.org.
Sept. 15
Convenient parking is available in DOCO’s central garage with an entrance on J Street between 4th & 5th streets. Parking validation is available at most DOCO tenants with purchase. Elevators/escalators take guests up to the plaza’s main level and second level terrace near restaurants, eateries and retail tenants. For more information about upcoming community activations and/or retail shopping, dining and service offerings at DOCO visit docosacramento.com or follow DOCO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The City of Plymouth is seeking an ACCOUNTANT I/II, who under general supervision from the City Manager, performs high level nancial reporting, including budgeting, internal auditing, nancial and managerial analysis, cost accounting and analysis, business law, basic economics, follows modern of ce procedures and practices, methods and equipment and research techniques. Is familiar with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Procedures (GAAP); General Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
Quali cations
Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required quali cations would be:
Two years of accounting and nancial work, and a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or a related eld.
Licensing Requirements: • Valid Class C California driver’s license may be required for some positions.
Selection Procedure
Candidates must submit application materials that include a completed and signed employment application and copies of any required certi cates or license listed under the requirements.
A complete job description and Application materials are available online at www.cityofplymouth.org. Completed Application materials can be emailed, mailed or handdelivered to Plymouth City Hall, City Manager’s Of ce, 9426 Main Street; P. O. Box 429, Plymouth, CA 95669; emailed to:
