Suspect arrested, charged with arson
Eric Jaramishian Senior sta writer
El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce o cers arrested a Placerville man suspected of starting the Crozier Fire which burned nearly 2,000 acres near Slate Mountain in El Dorado County.
Law enforcement personnel from Cal Fire issued a warrant for the arrest of Jason Robinette, 48, following an investigation that determined the fire was intentionally set, according to a Cal Fire press release.
EDSO personnel arrested Robinette near In-NOut on Forni Road in Placerville on Sept. 16. The suspect was booked into the El Dorado County Jail around 9:30 p.m. and is charged with arson. The Crozier Fire, which began Aug. 6, burned 1,960 acres northeast of Placerville. Robinette is being held on $250,000 bail.
The investigation was conducted collaboratively by Cal Fire, EDSO, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s O ce and the U.S. Forest Service Law
Enforcement and Investigations O ce.
Cal Fire encourages the public to be vigilant and to alert authorities about suspicious fire activity, which can be reported at Cal Fire’s secure arson hotline at 1-800-468-4408.
“Cal Fire law enforcement o cers work diligently to investigate all fires and apprehend those suspected of starting fires,” a Cal Fire press release states. “From Jan. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2024, Cal Fire law enforcement O cers have made 91 arrests related to arson.”
Central EDH visioning project unveils conceptual designs
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors held a special meeting last month to discuss options for the land known as Central EDH, still partially up for grabs from Parker Development. In November 2023 the CSD acquired the parcel primarily north of Serrano Parkway for $10 million. The purchase option for the remaining 41.5-acre parcel expires July 12, 2025. The current price is $9.96 million.
West River Hotels owners Robert and Mike Leach presented a public/private partnership concept — development of a new public golf course, driving range and performance center — which they claimed would cost taxpayers nothing.
“We’re El Dorado Hills residents,” assured Mike, who noted he attended Jackson Elementary, Marina Village Middle School and Oak Ridge High School. “My mom taught at Jackson Elementary for over a decade. We have roots here. We love this community. We want to see it grow.”
The West River Hotel design sports a 9-hole golf course along with a small resort-style hotel, which would generate both transient occupancy tax revenue and ground lease revenue to the CSD. A third party golf course management company would manage and lease the golf course from CSD as an additional revenue source.
The proposed 100-room hotel also o ers 10 small cottages, a wedding and banquet facility that could seat 400 people, a freestanding restaurant, a golf pro shop and snack shack.
Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian
ESSENTIALS
Carol Elaine Pearson
April 7,1952 - April 22, 2024
Carol Elaine Lumley was born in Marshall Hospital on Monday, April 7, 1952. Daughter of Raymond C. Lumley and Evelyn (Sally) Lumley, both from El Dorado County. Carol is proceeded by her Mother and Father as well as her brother Rodney Lumley. She is survived by her son, Bryson Donavan Pearson and daughter Abbey Elaine Pearson and her four grandsons, River, Harrison, Brody and Wade. Carol lived a life of lifetimes. She was an adorable child. She was a beautiful young woman and in her age beauty never left her. Carol was a verbal history book. Taking after her grandmother, Alice Lyons; she became the keeper of family memories from generations past. In fact of anyone, in or close to the family had a question you could be sure Carol knew the answer. Carol was a proud El Dorado Couger Alumni class of 1970. After her highschool graduation Carol moved onto college in Sacramento and then to secretarial school. She excelled! Carol raised a house and turned it into a loving home with her husband. She retired to her family homestead at Phillips Station near Echo Summit in 2000. With 20 years of Mountain life under her belt she moved back to Diamond Springs for a short year. The move brought her closer to her best friends. Best friends are best medicine. Mrs. Carol Pearson was a giver, a mother, a sister, a partner, a friend and is missed by so many. Carol passed away just before noon on a lovely day in April. She was holding the hands of her two children in peace. A Memorial to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at Phillips Station on September 22 at 2:30pm. Because of the fire that destroyed Carol’s house, there is limited photos. If you have any and plan to attend, please bring photos to share.
Beatrice (Bea) Cadenhead (Nee Martin; Smith, Andersen)
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.
Tyson Hadley
May 6, 1935 – Sept. 8, 2024
We mourn the passing of Tyson Hadley, a man of steely resolve and indomitable spirit. His natural warmth and innate sense of humor put people around him at ease. You could guarantee he would have those around him smiling and laughing, and feeling like they mattered. If something was broken, Ty could fix it—whether he was underneath a house, caked in mud mending a leaking pipe, covered head to toe in grease while tuning an engine, or in his shirt and tie, guiding a student through life’s decisions, or making sure graduation came o without a hitch during his long career as a counselor at Ponderosa High School.
A tireless worker and lifelong athlete, Ty was always there to support, uplift, and advocate for those around him. Charmingly unrefined, he was never without a quote, poem, song or pun to suit every occasion. His deep love for his family was evident in all aspects of his life.
Tyson is survived by his beloved wife, Helen, the love of his life, and his two children, James and Holly, and three cherished grandchildren, Aram, Saeah, and Simon. His legacy of hard work, love, dedication, and humor will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Celebration of Life
To all who knew and loved Ty, we know he is best described as down to earth, heartfelt, and joyous. Being minimalist and uncomplicated were strong values of his, and he made it very clear he did not want a traditional memorial. Honoring this wish, we are hosting an informal potluck at Wakamatsu Farm on October 13th at 3pm.
Come gather with us and bring something to share: a dish, a drink, an instrument to play, a song, a photo, or a story to tell, all with love in your heart for Ty. This occasion is intended to be simple, yet full of love, sharing, and friendship to celebrate a life well lived.
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.
DEATH NOTICE
Jeanne Bland
July 22, 1926 – Aug. 13, 2024
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Snowline Hospice of El Dorado.
Richard Carl Klein
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.
Danna Pimental
Jan. 31,1954 – Aug. 30, 2024
Danna Pimental, born on January 31, 1954, in Vacaville, California, passed away on August 30, 2024, in Cedar Grove, California, where she died peacefully in her sleep. Growing up in Vacaville, Danna was known for her vibrant spirit and kind heart. After high school, she moved to Cedar Grove to create a life with her husband, Rod Pimental, who she was married to for 50 wonderful years, and together they built a lifetime of memories filled with love and laughter. Danna was a dedicated employee at Raley’s in Placerville, California, where she worked for 20 years and made many lasting friendships along the way. Danna is survived by her husband, Rodney Pimental; her daughter, Lynda; her husband, Vernon, and their two children, Alexia and Cameron. She also leaves behind her mother, Norma Moss; her siblings: Cheryl Bear and her family, Pam Markley and her family, and brother James “Jimmy” Jackson and his family. Danna was preceded in death by her father Paul Jackson, her cherished son Marc Pimental and her brother Roger Jackson. Danna will be remembered for her unwavering love for her family, her hard work and dedication, and her ability to bring people together. Her infectious laughter and generous spirit touched the lives of many, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held on September 21, 2024, from 12 PM to 4 PM at Pleasant Valley Community Hall, located at 4765 Pleasant Valley Grange Rd., Placerville, CA. All are welcome to join the family in honoring Danna’s memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Diabetes Foundation.
LEGISLATORS’ ADDRESSES
Clerici jclerici@cityofplacerville.org Nicole Gotberg ngotberg@cityofplacerville.org David Yarbrough dyarbrough@cityofplacerville. org ElL DORADO COUNTY SUPERVISORS EDC Government Center 330
CONTACT US
Richard B. Esposito Publisher (530) 344-5055 / resposito@mtdemocrat.net
Noel Stack Editor 530-344-5073 / nstack@villagelife.net
Mimi Escabar Special Sections Editor 530-344-5070 / mescabar@mtdemocrat.net
Eric Jaramishian Senior staff writer 530-344-5063 / eric@mtdemocrat.com
Odin Rasco Senior staff writer 530-344-5062 / odin@mtdemocrat.com
Malachi Parker Staff writer Malachi@mtdemocrat.com GRAPHICS
Letty Bejarano-Carvajal Graphics Manager (530) 344-5049 / lettyb@mtdemocrat.net
Magical summerfest
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosted SummerFest at Community Park on Sept. 14. With a theme of Folklore & Fairytales, youngsters and those young at heat came dressed as their favorite characters, enjoying carnival games and rides, live music, a petting zoo and much more. Above, little ones are enchanted by a bubble fairy. Right, Pippa Irby, 7, shares tales and tails with a mermaid named Alyssa at the summer’s end celebration. For information about upcoming community events visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Have no fear, the beer’s still here: Oktoberfest still coming to Placerville
Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
Although originally expected to be cancelled outright this year, Placerville’s annual Oktoberfest celebration will return to Main Street this weekend in a pared-down form thanks to efforts by local merchants and city staff.
Russ Reyes, local promoter and producer, has spearheaded the event for the past five years through his events company, Kilt & Cork. Although he had hoped to put the event on again this year, economic and situational hurdles proved infeasible to navigate while still allowing him to stay true to his original vision for the event, Reyes explained.
“We had planned on doing it pretty much all year,” Reyes told the Mountain Democrat. “I want to make it clear; there isn’t really anyone at fault here. The city and city staff have been awesome, trying to work out a solution to have the event happen.
“Really, the biggest reason we couldn’t do it the way it has traditionally been is finance,” he explained. “We didn’t have the bigger sponsors that we’ve had in the past. Because with how the economy is this year, they just couldn’t do it.”
Reyes previously spoke to the difficulty of putting on Main Streetclosing events during a recent City Council workshop meeting which discussed how the city might approach public events in the future. He explained his approach to Oktoberfest was not a large-profit model, as he believed keeping the event free was a top priority.
“There’s a misconception that this is a money-making event,” Reyes said. “I suppose it could have been, when the city was providing the event and getting the drinks free or charging the brewers to be there. But it’s a small community. I’ve known these brewers for years and I’m not going to ask for free beer for 5,000 people.”
After considering the numbers and the risks involved in putting the show on without sponsors, Reyes decided
he couldn’t do it “the right way” and shared the news with city in mid-July.
“We get compliments for the events we run. But that fun event, providing plenty of restrooms, souvenir glasses, quality of the bands playing, those things all cost money and they’ve gone up in price,” Reyes explained. “We could have stripped it down and done less, but that’s just not my brand. I want to exceed expectations and wow people.”
Though Reyes informed the city of his plans around two months ahead of the planned date, some merchants were not immediately informed.
“I only found out three weeks ago that Oktoberfest wasn’t happening,” Jennifer Teie, owner of The Green Room Social Club, told the Mountain Democrat. “We typically see a 400% increase in our revenue on event days where the streets are closed, and Oktoberfest is one of our biggest days of the year. When I found out it wasn’t happening, I spoke with other Main Street merchants and asked, ‘What’re we going to do about this?’” Working alongside Elena Tucker and other merchants, Teie helped pull strings and adjust plans to ensure the event, though pared back, would happen Saturday, Sept. 21. Although the street will not be closed, the Fox Lot and the parking lot near City Hall will be closed for events and live music. Businesses along Main Street will offer unique specials and menu items, and some small musical acts will play on the sidewalk.
“We have to pivot our plan and make sure we can get people out here to support our local businesses,” Teie explained. “If we can all double our business, it’s going to be a good day. We won’t need 5,000 people filling the street. We’re doing a smaller, old-school kind of Oktoberfest, and we hope people will come down and support our businesses. City staff has been very helpful in helping us pull this together last second.”
The event’s music, Dachshund Dash dog race and costume contest will take place between 3-8 p.m., but businesses will be open and ready for Oktoberfest customers the entire day.
are usually bigger than inlays and work better for restoring the cusps of damaged teeth by capping part or all of the tooth’s surface. Inlays are better for filling large cavities between the cusps. Inlays and onlays provide a hybrid solution for teeth that have too much damage for a filling but not enough for a crown. They are custom poured, stronger than fillings, and color-matched
to your other teeth for a seamless appearance. Whether you are in our office for a dental restoration, a smile makeover, or for a simple cleaning, our personal, casual, and relaxed style in providing quality dental care will help give you a positive experience. We believe in an informed patient, and we promise to provide you with information regarding all aspects of your dental care. Our goals are the same as yours—a healthy mouth and a brilliant smile.
P.S. The first inlays, made from gold foil, were used as far back as 1450. Porcelain inlays were first used around 1820, while gold and platinum inlays became available around 1880.
Photos by Shira Giloff
Tahoe Basin Caldor Hazard Tree Fuels Reduction Project begins
n Project area will be temporarily closed for public safety
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE —
7 a.m. until 5 p.m., conditions and weather permitting. Once operations are suspended for the winter season, the area will be reopened to the public.
The project area includes approximately 862 acres of National Forest system lands burned during the Caldor Fire. Project activities will also include planting of native trees in areas where hazard trees are removed.
Mechanical hazard tree removal will begin this week in the Caldor Fire Area off Pioneer Trail near South Lake Tahoe and on Echo Summit this fall. The purpose of the Tahoe Basin Caldor Hazard Tree Fuels Reduction Project is to reduce excess vegetation (fuels) associated with remaining hazard trees and to stabilize and revegetate priority areas disturbed by fire suppression and initial hazard tree removal activities.
The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has issued a temporary closure order in the project area for public safety. The temporary closure will only be in effect during active fuels reduction operations which will likely take place Mondays through Saturdays from
This project aligns with the 10-year strategy to confront the wildfire crisis in National Forests where wildfires pose the most immediate threat. The strategy, Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America’s Forests, combines historic investment with years of planning and research to dramatically increase the scale of forest health treatments over the next decade.
Hazard tree removal will occur in areas up to 200 feet from NFS
Gold Oak USD board members face recall campaign
Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
In the wake of controversial policy changes, dropping enrollment, employee retention concerns and alleged disparaging remarks made public, three of the five members of Gold Oak Union School District’s Board of Trustees face a recall campaign.
After a successful signature collection phase, paperwork calling for a special vote to recall Roy Boyd, Christina Karle and Jerald Soracco has been filed with the El Dorado County Elections Department. The recall movement is spearheaded by a group of parents with students in the district, including Aaron Lockhart and Chris Vinton, who later announced they were running for the two other board seats open in November’s election.
“I have three daughters at Gold Oak Elementary,” Lockhart told the Mountain Democrat. “I didn’t see a lot of issues until last year; the tone really changed around campus. There were problems getting the science curriculum approved at the middle school, a high turnover rate with teachers and I saw the board hasn’t really been helping get the ball down the field. There was a shift in focus to race and gender issues, things that weren’t previously ever a problem or anything like that. We just want to clean the slate and start over with a new board.”
were associated with Education Impact. “They’ve gone to some meetings they put on because those meetings are done to inform parents on bad state policies that are currently being put into effect against families and parent’s rights. So it’s just an education that they’re seeking, learning about those those laws.”
Shortly after their election, Karle expressed concern with content of books found in the school library and drafted a new library policy. The policy was met with apprehension and resistance, including a letter sent from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California to the board in mid-2023.
“The Proposed Policy — which was first introduced at the March 14, 2023, regular board meeting, then amended and subsequently discussed at the May 9, 2023, regular board meeting — raises serious First Amendment and statutory concerns,” states the ACLU letter dated June 16, 2023. “Public school libraries play a special role in the civic education of students and their free exchange of diverse ideas and information. That role is severely undermined when a school restricts access to works of literary value and otherwise threatens to elevate certain viewpoints over others.”
In 2022 Boyd and Karle ran for the board on an “education, not indoctrination” platform supported by the PAC Education Impact, which claims on its website that “parents’ rights and school choice are the next civil rights movement.” The PAC’s site also states it is part of a forefront initiative focused on “uniting education, government, business and churches in communities to impact their culture.” The group is a strong supporter of alternatives to public schools such as charter and private schools or homeschooling. Some parents involved in the recall effort have questioned if the candidates were involved with Education Impact, given that the PAC openly supports parents pursuing alternatives to public school.
“Some board members are, yeah,” Board President Soracco responded when asked if members of the board
Ultimately, eight or so books were removed from the shelves after an audit of the books on offer at the library. Additionally, rumors swirled that the board had called for the cessation of the yearly Scholastic Book Fair, which was a notable fundraiser for the school library, according to librarian Camille Williamson. Responding to the complaints and recall notice in a letter sent to the Elections Department, Karle defended the book policy.
“Sexually explicit books were found in the GOUSD K-8 library,” Karle states. “We unanimously voted to update our library policy to exclude criminal obscenity. The policy is compliant with federal and state law and the guidance of California State Superintendent Thurmond and Gov. Newsom. Book fairs are encouraged and implemented by the GOUSD staff.”
During the school board’s Aug. 13 meeting, multiple parents took time during public comment to air their
Courtesy photo
Nearly 10,000 acres in the Tahoe Basin burned during the Caldor Fire in 2021.
Central EDH Continued from A1
Robert assured the hotel would stay within the 35-foot height limit and is allowed under the current recreational facilities-high intensity use zoning but requires a special use permit. Tennis and pickleball courts, a possible vineyard, walking paths and seating areas are suggested.
“We’re not asking for a dollar,” assured Mike. “The hotel development itself that would be completely, privately financed.”
“It’s about a $54 million spend to build this type of hotel,” explained Robert, a former policeman turned hotel developer. “More importantly, the current transit occupancy tax in El Dorado County is 10%. We’ve proposed that we would self-tax ourselves an additional 4% on top of that and put it in the kitty to help pay for the public golf course.”
Robert noted their design requires a General Plan amendment to remove the planned Country Club Lane extension. “It would kill our project,” he admitted. “We have no interest in having an expressway coming through the middle of the golf course and through the lobby of the hotel and onto Serrano Parkway. So that would that pretty much be the end of our concept.”
Despite the financial enticement of a free lunch, community members in attendance opposed a hotel. “We need to concentrate on the objective at hand, and that is to get this golf course built,” insisted longtime resident Hugh Baca. “We don’t need to muck it up by trying to put a hotel in here.”
Dalton LaVoie of Stantec Consulting Services presented two layouts developed according to survey feedback from more 2,600 individual responses to an EDHCSD survey completed earlier this summer. The overall development intensity
Recall Continued from A4
grievances, including complaints that their primary issue with the board’s approach to the new book policy was how limited parent and staff input felt.
“I want to clear up some misconceptions on both sides,” parent Courtney Waldie said. “I don’t want porn in our libraries, and we didn’t under our old policy. What I have seen is parents and teachers pleading for a voice. We want to be involved in these decisions.”
Parent Anita Thomas mentioned similar issues she saw with the board, including disparaging remarks about her that had occurred during the board’s meeting in July. After the Zoom recording of the meeting had stopped, but the video was still being transmitted to individuals at home, multiple parents reported hearing a member of the board saying “We got lucky. I thought all these people were going to speak against us. The whole front row is on our side. The rest are leftists, socialists, Marxists and they’re anti-God. That one in the back, Anita, she lives on my street. She’s crazy. The whole neighborhood hates her.”
“You promised parental rights, but haven’t listened to them — just your friends at church,” Thomas said. “Three science teachers have quit at Pleasant Valley (GOUSD’s middle school), giving students no consistency or reliability. You don’t
Continued from A1
backed into a 2020 Toyota Tacoma parked across from the restaurant. The vehicle then moved forward and crashed through the restaurant’s window, drove fully into dining room and hit a Tesla Model Y as the driver was trying to back out.
“When he backed out, I saw his reverse lights go on, so he seemed conscious enough to know forward and backward and all that,” Soto said. “That’s when I saw people coming out of the Verizon because they heard the crashes and then I told them to get back.”
Soto then dialed 911.
Around half a dozen people were dining in the restaurant at the time, including Judy Tapson, whose Tesla Model Y got hit.
“I was in the restaurant sitting right near the door and there were two loud bang sounds,” Tapson said. “It was like an earthquake.”
Witnesses and the driver, whose name was not made available as of press time, were interviewed by law enforcement at the site of the extensive damage. Shattered glass covered the sidewalk in front of
level preference returned was 50% developed and 50% undeveloped with a lean toward twothirds developed and one-third undeveloped. An 18-hole and a 9-hole golf course were considered for the 96.5-acre property. The Country Club Lane extension is incorporated into both options.
The 18-hole course offers practice areas, a driving range and open space. Original designs were pulled from aerial photos and modified to accommodate the future roadway that extends through the south portion of the site.
The top seven amenities selected by the community are incorporated into this concept, including restrooms, non-paved paths, nondeveloped open space, on-site parking lots, paved pathways plus a driving range and player performance center. At 3,200 yards, the course plays shorter than the 4,000-yard original course.
The maintenance yard would be retained in its current location, as would the tunnel providing pedestrian access under Serrano Parkway and 40.5 acres of native vegetation. The parking lot on the parcel’s south side would stay intact and the clubhouse would be replaced.
The second concept incorporates the top three survey responses for project type: open space, community park and golf course. The nine-hole 1,440-yard short course follows the same layout as the first h alf of the 18-hole course on the north parcel but incorporates community park elements on the south parcel. Overall development intensity level is identical in both concepts.
In addition to the amenities laid out in the 18-hole version, the community park integrates 10 additional top amenities such as minor shade
have any children in the district; you’re wasting our kids’ time and funding. You promised education, but you’ve brought indoctrination. For the good of our children, we’re begging you to resign.”
Board President Soracco questioned the accuracy the rumored “hot-mic” situation while speaking with the Mountain Democrat, saying, “My job as the board president is to run an orderly and well-disciplined meeting, and I believe that’s been being done. The board meetings are recorded, so if there’s any such instance of (negative remarks made by the board) during the board meeting, I think it would be in the recording.”
Parents involved in the recall have also expressed concerns about student and staff relation at the school, citing a recent wave of employee turnover, including the school’s most recent superintendent who resigned during the 2022-23 school year. In addition to a continuing downward trend in enrollment, Lockhart also cited an 11% decrease in attendance numbers in recent years at the school district, an issue that directly translates into lost funding.
Soracco countered Lockhart’s claims in his response to the recall, stating the downward trend of student enrollment is a trend seen almost universally in California schools.
Boyd’s response to the recall
the restaurant, and much of the infrastructure inside the lobby of Hong Kong Inn was destroyed.
Owners Yan Kuidong and Xian Kang are currently in talks with their insurance company and said they will decide if they will only serve take out orders or keep the business closed until repairs are done when they get more answers. Kuidong said the patrons were dining on the left side of Hong Kong Inn at the time.
“It’s really lucky because it was still early,” she told the Mountain Democrat. “We did not have a lot of people here, but 30 minutes later we would have people sitting on the right side, where most of the damage was done. I don’t know what would have happened if everyone was sitting on the other side.”
There are currently no estimates on the cost of repairs for the damage. Law enforcement does not suspect DUI to be a factor at this time. The Placerville Police Department, El Dorado County Fire Protection District and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident.
structures, children’s playgrounds, an arboretum, park wayfinding signs and kiosks, informal turf areas with trees and a splash pad.
A dirt trail jogging loop, fitness stations and nine pickleball courts are proposed, as well as a 1,500-person amphitheater paired with a multisport athletic field. Existing ponds would be renovated into three pond and picnic and barbecue areas and 40.5 acres of open space remain mostly undeveloped. A dog park or public disc golf course were mentioned as possibilities.
LaVoie estimated costs for the 18-hole golf course to be in the $14 million range. The nine-hole course plus community park would be more expensive at $20 million to $30 million.
Community feedback was lukewarm for the concepts, with several expressing dismay at the planned Country Club Lane extension. “That road has been a problem,” asserted Area Planning Advisory Committee Chair John Davey. “That alignment is goofy as all get out. The road is a deal breaker and it greatly devalues the property before you even try to obtain it.”
Qualms over the number of amenities stuffed into the community park were also voiced. “It’s like the definition of design by committee,” said resident Ben Glickman. “You’ve got 17 items that people checked the box on. They didn’t say, I want all 17 of those in one place. You can’t put it all in, and that doesn’t make a lot of sense to present that as an option to the community.”
A future survey will be rolled out with cost information on all three layouts presented followed by in-person meetings to discuss community concerns and ideas.
touches on points echoed by Karle and Soracco. “The false allegations against this board have been intentionally misleading and are
politically motivated,” he said. “This recall will waste district funds costing approximately $35,000 to hold a special election.”
Crash
Courtesy renderings
Concept A, left, recreates an 18-hole golf course on the central El Dorado Hills property. Concept B, right, features a nine-hole golf course and a community park with many amenities.
OPINION
California Matters
Dysfunctional ‘dashboard’ of school ratings finally gets a well-deserved beatdown
Nine years ago, as the state Board of Education was working on a system to inform Californians about what was happening in schools, one of its professional advisors, Nancy Brownell, delivered what she described as a “very brief” summary.
Quoted in full from a recording of the July 28, 2015, meeting:
“The conversation around what we’re learning and the development of the evaluation rubric obviously applies in the context of accountability at the larger context. So what the specifics of really being able to build a larger system that emphasizes the cohesive framework that leads to a sense of how we are going to operationalize the demands and expectations in Ed Code around the rubric around how the components, then, of an accountability system that focuses on multiple measures and tries to, as several of you have said, weave the pieces together to help think about the context of the state priorities and how the guiding principles are a lens, we want to continue to develop the details. I have taken to using a picture of an iceberg in some of the presentations on accountability. There is a lot of agreement in some ways on the surface level. None of us would question the importance of the principles. It’s really below the surface in the huge picture I use of what does that really look like in an operationalized system.”
Richard B. Esposito Publisher
Letters to the Editor
Unpleasant letters
EDITOR:
Concerning Steven Wharton’s recent letter, “Same ugly letters,” I share the same sentiments. I’ve read the Mountain Democrat for decades and would agree in the last year or so the same people are battling each other back and forth in the Letters to the Editor section. It is tiresome, unpleasant and actually inconsequential.
I suggest to let them loose in a field somewhere and let them have at it, giving the rest of us some relief. I would also suggest concerning ourselves with addressing concrete local problems and issues in Placerville and the county, which we can actually do something about.
SALLY
DAVIS Placerville
Health library lost
EDITOR:
This past week I discovered online in a local “Buy Nothing” group that the Marshall Community Health Library in Cameron Park was closing. All the books and other media and bookshelves were free to anyone, and if they didn’t get picked up ASAP they were going to the dump.
physical health books, mental health books, health magazines, audiobooks, meditation CDs and lots more. Having an interest in health, I was excited to go and get some free books and bookshelves, but I was also sad that such a unique little place in our county was suddenly closing.
I also couldn’t help but wonder if there is a better way to handle these sorts of things than taking everything to the dump. Maybe the items could be sold to raise funds for programs or organizations or donated places like shelters, schools, health facilities, childcare centers, senior centers or jails. All the items I saw there were in very good condition and it’s a shame that they would end up in the trash if no one quickly came and got them. I know it would take extra e ort to do and a lot of places are overrun with books and other items as it is, but it just seemed like something more could have been done. As a book lover, it’s hard to think of them going in the trash and I know many others feel the same way.
... California’s education establishment is no more interested in real accountability than it was nine years ago. ■
This library had a wide selection, including cookbooks for all sorts of diets, childcare books,
Brownell’s jargon-heavy word salad encapsulated the shortcomings of the so-called “dashboard” that the board later adopted. Academic performance should have been the main focus of the California School Dashboard, but it is just one of its “multiple measures,” thus allowing schools with sub-par test results to boast of high ratings due to their ancillary scores.
The obtuse nature of the dashboard was not accidental.
At the time, school finance was being overhauled by the Local Control Funding Formula, championed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. It provides extra money to schools with large numbers of poor and English learner students, to narrow a chronic “achievement gap” separating them from more privileged classmates.
Education reformers, who had pressed the state to address the achievement gap, also wanted
■ See WALTERS, page A7
The Balancing Act
I also just wanted to raise some awareness of the Marshall Community Health Library because I’m not sure how many people knew about it and its sta , volunteers and donors deserve some recognition for creating such a special place to visit. It will be missed.
County’s ‘structurally unbalanced’ budget gets worse
El Dorado County passed a $1.05 billion preliminary budget which was characterized by county Auditor-Controller Joe Harn, as while legally balanced, was in reality “structurally unbalanced.” I remember just a few years ago the county budget was half that number. Can you say “Bidenflation?”
One of the reasons for this huge increase, as noted in a recent study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is that both salary and benefits of government jobs, whether federal,
state and/or local, now exceed their equivalent counterparts in the private sector. And that’s not even considering the “tenure” of government jobs with bank vault job security. Try firing a government employee. Other considerations are on the revenue side with shrinking county sales tax revenues that has come with online sales. Many small, out-of-state sellers don’t collect the tax and, even worse, people shop online as the prices are lower, meaning less sales tax.
Property tax revenue is also down.
Property tax growth is limited to
2% a year by law except for new home sales and resales. With 7% interest rates home sales are down. While mentioned in the Chief Administrative O ce’s presentation, the real revenue picture is worse. What was not mentioned is the soon-to-be liquidated liability incurred by the county with the loss of the Austin v. El Dorado County, et al decision. Yet to be determined is the exact liability. A final damages (refund amounts) hearing is scheduled on Dec. 10.
According to the formula created by the District Court of Appeals, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District fees, El Dorado Hills Fire Department fees and the various county tra c impact fees imposed from Dec. 2, 2014, to approximately
December 2016 (June 2016 for the EDHCSD) are all subject to refund — a total of $24,000,000. Because these funds were illegally collected and therefore immediately and mandatorily to be refunded, it is highly likely prejudgment interest will be awarded, bringing the total judgement to about $28,000,000. That $28,000,000 has not been accounted for. In addition to the likely judgment to be rendered is post judgment interest, which runs about 7% or about $5,400 a day including Saturdays and Sundays. Where is this liability and obligation in the county budget? This liability will immediately throw the General Plan literally out
LARRY WEITZMAN
DAN WALTERS
Walters Continued from A6 accountability for outcomes, but Brown adamantly opposed strict state oversight, saying he trusted local educators to spend the money wisely.
His hands-o position drew support from local education o cials and school unions, especially the California Teachers Association, who argued that it was unfair to hold educators accountable for outcomes when they faced daunting challenges in educating kids from myriad social, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.
The result was the multiple-factor dashboard, replacing an existing reportage system that had been based almost entirely on academic test scores.
Nearly a decade later the achievement gap remains large and, in fact, widened during the chaotic months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were closed and kids were stuck with instruction via the internet.
The shortcomings of California’s dashboard are finally being recognized.
The Center for Reinventing Public Education, based at Arizona State University, has issued a state-by-state report on school system transparency in test scores in math, social studies, reading and science, as well as absenteeism, graduation rates and English learner progress. California’s dashboard received a “D.”
“I have a Ph.D. in education policy and I can barely navigate these sites,” Morgan Poliko , a USC professor who worked on the report, told CalMatters. “How do we expect a typical parent to
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD
access this information and make sense of it?”
In a rational world, o cialdom would see the damning report as a mandate for reform. But California’s education establishment is no more interested in real accountability than it was nine years ago. It much prefers to bury reality in indecipherable jargon.
Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Letters Continued from A6
We still have a voice EDITOR:
My whole life, feminists and LGBTQ have proclaimed that the biggest threat to our society is white males. We are angry, hate-filled people who are privileged and only can succeed by taking advantage of others.
Today I see feminists and LGBTQ people marching with anti-semitic signs and rhetoric.
I believe the feminist LGBTQ antisemites believe that white men have been marginalized to a point where we won’t be able to stand up for what is right. They are wrong.
KEN STEERS Cameron Park
0814
Weitzman
Continued from A6
the window. The ramification of that would be the cessation of all development until cured as all development relies on a valid General Plan, which requires the collection and maintenance of Mitigation Fee Act fees to remain valid. If new development were to cease, that would mean the loss of more revenue; building is a huge part of the county economy.
The implication of the Austin v. EDC, et al, case and ruling have an enormous impact on the already “structurally unbalanced” budget. The budget is moving forward without recognition of this huge liability.
The $5,400/day, an amount that has been accruing since April 15, 2024, or about an additional million dollars by the time you read this, didn’t even make it into a budget note when the preliminary budget was discussed ... and it was certainly not mentioned in the CAO’s PowerPoint budget presentation.
The new name that should be used when talking about the CAO budget sta and the Board of Supervisors is the “ostrich administration” as their heads have been buried in the sand for the last decade.
It’s follows the adage of the general sending his lieutenant to the front line for a battle report. Knowing the general didn’t like to hear bad news and the penalty for bad news was death, the lieutenant lied to the general and said they were winning the battle. The next day the general lost the war and his life because he was never to be told bad news.
If county supervisors had some personal responsibility, they might not be so lackadaisical in handling, spending and wasting your money.
• • •
Quote of the week: “Elon Musk was abusing his privilege of free speech,” Kamala Harris. Since when is free speech (guaranteed by the Constitution) a privilege?
Larry Weitzman is a biweekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat.
Announcements
AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 3342970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com
AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 4177138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net
AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the rst Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM. Legionpost119.org
El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheri ’s o ce, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net
LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE
Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-212-2465 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday, 12 noon at Steve’s Pizza, 3941 Park Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762
Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/ DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information.
GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575
HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Cindy 805-540-8654. MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet rst and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and have a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held at 11:30AM on May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18,2024 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.
SENIOR PEER COUNSELING Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.
TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that a ect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.
COMICS
Tony Gomes races to Big Trophy Night win
n Andy Forsberg claims 10th Placerville title
Gary Thomas Special to the Democrat
Modesto’s Tony Gomes tallied his second Thompson’s Winged Sprint Car win of the season on Saturday at Placerville Speedway, while Auburn’s Andy Forsberg secured his 10th career track championship.
Fellow winners on Coors Light Big Trophy Championship Night included Ray Trimble with the Mountain Democrat Late Models, Nick Baldwin with the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks and Austin Struthers with the Mountain Democrat Mini Trucks.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The question of when to stop is bound to arise. “Quit while you’re ahead” is the saying, but how far ahead? If you pull back too soon, you’ll never discover the true limits of what’s possible.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You have many ways of keeping the kingdom of your own mind in a beautiful balance. However, you could still use a few more tools and strategies to keep trouble out and a lovely peace within. You’ll pick one up today.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re preparing for something important, and mindset will make the event a winner. The right ritual will help you get into the spirit of this. Take an experimental approach to find what works best for you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Change in any direction because they all go to the same place today. You’re like the water of your sign. Water always finds the way. Whether you fall soft as rain or crash like a mighty wave, you’ll eventually be at the sea.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When you’re displeased with what you get, you usually adjust what you give. Today, you’re not so sure. It seems like the unpreferred result is a fluke. If you don’t change a thing except in the timing it takes to try again, things improve.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Broaden your scope and stay aware of a wider array of options because it’s the ideas on the outer edge that have the potential to really delight you. You’ll be offered something unique and you’ll be in just the position to run with it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The road that feels right for you will actually be right. Unfortunately, it won’t be the shortcut. That easy road would get you to the destination, but without the requisite skills to be as effective as you want to be upon arrival.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It seems like it should be easy to get to know people, but it’s a little trickier than it seems sometimes and requires curiosity, awareness and the ability to retain and correlate the information you glean. Today, it’s a bit of a project, really.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). As much as you try to make sense of contradictions and inconsistencies, it’s not always possible. To accept the disparate pieces of reality without attempting to close the gaps will bring deep peace.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The invitation seems casual enough, but it holds the key to a transformative opportunity. This is the gateway to a new and significant chapter. With a little preparation, you’ll enter with grace and intention.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A dream can never be fully finished, as it keeps dreaming itself into the unreachable horizon. If you’re
Martinez driver Anthony Slaney locked up the Late Model title, with Baldwin earning his sixth Pure Stock championship. Mike Miller also claimed his third Mini Truck title on Saturday.
The 25-lap Sprint Car feature began with Jodie Robinson, Andy Forsberg and Tony Gomes battling up front. Multiple different leaders were seen in the main event, with Forsberg up front until Robinson drove by early on.
Several cautions plagued the contest over the first five laps, but in between them the action continued to be hot and heavy. Restarts made things interesting, and Gomes soon found his groove, getting into second on lap nine. He then made the move by Robinson on lap 10 and looked to pull away from the pack.
Placerville’s Shane Hopkins was also on the charge from his 12th starting spot. Hopkins ran the bottom side to perfection and grabbed second on lap 16. Lapped traffic late in the going made things hectic for Gomes, which allowed Hopkins to close the gap.
roads, trails, developed recreation sites and private property within the Caldor Fire perimeter, and will be accomplished using mechanical harvesting equipment on slopes less than 50%.
Cut material will be removed for biomass utilization, chipped or masticated on site, hand cut and piled for burning later and/or used in some areas to stabilize soil. Native seedlings will be planted in areas where fire damaged tree stands are not likely to produce future trees and where needed to promote species diversity.
Gomes hit his marks however and crossed under the Ron Stahl checkered flag for victory over Hopkins, Robinson, Bubba Decaires and Jake Andreotti in the top-five. Forsberg crossed the stripe in sixth and it was good enough to wrap up championship 10 at Placerville. Decaires finished second, just seven markers back, while Gomes missed out on the title by only nine points.
Ray Trimble started from the front row in the Mountain Democrat Late Model feature and led every step of the way en route to victory. Dan Brown Jr. came home in second, followed by Matt Micheli, Rod Oliver and Tyler Lightfoot.
Anthony Slaney had battled his way toward the front at one point until getting crossed up while making a bid for the lead and ended up eighth. He finished up with five wins this season en route to the title.
With the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks, it was Sacramento’s Jason Poppert leading the way early on. Poppert has shown immense speed this season and looked to park it in victory lane on Big Trophy Night.
Nick Baldwin hounded Poppert though and on lap 10 made a beautiful outside move to grab the point. Baldwin led the remainder for his seventh win of the year to lock up the title. Poppert, Ryan Peter, Tyler Lightfoot and Kevin Jinkerson rounded out the top-five.
The final Mountain Democrat Mini Truck race of 2024 was all about Austin Struthers, who picked up his first win of the season. Paige Miller, Luke Costa, Paizlee Miller and Bobby Clark completed the top-five.
Mike Miller battled towards the front until encountering issues that left him with a seventh-place result. It was still good enough to win his third track title.
used to protect natural and cultural resources and infrastructure and to minimize disruptions to forest visitors during operations.
Project work is dependent on weather and soil conditions that allow for equipment operation and tree planting and may take several years to complete.
The Caldor Fire burned approximately 9,985 acres within the Lake Tahoe Basin. Many firekilled trees were removed during fire suppression efforts and preliminary emergency rehabilitation treatments were accomplished to stabilize soils in areas impacted by dozer line construction. Project Continued from A4
Resource protection measures and best management practices will be
n SHOE by Jeff MacNelly
n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
n RUBES by Leigh Rubin
n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
Photos courtesy of Tim Holland
Tony Gomes, above, took home the trophy with his second Thompsons Winged Sprint Car win of the season on Saturday at Placerville Speedway. Nick Baldwin, below, celebrates his Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks win at Placerville Speedway.
This growing hermit crab is feeling cramped. He has outgrown his borrowed shell home and is looking for a new home. When he finds an empty shell, he uses his claws to check out the size. If the size is right, he cleans the shell carefully and quickly pulls his abdomen out of the old shell and sticks it into the new one!
Which shell will the hermit crab pick? He’ll pick the one with numbers that add up to an even number.
Small legs to hold body at shell opening.
Abdomen
Antennae, used to feel, smell and taste things.
Eyestalks
ermit crabs are different from true crabs in one important way. True crabs have a short abdomen that is folded up under the large shell on its back. A hermit crab has a long abdomen that sticks out at the rear end of its body. Because its abdomen does not have a hard covering, it must borrow a shell to protect this part of its body. The abdomen’s curled shape fits inside the spiral of a shell.
Draw a line from each body part to its description.
Front claws
Walking legs, two on each side.
Are you an eagle-eyed reader? Read the story below and circle the eight errors you find. Then rewrite the story.
Tide Pool Cycles
Creatures in tide pools need water to survive. When the sun evaporates tide-pool water or a tide is lower than normal, the animals must take action to save themselves.
To kep from drying out, sea anemones pull in there tentacles and turn into soft blobs. Sea cucombers sometimes curl into bawlls or cover itself with mud.
Clams and barnacles snap their shells tightly closed, traping water inside that keeps them wett. When the water level in in a tide pool drops, some seaweeds make a slimy mucus that coats their fronds.
The word
describes someone who lives
Yet, hermit crabs live and travel in colonies of a few dozen to more than 100!
Which picture goes with each sentence telling about how a hermit crab grows?
1. Mother hermit crab carries eggs inside shell.
2. Mother hermit crab releases eggs that are ready to hatch into the ocean.
3. The hermit crab larva has large bulging eyes and a long shrimp-like body.
4. After its third molt, the hermit crab looks more like an adult hermit crab and will move closer to the shore and find a shell home.
If a predator tries to grab a hermit crab, the crab must pull into its shell quickly. If a predator manages to catch a claw, the crab can break it off, leaving the predator holding the claw and nothing else. The hermit crab will grow a new claw to replace the missing one!
ome hermit crabs carry sea anemones on their shells. The sea anemone’s __________ tentacles keep ________ away. In return, the anemone, an animal without ________, gets carried to new ________ supplies. Sometimes the anemone gets to ____ the hermit crab’s _______________!
Replace the words missing from this paragraph.
Community Adviser
could help your community.
Both as a larva and an adult, a hermit crab grows by molting. A hermit crab has a hard outer covering called an exoskeleton. This hard covering doesn’t grow like human skin. Instead, it must be shed when a new, larger exoskeleton is ready. The new exoskeleton is soft at first, and the hermit crab must stay in its shell until it hardens.
... exploring new places and learning the customs of the people who live there.
This week’s word: ABDOMEN
The word abdomen means the part of the body between the chest and the hips.
The kangaroo had a pouch in its abdomen
Use the word abdomen in a sentence today when talking with your friends, parents or teachers.
When I am crabby I …
Finish this story.
© 2015 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 31, No. 24
hermit
alone.
Find the Hermit Crab Twins!
NEWS, IN THE KNOW
Sept. 18
Snowline Health
Dementia Connection hosts Caregiver Support Group and Activity Enrichment Group for people with memory loss, 11:30-3 p.m. at Green Valley Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road in Placerville.
El Dorado County is updating the Community Wild re Protection Plan for the west slope, and public participation participation is important. Join the Camino Fire Safe Council for a discussion about the plan at 6:30 p.m. at the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit headquarters, 2840 Mt. Danaher Road in Camino.
Iona Fyfe will perform at The So a in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
The Crocker Art Museum presents Kingsley Lecture Series: Stan Padilla. For tickets and more information visit crockerart.org.
Valhalla Tahoe presents Witches Night Out from 5-10 p.m. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.com.
Sept. 19
Placerville FamilySearch Center, 3275 Cedar Ravine in Placerville, hosts
Organize your Family History Paperwork Workshop at 1 p.m. Bring the materials on the Mary Hills System Checklist and you can put it all together in this great workshop. The materials list will be provided at the FamilySearch Center before this date, so you have time to purchase your supplies. Come and get organized. For more information call (530) 621-1378.
Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino hosts After Five, a barbecue trip tip dinner with wine and music by Scott Rodell of Apple Z, 5:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP required. Visit crystalbasin.com or email rsvp@crystalbasin.com.
The Audities will perform at 6 p.m. at Smith Flat House, 2021 Smith Flat Road in Placerville. For more information call (530) 6211003.
The Green Room Unplugged hosted by Mae Flores and Drew Butts takes place at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. The show starts at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
The Crocker Art Museum presents a Critic and a Chef. For tickets and more information visit crockerart. org.
Sept. 20
The Sierra Renaissance Society presents Yosemite Then and Now by Cheryl Purgett, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, 4701 Missouri Flat Road. Admission free for members; public invited to attend two meetings for free. The Sierra Renaissance Society of El Dorado County is dedicated to lifelong learning and hosts presentations and workshops throughout the year. For more information visit srsedc. org.
Neon Pickle will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/ live-music.
The Stage at Burke Junction will host an evening of HomeGrown Comedy with
Friday nights are perfect for a flight
Escabar Special Sections Editor
Looking for something to do on a Friday night? Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery, 4560 Cabernet Way in Placerville, presents Friday Night Flights every other Friday. This unique dine and wine experience pairs the beautifully crafted Sierra Vista vintages with elegantly created culinary delights served in the winery’s cozy event room.
“This takes the winery experience to a new level in the region.”
Sierra Vista owner Jim Czachorowski is always looking for ways to share the awardwinning Sierra Vista wines and felt an “elevated wine and food experience” would be enjoyable. The flights feature three petite size entrées perfectly paired with three selected wines. “This takes the winery experience to a new level in the region,” Czachorowski said.
— Sierra Vista owner Jim Czachorowski
When assessing the customer experience he places himself in the consumer role. “I had been wanting to do develop a food program for quite some time,” he explained. ”I have always believed that if people are drinking, eventually they want food and they’re going to leave to get it somewhere else.”
He also noted even though Sierra Vista is “one of the most beautiful settings in the area,” and pours the remarkable wines made by winemaker Ryan Wright, it is o the beaten path and one of his goals is “to get people to know we exist.”
To make Friday Night Flights a reality Czachorowski hired chef Justin Rosa in May to join the Sierra Vista team.
Rosa attended the American Culinary Federation formal
■ See FLIGHTS, page B5
The park’s mud pots, right, are a famous attraction
Photos by Mary West
Lassen Volcanic National Park’s gorgeous meadow, above left, is a great place to stop during a hike at the park.
that showcase the area’s explosive past.
Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery chef Justin Rosa serves dessert, which Friday Night Flight guests can choose to add to their experience.
Mountain Democrat photos by Noel Stack Food and wine are perfectly paired at Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery’s Friday Night Flights.
Mimi
Summit gives students a chance to study watershed
Courtney Jackson
El Dorado & Georgetown Divide resource conservation districts
The El Dorado and Georgetown Divide resource conservation districts in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and El Dorado County High Schools will host the 27th annual Watershed Education Summit Sept. 25-28. This one-of-a-kind, four-day summit engages El Dorado County students from each of the five high schools in an interactive watershed education monitoring program in the South Fork American River watershed. WES is an educational outreach program planned and financed through the RCD’s.
Sixty to 80 students are chosen from close to 400 applicants each year. The students test water quality on three different streams relying on a suite of parameters, such as stream morphology, forestry and water quality. For each area of study, the Watershed Education Summit has enlisted the help of a partner to provide a specialist from the RCD, USFS, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sierra Pacific Industries, California Department of Fish & Wildlife and U.S. Geological Survey.
“We’ve been collecting data for over 22 years,” explained Brad Mason from Golden Sierra High School. “Not only is that an amazing amount of information but it’s also had an amazing impact on a lot
of kids.”
In the forest, students learn about how trees impact water quality and the overall landscape. Students learn how to monitor watershed health and why some streams are different than others.
One of the benefits of WES is developing critical thinking via exposure to real natural resource management.
By partnering with agencies, schools can build civic responsibility, stewardship and environmental awareness in their students. Students apply what they learn in the classroom in the field by working shoulder to shoulder with professionals. “I did bugs this year and it was a blast! I never thought all those little critters lived in the water and how important they are in
telling us what might be going on in the watershed,” said Preston Egbert from El Dorado High School.
Jeff Mabe, aquatic specialists from the Eldorado National Forest, shared, “These kids are really smart and we really have a lot of fun working together throughout the week.”
Each night, by the light of the campfire, fun and educational activities are presented. Students learn about Native American culture through discussion and storytelling, the U.S. Forest Service with Sierra Wildlife Rescue offer a live owl and hawk demonstration, local musician Will Hogan performs live and students have an opportunity to present their findings. This year a videography protocol will be introduced by a professional
videographer. The new protocol is an excellent way to document findings in the field. Illustrations and drawings can also be an essential part of field work which is why we have incorporated a logo contest. Students from each school are encouraged to enter their artwork for the WES logo contest. The winning logo is printed on T-shirts which are given to each participant to wear at camp.
During WES, students, teachers and professionals work together to collect a wide range of data. Together we learn the purpose of data collection, the necessary
stream monitoring protocols and how the data is used by the USFS. WES educates the students in both biological and physical parameters of stream dynamics. This dynamic collaboration allows our educational institutions to provide students with real world community related problems, and our State agencies to receive assistance in collecting stream data so that agencies can make better informed management decisions. The WES program continues to yield positive environmental and social outcomes in the South Fork American River watershed, and it has created a model
for student-oriented environmental monitoring that is both transferable and expandable. In contributing to a long-term monitoring dataset, the WES program has fostered connections between experts and future stewards and has led to adaptive solutions based on credible monitoring data. Establishing WES has allowed students to help develop solutions not only for the local community but, hopefully, as WES grows, throughout the Sierra and the world. For more information about WES or how to get involved call (530) 295-0120 or go to eldoradorcd.org.
Learn about El Dorado County’s majestic oaks
The El Dorado Chapter of the California Native Plant Society presents part two of its threepart series on oak trees in California on Sept. 21. The presentation led by CNPS board member and botanist Virginia (Ginna) Meyer, will take place 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at The Nature Nook native plant demonstration garden at 345 Fair Lane in Placerville next to the library Oaks in their many forms are crucial to California ecosystems. They host more pollinators, plants, animals and birds than any other element of the landscape. In El Dorado County there are nine different species of oaks as well as some naturally occurring oak hybrids. There are oaks that thrive in a desert environment as well as in valleys and atop the foothills. Probably the most familiar oak is the towering tree with spreading branches that releases acorns in the fall, but more kinds of oaks in California grow as shrubs rather than trees.
This is a family-friendly event. The workshop will provide branches and acorns for participants to see and touch; copies of a California oak coloring book, with pages ready to make leaf rubbings; and directions for planting acorns and supporting growing oak seedlings. Participants may bring leaves and acorns from their own oak trees to have them identified. Attendees should bring chairs, water and a hat because the workshop will take place outside. As a follow-up to the workshop,
there will be a field trip to visit oaks in their habitats on Friday, Sept. 27, focusing on the trees and shrubs of the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Sign-up information and details are listed under “Events” on the chapter website, eldoradocnps. org.
Part three of the series on oaks will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19. The Zoom registration link will be available closer to that date. Local arborist John Kipping will speak on how to care for the oaks of El Dorado County.
Part one of the series was held on July 23 with speaker David Muffly, arborist, horticultural futurist and the founder of the website Oaktopia, oaktopia.org. The recording of Muffly on the future of oaks under climate change can be found on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=TxvucEkV0ZI. The 2024 Fall Plant Sale will happen on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 & 13. Plant pick-up day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19. For details and to “window shop” plants that likely will be available for purchase visit shop.eldoradocnps.org.
The California Native Plant Society is a nonprofit organization working to save and celebrate California’s native plants and places via plant science, advocacy, education and horticulture. CNPS has nearly 10,000 members in 35 chapters throughout California and Baja. The El Dorado Chapter of CNPS is active in identifying and protecting the many endemic plants of the area as well as educating about and helping people garden with them. To learn more about native plants and CNPS visit cnps.org or eldoradocnps. org.
Courtesy photos
Watershed Education Summit will help collect data on the region during the educational event Sept. 25-28. Students from five El Dorado County High Schools participate in the summit each year.
Photo by Steven Perry
The blue oak Quercus douglasii is a prominent tree in El Dorado County’s foothills. Learn about it and other oaks at a special presentation Saturday.
Kathleen Barco EDC-CNPS
GROW FOR IT!
Salvia
The color you might be seeing in gardens this late summer may be from the beloved salvia. It adds so much to our viewing pleasure. No wonder they are one of the most popular garden ornamentals. There are just under 1,000 species, 19 of which have California origins.
Kit Smith
UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County
Salvia is the largest genus of Lamiaceae, the mint family. Sage is the common name for salvia. The structure of the flower sets the sage apart from the rest of the mint family.
Salvia comes in all colors and sizes. It can range from an 18-inch groundcover to a 5-foot shrub and is evergreen, deciduous, perennial, biennial or annual. There is a salvia for everyone’s preference and growing area.
The flower is a small tubular twolipped blossom arranged in whorls around square shaped stems. The stamen forms a lever so when a pollinator enters the flower, the lever moves the stamen to deposit the pollen on the pollinator. When the pollinator enters another flower of the same species, the pollinator’s body brushes the stigmas and pollination is successful.
Salvia flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. If you want to attract the pollinators, enhance their habitat by providing many hours of sun and plenty of water and shelter. Minimize the use of pesticides.
The salvia flower blooms on new wood from early summer to, and through, fall. Deadhead throughout the flowering season to promote re-blooming. To promote flowering, irrigate infrequently and deeply in summer. In milder climates, prune down to the ground in the fall and in areas with freezing nights, prune later, in the spring.
Colors of the salvia flower can be purple, lavender, blue, red, pink, white, yellow and even bicolor. White sage, Salvia apiana, is a California native and grows large and compact. The Cleveland sage, Salvia clevelandii, is light purple. Black sage, Salvia mellifera, has a pungent aroma and it flowers pale lavender on an upright stalk. Sonoma sage, Salvia sonomensis, is a creeping groundcover with blue-purple flowers.
Purple flowering sage, Salvia leucophylla, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that can become a mounding form up to 5 feet tall. Fruit scented sage, Salvia dorisiana, flowers a rich pink with peach-scented flowers. Salvia leaves grow in pairs opposite of each other or singly on shrubs. Leaf color can range from gray to deep green. Common sage, Salvia o cinalis, is the sage most associated with cooking. The leaves are quite fragrant. Pineapple sage, Salvia elegans, boasts dramatic red flowers and pineapple scented leaves. Salvia elegans ‘Tangerine’ has a citrusy smell and is an early bloomer. Fruit scented sage, Salvia dorisiana, has a strong aroma of mixed fruits. Grape scented sage, Salvia melissodoro, is beloved by hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Mexican sage, Salvia leucantha, has a hint of pine fragrance. Honey melon sage, Salvia o cinalis ‘Honey Melon,’ is smaller and a later summer bloomer. The fragrance, while enchanting to humans, repels pests. Additionally, salvia is deer resistant. Salvia is relatively disease-free. Plant it in full sun in well-draining soil so that it has su cient air circulation. Do not over-water or water overhead. It is drought tolerant once established and heat tolerant in our Mediterranean climate. There is a salvia for every gardener’s desire.
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.
Master Gardener classes are o ered monthly throughout the county. Find the class schedule at mgeldorado. ucanr.edu/Public_Education_Classe s/?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/ Public_Education/Classes.
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.
the Butte County line.
The glory of this national park begins well before the southwest entrance I used to access. I stopped at two lovely waterfalls on Deer Creek along the way. The easy drive along California Highway 32 east is lined with tall pines providing shade from summer heat. Leaving Nevada County at 8 a.m. at 80 degrees, I arrived at Lassen Volcanic National Park at 11 a.m. and 71 degrees. The park is beautifully maintained with wide flat granite trails. I hiked the Bumpass Hell Trail. This trail provides views of the valley and surrounding peaks from the lookout. The trail drops 300 feet down to a short boardwalk with another strongly sulfur scented thermal mud pot. The history of the area is epic.
How the eruption of Mount Lassen changed this environment is a good read for fans of California history. The visitor center features a film and several books on the history of the area and the e ects of the eruption between 1914 and 1917. Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (second edition available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 Craft Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the Day Hiker series by the Outdoor Writers of California. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Photo by Mary West
Enjoy the impressive view from an overlook
Natalie Douglas sings STEVIE SONGS: THE MUSIC OF STEVIE NICKS & STEVIE WONDER @ 8pm Feinstein's at The Nikko, 222 Ma‐son St, San Francisco
Kalan.FrFr with Tsunami.wav @ Origin SF (18+) @ 10pm Origin, 1538 Fillmore St, San Fran‐cisco
&friends @ 10pm Madarae, 46 Minna St, San Fran‐cisco
Cinthie @ 11:30pm Folsom Street Foundry, 1425 Fol‐som St, San Francisco
10th Annual Community Yard Sale, Flea Market, and Arts/Crafts Faire @ 8am 10th Annual Community Yard Sale, Flea Market, and Arts/Crafts Faire Pole Line Road Baptist Church, 770 Pole Line Road, Davis. church@polelinebap tist.org, 530-753-4315
Adrian West Band @ 11am Upper Noe Recreation Center, 295 Day St, San Francisco
Barbie Crawl San Francisco @ 4pm / $25 Mark your calendars for a splash of fun at the SF Barbie Crawl! This year, we’re throwing it back to the sun-soaked days of Malibu Barbie with a Malibu Beach Party theme that’s sure to be a blast! Rick & Roxy's, 2131 Lombard Street, San Francisco. info@crawlsf.com, 415852-1027
Tribute Gala 2024 @ 5:30pm / $50-$7500 Filled with elegance, �air, compas‐sion, and philanthropy, please join us for an important evening honor‐ing the remarkable individuals and communities who have made a im‐pact in the �ght against HIV. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, 757 Market Street, San Francisco. eventinfo@sfaf.org
Pence Gallery Art Auction Party @ 6pm / $50 Don't miss the Pence's Art Auction Party & bidding �nale on Septem‐ber 21! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pencesocialmedia@ gmail.com, 530-758-3370
"After Hours Mewvie Nights at KitTea Cat Lounge" Meow Showing: "The Lion King" @ 7:30pm / $38 Support your local rescue cats and join us a special after-hours mewvie viewing of Disney's "The Lion King" in our rescue/adoptable Cat Lounge! KitTea Cat Lounge, 1266 Valencia Street, San Fran‐cisco. support@kitteasf.com, 415325-5510
California Symphony: Beethoven’s Ninth @ 7:30pm / $25-$95 The California Symphony opens its season with a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. info@californiasym phony.org, 925-280-2490
Presidio Theatre Presents Stacey Printz Dance Project "GLASSlands" @ 7:30pm / $39 The evening-length work features striking set design by award-win‐ing artist Sean Riley comprising large, transparent pod-like struc‐tures, or �bubble rooms� that �ll and animate the performance space. Presidio Theatre, 99 Mor‐aga Avenue, San Francisco. pr@ chabotspace.org
Tiffany Austin Music: Tiffany Austin Quartet @ Mr. Tipples @ 9pm Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club, 39 Fell St, San Francisco
Narayan & Janet @ 11:30am Unity of Walnut Creek, 1871 Geary Rd, Walnut Creek
Banda Zeta @ 12pm Rancho Manantial, 9759 Elder Creek Rd, Sacramento
Alex Kade: #WeTouchGrass Anime Rave Tour 2024 @ 4pm Temple, 540 Howard St, San Fran‐cisco
Meduza @ 4pm Private Property - St Helena Napa County, CA, TBA, Napa
2nd An‐nual Davis Commu‐nity Carnival @ 12pm The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis hosts a free Community Carnival on Sunday, September 22 from 12-3 PM. Activities include a waterslide, car‐nival games, live animals, face painting & more! 27074 Patwin Rd, 27074 Patwin Road, Davis. re@ uudavis.org, 530-3044356
GamperDrums FunkJazz @ The Black Cat @ 7pm Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐cisco
Tracy Cruz Music: Tracy Cruz opens up for GRAMMY® nominated Afro-Beat artist Matt B. @ 7pm Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 1710 Mission St, San Francisco
Music City SF @ 7pm 1355 Bush St, 1355 Bush Street, San Francisco
Matt B - Matthew David Benson (19+ Event) @ 8pm Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 1710 Mission Street, San Francisco
Rotary Club of Davis Weekly Lunch & Program @ 12pm See website for details. ro‐taryclubofdavis.com Davis Com‐munity Church, 421 D Street, Davis. teainsworth@gmail.com
Skeletons in the Closet
music
@ 6pm The Main
Grape Vacaville, 444 Main St, Vacaville
Egemen Sanli: Sound Bath with Fractals of Sound @ 7pm Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St, San Francisco
Shane Guerrette
@ 8pm The Chapel, 777 Valencia St, San Francisco
The Sheepdogs @ 8pm The Chapel, San Francisco
Myles Smith @ 8pm The Independent SF, 628 Di‐visadero Street, San Francisco
Tyga @ 9pm Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco
BIA @ 9pm Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco
9/24
Ballot in Brief: Learn about the San Francisco ballot measures, with League of Women Voters and UCSF @ 12pm / Free Join the League of Women Voters of San Francisco and UC San Francisco for a nonpartisan walk through of the quali�ed local mea‐sures that will be on your ballot for the November 5, 2024 election. San Francisco. lwvsf@lwvsf.org
JourneyDay Music @ 6pm Napa Palisades Saloon, 1000
Sunday Sep 22nd
Village Feast @ 12pm / $165 Central Park, 401 C Street, Davis. debarrington17@ gmail.com The Village Feast celebrates the Sacramento-region Farm to Fork season with a Provencal-style communal meal featuring our local bounty while supporting local nonprofits.
Tropidelic ft. The Calamatix
@ 6:30pm Gold�eld Trading Post Sacramento, 1630 J St, Sacramento
Xocé Román: Playboy Manbaby First and Maybe Last Headline Tour @ 7pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco
Horse Jumper of Love w/ Teethe @ 7pm Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco
Sour Widows @ 7pm Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell St, San Francisco
Julianna Barwick @ 8pm Great American Music Hall, 859 O'‐farrell St, San Francisco
Aireene Espiritu Music: Busk It! @ 11am La Cuisine Cafe, 1145 Market St, San Francisco
Legendary: A Peter Berlin Exhibition(ist) @ 6pm / $10
Join us for a night celebrating the work of Peter Berlin, the legendary San Francisco-based photogra‐pher, artist, �lmmaker, clothing de‐signer, and model. The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street, San Fran‐cisco. info@academy-sf.com, 415624-3429
CaringtonSwing: Le Jazz Hot @ 6pm Scopo Divino, 2800 California St #101, San Francisco
Adrian West Band @ 6:30pm Luigi's Deli and Market, 537 Main St, Martinez Neck of
Francisco
The Spiral Electric + Creep Creep Janga + Star Decay + DJ Walkin' Love @ 8pm Neck Of the Woods, 406 Clement St, San Francisco
Low Cut Connie: ART DEALERS FILM SCREENING @ 9pm Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St, San Francisco
Candlelight:
event on Saturday, Sep‐tember 29th Sudwerk Brewing Co., 2001 2nd Street, Davis. DavisH SClassof74@gmail.com, 916-508-6888
Jessica Malone at Live at The HIVE @ 5pm Live at The HIVE presents Jessica Malone during an outdoor concert on Friday, September 27. Doors at 5pm, music 6-8pm! The HIVE Tast‐ing Room + Kitchen, 1221 Harter Avenue, Woodland. thehive@zspe cialtyfood.com, 530-668-0660
Vicki Valosik at Avid Reader @ 6:30pm Avid Reader is thrilled to celebrate the release of Vicki Valosik's debut book: Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water. The Avid Reader Bookstore, 617 2nd Street, Davis. hello@avidreader books.com, 530-758-4040
How??? @ Kilowatt @ 7pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco
Soulwax @ 8pm The Regency Ballroom, San Fran‐cisco
The Emo Night Tour - San Francisco @ 8:30pm The Independent, 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco
Aaron Burnham & the Brush�res: Brush�res at the Fink! @ 9pm The Fink, 530 Main St, Napa Nala @ 10pm Monarch, 101 6th St, San Fran‐cisco
4th Annual
Go All In for MORE at poker tournament fundraiser
Andrew Vonderschmitt
Mountain Democrat correspondent
Motherlode Rehabilitation Enterprises is gearing up for an all-new fundraiser — All in for MORE Poker Tournament. On Friday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m. join fellow contributors for a western themed good time with No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em, raffle prizes and a no-host bar.
The event, the first of its kind for the nonprofit, will be held at the MORE facility at 399 Placerville Drive in Placerville. Professional poker dealers from Blue Dog Events have been engaged to ensure a lively, entertaining and fair tournament. Not only do they handle the game in a professional manner,
Flights Continued from B1
French
try new things in the kitchen and always to be willing to learn new techniques.
Czachorowski and Rosa clicked.
“I shared my entire concept with Justin and he’s done a remarkable job creating exemplary culinary food items to pair with our wines. We will continue to do Friday Night Flights year round,” Czachorowski said.
Rosa finds the Friday Night Flights a fun exercise.
“This opportunity has given me a chance to make visually exciting dishes using the great local ingredients available here and then pairing the fare with the wines,” he said. “We are offering an exclusive experience for our guests.”
Each menu is wine driven starting with the team tasting wine and sharing input about possible food
but they will coach less-experienced players, ensuring a fun time for all. Top-notch prizes will be awarded to the top five players at the end of the No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament.
“We are so excited to have the Voice of the World Series of Poker, Lon McEachern, join us,” said Director of Finance and Fund Development Kelli Nuttall, adding that there is a fun additional prize for poker fans.
“There will be a bounty on Lon’s head, with a fun prize going to the lucky player to take him out of the game,” she shared.
Nuttall also said a top prize for tournament winners will be two back of house tours at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
and spice combinations that would make a perfect pairing.
One menu featured Aubergine Eggplant served with the 2020 Grenache, Linguine and Clams served with the 2022 Picpoul Blanc and Flank Steak Roladen with Andouille Sausage served with the 2020 Syrah. Each dish brought out the best in each wine. To cap off the pairings there is a special dessert course curated for the evening that can be added.
Kim Johnston assists Rosa in the kitchen so each flight is delivered to the diners in a timely manner. Tasting room hosts Aarika Shewmake and Tracy Stewart serve the wine with a smile offering tasting notes.
The Friday Night Flights are served 4-8 p.m. Wine club members pay $35 per person and nonmembers pay $45.
The Friday Night Flights have been well received
Playing in the tournament will not be the only chance to win; separate raffles will occur throughout the evening. Along with a no-host bar and delicious meal provided by John Sanders, players and non-players alike are sure to have a great time. Western costuming is encouraged but not required. Costumed guests will be entered into a separate raffle to further the evening’s excitement. Player tickets are $100 and include entry into the tournament and meal, non-players are also welcome with a $25 ticket purchase. Players can re-buy into the game for an additional $25. For tickets and more information visit morerehab. org/event-details/all-in-for-more.
FOOD
Take Back Busy School Days with Simplicity and Creativity
FAMILY FEATURES
Ease and convenience are the name of the game during the school year as parents and students alike adapt to overwhelming schedules, mounds of homework and seemingly never-ending after-school activities. Oftentimes it’s school day meals that take a hit with families opting for quick bites or drive-thru dining, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
Sharing meals that are filling and flavorful can still be a quick endeavor – you just need creative recipes that help simplify school day schedules. In fact, with kids, more imagination can mean more deliciousness. This playful Caterpillar Sandwich is a ham and cheese spinoff crafted to excite little ones and their little taste buds at lunchtime.
It’s made with Kretschmar’s premium deli meats and cheeses that are crafted for quality. From uniquely smoked ham to handtrimmed fine cuts of beef and poultry, the off-the-bone deli meats come from the leanest, most tender cuts. Plus, the more than 16 flavors of award-winning deli cheeses are expertly handcrafted by Wisconsin cheesemakers.
These high-quality ingredients are made for more than just sandwiches, however. They’re destined for flavors beyond sliced bread, such as Spiced Pineapple Skewers that are perfect for adding a dash of island delicacy to your midweek dinner menu. A sweet and spicy celebration of tropical flavors, this recipe is perfect for lighting the grill and taking a break from busy season.
Discover more delicious recipes to take back hectic school days at KretschmarDeli.com.
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Caterpillar Sandwich
Total time: 20 minutes Servings: 1
2 slices whole-wheat bread mayonnaise, divided
1 slice Kretschmar American Cheese
2 slices Kretschmar Off the Bone Ham
1 leaf iceberg lettuce
1 cherry tomato
1 carrot, shaved
1 slice Kretschmar Provolone Cheese black decorating gel
On two slices whole-wheat bread, spread thin layer of mayonnaise on each.
Lay American cheese, ham and lettuce leaf on one bread slice then top with other bread slice. Using biscuit cutter, punch four holes into sandwich, removing crust from sandwich, then set aside.
Using toothpick or knife, poke two holes into cherry tomato. Insert small cores of carrot into tomato for “antennae.”
Using pastry tip, cut “eyes” out of provolone cheese. Cut out sliver of provolone cheese for “mouth.”
Dab mayo on back of “eyes” and “mouth” then attach to cherry tomato.
Use black decorating gel to add tiny dots to eyes for pupils; set aside.
Place four mini sandwich circles on plate to form caterpillar body then place cherry tomato face at one end.
Spiced Pineapple Skewers
8- 10 stainless steel or wooden skewers
16 ounces pineapple
1 1/2 pounds Kretschmar Spiced Pineapple Ham
1/ 2 cup Hawaiian-style barbecue sauce
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 small red onion
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon salt, black pepper to taste, oil for grates
Prepare skewers:
If using wooden skewers, soak in water 30 minutes.
Heat grill to 300 F.
Trim and cut pineapple and ham steak into 1-inch cubes, 1/2-inch thick, and lay on paper towel to pat dry before placing in mixing bowl. Add barbecue sauce to bowl. Toss to combine.
Cut bell peppers and red onion into equal-sized, 1-inch cubes. Place in small bowl and coat with canola oil, salt and black pepper, to taste.
To assemble skewers:
Alternate threading ham, pineapple, bell peppers and onion onto skewers then place on baking sheet.
Using paper towel, apply oil to grill grates or grill pan then place skewers on grill uncovered, turning every few minutes until charred, no longer than 6-7 minutes.
Flights Continued from B5
rest. I push for excellence,” Czachorowski said. Other food offerings include pizza on Thursday through Sunday (unless there is a special event) and some different items to keep it interesting. Czachorowski said, “Some weekends we’ll mix things up and do street tacos instead of pizzas. On Thursday’s we have ‘Throwback Thursdays’ where we throw back the price of pizza and offer half off pizza with a bottle purchase. On Monday and Tuesdays, we have grab and go items that are all house made by Justin. We rotate choices weekly, but
Know
Continued from B1
Chelsea Bearse headlining. The show starts at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit stageatburke.com.
Moonshine Crazy will perform at the Red Hawk Casino Stage Bar, 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information visit redhawkcasino. com.
Kate Knipp and Ginger Molasses will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. Doors open at 5 p.m., show at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.
Boys of Summer — A tribute to the Eagles will perform for two nights at Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek. For tickets and more information call (916) 425-0077 or visit suttercreektheatre.com.
Christie Lenée and Adrian Bellue will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 4435300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.
Sept. 21
BSA Scout Troop 46 hosts the Rummage Sale Spectacular
8 a.m. to dark Saturday, Sept. 21, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Mother Lode Lions Hall in Diamond Springs. For more information contact Sandra at (530) 295-3327.
The El Dorado County Fair and Event Center Swap Meet takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting, at 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville. The swap meet is open to the public with free admission.
Late for Dinner will perform at 4 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.
To
have things like ‘Zinion Dip and chips’ which is an onion dip made with reduced zinfandel wine. We also make French truffles, tiramisu, bread pudding, spinach and artichoke dip. We use a lot of our wine in our recipes so it personalizes our offerings. So our grab and go is more than just cheese and crackers.”
Czachorowski and his team have a lot of great things planned. “We’ll be having three or four piano and dinner events over the winter, pods come back on Nov. 30 and Justin and I are inventing new ways to experience the pods with a multi-level choice of food and service. We’re starting a Sunday Mimosa brunch with a new omelet station. We’ll be making omelets and frittatas made fresh right in front of you. We’re also creating culinary classes where our customers can sign up and Justin will teach them how to make some of his creations. And for the Christmas season, I’ll be turning the event room into a holiday wonder room. So lots of great things are in the works,” he said.
City of Plymouth California
To make a reservation for any of the events call the tasting room at (530) 622-7221.
ACCOUNTANT I/II
(Salary Range DOE $4,844-8,888) First Review 09/20/2024 (Open Until Filled)
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: vmchenry@cityofplymouth.org. EOE
Now Accepting Applications
